Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I wear a tie to work and typically use a Windsor knot. The tie very often slips a bit as the day goes on and does not remain tight against the shirt collar. I notice that professionals online and on TV do not seem to have that problem.

Is there a trick or technique that I could use to keep the tie knot tight?

--Gerald A.

Dear Gerald: For starters, those TV guys have “people” — whose job it is to make sure that the men’s Windsor knots are sharp and tight, pants are zipped up and their appearance is not distracting the viewers from what they’re talking about. And it is a good bet they’re not wearing a tie for eight or 10 hours a day like you do.

But, here are a few tips from a well-dressed man I know:

*For those who aren’t familiar with the knot, watch some YouTube videos (over and over in slow-mo). It get’s easier with practice. You need to practice!

*Silk, often the fabric of choice for a tie, is slippery. Thus, consider the thickness of the fabric. Thicker is harder to keep tightly tied.

*Button up the shirt and flip the collar up completely—not half way—before beginning the tying process.

*With knot in place, the tightening begins with alternate tugging on the short end, then long, bit by bit, until knot is yanked up tight. Flip collar down. Go to work.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I was eager to see your answer in a recent column to Mike H. who was looking for a certain kind of PJs for his wife who was always cold when trying to sleep and he was the opposite. You located some warm PJs that wouldn’t “bunch up” — her complaint -- caused by rubbing up against the flannel sheets she loves. He is always too hot. She complains of the cold. It’s true: Opposites attract. Surely there has to be a better solution. But what is it?

--Jason L.

Dear Mike: Whoa. I was surprised to hear from so any readers — nearly all female — who were eager to suggest other solutions for Mike’s temperature dispute. Sharon shared this fix: “For Mike and others who struggle with flannel sheets and pajamas, ditch the flannel sheets and pajamas and get an electric blanket or warming mattress pad. Use regular sheets and pajamas. Problem solved. Turn it on 30 minutes before bedtime and your bed will be warm and toasty, according to your preference. They shut off automatically after eight hours or so. We will never go back to flannel sheets.” Paige A. raved: “Rather than flannel sheets, my husband and I put an electric blanket under our percale sheets and turn it on about 15 minutes before bedtime. We then turn off the blanket once we’re in bed. Toasty sheets without the flannel.” Carolyn said to try her simple solution: “A heated mattress pad with dual controls. Not expensive and available on amazon.com.”

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: In the recent spring/summer fashion show coverage, it seemed to me that the center-part hairstyle has become popular again. While many of the models were wearing weird hats on the runway, I was struck by the proliferation of center parts on the runway when you could see the models’ hair. And, in the extensive photo coverage of regular people’s “street style” in the various countries, I saw many more women parting their hair in the center. I haven’t tried a center part since I was a pre-teen but are there any guidelines on who shouldn’t wear that look?

--Anna N.

Dear Anna: In fashion, there are no rules. I’m serious. When I was a Girl Scout long ago, our troop took a modeling (!) class where the instructor, among other things, had swatches of different colored fabric to test against our skin tones to tell us what colors were most and least flattering. For many years I stayed away from my “bad” colors. Don’t follow rigid dictates of anyone. Some of my “bad” colors are now my favorites.

Experimentation is at the core of a stylish woman as she presents herself to the world. Style “rules” stifle imagination. Don’t follow dictates of anyone. As you check out reports on the latest hairstyles from so-called experts, tell yourself what a 4-year-old I know often says to grownups: “You’re not the boss of me.”

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