Dear Answer Angel: Are exposed bras and bra straps now an acceptable form of fashion? To me this is tacky and low-class.

I’ve been seeing these on women of all ages. There are strapless bras available!

--Floy H.

Dear Floy: I strongly advise against exposed bras and bra straps. I think it looks sloppy. But with backless and revealing tops proliferating in stores, especially in warmer climates, flashing parts of the bra is sadly inevitable and gaining in popularity among women of all ages.

Most women don’t have strapless bras in their underwear drawer (and don’t want to spend the money to buy one to go with just a top or two or a revealing dress). The solution of course is to either buy a strapless or don’t buy the tops. I think that solution hasn’t got a chance of catching on.

Styles change and bras eventually will go where they belong: out of sight

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: When I was a kid, we always were wearing white socks (usually gym-type athletic socks) with our shoes — any shoes. It made things easy and my mother didn’t have any trouble sorting the socks of my brothers and me after she did the wash. All of our socks were identical.

Out of curiosity, is it still unprofessional fashion-wise to wear white socks with “good” shoes, like leather loafers or oxfords? I recently got a job where I have to dress in serious business attire and am clueless.

--Tom W.

Dear Tom: Don’t do it, Tom. Michael Jackson wore white socks and dark shoes. Justin Bieber and David Beckham have worn white socks with sandals. But un-famous men shouldn’t choose white socks to go with their dress shoes (or sandals). Ever.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: It seems like I have tried every possible holding product for my fine, curly hair and all are way too heavy and don’t do what they are supposed to do. I want something to keep my ringlets intact, not drag them down. You have written about your own curly hair and I wonder if you have found the answer to my problem. I am desperate.

--Debra S.

Dear Debra: As we curly girls know, every one of us has different hair woes and they change with humidity, age, hair dye, wind, hats and many other factors too numerous to mention.

That said, I have several suggestions for you. Davines “This is a Medium Hold Modeling Gel” (sephora.com, amazon.com, $32) and Davines “This is a Curl Gel Oil” (us.davines.com, $34).

Here’s my application process with these products, but experiment with how much to use if this doesn’t work for you: Apply a dime-size mount to wet hair (ends only) after shampooing. Follow immediately with the same amount of the modeling gel, also ends only. Then do what you usually do to your hair after washing.

Readers: Tell me what products you recommend. And Debra, let me know if the Davines products work divine magic on your hair.

Angelic Readers

Kate B. shares her solution for Beth Ann, who wrote that she is afraid to wear the expensive Tiffany sunglasses she received as a gift, fearing she will lose them, based on her long experience with any sunglasses…

Kate writes: “I keep two pair of sunglasses in my car. One is my expensive pair and the other is a cheaper pair. The expensive pair that I use for driving never leaves my car. If I know I'm going on a walk or outdoor event, I use the cheaper pair. This works for me. That way I preserve the good ones and never leave them anywhere. If I lose the cheap pair, I just buy another.” From Ellen: This is more difficult than it sounds. I’ve tried it but I wind up throwing the cheap ones or the good ones (or both) in my purse at the end of the day so I never have the two pair in the car. I know: Discipline! Wish I had more of it.

Reader Rants

From Lorrie C: “My issue is with shorts. They are making them so short now. I used to buy some from Kohl’s that were great for a quick go, but they are making them shorter now. Younger women can get away with that, but I'm getting older, and they definitely do not look the same on me and I don't think the public should be exposed to that. Or the Bermudas or the short shorts everyone is now selling. Men get length choices -- 9, 10, 10.5 and even 11 inches. Women should have the same choices. AND everything should have pockets!”

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