Ask MetaFilter questions in the clothing, beauty, & fashion category

Respect the Badge

Mike Mongo — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:27:08 -0800

Where can I get metal sheriff-type toy badges custom made? This is my Jr Deputy badge. In 6th grade, it got me into the Pinellas County Fair—for free!—on Saturday morning, where it allowed us to ride all the midway rides—for free!—from 9AM to noon.

To me, it's like a regular Blue Blaze Irregular badge* except for its being imbued with (obviously) magic powers.

Now I want to make some for kids I work with as part of outreach for the space program. So plainly it cannot say SHERIFF (as so many of the commonly available versions of these little promotional toy badges tend to say). More like TRAINING ASTRONAUT or INTERSTELLAR JR RANGER or something which will be just as awe-inspiring for elementary & middle school-age kids.

My Jr Deputy badge still means the world to me, and that is the same sort of long-lasting spirit I want to evoke in kids I work with who are being introduced to science and space exploration.

The best I have been able to come up with is Alibaba. Suggestions or recommendations?

Ah! One other thing. I am looking for metal custom badges. Plastic versions are easy to find but my metal badge retains its original awesomeness in a way that plastic badges just can't touch.

* I have one of those too.

My pants are falling down!

Slarty Bartfast — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:45:08 -0800

You know that loop of string on the front of bathing suits and exercise pants? What am I supposed to do with that?

My eyes are up HERE

Ms. Toad — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:18:42 -0800

Help me cover up this big dark bump on my shoulder with makeup or other tricks! I have a kind of benign cyst on the back of my shoulder. It's raised, dark, and reasonably large, about a 1/4 inch in diameter. It sort of looks like a mole, but it's clear from its coloring and shape that it's not. I love wearing tank tops in the summertime, but I notice people staring at the cyst when I'm sitting next to them. I WILL NOT SACRIFICE THE TANK TOP!

I don't want to get it removed because the doctor says it's big enough that it would leave a large crater in the skin, and it's benign and doesn't bother me otherwise. So, maybe I can cover it up?

Can you recommend a (reasonably inexpensive) cosmetic that could help to hide this big bump? I've tried traditional blemish cremes, foundation, and cover-ups, but they don't quite do the job, partly because it's so raised. I'm also a bit makeup-dumb. Other ideas?

My skin is fairly light/caucasian, and the bump is a deep brown, if that matters.

Love costumes, love the other stuff, still a self-doubting noob

Kronur — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:10:56 -0800

What does a first time comic con cosplay participant need to know? I live in a small town well away from most comic cons, but now it looks like my town has one. This weekend. I have questions... I think that I'm dressing my husband and I up as characters from the Prisoner, of the Portmeiron variety. It's easy for us to pull off and comfy. Is this appropriate for a comic-con? Is it generally recognizable by people other than me? Are we too old to dress up in costume (we're 34). (I know I'm not for Halloween, but this is different.) Is it called cosplay when it's not crazy/super revealing/highly skilled? Any other advice for a first time attendee? I know nothing about this stuff, and we want to have fun!

Help me get a navy blazer

ersatz — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:47:39 -0800

I had my heart set on this blazer, but it turned out to look different when I saw it in person. Any recommendations for places to get a similar-style blazer in the same price range? I'm a man in London.

Is there a flip flop for me?

ms_rasclark — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:50:56 -0800

I am on the never-ending quest for comfortable flip flops that fit my narrow feet. I'd like them to be nice enough to wear with a summer dress or shorts for a casual look. I wear a women's size 9 on one foot, size 10 on the other. With open-toed shoes, I can often get away with a 9 1/2 or even a 9. I got a pair of the adjustable Chacos last year and they cut into my feet. I tried them a few times hoping I would get used to them, but I never did. I just got a pair of size 9 Chaco flip flops.

They seemed to be narrow enough at the store, but after wearing them for just a couple days, my feet are flipping and flopping more than they should and they're making my feet and knees hurt. I have not entirely given up on them, I'm going to try for a few more days before taking them back, but would sure love to know if anyone with a narrow foot has found a comfortable pair of flip flops that fit. I have some old Nike flip flops with a slightly wider strap that holds my foot in. They're a size 10 - too long and too wide, so they look goofy, but they're somewhat comfortable. I have no idea where or when I got them - I think someone left them at our house. Even though I don't love the way they look, maybe a size 9 in these would work for just throwing on to go to the store.

Copyright status of Toile de Jouy patterns?

zadcat — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:11:00 -0800

I'm interested in using a Toile de Jouy pattern like this or this as a background for a piece of stationery – this is a commercial usage, not a personal one. Does anyone know what the copyright status of this kind of pattern is? It seems some are very old and traditional and some are not, but I'm finding no info about their status as public domain material.

Need mens hair stylist recommendation in the NYC / NJ area

r2d2 — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:42:13 -0800

I am looking to re style my hair. I would like to go to someone who can recommend styles that suit me. I have some idea of what I want but could use some advice. Currently I go to supercuts. As you probably know they are not the best for advise. I am willing to pay significantly over supercut prices to get this advice. Just dont know who to go to. Any recommendations?

Are more expensive epilators worth it or could they work worse?

Jaelma24 — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:39:03 -0800

I have read posts about different epilators and have heard good reviews about Braun, but it seemed like lower to mid price epilators were recommended. I am new to epilating and I want to use it for legs, under-arms and chin. I am looking for the best epilator that is easy, efficient and has high techiness that makes general use of it easy such as wet/dry. What are some of the good epilators to use and does higher cost equate to it being better? I want to make sure that the options/features making it easier doesn't make it worse in actual effectiveness. I have read of some epilators breaking hairs instead of removing it on wet/dry epilators.

I want a more expensive one since I feel like there may be higher quality but I have seen mid-range epilators recommended on metafilter in past questions as being great and I am not sure if that was just the high end a few years ago or it maybe that is a better option than more expensive versions. Otherwise I am looking at Braun Se7921 spa or Braun SE7681 which are more expensive. I really like the SE7681 model since it has so many attachments that make it seem very multifunctional even with a shaving head to make it an all in one option. Is this really as awesome as it looks?

For Background I am a woman in my mid 20's who has tried laser hair removal on both underarms and face no success probably because my hair is too light. The hair my face is dark enough that it is noticeable and I currently shave everyday to minimize this but I feel prickly (ick). Plucking is not an option since there are just too many hairs and that would take forever to do. I have tried waxing in the past and I loved how my face was actually smooth for the first time in a long time. I am just too lazy to go out and get it done professionally and it will add up over time price wise. I was horrible at home wax. Just way too messy and hard to do on my face and neck. This is why I am looking at an epilator and figured it might be great to use all over and not just my face/chin/neck. To double check, am I crazy for wanting to epilate my face and would it be worse than waxing?

TLDR;
In summary, I want a nice epilator that is great for face/legs/underarms with options or features that make its use easier and more awesome. What recommendations would you have and is more expensive with features actually better than simple cheap epilators? Any other advice is welcome.

What's this corset a knock-off of?

gzimmer — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:04:42 -0800

So a while ago I bought this corset for the lady and we both enjoy it. I'm fairly certain it's a knock-off of a more expensive design considering the price and style. I'm looking for any similar designs since I like the buckles. Similar price range would be nice, but I know that quality corsets get expensive.

Come on baby, let's stop the twist

2soxy4mypuppet — Sat, 11 May 2013 16:50:04 -0800

I can't walk ten paces without most of my skirts rotating at least a quarter turn. (Clockwise, if it matters.) My waist is pretty small compared to my hips, and I'm buying sizes that are (otherwise) appropriate. Annoyingly, they never seem to rotate in the store so I can't weed out the duds. The suggestions I've seen (gripper waistband, tucking my shirts in, using safety pins), don't work because I generally don't wear tucked-in shirts or nylons. Snugtex wouldn't have much to, ah, snug to, besides bare skin. Suggestions, please?

"Do you use 'product'?", "What the hell is that?"

coolxcool=rad — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:59:33 -0800

I'm looking for suggestions for men's hair care products meant to hold the hair in place. I am a balding thirty-something who likes to grow a little hair, keep it in place, and not have to fidget with it, too much, after a shower.

Most of my hair I'd prefer to just brush back, blow dry it, and have it stay that way all day. For visual examples I'd say I'm looking for something in between the 'hold' of hair of Chris Mathews and Bill Maher (not necessarily representative of my political affiliations, but blah blah blah). To give another frame of reference, I generally like to keep all grooming and hygiene products in my life to a minimum. If I'm going to complicate my life with this product I'd like it to perform it's function at the top of it's class.

More importantly I'd like suggestions of products that have different 'hold' variants, maybe on a scale of 1. to 5.:

1. being still a little messy and doesn't hold all day

to

5. makes your hair like epoxy, or a laminate, that holds for days on end

I'm encouraging recommendations on the very light, 1., end part of the spectrum, as I'm just testing the waters.

Ethically Produced Duds Similar to Everlane, U.S. Office Edition

forkisbetter — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:05:41 -0800

I read this New York Times article about clothing that is ethically produced and looked up the company they feature, Everlane, and really loved the look of their stuff. It's conservative enough for an office, but still fashionable and hip, and not horribly expensive ($15 for women's t-shirts). The trouble is, they don't offer very much variety. Basically, I'm looking for more things along the lines of these previous MeFi questions but for women's clothes available for purchase in the U.S. Doesn't have to be made in the U.S. just made under ethical working conditions. I seem to see somewhat positive things about J. Crew for example (Landsend sells U.S. made clothing, but I think most of their stuff is too matronly). Just has to sell ethically made clothing that is work appropriate for a relatively conservative office, not super crazy expensive, available online in the U.S.

In my researching I've come across a few sites that look good, but so many of them are so small and hard to find that I was curious if anyone had any more they'd recommend.

Good and Fair, Blu Democracy, Sosume, Alternative Apparel

I'm looking for a fancypants Bag of Holding

Ruki — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:45:42 -0800

I recently received an unexpected amount of money, and after doing grown-up things with it, I want to treat myself with a new purse. I paid off a credit card, set aside money to redo the flooring in my living room, and socked a good amount in savings. Because I acted like a big girl with this windfall, I'm allowing myself about $400 to buy a new bag. But I'm overwhelmed with choices. I'm looking for a large (at least 12 x 12) bag with good storage options. I'd prefer leather, but other materials are okay as long as they aren't stamped with designer logos. Nothing hand-held, I need to wear it on my shoulder, or cross-body if it's really awesome. I've shopped at the Coach outlet for so long that I don't know where to look. As this is a splurge, I'd like a designer bag, but I don't know what's in my price range. Please help me find an awesome vessel for my stuff!

Also, it's going to be 90+ degrees the entire time.

troika — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:21:07 -0800

I'm going to Pakistan! What do I wear? Work is sending me to Islamabad, Pakistan for a week or so. I'll be working for a western-run office. What should I wear? I've been told that western business attire is fine as long as I dress modestly, in loose-ish clothing. I don't have to cover my hair.

I'm not a very clothing-oriented person but I would like to make the best impression I can on this trip, so I need your help in finding specific examples of things that fit the above criteria, would not look wildly out of place in Islamabad, and would look good on a late-twenties, size 8-10 woman.

Thanks!

(The guy that's been handling my trip out there is, well, a guy. He's great, but doesn't have much advice in terms of women's clothing)

Who decides that everyone will be wearing the same color for 3 months?

herbplarfegan — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:22:16 -0800

Everyone is wearing mint green as of spring. EVERYONE. How does this happen? Is there a fashion counsel in a dark room, like at the beginning of Zoolander, where they confer? Do they review which colors are in surplus and push those, like the specials on a restaurant menu?

This is the first time that I have ever noticed a color overtly and aggressively saturating every corner of the sartorial landscape. My guess would be that it's actually happened every season of my life and this just happens to be the most eye-catching color-- lots of contrast and such.

What in general (in the sense that this has indeed always happened) and specifically (in the sense that mint green was chosen to cover every human frame for Spring 2013) is going on here?

if it matters: I live in Seattle, I'm not remotely 'inside baseball' about fashion, & I'm a 35 year old male.

Looking for a good Leather goods repairers/restorers in the UK

drill_here_fore_seismics — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:11:43 -0800

I am looking for someone in the UK to restore/repair a leather writing case. Any recommendations? It needs relining (and therefore reconstructing essentially). It used to belong to my Grandmother and I would love to get it restored to it's former glory.

How do I style ankle boots? (Level of difficulty: chicken ankles)

Salamander — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:42:24 -0800

I need a new pair of women's winter boots. (Upcoming Australian winter: i.e., quite temperate. Fur lining is definitely not required.) I like brown or tan leather uppers (not black, no synthetics), a low heel (I'm nearly 6'), and reasonable quality construction. I'm prepared to pay up to $250. However, my ankles are giving me pause. I have long legs, long narrow feet, and super-skinny ankles. Are ankle boots going to make me look as if my ankles are about to snap? I've avoided the issue by wearing calf-length boots for the past few winters, but they need replacing and ankle boots seem more on-trend.

Most importantly, if I'm trying to make skinny ankles look proportionate, should I go for boots that are more slouchy/open around the ankle, or more fitted (with buckles or zips to draw them in)? Can I wear them with dresses, both maxi and knee-length (both of which I wear a lot), or only with jeans and leggings?

More stylish people than I, please help! I'm looking for general style tips here, but specific recommendations for boots are also very welcome (as long as they can be purchased online and shipped to Aus). Thanks!

Low-maintenance lazy girl w/ thick curly hair seeks straight down hairdo

AppleTurnover — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:08:46 -0800

I have super thick, wavy/curly long hair and I am not willing to spend a bunch of time everyday trying to wrangle my hair into submission. How can I get nice, straight hair that I can wear down in public and it not look like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket or I am growing dog ears? Details below! I am a woman and have been wearing my hair up in messy buns forever. I'm not a girly-girl -- I go pretty light on makeup and I wear a dress or heels about once a year, if that. Wearing my hair up was even to the point where I hadn't gotten a real haircut in years because I'd just trim my hair when it was up so I could tie it back perfectly. I really want to start wearing it down and I even got a haircut to make it all one even length. The hairdresser straightened my hair with a blow-dryer and round brush and then she used a flat iron to really straighten it and smooth it down -- I loved the way it looked.

Here's my problem though. I am extremely low maintenance and willing to put only a very small amount of effort into my hair. My daily routine is that I shower in the evening before bed and then I might put some hair gel in it or tie it tight with some hair spray to straighten/de-frizz it a little, and then I let it dry while I sleep. In the morning, I flat iron just the top and the curls underneath on my neck so I can pull it back and it looks pretty straight/not frizzy, but it's not straight throughout the hair so it's still pretty thick. I am not a morning person and quite frankly, I refuse to shower and then dry my hair and then straighten it in the morning -- way too much work and too much time.

Unfortunately, my hair is also very thick. It's generally very wavy and then in places (especially on the back of my head near my neck) it's really curly and naturally forms moderately tight ringlets when it dries. Without product, it gets very frizzy. I do not want to wear it curly or wavy -- I only want to wear it straight and, uh, contained. Sometimes it feels unmanageable. I don't want it to be frizzy or puffy. I just want it to be straight and, frankly, as limp and as pin-straight as I can make this giant mane.

How can I most easily and most quickly achieve the results I want? Like, I have a flat iron (a Chi with flowers on it -- model is GF 1070, google can't even find the model and there is nothing indicating the temperature it reaches -- it only has an on/off switch) and it doesn't feel like it can get all of the hair to easily straighten right up. I tried after seeing the hairdresser to replicate her great results, but I couldn't get it as smooth/thin or as straight. Maybe I need to use my flat iron really slowly, or run it through more than once, but with the amount of hair I have, that is getting into the amount of work where I'd rather not bother and just wear it up. There must be a better way.

How can I get nice, controlled straight hair with the absolutely minimum amount of effort? I tried some sort of chemical straightener once many years ago -- it was like a conditioner I let sit in my hair for a while -- but it didn't do anything. People seem to warn against really harsh chemicals and I'm not sure I want to do anything risky. Please help? I look at other women who wear their hair down and wish I could have hair like theirs -- straight, manageable and inconspicuous!

Now! With more prominent wrinkles!

small_ruminant — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:24:47 -0800

I'm getting married next month and would like to figure out some make up for it. How do a I find someone to help me? I paid for a consult at the local MAC store today (not to be confused with the Apple store) and though it looked okay (not stunning but whatevs) at the store, once I got outside, all my fine lines were even more visible than before. Also, after 45 minutes I wanted it OFF OF MY FACE!

It wasn't very heavy make up- I've worn heavier going to clubs, except I don't wear any foundation/primer stuff and this time I did. In general I don't wear make up except some bright red lipstick if I'm feeling festive, or a copper gloss if I'm feeling beach-y.

The wedding's outside during the day and I have no idea about make up for that situation.

The woman doing my make up was the senior person in the store and seemed to know what she was doing, so maybe it's the MAC line?

The deal was that they'd do it for $50 or a $50 purchase, so now I have some primer & concealer that I'm not sure I want to ever use. Well, the concealer's fine- I'll probably keep that.

Questions: How do I find someone who doesn't make me look even older without breaking the bank? I can't afford to keep trying folks out at $50 a pop. And what do I do with this stuff I just bought? Am I stuck with it?

All the wedding magazines assume you're 20 years old, and skinny, not to mention Scandinavian or Asian. I am 41 and not skinny. At least I'm white. Every other race is positively screwed when it comes to wedding stuff, it seems like.

Ideally, they'd be able to do it the day of the wedding, too, but doing it myself is okay with me.

As a bonus, the person who was going to help me with hair will be out of the state next month.

I thought this would be easy but obviously it's not. Please help!

Care and keeping of curly hair... on a toddler

celtalitha — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:13:32 -0800

My two-and-a-half-year-old daughter has inherited my crazy-thick, curly, totally uncooperative hair. She is a spitfire personality who despises having her head washed/combed/messed with, and I want to somehow minimize the trauma of keeping her looking civilized (which, at the moment, she rarely does). Help! So, I'm tired of my family telling me that my child looks homeless, and my child is tired of having mommy spend ages in the bath trying to comb conditioner through the tangles. I was using some discontinued baby wash from The Body Shop that I found at TJMaxx as shampoo, and it worked great; I ran out of that a couple weeks ago and decided to use the sample-sized Johnson's baby stuff that I had lying around ... and OH MY GOD the tangles, the tears, the misery. I am going to buy something else, but I need recommendations!

My normal routine is thus: I wash her hair 2-3 times a week (as long as she hasn't gotten anything in it) with a gentle shampoo; I use a natural conditioner to comb through and detangle, squeeze out the water with a towel, and add an extra dab of conditioner as a leave-in. As long as she bathes early in the day and her hair gets to air-dry we get gorgeous victorian-style tight blonde ringlets that everyone adores (seriously, total strangers come up to me multiple times a day gushing over her hair when it's done right).

BUT! But, if her hair is still damp when she goes to bed/nap, or if she touches anything, or if it's been a day or half a day since the bath, or if I can't get the comb through the conditioner nicely, we have HUGE POOFY CRAZY MESS. Think of a large 70s afro, only blonde, only after the owner stuck their finger in an electrical socket. So... do I have to resign myself to every-morning hair washing? Should I cut it all off (it's down to mid-back when wet, but sticks out like a curly Einstein- after a day)? Should I just let her look like a hobo with random curls and tangles everywhere? (it kinda fits her personality, tbh, but part of me feels like a neglectful parent leaving it like this).

If you have a curly-haired child, let me know what you use (shampoo, conditioner, styling product?) and how you deal!

I've read good things about Devacurl, Mixed Chicks, etc online but they are so pricey I'm reluctant to try them if they won't work for me. I will however shell out the money if that's what will save me the daily headaches...

Body by LG.

mykescipark — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:56:50 -0800

I'm a Former Fat Kid who's had to exercise religiously to stay in some kind of (refrigerator-like) shape as an adult. My distribution of fat and muscle means that I have huuuuge glutes and quads. Pants are therefore my enemy. Help me find a fit! [36yo/M] I have one of those crushing ass/leg combinations that, in gym shorts, look quite nice, but in normal pants just look dumpy and flabby. Because of the shape and size of my posterior, my pants become skin-tight (and do not-nice things to my junk) when I sit down. And when I stand up, my pants become so loose that they bunch up beneath my belt. How the heck do I rectify this, and what should I be shopping for? Brands, fits, cuts, fashion buzzwords, etc., all welcome.

I'm active, not the rakish type, and my sweat rate is kinda ridiculous, so I'd prefer to stick to unpretentious jeans/hiking/travel-type pants.

Name that shoe

hellbient — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:06:21 -0800

What kind of shoes are these colorful wrappy-type things? I think the colors are beads, and there's a logo on the bottom shoe near the ankle that looks like it's four black capital letters.

Help me find a Baptismal Gown for my son.

JPD — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:18:37 -0800

Back in 2009 my wife and I found this store located in the shopping arcades surrounding the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostella. My wife loved loved loved the baby clothes, especially the baptismal gowns. I'd love to find a place with items like this in the US, preferably NYC. Alternately If there are places that carry similar things in Madrid or Barcelona I can quite easily get someone whose taste I trust to go shopping for us in July.

Vintage wedding dress back alteration

dysh — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:01:44 -0800

Sewists/sewers/seamstresses of askme, I need your help. I bought a beautiful 1930s lace wedding dress yesterday, but need to have the back altered because though the dress fits at the waist, the zipper won't close in the bust. Other non-sewer advice welcome in the style department. So. I fell in love with a 1930s lace floor length wedding dress in a vintage shop. Unfortunately, when I tried it on, it closed at the natural waist but not in the back. It looked absolutely stunning from the front, and just as I thought all was lost, the owner of the shop mentioned that they had a sewer in-house who does costume design and alterations, and they could simply take out the zipper, put a small one in up to the waist, and then do a ribbon lace-up back. Upon closer examination, the owner also suggested they could do an eyelet back, which I think might look better with this dress. She made it sound super simple, and even said they would throw in the alteration with the cost of the dress.

Now, the dress is bought and I'm going in for alterations Wednesday, and after one hour on the phone with my mom, who is an experienced but not professional sewer, I have some questions.

First off, here are some pics:
http://imgur.com/K7yWL8r.jpg
Sorry for the poor quality, I wasn't quite anticipating asking this question when I took them, so I also don't have shots of the back. The dress is currently at the shop until alterations Wednesday, so more photos are inaccessible, but I will try to describe it to the best of my ability. I believe there are two seams, on on either side of the zipper, so the back appears to have 3 panels of fabric. Below the waist, the back is identical to the front. At bust level, the zipper is maybe 1 or 2 inches from closing I think.

The questions:
-What would be the best way to fix the back, both fashion-wise and technique-wise? Ribbon lace-up? Eyelet opening? Perhaps something like this ? Something else I haven't thought of?
-How "simple" is this fix, really? I don't want to ruin a beautiful dress by doing a quickie fix that ends up not sitting right.
-My mom has offered to go to the sewer with me on Wednesday to talk about options. Considering the owner said it would be a quick fix, would the sewer be annoyed by our questions? I'm willing to pay more to get the job done right.

Please please tell me this is possible. I am really looking for solutions and would be heartbroken if I couldn't make this dress work.

Thanks in advance for your help, and I'll try to answer any questions promptly, as I'm sure that having never done more than stitch up a hem or a patch on to my backpack, , my sewing vocab is limited.