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

Ugly dirt marring expensive glasses

castironskillet — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:40:22 -0800

How do I keep the bottom edge of my half-frame glasses clean? This is my second set of half-frame glasses. The lenses are held in by means of a length of monofilament attached to each end of the frame and running along a groove in the bottom edge of the lens.

In my last pair, this groove and line collected dirt and became a visible dark line. I got a new pair on Monday and today noticed that there is already a spot of dirt trapped in the groove under the monofilament.

This must be a common problem? Do any of you have half-frame glasses and a successful method for keeping them clean?

Need a nice backpack for a heavy commuter!

bienbiensuper — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:34:12 -0800

I need to find a laptop backpack styled similarly to this messenger/briefcase bag: good hope bag My boyfriend can't carry messenger style laptop bags anymore (shoulder/back problems), but he luurrrrves his laptop bag. His birthday is coming up and I want to replace his bag with something as similar to this as possible.

I found the official backpack version of this bag from the same brand/maker - but it's too round on top and not as well styled (imho).

This bag is beautiful, but out of my price range (I want to spend ~$150). Something along these lines would be perfect!

Girls who wear glasses...

meindee — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:53:16 -0800

Looking for examples of movies in which the heroine takes off her glasses and becomes cool/pretty/better... And ideas for encouraging the practice to stop. I was surprised when Drew Barrymore stooped to this level with the roller derby movie "Whip It!" I'd forgotten about the moment until I bought the soundtrack today and had an Acuvue ad fall in my lap. "How will Acuvue brand contact lenses transform you?" it asked.

I'm disappointed in Drew and not surprised by Acuvue...

Two part question:
1. It seems like I've seen the glasses to contacts ugly duckling scene over and over, but I'm having trouble coming up with examples now that I'm ticked. Anyone?

2. Do any organizations exist specifically for girls who wear glasses? I'd like to volunteer for or donate to one if so. Ideas?

Polishing the dome

caveat — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:15:58 -0800

Calling all bald men (and women, I guess): what products do you use on your head? I need gift ideas for bald boyfriend who complains of peeling after shave, and oil day-to-day. He uses my face cream (Aveeno Positively Radiant) immediately after a shave, which helps with the initial dryness but makes his head overly oily. Even when it's oily, though, you can see flakes of white dry skin a few days after shaving. His hair grows back fairly quickly, which means he's shaving one a week or so. He uses normal shaving gel on his head, the same as what he uses for his face. He uses the same razor for both, a Mach 3

Are there any products specifically for bald men that will help with the initial dryness, or the daily oil, or both? Are there any products that can help with the stubble? Shaving creams specifically for a man's head? Razor recommendations?

He's been shaving it since August of 2008 if that matters at all.

Bringing Back the Boot

readery — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:03:48 -0800

When I buy used boots, how do I best clean and restore the leather? Settling in on a winter work uniform of skirts with boots, I've been buying some cute used boots. It's getting ready to snow and I've never conditioned leather before. Do I need to clean the leather first? Are there any standout products to use? Do I treat black, brown and tan differently?

Thanks!

We all came out of Gogol's overcoat... but then it fell apart.

dnesan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:51:14 -0800

Toronto & Southern Ontario Mefites, help me save my favorite winter coat! I have a wonderfully warm and comfortable woollen winter overcoat that has lasted me a decade of Toronto winters, but the lining is rather quickly shredding. I had it relined once about a year and a half ago, but they clearly did a rather shoddy job. I'm now looking for a tailor (or seamstress or whomever) that can replace the lining and do a good job of it, as I would like to keep this coat for as long as I can. I'm not looking for the cheapest option, but a reasonable price or good value is always nice.

Can anyone recommend places where you've had good experiences? I've read these AskMes, but I'm hoping someone might have a tailor that they know can reline a coat like nobody's business.

T-shirt with shelf bra?

Chick Pea — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:33:48 -0800

Where can I find a short sleeve or long sleeve cotton shirt with a built-in shelf bra? There are many tanks and camisoles available with a shelf bra, but I am looking for a shirt with sleeves. I am looking for something that I can wear lounging around the house for those times when I want to be comfortable, but not let it all hang out, so to speak. I am not really interested in exercise-type shirts that contain a really supportive built-in bra. I would prefer something looser, and ideally made of a light cotton. I take ladies size large, and I am in Canada. Does such a shirt exist?

My skin has fallen and it can't get up!

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:52:08 -0800

My formerly oily, acne-prone skin is now severely dehydrated, horribly irritated acne-prone skin. Please help! I first started getting acne as a pre-teen and still have it to some degree now, at almost 40. I hadn't been getting pimples for at least a decade but did have clogged skin and hyperpigmentation to deal with.

Last year, I started on Tazorac and Obagi Clear for the hyperpigmentation. I was also ocassionally using a 2% BHA wash in the mornings. My skin was glorious for about four months. Then, summer hit and I was outdoors in the blistering sun (using sunscreen with high SPF but no other physical covering.)

By August, my skin was a mess! Pimples, blackheads, uneven skin tone and skin so dry I could barely touch it.

I have tried just about everything over the past two months: rose hip see oil, jojoba oil, hylauroinic acid in cream form, Vaseline, pumpkin enzyme treatment at the esthetician, the oil-cleansing method, aloe vera gel and NOTHING has worked to return my skin to normal!

I can't wear any makeup comfortably (though I want badly to cover the damage from this past summer ... as well as new damage from pimples that have formed, likely from putting too much on my face!) Mineral makeup is out because it's too drying. Moisturizing makeup does not moisturize.

I'd like to make a trip to the derm but I'm without insurance since losing my job.

If anyone's ever had this experience and can offer some help, I'd really, really appreciate it. I'd specifically like to know if my skin is ever going to return to its original state.

Help me find this t-shirt!

oh really — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:43:36 -0800

[LongShotFilter] Help me find this t-shirt! My husband had a Seattle t-shirt when he was younger that said, "Queen of the Faeries" with a picture of a fairy riding a dragonfly. (Pictured here.) It vanished around the time he & his high school girlfriend broke up, but he still talks about how much he liked that shirt & I'd like to replace it if possible. I've been looking all over for it, but my Google-fu is failing & I'm beginning to think it can't be done.

Wrinkle: we live in the Midwest & he's never been to Seattle, so he has no idea where the shirt came from. It was a Value Village/Goodwill find.

I've just seen a face...

eatdonuts — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:30:21 -0800

Yikes! Nearly every 'healthy' cosmetic brand has toxic waste in it! Here I thought using Burt's Bees was good for unicorns and everything, apparently they have issues too! So does the Body Shop - badly. Search the database... Anyone have a good, healthy brand line? Please no "Stop Using." Try telling that to a 13 year old who just got permission.

Help us recreate iconic film costumes for our holiday party

Unicorn on the cob — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:22:37 -0800

[CostumeFilter]: My company is having a Hollywood-themed holiday party in two weeks. Please help me think of a good costume for myself and my boyfriend. Difficulty factors: He has a beard, I'm short and curvy. The idea is red carpet moments, classic Hollywood, or memorable screen roles. Ideally this would be something highly recognizable, like the Marilyn Manson/Rose McGowan red carpet look (but nothing x-rated) or, say, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra. Unfortunately, I can't think of many "memorable" red carpet/Oscar moments that couples have shared, and I don't want to just buy a nice dress (boring!) when we could go full costume instead.

The couple with the best outfit wins a significant amount of spending money and a trip to Hollywood, so we are motivated; he is willing to shave the beard if it's worth it.

So far, we've kicked around the idea of going as young Obi-Wan and Padme Amidala or Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz (he'd make a reluctant cowardly lion) but we don't want to get TOO crazy on spending money and have a short amount of time to work on it, since the Thanksgiving holiday's about to start.

Both of us have black hair and he wears glasses, if that helps. The celebrities we most closely resemble naturally are Tori Amos (me) and a mix of Charlie Chaplin and Justin Long (him).

We don't have to go as a specific couple from the movie itself, just two characters from the same film will also work but I'm having trouble finding stuff like this by poking around on IMDB. Googling for Hollywood couples is equally unhelpful, since I'm trying to cross-reference roles and memorable looks. Thanks for any suggestions!

Best place in Providence for a facial treatment?

quodlibet — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:59:54 -0800

Providence, RI: Best place for a facial treatment?

Compare these brands of jeans

Busy Old Fool — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:03:39 -0800

I'd like a comparison of CK, Levi's, Dickies and Lee jeans. I've never bought a pair of jeans (for dull reasons), but I'm thinking about doing so. I know very little about the various brands and would appreciate some basic knowledge.

Obviously I need to see which fit me best, but aside from that, please tell me about the durability and other distinguishing characteristics of the following brands:

Calvin Klein
Levi's
Dickies
Lee

Any good or poor record of environmental friendliness or workers' rights would also be interesting.

Other brands (also for dull reasons) are not such a good choice for me, but if you strongly believe there is one that's head and shoulders above the four listed above, you can tell me too. Mostly, though, please compare the brands above.

Simple pocketwatch, either from the fringe or elsewhere

gleuschk — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:38:53 -0800

I need/want the pocketwatch shown in this screenshot from Fringe. Where can I find it? Failing that, can you point me to a similar (classy, simple) pocketwatch for under, say, $200? You can't see it in the screenshot, but I'm pretty sure that watch says "Classico" across the face. I wasn't able to Google up anything good from that. Maybe you can.

If that particular watch isn't an option, how close can I come? The black case isn't necessary -- silver/chrome is ok too, though I'd rather stay away from gold or brass. What I want is a simple, undecorated case and a simple, un-tricked-out face. Either Arabic numerals or Roman ones. Can it be done?

shredding shreds

anonymous78 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:21:51 -0800

How can I save the shreds in my shredded jeans? I recently bought a pair of jeans with some shredded patches. Every time I wash them, some of the threads snap. I don't want the shreds to turn into holes so what can I do to stop/minimize the thread snapping when I wash them? Would dry cleaning make a difference?

Crayon in the Dryer, 3x Over

theichibun — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:13:54 -0800

I washed some clothes with a crayon in a pocket. Now I've got yellow crayon spread out across my clothes. But it gets better. The clothes weren't getting dry and I kept putting them through the dryer. 3 times total, never noticing that the crayon stains were there. How can I get rid of, or at least minimize, the problem so I get some of my pants for work back? I've tried ironing with a paper towel and putting them through the washer with various combinations of OxiClean and other stain fighting products. At first running them through the washer seemed to be helping (cold/cold just in case maybe using warm water somewhere would help), but the last time I tried that I didn't see it getting any better. I also saw no good coming from the ironing method.

Due to my schedule the clothes have now been sitting in my room for about a week since the incident. Probably not a good move, I know. Do I have any hope of fixing the mess this late in the game?

Jean Genie?

JoanArkham — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:16:12 -0800

I'm looking for black, size 18 jeans. But I'm really, really picky... These jeans must be black. Like, blackity, black, black...not dark rinsed.

Rise should be "just below waist." No mom jeans, no "how the heck do you wear underwear with these" jeans.

Leg should be straight (but not narrow). No bootcut, no flare, but not skinny jeans either. Like the totally standard jean leg that existed in that brief period in the 90s after "pegged" but before bootcut.

I don't want to spend more than $40, but would consider it for really, really amazing jeans.

Added problems: my waist is small compared to my hips and booty. Curve-friendly is a plus. Also, I'm 5'10" and prefer tall or long inseam.

I'm not sure these jeans exist. Maybe I should start trying on men's jeans?

Best Cobbler in Victoria BC?

Sustainable Chiles — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:11:23 -0800

Who is the best cobbler in Victoria BC? I have a pair of Black Spot Unswooshers that I like the look of, but are falling apart prematurely. The seam along the top of the toe is starting to come apart, and I'd like to have a cobbler fix them before the tear goes too far. Can anyone recommend a skilled Cobbler in Victoria BC? I'd like the repair to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Tsubo boots

little_c — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:06:48 -0800

How durable are Tsubo boots? I live in Chicago and have to walk to and from public transportation every day. I'd like a well-constructed, plain, casual boot for the winter and I am looking at these Tsubo boots.

How well made are Tsubo boots in general, if not these in particular? Could I get at least one winter out of them? I currently have fake leather black boots that after one year, the sole is separating from the heel, the black on the toe is scuffed off, and they leak, so I'd like to spend more money on a pair that.. won't get that way after a year.

Woman's Fashions of the Late !930s

Raybun — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:59:02 -0800

Mrs Raybun watched the 1937 version of The Women and loved the fashion show sequences. What other late 1930s movies that showcase woman's fashions of the period would she enjoy watching?

looking for nice shoes to go with casual wear

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:48:31 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations on a pair of shoes that are "classy", but that look good with casual clothes (jeans and t-shirt, for example). The reason is that in Europe, many places seem to frown upon sneakers, even if they don't care about the rest of your clothing. I'd prefer something that's easily available in Western Europe, and in the £150-or-under range if possible. And even better if they're comfortable!

Someone recommended Campers, but I think that they are too similar to sneakers to really be what I'm looking for. Although I know almost nothing about about fashion, so any general advice on this problem is appreciated as well.

A good haircut?

chris p — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:23:19 -0800

Where can I get a good men's haircut (and style) in Las Vegas? (or Chicago?) I'm a 22 year old guy. I basically have the same hairstyle I've always had. I need a haircut and would like to try something different. I want to find a place where I can explain my basic needs and then have someone else pick the cut, then show me how to style it. There isn't really any place I know of that I'd feel confident doing that.

I'm not someone who puts a whole lot of attention into his personal appearance. I want something that looks good and is functional.

I'm in Las Vegas right now. I'll be in Chicago in a week or two. I'd prefer to do it Friday while still in Las Vegas, but will wait until Chicago if I can't find any place good. I look at this as a one-time investment into trying something new, so price isn't a huge deal.

Any suggestions where to go? Please also include rough price and how much I ought to tip, as well as any other suggestions you may have.

I want to look good. No, really good. (Or: personal shopper?)

tellumo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:33:48 -0800

A few years ago, I had a girlfriend who (gently) took me to task about my wardrobe and made a few suggestions as to how I could look better. I could see the difference after I'd tried a few new outfits, but I'm not very good at coming up with them myself, and I'm not very good at knowing what looks good and what has to change. It recently popped into my head that I could hire someone to help me out with this, but I know absolutely nothing about how to do so--although I hope MeFi harbors someone who does. Can you help me? I understand that the usual job title is "personal shopper," but I understand they mostly work for high-end stores, and I want to be able to 1) have a wider range of options and 2) get a pair of jeans for less than $300. "Style consultant" also came to mind, but that makes me think of calling Deloitte and asking for the menswear department.

Essentially, I'm looking for someone who can work with me on how to deal with my appearance (hair, glasses, clothes, shoes, accessories, any other aspects I may have forgotten) in all situations, work and leisure. I'm mostly interested in buying new clothes because I think I can pick out a few real clunkers from my wardrobe and replace them, but ideally I'd like to have an expert opinion on what to keep and what to chuck, as well as what to buy.

Like I said, I'm worse than clueless here, so my questions will be many and fundamental:

What is this called? A "personal shopper," a "style consultant," a "wardrobe consultant," something else? What's the phrase to type into the search engines? (For clarity and brevity, I'll use "personal shopper" in the following.)

How do you qualify a personal shopper? What do you look for to determine whether a personal shopper is good at their job and will work well with you?

What's the going rate? I understand the in-store ones generally work on commission, but I'd prefer to hire someone independent. I'm in San Francisco.

How should I set this up? Should I plan on an initial consultation followed by a shopping trip, or some other structure?

What should I ask a personal shopper? What sort of things should I keep in mind when working with one?

If you've worked with a personal shopper, what was it like? Any tips?

If you are a personal shopper, is there any advice you'd have for me on how to work most effectively with you or one of your colleagues?

If you're in the Bay Area and know a personal shopper, would you care to recommend him or her?

Bonus Question: While I appreciate good design, I think I have a bit of a tin eye for my own stuff, and for almost anything involving dress. Is it possible for me to get better at this, and if so, how?

I've seen this question, but there were only a few responses relating to independent personal shoppers, I'm not in NYC, and my questions are a little broader.

Thanks!

Call it "Tailor Tourism"

rileyray3000 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:52:19 -0800

I'm thinking about taking a suit holiday. As in, going to a country where not only can I have a fun vacation, but I can get a bunch of suits made for a good price. Where should I go? When I was teaching in Korea back in 2001 I got a few suits made for me on a lark. Some were the kitschy kind of fun suits that you get made when they're 70 bucks American and you think "what the hell." In my case that was one red satin number and five iridescent sharkskin suits in colors ranging from blue to yellow to brown - all as shiny as a marine's dress shoes.

Goodfellas was one of the only American movies I saw over there. I think it left a mark.

But in addition to those suits I also got one charcoal gray suit made and one light brown one. Those two have been my standby suits ever since. I get compliments every time I wear them, they fit me perfectly and I worry about the day they finally fall apart.

Thus I've been considering a "Suit Holiday." Something where I go somewhere like South Korea, have an exotic trip, and get a bunch of suits made to take home and last me another decade.

But I'm wondering if South Korea IS the way to go here. Maybe Hong Kong? Or Taiwan? Or the Philippines? Or Indonesia? I'm totally open.

Where is the place I can get the best bang for my buck and get 5 or ten suits made to take home with me? Where would YOU go on a Suit Holiday?

Help Jenni Be Awesome

By The Grace of God — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:52:27 -0800

Good source for wigs for transvestites in the UK? What to look for and think about when getting a wig? So a friend of mine is exploring his long time interest in cross dressing, awesome! He's looking for a wig, or maybe several wigs. He wants to look nice - not cheesy or tacky, but to express a gentle feminine side.

Where's a good place to get a wig? How much to pay? He's willing to pay for quality. Anything else he should consider?