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

What kind of boots is the Governor of California wearing in Terminator 2?

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:47:32 -0800

I need ya cloz, ya bootz and ya motacycle. . . Actually, just the boots would be fine. Google turns up no discussion I can find about what make/model of boots they might be. I think the type of boot is called "Engineer."

Looking at this video at 3:25, you can clearly see the boots:

My theory is that they are either some type of steel toed Chippewa like this. Or a Carolina boot

I don't ride a motorcycle, never have, never will, and I purely want these boots for my birthday because I like how they look. Total poser move, hence the anon posting.

Does anyone know the specific kind of boot worn by the Terminator?

Work boots - need 'em!

brandman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:32:02 -0800

So, know of any good work boots? After going through a couple of cheap pairs of work boots in the past 5-6 years, I'm looking to make an investment in a nice pair that will last a long time. The normal use case would be yard work, snow shoveling, etc. - not much much walkin' around town or anything like that. The primary value proposition for me is (1) durable, (2) comfortable, (3) warm & dry. I'm aware of brands like Red Wing, Timberland, and Wolverine, and I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on those and any others. Thanks!

Wallet Chain

flipmiester99 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:59:08 -0800

WalletChainFilter:Im looking for a very heavy duty thick worn in looking chain for my wallet. The one that came with it is just like every other cheap rinky dink chain. Anyone know where i can find one? Ive looked everywhere! Just to be clear this is what i have now and is NOT what im looking for. Thanks!!

Looking for long undershirts

mad bomber what bombs at midnight — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:16:14 -0800

Where can I get long white A-shirts (beaters)? I'm skinny and tall. With Hane's undershirts, mediums fit best, but the tails are not long enough to stay tucked into pants.

Any recommendations?

Did common people used to shave with fire?

penciltopper — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:11:25 -0800

Before the sharp steel razor became generally available, what did most people shave with? Fire seems the best choice. Right? So I'm living any time prior to the last 400 years or so.
I'm an everyday Joe/Jane, not rich enough for luxuries.
But whatever culture I'm living in mandates a shaved face/legs/head/whatever.

I've heard of bronze age razors and cutting hair with knapped volcanic glass, but it seems to me that it would be a lot easier to just take it off with a burning twig.

Not to mention less painful - I imagine a copper or obsidian razor would probably be like shaving with a carpenter's plane or a piece of broken glass.

And I suppose that the nobility got up to all kinds of fancy things; but I'm more interested in the common person than some kingling who had a team of slaves responsible for plucking each individual hair.

What does the hive mind know about popular deplilatory habits of the previous couple of millennia?

I've narrowed it down to fancier than jeans less formal than a ballgown.

Kellydamnit — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:36:44 -0800

What should I wear to a Salvation Army wedding? I'm sure most people will be in their uniforms, but needless to say that's not an option for me. The bride and groom are both elderly, and the reception will be held in the social hall at the church, so I don't think it will be super formal. Most of my nicer stuff is black, but given their ages (he's 80ish, she's in her 70s) I don't know if that would be too "modern" for the circumstances. Would a black skirt and pastel blouse be OK? Party dress? I'm totally lost. Unfortunately I'm going as the guest of my boyfriend, who is utterly clueless about appropriate fashion for this sort of thing, so asking him is out.

Where can I find jacket like Number 6's in NYC?

Godbert — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:46:22 -0800

Where in the New York City area can I find a jacket like the one Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan) wore in the original The Prisoner series? In particular, I mean the black jacket with white piping. Since this is probably a one-time thing, I'm not looking to spend a lot of money on it, and am not opposed to second-hand.

Bonus points for also being able to recommend somewhere to find/have made a 'number 6' button with The Village's penny-farthing bicycle.

What Time Is It? Dad's Birthday!

hilaryjade — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:52:07 -0800

Please help me find a pocket watch for my Dad's birthday! He is in his seventies and has some limitations with his vision, so it needs to be pretty easy to read. For that reason, I'd prefer black numerals on a white face. He also would like for it to have the day of the week along with the date. My preferred price range would be $100 or less, but I can be flexible if the perfect watch can be found. I've done some Googling, searched askme for 'pocket watch' and checked Cabela's and Duluth Trading (I've found some gifts he's really liked at Duluth Trading) and looked around Amazon. I have seen quite a few pocket watches, but the only ones I've found with day of week were clip watches (also referred to as backpacker watches) or looked like they might be hard to read (gold hands on a whitish-silver face, for example)

I'd prefer a silver tone case, but that is not a firm requirement. Thanks for any help or suggestions!

No more facial soap bars, switching to liquid soap.

mtphoto — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:54:22 -0800

What kind of liquid facial soap do you recommend? I'd like to stop using facial soap bars to wash my face. I've used the Neutrogena "transparent facial bar" for several months, but I don't like how to bar melts away so quickly. What liquid facial soaps do you recommend?

I'm a guy, if that changes your suggestions at all.

What were the results of your hairtransplant like?

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:05:19 -0800

Have you ever had a hair transplant procedure to treat male pattern baldness? The last time someone asked about this here in Ask Metafilter, everyone said, "Don't get plugs! Shave your head!", but there were no testimonials from guys who had actually experienced the surgery. If you've had the surgery, when did you have it, what sort of procedure did you have done, were the results reasonably natural, and would you recommend it? I'm a guy in my early 30s, whose hairline is starting to recede. I know the most popular opinion is that I should shave my head, but I'd just like to know if anyone has gone the other way, and what their thoughts are on the matter.

Throwaway email: donttellmetoshaveit@gmail.com

Workout tops for short girls?

catesbie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:23:31 -0800

Are there brands that make workout tops suitable for short girls? I'm 5'1" but reasonably curvy. All the fitted workout tops I own are too long and therefore too tight on the hips, so they ride up on my rather short waist and require constant adjustment. Buying a size up doesn't solve the problem - then they're just too baggy everywhere else. Can anyone recommend a brand - online or otherwise - that sizes tops for petites? (Lots of places seem to offer pants with shorter inseams, but not tops.)

This would be for the usual gym stuff, but also needs to be suitable for Pilates and yoga, where t-shirt+sports bra+headstand simply will not do. Thanks in advance.

Watch strap replacement

edmz — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:38:53 -0800

Where can I find an original watch strap replacement for a Diesel DZ-9005 watch. I can only seem to find cheap replacements, all of them made of plastic while the Diesel watch comes with a leather strap.

Looking for a few good shoes

bitteroldman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:58:55 -0800

What makes a shoe a good shoe? I have 2 pairs of dress shoes at home which look exactly the same, except for the quality of the leather (and the shoe laces). The cheaper pair cost me 80$; the more expensive pair cost be $250.

Did I get ripped off for the more expensive shoe or is there another difference between the shoes that aren't so obvious, that make the expensive shoe a "better shoe"

What makes a good shoe a good shoe anyways? What do I need to look for when shoe shopping.

FWIW, i'm more concerned about "good shoes" from the standpoint of "better for my feet" as opposed to "durable" or "long lasting"

you'd look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two

Juliet Banana — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:57:32 -0800

My boyfriend and I really want to win Most Stylish Couple at The Sadie Hawkins Style Ride in one week. Any suggestions? (previously) There is no way on earth we are winning Fastest Couple; normally I wouldn’t even participate in a ride since I’m the speed-racing equivalent of a child riding on the sidewalk or a pedicab, but it’s a short ride (~3 miles), you can skip checkpoints and hop to the bar if you’re not concerned with winning Fastest Couple, the money goes to a good cause, there’s beer at the end, and I really want that pair of Seagull Bags.

I have a teal&orange little boy’s bike from the late sixties or early seventies; it’s a Schwinn Stingray knockoff. My boyfriend has a yellow Schwinn Varsity.

So, how do we dress? I’m a girl with most of my somewhat eccentric wardrobe obsessively cataloged online, if you know where to look for it. My boyfriend’s most distinctive features are a blonde handlebar mustache and a collection of brightly colored skinny jeans. We’re riding at night in Chicago’s November, so all-black clothing is probably not genius, and moderate warmth is a must (it’s not snowing or anything and I generally heat up on my bike, but it’s definitely tights&hoodie weather).

The best idea I’ve had is my boyfriend dressing like an olde timey admiral with a captain’s hat and me dressing like a pirate with a pirate’s hat,with my eyepatched sock monkey riding in my jolly-roger-outfitted bike basket. This really isn’t that costumey for us (I’ve worn both those hats to shows and he wears that captain’s hat everyday to work) but given the timing I worry it’ll look like we just reused our Halloween costumes.

I have access to two bright and colorful wardrobes, a million accessories including a backpack shaped like an owl and a sombrero, and pretty much every store in Chicago proper including craft stores and a bunch of resale shops in Boy’s Town. So, what other themes could we go for to look like a super-stylish matched cycling couple?

I'm right, but lack visual evidence of my rightness

B-squared — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:07 -0800

Help me find images of handsome, manly men in white sweaters. I'm trying to convince my husband that a white sweater is as versatile as his dour browns, blacks and grays. If they are layered with shirts under or jackets over, all the better. Thank you!

Correct parts for a Bernette/Bernina 812 sewing machine?

Perplexer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:19:01 -0800

Correct parts for a Bernette/Bernina 812 sewing machine? I'm a sewing novice, never owned a sewing machine. Thus, many of my pants and jeans are too long, some garments have the ugliest button threading ever, and I still have an unmended hole in my jacket pocket.

I picked up a Bernette 812 "Made for Bernina" at a garage sale for two bucks, and it appears to be in good working condition. I can't tell, however, since it is missing the power cord and foot pedal.

Does anyone know the proper parts for this unit? I can't find a service manual or a whole lot of information on this model, and don't want to order the wrong parts.

Thanks!!

Environmental impacts of sheepskin vs fakefur slippers?

filthy light thief — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:23:25 -0800

I'd like to get some slippers for my wife (and possibly some new ones for myself), and am debating between sheepskin and synthetic. I'm debating about real wooly sheepskin versus synthetic alternatives, but I don't know how to go about being a conscientious shopper in terms of environmental impacts. Please help! More thoughts inside. I've had a pair of sheepskin slippers for about 10 years that I really like, but the left one is a bit small and is getting a hole where my toes were pushing through the seams, and the other is too big and floppy at the heel. Sometimes my wife wears them because they're so warm, but they're much too big for her. It doesn't ever get freezing here, but we like to have cozy toes.

I feel bad about wearing fur and skin, though I figure a few belts and slippers that I'll have for 5-10 years isn't that bad. But if I could find sturdy slippers that are made of decent material (biodegradable materials would be nice, sturdy and long-lived is a must, as is comfortable and warm) then I'd be happy. Hive mind, what are your thoughts?

MetaStyle: Help a stylishly challenged person get the perfect dress.

magnoliasouth — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:14:40 -0800

Help me (a plus-sized picky person) pick out an affordable, versatile dress to wear to a December wedding. I have no sense of style and I hate shopping for dresses; there are several reasons why too.

1. I have gained a lot of weight since an injury, so I'm around a size 18 and probably a 20 in some dresses. I feel like I look fat in EVERYTHING. I have thin nicely shaped legs though, but my torso is another story.
2. I don't like wearing dresses at all and I only shop for new cocktail/semi-formal dresses about every ten years. I am very picky.
3. I look terrible in many colors. I have almost an Eastern European look where my hair is medium to dark reddish brown, but my skin is very fair. Yellows and reds are out.
4. I prefer green and not just any green, but close to sage. I have only one feature that I'm proud of and that is my green eyes. Sage makes them striking and I nearly always get a compliment on my eyes.
5. I have to have something which hides my armpits. I have skin tags that I hate and am mortified over. Several times I've been to the doctor to have them removed, and every single time there wasn't "time" to do it. It's as though I'm destined to deal with them forever and always.
6. I need something that is about $75 or less, if possible.
7. Since I don't shop often for stuff like this, it needs to be versatile enough to wear for Christmas parties (et al) too.

Phew!

I like this dress, in Sage, but again, no sleeves and I'm not entirely sure how it would look on me anyway.

So, any ideas? If I get the above dress, what kind of wrap could I wear with it or sweater, or something else? I can't leave it sleeveless. Is there another dress out there which would be a better option?

I'm at a loss.

Help me find a winter coat in Tokyo!

Athelthral — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:27:36 -0800

I'll be in Tokyo in a few weeks, and I want to buy a new winter coat while I'm there. Budget: $250ish. I'm looking for something fairly simple, classic and durable. I'm not going to have too much time for shopping, so I'd like suggestions of specific shops I could visit, and if possible, links to online stores so that I can have an idea of what to expect. If it helps, I'm looking for a grey wool coat, of about knee length or shorter (on a short person): maybe something like this, though I'd prefer if it were single-breasted and had a higher wool content.

It doesn't have to be something that can only be found in Japan - I live in the tropics and there isn't much of a selection over here, so this trip is my best chance to find a replacement for my current coat.

Thanks in advance!

How to deal with eyebrow hairs too short to pluck?

shelayna — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:14:46 -0800

Please tell me what to do about my "eyebrow stubble." For years I didn't bother plucking my eyebrows on a regular basis, but I finally got tired of the bushy look. So lately I've been plucking them, but I'm really bothered by the hairs under the brow line that in the beginning stages of growth are too short to be tweezed- they look like stubble. All I can do is wait til they get long enough to tweeze.

I hate the way it looks- like a bunch of little black dots underneath my eyebrows. Should I be waxing or something else instead of plucking? I'm not really a girly-girl so I don't know much about these things.

Trouble with black hats

Brocktoon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:13:28 -0800

Why can't I find a decent black hat/cap? It seems that every time I buy a black baseball-style hat, the black always fades to brown or off-color after a couple months. I don't stand in the rain in these hats. I don't do anything to them but wear them. I've tried Hurley hats 'cause I like the style. I thought maybe getting an MLB (etc) licensed hat might boost the quality, but any hats they have in black are all "gangsta" style. While I have nothing against this style, it is not for me. Anyone have any ideas?

Which kind of Nike shoes are these?

fac21 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:53:12 -0800

Can you tell me which model / style of Nike shoes these are? (Ignore the boot in the front, I'm referring to the Nike shoes behind the boot.) This photo was taken just a few days ago, so I'm assuming these are reasonably new Nikes.

Is it ok to call out skinny girls for calling themselves fat?

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:59 -0800

Should I recognize that all women have body image issues, or do I have a point in feeling annoyed that someone a lot smaller than me is describing herself as "curvy"? I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and she mentioned something about having to come to terms with the fact that she was "curvy". By curvy, she meant (her words) that she occupied an awkward space where she wasn't fat and she wasn't skinny - a weird middle ground of not belonging. While is indeed very shapely, she's actually quite petite, has a very small waist, and I suspect that at least 90% of people asked would describe her as thin.

I, on the other hand, am 5'8 and 185lbs (when I tell people this, they usually make a face and say 'That can't be right'), and well-proportioned but nevertheless substantial figure. I was a fat kid in elementary school, and have my whole life probably been at least 10lbs overweight. While I'm quite comfortable with my body, I do struggle with body image, and all the negative feelings that come with being a big girl.

My immediate (reflexive) reaction to her statement was, "You're not curvy," to which she took offense. She does work in an industry where body image comes into play in a way that it never has for me, and I realize that I shouldn't discount someone's insecurities because of my own anxiety. Women, whether size 0 or 24, all experience discomfort with their bodies at times.

At the same time, I can't help but feel that she really doesn't occupy the space between fat and thin, whereas I have for my whole life. I feel by identifying as such, she a) has some unrealistic ideas about her body, and b) is attaching herself to an identity she hasn't really experienced.

So tell me, am I just being insecure and competitive unnecessarily, or do I have a point? I'm not saying that she doesn't have reason to have her own insecurities, and I'm not trying to be part of an exclusive club, but I feel a bit like she doesn't really know what she's talking about. Even if I'm out of line, I'd love to hear from women who react the same way as I did.

Recommendations for reasonably-priced and distinctive jeweler in Manhattan?

Grinder — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:56:33 -0800

Recommendations for reasonably-priced and distinctive jeweler in Manhattan? I'm looking for recommendations for a not-terribly expensive jeweler in Manhattan (if such can be found!). I'd prefer a place with a distinctive style. In particular, I'm looking for an engagement ring.

I can also travel out to the other boroughs, but don't have a lot of time in the city.

(Previous questions have been about repairs rather than purchases.)

I need to find shiny sparkly clothes.

jhighmore — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:24:23 -0800

So my friend has some sort of overdeveloped magpie region of her brain and loves sparkly shiny clothing (think sequins, covered in glitter). Where can I find something extra special for christmas for her? Skirts, tops, dresses - hell, even pyjamas or accessories. I would love your ideas of where to purchase such sparkly items. UK-based is very preferable. Budget of £50 but preferably a bit cheaper. Thank you all in advance!