logo



Take Steps to Find the Right Length for Your Pants
Friday, October 10, 2008 11:56 PM
 decrease font size   increase font size      print article Print

(Source: Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)trackingBy Jean Patteson

Question: I guess you could call me a member of Hillary Clinton's "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pant Suits." I do a lot of business travel, and always wear pantsuits. In airports and airplanes, I choose flat shoes, then switch to heels for meetings and consultations. My problem is with the length of my pants. If I have them tailored for flats, they are too short with heels, and vice versa. Which is better: too-short pants with heels, or too-long pants with flats? Or is there some way to easily adjust the length of pants?

Answer: Too-long pants are irritating. Too-short pants look dorky. Tough choice! But here are some possible solutions.

A set of gadgets called Zakkerz can provide a temporary fix. The gadgets are flexible strips with strong magnets at each end. You roll your pants hems to the desired length, then use two Zakkerz per pants leg to secure the rolled hems in place.

Can't quite picture it? Visit Zakkerz.com to view photos. A set of four, in basic colors such as black, brown and camel, sells for $27 to $31 on the Web site.

While not the most polished solution, it would keep you from tripping over your pants hems while dashing through airports.

You also could try hitching up your pants by tightening your belt. It may cause the pants to bunch up a little at the waist, but your jacket should hide the evidence.

Or how about rethinking your shoes? If your flats were not quite so flat, and your heels not quite so high, you might not need to adjust your pants at all. Shoes with thick soles or low heels would be comfortable for travel, and pumps with medium heels would smarten your look without making your pants appear too short.

No hide nor hair

Q: I am a freshly minted vegan. Can you suggest where I can find shoes that use no animal products?

A: So, you want to give leather the boot? Here is a list of sources for vegan shoes from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), a real authority on the subject:

Zappos.com is the place for sporty sandals and sneakers. Shipping is free, and Zappos even carries Stella McCartney's hot line of vegan shoes for Adidas. Web site

Bourgeois Boheme has causal and elegant footwear as well as boots, bags, wallets, belts, cosmetics and more. Web site

Moo Shoes has everything from slip-ons and boots to dressy heels and cute sandals. Web site

AlternativeOutfitters.com stresses style, comfort and durability in its wide line of pumps, heels, flats, wedges, sandals, boots and more. Web site.

Life Stride's nearly 100 percent vegan line of business and casual shoes can be found at Dillard's department stores.

Journeys is worth the journey to the local mall for leather-free platform heels, skateboarding shoes and colorful sneakers.

Payless Shoe Source is practically stacked to the ceiling with affordable vegan shoes.

Target's big selection of stylish and inexpensive leather-free styles is, well, right on target.

Lost and found

Lost: A reader is looking for classic mule-style slippers with wedge heels.

Ronnie is trying to track down short-sleeve sweatshirts for men and women.

Found: Good news for Dora, who wants to know where she can find a pearl choker like the one Michelle Obama often wears on the campaign trail. That single-strand, faux-pearl choker, adjustable from 15 to18 inches, is by Carolee. It can be purchased online for $50.

Simone, who is looking for a ceramic nail file, is also in luck. The Sally Hansen LaCross brand is available at most drug stores.

Allison can find Streekers temporary hair color in eight fashion shades, including purple, online.

And Ginger can find Love's Baby Soft cologne at some Walmart stores.

(c) 2008 Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.



(0)
No Comments
Post Comment
Name:  
Alert for new comments:
Your email:
Your Website:
Title:
Comments:
 

  

The video content presented here requires a more recent version of the Adobe Flash Player. If you are you using a browser with JavaScript disabled please enable it now. Otherwise, please update your version of the free Flash Player by downloading here.

Fundamental data is provided by Zacks Investment Research, market data is provided by AlphaTrade. , and Commentary and Press Releases provided by Quotemedia