I’m getting more and more frustrated with sleeve lengths in stores. Many of them just aren’t flattering. At one point, I thought I was being overly critical, but when Kendall Farr confirmed my suspicions in her latest book, Style Evolution, I felt that my frustrations were justified. Kendal says:

“Most manufacturers really don’t understand the flattering sleeve issue. Unless an arm is slim and toned, caps or lengths that draw a line across the bicep are fattening. I buy my favorite T-shirts in long sleeves and take them to my drycleaner to shorten to anywhere from just above to just below the elbow. Plays up a slim forearm; disguises the rest”

A sleek sleeve that ends around the elbow, as Kendal describes, is in my opinion the most flattering length of sleeve on any arm. It’s where the hem of the sleeve cuts the arm in half, or thereabouts, that makes visual sense. Long sleeves and sleeveless garments are flattering too. The former covers the arm completely, while the latter bares all, thereby creating equally long, lean lines.

And then there’s the rest. Sleeves that end at unflattering lengths somewhere between sleeveless and short sleeves are in abundance. And they are the most difficult sleeve lengths to wear! As much as I love to wear sleeveless garments and encourage others of all ages and sizes to do so as well, I realize that many women prefer to wear sleeves. And because retail is cap-sleeve-obsessed, this is what most women end up wearing, especially if a top fits well in every other respect. Not so fab.

Help us out retailers. Getting this right should be easy. You don’t need to stop producing cap sleeves – there are women who sport them beautifully. But variety is the spice of life, so offer a deeper assortment of flattering sleeve lengths and you’ll probably sell more items. I’m putting in a special request for elbow-length sleeves because they’re flop proof.

Hope our retailers are listening.

This item is nothing new for those of us of who wore them in the 70’s and 80’s. I even had friends who bought normal jeans and made their own tie-dyed versions with a good amount of bleach and a washing machine.

Strangely, I am more drawn to this look now than I was 25 years ago. I see it sported successfully in two distinctly different ways:

• On a teeny bopper, worn casually with graphic T and Converse
• On an adult, as part of an edgy and sophisticated ensemble (Fergie’s look in this post by the Budget Babe is a good example)

Once you’ve toned down the punk aspect of these crazy jeans with the necessary sophisticated elements, you could end up with a fabulously alternative little look. Think sleek lines, tailoring, gorgeous shoes and dressy handbag. At the end of the day, style and sass is all about HOW you wear an item.

For years I heard that you could use the same tube of mascara for a year before it went off. Last year a cosmetics sales representative told me that the shelf life could be up to four years! Shortly after that I heard six months. The most recent information I got from two different cosmetics counters is that one should toss mascara after three months of use because of the unsavory bacteria that collects around the brush after repeated contact with your eyes.

Who’s a gal to believe? I find it hard to throw away what seems like a perfectly good cosmetic before there are signs of it going bad. I can’t help but think that cosmetic companies are trying to turn their products around faster with a conveniently short expiration date. I’ve been using mascara daily for 20 years and it usually lasts for 6-8 months. I throw away the tube when it’s empty but not before. So far no problems. Should I be more careful with the suggested expiration date and toss the tube sooner? Or is my skepticism warranted.

I don’t often single out specific items, but I’m impressed with every inch of this ruffle tank from J. Crew and I highly recommend that you give it a try if the style is to your taste. It might not look very different to the average run of the mill knitted top at first glance, but fabrication and construction make it a cut above the rest.

The top is 100% cotton and machine washable, which is ideal in sweltering heat. It’s made of super soft, better-end knitted slub yarn that has body and drapes to perfection. The lawn ruffles that run down the front of the bodice and around the neckline are made of woven cotton. This is clever. It gets you double the textural interest and a crisper looking garment after laundering (woven ruffles generally hold their shape better than knitted ruffles).

The silhouette is flattering too. It’s not overly tight at all. Mine hangs looser than it does on the model, which is another plus in the heat and ideal for hiding those little extras around the mid riff. No clinging. But it’s tailored in all the right places so that you look and feel pulled together in a perfectly casual way. The neckline is high enough that you won’t need to wear a camisole, but low enough to work for bustier gals too.

Fab on its own, or as a layering piece under a waistcoat, jacket or cardigan. Unfortunately the style doesn’t come in petites and at $35 a pop it’s by no means cheap. But I’m tough to please when it comes to knits and this item passes my grade with flying colours. I’m duplicating.