Answer Angel: Crossed ankles

Ellen Warren, Tribune News Service on Apr 8, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: In so many photos, including photos of professionals and celebrities, the women are standing with one ankle crossed over the other.

Why? It looks so odd to me!

--Valerie H.

Dear Valerie: I agree with you. It does look odd. Or, at the very least, unnatural. When I posed your question to a professional photographer I know, she said crossing the ankles has the effect of making the legs look longer in photos. And with a slight twist of the body, those crossed ankles have a whole body slim-down effect, rather than facing forward and presenting the feet the old-fashioned way.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: The other day I was riding to work on a crowded bus. Luckily, I got a seat, but the bus soon was jammed full. Directly in front of me were two young women straphangers wearing what I can only describe as bloomers. They were baggy short shorts with elastic at each leg, creating a little girl ruffle effect. They were wearing them over tights. My immediate thought was that the shorts looked like a poufy diaper. Surely this isn’t a “fashionable” look. Or is it?

--Melanie L.

Dear Melanie: Yes, they are called bloomers and they can be short like you described, or more pants-like and stop at or near the ankle. The longer ones often are called “harem pants” or “genie pants.” Wearers — and there are plenty of them — can look like they just popped out of a magic lamp.

I’ll say this for the style: They’re comfortable and hide what many women think of as figure flaws. The New York Times not long ago had a story about their current popularity and called them “unflattering.” Actually, they seem kind of practical to me. This style appeared on spring runways and I found 10 different versions of bloomers on the Urban Outfitters website (urbanoutfitters.com), a chain popular with young women.

And another style question…

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: On a recent trip to Asia, a female fashion that I had not seen in the U.S. captured my attention. I saw women wearing what looked like a bra, a bikini top or a tube top with straps. They were wearing them over their dress, blouse or shirt. Do you think wearing underwear as outerwear is going to catch on?

--Maryanne C.

Dear Maryanne: Probably. Wearing a bra on top of your clothes is more like a variation of what we’ve been seeing for a while now. Models, stars and brave women civilians have been letting their bras (and/or underpants) show through flimsy, see-through clothing. What you saw on your trip was kind of the opposite and it has the advantage of covering up rather than showing off body parts that used to be taboo.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: What is your opinion of the “bag charm” trend — those dangling cute things that are everywhere and are supposed to make your purse look unique, not like anybody else’s?

--Felicity F.

Dear Felicity: For readers who haven’t a clue about what you’re talking about, a bag charm is a small item (sort of like a key chain without the key) that you attach to your purse strap. These include Louis Vuitton leather croissants to plastic dachshunds or an otherwise useless ultra-mini version of your designer bag. I am constantly trying to eliminate the weight of my own purse so bag charms that only add to the weight seem like a silly idea. But I am oddly attracted to them. So far, I’ve resisted, but I am wavering.Angelic Readers

Joanne’s lament: “I have not been able to find a flattering summer dress for years: something that is lightweight but not a skimpy sun dress. I need a style with sleeves that cover most of the upper arm, and a hem that comes down to at least the knee if not mid-calf. I find that the dresses that meet these cover-up needs either look like they are ready for winter, are too form-fitting or have enough material to make a tent. Can your readers suggest brands that fill those requirements without costing a fortune?” (From Ellen: Can you please help Joanne out by sending me your go-tos, with links when possible.)

Reader Cathy C. is having a hard time finding jeans that aren’t frayed or come with ready-made hose to look stylishly distressed. She wants jeans that just “look good.” Marigrace S. writes, “Have you checked out Gap for jeans? They offer many different fits, lengths, denim shades and no holes. I have been wearing Gap jeans for over 20 years.”