Answer Angel: Alternatives to leggings?

Ellen Warren, Tribune News Service on Jun 23, 2026

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Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I don’t like wearing “leggings,” period. Not to lounge around, not to the gym, not to exercise. They are not flattering and not practical in hot temperature zones where I spend much of my time.

Similarly, shorts call attention to areas I would prefer not to show in public.

So, what are my options?

--Sophia M.

Dear Sophia: Look in stores and online for “active pants,” also sold at reasonable prices as “athletic pants,” “joggers,” “performance gear,” "athleisure" and “track pants.” Stores and brands include Gap, Nike, Old Navy, Adidas, Lands’ End, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Costco, Target, Under Armour and more. Prices in the $20-$30 range are easy to find.

Some features to look for are functional, deep pockets (especially zipper pockets); waistbands that don’t choke your middle; easy wash/dry; UPF sun protection. I continue to believe that “pants” that stop at mid-calf such as capris by any name (clam diggers, pedal pushers) are unflattering to almost every woman.

Active wear brands like Alo, Vuori, Lululemon and others have many pants options but at higher prices. They sometimes turn up at Goodwill, etc.

One more option to think about: skorts (skirts with attached shorts), which are becoming more popular. Some are almost knee length: modest, functional and flattering. There are good quality skorts to be found in thrift stores and re-sale shops, especially in warmer areas and in areas with lots of golf courses.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Are there any eyebrow pencils or enhancers that don’t look like you just drew on your brows with a grease pencil or a Magic Marker? My eyebrows are blondish and sparse and I feel like I’m wearing clown makeup when I try to use the pencil crayon-like products, which look laughable.

--Hannah T.

Dear Hannah: Yes! Cosmetic companies have figured that women want a more natural-looking alternative to old-school brow pencils and you don’t have to spend a fortune!

Drugstore brands abound with options including L’Oreal Faux Brow; Maybelline Brow Inserts Micro Needle Shaped 2-in1 Dual-Ended Eyebrow Makeup Pen (target $11.89 and drugstores); Eyebrow Tint Double Brush Brow Pen (Target, Walmart, drugstores, under $12); Maybelline Tattoo Studio brow tint pen with multi-prong tip (drugstores about $13). Other options at Ulta Beauty ( ulta.com ) and/or drugstores include Revolution Beauty Instant Brow Hair Pen ($10); NYX Brow Tint Pen ($13); Neutrogena Micro Tint Serum Pen ($18) and others. All of these also can be used by men to fill in sparser beard/mustache areas.

Angelic Readers

Several readers scolded me for writing from personal experience that it was “an enormous pain” to freeze your credit reports at the major agencies (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax) to help protect against scams and identity theft and then unfreeze them briefly (when a credit card, mortgage application, car purchase, etc. calls for a credit check) and then to re-freeze them. Barbara S. writes, “It was the best thing I’ve ever done in terms of feeling safe from identity theft. It was not difficult. Your reader should definitely freeze them and your statements probably discouraged her from doing so.” Nancy D. wrote, “It was a snap to both freeze and unfreeze them online when I did it.”

On the topic of preventing purse theft, Elizabeth M. says, “For purse safety at the grocery store I always use the child safety strap to hook my purse in my grocery cart.” Barbara L. warned against this scary purse stealing method: “Don’t sit in the passenger seat of the car with the window open and your purse on your lap. We were stopped at a red light and a hand reached through the window opening and grabbed my purse. If the window is open, put your purse on the floor!”

Reader Rant

Chris D. gripes: “Why can’t makeup companies design some way for you to know how much is left in the mechanical-pencil style eyebrow and eyeliner pencils? I prefer these to the old fashioned pencils as they go on much smoother with less pressure. But nothing is more annoying than starting your makeup routine and discovering it’s out! I do try to keep an extra one handy (good use for those nice CVS coupons for drugstore brands) but that’s not always possible! Making the cap for the tip of those pencils see-through would be a big help.” From Ellen: Same goes for liquid eyeliner pencils. No way to tell they’re almost dry.