Answer Angel: Compacts?

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Do women still use compacts to powder their noses? And, if so, why?

--Lizzie H.

Dear Lizzie: Yes, they do -- but definitely not as much as they did, say, in the 1920s. They were multi-functional: powder, powder puff and a handy mirror inside the lid to apply lipstick, check for food in your teeth, blot with the puff to eliminate an unwanted shiny nose or face.

I still have a refillable Estée Lauder powder compact I bought in a now-defunct department store decades ago. Compacts by then were “retro” -- even bought new. Mine was quite cute, made of leaf-shaped gold metal with a little, realistic, metal red-and-black ladybug perched atop the leaf. At the time, you could get powder refills for it. I saw the exact same one — vintage now -- for $39 on etsy.com.

You can still buy powder compacts at Ulta Beauty ulta.com (marketed as Travel-Size Shimmering Lights, $16) and even Walmart (walmart.com, $12.99).

Cartier and Tiffany vintage compacts of precious metal, some with gems, go for $10,000 and more at auctions and antique jewelry stores. Women no longer worry as much about a shiny nose/face as they did in the compact’s heyday.

And when you can buy a tiny purse mirror (no makeup inside) for $3.99 on amazon.com (with two mirrors — one a magnifier) there just aren’t as many compacts in use by modern women who, in many cases, no longer worry about a shiny face. Instead, they glory in their “glow.”

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Just curious about a phenomenon that always amazes me: Every time I do laundry, my shirts and shorts turn inside out. Does that happen to everyone?

--Roger D.

Dear Roger: I thought this was a joke question. But I now have learned that this actually does happen, though it has never happened to me. Some research tells me that the clothing flip to inside out most often happens with lighter loads. Fewer clothes in a big washing machine give garments more room to move around, thus more space to agitate to inside out. (I jam as much as possible into every load so perhaps that’s why this phenomenon doesn’t happen to me.)

Also, clothing is usually stitched inside out at the factory and turned right side out only after the sewing process, so they sometimes return to their “original” inside out shape in the wash. Many washing machine manufacturers and laundry experts recommend that you wash clothes inside out in the first place to reduce lint (fuzz) accumulating on the all-important outside of your clothes. This is especially true of black clothing — and all clothing that has some stretch fibers instead of 100% cotton, linen, etc.

Also, if frequent washing is going to cause wear and tear to your clothes, better it happen on the inside of your clothing first. And if buttons and zippers are on the inside, they are far less likely to damage other clothes in the washer.

Keep doing what you’re doing.

Angelic Readers

Readers to the rescue for Carol S., who can’t find petite size pants that fit her “not perfect” petite body type, with narrow hips. Jennifer T. says, “I’m 5-feet-tall, 100 pounds with slim hips. I’ve found Liverpool jeans are perfect (liverpoolstyle.com; macys.com; nordstrom.com; dillards.com)! They have an elastic thick waistband with a faux front jeans look. Size 00 fits perfect. For dressier looks I like Tribal brand. They drape very well and look polished. Size 0 is my choice there. Good luck to Carol.” Alice S. writes: “The best pair of pants I have is an Ann Taylor petite pair (anntaylor.com). They’re expensive but if Carol gets them I think she’ll really like them.”

From Noreen K.: “I am petite and have found Democracy pants and jeans (democracyclothing.com) to be the most comfortable and flattering pants I own. They have dress pants, casual cotton pants and jeans all with pockets. I have also found Democracy petite items online at TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and Nordstrom Rack. Spanx also has petite sizes, but pockets are not as prolific and they are a pricier option. Spanx (spanx.com) has more athleisure options in petite sizes compared to Democracy."

From Randi R. “I am 5-foot-1 with skinny legs and a little thicker waist. I adore I.N.C International Concepts jeans from Macy’s (macys.com). Fit me perfectly with a little stretch for comfort. Almost any of the choices fit too. On another note: Thank you for NOT only mentioning Amazon for purchases. Cheap clothing only adds to the landfills. Going to the brick-and-mortar stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom, etc. is always the way to go in my view. They have good sales, helpful staff and not throwaway fashions.”

(From Ellen: Because the Answer Angel Ellen column runs in newspapers and online nationally, I try to give readers multiple buying site options. But great local-only small, unique stores that might be my favorites — but don’t have websites or nationwide delivery — won’t work for readers all over the U.S. Sometimes amazon.com is the only alternative.)