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The Vine

The Tomato Nation advice column addresses your questions on etiquette, grammar, romance, and pet misbehavior. Ask The Readers about books or fashion today!

Home » The Vine

The Vine: January 26, 2007

Submitted by on January 26, 2007 – 6:45 PMNo Comment

Hey Sars,

A friend has asked me to be his date for a 200-person semi-formal wedding next month. He is the best man, if that matters at all.

I have no idea what to wear. I’ve been a bridesmaid or the maid of honor in the handful of weddings I have attended, which solved the “what to wear” dilemma. I’ve looked back in photos to see what other people were wearing, but that didn’t help too much since the events I attended were fairly small, casual, and in the late ’80s/early ’90s (hello and ew, shoulder pads).

My dress size is 16/18. I’ve been poking around online, but the dresses I’ve found are either too matronly or too revealing for my tastes.

Adding to the problem is the fact that I have tattoos on my shoulders and upper arms, and a lot of the dresses I see are sleeveless. Normally, I wouldn’t care about the tattoo thing but it is a semi-formal event and I don’t want people referring to us as the best man and the smacked ass. The tattoos would easily be concealed by short sleeves.

Any help you or the readers could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Fashion plates were so not the toy for me

Dear Fash,

Finding semi-formal dresses with short sleeves is a chore, so I’m going to make the readers do it instead of doing it myself. Heh.

Readers, we need a semi-formal (or nicer) dress, available in size 16/18, that isn’t sleeveless or strapless. Specific links/styles are most helpful here. Email subject line: “semi-formal dress.”

Dear Sars,

My high school is its own little world of differing climates — it can be freezing cold in physics, and then uncomfortably warm in history just two classrooms down — so I’ve found that the best way to survive is by layering. I like to wear t-shirts or tanks under a zip-up hoodie type thing, but I’ve been having trouble finding good bottom layers. I just want an all-season, basic, no weird design on the front t-shirt, but I can’t track those down. I’ve been eyeing the basic jersey crew neck tees at Top Shop but I don’t want to pay for shipping from the UK for something I can, in theory, find in the U.S. I’m hoping the readers can point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

My Kingdom, Or At Least My Favorite Khakis, For A Navy Tee

Dear Tee,

…Really? You didn’t find anything at Old Navy, Gap, American Eagle, Forever 21, Delia’s, Abercrombie, Alloy, L.L. Bean, Lands’ End, or J.Crew — not one basic t-shirt? Maybe I don’t understand what you’re asking; do you want super-cheap tees? Long-torso tees? Tissue tees that are specifically for layering? Because I guess those things are marginally harder to find, but a basic t-shirt is…just not tough to get your hands on.

So, I’ll ask the readers to recommend some tees besides the brands I’ve just mentioned, that are good for layering and sort of under the radar. Readers, one t-shirt rec per email, and it should be a shirt brand I haven’t mentioned. Email subject line: “layering tees.”

Dear Sarah,

I have a much-loved bag that I carry my stuff in, but it is starting to get very raggedy, and I can’t seem to find another one like it anywhere. So I was hoping you and your readers could help me. I’ll try to describe it as best as I can.

It is kind of like a small messenger bag, about 9 inches wide, 10 inches long and 3 inches deep. It has an adjustable strap, which is long enough to wear it across my body. The front is flat, and has a zippered compartment and a pocket, and has velcro underneath at the bottom to attach it to the rest of the bag. When you flip the front over, there are all kinds of good things inside that I can’t seem to find anywhere else.

There is the main compartment area, which is the full size of the bag. The front of the main compartment is where the good stuff is. Proceeding down from the top of the bag, there are two more compartments that are as long as the bag, but not as deep. Below them are: two pen holders, a clear plastic slot for photos, slots for business cards, and a little mesh-type pocket.

Mine is several years old. I don’t remember where I bought it, and it doesn’t have any identifying brand names on it. The one tag I found on it says, “Made in China. Content: 52% Ramie, 48% Polyester.” I thought it might’ve been a Mudd bag, but the little logo on the front is a circle with a “w” in it.

I’ve tried eBags, Amazon, Old Navy, and others with no luck. Lots of bags look similar on the outside, but they don’t have the same stuff inside. I don’t want a bag with just one or two compartments inside. I like having every thing in its own little place so I can easily find what I’m looking for.

Thanks!

I Hate It When Something I Love Goes Out of Style And Can’t Be Found Anymore

Dear Me Too,

Manhattan Portage might have something like that, but I can’t say for sure (and that would have the little skyline tag on the front, not a “w”).

Readers, does this bag sound familiar? Email subject line: “pockety bag.”

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