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.

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 female 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.”

I’ll say this for the style: They’re comfortable and hide what many women think of as figure flaws. The New York Times recently called them “unflattering.” This style appeared on spring runways, and I found 10 versions of bloomers on the Urban Outfitters website (urbanoutfitters.com), a chain popular with young women.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: On a recent trip to Asia, 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. Models, stars and brave civilians have been letting their bras (and/or underpants) show through flimsy, see-through clothing.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: What is your opinion of the “bag charm” trend — those dangling cute things that are supposed to make your purse look unique?

— 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. 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.”

Send your questions and rants — on style, shopping, fashion, makeup and beauty — to answerangelellen@gmail.com.