FASHION

Stylin’ for short statures

Simply shortening sleeves and pants doesn’t necessarily translate into a good fit for shorter men. Here are some tips:

•Choose thinner stripes, such as beaded stripes or pinstripes ( 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch wide should be sufficient). The wider your frame, the wider the stripe option.

•Stay away from pleated pants; opt for traditional cuts, preferably in a flat front and in a short rise. If you prefer pleated pants to hide wide hips or thick thighs, go for shallower pleats.

•Opt for narrow ties — they’re more proportioned for shorter frames. (2 1/2 inches to 3 1/4 inches at their widest point. Anything that adds width to your midsection will make you look short, so stay away from wide bib-looking ties.

HEALTH

Now hear this

Energizer Holdings recently conducted a survey of 1,065 baby boomers whose spouses suffer from hearing loss. Key findings include:

•Being hard of hearing can cause hard feelings. About half of the respondents feel that their marriage has suffered because of their spouse’s hearing loss. Nearly 7 out of 10 feel annoyed when their spouse can’t hear them.

• Nearly 84 percent feel that if they talk loud enough, their spouse will better understand what they are saying.

•Is it hearing loss, or selective hearing? While about half say their spouse doesn’t hear chore requests, three-quarters say their spouse can hear them fix a snack.