Readers share their fashion do's and don'ts

Dudes! Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you about the what-not-to-wear thing, but seriously! I just BARELY finished reading all of your e-mails.

Who knew we, the American people, all cared so much about stripper boots and whether or not our moms should wear them to church?

Anyhoo. I had loads of fun reading your fashion-forward comments — très educational!

So thanks for sending them along.

Not surprisingly, there were differences of opinion. Also not surprisingly, these differences often broke down along generational lines.

For example, men AND women over the age of 50 said they hated bare female legs in a formal setting, whereas readers under the age of 50 went, "What are pantyhose?"

Still, there was more consensus than I thought there'd be. Below are representative opinions.

LOOKS MEN WISH THAT WOMEN WOULD LOSE

Hair: Hair colors that don't occur in nature.

Short hair.

BIG short hair.

Prom hair (i.e. stiff updos). Like my friend Louise always says, "Men like long hair on the pillow. That's all there is to it."

Makeup: Too much of it — especially eye shadow and brows that look like they've been drawn on with a Sharpie.

"Why?" one male reader asked about Sharpie eyebrows. "Seriously, why?"

Underwear: Says one reader, "Underwear is UNDERwear and should be kept UNDERneath."

Clothes: Too tight? Not good.

Too loose? Also not good.

Anything that needs continual adjusting? Really not good.

Several adolescent boys also wondered what was up with leggings worn as pants. (Answer: Apparently the '80s are making a comeback.)

Shoes: Have you ever noticed, one reader said, that only WOMEN tell other women how much they LOVE their little flat shoes?

Big NO to gladiator sandals, cork wedgies, clunky heels, and extreme pointy toes.

As for the boots that started this whole discussion? Some men dig them (especially those with spiky heels) but most guys said no, especially to UGGs.