Best and Worst Dressed
Your Best and Worst Dressed '98 issue started out great. Minnie Driver and Tyra Banks are exquisite and definitely Best Dressed material. Then I turn the page and there is Cameron Diaz. We love her! She's as cute as they come, but Best Dressed? I think not. Maybe you should start a new issue: The 50 Most Popular People of the Year.
Robin White, DeSoto, Texas
Okay, I know she's America's newest sweetheart. And she would be on my list of 10 brightest smiles. But am I
the only one who thinks Cameron Diaz is on the wrong list in your magazine?
Margaret Ward, Sugar Land, Texas
Sorry, but Cameron Diaz's Oscar getup deserved the same reaction as Seinfeld's puffy shirt.
Kris Dekker, Grand Rapids, Mich.
There's something about Mary all right, and it looks like thrift-store potpourri. And how come Peta Wilson got dinged for not matching shoes to her outfit, but Kathy Griffin got dinged for shoes that matched too much? If these judges are the epitome of California fashion, I'll gladly stay in San Diego County.
Karen Tatge, San Marcos, Calif.
It's a good thing you used the Best and Worst graphics on each page. Otherwise I wouldn't have known the difference! Maybe the article should have been called One Best Dressed and Nineteen Worst Dressed, since Tyra Banks was the only one who deserved to be in the category she was in. My advice to the other nine is spend some of your hard-earned money to hire a stylist.
Victoria London, San Diego
I appreciate that you included Madeleine Albright in your Best and Worst. Not only is she intelligent and professional, representing all women well, but I also appreciate the fact that you included a mature plus-size woman as Best Dressed. Hurrah!
Debbie Pine, Seaside, Calif.
I was really disturbed by the repeated reference to the beautiful model Emme as "plus-size" in the Best and Worst Dressed issue. Once, maybe, but it's like her first name was "plus-size." There is no reference to Cindy Crawford as "minus-size"! Emme has made a name for herself. Isn't it time we give her the credit and not her weight?
Maureen Boughner, Baltimore
I read with mild amusement your choices for Best and Worst Dressed. While Marie-Chantal is wearing fur and being canonized, Lorrie Morgan is being ridiculed. Look again—the suits are virtually identical. And Gwyneth Paltrow would have to stand on Brandy's shoulders to get anywhere close to Peta Wilson's sex appeal.
Dale Osborne, Ajo, Ariz.
I found your selection of Debbie Matenopoulos as Worst Dressed incomprehensible. To my eyes she looks, well, normal. She's definitely someone the average woman can relate to. Save your barbs for the truly tacky. There's plenty of it out there.
Marie Lakin, Ventura, Calif.
What happened to Geena Davis? Her Oscar dress was beautiful.
Carolyn Warters, Tuscola, Ill.
Are you telling me that Carmen Electra is one of the Worst Dressed people of the year? Did you even look at picture No. 2? I would torch a busload of nuns to have her show up on my doorstep wearing that.
Christopher Ritsch, Baltimore
What a waste of paper and ink! Surely you have better things to write about.
Diane Emick, Oral, S.Dak.
Good grief—here we go again! Obsessing about the Best Dressed and Worst Dressed. Maybe next year you could add a new category—Half Dressed.
Elaine Hall, Hemet, Calif.
Scoop
Magic Johnson said that his show failed because black celebrities failed him. Perhaps Mr. Johnson can take a cue from the multicultural shows of Jay Leno and David Letterman. Even reverse segregation is outdated. He should have interviewed people because they are interesting, not for their racial background.
C. Baker, Dover, Del.
Hey, Magic! I watched The Magic Hour for a good 10 minutes, and as a black woman I found that it was more entertaining to watch paint dry. To say black celebrities "failed" you by refusing to appear on your show is immature and an inappropriate way to handle failure. Maybe you should blame your staffers and producers for failing to come up with a good talk show.
Karin C. Stephens, Maple Heights, Ohio
All the money and fame in the world won't help you hang onto a talk show if you come across as an illiterate buffoon. There's a reason the celebs flock to Jay and Dave: They can carry on a conversation with them!
Colleen Nelson, Orange, Calif.
Olga Podshivalova
What a wonderful surprise to find such a moving, heartfelt story in the midst of all your glamor and fashion nightmares. Kudos to Steve and Holly Hedgecock for giving of themselves to help these children in need. It does my heart good to read stories of such wonderful people, and it renews my faith in mankind.
Shannon L. Armstrong, Swoope, Va.
Thank you for the heartwarming story about Olga and the Hedgecock family. It sounds as if Olga has found a wonderful home with Holly and Greg and the rest of their brood. The world needs more people like them!
Juli Baggett, Nevada City, Calif.
Dan Eldon
Thank you for the touching article on Dan Eldon. I had the pleasure of knowing Dan and his sister Amy as campers at YMCA camp Wapsi. Ten years later I still remember Dan telling me about Kenya and drawing African symbols on my arm. He was a wonderful person and it is not at all surprising that he dedicated his life to helping others. I was greatly saddened to hear of his death, but thankful to have had the opportunity to know him for a short time.
Erin Smith, Lee's Summit, Mo.
Toms River Little Leaguers
What happened to equal time for boys' and girls' sports in this country? You had an article on the World Series champions in the boys' division of Little League; what about the girls' division? These girls work just as hard as the boys and deserve the same recognition. The Little League World Series girls' championship was won by a team from Texas. The Midway All Stars 11-and 12-year-olds have won six of the last seven World Series.
Michelle Ellis, Waco, Texas
Joe Yandle
Let me see if I have this straight. Joe Yandle admitted he drove a getaway car for a robbery in which someone was killed. He then served 23 years in prison—much longer than most murderers, rapists and child molesters. Are we supposed to be outraged that he lied about his war record in an effort to get his freedom? Is it so hard to believe that a 26-year-old man would say whatever was necessary to get respect from other inmates while in prison? And are we really claiming that we don't understand how a lie can mushroom and get out of hand? As the daughter and wife of Vietnam veterans, I am disgusted that anyone is purporting to be shocked or angry with Yandle for his lie. Of course we value and respect our veterans, but Mr. Yandle was living in his own hell, and it is the most appalling hypocrisy for anyone to condemn him for the basic instinct we all have to survive.
Melinda Harper, Arcadia, Calif.
Mailbag
I cannot believe all the letters you received attacking Monica Lewinsky. At 21, we certainly do not have good judgment; that often comes by learning from mistakes. Who really can cast the first stone? Also, when it comes to love, women often use their hearts instead of their brains. Here we have a young 21-year-old and an experienced, middle-aged man who heads the most powerful nation in the world. Who is really the guilty one in this messy affair, and who should have been adult enough to stop?
Johanna de Bie, Alhambra, Calif.
Joe Yandle lied and he may be sent back to prison to complete a life sentence. Bill Clinton lied and he is President of the United States!
Virginia McDowell, Creve Coeur, Mo
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