FASHION Q & amp;A

Q. I'm having a hard time finding jeans that fit. All the styles seem to be midrise or low-rise -- which would be fine if I were still a slender teen-ager.
When I find a pair of jeans that fits my hips and rear, the waist is too large. Is my only option to have my jeans altered? Or are there still brands that have traditional styling and come up to the waist?
A. Low-rise jeans have certainly been the trendiest style for the past couple of years -- although there are indications that fashion, ever fickle, now is moving back toward natural-waist and high-waist jeans.
In the meantime, there are plenty of jeans with traditional styling designed to fit the more mature figure. You will find them in the women's department of department and discount stores, and also in stores such as the Gap, which specialize in jeans and have a wide range of styles and fits.
To save time and avoid frustration, get help from the sales assistants. They are familiar with the stock, and should be able to steer you in the right direction.
Q. My daughter is a keen triathlete. I heard her talking about some new watch that uses global-positioning technology to measure speed and distance. I'd like to surprise her with this watch (provided it's not too terribly expensive) for her birthday. Does this ring any bells?
A. I don't know about ringing bells, but the new Ironman Speed & amp; Distance System watch from Timex does a whole lot of other things.
The watch consists of two pieces: a GPS (global positioning system) receiver and a watch/monitor that are connected by a radio signal. The receiver scans the skies for satellite signals that pinpoint speed, distance and pace readings to the watch in real time. Techno-buffs should love it.
The Watch comes in 100-lap and 50-lap versions, selling for $225 and $200 respectively at selected sports stores. For more details, check the Timex Web site at timex.com.
XJean Patteson is the fashion writer for the Orlando Sentinel. Fashion questions of general interest should be sent to Patteson at the Orlando Sentinel, 633 North Orange Ave., Orlando, Fla. 32801. Or send e-mail to jpatteson@orlandosentinel.com. Individual replies are not possible.
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