Month: September 2021

This Pilates-Inspired Workout Just Uses 1-Pound Ankle Weights to Toast Your Legs and Core

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Post date 30 September 2021
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If you’re looking for an effective way to use those ankle weights you have lying around, try this Pilates-inspired legs and core workout from Pilates instructor, 200-hour yoga teacher, and NASM-certified trainer Alexa Idama of @lowimpactfit. It’s the perfect muscle-strengthening workout to do at home when you’re short on time. It includes these five exercises using one-pound ankle weights:

Directions: Complete five to 10 reps per side, focusing on proper form.

Alternating arms thigh stretch
Kneeling side-kick lift and lower
Kneeling push-up + leg extension
Hot potato
Double leg stretch

Idama said in the caption, “The feedback that I get most often when working with clients is ‘that was so much harder than it looked!’ As innocent as these look, these moves definitely had my hamstrings cramping and core on fire.” So you’ll definitely be feeling this one tomorrow!

Culture

Rep. Cori Bush Shares Her Abortion Story in a Powerful Testimony: ‘We Have Nothing to Be Ashamed Of’

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Post date 30 September 2021
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Trigger warning: This post contains description of sexual assault.

At this Thursday’s Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Cori Bush shared a story she’d kept fairly private until now: That as a teenager, she was raped, got pregnant, and chose to have an abortion.

Bush was one of several congresswomen who testified about their personal abortion stories during the hearing, which was convened to discuss the current threats to abortion access, one month after Senate Bill 8 went into effect in Texas, banning nearly all abortions after about six weeks. The hearing also came ahead of a Supreme Court case that begins this December, which will decide whether Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban is constitutional.

“Nearly 1 in 4 women in the United States will have an abortion in their lifetime,” Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney said at the start of the hearing. “But with a hostile Supreme Court, extremist state governments are no longer chipping away at our constitutional rights—they are bulldozing right through them.” Maloney then urged the Senate to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which establishes a federally protected right to abortion for everyone in the U.S.

“Whether the choice to have an abortion is easy or hard, whether there are traumatic situations or not, none of that should be the issue,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal said during her testimony. “It is simply nobody’s business what choices we as pregnant people make about our own bodies.”

During Rep. Bush’s testimony, she recounted her story of being raped while on a church trip, the fear of realizing she was pregnant and would not have the father’s support, and her experience obtaining an abortion, including the racism she encountered during the procedure. “Choosing to have an abortion was the hardest decision I had ever made,” Bush said. “But at 18 years old, I knew it was the right decision for me. It was freeing knowing I had options.”

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St. Louis and I thank you, Chairwoman Maloney for convening this urgent hearing. It is an honor to join Congresswomen Lee, Jayapal, and Chu as part of today’s panel. And I also want to thank my sister Congresswoman Pressley for her leadership in this hearing and to my sisters in service for being here with me today and my brother.

In the summer of 1994, I was a young girl all of 17 years old and had just graduated high school. Like so many Black girls during that time, I was obsessed with fashion and gold jewelry and how I physically showed up in the world. But I was also very lost. For all of my life, I had been a straight-A student with dreams of attending college and becoming a nurse. But high school early on was difficult for me. I was discriminated against, bullied, and as time passed, my grades slipped and, along with it, the dream of attaining a full scholarship to a historically Black college. That summer, I was just happy that I passed my classes, and I finished high school.

Shortly after graduating, I went on a church trip to Jackson, Mississippi. I had many friends on that trip, and while there I met a boy, a friend of a friend. He was a little older than I was, about maybe 20 years old. That first day we met, we flirted, we talked on the phone.

While on the phone, he asked me, could he come over to my room? I was bunking with a friend and hanging out and said he could stop by. But he didn’t show up for a few hours, and by the time he did, it was so late that my friend and I had gone to bed. I answered the door and quietly told him he could come in, imagining that we would talk and laugh, like we had done over the phone. But the next thing I knew, he was on top of me, messing with my clothes and not saying anything at all.

“What is happening?” I thought. I didn’t know what to do. I was frozen in shock, just laying there as his weight pressed down upon me. When he was done, he got up, he pulled up his pants, and without a word, he left. That was it. I was confused, I was embarrassed, I was ashamed. I asked myself, “Was it something that I had done?” The next morning, I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to say something to him, but he refused to talk to me. By the time that trip ended, we still hadn’t spoken at all.

About a month after the trip, I turned 18. A few weeks later, I realized I had missed my period. I reached out to a friend and asked the guy from the church trip to contact me. I waited for him to reach out, but he never did. I never heard from him. I was 18, I was broke, and I felt so alone. I blamed myself for what had happened to me.

But I knew I had options. I had known other girls who had gone to a local clinic to get birth control and some who had gotten abortions. So I looked through the yellow pages and scheduled an appointment. During my first visit, I found out that I was nine weeks pregnant. And then there, the panic set in.

How could I make this pregnancy work? How could I, at 18 years old and barely scraping by, support a child on my own? And I would have been on my own. I was stressed out knowing that the father wouldn’t be involved, and I feared my parents would kick me out of the home, the best parents in the world, but I feared they would kick me out. My dad was a proud father and always bragging about his little girl and how he knew I would go straight to college and become Attorney General. That was his goal for me. So with no scholarship intact and college out of the foreseeable future, I couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing my dad again. I knew it was a decision I needed to make for myself, so I did.

My abortion happened on a Saturday. There were a few other people in the waiting room, including one other young Black girl. I overheard the clinic staff talking about her, saying she had ruined her life and that’s what “they” do—they being Black girls like us. Before the procedure, I remember going in for counseling and being told that if I moved forward with this pregnancy, my baby would be “jacked up” because the fetus was already malnourished and underweight. Being told that if I had this baby, I would wind up on food stamps and welfare.

I was being talked to like trash, and it worsened my shame. Afterwards, while in the changing area, I heard some other girls, all white, talking about how they were told how bright their futures were, how loved their babies would be if they adopted, and that their options and their opportunities were limitless. In that moment, listening to those girls, I felt anguish. I felt like I had failed.

When I went home, my body ached, and I had this heavy bleeding. I felt so sick. I felt dizzy, nauseous. I felt like something was missing. I felt alone, but I also felt so resolved in my decision.

Choosing to have an abortion was the hardest decision I had ever made, but at 18 years old, I knew it was the right decision for me. It was freeing knowing I had options. Even still, it took long for me to feel like me again, until most recently, when I decided to give this speech.

So to all the Black women and girls who have had abortions and will have abortions, we have nothing to be ashamed of. We live in a society that has failed to legislate love and justice for us. So we deserve better. We demand better. We are worthy of better. That’s why I’m here to tell my story.

So today I sit before you as that nurse, as that pastor, as that activist, that survivor, that single mom, that congresswoman to testify that in the summer of 1994, I was raped, became pregnant, and I chose to have an abortion.

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Women's Fashion

Why Big Fashion Designers Are Suddenly Teaming Up

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Post date 30 September 2021
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Courtesy of the designers; Prada: Emmanuel Wong

Style Points is a weekly column about how fashion intersects with the wider world.

Once, a collaboration was the ultimate in cred—high married to low, luxe mingled with quotidian. But after this just-concluded Milan Fashion Week, that kind of move looks so, well, 2020. Now, designers who once existed in their own never-intersecting, competing lanes are merging, with unexpected results. Perhaps the blueprint for this was the Gucci/Balenciaga linkup we saw at the former’s Aria collection in April, whose “hacked” pieces melded Alessandro Michele’s embellished maximalism with Demna Gvasalia’s Matrix-ready edge.

Fendi by Versace

Courtesy of the designer.

“Fendace,” AKA Fendi + Versace, was the portmanteau that became the talk of this Milan Fashion Week. But as the show notes for the collection were quick to declare upfront, “This is not a collaboration.” Instead, it was a meeting of the minds, as Fendi’s Kim Jones and Versace’s Donatella Versace whipped up a potent brew of the house’s iconographies. “It’s a first in the history of fashion,” Versace said, “two designers having a true creative dialogue that stems from respect and friendship.” Part one, Versace by Fendi, included the former’s safety pins bisecting the latter’s double-F logos, while part two flipped it and reversed it, superimposing Medusa prints onto the familiar brown logo pattern. Two great tastes that taste great together!

Prada spring 2022

Emmanuel Wong

Another fashion power couple, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, continued their fruitful partnership, forged in early 2020 when Simons was announced as co-creative director of the house. Their first IRL show together took place, appropriately enough, on a twofold runway, with models walking simultaneously in Milan and Shanghai. The theme: “seduction through reduction,” twinning Prada’s knack for the unconventionally sexy with Simons’ masterful minimalism. They wanted to explore, explained the show notes, the “antecedents of clothing…the memory of a train, the bones of a corset, the curve of a brassiere.” So the trains came thin and single-panel, the way a Brutalist architect might envision them, and corset strings hung as loosely as shoelaces, reminders of an antediluvian beauty standard whose shadow still looms over us today. Mrs. Prada’s sense of humor peeked through in an oversized sweater that held the faint outline of a first-wave brassiere, with belts cinching the not-notably-erogenous zone that is the upper arms. Leave it to Prada to make clothes that are both sexy and tongue-in-cheek.

A Rave Review look from the Gucci Vault.

Courtesy of Gucci.

Michele, who used this past fall’s GucciFest as a way to support up-and-coming designers like Charles de Vilmorin and Gareth Wrighton, had a trick up his embroidered velvet sleeve this season. No, he didn’t mount a surprise show, but he did unveil the Gucci Vault, an online concept store featuring looks from up-and-coming brands like upcycling Swede sensations Rave Review and Solange-approved New York designer Shanel Campbell, along with vintage Gucci pieces that Michele describes as “mutant relics.” Teaming up with those on the come-up and letting them into the Gucci world felt like a natural move for a designer who’s always embraced new talent. (“I said to myself: ‘Why can’t a fashion house with a creative director also have a space for expressive, aesthetic, and social contaminations?,’ Michele explained in a press release.)

A look from Shanel Campbell from the Gucci Vault.

Courtesy of Gucci

These kinds of “contaminations” between design talents with different perspectives make sense not just from the customer’s side of things, but the designers’, too. A straightforward logo might feel rote these days, and we’re all mired in collaboration fatigue, but the postmodernist, and limited-edition, appeal of two layered visions is the ultimate fashion in-joke for the hypebeast who has everything. Plus, the preciousness around brand sanctity has broken down, and everything is now fair game. As for designers, they’re no longer sitting alone in their ateliers pursuing a singular vision. It’s even possible that the newfound solidarity found through open-source sustainability efforts and group pledges for industry change has increasingly made them collaborators, not competitors. And we’re all the chicer for it.

Women's Fashion

Texture Talk: 6 Natural Hair Products You Need to Know Now

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Post date 30 September 2021
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Photography courtesy of Charlotte Mensah

Welcome to Texture Talk, a column that celebrates and deep dives into the dynamic world of curly hair, from crowns of curls that are free flowing to strands that are tucked away in a protective style.

By
Kenisha Alexander

Date September 30, 2021

If you’re looking to add some exciting new products into your natural and textured hair routine this season, look no further. These six natural haircare brands are offering exciting new options from leave-in conditioners, natural edge controls, and lush loc care.

Founded by award-winning hair stylist Charlotte Mensah (who was inducted into the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame in 2017), every product in this natural haircare line is formulated with both manketti nut and ximenia oils. Manketti nut oil, also known as mongongo oil, is brimming with fortifying ingredients, such as calcium and zinc, as well as the fatty acids and proteins that are crucial for hair growth.

Star Product: Manketti Hair Oil

Considering this nut oil is the foundation of every single product in Charlotte’s line, if you’re going to try anything, it should probably be this. As a result, you can look forward to added shine, tamed frizz, and a seriously moisturized scalp.

The world fell in love with curly haircare brand DevaCurl after its launch nearly thirty years ago, and now, co-founder Lorraine Massey (who has also written two books: Curly Girl: The Handbook and Silver Hair: A Handbook) has launched another exciting line, which, let’s face it, will probably reach cult-status just as quickly. CurlyWorld includes natural hair cleansers, conditioners, treatments, and even a volumizing pick that promises to take your curly hair to its highest possible heights.

Star Product: Sham-Free Hair and Scalp Cleanser

This unique cooling cleanser leaves your curls and scalp feeling incredibly fresh, without stripping it of essential hydration.

Like its name suggests, NaturAll is formulated with all-natural ingredients. When founder Muhga Eltigani realized how much her natural, textured hair thrived while using only food-grade ingredients that could be found in her kitchen, she decided to create a line of her own so that everyone could enjoy the same whole foods-based benefits. Now, NaturAll includes everything from natural edge controls to hydrating “bundles” especially formulated for 4C hair, including a hydrating shampoo, rinse-out and leave-in conditioner, and a twisting paste.

Star Product: Ice Cream Treatment Deep Conditioners

Available in six different formulas for all of your hair woes, these freshly-made deep conditioners (they come frozen!) are avocado-based and work to moisturize and detangle hair in a hurry.

Founded by a Togolese and American couple in 2003, Alaffia exclusively uses ethically-sourced ingredients from Togo, such as shea butter, African black soap and coconut oil in their natural hair, skin and body care products. Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde have also founded a number of social enterprises using some of their proceeds, including providing sustainable incomes for women wanting to quit the sex trade industry, as well as working against poverty in Togolese communities.

Star Product: Curl Activating Leave-In Conditioner

Made with ethically-sourced, unrefined shea butter, this leave-in conditioner formulated without mineral oil, silicones or sulfates, hydrates and softens kinky and curly hair. Plus, five percent of sales goes towards the Alaffia Beautiful Arrival program, which helps provide maternal care to women of colour in marginalized communities.

Not only does Design Essentials carry specialized hair products for literally every hair texture, but they also offer formulas specifically targeted for use with wigs and extensions, including clip-ins and u-part weaves. Plus, their website just happens to be an extremely helpful haven of tips and tricks on how to effectively use their natural hair products effectively, breaking everything down into easy DIY steps.

Star Product: Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo

This shampoo, which is made with almond oil (known for giving hair that impossible shine) and avocado, which deeply moisturizes and strengthens, will not only give you some of the cleanest hair you’ve ever, had but also some of the softest.

This one goes out to all the loc lovers. This brand has a full range of products that are specifically created to help create and maintain dreadlocks. Founded by Jessica Pritchett in 2018 after a successful journey and healthy relationship with her own locs, the line is complete with oils, gels and cleansers, all formulated to help you maintain your best protective hairstyle. For those that truly love their locs, this brand is a one-stop shop.

Star Product: Loc’d In Leave-In Conditioner

The perfect remedy for extremely dry, brittle and dehydrated locs, this leave-in conditioner contains black cumin oil to help prevent hair-thinning, while also promoting shine.

Fitness

Feeling Uneasy After Returning to Campus? Experts Share Strategies For Overcoming Anxiety

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Post date 30 September 2021
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tmp_b5BLF2_d068948fca2a77e8_pexels-charlotte-may-5965539.jpg

College campuses have officially reopened, and if the pressure surrounding this new phase of adulthood wasn’t enough, students are now having to navigate the challenges of attending school in the midst of a pandemic — often after months and months of remote learning. Needless to say, if you’re dealing with overwhelming anxiety and persistent worry about returning to campus, you’re not alone. What was once a huge milestone of leaving the nest and pursuing an exciting new career has been muddled with uncertainty. The good news is there are ways to alleviate some of those daunting worries and keep your spirits high. POPSUGAR spoke with mental health experts to help ensure your transition back into the classroom is as smooth as possible.

What Are Symptoms of Back-to-School Anxiety?

Symptoms of back-to-school anxiety may or may not be as obvious or clear on the surface. According to Adria Hagg, LCSW, this specific anxiety can manifest in different ways. “Symptoms of anxiety are often somatic and may unfold in both the mind and body. Some students have reported symptoms such as the inability to concentrate, shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat, racing thoughts, restlessness, and insomnia,” Hagg told POPSUGAR. “Other students exhibit avoidance behaviors, heightened fears, or a reluctance to leave home.”

In addition to getting good grades or navigating your newfound independence, your personal safety may rank high on your list of concerns. If worries about your health and the safety precautions on campus are keeping you up at night, this may be a sign that you’re dealing with anxiety about in-person learning. Natasha Bryant, LCSW, explained how these anxious thoughts might sound: Are people going to be wearing masks in the classroom? What if someone gets COVID? How will I find out? What if I start feeling uncomfortable being in a room with so many people? “The worrying thoughts can cause heart racing, sleep disturbance, class avoidance, concentration difficulties, and loss of appetite,” Bryant said. If you identify with these symptoms, you’ll be relieved to know there are coping mechanisms that can help you keep your anxiety at bay.

How to Cope With Your Anxiety About Returning to Campus

As you assimilate to this new normal, remember that you’re not alone in having racing thoughts. Others share the same concerns. “It’s important to normalize uncomfortable emotions such as anxiety but not necessarily the thoughts that come with it,” Hagg explained. “In the moment, it is helpful to be present and say, ‘It’s OK, I am anxious right now,’ and then challenge any negative thoughts.” For example, the concerns that you won’t be able to make friends after so many months of remote learning or that you’re going to get sick despite taking precautions.

Accepting your anxiety doesn’t necessarily mean agreeing with those thoughts. “Just because we think it does not make it true,” Hagg said. “Validating our emotions is important because it takes the shame out of what we are experiencing.” Making peace with your anxiety may seem overwhelming, but remember that it’s a constant work in progress. Once you can accept that you’re not the only one who feels this way, you can start to make meaningful changes.

1. Focus on what you can control.

Worries tend to reside in the unknown, including the actions and reactions of others. Recentering your thoughts to focus on what’s within your power can help you move forward with less worry. “Focusing on what one can control will increase feelings of hopefulness and decrease stress,” Bryant said. “For example, a student cannot control who wears masks and how information about COVID is released because they are not a decision-maker in those areas, but a student does have control over how they can keep themselves safe.” Taking ownership of your own actions and decisions can help you reclaim power.

2. Practice mindfulness each morning.

Your morning has the power to set the tone for the rest of the day, so be sure to implement healthy practices in your routine to help ease stress and anxiety. Bryant recommends starting the day with a mindfulness exercise to release yourself from worry and focus on the present. “The Anxiety Trap causes thinking to get stuck in the past or the future,” Bryant explained. “Mindfulness helps refocus on the now.” For just a few minutes each morning, try counting your breaths or paying attention to the sounds in the room, or while you’re in the shower, focus solely on the water pressure or temperature and the smells of your soap and shampoo.

3. Use imagery to ease anxiety.

Often when we worry, our minds create vivid images of what’s to come or what might be. Learning how to restructure your thoughts is a great way to minimize your persistent worries. When your mind starts to wander and you start creating images in your head, try to rewrite the script. “Take three to five minutes to sit quietly and imagine having a positive in-person learning experience. Imagine yourself in the classroom safely sitting in your seat, confidently asking questions and/or engaging in the class discussion, insightfully taking notes, and feeling peaceful,” Bryant said. This helps you gain control of your thoughts and brings the possibility of good experiences to the forefront.

4. Take up journaling or vlogging.

Let’s face it, the only way out is through. A crucial part of healing your anxious thoughts is finding ways to process them in a healthy way. “Worrying thoughts can lead to responses like avoidance because it is based on believing that the thought is true without testing the reality,” Bryant said. “When we assume the worst, many times the outcome isn’t as bad as we thought it would be.” When you can document your worries, you can work through them and refer back to them if those thoughts reemerge. “Journaling or vlogging about your experience will help process worrying thoughts and your actual experience. Through reflection, you will be able to defeat worrying thoughts,” Bryant explained.

The bottom line: you’re not alone. The transition back to campus doesn’t have to feel isolating. Adding healthy habits to your daily routine is a good first step in wrangling your anxious thoughts, but don’t forget, leaning on the support from your classmates, mentors, professors, and friends can also help steer you in the right direction.

Culture

Sarah Paulson on Understanding, Not Defending, Linda Tripp

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Post date 30 September 2021
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Sarah Paulson is having an out-of-body experience. Tucked behind a velvet rope and smooshed into a corner booth at a packed New York Fashion Week party at L’Avenue at Saks, the decorated actress has shed the costume and identity that, for months, commandeered her life: the body and mind of Linda Tripp, one Monica Lewinsky’s ex-best friend. Now, the Impeachment: American Crime Story star has returned to her signature blonde bob, which she pairs with a poofy feminine skirt, a striped sweater, and a diamond earring cuff that glints when she inclines her head. Tonight, she feels more herself. Maybe.

Billy Farrell/BFA.com

The Midtown venue is stuffed with revelers sipping champagne and ducking beneath giant disco balls, each shouting to be heard over the thumping bass of Paris Hilton’s DJ set. Paulson struggles to conceal her mild alarm at this tableau. She hasn’t been in such close quarters with this many (now vaccinated) people since before the start of the pandemic. She accepts, gladly, a cocktail from a passing tray.

Yes, tonight is surreal for Paulson. She’s only recently had time to process her complicated emotions around her Impeachment character, a former White House staffer who betrayed a friend in, supposedly, deference to her country. Hearing Paulson discuss Tripp, you can tell she’s developed no small amount of wonder—if not necessarily affection—for the now-deceased Pentagon employee. It’s hard, as the series finally airs on FX, for Paulson to give up this deference. And yet she’s also eager to return to her actual self, to dance and dress up again; it’s a feeling to which many of us, after months indoors, can relate.

She’s here tonight as a fall campaign star and ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue, a brand she adores. The first item Paulson ever bought with her own money was from Saks, back when she was an understudy on Broadway and had little clue where a fashionable New Yorker should sink her first paycheck. Well, duh: Saks.

Courtesy of Saks

“There’s something about Saks that feels totally eclectic and constantly evolving,” she says. “I always feel it’s unique. I rarely leave the store without either coveting something, or wanting to buy something and just fucking doing it.”

It’s fitting that Paulson—the sort of actress who’s always looking to change, to shed a skin and crawl into another—would find kinship with a brand that adopts the same attitude. As Impeachment rolls out week by week, she’s finally had enough time to peel off the layers of Tripp that stuck to her. She can look at the show with some distance, finally. But after last night’s episode, in which Tripp makes the fateful decision to tape Lewinsky’s phone calls, Paulson knows it’s all too likely she can get sucked back in.

Below, the acclaimed performer discusses whether or not she feels defensive of Tripp, how she curates a closet, and why now is the right moment to revisit this chapter in our country’s history.

Do you feel that, over the years, you’ve developed a signature style, or are you inclined to shift your tastes every season?

I think the thing I’ve discovered over time is what actually works on my body. As you get older, you get more confident with the choice and are less subject to following trends. Sometimes I’ll look at things that are [trending], and I just know it’s not right for me.

Classic style is so individual. If I just stay true to what moves me, I’m always going to feel better than if I’m trying to keep up with the fashion Joneses.

When was the moment that you actually decided to do Impeachment: American Crime Story? You knew [creator] Ryan Murphy wanted you; he always does. So what convinced you that you needed to play this role?

I first thought Ryan was crazy, and then I read it, and I thought I would be crazy to not do this. I do try to do the thing that seems impossible to me—though there are plenty of other people who [thought this] was impossible. I do tend to be drawn to the riskiest thing, where the most is at stake.

This is a real woman who did a hideous thing, who I ultimately think was not a hideous person. [Taking the role] wasn’t about [giving her] redemption, but about the opportunity I was given to explore the psychology of a woman who did something I think is very hard for all of us to understand. As an actor, it’s a very rich huge opportunity for exploration, that is making me expand as a performer and learn things about myself.

It’s the most wonderful consequence of doing something dangerous.

Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story.

Tina Thorpe/FX

The show is poised as Monica Lewinsky’s story, but in reality it’s largely Linda Tripp’s story as well. Why did you feel this was an important storytelling decision in the making of this series?

Linda never wrote a book. Her book was published posthumously…It’s still such a mystery. Monica has shared some of her story and her TED Talks and her Vanity Fair pieces that she’s written. She did have a book. Not that it can all be known, but [Lewinsky] has been somewhat communicative of her experience. Linda wasn’t. So I think [showing her perspective] was an interesting way into this story in a way that you maybe wouldn’t have imagined.

Do you feel it was your duty as an actor to find empathy for this character? And do you feel you’ve accomplished that, watching the finished show now?

I came to feel a tremendous amount of empathy, more than sympathy, for Linda. I feel a lot of compassion for what she endured. It doesn’t matter that it was at her own hand. I can still feel badly that she had to experience that because I think, in my heart, she didn’t know the extent of the fallout. I think, if she had known what would have happened to Monica, I believe in my heart, she would not have done it. That’s what I think.

I don’t know if anyone else agrees with me, but I’m the one who spent the last year and a half living inside of this mindset. So it’s what I’ve decided is true.

Apart from the physical transformation into Linda Tripp, what was the most challenging part of embodying this character, especially given she’s something of a villainous figure?

Probably to try to let go of my fear that audiences wouldn’t open themselves up to the possibility that she’s a multidimensional person that might be worth a second thought. It’s hard when audiences have preconceived notions, even if they’re right to believe what they believe. It’s still an opportunity to shed light on a human being that has not been misunderstood, but that maybe has been dismissed too completely.

Courtesy of Saks

I know that you had some conversations with [Lewinsky] herself. I’m curious what those conversations were like, if she gave you any advice or it is was too sensitive a topic to dive deep into.

I was very worried about picking a scab with Monica. We became friends, and I did not want to ask her too many personal questions, because I felt like, at the end of the day, it was my job to figure it out independent of Monica’s experience and feelings. It would not be pleasant to try to dig too deep and take more from Monica than had already been taken.

What do you feel is the point of a show like this in 2021? We have some distance from the event of Clinton’s impeachment, in terms of how many years have passed. Why is now the right time to rehash this story?

I think post-MeToo era…Linda herself talked about this in the Slow Burn podcast, about how she believed if it happened today, it would have been a very different outcome. At the end of the day, there was an abuse of power. This is a story about women on the margins of that power who had very little recourse. Linda was one of them, making some very bad decisions in an effort to do what she believed was the right thing.

In a post-Trump, post-MeToo era, to look at what the potency of the presidency pulls, and the consequences that can have on a young life, and on everyone just outside that circle… I think anytime you can shine a light on lives that have been overlooked, it’s an interesting opportunity. You may not come out of it with a different opinion, but you might at least understand. I think there is such value in pursuing anything artistically with the idea and the hope that people have just a tiny bit more of an open aperture, so they can see a wider, broader view of things.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

Lauren Puckett-Pope
Associate Editor
Lauren Puckett-Pope is an associate editor at ELLE, where she covers news and culture.

Beauty

Kylie Jenner is Taking Motherhood ‘One Day At a Time’

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Post date 30 September 2021
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Kylie Jenner just announced her second pregnancy via IGTV to 142 million people—for context, that’s around 100 million more views than the inauguration of our 46th President Joe Biden—and now, her next move? Launch a baby line, of course.

Enter Kylie Baby; Jenner’s new seven-piece baby care collection ranging from shampoos and conditioners to bath towels and travel cases, available Sept. 28 exclusively at Kyliebaby.com.

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“It was a dream of mine to create safe and effective products as a gift to my kids,” says the mogul to ELLE.com. “As a new mom, I was curious and conscious about the products that would work best for my daughter’s hair and skin. That’s how I came up with the idea to launch a baby line with clean formulas that were gentle enough and would work for all skin and hair types without compromising quality.”

Baby girl Stormi served as the official tester for the new line, and the three-year-old tastemaker picked favorites. Jenner shared that Miss Stormi Webster is a big fan of bubbles and loves the Bubble Bath product in the new line. Bubble Bath is coconut based with a gentle floral blend of aloe leaf, green tea, avocado oil, and chamomile. It’s also sulfate-free, so it’s safe for the most sensitive baby skin and won’t irritate your baby’s eyes.

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All of the new Kylie Baby products are also made with safe and gentle formulas. Kylie Baby products are all vegan, pediatrician-tested, fragrance-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and hypoallergenic. When Stormi was born, Jenner was developing her Kylie Skin line and began researching baby skincare ingredients. Three years later, she developed precisely what she wanted for her babies and now wants to share it with the world by launching this new baby range of products.

For Jenner, motherhood has completely changed her. “Motherhood really feels like something I was always meant to do,” explains Jenner. “Watching Stormi experience everything for the first time has been the best part of these last few years.”

She also offered a bit of advice for expecting mamas-to-be: “Be gentle with yourself. Motherhood is such a balancing act, and I just try to take one day at a time!”

You can preview the entire collection above and shop everything tomorrow at Kyliebaby.com. Plus, head to YouTube to watch Jenner explain each product in the new collection.

Chloe Hall
Beauty Director
Chloe Hall oversees all beauty coverage at ELLE.com.

Women's Fashion

Charli XCX Is Ready to Deliver “Everything That You Want from the Best Pop Star Ever”

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Post date 30 September 2021
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A true pop star is a master of reinvention. Being able to ride the waves of hyper-trends and shifting cultural moods requires intense self-security. Charli XCX is a connoisseur of pop in this way, always in tune with herself and doing the unexpected, as she says: “Playing into the contrast is so much more interesting to me than doing what people expect from me, or the same thing over and over again.” Staying light on her toes and uniquely Charli is what sets her apart, and this comes through in her edit for the Pandora ME re-launch.

WETOUCH IMAGEWORK

Pandora’s ME collection champions personal freedom and choice, with endless possibilities and combinations to create jewelry that is uniquely you, through and through. Chain bracelets and necklaces can be easily layered, and adorable charms amplify just about any look. Custom engravable links are also available for optimal you-ness. The collection roots itself in simplicity and adaptability to the wearer’s mood and unique personality. Charli’s laser focus on creating the best pop music possible makes her a true individual, which Pandora honors and uplifts through the collab. This unique synergy between Charli XCX and Pandora culminates in the singer’s new song snippet, “SWEAT,” and accompanying visual for the campaign, starring the other artists who make up Pandora’s latest collective. As she begins to release new music after her quarantine-made record how i’m feeling now, Charli XCX caught up with ELLE.com to talk all things jewelry, pop music, and what the future may hold.

You always seem to layer jewelry when you perform on stage. Do you do the same when you’re just chilling at home?

Kind of. I am really a fan of layering jewelry and I’ll always wear a couple of necklaces: maybe five, maybe two. I’m more maximalist with it, which I think is why I really like the Pandora ME collection, because there are a lot of options for how you can wear the jewelry: you can layer it, and it looks really good together. You can customize it, there’s a chunkiness to it which I really like… and you can add charms, or take them away. I can go from daily life to a show and customize the jewelry to fit my mood, which is what I really like about the collection.

Courtesy of Pandora

You recently started working with stylist Chris Horan. How are you creating looks with him? Is there a new style direction you plan to go in?

Chris and I just clicked immediately. I think he was a fan of my music, and I was a fan of his work, so it was just a match made in heaven. I wanted to explore something a little more elevated. I’m a messy girl; I like to party and go out and have fun. Sometimes I need to rein it in a bit with my style as well because it can be a little hectic, but it’s just who I am and it’s what I like. Chris can enhance that part of me and also show me more chic things that I love. But, essentially, the reason that I think we work well together is he gets that I’m an individual and I have my own vibe. He doesn’t treat me like a cookie-cutter version of someone to dress, and that is really important to who I am—self-expression and individuality. That goes across all the things that I do, whether it’s my music, partnering with Pandora, or my relationship with my friends. It’s all about being true to yourself and unique and individual.

Your music video for “Good Ones” is indicative of a new era. How did you come up with it?

I suppose I just wanted to completely transform myself into the most pop version of who I am, which is very much inside of me. Also, I have this desire to always do completely contrasting things. The previous album, how i’m feeling now, was way more lo-fi—the way that I made it through the quarantine with fans, connecting with them and being very open… it’s completely polar opposite to my new music and how I feel about it. [The music has] very much been made behind closed doors; it’s very much the opposite of the DIY feeling of how i’m feeling now, and I think that’s just because I love drastic jumps. Playing into the contrast is so much more interesting to me than doing what people expect from me, or the same thing over and over again. On the video itself, I just have a fascination with funerals, and I’ve always thought that a funeral video would be really right. Also, for me, at this point in time, I feel a little bit dead inside, so I think a funeral offers the perfect setting. I feel dead inside, but alive. It’s a combo of both. I wanted to work with Hannah Lux Davis as well, because I knew that she would bring out the pop demon inside of me. It was a match made in heaven, or hell, I suppose. Everything clicked, and I felt more myself than ever on the set of that music video, so I loved it.

Courtesy of Pandora

Now that you’ve proclaimed hyper pop is dead, where do you see pop music heading in the next five years?

I think pop music is constantly evolving and growing and becoming more and more diluted, in a good way, by the inclusion of other genres and the influence of other genres. So it’s really hard to tell. Pop music, to me, has always been led by personality, so I think the personality of the artists will really determine the direction in which pop music goes. I think more than ever before, personality is key in making brilliant artistry. That’s always been the case, but I think more than ever now, musicians are brands, which is amazing to me, because I just want to go shopping. The future of pop just depends on who’s making it, what they have to say, and what they want to use. But sonically, it could go anywhere, which is extremely exciting. I think post-pandemic, everybody’s craving some dancing anthems. Hopefully I can provide a few of them.

“Good Ones” is already on heavy rotation among my friends. Is there anyone you haven’t already collaborated with that you’d like to team up with?

I think that Pink Pantheress and I would make a really good song together. I think she’s a really smart and interesting artist. I think her music is really, really good. Even if we don’t collaborate, I’m a fan and I really like what she’s doing, so I’m excited to see what happens next for her.

Courtesy of Pandora

What’s next for you?

First is the launch of the Pandora ME campaign, which will be coming with a song that I made for the campaign. That will be another little snippet of music. And then the music, I suppose… it’s just high-octane pop; it’s everything that you want from the best pop star ever—that’s how I’m seeing it. How I would describe the sound or the future is: dangerous, volatile, sexy, empowering.

Partnering with Pandora is something a true pop star would do.

Oh, yes. Pandora is pop, 100 percent.

It’s very “pop” jewelry, right?

Yeah. And they’re not afraid to be who they really are, which is the most important thing.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Kevin LeBlanc
Kevin LeBlanc is the Fashion Associate at ELLE Magazine.

Women's Fashion

Kate Middleton Was the True Bond Girl at the Premiere of No Time to Die

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Post date 30 September 2021
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Photography by Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge shone in a gold Jenny Packham gown.

By
Annika Lautens

Date September 29, 2021

Leave it to Kate Middleton to show up at the No Time to Die premiere and steal the proverbial thunder from all its stars.

For release of the fifth James Bond film starring Daniel Craig, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge graced us with their presence on the red carpet. While the film stars came to slay — Ana de Armas and Léa Seydoux both sparkled in Louis Vuitton and Chopard, Daniel Craig donned a pink suede jacket, and Lashana Lynch wore a Vivienne Westwood ensemble — Kate Middleton outdid them all in a golden Jenny Packham gown. Clearly, this Royal has missed dressing up.

As the Internet attempted to pick its jaws off the floor, an undercurrent of nostalgia was sweeping across Instagram in the form of Princess Diana. Social media sleuths quickly picked up on the similarities between Kate’s beaded dress and the Bruce Oldfield one the People’s Princess wore to the 1985 premiere of A View to a Kill, the fourteenth film in the James Bond franchise.

While the looks share strikingly similar silhouettes and metallic sheens, the Duchess of Cambridge’s No Time to Die ensemble was classically Kate with its intricate beadwork and elegant cape.

While Kate remains mum on her inspiration (get it?), it is undeniable is that the James Bond premiere brought the glamour house down. In case you missed it, here are the other looks from the red carpet that wowed us.

Daniel Craig in Anderson & Sheppard

Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton and Chopard

Léa Seydoux in Louis Vuitton and Chopard

Lashana Lynch in Vivienne Westwood

Billie Eilish in Gucci and Finneas

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in AZZARO

Naomie Harris in Michael Kors

Rami Malek in Prada

Ben Whishaw

Jeffrey Wright

Video

Kaia Gerber Gets Ready for the Met Gala | Vogue

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Post date 30 September 2021
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Model Kaia Gerber recreated New York socialite Bianca Jagger’s 1981 Met Gala look created by Dior.

Director: Stefan Kohli
Videographer: Jonah George
Photographer: Stefan Kohli
Editor: Lea Kichler
Still Images: OMEGA De Ville Prestige model
Stylist: Andrew Mukamal
VP, Digital Video Programming and Development: Robert Semmer
Senior Director, Talent Casting: Helena Suric
Director of Content: Tara Homeri
Showrunner: Lila Benaissa
Post-Production Manager: Marco Glinbizzi
Production Manager: Emily Yates
Production Coordinator: Kit Fogarty
Title Art By Erin Knutson Studio

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Vogue is the authority on fashion news, culture trends, beauty coverage, videos, celebrity style, and fashion week updates.

Kaia Gerber Gets Ready for the Met Gala | Vogue

Fitness

I Had Debilitating Migraines Every Month Until I Went on Birth Control

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Post date 30 September 2021
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I vividly remember the first time I got a migraine. It was eighth grade, and I was sitting in math class. I had felt a dull pain in my head develop earlier that day, but I figured it was just a typical headache. Pretty soon, that pain turned into pounding on the right side of my head. I got up to tell the teacher I needed to leave, and almost felt like I was going to pass out. I was excused from class, and a friend walked me to the principal’s office, where my mom came and picked me up. That was the start of consistent migraines that I continue to battle to this day.

For those of you who haven’t had a migraine, think of it like a headache but 10 times worse. For me, the pain is always more prevalent on one side, to the point that I feel like I have to lay down or I may pass out. Unfortunately, in my experience, not much seems to help.

For years after my first migraine, I kept an over-the-counter pain reliever on me at all times. If I felt the pain slowly coming on, I would try to stop it before it hit me full force. This would sometimes improve the pain momentarily, but then the migraine would find its way back later in the day. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I decided to try birth control to help alleviate the pain and hopefully make these occurrences less frequent.

My doctor was the first one to suggest I go on the pill, and at first, I was apprehensive. Not only was I worried to broach the subject with my parents, but I also didn’t know if it would work. My doctor explained that because my migraines seemed to happen around the time of my period, they were likely triggered by the hormonal shifts that occur during the menstrual cycle. The birth control could work to balance those hormones and hopefully bring some relief from the migraines.

I decided that taking birth control would be worth it if it truly did alleviate my migraines, so I talked it over with my parents, who were supportive of my decision to go on the pill. It was evident that there was link between these hormonal fluctuations and my headaches, and birth control could play a huge role in making the migraines less intense or even getting rid of them entirely.

For the next few months, I still had consistent headaches, but I could tell that they were much milder.

The results weren’t immediate. I started birth control hoping that the migraines would magically disappear. For the next few months, I still had consistent headaches, but I could tell that they were much milder. Instead of feeling like I was going to pass out, I could close my eyes for a few hours or take a pain reliever and manage to get through the day. I still needed to be proactive and carry medicine with me, but the migraines weren’t interfering with my life as much as they had before.

Now, I only get migraines once every few months. Other factors, such as stress levels, definitely play a role. I can sometimes go four or five months without a migraine, something I never thought possible before. I’m so relieved that I was able to find a solution at a young age that continues to positively impact my overall well-being.

If you’ve been thinking of trying birth control for your migraines, this is your sign to go for it — assuming that your doctor feels it’s the right call. It may seem intimidating, or you may not think it will work, but I know I’m extremely happy that I chose to give it a try. It’s made my migraines far less frequent and much more tolerable.

Culture

Beanie Feldstein on the Challenge and Privilege of Becoming Monica Lewinsky

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Post date 30 September 2021
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For the first time in 18 months, Beanie Feldstein’s back in New York “for good,” and she’d like to state for the record that she’s thrilled about it. It’s not that filming Impeachment: American Crime Story and donning the blue beret of Monica Lewinsky wasn’t one of the most extraordinary things to ever happen to the 28-year-old Booksmart actress. It’s that, well, it’s nice to be Elizabeth Greer “Beanie” Feldstein today, rather than a much-maligned former White House intern and ’90s icon—no disrespect to her good friend Lewinsky, of course.

On an ostentatiously sunny morning during New York Fashion Week in early September, Feldstein flits into Kate Spade’s pop-up apple orchard like a bird alighting onto a branch, all chirp and cheer. Dressed in all-leopard print and a neon pink handbag, she’s here to mark the brand’s new I Love NY collection, and she gives no sign that she’s still wrestling with the emotions of the show she wrapped only two weeks prior. At least for the moment, she’s shaken off the weight of a story plagued by misogyny, betrayal, and abuse of power. Feldstein’s reclaimed a little piece of Lewinsky’s tale, she thinks, so it feels justified to have some coffee, a honey-crisp apple, and a little celebration.

“I’ve been to so many events for [Kate Spade], and they’re always so joyful. It reminds us of the artistry, the creativity of this city. I always lean on the classier, more simplistic side [of fashion], but always with color and fun. I love talking to people; I’m very gregarious,” Feldstein says, then smiles, as if to add, Obviously.

beanie feldstein during new york fashion week

Cindy OrdGetty Images

Yet, as we talk more, a more contemplative side of Feldstein emerges. There’s a glimpse, then, of how well the young actress had to know Lewinsky, and how she found a unity with a woman so despised for her affections. As FX rolls out the latest episode of Impeachment, in which Linda Tripp (Sarah Paulson) betrays Lewinsky by taping her phone calls, Feldstein’s most heart-wrenching scenes are finally meeting the public’s scrutiny. Below, Feldstein discusses how she approached her most demanding role yet—and whether she lives with any regrets.

When you learned that [show creator] Ryan Murphy had you, and you alone, in mind for this role, what was your reaction?

I pretty much fell to the floor. I was in London, and I was in my partner’s apartment, and I had to hold onto the handle of the oven door because I was just like…I needed to steady myself. I think Ryan is one of the most prolific, remarkable talents ever to exist, and his work is so revolutionary. Then he asked me to be a producer, and that was one of the most empowering moments of my whole life. His shows speak for themselves in their artistry, their creativity, the way they push social boundaries, and he asked me to come on his show not only as an actor but on the producing team as well. It’s changed my life.

Did he ever explain to you why he wanted you for the job?

No. But Monica actually said, and I didn’t know this [later], but she watched Booksmart, which was amazing. She very kindly tweeted about the movie, so I knew that she’d watched it. When she watched it she was like, “That kind of reminds me of me when I was in high school.” So both [Lewinsky and Murphy] were having the same thought at the same time.

Was there any hesitation going into a project like this, centered around such a high-profile event?

Never hesitation, but always a big sense of responsibility. There’s a difference there. There was no hesitation, but the weight of the responsibility and the importance of what we were doing. For me, obviously knowing Monica personally, it was important to play her honestly and with care and with nuance and humanity.

What advice did Lewinsky give you when it came to embodying her, especially at that very particular time in her life?

At the beginning of the chronology of the story, it’s 1995 for Monica. It’s earlier for other characters, but Monica’s just graduated from college in Oregon. She’s moved to Washington literally four weeks after she graduated college. I think we all know that moment, if we’re old enough to know that moment. You know who you are in the context of your family, your home life, the institution of a school. Who are you when you’re out in the world? That moment is filled with incredible excitement and curiosity. So, that’s what [Lewinsky] really encouraged me to understand. She was both extremely savvy and incredibly naïve, incredibly confident yet insecure.

Having seen the show now, do you feel you’ve done justice to the story? Do you have any regrets?

Well, I think it’s a very complicated question. I wouldn’t change a thing about what we’ve done as far as the crafting of the scripts, the incredible direction, the casting. But as an actor I’m always nit-picky. I can always find things that I’m like, “Come on, Beanie. Come on.” I nip at myself, but as a producer I can step back…We worked hard on this thing. It was a 10-month shoot. It was about a three-year process to get from when I got the call to now. We put everything into it. I’m incredibly grateful to be a member of that cast and that crew, and in that way I’m very proud. As an actor, I’m still learning, you know?

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

Lauren Puckett-Pope
Associate Editor
Lauren Puckett-Pope is an associate editor at ELLE, where she covers news and culture.

Beauty

Your First Look at Rosalía’s New M.A.C. Collaboration

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Post date 30 September 2021
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When Rosalía first started performing at the age of 16, she couldn’t afford a makeup artist. “I did my makeup before every show, and the first thing I bought was M.A.C’s Ruby Woo,” she shared over the phone. That’s why today’s announcement feels beyond surreal to the neo-flamenco singer. She’s collaborated with the iconic makeup brand to release her collection of lipsticks, glosses, an eyeshadow palette, and nail lacquers, available on the brand’s website on October 1st and in stores on October 4th.

Named “Aute Cuture” after her number-one single, the collection took more than a year to develop and is filled with rich reds (the singer’s “favorite primary color”), golds, and neutrals. There’s even a reinterpretation of M.A.C’s best-selling red Ruby Woo lipstick: Rusi Woo, which has a slightly warmer undertone and a matte finish. “It blows my mind that I now have my own [version of Ruby Woo],” she says.

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Rosalía is known for her extravagant nails, so it only fits that M.A.C would take this moment to re-launch into the category with six shades of cream polish in lollipop-inspired bottles and two versions of bejeweled nail stickers. “My nails are a radical form of femininity for me,” she says. “I love wearing super long nails because I feel like it gives me strength.”

Feeling empowered is an essential theme throughout the collection—not only through her nail art, but also through the colors Rosalía meticulously chose to be threaded throughout the line: “red is very powerful and strong because it’s always the color you look at first, and it has a lot of energy”; “I have loved gold since I was a kid because it reminds me of my mom, she wore little gold rings and hoops”; “there are so many earthy tones in the collection because my grandfather worked in the fields when I was a child, and I was surrounded by nature a lot—I think it influenced who I am as an artist.”

Women's Fashion

The Best Black Friday And Cyber Monday Deals Coming in 2021

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Post date 30 September 2021
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With another topsy-turvy year behind us, who’s to say we don’t deserve to indulge in some retail therapy? Whether you’re in the market for an enameled cast iron after mastering the kitchen during lockdown or you need a new pair of kitten heels for a hybrid return to office, this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are coming in hot with sales beginning as soon as mid-October.

Here’s everything you’ll need to know about the upcoming slew of bargains, with predictions based on 2020’s shopping extravaganza. And don’t forget to check back for more—we’ll be refreshing our masterlist whenever we hear about new deals.

THE BEST DEALS TO WATCH

Nordstrom

In 2020, sales included up to 50% off across women’s, men’s kids’, beauty, and home items sitewide. Beginning the Friday before Black Friday with new sales each day—preview the best of the bunch on ELLE.com.

Cyber Monday in 2020 offered an additional 25% off clearance until December 1st.

SHOP NORDSTROM

Amazon

Amazon’s sales in 2020 began mid-October with special Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on select items, followed by Holiday sales throughout all of December until the 23rd.

SHOP AMAZON

Etsy

In 2020, sales included up to 60% off personalized gifts, home goods, and more.

SHOP ETSY

Madewell

The past two years, Black Friday offers 30% off sitewide + 50% off select bestselling styles. Insider members had access to the sale beginning on the Saturday preceding Thanksgiving.

SHOP MADEWELL

Anthropologie

30% off sitewide (exclusions apply) beginning the day before Thanksgiving, running until the end of Cyber Monday.

SHOP ANTHROPOLOGIE

Net-A-Porter

In 2020, up to 50% off select styles beginning the Monday before Thanksgiving, lasting through Cyber Monday.

SHOP NET-A-PORTER

Apple

In 2020, Black Friday and Cyber Monday offered price cuts on a range of products from Airpod Pros to iPads to Macbooks. Apple also offered $200 gifts cards with purchase of select items.

SHOP APPLE

Bloomingdale’s

In 2020, sales included 25% off select items and an additional 50% off select clearance items.

SHOP BLOOMINGDALES

Bed Bath & Beyond

In 2020, online and in-store offered 25% off.

SHOP BED BATH & BEYOND

Bandier

In 2020, Black Friday/Cyber Monday offered 30% sitewide + storewide. Plus, special 40% off sales on each day on select outerwear, leggings, and sweats.

SHOP BANDIER

Macy’s

Beginning the Tuesday preceding Thanksgiving, expect up to 60% off select items, from fashion to homeware and everything in between.

SHOP MACY’S

Best Buy

In 2020, major discounts on select items sitewide.

SHOP BEST BUY

Banana Republic

In 2020, 50% sitewide, beginning a full week before Thanksgiving day.

SHOP BANANA REPUBLIC

THE BEST FASHION DEALS

Saks OFF 5TH

In 2020, Black Friday offered 50% off coats, boots, and additional select items.

Cyber Monday in 2020 lasted until December 1st and offered 50% off boots, cashmere, hats, gloves, and scarves, and 60% off additional select items.

SHOP SAKS OFF 5TH

Adidas

In 2020, Black Friday deals began the Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving offering 30% off golf, soccer cleats, winter jackets, and accessories like bags, hats, socks. 50% off fleece, T-shirts, tracksuits, jackets, and pants. Up to 40% off Originals apparel and up to 50% off shoes, both sport and style.

Cyber Monday in 2020 lasted until December 2nd and offered 30% off sitewide, including sale items.

SHOP ADIDAS

The Outnet

In 2020, Black Friday began on Thanksgiving and ran until Cyber Monday, offering 25% off sitewide (excluding Just In and Bestsellers).

SHOP THE OUTNET

Rebecca Taylor

In 2020, 30% off sitewide beginning the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, lasting until November 30th.

SHOP REBECCA TAYLOR

Retrofête

In 2020, Black Friday offered 20% off purchases of $500 and under. 25% off orders of $500-$1000 and 30% off $1000+.

SHOP RETROFÊTE

Nine West

In 2020, 50% off sitewide.

SHOP NINE WEST

Rent the Runway

In 2020, Black Friday offered 40% off memberships and one-time rentals of at least $75.

Cyber Monday 2020 offered 50% off a trial month of our 8 or 16-item plan.

SHOP RENT THE RUNWAY

Eberjey

In 2020, 25% off sitewide and in-store with 50% off flash sale on select items.

SHOP EBERJEY

Ted Baker

In 2020, up to 50% off apparel and accessories in-store and online beginning the Thursday before Thanksgiving.

SHOP TED BAKER

Private Policy

In 2020, 25% off sitewide (excluding bags).

SHOP PRIVATE POLICY

GUESS

In 2020, 40-50% off plus free shipping on all orders. Additional free gift with purchase of $125+.

SHOP GUESS

Marciano

In 2020, 30-50% off + free shipping on all orders extending until December 1st.

SHOP MARCIANO

J.Crew

In 2020, 50% off entire purchase with an additional 60% off sale styles.

SHOP J.CREW

Old Navy

In 2020, Pre-Black Friday 40% off everything in-store and online. Cyber Week 2020, 50% off everything in-store (exclusions apply). Plus, the $1 Cozy Sock Sale from Black Friday until Cyber Monday.

SHOP OLD NAVY

Baja East

In 2020, 35% sitewide + additional 35% off all sale.

SHOP BAJA EAST

ELOQUII

In 2020, sitewide sales all month long, including $15 pants and leggings and $100 off jackets and coats.

SHOP ELOQUII

Girlfriend Collective

In 2020, 25% off sitewide beginning 2 weeks before Thanksgiving.

SHOP GIRLFRIEND COLLECTIVE

Joe’s Jeans

In 2020, 30% off sitewide beginning the Friday preceding Thanksgiving extending until December 2.

SHOP JOE’S JEANS

Rebecca Minkoff

In 2020, 25% off sitewide beginning two weeks prior to Thanksgiving with additional special sales of up to 40% on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

SHOP REBECCA MINKOFF

Champion

In 2020, up to 40% off + an additional 40% off sale items.

SHOP CHAMPION

Boden

In 2020, 30% off womenswear and 30% off childrenswear beginning the Monday of Thanksgiving week.

SHOP BODEN

Knix

In 2020, up to 50% off brand-favorites, including the Padded Evolution Bra, Leakproof Underwear, and the FreshFix Air Face Mask, beginning 2 weeks before Thanksgiving.

SHOP KNIX

La Ligne

In 2020, Merci Giving 50% off select styles online beginning the Friday preceding Thanksgiving.

SHOP LA LIGNE

State Cashmere

In 2020, 35% off sitewide for the entire month of November.

SHOP STATE CASHMERE

Grey State

In 2020, 40% off sitewide, excluding the sale section.

SHOP GREY STATE

Lulus

In 2020, Black Friday offered 25% – 90% off sitewide + free U.S. shipping. Cyber Monday in 2020, 50% off sale + free U.S. shipping.

SHOP LULUS

Missguided

In 2020, receive at least 50% off sitewide until the end of November.

SHOP MISSGUIDED

Duer

In 2020, 15-50% off sitewide.

SHOP DUER

ba&sh

In 2020, 30% off nearly everything sitewide beginning the Thursday before Thanksgiving.

SHOP BA&SH

ModCloth

In 2020, 30% off regular priced items; additional 40% off sale items.

SHOP MODCLOTH

Draper James

Black Friday/Cyber Monday (11/22-30): 30% off sitewide.

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COS

In 2020, Black Friday offered 25% off the entire collection when you spend $200. Cyber Monday 2020 offered an additional 30% off all sale items.

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In 2020, 25% off full-price and markdowns (exclusions apply).

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& Other Stories

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In 2020, select products up to 65% off. Also 20% off orders of $250+, 25% off orders of $500+, 30% off orders of $800+.

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In 2020, 50% or more off with select additional promos.

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THE BEST JEWELRY + ACCESSORY DEALS

BaubleBar

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In 2020, 30% off sitewide and 25% off Fine Jewelry & Sterling Silver, beginning the Friday preceding Thanksgiving.

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Cyber Monday 2020 offered 20% off sitewide, including custom products.

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Missoma

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ALDO

In 2020, 20% off regular priced styles (Nov 5-December 1) and 50% off select sale styles (November 16-December 23).

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In 2020, 35% off entire purchase with sales up to 60% off beginning two weeks before Thanksgiving lasting until December 1st.

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HOBO

In 2020, 30% off sitewide with an extra 40% off sale items on Cyber Monday.

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In 2020, 30% off sitewide beginning the Saturday before Thanksgiving, lasting until Cyber Monday.

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Modern Picnic

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In 2020, 65% off frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses with basic Rx lenses + free shipping. 25% off contacts and premium frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses with basic Rx lenses + free shipping.

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Keds

In 2020, 30% off full price & 10% off sale + sock gift with purchase.

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OTHER GREAT DEALS

Goop

In 2020, 20% off select goop-owned products including goop beauty, fashion, wellness, and collaborations. Cyber Monday 2020 offered an additional 20% off the GOOPGENES collection.

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In 2020, Doorbuster Deals with up to 50% off mattresses and accessories (sheets, pillows and protectors).

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Walmart

In 2020, major markdowns on toys, electronics, home, and fashion beginning on November 4 and spanning through the whole month, with new sales every few days. November 25-27 offers a final wave of sales first online, then in-stores.

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NutriBullet

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Brooklyn Bedding

In 2020, 25% off sitewide beginning the Thursday before Thanksgiving.

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Ostrichpillow

In 2020, 40% off select styles.

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Raymour & Flanigan

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MysteryVibe

In 2020, 20% off vibrators & bundles all November.

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Slumber Cloud

In 2020, 15% off sitewide + free gift with $250+ purchase for all of November.

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HUM

In 2020, up to 50% off for new customers with purchase of 3 bottles & 3 month subscription, beginning two weeks prior to Thanksgiving week.

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CBD Pillow

In 2020, 10% off.

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The Company Store

In 2020, 20% off sitewide + extra specials announced weekly for the whole month of November.

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Snowe

In 2020, beginning a week before Thanksgiving, receive free shipping on all orders and 20% off sitewide on orders $100+.

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Nixplay

In 2020, 30% off New Smart Photo Frames on Amazon.

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Embody

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Haven

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In 2020, 20% off sitewide (excluding Last Chance and bundles).

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Women's Fashion

The Yeezy Gap Hoodie Is Here and Canada Awaits (Impatiently)

Post author By admin
Post date 30 September 2021
No Comments on The Yeezy Gap Hoodie Is Here and Canada Awaits (Impatiently)

Photography by Raymond Hall/Getty Images)

The oversized hoodie design channels classic Yeezy coziness.

By
Natalie Michie

Date September 29, 2021

After kicking off its brand partnership with a surprise drop in June, the Yeezy Gap collaboration is back with a new item that’s already making waves on the internet. The “Yeezy Gap Hoodie” has arrived, and though not yet available in Canada, it has piqued interest everywhere.

The drop came on September 29, after a mysterious countdown clock appeared on Gap’s landing page to get fans excited about the upcoming launch. The double-layered hoodie is made of 100 percent cotton and comes in purple, brown, light brown, red, black and a blue that is reminiscent of the collaboration’s first drop. The hoodies retail for $90 USD and also come in children’s sizes for $70 USD.

With its second drop, the collection is channelling the quintessential coziness of Kanye West’s brand. The first Yeezy Gap item, the “Round Jacket”, was a shiny, bright blue unisex puffer. Retailing for $200 USD, the jacket was undoubtedly a statement piece, while the newest Yeezy Gap apparel is distinctly more minimal, and therefore more wearable.

In fact, the design is so plain that some fans have pointed out similar-looking hoodies that are available for much cheaper on outlets like Amazon. A revolutionary design it is not, but will we cop it when we have the chance? Obviously. The ongoing hype around the brands’ collaboration has already solidified it as fashion history. After all, fans flocked to order a winter jacket in the summer, of all times.

To its credit, the Yeezy Gap Hoodie has some standout details that set it apart. For starters, it doesn’t have drawstrings or hood details — something you’d find on most sweatshirts. The hoodies are decidedly baggy, with dramatized drop-shoulders, a large front pocket and ribbed detailing on the cuffs and hem. Ye himself has also been seen sporting the hoodie, previously nicknamed “The Perfect Hoodie” by fans, since last year. The artist has made a habit of wearing his designs before they launch, with West spotted in the Round Jacket a few days before its release.

The addition of Yeezy designs has proved to be a blessing for Gap, helping to bring in a new, younger clientele and bump up sales, reports CNN. Though the collection is currently only available in the U.S., the brands reportedly have a 10-year partnership, meaning there will be *many* new Yeezy Gap pieces down the line. Be sure to watch this space for updates about Canadian shoppers.

Fitness

Enjoy Clump-Free, Protein-Packed Drinks With These Powerful Shaker Bottles

Post author By admin
Post date 29 September 2021
No Comments on Enjoy Clump-Free, Protein-Packed Drinks With These Powerful Shaker Bottles

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

A protein drink is my favorite way to fill myself up when I’m short on time. Before protein drinks became a staple in my life, I used to try to blend protein powder into my coffee with a spoon. The blend was a filling drink but had a ton of clumps. Then I switched to a blender, but cleaning it felt like it wasn’t worth the trouble.

That’s when I did some internet research and found that there are devices specifically meant for blending protein. After years of going through various protein shaker bottles, I’ve found myself consistently reaching for these four.

Culture

Sex, Money and Murder: My Life as the Chippendales Den Mother

Post author By admin
Post date 29 September 2021
No Comments on Sex, Money and Murder: My Life as the Chippendales Den Mother

candace mayeron surrounded by chippendale men

Courtesy Candace Mayeron

Curse of the Chippendales, a new discovery+ docuseries, peels back the curtains on the Chippendales saga, a twisty (and almost unbelievably real) tale involving a murder, an international manhunt, and lots of oiled men in g-strings. The famous male revue began as a stunt in Los Angeles in the 1980s, but soon became embroiled in a slew of scandals, including the 1987 assassination of Chippendales choreographer Nick De Noia and two other planned hits on a dancer and producer—all orchestrated by Chippendales founder Steve Banerjee.

Now available to stream, Curse of the Chippendales features interviews with former Chippendales dancers and friends of De Noia, including Chippendales associate producer Candace Mayeron. Below, in her own words, Mayeron on her time touring with the company—and why she knew Banerjee was behind De Noia‘s death from the start.

There’s an “e” in Magic Mike and an “e” in Chippendales—and that’s about where the similarities end. Chippendales was iconic participation theater, visionary both for its entertainment value and what it was trying to accomplish. Girls weren’t just screaming to scream at our shows, they were actually having a really good time.

Until October of 1987, I was the show’s associate producer. I ran a tight ship, because I wanted our people to be respected and to act in a manner that would cause us to be respected. I helped Nick De Noia, our brilliant producer and choreographer, turn our guys into Chippendales men. I helped him hire men, do bookings, and manage the dancers. One time, some of our guys were arrested for disturbing the peace. I went to the police station to bail everybody out, and the next day I got a knock on my door. When I opened it, there was a card with grapes on the front that said, “Thanks a bunch.”

My job wasn’t as easy as people might think. But the most difficult moment was having to tell my guys that Nick, whom many of the Chippendales men looked upon as a father figure, had been murdered.

candace mayeron surrounded by shirtless chippendale men

Mayeron, pictured here with a group of Chippendales men, was often the only woman on staff when the show went on tour.

Courtesy Candace Mayeron

I’ll never forget my first Chippendales show. It was the early 1980s, and I was working in Los Angeles as a stockbroker with EF Hutton at the time. Chippendales was originally a disco backgammon club, and I used to play for fun in the back room. One night there was a lot of noise coming from the front room. I couldn’t believe what I saw: dancing men dressed up as cavemen, callers, and even a prince charming.

A few months later, I decided to get in on the action. At a show, I held up a dollar and a dancer in a g-string came over. I asked one of the waiters, “Who is the genius behind all this?” He pointed to a very attractive silver-haired man standing in the back of the room. It was Nick De Noia.

Our relationship evolved organically. I started helping Nick shoot the Chippendales calendar, and handle merchandising. One of my jobs was to hire and train the hosts and waiters. I recruited at bodybuilding shows, but quickly discovered that all I had to do was walk outside during the show, where guys were lining up waiting to be discovered. Nick would put them in the collar and cuffs and the black spandex. If they looked good, we let them walk around the room. Nick would say, “I want to know what the girls think, go into the ladies’ room and listen to what they’re saying and come back and tell me.” So I’d primp a little in the mirror and eavesdrop.

candace mayeron as associate producer of chippendale's

Mayeron calls the Chippendales men all “such wonderful guys.”

Courtesy Candace Mayeron

By the time Chippendales expanded to New York, I was pretty much at the club every night. We had eight performances a week, and the guys were accustomed to the fact that Nick was giving me notes to give to them. I would ask them: “It’s two hours before the show and two girls come up to you and ask for a photo, what do you tell them?” Most guys would say, “Yes, of course I’d take a photo with them.” I would say, “Wrong, wrong, wrong.”

Chippendales was not where women were coming to admire attractive men, Chippendales was the place where women were coming to be admired by attractive men. I’d tell the guys to find the least attractive lady in the room and compliment them. The minute I would told them that, they understood the veracity of it.

candace mayeron with chippendale men on tour

In 1986, Mayeron went on tour with the “Original Chippendales,” De Noia’s spinoff show after he parted ways with Steve Banerjee.

Courtesy Candace Mayeron

When the show went on tour in 1986, Nick asked if I would come along. Our show was called the “Original Chippendales,” and that’s an important distinction. Nick had retained the rights to the show after parting ways with the club’s owner Steve Banerjee, who was going to put on a brand new show at his club. Therefore Nick’s touring show became the Original Chippendales show.

There were no rules on the road. I was not a warden or keeper to the men, and I not their mother. As long as they weren’t messing around with women under the age of 18, they could do whatever they wanted. Wait, that’s not true, I did have one rule: No haircuts without my permission. I hired one guy in Indianapolis who had this gorgeous long, blonde hair—a very leonine look—and when he came to work the first day it was all gone. After that I said, “Nobody gets a haircut without my permission, and, p.s. I’m never giving permission.”

Even though I was just a couple years older, the guys all listened to me. They were like a whole bunch of younger brothers or little puppy dogs—very playful and fun to be around.

candace mayeron with nick de noia having cocktails

Mayeron having drinks with Nick De Noia.

Courtesy Candace Mayeron

By then, Nick and I had become very close. He was really was brilliant at what he did. I still remember our last dinner together, just a few nights before he was killed in April of 1987. A hotel in London was debuting a brand new resort and wanted the Original Chippendales to be the lead act on opening weekend. We were so excited. Nick was flying to New York the next day to sign the contract, so we went out to celebrate. This was going to be the first time he left the company completely in my charge, but he was confident it wouldn’t be a problem. That night, we were congratulating each other and looking forward to the future and what it might bring.

Chippendales was not where women were coming to admire attractive men, Chippendales was the place where women were coming to be admired by attractive men.

A couple days later, I was on the phone with Nick when he suddenly said, “I can’t talk, I got to go.” That was our last phone call ever. I believe we were actually talking when his murderer walked in.

An hour before that evening’s show, I got a phone call from a family friend telling me that Nick had been killed. Nothing in life prepares you to get news like that. I mean, who knows somebody who has been murdered? I didn’t know how to deal with it. All I knew was that the show must go on—that’s what Nick would have wanted. But I needed to keep the guys from finding out. I told the club that nobody could come in except women with tickets, and absolutely no press. Then I put a note in the dressing room that said: “Mandatory meeting immediately after the show.”

There is a moment in the show when the “perfect man” reveals himself for the first time. The perfect man is always the best looking of all the guys. As loud as it is in the club during the show, it increases tenfold when the perfect man comes out. So I opened my mouth and let out a primal yell. Nobody could hear me, because the room was louder than my scream. I yelled and yelled and yelled in anguish. Everybody’s attention was, of course, on the stage.

archive supplied by owner, roger menache of roger menache left and steve banerjee right

Steve Banerjee (right) with former Chippendales dancer Roger Menache.

Courtesy discovery+

When I told the guys in the dressing room after the show, one of them jumped up and screamed, “I’m going to kill that motherf***** Steve Banerjee.” He wanted to run out of the room in his g-string and get his revenge. There wasn’t a scintilla of doubt in my mind that it was Steve either.

Steve and Nick had come to loggerheads. Nick was a silver tongue New Yorker, who was constantly going on TV to talk about Chippendales. He started being referred to as “Mr. Chippendales.” I think that helped fuel the anger that Steve had toward Nick. Their verbal fights became vicious. I was with Nick for such a long time, and I never knew him to have other enemies. It wasn’t that hard to connect the dots.

After Nick died, I remained on as associate producer. Before each show, we silently saluted Nick. The men were also really protective of me, escorting me back to my room after shows so that I never felt in danger. After five months, I left the company and came back to Los Angeles to start my own production company.

Mayeron says she wants to keep De Noia’s memory alive so that he might be remembered “the way he would want to be, which was as the consummate show director.”

Courtesy Candace Mayeron

In 1994, news broke that Steve had been arrested for the attempted murder of some former Chippendales dancers, who had started a new group called Adonis. I called the FBI and said, “Attempted murder? Steve actually murdered a guy seven years ago.” At the FBI headquarters, I explained why Steve Banerjee was behind the murder of Nick de Noia. An FBI agent later told me that they already had a fair amount of what I gave them, but that I was able to fill in a lot of the blanks. Steve was eventually charged in the murder of Nick.

There was no way I was going to miss Steve’s sentencing. I was on the courthouse steps with our MC and two of our dancers, when someone came out and said there would be no hearing, because Steve had killed himself in jail the night before. I felt cheated, big time.

My only closure comes as more time passes. The pain of losing Nick recedes, but it never goes away. Talking about him, and this resurgence of interest in Chippendales has helped me heal in the sense that I can keep Nick’s memory alive—so that he might be remembered the way he would want to be, which was as the consummate show director. I was so lucky to be a very small part, for a moment in time, in a really iconic entertainment art form—and I was honored to get to do it with Nick.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Rose Minutaglio
Staff Writer
Rose is a Staff Writer at ELLE covering culture, news, and women’s issues.

Beauty

How I Stopped Being Afraid of My Kid’s Future Relationship With Social Media

Post author By admin
Post date 29 September 2021
No Comments on How I Stopped Being Afraid of My Kid’s Future Relationship With Social Media

Many moons ago, when I was a sophomore in college, a newish website called Facebook became available at my school. I had been waiting for this moment for months. After hearing about it through friends at other colleges who were already on the (then) exclusive network, I was planning my profile photo and details with the eagerness I usually reserved for getting ready for frat parties. Which is to say—much to my chagrin now—far too long.

Such was the beginning of my social-media journey. I am unabashedly a forever fan. So it should be of little surprise that I planned our 2015 pregnancy announcement post to a T—or more specifically, a onesie, which played on the “I Love NY” logo with Chinese takeout food and a heart-shaped pizza.

And once we decided on our daughter’s name, I even made her a separate account. Let me be clear though: I did not create a handle for her to make her a social media superstar; I did the same thing for our two cats when we brought them home a few years earlier. I know not everyone wants to see a million pictures of cats or babies, but for my friends who did, I was ready to serve.

While her profile was public, it was only a handful of friends and family who actually followed it.

After she was born, we, like many new parents, populated her feed with countless photos of her doing what all newborns do: sleeping in a swaddle, sleeping in a swing, sleeping on Dad—you get the idea. While her profile was public, it was only a handful of friends and family who actually followed it, and my mom made 95 percent of the comments, naturally.

That changed a few months later, when my kinda-famous cousins (and their blue-checked, verified accounts) came for a visit and we posted some cute photos of the kids together, as one does. Overnight, my daughter’s account went from a few dozen followers to hundreds. Mouths agape, my husband and I immediately made it private, but it was the splash of cold water I probably needed. It was unsettling to know so many strangers were now following her, but even more unsettling that I had allowed that to happen.

As a parent, you wear many hats, but I think most of us would agree that the biggest, widest-brimmed one is to protect your children. And while I’m not that parent who forbids any photos of her kid online, I am now far more careful of what I post. Moreover, our daughter’s starting kindergarten this fall, and I am acutely aware that her exposure to social media will only increase with time.

As a parent, you wear many hats, but I think most of us would agree that the biggest, widest-brimmed one is to protect your children.

Right now, she loves watching the occasional video of venomous animals or cats doing silly tricks (she is my daughter, after all). But I know in a heart-stoppingly short time, she’ll want her own account, and the privacy that it affords. And while ceding that kind of control and allowing her to have social-media independence is terrifying to think about, I’m finding it helpful to have a framework of what my game plan will be.

When she’s scrolling on her own through feed on whatever platform is cool by the time she’s a teenager, those sweet animal GIFs will be replaced with filtered or digitally-altered images of her peers and celebrities. As an admitted high-frequency social media user, I’m all too familiar with the toll that unrealistic body standards have had on my own millennial confidence. And I know how the thrill of receiving hundreds of likes on a post can flip in an instant to feelings of unworthiness over a (probably doctored) photo of an influencer who seems to have nary a visible wrinkle or flyaway hair.

It goes without saying that I don’t want my daughter to grow up dealing with any of that nonsence. It’s exhausting. It’s unproductive. It’s sad. But navigating this world—one where she has a degree of autonomy, but where I can hopefully still insulate her from the worst corners of it—is new territory for me.

Knowing the years will go fast, I’ve been determined to get ahead of the game, and have found helpful information from resources like The Dove Self-Esteem Project (they offer free age-specific guides to help parents navigate difficult topics like body image issues). I’m now armed with sobering stats, like the fact that 80 percent of teenage girls compare the way they look to other people on social media. But I’m also prepared to talk with my daughter about digital distortion and “social media vs. reality.”

I know there will be a time in the not-so-distant future that my daughter will ask for control of the account that I created for her. She may streamline her grid and delete all those adorable pics I took while she slept. But hopefully, whatever new photos she posts will show her smiling, confident, and not caring what anyone else thinks. The gift of positive self-esteem is one of the most precious things I could give her.

And as for me? Don’t worry; I’ll still have my cats’ account.

The Dove Self-Esteem Project is a helpful resource for parents to teach their children about body confidence and body image. Shop Dove products to show your support at a Sam’s Club near you. For every item product purchased, Dove donates $1 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Women's Fashion

The (Very Low-Key) Return of Eveningwear

Post author By admin
Post date 29 September 2021
No Comments on The (Very Low-Key) Return of Eveningwear

Sonia Szóstak/Courtesy of Magda Butrym

“I don’t really believe in a red-carpet gown, per se,” says designer Meryll Rogge, speaking of that peculiar artifact of late-20th-century popular culture that seemed destined for extinction even before the great social awakening and the pandemic put the final nails in its sequined-and-satin bodycon coffin. Remember when evening-wear trends were dictated by whatever princess-pouf or midriff or single-sleeve-metallic-tinsel-lace moment was happening in Hollywood? That hardly seems relevant to Rogge. “I hate to be tied up in some kind of really tight number,” she says, speaking from a studio she built inside a barn on her parents’ property in the Belgian countryside near Ghent.

Rogge, who worked for Marc Jacobs in New York City for nearly seven years, was the head of women’s ready-to-wear for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp before starting her own collection in 2020. Like Jacobs and Van Noten, she specializes in sophisticated-looking clothes that are also relaxed in attitude about color and codes. Her idea of an evening look is a slipdress with big daisy embroideries along the neckline, worn over track pants—which might sound overly casual until you notice the beauty in the incredible details, such as fabrics that have been hand-cut with pinking shears and sewn so that each layer is visible. “My dresses usually have pockets in them, because I’m taking into consideration the realities women face today,” Rogge says. “Everybody needs to put their phone somewhere.”

A look from Meryll Rogge.

Sloan Laurits/Courtesy of Meryll Rogge

There are many reasons why a more streetwear-influenced aesthetic for evening might be appealing to a younger generation that has grown conditioned to challenging the rigid, conventional thinking of the past, particularly the kind that has led the world into the political, environmental, and societal muck we find ourselves in now. It’s not that formality has been canceled in a post-pandemic world, exactly, but more that priorities have changed. Younger, independent-leaning brands like Magda Butrym, Interior, Area, and The Attico each take different approaches, some more high-minded than others, but none read as fussy.

A close-up of a look from Del Core.

Valerio Mezzanotti/Courtesy of Del Core

Del Core, a new label that stirred up enormous buzz with its February debut in Milan, is a good example: The designer Daniel Del Core, who had previously been dressing celebrities at Gucci, shares an affinity for the natural world with the late Alexander McQueen. He cited mushrooms and dewdrops as inspirations behind the pleats and crystal embellishments of his otherworldly gowns, some trimmed with faux plumage made from recycled materials and others covered in pleated fans—an idea described in his show notes as “mutant glamour.” “Evolution and adaptability are survival strategies that lead to constant reinvention,” he wrote of the collection, which may help explain why, even at an uncertain time for business prospects, we are seeing the emergence of a wide array of interesting new designer labels. High school friends Jack Miner, who once designed a collection called Hecho and previously worked in operations for Bode, and Lily Miesmer, who worked with her cousins Pookie and Louisa Burch at Trademark, started the New York–based label Interior in 2020 with a changing lifestyle in mind. One of their ideas for evening is a lovely oversize silk “dinner shirt” with hand-beading and embroidery that barely flicks at primness; another is a silk taffeta “pajama dress” that is self-explanatory in its rejection of the rules of after-five.

Gabrielle Union in Interior.

Thomas Christos

“Whatever desire people used to suppress because it broke with convention—that inhibition has lost its grip,” say Miner and Miesmer, Interior’s co–creative directors. “We think people feel so much freer to dress how they actually want to dress now. If their truth is cashmere sweatpants and a really beautiful silk shirt for evening, then so be it.”

“If you’re not enjoying it on a personal, emotional level, why bother?”

—Jack Miner and Lily Miesmer of Interior

Miner and Miesmer are among the designers who explicitly believe that fashion is changing as a result of the pandemic, especially as comfort has become the new standard. Balancing that with the need for self-expression is something that could result in exciting new directions for design. “As cities wake up and come back to life, people are going to pick and choose their favorite aspects from both realities and ditch the rest,” Miner and Miesmer say. But there will still be room for fantasy, which is why they also included an outrageous dress made of hundreds of silk strips knitted together in tiers, some of them chiffon and others satin, as an ode to glamour. (“We wanted to celebrate life and make something joyful.”)

A look from Del Core’s fall 2021 show.

Valerio Mezzanotti/Courtesy of Del Core.

Retailers are also seeing a shift toward practicality in their customers’ buying habits. “Multifunctional evening items are definitely a big trend,” says Tiffany Hsu, fashion buying director at Mytheresa. “People want to dress up and have fun, but they don’t want to buy something and wear it only once.” She is keen on items that can be styled more casually and that evoke a sense of effortlessness, citing labels like Magda Butrym, Jacquemus, The Attico, and Alessandra Rich as evocative of the new attitude in eveningwear. Katherine Greenberg, Neiman Marcus’s general merchandising manager and VP of women’s apparel, notes that her customers have “developed an appreciation for a less classically formal and rule-based style of dressing, while remaining distinctively themselves,” with new-school evening lines like 16 Arlington doing particularly well.

“My dresses usually have pockets, because everybody needs to put their phone somewhere.”

—Meryll Rogge

Looking at the bigger picture, the question for designers is whether changing consumer habits will become permanent. Rogge, for one, believes that any comparisons to a postwar boom for fashion are premature. “I’m a bit pessimistic in that I don’t think this is going to lead to massive changes in behavior,” she says. “I just hope that people are going to be more aware of the climate and racial issues.” Working from home in the countryside, she notes, was a decision she made well before the pandemic, because she is self-financed and the rent in a big city would have been equal to her fabric budget. “The inspiration has not really changed,” she says. “It’s just about the way of life—it’s much more simple and focused.”

Malgosia Bela in a look from Magda Butrym’s fall 2021 collection.

Sonia Szóstak/Courtesy of Magda Butrym

Likewise, Miner and Miesmer say that changes are coming from within—hence the name Interior, which they say reflects our shared inner emotional state. “It’s not about a look being correct,” they say. “It’s about individuals listening to their intuition and realizing that fashion is a construct, that there are no rules. And if you’re not enjoying it on a personal, emotional level, then why bother?”

This article appears in the October 2021 issue of ELLE.

Eric Wilson
Eric Wilson is a veteran fashion reporter currently based in Hong Kong, where he is editorial director of Tatler Asia Group.

Life & Love

Leaf Me Alone

For much of 2020, I was in Portland, Oregon, where I live part-time. During my quiet, solitary existence, I was surrounded by nature. I became more attuned to the magic of trees and birds. A robin built a nest on my deck for the first time in the seven years I’ve lived in my Portland home. Over the course of a few days, I watched the robin carry materials, pieces of fuzz and twigs, in its beak to the top of a gutter downspout on my deck. The bird was building its nest as I was finishing my book, Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence, about my becoming entangled in an abusive relationship with the former attorney general of New York State, Eric Schneiderman, and about the global domestic violence crisis broadly.

I tried at first to watch over the nest. I wanted to protect it. I loved that little robin, but it seemed to be spooked by my presence. I figured out that I had to get out of the way and let it do its thing. By the third day, it seemed to have gotten used to me. It didn’t flee when I opened the door to the deck or sat down to eat at the small dining table that looked out on its nest. The robin compelled me to look out and up more than usual. It was me, myself, and I… plus the robin and the trees. I wished I could bring them closer to me inside.

I searched for information about robins, the length of their incubation and fledgling period. It seemed that we would be housemates for about a month, which was how long I had left to deliver the manuscript. It made me happy every day to look out and see the nest, a brilliant feat of engineering. I was proud of the bird that had built it. I was honored that it had chosen my house to build it on. I felt that the robin blessed my house. One night I heard little chirps coming from the nest, and my heart soared. I looked up the symbolism of robins: “If the robin visits you at a certain moment of your life, then you should listen to its song. [It] will help you see things from another perspective, and it will help you understand the truth.” Robins signify passion, new beginnings, and renewal.

One of my ZZ plants, and Stevie Wonder. I like ZZs because a shopkeeper told me they could “grow in a closet.”

Courtesy of the author

On the day I turned in the manuscript, I returned to New York. I was happy to be back but missing the communion with nature that had sustained me in Portland. Around Christmas, a friend sent me a plant, a holiday cactus. Because I knew I would be in New York for the foreseeable future, I felt that I could take care of it. But the cactus seemed lonely, so I decided to get it a companion. I looked into plants that could grow in low-light environments. I landed on a ZZ Plant. As the shopkeeper told me, “It can grow in a closet.” I put it in my living room. The ZZ originated in eastern Africa. It is otherwise known as “Zanzibar gem” and “eternity plant.” I was thrilled to watch six new shoots of a bright green hue rise and then tower over the original, darker green shoots. I bought two more ZZs, one for my office and the other for my bedroom.

I was having a late-blooming love affair with house plants. For most of my adult life, I wasn’t able to have house plants. From my base in New York City, I traveled too much for work. I was becoming a plant lady. I bought a planter in the form of a unicorn and picked a succulent with one stalk and a spiky pink crown to go inside. The succulent looked like the vibrator I had bought during the pandemic but didn’t use after an initial try-out. I found the thought of the vibrator more stimulating than the feel of it. But the sight of the succulent’s spiky crown filled me with bliss.

Soon after I purchased the succulent in the unicorn planter, I wanted an animal companion for it. I bought an elephant planter, and the shopkeeper helped me pick a philodendron. Translated from Greek, its name means “love tree.” The heart-shaped leaves seemed to tickle the elephant as they grew higher and flopped around its ears.

Illustrations by Shyama Golden

The plants kept me company as I prepared myself for the release of my book in late February. Because of its subject matter—my trajectory of witnessing as a child domestic violence between my parents and then experiencing domestic violence as an adult myself—I knew that I would be exposed publicly in ways that would be painful and uncomfortable. So I tried to focus on the intention that the book would help others spot, stop, and prevent intimate partner violence. The plants brought me intimate pleasure to counter the intimate violence of my story. I emerged from writing the book feeling stronger than before, but talking about it over and over again to the press sunk me into a depression. I was partially humiliated by what had happened to me.

The comfort I derived from the plants made up for the discomfort I felt around people.

I will try to put into words my depression: I didn’t want to wake up, and I didn’t want to go to sleep. During the hours in between, I felt pain acutely in my gut. It was a sinking feeling. It was a caving-in feeling. It felt as though my heart were burning down. It felt like hopelessness. Negative thoughts spiraled in a seemingly infinite loop. I did not want my torpor to end. I struggled and asked myself, “What do I do when many people want to see me but I want to see almost no one?”

The comfort I derived from the plants made up for the discomfort I felt around people. As an artist, my greatest fear is that no one will see my work. In the depths of my depression, I worried that no one would buy my book. The plants brought me solace. A plant does not care if I’m a bestseller or not. The plants also helped me understand that just as I couldn’t know which way they would grow, I couldn’t know which way my book’s life would emerge. Sometimes plants grow sideways and then tall, and sometimes plants need more watering and tending, like books. Similarly, like fledgling robins, once a book is out in the world, it must learn to fly on its own.

My succulent and unicorn planter with its animal companion, a philodendron in the elephant planter.

Courtesy of the author

During the pandemic, wildlife thrived, birds took over, pollution plummeted. Pre-pandemic, my social calendar was a whirl of art openings, film festivals, concerts, performances, and parties. When gatherings began to happen again after my friends and I were fully vaccinated, most times that I tried to be in groups of people, I drifted without saying goodbye. I did this at an outdoor birthday party. I just stood up, thought of the plants that were waiting for me back home, and walked out the front door. I would rather dwell in the land of biophilia than agoraphobia.

In June, I saw my mother for the first time in a year and a half—the first time since my book had come out. During our visit, she and I got through three days without saying anything to upset each other.

Then, as we waited in the car for my train back to the city, she asked, “What’s the latest with your book?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you writing another one?”

“I will.”

Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence

bookshop.org

$26.67

“Are you planning to write anything about the family?”

Sensing the concern in her voice, I answered, “I’m planning to write about plants.”

She giggled. “You’re researching plants?”

“Actually, yes, I am.”

Negative interaction subverted, I smiled.

Now, as the summer passes and the variants threaten to distance us from each other again, I wonder if my plants will continue to comfort me. I know that at the least they will keep me company. In his song “The Secret Life of Plants,” Stevie Wonder sings, “…If you ask yourself where would you be without them you will find you would not.”

Is it possible that now I like plants more than people? The plants breathe life into me, literally. They purify the air around me. And humbly I note that I and anyone can tend plants, but we can’t tell them what to do.

Women's Fashion

The Birds Papaya and Knix Are Back Again With Their Third Exclusive Papaya Box

Post author By admin
Post date 29 September 2021
No Comments on The Birds Papaya and Knix Are Back Again With Their Third Exclusive Papaya Box

By
Knix

Date September 29, 2021

The wait is (nearly) over. Knix, the beloved Canadian intimate brand, is back again with their third coveted Papaya Box, made in collaboration with Sarah Nicole Landry of The Birds Papaya.

From a shiny faux-leather bodysuit to the brand’s first pair of leggings, Landry has helped the brand curate and bundle some of its most unique and sought-after pieces.

After their first box sold out in just 27 minutes back in October 2020, the brand quickly re-stocked and decided to start planning for a second edition, which came out this past June. Now, they’re nearly ready to launch their third this Sunday, October 3rd—so get your refresh button ready.

“We had a 30,000 person waitlist, and we sold out in less than half an hour,” says Landry. “It was incredible. Little did everyone know, we were already in the works on box number three.”

Ready for a peek?

This latest box, priced at $150, will feature the brand’s first-ever dress, a classic black satin slip, a versatile white mock neck bodysuit, and a vibrant satin knotted headband with sizes ranging from XS to XXXXL. The classic satin slip dress perfectly skims your silhouette for all-season style that can be easily dressed up or down; the bodysuit features a soft ribbed cotton blend loaded with stylish details like a high neck and thong back for seamless versatility; and the patterned headband adds a stylish pop of flair to any look.

“Slip dresses are kind of iconic, but the problem is that most of them aren’t designed with different body shapes in mind. We wanted to change that,” says Landry. “When we first talked about a slip dress, we loved its versatility. You could wear it casually by throwing a sweater over top, or you could layer it with a bodysuit. We wanted to help people (of all sizes) dial-up their existing looks with these pieces, not just offer single articles of clothing.”

This past month, Landry, Knix and the FASHION team joined forces to visually showcase the bundle’s versatility:

[embedded content]

If you’re looking for a more elevated look, throw on your new favourite slip with a pair of heels and add a glitzy belt. In the mood for something more laid back? Pair the dress with a comfy sweater and your go-to booties. The bodysuit is just as versatile. You can layer it or make it the centrepiece of your look. For Landry, the key is to make it your own, which is what she was most excited to spotlight during the shoot.

“I’ve never done an edgy shoot like this before,” says Landry. “As a mom, I think it’s fun to finally get a chance to really glam up and represent these articles of clothing in such a cool way, I hope it inspires others to also make these looks their own and bring out the edge in them.”

Landry’s relationship with the coveted brand dates back to 2017. The digital content creator and mom of four first piqued the brand’s interest with an Instagram post of her wearing one of their pieces. Joanna Griffiths, founder and CEO, spotted Landry’s post and instantly reached out saying she wanted to include her in their next shoot.

“During that shoot, it was the first time I ever wore low-rise underwear,” says Landry. “I felt pretty vulnerable because it showed all my stretch marks—which was what made it go viral. I had never seen them presented in such an artistic way, and the positive response I got from that campaign made me realize there were so many other people like me.”

From that moment on, a friendship and partnership were born.

“Clothing should always make us feel good and comfortable in our bodies, which is why it’s important to design inclusively”

For Landry, a big focus when helping curate this latest box was ensuring that it was not only versatile but was suitable and flattering for every body shape.

“Our bodies are just a distraction to us,” says Landry. “If you’re constantly fidgeting with your clothes or adjusting them because they’re not comfortable or fit right, it becomes a distraction. When we’re distracted we’re not focused on what’s in front of us, the actually important parts of our lives. Clothing should always make us feel good and comfortable in our bodies, which is why it’s important to design inclusively.”

Landry says she was grateful to get the opportunity to trust and work with Knix’s designer to bring this vision to life, and they made sure to work with a variety of models, of all shapes and sizes, to ensure that the two pieces were flattering and comfortable on diverse bodies.
Finally, as a mom of four, Landry also says it’s important to offer a variety of styles for busy caregivers constantly on the go. While function and fit are incredibly important, it’s also vital for customers to feel confident and put together with minimal fuss.

“I think moms are resigned to this leggings-and-sweatshirts combo, which I live in and love, but that shouldn’t be it for us—that shouldn’t be the end of the line,” she says. “We should be able to wear whatever our hearts desire, not be steered away from certain looks or garments because we feel we can’t pull them off or comfortably wear them because we’re moms. It’s nice to have the option. Whether it’s for a date night out or lunch with girlfriends, these pieces will easily fit into anyone’s wardrobe and they can hang onto them forever.”

The Papaya Box will officially launch on Sunday, October 3rd at 5 p.m. EST on knix.ca.

Fitness

How Does an Olympic Freestyle Skier Train in the Summer? By Flipping Into a Pool, Apparently

Post author By admin
Post date 29 September 2021
No Comments on How Does an Olympic Freestyle Skier Train in the Summer? By Flipping Into a Pool, Apparently

@nbcolympics

How Olympic skiers train in the summer ☀️⛷ (🎥 IG/morganschild) @usskiandsnowboardteam #skiing #training #teamusa

♬ original sound – NBCOlympics

Effortlessly gliding through freshly packed snow; zipping through turns on cold, clear winter days; and flipping through air — while attached to skis! — makes freestyle skiing one of the most impressive and exciting Winter Olympics sports to watch. Ahead of the 2022 Games in Beijing this February, the Olympic athletes are training hard, and that includes in scorching hot temperatures. As this behind-the-scenes video from NBC Olympics reveals, Olympic skiers have to get pretty creative with their summer workouts. And those workouts are intense!

The video features 2018 Olympian Morgan Schild, who’s a member of the US moguls team. Schild recorded a montage of her various training techniques, starting with sliding down a ramp on her skis and doing flips into a swimming pool. (Yes, a swimming pool!) In the strength section, she’s seen weight-lifting. Next is a trampoline and flexibility session, where she does flips on a trampoline and practices various gymnastics skills on a gym floor. Finally, she ends her training with sprints. My leg muscles are shaking just watching this.

At the end of the video, Schild does a quick equipment tune-up before hitting that recovery — relaxing in a pair of compression boots while watching TV. “Then do it all again the next day,” a caption reads. The discipline and skill required to complete that amount of training every day is incredible, and to think, this video is just a glimpse into the Olympian’s training regimen. Wild! I know I can’t wait to watch Schild’s hard work pay off at the Olympics next year.

Culture

Kate Middleton Went Full Royal in a Gold-Sequined Cape Gown at the ‘No Time to Die’ Premiere

Post author By admin
Post date 29 September 2021
No Comments on Kate Middleton Went Full Royal in a Gold-Sequined Cape Gown at the ‘No Time to Die’ Premiere

Kate Middleton doesn’t often step out on a red carpet, but for her first big one of 2021, the Duchess of Cambridge fully leaned into golden girl vibes. Kate stepped out with Prince William for tonight’s No Time to Die premiere in London, and she opted to wear a gold sequined cape gown by Jenny Packham with Onitaa earrings. She had her brown hair styled up.

Dave J HoganGetty Images

Chris JacksonGetty Images

Getty Images

The No Time to Die red carpet was all-around star-studded, with Billie Eilish, Ana de Armas, and tennis pro Emma Raducanu among the other attendees. Kate notably met with Raducanu last week.

The Duchess last dressed up for a reception last week to celebrate Hold Still, which she worked on with the U.K.’s National Portrait Gallery. She wore a Self-Portrait blazer and pleated skirt then. The Cambridges wrote on their Instagram, of the event:

Thank you to the brilliant partners who made Hold Still a reality! 📸

It took a long time to bring everyone behind this incredible project together in person but tonight we finally managed it. The idea for #HoldStill2020 came right at the start of the pandemic, and aimed to bring people and communities together, using the amazing power of photography.

It was made possible by so many partners – @nationalportraitgallery @coopuk @bookfairies_uk – to name just a few, and what’s more remarkable is how it was all orchestrated from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms!

The most special thanks must go to the thousands of people across the country who took time to share their experiences of lockdown. Without them, the project really would not have been possible.

This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Alyssa Bailey
News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton).

Beauty

Hot Oil Treatments are the Natural DIY Way to Get Smoother Hair

Post author By admin
Post date 29 September 2021
No Comments on Hot Oil Treatments are the Natural DIY Way to Get Smoother Hair

Mirror, mirror on the wall, what hair treatment will give me the smoothest strands of them all? By now, you’ve probably tried products like leave-in conditioners and hair masks or shelled out some cash for salon-level keratin treatments. Professional hair oils are great for reviving dull hair but can be pricey. Thankfully, there’s a DIY way to incorporate natural oils into your beauty routine (that won’t break the bank.) But, of course, we’re talking about hot oil, and before you start rubbing your head with it, there are essential facts you need to know.

Hot oil treatments use common oils found at your local grocery store to hydrate strands for smoother and shinier hair intensely. According to Board Certified Dermatologist and Medical Director of Pacific Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology Dr. Tracy Evans, the hot oil is the simple, at-home way to treat your hair. “Hot oil can help to moisturize and smooth the hair by coating the hair shaft and allowing it to appear smoother and shinier,” she says. “Commonly, oils such as coconut, olive, avocado are used.”

Ahead, Dr. Evans breaks down everything you need to know about hot oil treatments, including the benefits, process, and how it works.

How does it work?

Unlike regular oil treatments, the heat from hot oil helps hair absorb nourishing benefits like vitamins and fatty acids. “Technically, an oil treatment does not penetrate the cuticle and just coats the hair, but heat helps to open the cuticle,” says Dr. Evans. “So a hot oil treatment might penetrate the outer layer of the cuticle more than a regular oil treatment, but it wouldn’t go super deep into the cuticle of the hair.” Oils like coconut, olive, and avocado can be used with oils created for hair use. “It is important to note if you have any allergy to the plant from which the oil is derived to avoid this type of treatment,” Dr. Evans adds.

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

How hot should the oil be?

NOT hot enough to burn yourself! “It is important to be careful with the temperature of the oil,” Dr. Evans cautions. “Do not overheat it and always test the temperature on an area of your skin such as your forearm so that you do not burn the scalp when applying.”

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Is there any aftercare?

Dr. Evans suggests a cold rinse of water immediately after your hot oil treatment. “Following the hot oil treatment with a cool rinse to close the cuticle again helps to seal the treatment into the hair,” she says. “Finishing with a cold water rinse can help to close the cuticle of the hair, locking in the treatment.”

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Are results permanent?

No. You will have to use hot oil treatments for continued results consistently. “Heating the oil does help to penetrate the cuticle, but it is not the same as hair treatments that break through the cuticle to change the hair color or process the hair in another way such as a permanent,” says Dr. Evans.

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

How does hot oil differ from keratin treatments?

A keratin treatment uses formaldehyde to make hair smooth and shiny, with results lasting up to four months. Hot oil treatments use natural oils, though the treatment should be done three to four times a week to keep your hair and scalp healthy. If you’re looking for a non-chemical treatment, the hot oil is for you. If you want something long-term, consider keratin. “Hot oil is not the same as a keratin treatment, which has a much longer-lasting effect,” Dr. Evans says.

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Ariana Yaptangco
Social Media & Beauty Editor
Ariana Yaptangco oversees all #content across ELLE’s social media platforms and covers beauty news.