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Women's Fashion

It’s Time to Change the Way We Talk About Celebrity Pregnancy

Graphic by Danielle Campbell. Photography courtesy of Getty Images

And stop sweeping real stories of fertility under the rug.

It’s next to impossible to flip through the pages of a lifestyle glossy or scroll on social media without being confronted by articles speculating about a celebrity’s baby bump or analyzing their “post-baby bikini body.” This fascination with famous uteri is an extension of the way we glorify reproduction in our culture at large, and frustratingly, the media’s celebrity pregnancy obsession is narrowing the scope of how pregnancy and fertility are discussed more broadly.

This reproductive surveillance not only perpetuates a culture of obsession with childbearing bodies, it also sweeps much of the physical toll, financial cost and burden under the rug. The result? A huge portion of people trying to conceive are operating under unrealistic expectations, weighed down by guilt and shame, or left out of the conversation entirely.

Dr. Lila Hakim, a psychologist and director at Toronto’s Centre for Interpersonal Relationships, says her patients often express a “confusion around what the norms are” when it comes to conception and fertility, and that confusion can stem from the way fertility is covered in the media.

“It sets up ideas [that the fertility journey doesn’t require] a lot of resources — financially, time-wise, support wise,” Hakim, who specializes in family-building and fertility issues, says. “Rather than seeing the whole, that sliver [of coverage] creates expectations that people then potentially compare themselves to and say, ‘Well, how come that’s not happening for me?’ That can be quite confusing because people don’t necessarily have access to the same resources and no one’s journey is the same.”

There’s also the matter of expectations. When we see a celebrity in their 40s and 50s having a baby, the story behind the pregnancy is told too infrequently. Brigitte Nielsen is one exception. The Creed II actor, who used IVF to have a daughter at age 54, was upfront about the realities of that process. “You’re on a lot of medication. It is very expensive,” she told The Guardian in 2019. “You always think you’re going to get pregnant, but most of the time, the phone call comes and it’s: ‘I’m sorry.’ It is devastating.” Nielsen likened her chances of conceiving to winning a lottery — and she is among a privileged group who can afford the ticket price.

“It’s lonely,” says Canadian clothing designer Laine Gabel, the creative and owner behind the Hasting County, Ontario brand Mildred Handmade, whose struggles with fertility stem from endometriosis, its sister disease adenomyosis, and fibroids. “That’s how I feel when it’s just like a basic pregnancy announcement. I scroll past it quickly, I don’t click. I mean, I still cry every single time I see labour on a TV show.”

Gabel points to the element of ableism inherent in the way we talk about pregnancy, which fails to acknowledge that everyone’s reproductive organs work the same way. Endometriosis, for example, a chronic health condition that can cause pain, fatigue, organ dysfunction and infertility, can result in scar tissue on reproductive organs that make conception difficult. On top of that, the drugs used in fertility treatments can cause endometriosis flare ups.

“If there was a more general acknowledgement and basic understanding of the complexities of these things, then we would have more empathy for the average person who is infertile. We wouldn’t just be like, ‘So when are you having kids?’ It’s not just this basic bodily function for everybody,” she says.

But that’s slowly changing. While social media feeds continue to be populated with strangers’ rounded bellies and aestheticized portrayals of newborn life, it’s also become a platform for recent breakthroughs in the kinds of conversations we’re having. In early 2020, Amy Schumer used Instagram to detail her IVF experience — right down to the number of eggs retrieved (35), the number fertilized (26), and the number of healthy embryos that came out of it all (one). And this past summer when Chrissy Teigen shared her family’s loss of their third child with a series of personal photos documenting the partial placental abruption that led to her miscarriage, she gave thousands of women an overt and lasting permission to grieve a kind of loss that for so long remained untalked about. It’s a step in the right direction, but there’s still a ways to go.

“You still don’t hear about people who use donor eggs,” says Dr. Carrie Schram, a Toronto MD whose practice is in fertility and low risk obstetrics. She explains that women in their mid- to late-forties and beyond are often using that method. “I think that’s the area of fertility that remains very taboo… Once you’re looking at donor eggs, there’s no discussion.”

The struggle to conceive continues to be treated like a dark secret or, at best, a private matter while coverage of celebrity fertility focuses overwhelmingly on the tiresome bump watch and over-the-top birth announcements. But across both traditional media and on social media, celebrity pregnancy stories are given a platform because there’s a guaranteed audience — measured in clicks, likes, and reshares. We, the audience, engage with these stories with little consideration about how they turn women’s bodies into objects with a singular purpose: reproduction.

“Reproduction is highly glorified. Sure, it’s a part of who we are and what we do as a species but so does every other species that exists,” Schram says. “I think this creates a lot of binary distinctions that otherwise wouldn’t be there. Fertility’s a spectrum, and whether you have a harder time getting pregnant at 40 or not, it actually has zero relation to your value as a person…I think your value as a person should be, ‘How kind are you? Do you contribute in a meaningful way to the lives of other people?’ Not, ‘Did a sperm reach your egg and implant efficiently?’”

Gabrielle Union put it best when she suggested that the way we currently talk about the subject of pregnancy requires a complete rethink. “For so many women… people feel very entitled to know, ‘Do you want kids?’” Union told People ahead of the release of her 2017 book We’re Going To Need More Wine, where she opened up about having “eight or nine miscarriages.”

“A lot of people, especially people that have fertility issues, just say ‘No’ because that’s a lot easier than being honest about whatever is actually going on. People mean so well, but they have no idea the harm or frustration it can cause.”

And though we don’t expect that notion of entitlement — observable not only in media but in politics and in our day to day lives — to disappear anytime soon, changing the way we talk about celebrity pregnancy could pave the way for more meaningful conversations around fertility in the future.

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Fitness

Halle Berry’s Re-Spin Is Well Equipped to Support You During Any Workout — Here Are Our Top 10 Pieces

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Halle Berry has been sharing her workout routine and health and wellness tips with her social followers since 2018, and in 2020, she officially launched Re-Spin, a platform focusing on health and wellness with insight from Berry, her long-time trainer Peter Lee Thomas, and other fitness and wellness experts.

As the self-appointed president of the Halle Berry fitness fan club, I know Berry’s training routine varies depending on what projects she’s working on, and from what she’s shared, she does a combination of strength training, martial arts, and yoga.

If you love Berry’s fitness content as much as I do (I still think about how hard this ab workout was), you’ll be excited to know she’s launched her own collection of fitness equipment. She’s got resistance bands, foam rollers, yoga blocks, jump ropes (her jump-rope workout is so good), booty bands, ankle weights — pretty much everything you need for your DIY home gym.

She shared some of her favorite pieces from her fitness collection with POPSUGAR, and we want one of everything. Check them out ahead, and maybe even snag a jump rope or yoga ball for your next at-home workout.

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Culture

Ariana Grande Shares Pics of Husband Dalton Gomez and Their Family Thanksgiving

It looks like pop icon Ariana Grande had a raucously fun time on Thanksgiving with her family and guests. The musician shared a series of photos and videos of everyone enjoying the day, including a rare photo of her husband Dalton Gomez and their dog Toulouse.

ariana grande

Instagram

In the photo, Gomez laughs while looking off camera as Grande buries her face in the pup’s neck, her long ponytail and bow showing above his head. Other pics include her parents, Joan Grande and Ed Butera, playing Codenames together, and a video revealing that contestants Holly Forbes, Jim and Sasha Allen from The Voice were there, singing “Help!” by The Beatles, then “FourFiveSeconds” by Kanye West, Paul McCartney, and Rihanna.

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She captioned her post, “nothing was ever as loud … sending you all so much love i hope you feel it from here.”

Grande recently posted a tribute to the musical family on Instagram a few days before Thanksgiving as well, sharing their performance and writing about her love for them and their experience together on Season 21 of The Voice.

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“The amount of respect, love and appreciation i have for these human beings is beyond words and what we’ve shared throughout this journey far surpasses what happens on this show. it’s all, you’re all, so much more than this moment. it’s so special. i am so grateful that our paths have crossed and to be a teeny, tiny part of your story,” she wrote in part.

Sasha Allen also posted about what a transformative experience working with Grande was on Instagram.

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“It all became so much more than a tv show when you entered our lives , and this whole new world that we’ve found ourselves in feels so much brighter with you in it,“ he wrote about Grande; with the trio present, Thanksgiving for Grande was complete.

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Women's Fashion

Tom Daley Launches His Own Knitting Brand + More Fashion News

Photography courtesy of Made With Love by Tom Daley

Including a Palais Galliera exhibit honouring the late Alber Elbaz.

Tom Daley launches his own knitting kits

Tom Daley knitting
Photography courtesy of Made With Love by Tom Daley

It’s likely that you’ve seen footage of gold medal diver Tom Daley knitting away on the sidelines of Olympic competitions. He’s garnered so much attention — almost effortlessly, as this is a form of self-care and expression for the athlete — amassing a following of 1.4 million on his knitting-dedicated Instagram page. Now, diver Daley is bringing the cozy, chunky cables of wool right to you with the launch of his own brand, Made With Love by Tom Daley. Included in this launch are 15 knitting kits for all levels of expertise, each one complete with needles, biodegradable pure wool yarn and patterns. Get your hands on the first launch (named 1896 after the year of the inaugural modern Olympics), and choose from kits that range from jumpers and cardigans to accessories and novelty items.

The Palais Galliera celebrates the late Alber Elbaz with Love Brings Love exhibit

Alber Elbaz tribute
Balmain for Love Brings Love show. Photography via Imaxtree

Paris fashion museum, The Palais Galliera, is hosting an exhibit that honours the life of renowned designer Alber Elbaz. Mimicking Paris Fashion Week’s October 5 tribute show that was organized by the fashion industry (46 fashion houses and designers, both established and emerging, came together to create pieces inspired by the man and his prolific legacy) to pay homage to Elbaz, the exhibit will immerse visitors in a full runway experience, exactly recreating the unforgettable night in fashion history. From the order on the runway, to the music, effects and lights, expect to see the Love Brings Love presentation just as it showed live two months ago. If you’re travelling to France between March 5 and July 10, 2022, capitalize on the one-of-a-kind opportunity to relish in the flowing gowns, long trains, dresses with ruffles, big bows and printed drawings of Elbaz.

Frank And Oak opens a new flagship store in B.C.

This week, Frank And Oak opened up a west coast flagship location in Kitsilano B.C. Officially the largest location yet, this store is a notable achievement in the label’s growth strategy. What’s more, the Montreal-based brand is expanding its retail footprint outside of North America for the very first time, with a location opening in Shanghai, China on December 1. Plus, an additional international location is set to open in Chicago, Illinois.

Gucci’s Vault is showcasing 12 jewellery designers

Gucci Vault
Photography courtesy of Gucci Vault

Gucci’s online concept store, Vault, is showcasing a new intake of talent. Twelve creatives who work with the art of crafting jewellery — Seb Brown, Mondo Mondo, Bernard James, Bleue Burnham, Charlotte Chesnais, Georgia Kemball, Martine Ali, Rebekah Kosonen Bide, Fraser Hamilton, Castro Smith, Tétier and Elie Top — will be hosted on Vault and contribute their stories to the creative and ever-growing platform. Additionally, Vault will simultaneously present its fourth drop of pre-owned vintage Gucci pieces, handpicked by Creative Director Alessandro Michele and the fashion house’s archivists.

Tiffany & Co. staged a celebration of love in Niagara Falls

Tiffany & Co. About Love
Photography courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

This week, Tiffany & Co. paid tribute to Niagara Falls — one of the natural wonders of the world and a place known to inspire romantic, love-filled gestures. Using the massive waterfall as a backdrop for its About Love campaign the iconic jewellery brand projected the About Love video onto the historic decommissioned Toronto Power Generating Station. Now that’s a grand gesture.

Kanuk opens flagship store in New York

Kanuk New York
Photography courtesy of Eric Petschek

Montreal outerwear brand Kanuk has made its inaugural landing in the United States, officially opening its doors to a flagship location in New York City’s SoHo neighbourhood. This is the brand’s first standalone store outside of Quebec, and is designed to have a sensory experience evoking Montreal’s emblematic winter climate. Shop the array of punchy coats and puffy styles, with exclusives designed for the location.

Want opens new retail concept in Montreal

Want Les Essentiels
Photography courtesy of Alex Lesage

Want Les Essentiels announced it has opened a brand new flagship store in Montreal’s historic Mile-End neighbourhood. The space is inspired by transitional and mobile spaces, featuring clean lines and cool tone shades that don’t distract from the artful nature of Want’s leather goods.

KATLA comes to Canada

Katla
Photography courtesy of KATLA

Conscious womenswear brand KATLA is now shipping to Canada, and as of December 6, the website will offer Canadian currency for an even smoother customer experience. Inspired by the raw nature of Iceland, the timeless fashion brand embedded with conscious practices will continue carrying the goal of reducing fashion’s negative impact on the environment across the world.

Canadian jewellery brand Bloodline Vancouver pop-up

Vancouver-based jewellery brand Bloodline Design is hosting a pop-up shop for locals to shop its never-before-seen capsule collection and best-selling heritage pieces ahead of the holidays. After 25 years of crafting high-quality, handmade pieces, the brand has proven to have a timeless element to its designs, and has kept itself available to everyone with prices that range from $100 to $2000. The pop-up is located at 2235 West 4th Avenue and is open until December 4.

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Fitness

These 12 Smoothie Recipes Match Your Zodiac Personality

If you’re big into astrology, your zodiac sign could help determine what you have for breakfast. Here are delicious smoothie recipes based on your zodiac sign’s personality. You’re not into reading your horoscope every day? That’s OK. Just think of this as a little smoothie inspiration in case you’re getting bored with your usual go-to recipe. Grab your blender and try the recipe that best matches your sign!

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Culture

Selena Gomez Launches Platform For Mental Health Called Wondermind

Pop star Selena Gomez is working with her mom, Mandy Teefey, on a new mental Health platform along with Daniella Pierson called Wondermind, launching the website this week. The site offers people access to supportive content and community around mental health issues. The three women wrote this message to their followers:

We’ve each had our own mental health struggles, and we realized there was no inclusive, fun, and easy place where people could come together to explore, discuss, and navigate their feelings. So we created it. Welcome to Wondermind.

The site explains that going to therapy is important and beneficial, but compares visiting Wondermind to going to the gym between personal training sessions except for your mind.

“Mental fitness is a daily commitment,” it explains. “The more you practice, the better you feel—just like working out. We’re giving you easy ways to do it via daily content.”

In a promotional video about the project, Gomez says, “I want there to be a place of people coming together and understanding that they’re not alone.”

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“Being vulnerable and seeking help is one of the most terrifying things in the world,” Gomez adds. “It requires much courage and bravery.”

All three women shared their own mental health struggles, with Teefey saying she’d been misdiagnosed before discovering she had ADHD, and Pierson saying she has been dealing with OCD all her life.

Gomez admitted, “I understand what it’s like to be confused and not really understand what are these feelings and emotions coming from… I live with bipolar—I don’t suffer from it anymore. I’m really happy and proud of the progress I have made.”

Content on the site will vary from journaling exercises, public discussion and even a podcast covering mental health issues. You can visit Wondermind here.

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Women's Fashion

Pharrell’s Humanrace Now Features Body Care + More Beauty News

Photography via Instagram/@humanrace

Including Rugrats Chanukah-inspired makeup that will take you right back to the ‘90s.

Pharrell’s Humanrace launches body care

Almost exactly a year ago, multidisciplinary creative Pharrell Williams (with his perfect, taut, glowing skin and all) launched a minimalist skincare line, Humanrace. This week the brand expanded its offerings with body care, and a gentle reminder that taking the time to care for yourself brings greater balance, confidence and stability to your life. Included in the new, all-gender body care drop is a soapless body bar (it’s not soap, but a formula that cleanses just as hard without stripping your skin of its natural oils) and a charcoal exfoliating bar, a.k.a., the “bodycare dermatologist.” Your showers (and/or baths… Pharrell’s morning bath is a daily ritual) just got better.

Hipdot creates a Rugrats Chanukah collection

This week on Instagram, OTT beauty brand Hipdot hinted toward an upcoming collection featuring the Rugrats, completely inspired by the iconic Chanukah episode. Wrapped up in a white and blue collectors box, the Hipdot x Rugrats lineup will consist of a nine shade eyeshadow palette, two double-sided lip glosses (such fun), a blue sponge embossed with Tommy, Angelica and Chuckie face sheet masks and a special Tommy pin. The beloved ‘90s cartoon lives on this holiday season.

Louis Vuitton reveals a notable new flacon

Photography courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Les Parfums Louis Vuitton’s The Ultimate Flacon is the latest perfume bottle in the beauty world, boasting opulence and simplicity all at once. Created by Marc Newson as a limited-edition 200-piece fleet, each one unique with a number and engraved pieces, the bottle is made from the most precious Baccarat crystal with age-old blowing techniques.

“It’s scaled up to a sculptural dimension and takes inspiration from vintage fragrance displays,” said Newson in a press release. The one-litre flacon comes enclosed in a glass dome and leather base, making it a beautiful addition to your cabinet of curiosities, and is the perfect candidate for one day receiving heirloom status.

Dezi Skin launches a gift set of minis

On December 1, Dezi Skin is bringing fans The Holiday Kit, a set that includes all three of the brand’s products in travel sizes. Tonal and easy on the eyes, the Masque On overnight moisture mask, Claro Que C vitamin C Glow Serum and Dew Me Over prep set and refresh mist come wrapped up in a cute, textured, brown box, with a hidden message written inside. “Little steps in the right direction, make for big change.”

CND reveals hand soaps and body lotions as part of its newly formulated body range

Photography courtesy of CND

If you’re one to get your nails done, you are likely familiar with CND’s wide range of salon colours. Now, the professional nail product and service brand has formulated a range of hand and body products that is primed for both the home and the salon. Inspired by nature, the hand wash is available in five refreshing scents, while the hand and body lotions come in six different scents.

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Fitness

What Is the 75Hard Challenge You Keep Hearing About?

Have you heard of the 75Hard Challenge? It’s a mental and physical 75-day challenge designed by Andy Frisella from the Real AF podcast to help you “take complete control of your life.” The main rules are that for 75 days straight, you follow a diet of your choosing, do two daily workouts, take a daily progress photo, drink a gallon of water, and read 10 pages — every single day.

This mental and physical challenge is very intense and well, hard — it might be one of the most difficult things you’ll ever commit to. If you’re into trying fitness or wellness challenges and like pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you may be excited to try 75Hard. But before you start, check out what the #75Hard challenge entails and see what experts think.

What Is 75Hard?

The 75Hard challenge rules are outlined below. Frisella said there are zero compromises and substitutions, and “you have until you go to sleep to complete the day.” If you “fail” to do any one of these six things on the list, you must start over on Day 1. You can use the chart ahead to check off the days you complete.

75Hard Rules

Frisella explained all the rules in an interview he did on this podcast.

  • Follow a diet: The diet can be anything you choose, whether it’s Whole30, vegetarian, plant-based, pescatarian, gluten-free, Paleo, no sugar, low-carb — you choose, but there has to be a physical improvement in mind. This doesn’t necessarily mean weight loss, but the diet change has to make you feel better in some way. Maybe you want to eat less sugar because you know it upsets your stomach. Or maybe you want to go plant-based to lower your cholesterol levels.
  • Two 45-minute workouts; one has to be outside: There are no specifics about the workouts, how intense they need to be, or the type. You could do a strength-training workout at the gym, then take a 45-minute walk outside. You can run outside for 45 minutes, then take a yoga class. You can even work out longer than 45 minutes. You choose, but the outdoor workout has to happen, whether it’s raining or -10 degrees out. The point is that you can’t always control the weather, just like you can’t always control things in your life.
  • No alcohol, and no “cheat meals:” No cheat meals means you can’t stray from the diet you chose. That means if you say you’re giving up sugar, you can’t have one tiny bite of cake, or else you need to start back on Day 1. The point is to teach you how to stay focused on the goals you set.
  • Take a progress picture every day: Looking back at the photos will help you see how far you’ve come and keep you on track if you want to give up.
  • Drink one gallon of water: This will teach you that sometimes, the simplest tasks can be the hardest to do.
  • Read 10 pages of a book (audiobooks don’t count): This has to be a nonfiction book, so you can learn something and grow your mind.

Frisella explained in this podcast that the point of this challenge is to help you achieve confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, grit, perseverance, and resilience. By pushing yourself to stay committed to these goals, to develop discipline even when it gets hard or uncomfortable, once the 75 days are completed, he believes you will be a different person, “guaranteed.”

What Do Dietitians Think About 75Hard?

Since the first aspect of this challenge involves diet, I wanted to get the opinion of registered dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, author of The Anti-Inflammatory Kitchen Cookbook. As I suspected, she said, “I think this is an extreme way to develop some better health habits. I think they should be tailored individually and that rules shouldn’t be so clear cut.” Registered dietitian Emily Tills, MS, CDN, agreed and said, “Although the idea is interesting and can seem like it’s flexible because you choose what diet you’re going to do, in the end, it’s still going to be restrictive.”

Since it refers to “no cheat meals,” Langevin thinks this could lead to a diet mentality because of the rigidity and deprivation. She said 75Hard might be designed with good intentions, but she feels it’s overly restrictive. Tills also feels that this type of plan wouldn’t be successful for someone who wanted to lose weight. It would be difficult to sustain this lifestyle after the 75 days are up, and Tills wondered what would happen when the person goes back to their old eating habits.

What Does a Certified Trainer Think About 75Hard?

With the exercise component to 75Hard, I also wanted to get a trainer’s take. ACE-certified trainer Rachel MacPherson agreed with Langevin that this is a pretty extreme challenge. She said two 45-minute workouts a day is a lot for anyone just starting out. Also, not everyone can get outside every day for 45 minutes. Some people live in climates where that just isn’t always doable, especially if you have a full-time job and kids.

“This plan is an example of letting perfection be the enemy of the good. If you fail one small aspect of the plan, you need to start back at ground zero,” MacPherson said, which will make you feel demoralized and defeated. “It’s much better to accept that some days won’t be perfect, but as long as you’re making strides toward your goals, you are on the right track,” she explained. For example, if you hope to work out four days a week but are swamped and only work out three, you have still made progress. Focusing on what you failed at or what you couldn’t accomplish is not the healthiest mindset for most people. MacPherson added that most research shows that taking small, attainable steps toward clearly defined goals is the best way to go.

What Can You Do Instead of 75Hard?

At its core, 75Hard recommends keeping active, sticking to something for the long-term, and not switching diets every few days, as many people do. “There’s a lot to be said for consistency, it just doesn’t have to be so rigid, in my opinion,” MacPherson said.

Langevin agreed and recommended to set a few attainable, sustainable, healthy-minded goals you can work on over a few weeks like these:

  • Aim to eat more veggies.
  • Drink more water and less soda, sugary coffee beverages, or energy drinks.
  • Exercise three times a week.
  • Aim to eat a balanced, nutritious diet most of the time but allow yourself treats so you don’t get stuck in diet mentality. Diet mentality means restricting your food, or having certain rules about what you can and can’t eat for weight loss. All foods are allowed, unless you are allergic or they make you feel bad.
  • Do something to benefit your mental health every day, even if it’s a one-minute meditation.

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Culture

Everything to Know About Season 5 of Selling Sunset

Netflix’s Selling Sunset was the hit of lockdown, but the engaging cast and their glamorous mansions have remained compelling even when there’s other stuff to do besides binge watch. It was announced in March of this year that the show had been renewed for Seasons 4 and 5, and the fourth season premiered on November 24. If you haven’t started watching yet, it might be the perfect way to get through the rest of the Thanksgiving weekend.

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And if you’ve already gone through it, never fear. Here’s what we know about Season 5 for The Oppenheim Group.

It’s already filming.

Seasons 2 and 3 of Selling Sunset filmed concurrently, and that’s the case for 4 and 5 as well. If this follows the pattern we may get to see Season 5 within a matter of months. The stars of the real estate show have been posing little hints about what’s to come, like this Instagram post from Chrishell Stause featuring new cast member Emma Hernan.

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“Look from Season 5 of #SellingSunset,” she captioned it.

Who’s returning to the cast.

Aside from Emma Hernan, novela star turned real estate agent Vanessa Villela was announced for Season 4. It’s not official that Villela will be back for 5, but she did post to Instagram that she was filming in October.

Also rejoining are Jason and Brett Oppenheim, Chrishell Stause, Christine Quinn, Mary Fitzgerald, Romain Bonnet, Heather Rae Young, Amanza Smith, Maya Vander, and Davina Potratz.

Christine Quinn has noticed she’s left out of photos.

All the sneak peaks form the cast have been excluding glimpses of Christine Quinn, which she has noticed—and dismissed.

“I’m SOOOOO tired of addressing this,” she tweeted. “I am in every single episode of season 4 and 5 of selling sunset. The girls intentionally leave me out of photos. I have real work to do besides sit on my phone and prove 24/7 that I’m filming a TV show. Yall going to see me.”

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We will be seeing Chrishell and Jason together.

Chrishell’s bestie Mary Fitzgerald, told Metro that the couple went official between seasons, so we’ll get to see them together next season.

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“Well, you’re definitely going to see a relationship divide, that you wouldn’t expect and things that have happened where it’s just shocking,” Fitzgerald said. “Without giving away too much, it’s hard to, it’s hard to say— to explain it. But it’s gonna be pretty shocking to see some of the things that have happened. I think Jason and Chrishell came out with their relationship in between seasons four and five. So, you won’t see that on season four, but you will in season five.”

Where the cast is going.

There is only so much conspicuous spending you can do in one city. The Selling Sunset cast loves a luxurious vacation and based on photos, we’ll be seeing them in Greece and Italy.

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Categories
Women's Fashion

This Collector is Bringing Helmut Lang’s Sexy Back

Photography by Natasha Gerschon. Hair and makeup, Viktor Peters for P1M.ca

Carl Chiang’s fascination with sex and gender has led to an obsession with early Helmut Lang.

Can you even call yourself a collector if you don’t break a few racks in the process? Not according to Philippine-born Carl Chiang, whose hefty Helmut Lang collection caused the poles in their walk-in wardrobe to collapse. “My partner and I were having dinner when I heard this terrible sound,” shares Chiang. “My first reaction wasn’t ‘How are we going to clean this up?’ or ‘The landlord is going to kill us.’ It was ‘Are any of my pieces damaged?’” After a similarly disastrous run-in with Ikea containers, the founder of fashion events and communications agency Archival Toronto has since learned their lesson: Their 130-piece hoard is now supported on industrial cylinders that can hold over 200 kilograms. “I’ve discovered that only metal pipes can sustain the weight,” they say.

Photography by Natasha Gerschon. Hair and makeup, Viktor Peters for P1M.ca

In a case of life imitating art, this intersection between style and practicality would be sure to make Lang proud — the designer is revered for pioneering the anti-luxury aesthetic of the ’90s. After launching his eponymous label in 1986, Lang garnered a cultlike status for his ability to blend military and minimalist designs with androgynous styles and bondage accents. He left his label in 2005, but his affinity for representing the LGBTQ+ community lives on through his work, which is what initially mesmerized Chiang. “When I was growing up, sex wasn’t something that you talked about in a conservative Filipino environment,” they reveal. “Many items in my collection lean into Lang’s BDSM references because to me, there is something superfun and supersexy about such a taboo subject. Fashion can bring these subcultures into the spotlight and challenge the heteronormativity of what sex looks like.”

Thanks to their mother’s love of designer accessories, Carl Chiang fostered a passion for fashion at an early age, culminating in their first Helmut Lang purchase — an army-green jacket from the 1999 Astro collection — in 2014. However, it wasn’t until two years (and a move to Canada) later that their obsession exploded as the more centralized location made it easier to connect with sellers and other Helmut Lang aficionados.

Chiang is a true historian. Their Helmut Lang knowledge is unparalleled; they are able to effortlessly identify the year, season and inspiration behind each item in their closet. They take their role as a curator quite seriously, collecting both menswear and womenswear that play significant roles in Lang’s legacy. “I’ve never collected based on what I can wear,” reveals Chiang. “It’s mostly what I think was important to the designer and fun. So if I see a piece from an iconic runway look, I take it regardless of its size or gender.”

Still, the collector insists that the message behind the creations, not the actual garments, fuels their Helmut Lang love affair. The designer’s balance between being referential and humorous makes his clothing a staple in Chiang’s closet. “What continues to strike me is not the construction of his pieces but his ability to communicate an artistic vision,” they say. “It’s his expressionism through fashion that I love.”

This is article first appeared in FASHION’s Winter 2022 issue.

Categories
Fitness

The 20 Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals You Can Get From Under Armour This Year

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.

Holiday shopping in person, especially on Black Friday, can be a total nightmare. Clothes shopping is already stressful enough, but when you’re on the hunt for activewear in particular, you’re not only seeking the right size and style, but you also need to make sure your picks actually cater to your specific athletic needs. And let’s be honest, all those black leggings start to look exactly the same after a while. Unless you read the tags on all the clothes, it’s hard to know exactly which ones will serve you best.

Whether you want to stock up on more workout staples or you’re hoping to replace your beat-up sneakers for a more tech-savvy pair that can track your stats, Under Armour makes it easy to get all your shopping done online. For Black Friday and Cyber Monday only, everything on the site is 25 percent off! So if you have been waiting for the Project Rock collection to go on sale or find that ColdGear is never within your budget, now’s your chance to fill up your cart. To browse the best deals from Under Armour that are too good to pass on, keep reading for all the details.

Categories
Culture

Kim Kardashian Joins TikTok With Daughter North West On Thanksgiving

On Thursday morning, Kim Kardashian and her 8-year-old daughter North West debuted their shared TikTok account, @kimandnorth, and they already have over 300k followers and more than 1.5 million likes.

“No bio yet,” reads the bio. The first of 24 posts (so far) is of the gal’s “spa day” where they show their monochrome collection of products from Kylie Cosmetics and lip syncing to Doja Cat’s “Need To Know.”

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They then gave a glimpse into their Turkey Day, sharing their pumpkins, gourds, balloons, fallen leaves, and other seasonal decor around the home.

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The other videos show glimpses into the relationship between Kardashian and her daughter, which seems to be playful and relaxed as they enjoy their California estate and various adventures.

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North seems to have the most control over what gets posted, sharing little vignettes of her day and fun times with cousin Penelope Disick. Penelope and her mom Kourtney Kardashian recently started their own shared Mommy and Me account under the handle @pandkourt.

They have almost 850k followers, and the bio insists “Account managed by an adult Can we get to 1 mil please Thank you guys so much.” Page Six reports that the Penelope account was temporarily disabled because the app’s guidelines demand every account owner must be 13 or older. The 9-year-old likes sharing her own skin care routines, much like her mom and aunt.

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Aside from spending time with her daughter, Kardashian was seen out with comedian Pete Davidson this weekend, who she recently started dating. Kardashian broke up with North’s father, Kanye West in January and filed for divorce after seven years of marriage. He, however, said this week during a Thanksgiving event on Skid Row that he wants to repair his marriage and win her back to unite the family again.

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Women's Fashion

Brooklinen’s Black Friday Sale Is Happening Right Now

Well, well, well, Black Friday/ Cyber Monday, we meet again. As editors who love stayingin bed, bedding, we are happy to report back that Brooklinen, on of our favorite homeware brands, finally dropped its annual sale Super-soft sheet sets, thick towel bundles, comfy pillows, you name it, is on sale from now and until 11:59 PM EST on November 28. Until then, you can score 20 perfect off site-wide at Brooklinen.com using the code BLACKFRIDAY. Yes! Site-wide.

Since this is only Brooklinen’s biggest sale of the year, it’s time to stock up on everything you need bed-wise for the next 365 days. We’ve covered their super soft sheets before, but don’t miss out on the label’s his & hers robes, cozy slippers, and insanely fragrant candles you should keep on deck in case you need a last-minute holiday gift.

Anyway, check out some of our favorite can’t-miss deals, below. And seriously, don’t sleep on this Black Friday sale. (Get it?)

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Women's Fashion

Toronto Galas Resume with Bloor Street Entertains Fundraiser for CANFAR

Four seasons after party. Photography by George Pimentel

The Toronto gala scene came bouncing back on Nov. 25 with Bloor Street Entertains, an annual fundraiser for the Canadian Foundation for Aids Research (CANFAR). Last year’s event was a virtual one, like many charity fundraisers over the past 20 months. But the CANFAR team carefully plotted to ensure that this year’s 25th anniversary edition was a safe in-person soirée.

More than 850 guests gathered in a range of locations on or near Bloor Street and at several after-party spots further afield.

CANFAR ambassadors appeared at each venue to share the story of how their lives have been impacted by the virus. “I was born with full-blown Aids,” 23-year-old Ashley Rose Murphy told a rapt crowd at Tiffany & Co. Her early years were filled with hospital visits – “I thought all kids did that,” she shared. But when she was seven, her adoptive parents told her the real reason for all the doctor appointments. Thanks to advances in treatment and one pill a day, Murphy lives a relatively normal life, though not without stigma. “A bunch of parents at my school got together and told the principal they wanted me out because of my health status,” she recalls. “That principal stood up for me and told them their kids could leave; I was staying.”

Fighting stigma is one effort the $1.1 million raised will go towards. Another is spreading the word about self-testing kits, which became available in Canada last year. More than 65,000 Canadians are living with HIV, though 14 per cent aren’t aware of their status. CANFAR’s goal is to eliminate new HIV transmissions in Canada by 2025 through increased prevention.

Click through to see photos from the event.

Categories
Fitness

This Bestselling Weighted Blanket on Amazon Is Seriously Discounted For Black Friday!

We’re of the opinion that everyone needs a weighted blanket in their life, and thanks to Amazon’s Black Friday sale, that can become a reality. The retailer is offering a serious discount on the ZonLi 100% Cotton Adult Weighted Blanket ($60, originally $76), and now’s the time to shop! The blanket weighs 20 pounds, which sounds like a lot, but once you get cozy underneath, it’ll feel like nothing.

Weighted blankets are amazing for both anxiety, which so many of us feel during the holiday season, and sleep quality. Curl up in your bed or on the couch with a weighted blanket, and you’ll be amazed at how much more serene and at peace you’ll feel. It’s the ultimate self-care gift, for you or someone you love. This deal won’t last long, though, so grab it before we beat you to it!


Weighted Blanket on Sale at Amazon For Black Friday 2021

ZonLi 100% Cotton Adult Weighted Blanket

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Categories
Culture

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson Seen Holding Hands On Date Night

On Sunday night, Kim Kardashian West and Pete Davidson were seen walking hand-in-hand in Santa Monica, California, heading to Italian restaurant Giorgio Baldi. Kardashian wore an open leather skirt over leggings, elbow-length leathers gloves, sunglasses with a baseball cap and a turtleneck, while carrying a small silver bag. That may have been her version of a casual date night outfit, but Davidson wore a t-shirt, bomber jacket, jeans and a baseball cap as well, which read “Uncle Paulio’s.” His nails were painted black.

The couple ate in a private room, then got into Davidson’s Lamborghini SUV after he held open the car door for her. Inside, they were photographed laughing and one snapshot had fans speculating Davidson might be sporting a hickey on his neck.

Kardashian and Davidson were first linked together in October, after again being photographed holding hands. At the time, they were riding a rollercoaster at Knott’s Scary Farm and claimed to be “just friends.” Since then, they’ve announced publicly that they’re dating, and Kardashian even hosted a party for Davidson’s birthday in Palm Springs during which they wore matching pajamas with her mother Kris Jenner and rapper Flavor Flav.

A source told ET that they’re having a lot of fun, but it’s still early stages.

“Kim and Pete are dating and having a great time together,” the source said. “Pete is a romantic and goes out of his way to make Kim feel special. Kim thinks Pete is hysterical and he’s constantly making her laugh, but they also have been connecting on a deeper level.”

Another source explained, “Pete and Kim are 100 percent dating and are very into each other. They are pretty much inseparable and very affectionate when they’re together. They are supportive of each other’s projects and are really taking an interest in what the other is passionate about. Pete has been in a great mood since him and Kim got together and he is very calm, chill and easy to get along with.”

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Women's Fashion

One of Nordstrom’s Best-Selling Bras Is Majorly Discounted for Black Friday

Nordstrom’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale is currently happening, and it’s really, really good. And one of the best deals right now is the major markdown on the fan-fave Natori Feathers Underwire Contour Bra. It has an impressive 3,300+ reviews and a 4.6-star rating out of 5 just in case you needed convincing that it is in fact a favorite.

Feathers Underwire Contour Bra

Natori

$40.80

With lace trim and molded mesh cups that provide support, this is the T-shirt bra you’re going to want to wear with everything. (Knit sweaters? Your favorite Zoom top? Your go-to sweats? Check, check, check.) It also has adjustable straps, a plunge neckline, and “elastic-edged, stretch-lace wings hug the figure securely without digging in,” according to the description. This comfy design just gives and gives and asks nothing in return.

While Natori Feathers Underwire Contour Bra typically costs $68, you can score it for just around $40 depending on the color way you choose and the sizes available. And they’re going quick, folks! Nordstrom’s Black Friday sale only lasts through Nov. 26 (today!), so you better snag it at a discount while you can.

If your size is already sold out, don’t worry. The retailer is also slashing the prices of a bunch of other Natori styles. From full-coverage silhouettes to a versatile convertible bra, there’s bound to be something for everyone. If you want to give your boobs the support they need (because they deserve it) or are ready to put on some real clothes again, this is the perfect time to restock your lingerie drawer.

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Women's Fashion

This Canada-based Designer On Why Your Next Purchase Should Be a Cape

Photography courtesy of Cape de Coeur

It’s all in the name.

Capes may be fashion’s most versatile garment. I mean, what other piece can simultaneously conjure images of a late 2000s Blair Waldorf, a “Sad Affleck” in superhero tights, and a rainy ride on a Log Flume?

Enter Bettina Mueller Reichl, founder of Vancouver-based Cape de Coeur and avid cape enthusiast. Playing on the French adage coup de coeur (which roughly translates to “something you love”), the brand was born out of a need for stylish rainwear. “We call it a technical high fashion brand,” says Reichl. “The idea was to create a new category of outerwear because I truly believe that it should be practical as much as it should be beautiful.”

Although the Austrian-born designer has over 25 years of experience in the fashion industry, she credits the weather in British Columbia as the initial source of inspiration behind the label. “One day when I was still working at Lululemon, my colleague came in and started to complain about the rain and how there are no nice raincoats,” Reichl reflects. “That was the moment where I was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s a gap in the market!’ Because there are many functional jackets but none that you could wear with Chanel.”

With that in mind, FASHION spoke with the creative director on sustainability, West Coast style, and everything else involving capes.

How would you describe the style of your brand in three words?

“Powerful, spirited, innovative.”

Why capes?

“I love the drama! I love the history of the cape and how powerful they can make you feel on a psychological level. But they’re also incredibly functional. Capes effortlessly protect your beautiful outfit and accessories from the elements.”

What’s one piece from your new collection that is especially meaningful to you?

Without a doubt, it’s the ‘Guardian’ — I’ve had the most incredible in-store shopping experiences with this cape. When shoppers try it on, they say, “Oh my God, I feel so strong,” and that is the biggest reward as a designer, to know your work has made someone feel great!

What would you say makes your capes so unique?

All Cape de Coeur pieces are crafted in the brand’s proprietary CoeurTex™ fabrication. The material is very special and was only invented a couple of years ago. I found it through the activewear world – where there is so much technical innovation — and it was initially developed for mountaineering jackets, so the cape is wind, water and snow proof but without looking “plastic-y.” We also use a three-layer system with a membrane in the middle that’s incredibly breathable and then an inner layer to keep the wearer comfortable.

What is something about your brand that would surprise people?

We’re a team made up of independent experts in various fields. We don’t have a traditional model where there’s a CEO and coworkers in an office. I work with people from all over the world.

Cape de Coeur
Photography courtesy of Cape de Coeur

How does your brand approach sustainability?

I genuinely believe the best way to be sustainable is to shop for quality versus quantity. At Cape de Coeur, we focus on creating pieces that you can keep in your closet for multiple seasons and maintaining a short supply chain to reduce our environmental impact.

How would you describe Vancouver’s style?

I would say the West Coast “uniform” is Lululemon leggings, Blundstone boots and a waterproof jacket. It’s a very useful and practical way to dress, but it has to be because it rains so much.

What is your favourite season, based solely on wardrobe?

Fall! I love outerwear and layering.

What is the most-worn item in your closet?

My husband teases me about it constantly, but I wear my black Rag & Bone jeans all the time!

What are four items that are bringing you joy right now?

Categories
Fitness

17 Gadgets Fitness-Lovers Will Love to Unwrap This Year

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.

When it comes to gifts for the fitness-lover in your life, you can never go wrong with classic black leggings, sneakers, or gift cards to their favorite athletic store. But if you want to step things up this year, there are loads of high-tech health and fitness gadgets that will turn any gym-goer, runner, or home workout aficionado into the heart-eyes emoji when they start unwrapping.

We’re talking portable massagers, devices to correct your posture, meditation headbands, and of course, wearable fitness trackers: all products that’ll keep your fitness-loving friend performing at their best. These fitness gadgets are truly the gifts that keep on giving, and your friend will be using them all year long during their sweat sessions. Keep reading to shop the devices and gadgets that they’ll really love and use over and over again.

— Additional reporting by Maggie Ryan

Categories
Culture

Selling Sunset‘s Emma Hernan Is Here to Stir Sh*t Up

If you enjoyed the first three seasons of Netflix’s Selling Sunset, get ready, because season 4 might just be the best yet. From Chrishell Stause’s post-divorce glow-up to Christine Quinn’s pregnancy, the new episodes do not disappoint. And the show’s heightened sense of drama is in part thanks to the addition of two new real estate agents at The Oppenheim Group.

One of the juiciest storylines of the season involves Emma Hernan, a real estate agent with a past connection to Quinn. Here’s what you need to know about one the newest sources of Selling Sunset’s unmissable drama.

She’s a CEO and self-made millionaire.

As noted by her bio on The Oppenheim Group website, Emma is “a self-made multi-millionaire,” and the CEO of Emma-Leigh & Co, a food company famous for its plant-based empanadas in partnership with Beyond Meat. Born and raised in Boston, her business expertise—and the fact that she also acts as an angel investor—means she brings a wealth of knowledge and wealthy clients to the real estate side of her business.

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Emma is incredibly proud of her business journey, and told E! News, “I think it’s so important, especially as a woman, to just have so many different streams of revenue… I started out back in Boston, modeling, babysitting, working ice cream shops—I mean, you name it.”

As for how she started investing, Emma told E!, “I love to work and I saved every penny I got, started investing it…And I helped fund my family’s seafood company at 16 years old. And I was lending the company hundreds of thousands of dollars to make payroll and to get where they are today. And now you know they’re a multi-million-dollar business.”

Emma has history with Christine Quinn.

Selling Sunset’s newest recruit has a rocky history with Christine, which quickly becomes a focus of the show’s fourth season. As a trailer for the show revealed, the two share an ex, and there’s some tension regarding how quickly Emma reportedly got engaged following Christine’s breakup.

selling sunset l to r emma hernan, chrishell stause, brett oppenheim, mary fitzgerald, amanza smith, maya vander, davina potratz, heather rae young in season 4 of selling sunset cr patrick wymorenetflix © 2021

PATRICK WYMORE/NETFLIX

During an interview with Cosmopolitan UK, fellow cast member Mary Fitzgerald teased that it was Emma’s connection to Christine that scored her a role on the show. Mary revealed, “I think the producers found out she had a history with Christine.” And we all know that Christine is the last person you want to cross.

But she’s great friends with several Selling Sunset stars.

Despite having earned a place on Christine’s “naughty list,” Emma has been close to multiple members of the Selling Sunset cast for quite some time. Even though Emma’s storyline sees her joining The Oppenheim Group at the start of season 4, according to Amanza Smith, Emma is far from a new addition to the real estate agency.

“Emma and I are really good friends,” Amanza told Cosmopolitan UK. “I’ve known her probably six, seven years, I knew her before she ever joined the cast. She’s [always been] a real estate agent and is friends with the group.” She’s also close with her bosses, Brett and Jason Oppenheim, and told People, “I bought my first property with Jason and that’s how I transitioned into real estate… [They] are like my big brothers.”

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Emma even scored herself an invite to Heather Rae Young’s wedding to Tarek El Moussa, and is clearly smitten with her Selling Sunset cast mates. As she told E! News, “People are like, ‘You don’t get to pick your coworkers,’ but it just happens to be that if I could pick my coworkers, they would be all of the people that genuinely work at The Oppenheim Group. They are like my family. I formed… such a great bond with filming and stuff like that… they’re genuinely my closest friends.”

Emma is a proud dog-mom.

If you’re a fan of adorable dog pictures, then look no further than Emma Hernan’s Instagram page. The model-turned-real estate mogul is understandably besotted with her dog Benny. Sadly, Benny doesn’t make an appearance on Selling Sunset, but we’ve got our fingers crossed for future seasons.

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She’s bracing herself for hate mail.

An unfortunate side effect of life in the public eye is trolling, and Emma’s co-stars have already been preparing her for the disappointing inevitability. “I think it’s really difficult in general for any person to kind of see negative criticism come at you. But of course, as a woman, even more so,” she told People. “I’ve seen a lot of the girls struggle with the feedback and criticism they’ve gotten.”

In the same interview, Emma said of her Selling Sunset cast mates, “They’ve warned me, and they’re super protective of me, which I love. They’re like, ‘Don’t read the comments. They might not always be the best.’ But, you know what? It’s been really inspiring for me when I’m out and about with them and people will come up and say, ‘You inspire me,’ and things like that—that’s why I want to do it.”

But she’s excited for fans to see season 4.

Even though she gets embroiled in some serious drama with Christine during Selling Sunset season 4, Emma can’t wait for fans of the show to watch the new episodes. “I’m really excited for the fans to get to know me, my personality… what drives me, my family,” Emma told E! News.

She continued, “I’ve been a very private person for the majority of my life. So I’m definitely opening up my entire life for the world to see, and I’m really excited to share that. I’m excited to inspire young girls—and I’m excited to show everybody that… you can accomplish absolutely everything that you want.”

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Categories
Women's Fashion

21 Cozy Sweaters to Cuddle Up in This Winter

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Fitness

30 Gifts For Every Fitness Friend on Your Shopping List — From $5 to $550

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.

Every year we tend to struggle with finding the perfect gift for that one friend who loves all things fitness. Luckily we’ve scoured the web and found 30 gifts that any fitness aficionado would appreciate. Whether it’s a gift for a colleague who could use some me time or your best friend of 10-plus years who’s working on their strength training, ahead, find a range of gifts that’ll bring an appreciative smile to their face. Plus, you might find something great for you too!

Categories
Culture

Why Bringing In Lucky the Pizza Dog Could Be Marvel’s Smartest Move Yet

Putting a dog in your show is a copout. I can admit this! It is astronomically more challenging to judge a work by its merits when there’s a golden retriever blinking at you drowsily from the screen. If you have a dog yourself, it’s even worse: The two canines always seem, impossibly, to lock eyes through the television; perhaps one of them even barks or whines or makes that heart-melting little chuff sound, and you, in all your cynicism, still can’t help but indulge in another episode. Such a weakness makes for a terrible cultural critic.

And yet—if I may attempt to be objective here, even as my beagle doses on the couch beside me—there is something rare about Lucky the Pizza Dog, a fan-favorite Marvel character from the Matt Fraction-led Hawkeye comics, who’s since graduated to a recurring role in the Disney+ series. It’s easy enough to drop a dog into your story when you need an aww moment, an equivalent of Baby Yoda with a cup of broth. But, as we’ve seen with Baby Yoda, it takes actual finesse to shape a non-speaking character—an animal or alien, no less—who can carry a scene. That’s exactly what Lucky did in the Fraction run; an entire issue of the series was devoted to the dog’s POV. To this day, that book is considered a Marvel comics classic. What remains to be seen is if Lucky can do the same for a Marvel TV show.

In the comics, Lucky the Pizza Dog is a retriever who belongs to Ivan Banionis of the criminal “Tracksuit Mafia,” a gang bent on taking control of Hawkeye (aka Clint Barton)’s apartment building. Among the tracksuits, Lucky’s known as “Arrow”—a purposefully on-the-nose joke at which Clint dutifully cringes—but he’s neglected and abused, more of a weaponized accessory than man’s best friend. After Clint offers the pup a bite of pizza, Lucky realizes true human kindness exists, and when the tracksuits start shooting at his new pal, Lucky jumps in to stop them. He’s rewarded with a merciless beating. Refusing to leave Lucky’s unconscious body behind, Clint rushes him, sopping wet, to an emergency vet. “Fix. This. Dog,” Clint demands, in one of the Fraction run’s most memorable panels.

hailee steinfeld and jeremy renner on the set of hawkeye with jolt as lucky the pizza dog

Hailee Steinfeld and Jeremy Renner on the set of Hawkeye with Jolt (as Lucky the Pizza Dog).

Raymond HallGetty Images

Lucky survives and makes a mostly full recovery, less the use of his left eye (a characteristic the Disney+ series plays tribute to as early as episode 1). After adopting the dog as his own, Clint renames him Lucky the Pizza Dog, given the latter’s penchant for both near-death experiences and pepperoni. Luck, as he’s sometimes called, becomes a fixture beside both Clint and his arrow-slinging protege, Kate Bishop, who even takes the dog with her when she moves to Los Angeles, sick of Clint’s growing self-pity. When she finally returns to aid Clint’s battle against the tracksuits, Lucky tags along—and proves instrumental in bringing the bad guys down.

Based on Fraction’s own late canine companion, Captain Applejack, Lucky quickly became an essential part of Hawkeye’s success. “As I started to kind of write and give [Clint] this kind of emotional thing he was connected to, like, the character’s animal appeared,” the writer explained in a radio interview in 2014. “It wasn’t a hawk; it was a dog. And then I got the book. I understood what the book was. I knew what happens. I knew what it was about. And if I couldn’t save Captain Applejack, Hawkeye could save Lucky.”

With only two episodes of Hawkeye streaming so far, the Disney+ Lucky—played by dog actress Jolt, with a CGI-removed eye—hasn’t had enough time to prove he can deliver the emotional resonance of his comic predecessor. But the fact that Marvel Studios has opted to include Lucky so early in the series points to an intention beyond heartstring-tugging. If the series gets Hawkeye right—and early reviews indicate it might—it’ll be because the show keeps the plot grounded in Fraction’s original intention: telling the story of a normalized Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), one removed from any multiverse-hopping super-saga. Comics Clint is a messy, coffee-stained-T-shirt sort of hero, with little of Steve Rogers’ nobility or Tony Stark’s cocksure cool. He can be snarky, but he’s equally self-effacing and, more often than not, immature. He’s divorced. He’s selfish. He’s irresponsible. He is also funny, tender, and devoted, especially to those who love him in spite of those grating flaws.

In recent years, as its universe expands in countless directions, Marvel has struggled to retain the tongue-in-cheek, heart-on-its-sleeve relatability that made so many of its earlier films hit. Yes, Iron Man could fly and Hulk turned green and Rocket Raccoon was, well, a talking raccoon, but their effervescent banter and real-world insecurities made them feel like friends. The MCU has lost much of this right-here, right-now familiarity as the studio focuses more and more attention on what’s next. (To illustrate: Marvel Studios has announced planned films well into 2024 and beyond.) Adrift in this franchise-building, Hawkeye became an afterthought. Throughout the films in which he starred, Renner’s Clint vacillated from brainwashed foot-soldier to not-quite-romantic partner to devoted dad to agonized killing machine. Marvel Studios could never figure out what, precisely, to make of the guy with the arrows, an otherwise rich character from the comics.

hailee steinfeld with jolt the dog on the set of hawkeye

This is unbearable.

Raymond HallGetty Images

Disney+—and Lucky the Pizza Dog—could finally remedy that wrong. The show is supposedly about Clint the everyman, an Avenger all too well-acquainted with his B-list status. He teams up with a bubbly young sidekick who peppers him with advice about his “brand.” That’s a long-exhausted trope, until you factor in that dopey retriever.

If Marvel is looking for right-here, right-now character development, they picked the right vessel when they chose a dog—dogs have little concept of today or tomorrow, even less of your sins and shortcomings. As Fraction expressed, this was what made Lucky magical in the comics; he had no understanding of Clint Barton the Avenger, only Clint Barton the guy with the pizza.

A dog is a cinematic copout because they’re such a simple, foolproof pleasure—a naturally rewarding narrative device. But when they work, they work. They love us when we’re not superheroes, so we love them when all they do is appear on a TV screen and loll their tongues. A good dog can also make a damn good story—one that the MCU desperately needs to remind us that Clint Barton is more than just another puzzle piece in the Marvel multiverse. If Lucky does his job—if he shows us the sides of Clint we need to see—he might just remind us why Hawkeye is worthy of a TV show after all.

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Women's Fashion

Texture Talk: Preparing and Caring For a Curly Cut

Graphic by KAYLEEN DICUANGCO

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.

Many of us are delighted to be able to return to salons and unload our tresses (and stresses) onto our stylist’s chair. When it comes to cutting curly hair, it’s a unique experience that should be handled with care. It’s also best to avoid a DIY cut, which can “lead to an uneven disaster,” says Shai Amiel (a.k.a. “the curl doctor”), who has worked with stars like Tamera Mowry and Kehlani. Haircuts are a service that needs to be delivered by a professional hairstylist, adds Vernon François, global consultant for Redken and global inclusivity and education adviser for Kérastase, whose client roster includes Serena Williams, Lupita Nyong’o and Willow Smith. Otherwise, “it could end up being costly if you have to restyle or if you accidentally create more split ends,” he says. Here, the two celebrity hairstylists break down their best advice on how to prepare for, perfect and take care of your curly cut.

Time to trim

It’s time for a cut “if your ends appear thin and wispy versus your mid-lengths or if the shape of your original hairstyle is growing out,” explains François. If you have kinky hair, one of the telltale signs is when the ends of your strands begin to tangle consistently. For many, length can be one of the most treasured elements of textured hair, especially if you’ve been blessed with extremely tight curls. Even if you’re looking to maintain your length, regular trims every three to four months will keep hair at its healthiest, says Amiel. “Snipping those ends on a regular basis will stop them from splitting down the shaft.” It can also help with length retention and promote hair growth in the long run.

Prep work

The next step is to book a consultation. Both Amiel and François agree that you should have a conversation with your stylist prior to your appointment so that both of you are clear on your expectations. This is also the best time for your stylist to share the benefits of cutting more or less hair than you intended so you can make an informed decision. Arrive at your appointment with your hair styled in its most natural state or in the way you will be wearing it post-cut. “It’s best to wash it the day of or the day before, allowing it to dry in its natural state without manipulating it,” recommends Amiel. For best results, skip out on any type of bun, ponytail or braid and avoid wearing hats, clips, scarves or heavy oils.

Appointment-day essentials

Once you arrive at your curly cut appointment, what can you expect from your stylist? Amiel, who gave Kehlani that coveted pixie cut, likes to snip hair curl by curl in order to get the best results. The beautiful thing about curly hair is that, like snowflakes, no two curls are the same. In order to achieve a somewhat uniform appearance, it’s important to give each curl special attention. As the process begins, it may look like the stylist is cutting a lot of hair, but there’s no general rule when it comes to cutting, says François. “The amount that is cut will depend on the rate of hair growth, how long it’s been since your last trim, your lifestyle and whether you’re looking to maintain, shorten or extend your overall hair length.”

Post-cut care

All roads lead back to your stylist. Amiel recommends documenting the cutting and styling process and using the products that have been recommended for you. He also emphasizes steering clear of heat styling tools like straighteners and blow-dryers. In fact, stretching your hair in any capacity should be avoided at all costs. “Let each curl or coil fall and form the ringlet it wants without manipulation,” says Amiel. “For best results, don’t even put your hair in a bun or a ponytail until it’s completely dry. If you pull your wet or damp hair back while stretching it and force it to dry elongated, your curl pattern will be weakened. This is as damaging as using a blow-dryer and round brush.” Finally, if you get a curly cut you regret, remember that it’s hair and it will grow back.

This is article first appeared in FASHION’s November 2021 issue.