The verdict is in: my couch — which is doubling as my work-from-home office — is an ergonomic nightmare.
After weeks of slouching over my laptop while being absorbed into the couch cushions, my neck and back pain has reached new heights.
Researching work-from-home standing desks is now my first line of defense against my unwanted muscle tension — and I’ve been pleased to discover they come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and price points.
To my fellow couch potatoes, I hope the following rolling carts and convertible tabletops serve you well, too.
Kate Middleton and Prince William are in quarantine like so many others around the world amid the coronavirus pandemic, having Zoom meetings and homeschooling their three young children Prince George, 6; Princess Charlotte, 4; and Prince George, 1. Us Weeklygot a little intel on how the two royals are spending their days with their kids when school is done. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are reportedly quarantining with their kids in their Norfolk country home, Anmer Hall.
“Kate bakes and decorates cakes with the kids [on] the weekend to keep them entertained,” a source told Us. “The kitchen is always a complete mess by the end of it, but it’s all part of the fun—that’s how Kate sees it. They also enjoy gardening together and planting seeds.”
“Kate counts her blessings that the kids get on so well,” the source continued. “George has been helping Charlotte with her gymnastics and they’ll spend hours practicing cartwheels, headstands and other moves together. Louis tries to join in too!”
A second source said that both Kate and William are helping home-school their children while many schools are closed in the UK. “Kate is mainly in charge of the home-schooling and playtimes, but William is also very involved too,” the source said. “He teaches them lessons and organizes games.”
Kate and William shared a glimpse of their work day now in their Instagram yesterday. The two posted a video of their Zoom engagement with students at Casterton Primary Academy.
“In conversation with…Casterton Primary Academy,” their Kensington Palace staff captioned the Instagram post. “Teachers across the UK are dedicating their time to keeping schools open for the children of key workers and vulnerable children. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge called teachers and school staff at Casterton Primary Academy to thank them for their hard work and dedication – and to wish the children a very Happy Easter 🐣 @_place2be.”
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).
Every night around 7 P.M. Nashville time, Karen Elson beams onto Instagram. “A song a day keeps the blues away,” types the redhead, before launching into acoustic covers of jazz, rock n’ roll, and folk. The 41-year-old leans against custom wallpaper by the artist Costanza Theodoli-Braschi and wears all kinds of things—a T-shirt from the sadly defunct Deep End Club that reads “GIVE A DAMN,” a black vintage Victorian blouse, a silk floral kimono.
It’s an elevated approach to quarantine style for sure, but besides shirts designed by Jenny Lewis and ruffled silk tanks, her daily wardrobe also includes—to misquote Madonna—“the great equalizer,” which is not actually COVID-19, but sweatpants. “My favorite are these woolen leopard print sweatpants that are incredible and the most comfiest thing,” she says.
Eamonn McCormack/BFCGetty Images
Elson’s been wearing a lot of wool lately (see also: February’s Fendi runway…) and with good reason: just before the world shut down, she was on the podium at London’s prestigious Woolmark Prize crowning its winners—Emily Bode and Richard Malone—before heading home to maybe-hopefully-please-please finish her third studio album.
Here’s what’s on Elson’s mind this season, including transformation, nudity, and what happens when your sister steals your clothes.
Sweatpants are saving me right now. You?
I’ve refused to take mine off for like a year. I got them because I love wool and I needed a casual uniform for traveling and hanging out. I knew they had to be wool because it’s a sustainable fabric, obviously, but also because it’s just soooo cozy. You really can’t beat a beautiful, soft wool when you want to feel a little bit better about things.
Sweatpants are cool because nobody borrows them. But when people take a wool sweater, it starts conforming and stretching to their body…
Oh, like when your sister takes your sweater? Believe me, I know! But I think we need to embrace that. One of my favorite things about the Woolmark Prize finalists is that even though they’re obviously so sophisticated in their designs, they still distressed or warped a lot of the products that they were making, and I found that really interesting, because that actually is what gives a piece of clothing life, right? And if we’re talking about being sustainable, shouldn’t it be cool that you can see the way a garment has lived? Shouldn’t we let the wool hold more stories than just our own body? I love seeing the wear, honestly.
We just did a piece on how people love the word “sustainable” but it can’t happen without industry change…
Right?! And there is a lot of secrecy within the industry of how things are made. I’m a big Richard Malone fan—I’m so happy he won the Woolmark Prize!—because he’s not just a designer, he’s kind of a historian. He saw me in this Simone Rocha dress today and he goes, “Hey Karen, did you know the color black does not exist in the natural world? So for us to dye a ‘true’ black, we need to be very careful about what we use so it’s not a toxic chemical.”
So you think smaller designers will have to drive the change?
No, I think everyone’s got to do it. We need industry-wise change, and I think honestly we have no choice but to innovate and evolve as an industry… But to me, sustainable doesn’t just mean, can it biodegrade. It also means, “Are people being ethically treated? Are they being paid fairly? Are they healthy while they work?” I’m talking about garment workers, of course, but I’m also talking about my industry. A fashion brand that wants to be sustainable has to consider models in that equation, too.
Andy KropaGetty Images
How?
Like, a girl shouldn’t have to stay at a fitting until 2:00 AM in the morning and wake up for her show at 6:00 AM and do it all over again, not getting paid very much, not having anyone checking on her mental or physical health, as long as she fits into the clothes. That’s not sustainable for anyone… and I think we need to do a better job of educating everyone who interacts with models on how to speak with young women. I can’t tell you how many times I’d show up on set in the ‘90s, right? I was a teenager, and someone would say, “Oh, I can’t wait to shoot you nude!” And then the same person would yell at me because my butt was too big for the sample-sized pants. Are you kidding me? Do you know what kind of warped ideas that creates in the minds of young women?
Do you think that would still happen now, even with the fear of being “outed” on social media?
Oh sure. I still hear, every once in a while, an echo back to me like, “Oh, you shouldn’t speak up about being treated badly by people. It could affect your career.” But if you want a sustainable career, you need to keep yourself well. That includes speaking up when something’s wrong. I’m not a huge fan of pointing fingers and going, “You did this!” I think for things like sexual assault, absolutely, you name the person. But for smaller things, I prefer saying, “Hey, I’d like to hold up a mirror to your behavior, and I’d like you to look in it, and we can talk about what we’re seeing.” Whenever it’s possible, being honest but kind is always the way forward. I really, truly believe that’s the way to create lasting change.
That and wool sweatpants.
Oh, and a giant wool sweater to go with them that you can just wear everywhere!
Ron Galella, Ltd.Getty Images
Faran Krentcil Editor at Large, ELLE.com “Her beauty and her brain go not together.” —William Shakespeare
As people around the country wind down their fourth week of self-isolation, FASHION is reaching out to some of our favourite Canadians to get a peek into how they’re living their lives in lockdown (remember: #StayHomeSaveLives). Each week, keep an eye out for new self-isolation diaries from actors, designers, athletes and artists who are riding this uncertain time out with us.
Brooke Lynn Hytes, drag queen and judge on Canada’s Drag Race
I currently live in Nashville and am here with my two beautiful cats, Henry and Apollo, who are keeping me company. Honestly, my cats have been everything. I am such an animal person, and they bring me peace. I began self-isolating in early to mid March. It was hard for the first couple of weeks, not really understanding what was happening. I feel like I’ve settled into quarantine now and am happy to do my part to flatten the curve.
The toughest thing about self-isolation is to not be working. I love to work and be busy. I always remind myself that this too will pass and that staying home is a luxury that not everyone in the world can do. It’s easy and the least we can all do to support everyone on the frontlines of this.
On the bright side, my manager and I have been working remotely on lots of exciting new things to come online, and in person once this is all over. I also have had some great catch-ups with friends and family that I otherwise wouldn’t have had time for, so that is nice too.
I’m watching lots of Netflix shows—Call the Midwife, Tiger King—and I love a good episode of Trixie [Mattel] and Katya [Zamolodchikova]’s web series UNHhhh.
I’m also reorganizing all of my drag. I have been on tour for a full year and this is giving me a moment to get everything together so I can come back stronger than ever! My team and I have been working on new merch, my website Brookelynnhytes.com, and my YouTube channel that will have exciting things coming soon!
And ICYMI, we photographed Brooke Lynn Hytes for our March 2020 issue. Go behind the scenes of the shoot here.
My husband is an ob-gyn at one of the largest hospitals in Detroit, which has seen a surge in cases of COVID-19. For now, he continues to see patients on the ob-gyn floor, visiting the emergency room only for pregnancy- or gynecology-related consults, which occasionally involve patients who are infected with the novel coronavirus. But as the hospital becomes more overwhelmed with cases of COVID-19, strategic measures are being put in place that may eventually require him to assist his fellow doctors and nurses in treating those who are sick.
As the infection rate skyrockets and the death toll mounts, I keep reminding myself that my husband is healthy, and his body is capable of fighting off a virus, however novel it may be. Even if he were to transmit the virus to me or our young daughter, we would likely recover without experiencing any complications, as most people do. It has taken some time, but today I’m not nearly as worried about us as I am about other healthcare workers and the patients who truly need care.
Because I’m married to a doctor, I know more about hospital policies and what’s happening on the front lines than most. I know that healthcare professionals are even more exhausted than usual from treating an inordinate number of patients. I know that at times doctors and nurses haven’t been able to access the personal protective equipment they need. And I also know that many patients — and those who aren’t sick, for that matter — ignore the recommendations of doctors. In this case, those recommendations could help treat and prevent the spread of a deadly virus.
Together we can ease the burden on healthcare workers and overcome COVID-19, but it will take all of us.
Every medical doctor has taken an oath to care for patients to the best of their abilities. The doctors I know would never break that oath. When my husband graduated from medical school, I watched as seasoned physicians and anxious interns alike recited the oath with their whole heart, with tears in their eyes, and with every intention of living up to it. Now, as doctors turn that promise into action, they’ll push through the exhaustion in order to help the growing number of patients who fill their ERs. They’ll work without a mask if needed, and in turn, sacrifice holding their babies at night. And they’ll continue to care for those patients who come back worse than when they left, no matter the circumstances that led them there.
The Hippocratic Oath says, “I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.” I see this pledge in the eyes of masked physicians across the world, as they study what others have learned about this virus and then treat patients without hesitation, no matter how mentally or physically draining it may be.
George and Amal Clooney have joined the many celebrities giving generously to coronavirus relief efforts, with the actor and human rights lawyer donating more than $1 million to six organizations. According to Deadline, the couple donated $750,000 total ($250,000 each) to the Motion Picture and Television Home, the SAG-AFTRA Fund, and Los Angeles Mayor’s Fund. They gave an additional $300,000 to three international charities: the Lebanese Food Bank, Lombardo Italy Region, and the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Amal is both British and Lebanese, so the couple’s donations to the Lebanese Food Bank and the NHS are personal. The Clooneys have a house in Lombardo, Italy; their donation to the Lombardo Italy Region will help local hospitals there.
The couple is also helping actors and entertainment industry workers in the U.S.: The Motion Picture and Television Home and SAG-AFTRA Fund are helping provide financial aid to those affected by the entertainment industry’s widespread shutdown because of the pandemic.
In Los Angeles, the Mayor’s Fund is supporting COVID-19 emergency response activities across the city, including helping hospitals with supplies and providing meals to isolated seniors, per People. The Clooneys have a home in Los Angeles.
The Clooneys aren’t the only power couple to donate more than $1 million to COVID-19 relief. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds did too: They first announced their $1 million donation to the Feeding America and Food Banks Canada on Instagram.
Later, E! reported the couple donated an additional $400,000 to four of New York’s hardest-hit hospitals. Each hospital got $100,000.
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).
It all started because DeRay Mckesson was cold. In 2014, when the school administrator–turned–activist set out to drive from his home in Minneapolis to Ferguson, Missouri, to protest the police shooting of Michael Brown, he threw on a blue vest he’d bought five years earlier on a trip to New York City. Soon, images of Mckesson in the vest were blasted around the world, cementing him—and his outerwear of choice—as the most recognizable member of the Black Lives Matter movement. These days, he never goes anywhere—whether it’s a rally, his friend Prabal Gurung’s show at New York Fashion Week, even The Late Show With Stephen Colbert—without his signature item. “I continue to wear it because it reminds me that everything we went through in the street was real,” he explains. And while designers like Brunello Cucinelli and Moncler are known for their status versions of the style, Mckesson’s is a humble Patagonia (a similar vest on its website retails for around $1oo).
McKesson at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
John ShearerGetty Images
The confluence of the outdoor brand and one of the most prominent activists of our time is no accident. Corporations are not people, but if they were, Patagonia might be Bernie Sanders: authentic and committed from the start, but only more recently lauded by the wider world for it. Mckesson says he was drawn to the brand because it “has always lived its commitment to the environment.” Now equally beloved by those scaling icy peaks and those scaling the social ladder of Fashion Week (thus the “Patagucci” coinage), Patagonia has been walking the walk since the ’70s. The rest of the fashion world is only now nipping at its Tevas.
Forged in the same California crucible of optimism and alfalfa-powered weirdness that created the Whole Earth Catalog and Moon Juice, Patagonia was founded by rock climber Yvon Chouinard in 1973. Chouinard and his merry band of outdoorspeople allied themselves with environmental activism early on: For example, when some Patagonia employees met a young man who was working to save a nearby riverside from development, they gave him office space to run his campaign. In 1985, Patagonia formalized its commitment to advocacy with 1% for the Planet, a program that has donated more than $110 million from the company’s sales to environmental grassroots groups. The company’s Ventura headquarters is the kind of place where you can go surfing on your lunch hour. It’s also the kind of place where you might get some side-eye if you show up to a meeting carrying a single-use coffee cup, says Lisa Williams, the brand’s chief product officer.
Kendall Jenner in Patagonia jacket.
Mitchell LeffGetty Images
There’s a healthy debate about whether Michael Jordan ever said the words “Republicans buy sneakers, too,” but that justification of political apathy in the name of commerce has long been common for fashion brands, luxury and mass alike. Why wade into a debate when you’re looking to clothe people on both sides of the aisle? But with a global climate crisis looming, more and more fashion brands have been speaking out. M. Sanjayan, the CEO of Conservation International, points to the companies, including Tiffany & Co., Levi Strauss & Co., and Gap Inc., who took out full-page newspaper ads protesting Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris climate accords in 2017.
Lindsay Rose Medoff repurposes Patagonia garments for its ReCrafted line at Suay Sew Shop in Los Angeles.
Lauren Ross
Around the same time, Patagonia fired its own shot across the bow: joining a lawsuit against the Trump administration to block cuts to two Utah national monuments. Most fashion activism stops short of the courtroom, but Patagonia is leaning into this news cycle. (“Hey, How’s That Lawsuit Against the President Going?” read a company blog post last spring.) “Every time the rest of the industry starts catching up, they reinvent [themselves],” Sanjayan says. They are, Williams says, “trying to build an army of conscious consumers,” many of whom are millennials or Gen Zers, who’ve been raised to question many of the fashion industry’s norms. “We are really happy that younger generations are asking hard questions of us, questions that we do not always have every answer to. They’re helping us raise the bar.”
The company has pledged to eliminate virgin petroleum sources by 2025, and it launched ReCrafted, an upcycled line made from Patagonia pieces that were beyond repair, this past year. It’s also been doing a sideline in environmental documentaries: This year, Patagonia will premiere a feature on public lands called Public Trust. Activism doesn’t appear to have turned off its customers. If anything, it “has increased their market share,” Sanjayan says. “They’ve taken a position that has ended up being good, not just for the planet, but for their bottom line.”
Between its message and its place in the “gorpcore” aesthetic (Sandy Liang’s clout fleeces, Prada’s hiking sandals), Patagonia has even gained an unexpected fashion following, and it’s gotten requests to do collaborations with fashion brands, according to Williams. Stylist Rachael Wang, who is known for her street style, initially admired the performance aspect of the clothing. “My appreciation evolved into reverence,” she says, “once I learned about the company’s holistic approach to environmental responsibility and social justice. They are certainly not perfect, but they don’t claim to be. They don’t use imperfection as an excuse to stagnate.”
Shop Patagonia
Patagonia Woolyester Fleece Pullover
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Patagonia Men’S P-6 Logo Responsibili-Tee
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This article originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of ELLE.
If I were to say the words “press-on nails” to you, it’s likely that your brain would conjure up images of middle school slumber parties where you and your friends turned a living room into a beauty salon with temporary hair dyes, body stickers and the aforementioned press-on nails. But the school days staple is having a major resurgence during quarantine. With all of us staying indoors and nail salons shuttered until further notice, we’ve all had to turn our hands (sorry not sorry) to taking care of our own nails. From DIY manicures and pedicures, to removing gel polish, it’s given us a newfound appreciation for our local nail technician. But if you haven’t managed to perfect painting your own nails (myself included), press-on nails are a relatively quick and easy way to ‘cheat’ your way to a salon-worthy manicure.
In fact, even glam queen Ariana Grande is getting in on the action. Earlier this week, the Thank You, Next singer posted two images to stories of a set of press-on nails she had been gifted by a Los Angeles based nail artist with the handle @bettyinacherry. In one of the shots, Grande showed off her perfectly manicured hand, with the caption “u are a gift @bettyinacherry thank u.”
When applying press-on nails, be sure to properly fit each nail. Gina Edwards, celebrity nail artist and ambassador for Kiss Nails, says, “The best way to apply press-on nails is to apply the nails on your dominant hand first which makes it a little easier for application. Also, measure the nail from nail groove to nail groove without overlapping the skin.” Her top tip for a perfect end result? “Make sure you cleanse your natural nails before applying by removing oils and debris for better adhesion. Also make sure to size all ten nails and lay out in number order before applying. This ensures you choose the best fit for each nail.”
There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to application, too. Some sets require glue, whilst others use an adhesive layer to hold the nail in place. As for how either will treat your natural nails, Edwards explains, “There is no risk to your natural nails if you apply a press on with an adhesive layer, not glue. Glue nails may cause damage only if they are not removed properly.”
Speaking of removal, if your nails are still going strong but you’re ready for a new set, Edwards says, “If the adhesive is still holding well, don’t rip the nail off as that will damage the nails. You can use warm water and oil or add a little acetone under the nail. If your nails were applied with glue you need to remove with an acetone -based product and soak off for a minimum of 15-30 mins.” If you happen to lose one before you’re ready to take them all off, Edwards says, “For hygiene and optimal wear, its best to keep the nail off and reapply a new one,” adding that all KISS/imPRESS nails include ‘extras’ for mishaps and fallen nails for that very reason.
Here’s some of our favourite at-home press-on nail kits to try:
Need a little home workout motivation? We’re teaming up with expert trainers on our POPSUGAR Fitness‘s Instagram page to lead you through inspiring, muscle-strengthening, heart-pounding live workouts. In case you miss any them, we’re adding them to the POPSUGAR Fitness Instagram feed, and rounding them all up here so you can follow along when you have time. Choose from a variety of workouts including HIIT, dance cardio, and yoga. Get ready to get sweaty and have fun, and stay tuned to our Instagram for even more live workouts to come!
During turbulent times, unlikely heroes often arise from the chaos to offer wisdom. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has emerged as a symbol of stability, capturing hearts with his morning briefings. But the influence of another high-profile icon with a five-lettered “C” name has made her presence known. All hail Cardi B.
On Thursday the Grammy winner announced her partnership with Fashion Nova to donate $1,000 hourly to families in need during the pandemic. It’s just the latest headline-making moment from Cardi in the last month. Since early March, when she shared her first thoughts on the pandemic with her 62 million followers, the rapper has felt like someone who really “gets” the current moment.
She’s tweeted frankly about how the President is handling the coronavirus. She’s hosted an audience of 100,000+ on Instagram Live while discussing the wealth disparity in access to coronavirus tests. She’s even inspired the official anthem of social distancing. While Cardi has gotten political before, she’s never wielded her influence quite like this.
At this point, it’s basically the will of the people:
Below, some of Cardi’s star-making political moments in the wake of the virus.
She donated $1 million to struggling families in the pandemic.
On April 8, Cardi B released plans for her own stimulus package. The musician is partnering with Fashion Nova to donate $1 million to families impacted by the pandemic through May 20. She and the fashion brand will provide $1,000 every hour to those seeking relief. As unemployment rates soar and businesses shutter, Cardi urged her Instagram followers to share their stories through fashionnova.com/cares. From there, she and Fashion Nova will read submissions and select those they’ll aid. “Don’t be shy. Sometimes you gotta motherfucking ask for help,” she told her followers before singing “Lean on Me.”
She provided meals to NYC healthcare workers.
Last week, Cardi went to the emergency room for an illness unrelated to COVID-19. She’s recovering now and thanked medical officials for their help by donating 20,000 bottles of the vegan meal supplement drink OWYN. TMZ reported that Cardi wanted to ensure healthcare professionals in NYC, who may not have time to eat during their shifts, were taken care of.
She called out elected officials for spreading misinformation.
On March 11, Cardi B addressed the government directly, asking a question that public officials had evaded for weeks: is the coronavirus going to last weeks or months? Clad in a white bathrobe, she told her followers, “I know shit is getting real. Once the stock market starts going low, that’s how I know shit is getting real. Because there ain’t nothing white corporate America hates the most than losing motherfucking money,” before applying a healthy dose of hand sanitizer.
Later that month, Cardi tweeted about the lack of information regarding the pandemic’s timeline. While some local politicians said the virus could last far into the summer, other elected officials said churchgoers would be able to safely congregate on Easter.
She spoke out about the privilege celebrities have when getting tested for the virus.
Sporting a surgical mask with “NINETYNINEPERCENTERS” printed on it, Cardi B addressed confusion over coronavirus testing on Instagram, March 24. In the 4-minute video, she refers to Donald Trump as “45,” and his insistence that if you don’t have symptoms not to get tested. “But if a celebrity is saying, ‘Hey, listen. I don’t have no symptoms. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling healthy. I don’t feel like nothing, but I went and got tested and I’m positive for the coronavirus,’ that cause confusion,” she said.
Cardi also noted that “the general public, people that work regular jobs, people that get regular paychecks, the middle class, the poor … they’re not getting treated like celebrities.” As for those who do test positive, the rapper mentioned that they’re being sent home to quarantine. But the average person doesn’t have a mansion to self-isolate in, which could mean further spread of the virus.
She urged people to be counted in the 2020 census.
Cardi took a break from her pandemic PSAs to address the 2020 census. In partnership with New York’s NYC Census 2020 initiative, she told her followers not to be consumed by the virus and take 10 minutes to fill out the census. “Your community’s future is in your hands,” she explained. “Not just for the next four years, but for the next decade. The 2020 Census decides how much power, money and respect our city gets. In past census’ Black and brown communities have been undercounted and unseen. The census is for everyone regardless of immigration status,” she noted, addressing Trump’s addition of a citizenship question to this year’s census.
She turned her Instagram Live into news conferences.
You’re not alone in thinking Cardi B’s Instagram Lives are beginning to feel like her own news conferences. Varietyreported that five of the top 10 most-viewed videos on IG in March came courtesy of Cardi B. Each of her most popular videos focused on the pandemic, including her critique of the U.S. government’s response to the virus and her hilarious response to being featured in a Chinese TV newscast. In that video she coins the prescient catchphrase, “Spread the word, don’t spread the germs, bitch.” Cardi’s filter-free briefings are in stark contrast to the White House, whose Press Secretary has not held a formal press briefing in more than a year.
She spoke to the confusing time we’re living through.
Part of a leader’s duty is to relate to the feelings of her constituents. Cardi B has done just that, voicing all of our frustration with quarantine boredom. On March 14, she tweeted, “I been sad all day for NO REASON AT ALL,” capturing our general feeling of anxiety.
And who among us hasn’t thought about running headfirst into a Jenga structure?
She promised to start a GoFundMe for Tiger King‘s Joe Exotic.
Cardi cemented her status as the People’s President when she devoted her life to the madness that is Tiger King. She began tweeting her thoughts on the series (she’d also like to know who burned down Joe’s studio) and even vowed to start a GoFundMe for Joe Exotic. Think this doesn’t count as a political act? Perhaps seconding Cardi’s motion, President Trump told reporters he’d “look into” pardoning the king of tigers. (Hourly reminder that none of this is normal.)
She inspired a national anthem of sorts.
And, finally, what would a politician be without her own campaign song? It all started with Cardi B’s infamous March 10 Instagram Live. Wearing a chain-link dress, she admitted she was “a little scared” about the coronavirus, before questioning how the President was dealing with the situation. Cardi ended the video by crying, “Coronavirus! Coronavirus! I’m telling you, shit is real! Shit is gettin’ real!”
Soon, DJ iMarkkeyz had remixed her remarks for a song that went, well, viral. In March, The New York Timesreported that the song hit the Top 10 of the U.S. iTunes chart. It even inspired the #CoronavirusChallenge on TikTok, where people dance to the song in face masks. Although Cardi B joked about getting royalties for the hit, Billboardreports that Cardi and iMarkkeyz plan to donate proceeds from the song to charity.
Savannah Walsh Editorial Fellow Savannah Walsh is an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com.
Self-care has never been more important than now. Our mental states are chipping away with every scoop of 2AM peanut butter, and our coffee-induced morning spirals are quickly blending into our wine-fueled night spirals. In other words, it’s important to check in with yourself.
And no beauty treatment requires as much time, dedication, and mental fortitude as Baby Foot. The Japanese exfoliant is starting to trend during our enforced isolation, because nobody is going to see you for a minute. Decaying feet requires that everyone stands at least six feet away, further if they have good eyesight. Baby Foot is the sourdough bread of quarantine beauty—except it’s not causing a flour and yeast shortage—requiring gentle care and constant attention.
“I’m dependent on services. Not a DIY person. Now i have baby foot and press-on nails,” said Julie Schott, founder of Starface. She is one of the many shelter-from-home participants testing out Baby Foot, listing three reasons: “1. I have the time. 2. No access to a pedicure in the foreseeable future. 3. To scare my boyfriend.”
If you want to be freshly traumatized, the brand’s Instagram page is a car crash you can’t look away from, if car crashes resembled human flesh peeling away like garlic skins. Their NSFW feed offers primo examples of their product at work. Click at your own risk.
We’re all getting a little weird right now, so you might as well bring Baby Foot’s chaotic energy into your life. Spook your partners, roommates, family members, and house plants with the horrifying amount of foot skin you will be sprinkle throughout your apartment. With all this spare time and energy we have (and no end date in sight), if not now, when?
What is Babyfoot?
Baby Foot is an at-home exfoliant that chemically helps shed layers of skin. Fruit acid, which is its main active ingredient, helps loosen dead skin so you can be reborn like a phoenix from its ashes. There’s an “ashy” pun in there somewhere.
Much like men before they’re 33, Baby Foot has commitment issues. It’s a slow burn treatment that takes upwards of fourteen days of constant sloughing.
How do you use Babyfoot?
For best practices, it is recommended to soak your feet in water first for 30 minutes beforehand. Slip on the provided booties and make sure the gel covers the entire surface area of your feet. Let that sit for an hour to ninety minutes while you eat Hot Cheetos and swipe on Hinge in search of a pen pal. I also suggest slipping on a pair of cozy socks over to give you some sense of normalcy, otherwise the plastic bags make you feel like you’re in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Nurse Ratched doesn’t trust you you with lace-up shoes. Remove and wash off the gunk. This is where having patience comes in.
Continue soaking your feet every day for 10 minutes, and eventually you will believe that miracles happen. It will be hard, but do not pick at it.
What to expect?
“Effective and slightly disgusting,” says one reviewer. There is “so much dead skin it’s almost scary,” raved another. “I got unexpectedly great results on my 65-year old hooves.” “Large pieces of skin were everywhere around my apartment.”
For many, Baby Foot will have you so ecstatically disgusted with yourself the word “blegh” will become the top suggested word in every text. Some do not experience the same mild degloving outcome, so keep in mind that every calloused foot is different. If you are lucky enough to emerge with fetus-smooth feet and Cuomo allows summer to happen, your sandal collection will thank you for your support during these trying times.
Shop More Foot Care Products
Cuticle Protection & Repair Set
Deborah Lippman nordstrom.com
$39.00
Pommade Concrète Hand and Foot Cream
BULY 1803 selfridges.com.us
$37.00
Mini Nail Rescue Kit
Tweezerman sephora.com
$23.00
Pedi-Glass Stone-Green
Earth Therapeutics ulta.com
$7.00
Justine Carreon
Justine Carreon is the market editor at ELLE.com covering fashion, Dutch ovens, and fashion again.
In the last 10 years the lingerie market has completely changed—dare we say,disrupted—by a host of direct-to-consumer bra and underwear companies that are revolutionizing the way women shop for underpinnings.
When polled, 87 percent of ELLE.com readers reported they buy their bras online (and 71 percent mentioned they’ve stopped shopping at Victoria’s Secret all together) so it’s clear that these DTC companies and other newer brands are offering an appealing alternative to brick-and-mortar stores. With their focus on fit and body diversity, affordable prices and buyer-friendly return policies, and sustainable mission statements, brands like ThirdLove, Lively, and Cuup are offering women more options than ever before (including virtual bra fittings). But how do they hold up? Are they comfortable or nah?
Read on for ELLE.com’s review of the best bra brands on the market.
ThirdLove
If the brand sounds familiar it may be because founder Heidi Zak recently took out a full-page advertisement in the New York Times to address some not-so-nice comments Victoria’s Secret’s CMO Ed Razek made about the company. But that’s not the only reason to learn more about the brand. Over five years ago, ThirdLove launched focusing on size inclusivity for its female customers. “Because we have a Fit Finder Quiz on our site that helps a woman find her bra size, we have over 75 million data points about breast shapes, bra size and the most common fit issues women experience,” Zak told Forbes. Those data points have helped the brand launch new styles like the Nursing Bra Collection and New Nakeds, which offers truly nude bras in a spectrum of shades, plus half-cup sizes. In fact, the brand offers sizes from 32 to 48 in band and AA to G in cup and offers a helpful breast shape dictionary that will help you find the right bra for your type of breasts.
Editor favorite: 24/7 Classic T-Shirt Bra. It makes for a smooth base under plain white T-shirts.
Shop ThirdLove Bras
24/7™ Classic T-Shirt Bra
ThirdLove thirdlove.com
$68.00
Longline Lace Plunge Bra
ThirdLove thirdlove.com
$84.00
24/7™ Perfect Coverage Racerback Bra
ThirdLove thirdlove.com
$68.00
Cuup
Launched just a few months ago, Cuup was founded by Abby Morgan and Lauren Cohan “as a direct response to a deeply relatable human story,” says Morgan: Feeling forced to make a choice between a bra that makes your feel sexy and one that fits you well. The result? Bras with zero padding and only soft, high-performance mesh, that also look good. After conducting 80 fittings and hours of research and development, Cuup settled on four styles, each of which are offered in 35 sizes.
Editor favorite: The Scoop. Its soft lining makes it the perfect everyday wear bra.
Shop Cuup Bras
The Scoop
Cuup shopcuup.com
$68.00
The Balconette
Cuup shopcuup.com
$68.00
The Demi
shopcuup.com
$68.00
Araks
There is no distinction between “everyday” and “occasional” lingerie when it comes to Araks, founded by Araks Yeramyan. Beyond offering fun colors in delicate styles, being eco-friendly is a key mission for the company. Their products are made by certified manufacturers to ensure measurable sustainable practices, and they’re currently transitioning the brand to using 100% cleaner fabrics like GOTS organic cotton and ECONYL. You can look good and feel good knowing that you’re wearing a bra that is mindful about its carbon footprint.
Editor Favorite: Antonia Bralette in Lemon. The bralettes of all bralettes. super comfy and in a great color perfect for the summertime.
Antonia Bralette
Araks araks.com
$82.00
Waverly Bra
Araks araks.com
$125.00
Tasia Bralette
Araks araks.com
$115.00
Nubian Skin
“Nude” means something different to each person. Enter Nubian Skin, founded by Ade Hassan, MBE, a line specializing in lingerie and hosiery specifically made for women of color. Inspired Eunice W. Johnson and Iman, women who created inclusive beauty brands with a wide range of foundation colors, Hassan set out to give women everywhere the option of true skin-tone choices.
Editor Favorite: Naked Bra in Cinnamon. Smooth and uplifting— and finally feeling seen.
Naked Bra
Nubian Skin nubianskin.com
£31.20
Naked Fuller-Bust Bra
Nubian Skin nubianskin.com
£31.20
Bandeau
Nubian Skin nubianskin.com
£22.00
The Great Eros
Lingerie from The Great Eros channels their Greek namesake, Eros, the god of love. They want you to love yourself in their pieces, and you will definitely be feeling yourself in their sultry bralettes and demi-cups. The brand’s signature Italian double layer mesh feels like you’re wearing nothing at all. Seriously, this is the brand to roll around cream linen sheets in at magic hour.
Brought you from the creative minds of Jamie Mizrahi and Simone Harouche is KiT Undergarments. The women collectively have over twenty years of styling experience, and it’s their styling kits that inspired them to create foundational pieces for women. They set out to make the best go-to bras as solutions for everyday wardrobe issues. That means a strapless bra that refuses to fall down, an everyday underwire, and even bandage tape, which Jamie and Simone swear by for photoshoots.
Editor Favorite: Molded Strapless Bra in Black. The perfect strapless bra to go with all of those summer dresses you’re dying to wear soon
Molded Balconette Bra
KiT Undergarments kitundergarments.com
$68.00
Classic Demi Bra
KiT Undergarments kitundergarments.com
$64.00
Triangle Soft Bra
KiT Undergarments kitundergarments.com
$38.00
Savage X Fenty
Rihanna could sell snake oil and we’d buy it in bulk, but instead she launched Savage X. At its core, the brand celebrates fearlessness, confidence, and inclusivity, but it doesn’t sacrifice on style or fit. Not only are their best-selling basics offered in an amazing set of shades, sizes, and prices (ELLE.com reviewed the styles from size 32A to 42DD), but in true Rihanna form the brand offers more sultry styles like a cupless bralette that will make you say, “‘I may be bad but I’m perfectly good at it.”
Eres is the French Girl of the lingerie world. It has been setting the standard in designer lingerie and swimwear for nearly fifty years. There are unexpected details like the use of Leavers lace or wired v-necklines with nods to vintage cuts, but their styles stay refreshingly modern. It’s the epitome of laid back luxury, so look to them to invest in a chic style that says “oh this old thing?”
Editor Favorite: Souvent Bra in Noir. The minimal details of this bra are divine
Indiscrète Bra
Eres eresparis.com
€160.00
Souvent Bra
Eres eresparis.com
€270.00
Camila Bra
Eres eresparis.com
€210.00
True & Co
To feel comfortable in your own skin is what True & Co wants to convey with their unique set of bras. By answering the question of what women want in a bra, True & Co began creating different kinds of bras and underwear that women could live in. Each piece is super soft, stretchy, supportive, pretty, confidence-boosting and designed for comfort. What more could you ask for?
Beloved by Insta It-girl types, Negative Underwear, the 2014 brainchild of Lauren Schwab and Marissa Vosper, skips the lace, padding, bows, to operate in the negative (get it?) space. Most pieces come in peach, black, or white, with the occasional slate gray tossed into the mix and styles are simple as well: demi, balconette, and non-wire.
Editor favorite: Essaouira Demi Bra in Black. The open mesh is subtly sexy, but not at all vulgar.
Shop Negative Underwear Bras
Essaouira Demi Bra in Black
Negative Underwear negativeunderwear.com
$28.00
Sieve Demi Bra in Peach
Negative Underwear negativeunderwear.com
$15.00
Silky Non-Wire Bra in Black
Negative Underwear negativeunderwear.com
$28.00
Lively
Back in 2018 ELLE.com wrote about our love for Lively’s strapless bras and that’s not the only good thing that’s coming from this brand. Since launching, founder and former Victoria’s Secret employee Michelle Cordeiro Grant has expanded into loungewear, bodysuits, and swimwear.
Editor favorite: The Busty Bralette. The style features a soft liner with an inner supportive sling and zero wires, making the bra perfectly comfortable for long travel days.
Shop Lively Bras
The Palm Lace Busty Bralette
Lively wearlively.com
$35.00
The T-Shirt Bra
Lively wearlively.com
$35.00
The No-Wire Push-Up
Lively wearlively.com
$35.00
Harper Wilde
Co-founded by Jenna Kerner and Jane Fisher, Harper Wilde first launched in 2017 and caught our eye with its three, no-frills styles. Dubbed “the Warby Parker of bras” the brand offers an at-home try on service, free shipping and free returns, plus they’ve partnered with The Girl Project to help provide access to education to girls in over 120 countries. What we love most about the brand, though, is the option to buy in bundles, called the Base or Complete. The former option offers three bras for $100 while the latter provides six, plus a wash bag for $180. Ideal for those who prefer to buy in bulk or are in the midst of a Marie Kondo-style clean out.
Editor favorite: The Everyday Pushup. A go-to on days you want a little extra oomph.
Shop Harper Wilde Bras
The Flex
Harper Wilde harperwilde.com
$35.00
The Flex
Harper Wilde harperwilde.com
$35.00
The Base
Harper Wilde harperwilde.com
$40.00
Adore Me
This brand is different from the other ones on this list as it’s a monthly membership service that sends you a bra and panty set after taking their style quiz. Subscribe for $39.95 a month and on the first of each month an online “showroom” will open to you with options from which you can choose. Shop or skip by the 5th of each month (if you forget your $39.95 can be used as a store credit) to receive a new set on your doorstep.
Editor favorite: The Keren Contour bra. It features light lining that lifts and shapes without putting it all out there.
Vancouver-based fashion brand Smash + Tess has today announced a new initiative to help support those working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the Canadian brand’s customers is Jessica Lu, a respiratory therapist in BC who shared that many healthcare workers are creating their own headpieces to help alleviate the pressure put on their ears from wearing medical masks all day long. The headpieces also serve to cover their hair as an extra level of protection against COVID-19.
Upon hearing this, Smash + Tess decided to repurpose some of its romper fabric to create scrub caps to donate to hospital workers across BC. The designs have been made in a leopard print, moss green and baby pink. So far, 500 LuLove Caps have been made and will be distributed this week.
To keep the initiative going and to support as many frontline workers as possible, the brand has enabled donations via its website. Upon checkout, customers will be given the option to donate $5, which Smash + Tess will then match and a scrub cap will be made and donated. There’s also an option to donate directly on the site. All funds collected are being directly used to manufacture and distribute the scrub caps.
Speaking to FASHION about the initiative, brand founder Ashley Freeborn said, “At Smash + Tess, we believe in looking good, feeling good, and doing good. We have a large group of healthcare workers within our community and identified that we have a unique opportunity to help those caring for us and keeping us all safe. We learned there’s a void in the marketplace for headwear and with our access to our signature, super soft romper fabric, and local production in Vancouver, BC., we jumped into action designing and starting production within days of hearing from Jessica Lu. The non-medical grade LuLove Cap covers hair and also allows wearers to put their mask straps on strategically placed buttons, alleviating pain and discomfort from the straps on their ears. We pooled our resources and engaged our community and the result is a labour of love for those who labour for our loved ones every day.”
You don’t need to own a treadmill — let alone a single set of dumbbells — to sweat it out at home. In fact, the only piece of equipment you need for this full-body toning workout is a dish towel.
“A towel is an excellent prop for at-home workouts because you can create tension with it by pulling it apart between your two hands,” Emily Diers, an NASM-certified personal trainer, professional dancer, and founder of bodycraft, explains.
“This is a great way to create resistance to tone the upper body. By pulling it apart and then moving in various planes, we can work the biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest muscles, and obliques,” Diers continues.
You can use the makeshift fitness prop to work in some cardio and target your lower body, too.
Diers also explains that the towel adapts to many different fitness levels. “The stronger you are, the more tension you can create by pulling. So, it’s also a good option for advanced lifters at home who don’t have access to weights. The tension increases as the person’s own strength increases.”
Feel the burn for yourself by following Diers’s 20-minute full-body toning workout, below.
Perform moves 1-13 with the right (R) side of your body, and then repeat the full series with the left (L) side of your body.
Note: For moves 1-5, Diers says it’s very important to hold the towel taut.
1. Grand Plié With Biceps Curl
Come to a second position, feet wider than hips and turned out.
Hold the towel in front of your body, underhand, and pull it tight between the fists.
Bend the knees and sit into a deep grand plié as you bend your elbows and curl the towel toward your chest.
Straighten arms and legs together.
Perform 25 reps.
2. Squat to Reverse Lunge
Stand upright and hold the towel overhead between your hands.
Sit hips back into a squat and pull the towel behind your head, widening the elbows.
Reach the towel overhead and forward with straight arms, chest level, as you step your left foot back into a reverse lunge.
As you return to the squat, lift the towel up and behind your head.
Go between these two shapes — squat and lunge — without ever straightening your legs, and always step back with the same leg.
Perform 25 reps.
3. Cross Jack With Press
Hold the towel between two hands at chest height with elbows close to ribs.
Jump feet open into a jack as you press the towel overhead, keeping the towel tight.
Pull the towel down as you cross one foot in front of the other.
Alternate which leg crosses front.
Perform 30 reps.
4. Arabesque Chest Opener
Hold the towel between your two hands in front of your body at chest height.
Lunge your right foot forward and left foot back — both legs could be bent.
Drive your left knee forward in a high knee as you pull the towel toward your chest, elbows bending wide.
Press the towel forward as you extend your left leg back to arabesque, or into the air behind you.
Regression: Bring your left knee forward in the air, and then return to the lunge as you press the towel forward. In other words, going from a lunge to a high knee.
Perform 25 reps.
5. Side Bend Lift
Hold towel overhead and tight between two hands.
Lift your right knee to the side, keeping the outer thigh facing the ceiling as you bend to the right and pull your right elbow toward the hip.
Touch your right foot back to the floor, with arms straight up.
Perform 25 reps.
6. Plank Swipe
In a plank on your hands, put the towel under your right foot.
Keep your right leg straight and swipe it sideways on the floor toward your right hand.
Come back to plank and bring your right knee into chest.
Use the towel to slide your foot along the floor.
Perform 20 reps.
7. Donkey Kick Tap
Come to all fours and hold the towel in your right hand.
Lift your right knee to the side in a hydrant and tap your right hand to the knee.
Reach your right hand (holding towel) forward as you extend your right leg back in arabesque.
Bend your knee, bring your hand and knee together, and lengthen.
Perform 30 reps.
8. Rond de Jambe
Come to all fours and drop your left elbow.
Hang the towel around your right ankle.
Extend your right leg straight back in arabesque and swing it side, keeping your leg straight and lifted off the floor.
Return to arabesque, but don’t let the towel fall!
Perform 30 reps.
9. Glute Pulse
Squeeze the towel behind your right knee and bend your right knee at 90 degrees behind your body.
Drop to your elbows.
Keep squeezing the towel and pulse your right heel to the ceiling.
Perform 30 reps.
10. Knee Squeeze to Hydrant
Come to all fours and squeeze the towel behind your right knee.
Tuck your right knee behind your left knee and squeeze the inner thighs.
Lift your right knee side to a hydrant, and return to squeezing behind your left knee.
Perform 30 reps.
11. Sit-Up Kick
Lie on your back, holding the towel overhead and your arms straight.
Roll up to sit, reaching the towel forward as you extend your right leg.
Towel will reach toward your right foot or shin.
Perform 10 reps straight up. Perform 10 reps twisting the towel to the right, outside the leg.
12. Rocking Horse
Stand up and put the towel horizontal on the ground.
Jump over the towel forward with your right leg and jump back with your left leg.
Front to back is one rep. Perform 20 reps.
13. Ski Jumps
Stand up and put the towel vertical on the ground.
Jump side to side over the towel, keeping your legs together.
Last night, we collectively said goodbye to the bébés known as the Rose family. In the finale episode of Schitt’s Creek, David and Patrick finally tied the knot, Johnny and Moira headed off to California, and Alexis tugged at our hearts every time she booped one of her beloved family members on the nose.
But if Patrick singing “Always Be My Baby” at the altar didn’t make you cry, there’s one particular finale tweet that probably will.
As you probably know if you’re a Schitt’s stan, Johnny and David are played by a real-life father-son duo, Eugene and Dan Levy. The two co-created the show, and Dan is the showrunner, writer, and sometimes-director. The night of the finale, Dan’s mom Deborah Divine tweeted congratulations to her son, writing:
Today I regret every single second of worry back in the uninformed 80’s-wondering how the world was going to treat my brilliant little boy who loved to twirl. Little did I know that he was going to kick that old world’s ass to the curb and create a brand new one.
Dan’s sister Sarah Levy, who also plays Twyla on the show, then quote-tweeted her mom, writing, “Wonder where he gets it from”
Dan has been open about his bond with his mom, telling Andy Cohen about the moment he came out to his parents. “My mom asked me over for lunch one day, and I said, ‘Yes,'” Dan said. “She almost knew. My mom and I have a very close relationship in that sense, and it almost felt like she knew that I was ready.”
In Dan’s own goodbye, he tweeted that the show’s audience “taught me that television has the power to not only bring people together in profound and inspiring ways, but also the power to change conversations and consequently, change lives.”
“The wrap parties have been the most fun. They’re just ridiculous. Everyone goes to karaoke at the end of the night, and those are some of the funniest moments,” says Amy Julia Segal.
If you sobbed through Best Wishes, Warmest Regards, the one-hour documentary special following the series finale of Schitt’s Creek, you have Amy Julia Segal to thank (or blame). Segal began working with the show back in season one, doing their digital content and mockumentary-style webisodes, which evolved into the Behind-the-Episode interview series (the latest of which can be found here).
“Dan and I started talking about the documentary at the end of season 4,” says Segal over the phone from her home in Toronto. “We started talking about it because the momentum of the show had really picked up and I was just watching my friends go through this process and it was kind of surreal. We talked a little bit about it and when I started to make it, it evolved into something bigger because of the [impact] the show has had on so many people globally and culturally. And we got to capture that, which was very cool.”
FASHION spoke to Segal about the process of shooting the Best Wishes, Warmest Regards documentary, her relationship with Dan and Eugene Levy, her favourite on-set memories and more.
On why making the documentary was so important to the whole team “The fans meant so much to everyone and they were so involved and they kind of got the ball rolling on having a wider audience discover the show. They were talking about it online for years, and people started to catch on. Dan really wanted to thank them in a special way and wanted to show them the behind-the-scenes of things on set and open that world up to them. They just have meant so much to the cast and the crew, and changed their lives. It’s just such a lovely community that has come together because of the show and I think Dan really appreciates all of it.”
On shooting the last table read of the show “We shot the first and last table reads of Season 6. Over the season, I think it kind of hit everyone at different times. The very first table read was very normal because everyone was ready to come back to work and fresh, and excited for the final season. By the end everyone was exhausted and weepy. Everyone got way more emotional by the end.”
On who was the most emotional during the documentary interviews “Dan was emotional but he’s pretty together; I think he was more emotional on set. I think Sarah got pretty emotional without wanting to or thinking she would. I think everyone did. They all sort of went into it being like ‘you’re not going to make me cry.’ Because I really did want to make everyone cry (laughs). They were all like ‘nope, not gonna happen’ but I think almost everyone did.”
On her friendship with Dan Levy “Dan and I have been friends for about 14 years. We were friends, and then we ended up working together at MTV on MTV Live and then the Hills After Show. We always just had a great working relationship and have the same taste and laugh at the same things. So when [they started] to make those webisodes, I was sort of the first person he called to get involved with that.”
On her best memories from the show “It’s always a fun time on set except when we’re filming the last day or when Ted and Alexis are breaking up but I think the wrap parties have been the most fun. They’re just ridiculous. Everyone goes to karaoke at the end of the night, and those are some of the funniest moments. Also, the Behind the Episodes are fun because we’re there from 9am to 5pm and getting loopy as the day goes on. They’re a group of really cool, really nice people so it’s enjoyable to be around.”
On the most emotional day of shooting “Definitely the last day on set. At the beginning of the doc you can see Dan waking up for that day. We hid in his room and got him actually waking up, and that was at like 5am and I think they wrapped at 9pm that night. They shot it so the whole crew would be on set that day and the whole cast, and it was devastating. Any time a character wrapped, there was a sob fest. I think it’s been such a special show for Dan. And Eugene is so proud of him. Just watching their whole family celebrate that day was very emotional. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and capturing that kind of felt invasive a little bit, but I think hopefully they appreciated it.”
On what she learned about Dan through working on the show “I’ve always known he’s a genius and he really pours his whole self into the show. What I thought was really cool and didn’t really know the inner workings of, was how involved he was with wardrobe. Watching him create these outfits with Catherine was really interesting to me. I wanted that part [of the documentary] to be like two hours long. It is really cool, if you’re into fashion. I’d see him buying all this stuff on eBay and Grailed and all these sites but watching them put it together was very cool, and how involved he was with it was amazing. There’s honestly so much that I couldn’t put in, that I wish I could have. I might work on a longer Director’s Cut while we’re all stuck inside during Covid (laughs). We’ll see.”
While frizzy hair can certainly be a look sported on purpose, it’s also one of the most common hair woes out there. Whatever your hair type, whatever the season, you can suddenly find yourself with a frizzy layer of unmanageable strands. That’s because frizzy hair is caused by one main culprit: dryness.
Colour treatments, heat and sun damage are just a few of the things that can cause frizz-inducing dryness, no matter your hair type. When hair is dry, it absorbs moisture from the air, causing strands to puff up and become frizzy. Kirsten Klontz, a Toronto-based hairstylist and brand ambassador for Hot Tools Professional Black Gold Collection, compares frizzy hair to shingles on a house. “When the shingles get worn out or compromised, they start to lift up. That’s essentially what happens to the layers of the hair cuticle” she says.
Frizz happens to everyone, but its effects are different depending on a variety of factors, including hair type, whether or not hair colour has been applied and how it’s styled. “Frizz does not affect all hair types in the same way, but it is universally frustrating,” says Justin German, celebrity hairstylist and Pantene consulting stylist. He explains that some hair textures go from smooth to wavy or from wavy to ultra-flat (this often happens to styled hair that’s naturally straight), while others will go from voluminous to flat or the other way around.
Since tackling frizz requires a different approach depending on your hair type and texture, we asked Klontz and German to dish on how to keep strands smooth and glossy year-round. Below, their best tips to banish frizz from your life for good no matter your hair type and a round-up of the products you’ll want to incorporate into your haircare routine ASAP.
In straight hair types, fluffy flyaways and frayed ends are often due to damage and a lack of moisture. As well as the telltale fuzzy halo, frizz can cause straight locks to get flat and limp.
German recommends starting the fight against frizz in the shower, using a shampoo and conditioner that will boost volume and smooth out strands without weighing the hair down. For styling, both Klontz and German say that a lightweight leave-in conditioner is the key to nailing a frizz-free ‘do. Apply it through your hair and directly onto your roots and massage the scalp to amp up the volume and smooth down any potential flyaways.
If you’re using hot tools to style your hair, German has an easy hack to ensure smooth strands. “[Using a nozzle tip attachment], blow-dry your hair in a downward motion to smooth those flyaways,” he says. Finish off by running a flat iron over your mane to smooth out the hair shaft and boost shine. Klontz advises looking for a flat iron with a titanium and micro-shine finish, as it will help minimize friction and reduce damage (and therefore frizz).
How to fight frizz if you have wavy hair
Moisture is essential to keep wavy hair frizz-free. Upping hydration levels will not only control frizz but also help lock your waves in place. “Wavy hair reacts well with products that have a combination of oils and control,” says Klontz. Opt for a curl-care shampoo and conditioner to boost hydration and make for easy detangling post-shower, minimizing frizz.
Because heat styling causes damage and dryness, German recommends spritzing on a frizz-fighting leave-in conditioner tailored to curly hair and letting your hair air dry. “To avoid heat, you could put your hair into two loose braids while it air drys. Alternatively, wrap your hair in a loose bun and allow to air dry for soft waves.” Once dry, use a flat iron or curling iron to define your waves, but be sure to use heat-protectant products first to shield hair from heat damage.
Curly hair tends to be drier, so much like wavy hair, the key to silky strands is pumping as much moisture as possible back into your mane by applying both a leave-in conditioner and a product specifically designed for curly hair. The combination will restore moisture to your locks and provide structure and hold. “Coarse curly hair typically needs very heavy oils and butters [for hydration],” says Klontz. “More is more!”
To ensure you’re acing the application of your frizz-fighting products, German recommends parting hair into sections (around 4 to 8, depending on how much hair you have) and layering the curl-defining cream or oil through each area, instead of just applying it all at once. “The ‘Rake and Shake’ [method] is a great option,” he says. “You take small sections, rake [the product through] with your fingers, and once your fingers get to the ends of your hair, you close your hand and gently shake the section.” This technique provides maximum curl definition while minimizing frizz.
What key products and ingredients are best to fight frizz?
The best frizz-fighting products are packed with nourishing ingredients that boost hydration and smooth brittle, flyaway-prone strands. Klontz recommends looking for haircare that contains shea butter, avocado, coconut and argan oils to help tame an unruly mane. She likes deep-conditioning hair masks and hair butters that smooth and hydrate the locks, while German gravitates towards oil and cream-based products to banish frizz.
If you’re using hot tools like hair dryers and flat irons, finding a lightweight heat protectant with hydrating properties is a must. These products will shield your strands from damaging heat, which means healthier, shinier hair that is less prone to frizz.
The Fitness Marshall‘s high-energy dance workouts inject a little brightness into our days whenever we tune in. In today’s good news, he’s now taking his signature style and humor to YouTube Live for a workout you can do right from your living room, and all to benefit a nonprofit.
The Fitness Marshall (aka Caleb Marshall) is leading the workout on Thursday, April 9 for the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to “uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe.” The Fitness Marshall’s workout, which will be livestreamed on the It Gets Better Project’s YouTube channel, is the first in a new weekly series featuring LGBTQ+ social media influencers. The goal is “to provide unique, fun and lighthearted content to engage the LGBTQ+ community” during a tough time, the organization said in a press release. When you tune in, you’ll have the option to donate to the It Gets Better Project through a YouTube fundraising link. Class FitSugar favorite Jake Dupree and Nike master trainer Holly Rilinger are slated to appear in coming weeks.
The Fitness Marshall goes live at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET on April 9, and you can follow the It Gets Better Project on YouTube to stay apprised of other episodes as they’re announced. Until then, we’ll be over here getting warmed up with The Fitness Marshall’s latest cardio dance workout set to “Physical” by Dua Lipa.
Even royals use Zoom to work during pandemics, Kensington Palace would like the world to know. The Palace announced this evening that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did an engagement using Zoom to video call teachers and students at Casterton Primary Academy. Kate Middleton dressed up for the occasion, wearing a yellow shirt and dangle earrings. Her Zoom makeup was on point.
“In conversation with…Casterton Primary Academy,” Kensington Palace wrote on its Instagram. “Teachers across the UK are dedicating their time to keeping schools open for the children of key workers and vulnerable children. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge called teachers and school staff at Casterton Primary Academy to thank them for their hard work and dedication – and to wish the children a very Happy Easter 🐣”
Call footage included a lot of laughs, student greetings, and plenty of bunny ears. ‘Tis the season, with Easter just around the corner.
Kate and William have been working from home in the weeks since the end of March, as most of the United Kingdom social distances.
They revealed at the end of March that they have been in close contact with their patronages, working to support others during the coronavirus pandemic. “Self-isolation and social distancing can pose huge challenges to our mental health—in recent weeks The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been in regular contact with organizations and patronages to understand the issues they are facing during this difficult time,” their Instagram captioned one shot of William and Kate taking calls from their office.
The couple is believed to be staying with their children in Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home.
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).
If, like all of team FASHION (and the rest of the world it seems), you watched the Schitt’s Creek finale last night, then you’ll immediately recall the sure-to-be-iconic look that Moira Rose wore for David and Patrick’s wedding. Sweeping through the town hall donning a Met Gala-worthy get-up and a knee-length wig, the moment felt like the ultimate culmination of Catherine O’Hara’s character. I audibly gasped when the doors opened, a fact I unashamedly tell Ana Sorys, the lead hairstylist on Schitt’s Creek who was responsible for this moment as I called to speak with her about the look.
As it turns out, O’Hara was involved in the ideation of the hair. “When the script first came out, Catherine and I were talking about what she might look like for that [moment], what her hair might look like. We knew that she was going to be wearing a hat, then she had this idea to do a halo made out of hair. When I saw her confirmed look, I suggested to Dan and her that we do an insanely long wig – something that flowed with her outfit. That was how it came together,” Sorys explains, adding that Catherine sketched “a self portrait” on her phone to show her what she had in mind.
The wig was initially 40 inches, but Sorys decided to go ahead and add another 20 inches to it. “I thought it would look better if I made it longer, and I’m really glad I did,” she says, adding that it was the trickiest wig to date. Particularly thanks to the hair halo. “At first I thought it was going to be easy, that I would just get hair and wrap it around this malleable piece (that was stuffed pantyhose that wardrobe had helped me with). When I started making it, I initially had to sew the hair onto it but then [when I started] wrapping it, I couldn’t sew it, and I couldn’t glue it without the hair acting like hair – it was going to frizz, fray, and separate once we bend it. I literally worked on it for a few weeks and I couldn’t find [the right thing to help it hold]. And then finally I had this glue that I used for my tiles on my kitchen floor and I used that to keep the hair in place. It stayed perfectly. Dan watched me work on that for a few weeks, and he was like, ‘You know what? I’ve been seeing how hard you’ve been working on this but if it doesn’t work, don’t worry about it.’ And I was like, ‘No, were going to do this, it’s going to go down. I’m way too invested now.’”
Invested is indeed the right word. Sorys attached the hair piece by piece to the halo. “I couldn’t just use one long piece because it wouldn’t wrap evenly and I couldn’t use a small piece because it would divide. It was an interesting process. But I did it!” I suggest that it seems fitting that there was this much effort put into into Moira’s last wig on the show. “For sure,” she agrees. “And [Catherine] loved it so much.”
As for the incredible wave that cascaded down the length of the wig, Sorys explains this was achieved by her finger rolling “all of the hair, each individual strand.” She tells us, “When Catherine came in that was the last thing we put on her so I undid all the pin curls and that was it.” And as it turns out, the gasp that escaped my mouth as I watched it was a shared sentiment between the cast and crew when Catherine walked onto set in the full look. “I kept it a secret from everybody what I was going to do – even Dan didn’t really know what was going to happen,” she explains. “And when [Catherine] was finished getting ready in the trailer and walked onto set to do the scene for the first time, the reaction that I got from the cast and crew was a career highlight for me. When they saw her, especially seeing Dan look at her and say ‘This is incredible’, meant everything to me.” Understandably, it’s her favourite hair look she created across seasons three to six.
The wigs were such an integral part to Moira’s character, so much so that Ana says she ended up with around 25 for the final season. “My first year there was season three and when I came on board, Dan said, just have 9 or 10 wigs on hand to start off with. [Catherine’s] process is that she would pick the wigs on the fly – she’d have her wardrobe and everything on and when she’s Moira, she would be like, I’m feeling this wig. We didn’t really match the wig and the wardrobe. When season six rolled around, I had 24 to 25 wigs that we started off with. I went wig happy! I had them all set up in the trailer for inspiration so she would see them everyday.”
I ask if they also had names like they did in the show, which Sorys tells me they didn’t, save for a few that would be named later. Though she shares a fun story involving Catherine and the wigs in season six. “In the first episode of season six, there’s a scene with Roland and Moira’s afraid that the wigs are going to be in a fire in the motel room and so she calls out the names of these wigs. When it aired on TV she invited all of the friends she named the wigs after to her house to watch the episode and her friends got to see that she had named the wigs after them.”
Considering she had to have so many wigs on hand for the show, I ask whether her house is overflowing with them right now. “What I’ve done is labeled them with whatever season and episode [they were used for], netted them and put them in bags. No one else but Catherine will ever wear those wigs. I’m hoping that maybe in the future somewhere one of the wigs will kind of be re-worn – who knows! For now, they’re kind of resting at my place,” she says with a laugh.
I tell her that the ‘maybe in the future somewhere’ could be a Schitt’s Creek movie. “Oh, wouldn’t that be amazing,” she says. Wouldn’t it indeed.
The world of beauty myths and misconceptions is vast and wide (we’ve busted a few of the most popular ones in the past), but perhaps no beauty product has more confusion surrounding it than sunscreen. From knowing when to apply it, the best kinds to reach for, how much to use and which ingredients to look out for, there’s certainly no shortage of questions around how exactly to protect our skin from the sun.
And yet, most of us (hopefully) by now understand the importance of wearing sunscreen every day. But does that rule change when we’re indoors every day? Since we’ll all be staying home for a while practicing social distancing, we went straight to the pros to answer some of our most burning questions about when, how and why we should be wearing sunscreen inside our homes.
Below, we’re setting the record straight on wearing sunscreen indoors, once and for all.
So, is a full-spectrum sunscreen (i.e. sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays) actually needed indoors?
Assuming you’re living in a place with windows, yes. Even though most windows protect you from UVB rays, “UVA rays penetrate windows,” says Dr. Melissa Levin, dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology. “Part of protecting your skin from the damaging rays of ultraviolet radiation is wearing sunscreen daily. It’s a must for skin regardless of the time of the year.”
If you really, truly aren’t near any windows or natural light during the day, you can probably get away with skipping sunscreen or only using a moisturizer with SPF. But may we politely suggest getting yourself near some sunlight, stat, solely for mood-boosting reasons?
The same cardinal sunscreen rules for when you’re venturing outdoors apply: apply sunscreen to any skin that’s exposed (hands, neck, chest, midriff if you’re living that sports bra-only WFH life).
Why don’t we don’t get sunburns when we’re indoors?
UVB rays are the ones typically associated with burning. They affect the outermost layers of the skin, directly damage DNA and are most commonly the cause of most skin cancers, but the good news is that, as mentioned above, they don’t penetrate windows. However, “UVA [rays play] a large role in pigmentary conditions such as melasma, as well as accelerating photo aging of the skin with brown spots, wrinkles, and fine lines,” says Dr. Levin.
What about High-Energy Visible (HEV) light? Are our phones and computer screens damaging our skin?
Over the last few years, you may have heard about HEV light (the blue light that your phone, tablet and computer screens emit) and its potentially damaging effects on skin. HEV light isn’t only emitted from screens—the sun emits blue light, too. (Fun fact: “the sun’s blue light is a big part of why on a cloudless day we see the sky as blue,” says Dr. Sandy Skotnicki, dermatologist and founder of Toronto’s Bay Dermatology Centre.)
Studies surrounding the long-term effects HEV light are much more limited than they are for heavily researched UVA and UVB rays, but research shows that HEV light from the sun does contribute to skin issues like melasma (those brown patches of discolouration that are caused by everything from hormonal changes to sun damage) and hyperpigmentation. For that reason, researchers have begun to look into blue light from screens, to see if it has a similar effect. And while we know that most sunscreens don’t protect us from HEV light (just UVA and UVB rays), taking precautions like dimming your screens’ brightness levels and using reparative antioxidants like vitamin C in your routine, can help in the fight against HEV light damage.
Determined to take your protection one step further? Brands are beginning to come out with products (like this Chantecaille Blue Light Protection Hyaluronic Serum) that are specifically formulated to shield skin from blue light.
Do we need to reapply sunscreen every hour or two when we’re indoors, like we normally would?
It depends. “The reapplication is really because people put too little on and the sunscreen can lose its stability in the sun,” says Dr. Skotnicki. That being said, sunscreen melts off with sweat, so if you break a sweat during an at-home workout, you’ll need to reapply SPF. If you’re sitting right by a big window all day long, you should reapply every couple hours. And if you’re enjoying midday showers these days, please reapply your sunscreen when you get out.
So while it may be tempting to skip sunscreen these days, in the long run, you’ll be glad that you didn’t. The key to actually remembering to put it on every day, especially now, is to find a sunscreen that you actually enjoy using. (Remember to use an SPF of at least 30, according to Canada’s sun safety regulations.)
This just-launched pick is a mineral (or physical) sunscreen, which means it contains titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide and sits on top of skin, deflecting the sun’s rays (as opposed to chemical sunscreens, which absorb UV rays). It not only goes on clear, but it’s made with French Rice Germ, which helps to protect your skin from some of the potentially damaging effects of blue light.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Fluid SPF 50+, $29, laroche-posay.ca
Launching on April 15, the iconic sunscreen formula that’s beloved by dermatologists has a new formula that features the highest UVA protection of any La Roche-Posay product ever.
Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30, $49, beautycounter.com
The award-winning physical sunscreen has quickly racked up legions of fans and become a cult favourite.
Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30, $17.99, well.ca
Don’t underestimate the power of scent. If you’re looking for a sunscreen that doubles as a mood-booster, this is it. Featuring an unmistakable summery scent (coconut with a hint of banana), you’ll look forward to applying this sunscreen every morning.
Some days, you wake up with the energy of an entire high school basketball team. And other days you’re lucky to make a cup of coffee properly.
For even the most fitness-obsessed, not every day has to be the most intense training session — and that’s OK! When you aren’t quite feeling the energy for a full-on cardio workout but you are still up for moving a little, joggers can be your best friend. These hybrid workout pants are always comfy, can take you from couch to at-home workout in no time flat, and are a go-to for all those times you want to break a little sweat between Netflix viewings.
Keep reading for six joggers from Under Armour that can take on any workout you crave no matter how long — or short.
Eliza Hittman has an affinity for the taboo. Her films confront how young people navigate impending adulthood: 2013’s It Felt Like Lovefollows a 14-year-old pursuing an older, more experienced boy with dangerous consequences, while 2015’s Beach Rats focuses on a 19-year-old Coney Island drug dealer exploring his sexual identity as a webcam boy for older men. But her newest feature, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, masters the coming-of-age narrative, turning the political into the heartbreaking personal journey of a 17-year-old seeking out an abortion.
Shot in 27 days, the spare indie takes on Autumn (wonderfully played by newcomer Sidney Flanigan), an angsty high schooler from an isolated Pennsylvania town who discovers she’s pregnant. With her equally inexperienced cousin Skylar along for support, Autumn takes a bus to New York City to avoid her home state’s strict parental-consent abortion laws. The teens bounce between Midtown’s Port Authority to Planned Parenthood clinics in Brooklyn and Manhattan, running out of money, options, and a safe place to spend the nights. Hittman’s film, which won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, is a sobering reminder of the importance of sexual autonomy, the right to choose, and what happens when those rights are slowly stripped away.
Hittman sat down with ELLE.com to talk about the inspiration for this poignant film, demystifying what happens behind Planned Parenthood’s walls onscreen, and how Autumn’s plight across state lines will become a reality for many women if Roe v. Wade gets overturned.
Films that tackle such pressing, personal issues are often sparked by a news story. Was that the case here?
Yes. A long time ago I read an article about a 22-year-old woman from Ireland who had to travel all the way to London to get an abortion [before the country legalized the procedure in 2018]. From there, I got lost in a rabbit hole of educating myself and trying to understand the politics of abortion. I couldn’t shake this image of a woman on the run who couldn’t afford that journey, but how much persistence and bravery it took for her to undergo it, and the pain of having to do it in secret and alone.
Hittman on set.
Angal Field
From the way the town is shot to Autumn’s interactions inside Planned Parenthood, the film feels incredibly authentic. Can you talk about the research process?
I wanted the story to be as credible as possible, so I did a lot of fieldwork and met with doctors, abortion providers, and people from Planned Parenthood. I was really privileged to be allowed in those spaces to talk about what they do, how they help women, and the furthest people traveled to the clinic in New York. A lot of the story was inspired by those conversations.
I was also interested in the state restrictions that try to make it impossible for women to get abortions. I took a car and drove into Pennsylvania and went back in time, to this coal-mining region with no public transportation that felt completely cut off from any major city. I wanted the story to take place there, but in my storytelling, I didn’t want to be leering at this town, turning the camera on how poor it was and judging it. It’s about creating the tone of the place more than showing the audience how impoverished these places are.
I love the connection between Autumn and Skylar—they have a bond that defies words. The second Skylar finds out Autumn is pregnant, she’s already set the plan in motion without saying a word. How did you build that out on the page?
Part of the writing process was about writing things that didn’t work. It felt extremely wrong to write a scene where Autumn is like, “I’m pregnant,” or one where she goes into why. My compass kept telling me, don’t have them talk about these things, because it feels cheap. I took a risk, trusting that they could communicate in a subtle way because they are cousins and have that connection. Also, a lot of my work explores taboos and things that are difficult to talk about.
Hittman with stars Sidney Flanigan and Talia Ryder at the film’s premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February.
Matthias NareyekGetty Images
As director, how did you help create that bond between Sydney and Talia?
I only had a day to rehearse with them, so we met at my apartment and had a day of hanging out and bonding. I gave each a marble notebook where I wrote very personal prompts for them to respond to. Some things were light, like, “describe your happiest childhood vacation,” while some were very personal. Both have complicated relationships with their fathers, so I asked them to write about the last time they saw their fathers, and then I left them to share what they had written just with each other. It was really important for them to have this secret history off-set.
As an adult watching, some of their decisions scared me! Like, please don’t go off with that strange boy! Where did those moments of realism come from?
You come up with internal logic for the script. I pushed the boundaries on what they would do and say. Also, they don’t get mugged, they don’t get raped, and it’s not Thelma and Louise. It’s about micro-obstacles and how they navigate them. It was really important to put the audience in their shoes and feel the tension of them navigating this misogynistic and hostile world that reflects the way this country treats us in real life.
The film does an effective job of demystifying the process of getting an abortion, from anti-abortion crisis centers to the reality of the Planned Parenthood process. Why was that important?
First, because what Planned Parenthood is doing isn’t sinister. I also believe that the portrayal was balanced and honest, and not in a way that intimidates women from going through it. In terms of those centers, I didn’t want to vilify them either. I visited one and took a pregnancy test, went through counseling sessions, and got those same pamphlets on “Father’s Rights” that Autumn gets.
“I believe the end of a movie is the beginning of another one.”
The scene where Autumn goes through the Planned Parenthood counseling session that determines intimate partner violence is gutting. Where did the idea for this scene come from?
In doing the research I talked to a lot of people, including [clinical psychologist] Kelly Chapman from Queens’ Choices Women’s Medical Center. She said something really poignant to me: “Eliza, the abortion is never the crisis. It’s the mystery of what’s going on at home that you can’t fix in 20 minutes.” I worked that into the story because pregnancy, sexual health, intimate partner violence, [and] accessing safety [from abusive relationships] are all intertwined.
The ending is especially hard because on one hand you’re relieved for Autumn, but then you remember what’s waiting for her at home. Why was it important to not wrap up everything nicely?
I think as the film connects to the #MeToo Movement, a lot of women feel powerless, even after coming forward. This ending is complicated and it felt more true to life. At that moment when she’s on the bus going home, you have feelings of peacefulness, and she finally falls asleep. But at the same time, she’s going home to all of these other issues. I believe the end of a movie is the beginning of another one.
What do you hope viewers take away from Never Rarely Sometimes Always?
The timing of the movie brings about some uncomfortable feelings with the current Supreme Court case around abortion rights [in Louisiana]. The unfortunate journey depicted in this film will become a journey other women will have to take should Roe v. Wade be gutted.
Kellee Terrell Kellee Terrell is an award-winning filmmaker and journalist who writes about race, gender, health and pop culture.
Wake up and immediately check my phone in panic. (Read the slacks I’ve missed, New York Times push updates, emails from my mom portending the end of humanity as we know it.)
Make coffee and refuse to turn on the news while my fiancé takes care of all the responsibilities of the house
Tune into the Barry’s Bootcamp Instagram Live while I sit in my sweatpants on the couch.
Do my job as I watch The Office and stare in awe as they all touch their faces while sitting so close together.
And now, the reason we are all here: Put on the same sweater I wear every single day of my isolated life and jump on a Zoom meeting.
Allow me to gush about my sweater, the O-Ring zipper turtleneck from & Other Stories. She’s my best friend in quarantine. I’m about 11 days away from giving her a name. Tom Hanks’s character in Castaway and his friend Wilson seem much less crazy now.
Here’s why she’s perfect in every way.
She’s professional.
I always worry that I don’t look put together when I’m Zooming with my boss or esteemed colleagues. I need the world to know I’m a lady, not someone who cries into Nutella while spiraling at night. A muted wool sweater tells the world I’m as responsible and independent as the lead character in a Nancy Meyers movie.
She conceals all.
I’m a woman of leisure. I haven’t worn a bra since before everything went down, and there is no way I’m about to start now. I can wear nothing, my pajama top, even a bikini under this pullover, and no one can tell.
The zipper is fun!
When I pitched this story to our Senior Market Editor, she said “Is that what you were wearing while you messed with the zipper during the entire pitch meeting?” Yes.
It’s warm but breathable.
It feels a bit outlandish to be wearing a wool sweater during the middle of spring, but here we are ladies and gentlefolk. Live a little!
The truth is…
I look great in it. You probably will too. We have to take the wins where we can these days and right now is not the time to be humble.
So if you’re looking for one glorious sweater for all your virtual meetings, this & Other Stories number comes highly reviewed by yours truly. Or you can try a few other zippered styles below.
Collection ribbed cashmere half-zip sweater
J.Crew jcrew.com
$268.99
ASOS DESIGN chunky rib sweater with zip detail
Asos DESIGN us.asos.com
$48.00
Wool Blend Zippered Turtleneck
stories.com
$119.00
Chunky-knit Wool Sweater
H&M hm.com
$79.99
Chloe Hall Beauty Director Chloe Hall oversees all beauty coverage at ELLE.com.
.%20Each%20week,%20keep%20an%20eye%20out%20for%20new%20self-isolation%20diaries%20from%20actors,%20designers,%20athletes%20and%20artists%20who%20are%20riding%20this%20uncertain%20time%20out%20with%20us.%0A%0ABrooke%20Lynn%20Hytes,%20drag%20queen%20and%20judge%20on%20Canada's%20Drag%20Race%0A%0AI%20currently%20live%20in%20Nashville%20and%20am%20here%20with%20my%20two%20beautiful%20cats,%20Henry%20and%20Apollo,%20who%20are%20keeping%20me%20company.%20Honestly,%20my%20cats%20have%20been%20everything. I%20am%20such%20an%20animal%20person,%20and%20they%20bring%20me%20peace.%20I%20began%20self-isolating%20in%20early%20to%20mid%20March. It%20was%20hard%20for%20the%20first%20couple%20of%20weeks,%20not%20really%20understanding%20what%20was%20happening.%20I%20feel%20like%20I've%20settled%20into%20quarantine%20now%20and%20am%20happy%20to%20do%20my%20part%20to%20flatten%20the%20curve. %0A%0AThe%20toughest%20thing%20about%20self-isolation%20is%20to%20not%20be%20working.%20I%20love%20to%20work%20and%20be%20busy.%20I%20always%20remind%20myself%20that%20this%20too%20will%20pass%20and%20that%20staying%20home%20is%20a%20luxury%20that%20not%20everyone%20in%20the%20world%20can%20do.%20It’s%20easy%20and%20the%20least%20we%20can%20all%20do%20to%20support%20everyone%20on%20the%20frontlines%20of%20this.%20%0A%0AOn%20the%20bright%20side,%20my%20manager%20and%20I%20have%20been%20working%20remotely%20on%20lots%20of%20exciting%20new%20things%20to%20come%20online,%20and%20in%20person%20once%20this%20is%20all%20over. I%20also%20have%20had%20some%20great%20catch-ups%20with%20friends%20and%20family%20that%20I%20otherwise%20wouldn't%20have%20had%20time%20for,%20so%20that%20is%20nice%20too. %0A%0Ahttps://www.instagram.com/p/B-Pp8gMgbhe/%0A%0AI'm%20watching%20lots%20of%20Netflix%20shows—Call%20the%20Midwife,%20Tiger%20King—and%20I%20love%20a%20good%20episode%20of%20Trixie%20%5BMattel%5D%20and%20Katya%20%5BZamolodchikova%5D’s%20web%20series%20UNHhhh.%20%0A%0AI'm%20also%20reorganizing%20all%20of%20my%20drag.%20I%20have%20been%20on%20tour%20for%20a%20full%20year%20and%20this%20is%20giving%20me%20a%20moment%20to%20get%20everything%20together%20so%20I%20can%20come%20back%20stronger%20than%20ever!%20My%20team%20and%20I%20have%20been%20working%20on%20new%20merch,%20my%20website Brookelynnhytes.com,%20and%20my%20YouTube%20channel%20that%20will%20have%20exciting%20things%20coming%20soon!%0A%0AAnd%20ICYMI,%20we%20photographed%20Brooke%20Lynn%20Hytes%20for%20our%20March%202020%20issue.%20Go%20behind%20the%20scenes%20of%20the%20shoot%20here.%20%0A%0A){kind=link}
%20to%20taking%20care%20of%20our%20own%20nails.%20From%20DIY%20manicures%20and%20pedicures,%20to%20removing%20gel%20polish,%20it's%20given%20us%20a%20newfound%20appreciation%20for%20our%20local%20nail%20technician.%20But%20if%20you%20haven't%20managed%20to%20perfect%20painting%20your%20own%20nails%20(myself%20included),%20press-on%20nails%20are%20a%20relatively%20quick%20and%20easy%20way%20to%20'cheat'%20your%20way%20to%20a%20salon-worthy%20manicure.%0A%0AIn%20fact,%20even%20glam%20queen%20Ariana%20Grande%20is%20getting%20in%20on%20the%20action.%20Earlier%20this%20week,%20the%20Thank%20You,%20Next%20singer%20posted%20two%20images%20to%20stories%20of%20a%20set%20of%20press-on%20nails%20she%20had%20been%20gifted%20by%20a%20Los%20Angeles%20based%20nail%20artist%20with%20the%20handle%20@bettyinacherry.%20In%20one%20of%20the%20shots,%20Grande%20showed%20off %20her%20perfectly%20manicured%20hand,%20with%20the%20caption%20%22u%20are%20a%20gift%20@bettyinacherry%20thank%20u.%22%0A%0AWhen%20applying%20press-on%20nails,%20be%20sure%20to%20properly%20fit%20each%20nail.%20Gina%20Edwards,%20celebrity%20nail%20artist%20and%20ambassador%20for%20Kiss%20Nails,%20says,%20%22The%20best%20way%20to%20apply%20press-on%20nails%20is%20to%20apply%20the%20nails%20on%20your%20dominant%20hand%20first%20which%20makes%20it%20a%20little%20easier%20for%20application.%20Also,%20measure%20the%20nail%20from%20nail%20groove%20to%20nail%20groove%20without%20overlapping%20the%20skin.%22%20Her%20top%20tip%20for%20a%20perfect%20end%20result?%20%22Make%20sure%20you%20cleanse%20your%20natural%20nails%20before%20applying%20by%20removing%20oils%20and%20debris%20for%20better%20adhesion.%20Also%20make%20sure%20to%20size%20all%20ten%20nails%20and%20lay%20out%20in%20number%20order%20before%20applying.%20This%20ensures%20you%20choose%20the%20best%20fit%20for%20each%20nail.%22%0A%0AThere%20are%20plenty%20of%20options%20to%20choose%20from%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20application,%20too.%20Some%20sets%20require%20glue,%20whilst%20others%20use%20an%20adhesive%20layer%20to%20hold%20the%20nail%20in%20place.%20As%20for%20how%20either%20will%20treat%20your%20natural%20nails,%20Edwards%20explains,%20%22There%20is%20no%20risk%20to%20your%20natural%20nails%20if%20you%20apply%20a%20press%20on%20with%20an%20adhesive%20layer,%20not%20glue.%20Glue%20nails%20may%20cause%20damage%20only%20if%20they%20are%20not%20removed%20properly.%22%0A%0ASpeaking%20of%20removal,%20if%20your%20nails%20are%20still%20going%20strong%20but%20you're%20ready%20for%20a%20new%20set,%20Edwards%20says,%20%22If%20the%20adhesive%20is%20still%20holding%20well,%20don’t%20rip%20the%20nail%20off%20as%20that%20will%20damage%20the%20nails.%20You%20can%20use%20warm%20water%20and%20oil%20or%20add%20a%20little%20acetone%20under%20the%20nail.%20If%20your%20nails%20were%20applied%20with%20glue%20you%20need%20to%20remove%20with%20an%20acetone%20-based%20product%20and%20soak%20off%20for%20a%20minimum%20of%2015-30%20mins.%22%20If%20you%20happen%20to%20lose%20one%20before%20you're%20ready%20to%20take%20them%20all%20off,%20Edwards%20says,%20%22For%20hygiene%20and%20optimal%20wear,%20its%20best%20to%20keep%20the%20nail%20off%20and%20reapply%20a%20new%20one,%22%20adding%20that%20all%20KISS/imPRESS%20nails%20include%20'extras'%20for%20mishaps%20and%20fallen%20nails%20for%20that%20very%20reason.%0A%0AHere's%20some%20of%20our%20favourite%20at-home%20press-on%20nail%20kits%20to%20try:%0A%0A%5Bgallery%20ids=%22398390,398387,398388,398389,398391,398397%22%5D%0A%0AYour%20local%20Shopper's/Rexall/pharmacy%20will%20also%20likely%20have%20an%20extensive%20selection%20of%20press-ons%20so%20be%20sure%20to%20visit%20the%20nail%20aisle%20on%20your%20next%20visit.){kind=link}
.%20Segal%20began%20working%20with%20the%20show%20back%20in%20season%20one,%20doing%20their%20digital%20content%20and%20mockumentary-style%20webisodes,%20which%20evolved%20into%20the%20Behind-the-Episode%20interview%20series%20(the%20latest%20of%20which%20can%20be%20found%20here).%20%0A%0A%22Dan%20and%20I%20started%20talking%20about%20the%20documentary%20at%20the%20end%20of%20season%204,%22%20says%20Segal%20over%20the%20phone%20from%20her%20home%20in%20Toronto.%20%22We%20started%20talking%20about%20it%20because%20the%20momentum%20of%20the%20show%20had%20really%20picked%20up%20and%20I%20was%20just%20watching%20my%20friends%20go%20through%20this%20process%20and%20it%20was%20kind%20of%20surreal.%20We%20talked%20a%20little%20bit%20about%20it%20and%20when%20I%20started%20to%20make%20it,%20it%20evolved%20into%20something%20bigger%20because%20of%20the%20%5Bimpact%5D%20the%20show%20has%20had%20on%20so%20many%20people%20globally%20and%20culturally.%20And%20we%20got%20to%20capture%20that,%20which%20was%20very%20cool.%22%20%0A%0Ahttps://www.instagram.com/p/B-fCD67gZXR/%0A%0AFASHION%20spoke%20to%20Segal%20about%20the%20process%20of%20shooting%20the%20Best%20Wishes,%20Warmest%20Regards%20documentary,%20her%20relationship%20with%20Dan%20and%20Eugene%20Levy,%20her%20favourite%20on-set%20memories%20and%20more.%20%0A%0AOn%20why%20making%20the%20documentary%20was%20so%20important%20to%20the%20whole%20team%0A%22The%20fans%20meant%20so%20much%20to%20everyone%20and%20they%20were%20so%20involved%20and%20they%20kind%20of%20got%20the%20ball%20rolling%20on%20having%20a%20wider%20audience%20discover%20the%20show.%20They%20were%20talking%20about%20it%20online%20for%20years,%20and%20people%20started%20to%20catch%20on.%20Dan%20really%20wanted%20to%20thank%20them%20in%20a%20special%20way%20and%20wanted%20to%20show%20them%20the%20behind-the-scenes%20of%20things%20on%20set%20and%20open%20that%20world%20up%20to%20them.%20They%20just%20have%20meant%20so%20much%20to%20the%20cast%20and%20the%20crew,%20and%20changed%20their%20lives.%20It's%20just%20such%20a%20lovely%20community%20that%20has%20come%20together%20because%20of%20the%20show%20and%20I%20think%20Dan%20really%20appreciates%20all%20of%20it.%22%0A
%0AOn%20shooting%20the%20last%20table%20read%20of%20the%20show%0A%22We%20shot%20the%20first%20and%20last%20table%20reads%20of%20Season%206.%20Over%20the%20season,%20I%20think%20it%20kind%20of%20hit%20everyone%20at%20different%20times.%20The%20very%20first%20table%20read%20was%20very%20normal%20because%20everyone%20was%20ready%20to%20come%20back%20to%20work%20and%20fresh,%20and%20excited%20for%20the%20final%20season. By%20the%20end%20everyone%20was%20exhausted%20and%20weepy.%20Everyone%20got%20way%20more%20emotional%20by%20the%20end.%22%0A%0AOn%20who%20was%20the%20most%20emotional%20during%20the%20documentary%20interviews%0A%22Dan%20was%20emotional%20but%20he's%20pretty%20together;%20I%20think%20he%20was%20more%20emotional%20on%20set.%20I%20think%20Sarah%20got%20pretty%20emotional%20without%20wanting%20to%20or%20thinking%20she%20would.%20I%20think%20everyone%20did.%20They%20all%20sort%20of%20went%20into%20it%20being%20like%20'you're%20not%20going%20to%20make%20me%20cry.'%20Because%20I%20really%20did%20want%20to%20make%20everyone%20cry%20(laughs).%20They%20were%20all%20like%20'nope,%20not%20gonna%20happen'%20but%20I%20think%20almost%20everyone%20did.%22%0A%0AOn%20her%20friendship%20with%20Dan%20Levy%0A%22Dan%20and%20I%20have%20been%20friends%20for%20about%2014%20years.%20We%20were%20friends,%20and%20then%20we%20ended%20up%20working%20together%20at%20MTV%20on%20MTV%20Live%20and%20then%20the%20Hills%20After%20Show.%20We%20always%20just%20had%20a%20great%20working%20relationship%20and%20have%20the%20same%20taste%20and%20laugh%20at%20the%20same%20things.%20So%20when%20%5Bthey%20started%5D%20to%20make%20those%20webisodes,%20I%20was%20sort%20of%20the%20first%20person%20he%20called%20to%20get%20involved%20with%20that.%22%0A
%0Ahttps://www.instagram.com/p/B-tIHsnAkrN/%0A%0AOn%20her%20best%20memories%20from%20the%20show%0A%22It's%20always%20a%20fun%20time%20on%20set%20except%20when%20we're%20filming%20the%20last%20day%20or%20when%20Ted%20and%20Alexis%20are%20breaking%20up%20but%20I%20think%20the%20wrap%20parties%20have%20been%20the%20most%20fun.%20They're%20just%20ridiculous.%20Everyone%20goes%20to%20karaoke%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20night,%20and%20those%20are%20some%20of%20the%20funniest%20moments.%20Also,%20the%20Behind%20the%20Episodes%20are%20fun%20because%20we're%20there%20from%209am%20to%205pm%20and%20getting%20loopy%20as%20the%20day%20goes%20on.%20They're%20a%20group%20of%20really%20cool,%20really%20nice%20people%20so%20it's%20enjoyable%20to%20be%20around.%22%0A
%0AOn%20the%20most%20emotional%20day%20of%20shooting%0A%22Definitely%20the%20last%20day%20on%20set.%20At%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%20doc%20you%20can%20see%20Dan%20waking%20up%20for%20that%20day.%20We%20hid%20in%20his%20room%20and%20got%20him%20actually%20waking%20up,%20and%20that%20was%20at%20like%205am%20and%20I%20think%20they%20wrapped%20at%209pm%20that%20night.%20They%20shot%20it%20so%20the%20whole%20crew%20would%20be%20on%20set%20that%20day%20and%20the%20whole%20cast,%20and%20it%20was%20devastating.%20Any%20time%20a%20character%20wrapped,%20there%20was%20a%20sob%20fest.%20I%20think%20it's%20been%20such%20a%20special%20show%20for%20Dan.%20And%20Eugene%20is%20so%20proud%20of%20him.%20Just%20watching%20their%20whole%20family%20celebrate%20that%20day%20was%20very%20emotional.%20There%20wasn't%20a%20dry%20eye%20in%20the%20house%20and%20capturing%20that%20kind%20of%20felt%20invasive%20a%20little%20bit,%20but%20I%20think%20hopefully%20they%20appreciated%20it.%22%0A
%0AOn%20what%20she%20learned%20about%20Dan%20through%20working%20on%20the%20show%20%0A%22I've%20always%20known%20he’s%20a%20genius%20and%20he%20really%20pours%20his%20whole%20self%20into%20the%20show.%20What%20I%20thought%20was%20really%20cool%20and%20didn't%20really%20know%20the%20inner%20workings%20of,%20was%20how%20involved%20he%20was%20with%20wardrobe.%20Watching%20him%20create%20these%20outfits%20with%20Catherine%20was%20really%20interesting%20to%20me.%20I%20wanted%20that%20part%20%5Bof%20the%20documentary%5D%20to%20be%20like%20two%20hours%20long.%20It%20is%20really%20cool,%20if%20you're%20into%20fashion.%20I'd%20see%20him%20buying%20all%20this%20stuff%20on%20eBay%20and%20Grailed%20and%20all%20these%20sites%20but%20watching%20them%20put%20it%20together%20was%20very%20cool,%20and%20how%20involved%20he%20was%20with%20it%20was%20amazing. There's%20honestly%20so%20much%20that%20I%20couldn't%20put%20in,%20that%20I%20wish%20I%20could%20have.%20I%20might%20work%20on%20a%20longer%20Director's%20Cut%20while%20we're%20all%20stuck%20inside%20during%20Covid%20(laughs).%20We'll%20see.%22%0A
%0A){kind=link}