This year, Leonardo DiCaprio took home 12 awards for his role in The Revenant, including his first-ever Oscar. Despite those major wins, he did experience at least one loss in 2016. Leo recently sold his Greenwich Village condo for $8 million. That sounds like a huge chunk of money, but DiCaprio purchased the place on East 11th Street for $10 million back in May 2014. Losing $2 million on the sale probably doesn't worry the 42-year-old actor, though, seeing as he has a net worth of about $217 million.
According to StreetEasy, the 3,663-square-foot condo comes equipped with some unusually extravagant features. For instance, there is a circadian lighting system and in-duct aromatherapy system. Whoever bought the condo is about to live a seriously healthy and relaxed life, and at a steal. Take a little peek inside ahead.
The three-bedroom condo was built to promote mental and physical well-being for its residents. How thoughtful.
Photos: Courtesy of StreetEasy.
This kitchen wants to help you eat right. That's why it's got an enclosed juicing station and window-box herbarium.
Photos: Courtesy of StreetEasy.
Leo's walk-in steam shower has a custom-designed light-therapy system and vitamin-C-infused shower head. Who knew those things even existed?
Photos: Courtesy of StreetEasy.
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All good things must eventually come to an end, and Kayleigh, Gabija, and Chelsea's dreamy romp across Berlin's electric bars and awe-inspiring cultural sites is, alas, no exception. But that doesn't mean they can't wrap up their trip in truly decadent style.
After Chelsea's DJ-ing gig at the chic Prince Charles club, the women head over to Dr. Pong — a cave-like ping-pong bar — where they're sucked into a vertiginous paddle-slapping showdown that you'd have to see to believe. And lucky for you, we capture it in the virtual reality video, above.
Their pong skills might seem (and are!) miraculous, but it's their bond that's even more incredible. As they pose for their final tipsy photo booth session, Chelsea discusses her love for Gabija's fiery Leo energy, and Kayleigh's kind and gentle spirit. Together, these besties make a perfect team of daring, supportive women. If they're not #friendshipgoals, we don't know what is.
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The already-unusual legal battle over Modern Family actress Sofía Vergara’s frozen embryos reached a surprising new chapter on Tuesday — when the embryos sued Vergara. Yes: Two unborn, un-gestated frozen pre-embryos became the plaintiffs in a right-to-live lawsuit. How is this possible? How common is it? And what does it all mean legally? Here’s what to know.
What happened?
Like many couples engaging in assisted reproduction, Vergara and then-fiancé Nick Loeb used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create pre-embryos. (Jargon note: Some, especially on the right-to-life side, prefer the term “early embryo” because they think the term “pre-embryo” devalues the entities. I use the term that is most common in the law without intending to take sides on who has the better terminology or attaching much weight to it.) More specifically, Vergara’s eggs were harvested and combined outside the body with Loeb’s sperm to produce embryos that could then be implanted into a uterus to hopefully produce a successful pregnancy.
In most IVF clinics in America, before IVF or freezing is performed, the couple is asked to specify in writing their “dispositional preference” for the pre-embryos — that is, what should be done with them in the event the couple splits up, or one or both parties die. Among the common options are donating the pre-embryo to research, destroying the pre-embryo, making the pre-embryo available to the male partner to use for reproduction with another woman, making the pre-embryo available to the female partner for reproduction, or indefinite freezing.
According to Page Six, a First Amended Complaint filed originally in California court pertaining to this case (Refinery29 was unable to obtain court filings by press time, so I have tried to explain the situation more generally and refrain from commenting directly on the merits of this case) suggests that Vergara and Loeb initially did a first round of IVF, successfully fertilized some eggs to create pre-embryos, and attempted to implant them in a surrogate mother. While many women undergo IVF intending to carry the baby to term themselves, others use a surrogate. In this instance we would call the woman a “gestational” surrogate to denote that the surrogate is carrying the child but is not its genetic mother — that would be Vergara. The initial attempts at surrogacy were unsuccessful. The couple allegedly conducted another round of IVF, froze the resulting pre-embryos for later use in a surrogate, but their relationship ended before they could find a new surrogate to work with.
That breakdown has resulted in this legal case, with the media reporting that Loeb is suing for the right to have two of the frozen embryos (which he apparently has named Isabella and Emma, according to Page Six) implanted in a surrogate. He has framed his claims in the language of the right-to-life movement, claiming that these are his “children” and they have a right to live.
Vergara, for her part, according to press reports, has claimed that “the genetic material was created pursuant to a written agreement that required both parties’ written consent to attempt to create a pregnancy,” and since she refuses that consent now that Loeb should not be allowed to use the pre-embryos for reproduction.
Two unborn, un-gestated frozen embryos became the plaintiffs in a right-to-live lawsuit.
Has this kind of thing ever happened before?
There have been, sadly, a number of cases with similar fact patterns litigated across America (disclosure: I have served as an expert in one of these cases). When I surveyed the case law in a July 2016 journal article, I found 11 states that had decided cases with similar facts, and I am aware of at least one more case in Missouri decided last month but likely to be appealed. We are likely to see many more because, by some estimates, there are currently more than one million cryopreserved embryos in America, although the exact number is contested.
These cases vary on a few important factors:
1. Whether the genetic parents are in a relationship or legally married
2. Whether the couple indicated dispositional preferences, and, if so…
3. Whether a document indicating dispositional instructions was part of the informed consent document or separate from it
4. Whether the court regarded it as legally binding
5. Whether the court treated such agreements as enforceable
6. Whether one of the parties has no ability to reproduce other than through using these frozen pre-embryos.
There are three ways these cases can be decided: First, the court could require contemporaneous (aka current) mutual consent now, no matter what the parties agreed to earlier; second, the court could treat the disposition agreement as a contract to be enforced; third, the court could balance the interests of the party seeking to implant (the right to procreate) against those of the opposing party (the right not to procreate).
How do these cases usually turn out?
Every state is free to make its own law in this area, and no state is bound by another. The majority of these cases have come out against the party seeking to use the embryos for reproductive purposes, and the only cases that have gone the other way have involved a woman who could not reproduce without access to these pre-embryos. This does not appear to be the situation here: Loeb has not claimed inability to reproduce without the embryos.
One twist in this case is that according to media report, Loeb will be arguing not just that he has a right to procreate, but that the pre-embryos themselves have rights to be implanted and eventually (if all goes well) be born. A somewhat similar argument was raised in the Missouri case decided in November, but was unsuccessful. That case is on appeal, and the right to life movement presumably hopes to use this case as a way of pushing this argument. The filing in Louisiana may be strategic, because other elements of Louisiana tilt towards the protection of frozen embryos.
However this case turns out — and please forgive the pun — it’s safe to say this is a decidedly modern family situation.
I. Glenn Cohen is a professor at Harvard Law School, faculty director of the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics, and an expert on reproductive technologies.
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Coffee table books can conjure up images of the stuffy, giant tomes you'd find at your grandparents' house. They made pretty good lap desks when you wanted to do your homework in front of the TV. Though, they weren't exactly what you wanted to flip through in your spare time.
Today, however, there are plenty of oversized titles you'd be proud to display on your coffee table. Or if you're doing the starter apartment thing, the edge of your kitchen table which is also your coffee table. There are books filled with beautiful travel photography that can inspire your next trip. And plenty of biography collections that highlight notable women your lounging guests can educate themselves about. There are even a few big names attached to recent bestsellers, from Lauren Conrad to Abbi Jacobson.
Click through to find the perfect coffee table book for your home. Even if they eventually come to rest on the beanbag-holdover from college you're using as a coffee table — we won't judge.
Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
By Rachel Ignotofsky
Essential reading for young aspiring astrophysics and anyone who has fond memories of the science fair.
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press.
The Religions Book
By DK Publishing
Having a handy reference text at the ready means you totally can discuss religion after a family dinner, right?
Photo: Courtesy of DK.
Underwater Dogs
By Seth Casteel
Sometimes you really can judge a book by its cover — this one is filled with even more adorable pups exploring the water just like this guy.
Photo: Courtesy of Little, Brown and Company.
Young Hollywood
By Claiborne Swanson Frank
It's basically like the celeb-dominated part of your Instagram feed, but with gorgeous, artsy photographs.
Photo: Courtesy of Assouline Publishing.
What If?
By Randall Munroe
Because inquiring minds want to know, and those minds don't always have access to Wi-Fi.
Photo: Courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pop Art
By Klaus Honnef
For the Andy Warhol fan who wants to expand their knowledge of the art movement beyond the soup can.
Photo: Courtesy of Taschen.
Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics
By Jason Porath
The decidedly grown-up version of your childhood book of fairy tales, this compendium of historical royals will also prep you for Jeopardy!
Photo: Courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers.
Letters of Note: Volume 2: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
Compiled By Shaun Usher
Get lost in real pieces of history as you read letters by Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Janis Joplin and more.
Photo: Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
David Bowie Is... (Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago: Exhibition Catalogues
Edited By Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh
Celebrate the creativity that the late artist brought to every part of his public persona, with this retrospective of his costumes, from photos to design sketches.
Photo: Courtesy of Victoria & Albert Museum.
The Movie Book
By DK
If you're stuck on what to watch on movie night, pick up this book, flip and point—it'll save you a Netflix battle and teach you a little film history.
Photo: Courtesy of DK.
Paris In Color
By Nichole Robertson
The perfect book to explore the City of Light for anyone who couldn't finish the school day until they had reorganized their crayons into rainbow order.
Photo: Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
By Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
This unconventional bio of the beloved supreme court justice is a must-have for anyone who loves this SNL sketch.
Photo: Courtesy of Dey Street Books.
Oh Joy!: 60 Ways to Create & Give Joy
By Joy Cho
A title perfect for a DIY lover (or someone who just appreciates flipping through photos of general whimsy).
Photo: Courtesy of William Morrow.
The Most Scenic Drives in America, Newly Revised and Updated: 120 Spectacular Road Trips
By Editors of Reader's Digest
Plan your next road trip as you chill on the couch—no phone or laptop required.
Photo: Courtesy of Reader's Digest.
In the Company of Women
By Grace Bonney
Get inspired by the businesswomen profiled in this collection who share their tips and tricks for successfully creating and running their own visions.
Photo: Courtesy of Artisan.
Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World's Most Amazing Places
By National Geographic
A travel bucket list that can live on your coffee table, always pushing and reminding you to book that flight.
Photo: Courtesy of National Geographic.
Every Person In New York
By Jason Polan
Artist Jason Polan captures the spirit of New York City with his collection of illustrations, complete with a foreword from Kristen Wiig.
Photo: Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
Vargic's Miscellany of Curious Maps: Mapping the Modern World
By Martin Vargic
These are not the maps from your middle school geography book; they were created by the man behind the popular "Map of the Internet 1.0."
Photo: Courtesy of Harper's Design.
Beaches
By Gray Malin
Inspire summer daydreams at any time of the year with this oversized book.
Photo: Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams.
Celebrate
By Lauren Conrad
Live in the world of Lauren Conrad party decor, even if it's just for an afternoon.
Photo: Courtesy of Dey Street Books.
Bad Girls Throughout History
By Ann Shen
The famous women you've always admired captured through beautiful illustrations.
Photo: Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
The Loney Planet Book of Everything: A Visual Guide to the World
By Nigel Holmes
Flip through these travel tips as you sit on your couch, and prepare to amaze your fellow adventurers with your MacGyver level knowledge.
Photo: Courtesy of Lonely Planet.
Building Stories
By Chris Ware
You'll need the whole table, and probably some of the floor to unfurl this massive, multi-part graphic novel, that can be stored in this artistic box.
Photo: Courtesy of Pantheon.
Carry This Book
By Abbi Jacobson
The obviously multi-talented co-creator of Broad City gives you a peek into the bags of your favorite celebs (or at least shows you what she thinks might be within them) with a series of quirky illustrations.
Photo: Courtesy of Viking.
The Art of Movement
By Ken Browar and Deborah Ory
The grace and fluidity of ballet dancers (and their costumes) are captured in this lovely photo portfolio.
Photo: Courtesy of Black Dog & Leventhal.
1000 Record Covers
By Michael Ochs
Essential reading for any Vinyl fanatic.
Photo: Courtesy of Taschen.
American Beauty
By Genevieve Bahrenburg and Claiborne Swanson Frank
Stunning portraits that capture modern women in America.
Photo: Courtesy of Assouline.
Vanity Fair 100 Years: From the Jazz Age to Our Age
By Graydon Carter
All the glamour of the famous magazine looked at through the lense of history.
Photo: Courtesy of Abrams Books.
Kate Spade New York: All In Good Taste
By Kate Spade New York
Even the cover features that trademark ascetic.
Photo: Courtesy of Abrams Books.
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Ever have one of those days when you think you look chic AF, and it turns out, you're dressed like a SpongeBob SquarePants character? No? Well, that's exactly what happened to Tessa Denae.
The 21-year-old from New Mexico told BuzzFeed that she recently got into the car with her boyfriend, only to have him burst out laughing. Turns out, she was dressed like Pinhead Larry.
Thought I looked cute as hell today and my boyfriend told me I look like Pinhead Larry pic.twitter.com/H5jsUqCZxP
For those not familiar, this is a character — and later a meme — who appeared in an episode of SpongeBob called "Survival of the Idiots." He's a robber Sandy references from one of her dreams, whom Patrick then tries to impersonate.
As Denae shared on Twitter, she managed an uncanny likeness of Pinhead Larry herself. Denae couldn't deny the resemblance, telling BuzzFeed, “It was so bad."
But a lot of people on Twitter seemed to disagree with Denae. Not about the fact that she was dressed like Pinhead Larry — everyone agreed on that — but that this was a bad thing.
"Honestly.... I'm probably still going to wear this outfit," one person tweeted.
"Cutest pinhead larry I've ever seen," another wrote.
Denae, who told BuzzFeed this "ruined the choker for me forever," seems to be leaning into the joke. Her name on Twitter is now Pinhead Larry.
Honestly.... I'm probably still going to wear this outfit. Lmao
La La Anthony is one of the most underrated women in the entertainment industry (that’s something that tends to happen to women of color who go by aliases like La La). She’s certainly not a household name like Beyoncé or Kim Kardashian, but it doesn’t matter because she’s friends with them. In addition to being married to NBA superstar, Carmelo Anthony, La La calls a gaggle of A-list celebrities like Ciara and Kelly Rowland friends.
Since her humble beginnings as one of the VJ’s on MTV in the early 2000’s Anthony has taken on acting, producing, hosting, reality TV, and writing. Her first book, The Love Playbook is a New York Times best-seller. And now her second book, The Power Playbook: Rules for Independence, Money and Success, is being turned into a TV show.
Following in the steps of Sophia Amoruso’s Girlboss, Anthony’s The Power Playbook is taking a fictional turn for its TV adaptation. Deadline reports that Meryl Poster, who executive produces Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, is developing the new series alongside Queen Latifah. But unlike Girlboss, which is set to air as a comedy on Netflix next year, The Power Playbook will be “an ensemble drama centering on a group of women who use sports strategies to help in both their personal and professional lives.” It’s familiar territory for show writer, Neena Beber who worked on HBO’s Ballers.
The scripted series is being broadcast on Lifetime, which has it’s own unique flare for women’s drama. I can’t wait to see the show, and pictures from the premiere which is sure to be a star-studded affair.
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There’s something about the holidays that makes us want to step up our makeup game. And while we’re all for the decadent glitter looks that are sure to get the job done, the truth is, gathering the goods can do a number on your wallet. So, when we found this knockout staple — E.L.F Cosmetics Exclusive Weylie Luxe Lash Kit — we felt like pinching ourselves. Because these maximum-impact lashes are every bit the dazzler, but — at a cool $4 — cost less than your afternoon cappuccino.
Created in collaboration with YouTuber Weylie Hoang, the kit features a set of thick and fluttery faux lashes made with tapered, criss-crossed hairs. Translation: They'll help your eye look reach Katy Perry-like proportions in seconds. What's even better? The lashes are sold with a tube of grippy lash glue — which on its own typically costs more than the price of the entire kit. Happy holidays to us.
E.L.F Exclusive Weylie Luxe Lash Kit, $4, available in select stores December 10 and online December 13 at E.L.F.
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Modern Family may be on its way to becoming a thing of the past. Star Eric Stonestreet told People that the cast is "in the twilight of the show" after eight seasons on the air. "[It's] coming to an end."
The actor, who stars as the lovable Cam on the docu-style family comedy, said there could be as little as one season remaining. "We’ve shot more than we’re going to shoot in the future,” he told People. “We’re at the end of the series, in a sense, and I think what keeps us going now is that we want to go out as strong, and positive, and great as we possibly can, whether that’s one or two seasons, three seasons, I have no idea.”
But don't worry — for the time being, Stonestreet and the rest of the cast are happy to do the job as long as it's there. “I’m just proud of the work that they do every week,” he explained. “I know the cast shows up every week to shoot a show that we can all be proud of. That’s what keeps us going.”
The cast, which is incredibly tight after eight years of working together, does have one mission to accomplish before the show's end, though: Getting star Sofia Vergara 's hunky husband, Joe Manganiello, to make a cameo. “We love Joe!” Stonestreet said. “We love it when he comes by the set. He was over, he stops by, and hangs out with us, and we love having him. Look, he’s got a busy schedule for himself and it would have to be the right part for the right time...but obviously, we would love to have Joe come hang out with us.”
I'm pretty sure Modern Family fans would appreciate that, too.
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When you make the decision to embark on the quest for perfect pair of Levi's, you typically have two routes to choose from: 1. Try on a million pairs at your local thrift shop (and end up settling for a bunch of not-quite-perfect options along the way); or 2. Buy some Re/Dones (for a casual $300 price tag). But thankfully — finally! — Levi's is making things easier: The heritage denim brand has made its 501 Skinny available for purchase, and fashion girls everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief.
Don't get us wrong — the search for a well-fitting, lived-in vintage pair can be rewarding. But, it hardly ever comes easy (or quickly): You've got to face a lot of bulky crotches, weird boot-cuts, and saggy butt situations before you find the ones that make your behind look more like the peach emoji than a pancake. And, just at the time when we're all questioning the fate of the skinny jean, this seems like a sign for the future of our denim drawers.
Here are the details: The 501 Skinny looks like a vintage pair of 501s (classic button fly included), but it's remastered with a thinner leg and tighter rear cut. Plus, they're available in a wide range of washes and stretches, so even the pickiest denim shoppers can finally get in on that denim-soulmate feeling — and at under $100, no less. Click on to get in on these game-changers, and prepare to rid your closet of that stack of "meh" jeans once and for all.
Levi's 501 Skinny Jeans in Black Coast, $98, available at Levi's.
Levi's 501 Skinny Jeans in Old Hangouts, $98, available at Levi's.
Levi's 501 Skinny Jeans in Clear Minds, $98, available at Levi's.
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Instagram is known as much for its photo-sharing features as it is for its photo-editing tools. Think about it: Before Instagram came around, if you mentioned the word "filter," you probably thought of the thin paper sheet you put in your coffee machine.
But while the app is still known for its signature "Ludwig," "Sierra," and the perpetually unflattering "Hefe," nowadays, you're better off editing your photos elsewhere and then posting them to Instagram for all to see. That's because compared to other photo-editing apps out there — ones that cater to professionals and those looking to make their images more playful — Instagram's offerings are slim.
And, since anyone can now zoom in on every detail in your Instagram post, you want to be sure it's edited to perfection. These fifteen apps will help your posts stand out from the rest. Check out our before and afters to see what tools you'll want to add to your Instagram arsenal.
This piece originally published September 1, 2016.
Don't have an SLR camera at your disposal? No problem. Polarr is one of the most advanced, free editing apps available. You can adjust your landscape's blur or exposure after the photo has been taken, either on top of one of the app's many filters, or with no filter at all.
Photo: Polarr.
While Instagram also lets you control a photo's temperature (how warm or cool you want the colors to look), it's far easier to see the impact of your adjustments within Polarr. Plus, you have more specific effect controls, including ones for fringing, which make the edges of your photo look almost hazy, and another for pixelation.
Photo: Polarr.
After its update yesterday, Google Photos may become the only photo app you want to use. The auto-enhance tool uses machine intelligence to adjust the lighting and color in your photo so it will look its best. Bonus: It only requires one tap.
Photo: Courtesy Google.
The update also included more specific editing tools to adjust your photo's light and color. Make the sky more blue with "deep blue" or make your skin tone look more natural (filters can cause it to look saturated) with the "skin tone" function.
Photo: Courtesy Google.
If you're constantly scrolling through filters and switching from one to the other to compare their effects, Infltr (it stands for infinite filters) is the solution. You can swipe the screen in any direction to get a completely different filter. This also makes it easier to see how one filter differs from another.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
As you move your finger around your photo, you'll see the color change. The large dot indicates which part of the color spectrum you're currently in. When the image looks as moody or bright as you'd like, just lift your finger off the screen.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
You can't show off cool street graffiti if the dark night sky works against you. Pixlr will solve low light problems and bring your photo to life. You can paint and remove effects in specific parts of the image so that you only alter areas that a little lift.
Photo: Pixlr.
In addition to offering advanced brightening and sharpening tools, the app has a wide variety of color filters, including the one used here, called Hagrid. If you want a more dramatic effect you can layer images over each other, turn your photo into an ink drawing, or add font. There's also a Pixelate feature that lets you turn any part of the photo (or the whole thing) into a dizzying array of pixels.
Photo: Pixlr.
If you think Instagram has a lot of filters, you haven't tried Retrica. The app has over 50 filter options, all separated into themes that include "Faded," "Antique," and the very vibrant "Plexiglass." You can snap photos within the app, or upload an image from your Camera Roll.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Make your photo look extra artsy (and invoke a bit of the iPhone 7 Plus's special Portrait Mode) with the app's water drop icon, which will blur part of the image. You can choose which part of the photo you want in focus to make for a more interesting, complex image.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Most photo editing apps share a nearly identical, Instagram-like user experience. Not so with 1967. This app, which is comprised of 64 filters inspired by vintage photo films, has a beautiful, but very minimalist interface for filtering your photos. You'll definitely want to pay attention to the tutorial after downloading the app.
Photo: 1967.
While the initial download is free, you will need to upgrade the app for 99 cents to get access to all of the app's fabulously vintage vibes. But even without paying, you get access to a handful of options including Fader, pictured here. You can adjust the intensity of the filter (here it's at 90%) by sliding your finger right or left on the bottom portion of the screen.
Photo: 1967.
The bird's-eye perspective makes this photo interesting, but the bland white lighting leaves much to be desired. That's where Snapseed comes in. The app gives you professional photo-editing tools for free. You can "brush" effects onto a specific part of a photo (rather than the whole image), choose from a wide range of filters, and enhance certain details of your shot.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Here, the Retrolux filter made the image look warmer and gave it a vintage feel. Sliding your finger from left to right adjusts the brightness and contrast so you can change the filter to your liking.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Instagram's Clarendon filter could brighten up the water and flag in this photo, but wouldn't add much of interest beyond that. Try posting the photo after editing it in Mextures ($1.99). The app is known for its layering effects, which allow you to blend different filters together.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
You can get an almost holographic effect by playing with what's available. Here, layering textures from "vintage gradients" and "radiance" made the ocean look much more vibrant than it did before.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
When you have a photo that's already beautiful, but not necessarily unique, try Prisma. The free app uses art techniques such as gothic and mosaic, to turn your image into anything but ordinary. These bright Turkish squash go from standard farmers' market fare to…
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
… Mononoke -style squash. Plus, a diagonally split screen keeps some reality in the image and shows off the effect.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
A selfie might earn you lots of Likes, but having an entire Instagram grid full of selfies gets old fast. If you're feeling playful, try out the face-morphing filters offered by Photo Lab. While many of the effects, like "old photo book" and "dark cloud" are so fake they verge on cheesy, the app is strangely addictive.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
For animal lovers, the "half-human, half-cat" lens is a must. Photo Lab isn't the highest-quality editing app we tried, so don't use it if you're looking for a professional experience. The ads and the inability to adjust lighting, contrast, and sharpness can get in the way of its fun. But, as a gimmick, it's worth it.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Gorgeous landscapes are all over Instagram, so making your mountains brighter and more unique than the rest isn't easy. Personalize yours with Rookie Cam. In addition to letting you add stickers and text, the app has a nice variety of filters — everything from "vintage classic" to "urban romantic."
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
If you're feeling creative, try the "art color filter." You can add the Obama campaign poster-inspired "hope" coloring, orange citrus tones, or, our personal favorite, "cartoon" (shown here). Unlike Photo Lab, Rookie Cam allows you to adjust parts of the photo, including saturation, brightness, and temperature after you've added the filter.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
"Florals…for spring. Groundbreaking." Miranda Priestly had one thing right. Yes, these flowers are pretty, but even with an Instagram filter, they aren't anything special. Enlight ($3.99) can change that in seconds. The app lets you apply multiple filters to a single image, letting you pinpoint exactly where you want the effects to fall.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Our favorite part is the "Painting" effect that's listed under "Artistic" tools. Your photo becomes a work of art, no brush skills required.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
These vintage forks are so dark that even an Instagram filter can't save them. Instead, try adjusting the lighting in VSCO. The app, a favorite of many influencers and photographers, lets you shoot using advanced camera tools (the same that you might find on a pro DSLR camera) and fix photos you've taken with the iPhone camera app.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Adding a gradient with cool blue tones lightens this image, and increasing the exposure and contrast ever so slightly makes it easier to make out the intricacies of the utensils.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Unless you're going for a still life look, this orange is…just an orange. Add some perspective to the photo with PIP Camera. The app's filters create a picture within a picture, replicating the scene within a drop of water, a locket, and other creative objects, such as…
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
…a glass of water. This isn't the most believable-looking photo, but the play on perspective is definitely more fun than a stand-alone orange.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Instagram has no stickers like those offered by Snapchat. If you want to add something subtle to your photo, try Instazz. You can add emoji, a patterned background, and app-specific stickers.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
When you add a sticker, like this old school camera, you can change the coloring and positioning so that it works with the rest of the photo. Our only complaint with Instazz is that it could quit unexpectedly, which isn't ideal when you're in the middle of editing a photo.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
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According to a report by TMZ, a fan of actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld's was rushed to the hospital this week after an alleged altercation with her bodyguard.
The report says that the unnamed man spotted the 19-year-old in the arrivals area at Los Angeles International Airport earlier this week, and attempted to get her autograph. Her security team intervened, and TMZ caught the scuffle on video.
In the video, Steinfeld is seen politely waving the man off, but he remained persistent in trying to get close to her. Her security guard attempted to get him to back off, and the fan ended up walking into a pillar during the altercation. He was then taken away by paramedics. Steinfeld's security guard was also spotted speaking with police at the airport.
While it's unfortunate that the fan ended up injured and hospitalized, the incident highlights a scary reality that people in the public eye face when admirers attempt to interact with them, crossing a line between a mutual interaction and an invasion of personal space. It seems evident in the video that Steinfeld was just walking to her car, and fans can forget that celebs are normal human beings who sometimes simply want to be left alone.
It's always exciting to see someone famous in person, but it can be frightening for a celebrity not to be in control of their own safety. We're glad that Steinfeld is safe and hope her fan makes a speedy recovery.
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Apps can often prove unnecessary (how many ones for creating a to-do list do you really need?), but one area where they tend to excel is travel.
There are so many nuances to think about — planning flights, translating another language at a restaurant, settling costs after the trip — that having some help on your phone is a must.
It doesn't matter if you're taking a road trip, going backpacking, or heading to a resort for some spa time: Having easy access to input from travelers who have come before you can be both educational and rewarding. You might have taken a more scenic route if you'd downloaded Yonder in advance, or saved hundreds of dollars on your flight with Hopper 's fare tracking. And when you're unsure of how to plan your daily itinerary in Bangkok or whether you're supposed to tip at dinner in Bali, the Google Trips app is your savior.
We've rounded up the top travel apps that will make every stage of your trip easier and more enjoyable. In this case, the right downloads are just as important as packing well. Bon voyage!
Check back each month for the latest travel apps we love.
Live out your rom-com dreams and travel like Cameron Diaz in The Holiday.Love, Home, Swap lets you specify what you're looking for (in my case, a ski lodge that has Wi-Fi and can house at least two people) and provides a full list of pad-swapping options. We can't promise that Jude Law will meet you on the other side, though.
If you're traveling by bus or train, Wanderu is the app to use. It's partnered with Amtrak, Greyhound, Peter Pan Bus Lines, and others to help you get the best deals whenever and wherever you're going.
Airports aren't the most relaxing places on earth, but airport lounges are a step in the right direction. LoungeBuddy will help you find the best lounge in your current airport (or the one you're heading to), and will show you reviews, amenities, and cost. For lounges that do cost money (some are free), you can pay for access directly through the app.
Trying to decide on a beautiful place to visit? Instagram is a logical place to start looking, but may prove challenging to pore through. Instead, use Sherpa. This invite-only app lets you browse (and share) photos you've posted to Instagram by geotagged location. Simply scroll through the feed for the app's most recently highlighted trips, then tap to scroll through the photos taken there. You'll definitely find some inspiration here.
Sherpa: The Social Travel Guide, available on the App Store.
Photo: Sherpa.
Google has used its search expertise to create one of the best travel apps out there. Google Tripsis your pocket tour guide and the only one you'll need no matter where in the world you are. The entire app can be used offline (you can easily download all maps and tools), so you don't have to worry about losing service on a tiny road in the Spanish countryside.
Google Trips also pulls all your reservation information from your Gmail account, eliminating frantic searches for confirmation emails. For the world's top 200 cities, the app offers day plans: an itinerary of popular sites (factoring in the distance between them), mapped out for you. If you only want to follow that proposed itinerary for part of the day, the app will adjust to your schedule and help you find new spots to visit based on where you'll be the rest of the day.
Besides itineraries and reservation assistance, the app also includes essential facts, such as how much and when to tip, how to get from the airport to your hotel, and where to go in case of emergency — acting as a resource if you get into a sticky situation abroad.
Stay on top of checking into your flight, gate changes, delays, and more with App in the Air. You can connect the app to your email account so that it automatically uploads your travel data. Then, you'll see information about weather and traffic leading up to your flight, as well as airport specifics. The best part is that it brings all of your flight details into one place, so you won't be hurrying to switch from your weather app to your e-ticket to your flight confirmation email.
Hopper has already earned raves from travelers and industry experts as the go-to app for finding the cheapest flight. In fact, Apple named it the best travel app of 2015. The app predicts when airfare prices will go up and lets you know when's the best time to book. But it's the app's latest update that really sets it apart: Now, Hopper's little bunny mascot tells you which flights are inconvenient (long layovers, airport changes), so you won't accidentally book that Bangkok trip with a next-day arrival.
Agoda ranks high on our list of accommodations apps because it offers a wide variety of options, from hostels to apartments to hotels. It's easy to filter your search by location, price, and requirements such as free cancellation or free breakfast. You can also get special booking deals that are exclusive to the app, and save your confirmation to your phone's wallet app so you don't have to worry about any reservation mixups.
Keeping track of who owes who what can create major headaches, but Splitwise makes it easy. Just create a trip, invite your friends (the app connects with your phone contacts), and add bills that need to be split amongst you. You can add pictures of receipts for your records, export the trip totals as a spreadsheet, and change currencies within the app.
No road trip is complete without Waze. The crowdsourced traffic app serves as a GPS and so much more. You can find the cheapest gas on your route, get automatically rerouted when there are troublesome road conditions, and share your ETA with friends. But the best part of the app is its traffic notifications, which are shared by fellow drivers and passengers so that you won't spend hours sitting in delays.
No matter how good a city's public transportation is, it can still be confusing when you're not a local. That's where Citymapper comes in. The transit app helps you find the fastest and easiest trip to your destination, whether it's by subway, bus, train, or taxi. You'll get real-time updates about delays; the app partners with multiple foreign cab companies to provide the most accurate travel options when you're abroad, too. While it's not available in all cities, most of the major ones (both U.S. and international) are covered.
The new app Whym is your answer to finding cool cultural events at the last minute. Intended for spur-of-the-moment travel, Whym helps you find cheaper tickets for museums, tours, and other city attractions. It's currently available in San Francisco, LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, London, Paris, Rome, and Barcelona.
Yonder puts a social-networking spin on travel. A community of enthusiastic and outdoorsy Yonderers post pictures and info about their own adventures so that you can find cool experiences wherever you are. You can see trending destinations, photos, and recommendations from locals that will help you get away from some of the more touristy, cliché options.
Google Translate just celebrated its 10th anniversary with a creative pop-up restaurant in New York that highlighted the app's coolest features. Our favorite: You can tap the camera icon and hold your phone over the piece of text you'd like to translate. This means that whether you're in New York or Paris, reading in another language has never been easier. Plus, the app just added 13 new languages, so now you can use it on your travels to even more exotic locales.
Facet is one of the coolest video platforms for travel. You can watch user-generated content from around the world, or, if you're on an adventure of your own, you can add a 10-second video for others to enjoy. Thanks to its new partnership with Departure Lounge, you can even book travel within the app. View a recording of the beautiful sunset in Cape Town, then buy your plane tickets pronto.
The Musement app is an easy way to find and book a range of events around the world, from a wine tasting in Venice to a skip-the-line tour of Doge's Palace. There are curated content selections (such as what to do on a rainy day), and also a "concierge" service that lets you ask a local expert for recommendations, reservations, and more.
Viator is all about giving you insider, VIP access to events on your vacation. The app has exclusive deals on prices, as well as the option to skip the lines at some in-demand tourist locations. It also offers same-day booking. The option to look for events on a day by day basis will simplify your planning.
Like Viator, Headout is a great app for getting discounts on day-of events. You can find stand-up paddle boarding trips, submarine tours, and more — and booking is easy and at your fingertips. Plus, if you invite friends to join, you'll earn credit when they book their first reservations in the app.
You check into your hotel and want to go for a walk, but where should you walk to? Use Detour, an app with curated, GPS-based audio walks in cities around the world. You'll see sites you might have otherwise missed, and get a taste of the local culture that you wouldn’t be able to get through tourist-geared walking programs.
Plus, you can even listen to a preview of a tour to see if it’s the right one for you.
Finding parking in an unfamiliar city is usually a huge pain — not to mention pricey. ParkWhiz presents a helpful solution. The app not only identifies all the nearby parking, it also offers up to 50% off the garage price when you book in-app. Plus, you don't have to worry about losing a paper receipt, since everything is on your phone.
J.K. Rowling just revealed her favorite Harry Potter moment, and the world has Lin-Manuel Miranda to thank.
As if Miranda hasn't done enough in 2016, he managed to get Rowling to admit this bit of trivia during a Twitter conversation in which he revealed he still isn't over Dumbledore's death.
As PopSugar points out, it all started when Miranda decided to tweet a thread of the "pop culture events from which I have still not recovered, many years later." This list included Michael Jackson doing the "Smooth Criminal" lean, David Bowie's verse in Queen's "Under Pressure," and Shakira's "La Tortura" video.
Most importantly, though, Manuel shared a specific moment between Harry and Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, tagging Rowling so she would know.
"THIS MOMENT, @jk_rowling," Manuel tweeted. "'I am not worried, Harry,' said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. 'I am with you.'"
The next day, Rowling had something to say about Manuel's tweet. "Cannot tell you what this means (from you)," she wrote, "because this moment is one of my very favourites."
Rowling added that she has always felt Half-Blood Prince is overshadowed by her final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But as Manuel made clear in his response, he stans HBP for one very specific reason.
"HBP is my favorite PRECISELY because of this reprise of Dumbledore's 'You are with me' at the beginning," Manuel tweeted. "You're deadly w a reprise, maestro."
This is clearly a case of it takes one to know one. Also, can we get that stitched on a pillow? Please and thank you.
THIS MOMENT, @jk_rowling: "I am not worried, Harry,"said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water."I am with you."
Cannot tell you what this means (from you), because this moment is one of my very favourites. Always feel HBP gets overshadowed by DH... https://t.co/94cwNSCa2H
HBP is my favorite PRECISELY because of this reprise of Dumbledore's "You are with me" at the beginning. You're deadly w a reprise, maestro. https://t.co/PGC5C6p4Ki
Inevitably, when I start going through my drawers and closet at the beginning of a season, I realize something. I had so many more clothes that I could have been wearing! They were just hiding behind or underneath something (or both).
If I had a closet like Cher in Clueless, this would never be a problem. Unfortunately, an automated dream closet isn't going to happen in my one-bedroom apartment any time soon. What is doable, though, is taking my closet digital so I can see what I wear, what I don't, and outfit combinations I'd never thought of, right in the palm of my hand.
Taking your closet game to the next level doesn't have to be costly or time-consuming. And once you're done, you can figure out what you don't really need so you can sell it online and make some cash.
Closet Track is a simple, but efficient app for cataloging your closet and every purchase you make moving forward. Just add a clothing or accessory category (you can be as general or specific as you'd like) and then snap a photo of each sweater and pair of boots and add them to your inventory.
Photo: App Store.
After you buy something new, keep track of the receipt (you can photograph the paper receipt or screenshot an emailed copy) by filing it into categories by store. That way, if you ever have an issue and need to return an item or file a complaint, you know where your payment details are.
Before you add clothes to your digital closet on Glamoutfit, take the app's style quiz. This will help to create a "style profile" that other users can reference if and when you ask them to help you put together a look.
Photo: Glamoutfit.
When you do go to upload clothes, you can take pictures of each item in your closet or, go the easier route, and import photos from the websites where you bought each item. So, if most of your clothes are from Madewell or Zara, you can just go to those sites and add what you've bought to the app.
Photo: Glamoutfit.
Not sure what to wear as the weather cools down? Press the "Style Me" button to have friends or other app users sort through your closet to assemble an outfit. You can add details about what kind of look you're going for, and whether or not it needs to be work-appropriate.
Closet+ calls itself "the Swiss army knife of style assistants," and it really is just that. The versatile app makes it easy to not only upload all of your clothes, but also to categorize them and sort them into lists. Packing goes much faster when you can plan out different outfits on your phone, and make sure you have everything you need for seven days in Prague.
Photo: Closetapp.com.
You can tag clothes for different categories, making it easier to keep track of what's dirty, what's at the dry cleaner, and the dressiness level of various articles of clothing. This way, you won't forget that your favorite LBD is dirty and needs to get dry cleaned in time for the office holiday party.
Photo: Closetapp.com.
Anyone who lives in a tiny apartment with no closet space to spare knows the importance of switching out your wardrobe from season to season. Clothes for fall and winter, in — clothes for summer, out. Upload your clothes to seasonally labeled closets so you know what to put on your main hangers, and what to store.
ClosetSpace is both an inspirational and organizational tool. Start off by uploading photos of the items in your closet. You can take photos in the app, choose from your photo gallery, or use Facebook photos. After cataloging your clothes with details about style, brand, and color, assemble and save outfits for future occasions.
Within "My Lookbook" you'll find photos from different bloggers. This is the best part of the app, since you can specify styles for different types of weather, temperatures, and occasions. It's much easier to get an off the cuff night-out idea here than it is when you're scrolling through hundreds of pictures on Instagram.
Photo: ClosetSpace.
Schedule your outfits ahead of time so you know when to drop your sheath dress off at the dry cleaner and which days you need gym clothes for. The up-to-date weather feature is also useful for planning beforehand. Although, of course, it's smart to double-check for rainy skies on the day of.
You can also sync this calendar with your Google account, so you know which days you can dress down for work and vice versa.
Photo: ClosetSpace.
In the same way that you can search blogger looks by occasion, you can also tag your outfits for different events. When you're going to a work dinner with your boss you won't be frenzied about what to wear, since you'll have a whole list of pre-assembled options to choose from. Your closet is your oyster.
Pureple is a mauve-hued wardrobe organization app that offers a lot of useful features, including organizing apparel and makeup, building outfits, sharing them, and adding them to a calendar so you know what you're wearing when.
You can add images to your digital wardrobe via a webpage, your phone's camera, or from your photo library (which is what I did). When you add something, you can select a category for it to be added to, such as tops, pants, shoes, or accessories. Items are organized and listed by these categories in the app's main Wardrobe page.
Photo: Courtesy Pureple.
From there, you can scroll upward to add more details about an item. You can choose what sort of occasion it's best for (defaults include night, school, special occasion, or weekend, but you can add your own options, too) and what time of year it's most suited to. You can also add information about the size, brand, and its color. From the Wardrobe screen, you can use this information to sort your clothing. Unseasonably warm day among dreary winter storms? Check out what's buried at the back of your closet by filtering for work appropriate wear for spring.
Photo: Courtesy Pureple.
The color, occasion, and clothing item type can also be used in the app's surprisingly good Suggest Outfit feature. While I uploaded a handful of clothing items I wear all the time, it managed to find some new combinations I'd never even thought of making. You can also create and save your own outfits, and share creations with Pureple's public community, or just your circle of friends.
Overall, Pureple's features and ease of use make it an excellent choice as a closet organizing companion, but I do find its navigation slow and more cumbersome than on a lot of modern apps. Since the app is free, you do get shown occasional ads, but you can remove those by creating an account and making an in-app purchase.
Stuff N Style has a similar premise to Pureple, but with a different style of navigation and intent. Where Pureple immediately organizes your closet items by category, Stuff N Style, at first glance, organizes your virtual closet with less care than your real closet (items are just listed in reverse chronological order of how you added them). The overall app organization is familiar — Instagram-style, with five options along the bottom for getting around the app, and a plus sign in the upper right for adding items to your closet.
Photo: Courtesy Stuff N Style.
When you add an item, you can tag it to what category it belongs to, add the brand name, and what color it is. Also, you can enter hashtags, which you can use for sorting later. When you choose a category such as "Top," it will give you more detailed options you can select such as "tank" or "blouse" (no such option for shoes, though.) The hashtags are a nice touch for searching and organization — I added options such as fun, comfy, sheer, and breezy to various items. Filtering closet items could be buggy, though. Sometimes, once I added a filter, I was unable to clear it, forcing me to close and restart the app.
Photo: Courtesy Stuff N Style.
Stuff N Style lets you build outfits collage-style in the app, which you can then share to its community at large, or slap on the calendar so you know what you're wearing for the coming week. By tapping the Style Me button at the bottom of the screen, you can also request an actual stylist to take a look at your wardrobe.
Snupps helps you catalog and organize anything in your life, whether it's an item in a drawer, things you want to sell on eBay, or a packing list for an upcoming trip. You take pictures of the items you want to add, and then store them in virtual shelves (which you can name and customize). If you want to show off a collection, you can make your shelf public for friends and followers on the app to see, otherwise, you can keep it private.
Photo: Courtesy Snupps.
Where other closet organization type apps focus on apparel and accessories, with Snupps, you can organize anything. In this example, I have a few shelves, including tops and blouses, and one for food items I'm packing for an upcoming trip that I don't want to forget about. I could just as easily categorize the items in my makeup kit, a toolbox, or the storage container I haven't touched in six months in my closet. You can also move things around — I could create a shelf of "What I'm wearing this week" and another for "Clothes that need to be dry cleaned." Also, I could move items between them so I know when it's time to get my clothes laundered.
Photo: Courtesy Snupps.
If you're looking to share your personal style or collections, or check out others, you can head to the Explore tab to browse what people have posted in a variety of categories. I got some serious shoe envy looking through the Women's Shoes section. You can comment on items to share your thoughts, or ask for more information.
Because of the way Snupps is organized, this app is particularly handy if you and friends swap clothes regularly, and you want to keep track. Or if you buy and sell clothes often, and want to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. The app is fast and well-designed, but, as it's not designed for clothes, it lacks the outfit planning features of some other apps.
If you're going to spend $4 on an app, you expect it to be good, and Stylebook delivers. This isn't just closet organization, this is full blown wardrobe management — and then some. Stylebook lets you create a digital version of your closet, build looks from those items, plan and keep track of what you’re wearing in a monthly calendar, and offers a packing list feature so you can plan for upcoming trips. On top of that, Stylebook ties to retailers in-app, so you can buy clothes, add them to your wishlist, or add things that you own to your digital closet. It also has a “Style Stats” section that aggregates data about your wardrobe, from what’s most and least worn, to the breakdown of colors in your closet.
Photo: Courtesy Stylebook.
Like the other apps on our list, you start the experience by uploading clothing to your digital wardrobe. The app advises you to take photos of items laid flat on a solid color surface (like a bed sheet) that is a contrasting color to the item. When you upload, the app then gives you the option to edit out the background so it’s just your shirt (or shoes) sitting on a clean white backdrop — very professional looking. If you’re lazy and just take photos of things on carpet like I did, this editing feature still works pretty well.
The clothing addition process itself is more time consuming than with some of the other apps on this list because the uploading process takes multiple steps.
Photo: Courtesy Stylebook.
The calendar and metrics that Stylebook offers are of tremendous value. If you plan out and log everything you wear, you can get some insight into your habits. The app will tell you what you wore the most that month and what ended up being the best value item in your closet (given that you entered how much that piece cost). It can also tell you how much your entire wardrobe is worth. If you’re looking to make the most of a few expensive staple purchases, this app will help you do it, and assist you in figuring out what’s not worth the space.
Photo: Courtesy Stylebook.
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Earlier this week, Jennifer Lawrence threw away all of the hard work she put into being the low-key, much-liked, not-at-all-controversial celebrity that we’ve come to know. She’s branded herself as a silly and self-depreciating millennial who is not at all fazed by her enormous success. She’s just like us.
But in less than two minutes, J Lawr proved that she’s actually just like her BFF Amy Schumer. Both of them are seemingly oblivious to how they offend other people until the general public calls them out. And then they both release meaningless apologies that settle nothing except the fact that they’re still oblivious.
Twitter was forced to read Lawrence for filth after she shared one of her “self-deprecating” stories on The Graham Norton Show. She admitted that while filming the Hunger Games, she used some sacred rocks, that people aren’t supposed to sit on, to scratch her butt through a wetsuit. Clarifying the significance of the rocks, she off-puttingly mentioned “I dunno, they were ancestors, who knows — they were sacred.” Translation: I didn’t care about the significance of the rocks then, and I still don’t.
Following the public outrage, Lawrence has released a statement on Facebook claiming that she “meant absolutely no disrespect to the Hawaiian people.” And although her comments were “not funny,” she thought the joke was on her.
Translation: I’m sorry if you guys didn’t get the joke. I don’t mean to offend Hawaiian people, but if scratching my butt on your sacred stuff is offensive, I’m actually not sorry.
White privilege allows people like Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer to not only think that their intentions trump everything else, but that their faux pas will make great stories. How could someone possibly be offended that J Lawr rubbed her ass on some sacred rock, when clearly what matters most is that she gets butt itches just like us?
Girl, bye.
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Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life did a pretty fantastic job of bringing back all the men who crossed paths with Rory Gilmore. Nearly all of them, anyway. Logan (Matt Czuchry) played a major role in the Netflix reboot, while Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) and Dean (Jared Padalecki) made small appearances, too.
But dreamy bad-boy Tristan (Chad Michael Murray) — who flirted with Rory and even stole a kiss once — only showed up for all of two seconds. The blip of a scene reassured us that Paris (Liza Weil) still harbors a massive crush on him. But, as fans noticed, that guy sure wasn't Chad Michael Murray. (He was newbie Anton Narinskiy.) So, where the hell was Chad?!
This week, Entertainment Tonight talked to Murray about missing out on the Gilmore Girls revival. "I wish I could've been there but it's all good, life is good," he told ET, adding, "All my buddies got to go back."
So...why wasn't he there? Unconfirmed reports say the 35-year-old actor, who admitted he hasn't seen the show yet, was the one who declined to be a part of the Netflix series. Maybe he was never even asked. Or perhaps he was too busy with the family he couldn't stop gushing about to ET. He and wife Sarah Roemer have a baby boy at home and a little girl on the way. "Officially the luckiest man in the world," he said. "Life is good."
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It's winter. Days are dreary, Vitamin D is in short supply, and SAD is a thing that happens. All this means that it might be time to offer some of the special people in your life a reminder: Layers can be abused. A sweater and a scarf is a cute outfit. Add another sweater, a puffer, a blazer, and a coat, though, and we've got a problem.
Hopefully, like the troubled young women in this sketch, you've got someone in your life who would tell you if your layering obsession had gone too far. There's no shame in admitting you have a layering problem. Even celebs aren't immune to the lure of the multi-scarf look. But with the right cozy coat, there is hope you can someday take off your winter wear in under 10 minutes.
For more So Sketch videos, check out RIOT on YouTube.
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We've got a lot of wonderful seasonal Starbucks beverages here in the United States. I mean, I spend most of the year counting down to the peppermint mocha. But the drinks we have don't even begin to measure up to the treats Starbucks serves up in Hong Kong. This season, Starbucks Hong Kong has been offering drinks that don't just taste like the holidays, but also look as festive as your favorite cozy Christmas sweater.
Starbucks Hong Kong's Santa Hat Latte looks like it came right off of jolly old Saint Nick's head. The dark-chocolate mocha latte (YUM) comes topped with a swirl of strawberry whipped cream, strawberry drizzle, and a puff of plain whipped cream to resemble Santa's hat. The combination of dark chocolate and strawberries is enough to make me not care what it looks like, but the adorableness is a very welcome added bonus.
Photo: Courtesy of @starbuckshk.
For those looking for something a little less sweet but just as cute, Starbucks Hong Kong has the Teavana Christmas Ribbon Latte. It's a green-tea latte with a hint of pomegranate juice. On top, there's a dollop of foamed milk and pomegranate drizzle swirled in a spiral shape. It almost looks like the bands of red and white on a candy cane.
In addition to holiday-inspired beverages, the Hong Kong locations are offering festive food options. There's the Earl Grey chiffon bundt cake, and you can take a whole one home if you order it two days in advance. Perhaps the most precious of the offerings, though, is the chocolate-and-raspberry Reindeer Parfait. This sweet treat has a little red nose and antlers made of chocolate. It might be too cute to eat.
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Finding a good facialist is kind of like finding a good partner: Most of us have to shop around a little before we settle on "the one." And, much like bad relationships, bad facials can leave us with scars, burns, and a deflated sense of self-esteem.
For that reason, personal recommendation is easily the most desired way to book a facial; you want to make sure you’re in trusted, capable hands — you know, the kind that can extract without causing a flinch, that will leave you pink (not beet red!) after a good peel, or give you the glow you want all year round.
Ahead, a few of our favorite beauty-obsessed New Yorkers share who they trust with their flawless visages. Have your own no-longer-secret recommendation? Tell us in the comments!
Natura Bissē
This novel treatment-inside-a-bubble concept for both face and body is all about pure air. Jump inside this isolated space free of polluting particles, viral, bacterial, and allergen agents for the Natura Bissē Bubble Pure air Diamond Experience Facial. Why? To treat your lungs and your skin to quality air and promote maximized efficacy of the tailored skin-care treatment with the brand's Diamond Extreme line (or whatever your skin needs). Think: Bubble Boy, but a hell of a lot more glamorous.
If you're trying this out for the first time, here's a taste of what might go down: a hydrating cleanse, a customized treatment from your aesthetician, rejuvenating eye treatment, perfecting mask and exfoliating massage, and a color-adapt treatment (a CC cream to leave you protected and even).
Natura Bissē, 660 Madison Ave (Barney's New York, Penthouse, 7th floor); (212) 826-8900.
Haven Spa
If you're looking for a variety of facials, look no further than Haven Spa in NoHo. This pretty spot boasts a long list of creative treatments for your face and body with a bevy of add-ons — including a vitamin C infusion mask that boosts skin's radiance.
But don't stop at your face. One of our editors went to Haven for their Peach Smoothie treatment — which is basically a facial for your vulva. Hey, don't knock it 'til you try it.
Haven Spa, 250 Mercer Street (at East 4th St); 212-343-3515
Photo: Courtesy of Haven Spa.
Sadick Dermatology
For celebrity makeup artist Beau Nelson, good skin is an integral part of the job. After all, it’s what his A-list clients (like Kristen Stewart and Nicole Richie) are inspecting while he’s getting up close and personal with them in the chair.
Nelson regularly visits Luzinete at Sadick Dermatology on the Upper East Side. “I get the deep-cleansing facial and the AHA treatment,” he says. “Luzinete is gentle and efficient, and the service leaves my skin clean and glowing for weeks,” which is crucial, considering he’s constantly hopping between coasts for work.
“She also introduced me to [topical gel] Epiduo," he adds, "which I use once or twice a week to keep my skin totally clear.”
Sadick Dermatology, 911 Park Avenue (at East 80th Street); 212-772-7242.
Photo: Courtesy of Sadick Dermatology.
Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa
Makeup artist Brigitte Reiss-Andersen works with some of the most legendary fashion photographers of our time. So, it’s no surprise that all of the images she’s helped create have one common thread: perfect, luminous skin.
The artist herself has an immaculate complexion sans foundation, due in part to her diligent facial routine…but also thanks to where she gets her facials done.
“I love Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa at The Plaza Hotel in New York City,” she says. “I get a facial there called Vinosculpt 50, which involves a low-electric-current massage to give the face a visible lift. It really works!”
While there, she also picks up the brand’s Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream: “It’s wonderfully smooth, not greasy or oily, and it has an illuminating quality.”
Felicia Walker Benson is the editor-in-chief behind ThisThatBeauty, as well as Bergdorf Goodman's genius social-media editor. It is therefore her job to be in-the-know about where exactly to go and what exactly to get done.
“I’m currently defying all signs of aging with Red Door Spa ’s signature Advanced Brightening Facial," she says. "Rachel, at their Garden City location, is my ‘glow-to’ girl. With just one session, my skin is visibly brighter and infinitely more radiant. Like, angels actually appear afterwards! It’s packed with loads of vitamins and antioxidants, so it’s awesome for targeting hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tones.”
Makeup legend Rose-Marie Swift, founder of cult brand RMS Beauty, is known for being very particular about what she puts on her face. (Hence, the reason her line is filled with delicious ingredients like coconut and jojoba oils, rosemary extract, and beeswax.) So, whoever is touching her face on a regular basis must be up to her high standards.
“I see Ildi Pekar for her Refine Facial and Creative Fitness Sessions for body,” Swift says. “She also has a brand-new organic skincare line that she’s been working on for years that she uses during her procedures. She’s also the only one in New York with a new fitness machine that uses electrical pulses.”
Vargas may have a slew of clients across the country (like Hollywood leading ladies Julianne Moore and Naomi Watts), but she's garnered a cult-like following from New York celebs like super-stylist Kate Young and fitness guru Taryn Toomey. “I go to see Joanna as often as I can," Young says. "I totally relax when I'm with her, and it makes an incredible difference in my skin. People really notice — it’s totally effective.”
“Joanna has a gift,” Toomey adds. “She non-invasively lifts and revives layers of your face you didn’t know you had lost.”
Her signature treatment, the Triple Crown Facial, rings in at $400 for an hour. It’s a micro-current facial, segmented into three steps, that literally enhances the contours of your face, draining puffiness and enhancing elasticity.
British aesthetician Georgia Louise is an East Coast favorite among beauty insiders (Gucci Westman is a client) and actresses (Emma Stone, Jennifer Aniston, and Linda Evangelista are reportedly clients, too) alike.
We understand why: Her signature Lift and Sculpt facial helps to do just that, and all of her treatments are geared toward naturally lifting cheekbones and brows, de-puffing and brightening the face, and softening fine lines and wrinkles through deep-tissue massage, micro-current treatments, and more.
Georgia Louise, 114 East 71st Street (near Park Avenue), #1E; 212-472-1400.
Photo: Courtesy of Georgia Louise.
Heyday
If you're looking to take the hassle and expense out of choosing, booking, and committing to a two-hour monthly facial, Heyday is your godsend.
The menu offers up three facial options (one 30-minutes, one 50, and the other 75), to help avoid the anxiety that comes with picking from a never-ending treatment list, one can only assume.
In need of a major beauty indulgence? One that Marilyn Monroe swore by? Then stop by Erno Laszlo, a gorgeous spa that offers custom facials for each client's specific skin needs. Each appointment begins with a skin analysis, followed by the Erno Laszlo double cleansing system, anti-aging facial massage, and collagen-boosting serum application, before diving in to the personalized treatment.
Sally Hansen global color ambassador Madeline Poole is one of the coolest girls in the beauty biz. And, considering she’s worked with just about every beauty editor, stylist, makeup artist, and hair guru in New York City, it comes as no surprise that her facialist is the kind of cult favorite you only hear about through word of mouth.
“I go to Shamara Bondaroff,” Poole says. “Everything is as natural as it can be, her creams smell amazing, and she uses rosewater and homemade tinctures. Her facials are so relaxing, I can fall asleep.”
In Bondaroff’s bed, Poole gets microcurrent facials, “a non-invasive rejuvenation of the muscles in the face. I’m not sure if I’m unlucky or if it’s because I squint all day looking at tiny fingernails, but I’ve developed some premature wrinkles. This is the best and most holistic way to soften the tension.”
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But that hasn't stopped any of those bogus stories from spreading on social media.
Twitter and Facebook have been infected this year with fake news that's being shared and reshared by hundreds of thousands of people. The risk of exposure is real: More than 40% of U.S. adults receive news on Facebook, according to a report from the Pew Research Center and the Knight Foundation. Stanford University researchers also found that 4 in 10 high school students were convinced that toxic conditions near a nuclear plant in Japan caused deformed flowers — even though the photo that claimed as much and circulated on social media provided no source or evidence of the location.
Some have even claimed the fake news scourge tipped the election to President-elect Donald Trump. We may never be able to determine the true extent of the damage it caused, but we do know that it isn’t going away anytime soon. Facebook removed human editors from its trending news section, allowing its algorithm to decide what stories appear in the area. Three days later, fake news showed up in the section.
So, in an effort to combat the plague, Refinery29 has put together a list of tips to help you determine whether a story is true or phony. Because we know you don’t want to be caught sharing lies.
Put the name of the website through a search engine
Fake news is everywhere, but real news outlets are on the job and have flagged numerous phony sites in the process. For instance, The Denver Post published an article dismissing its fake doppelgänger. With a simple search, you may uncover reputable outlets dismissing fake news stories as well as false news outlets.
Sometimes, you can tell if the website is fake by simply looking at its URL — even if it looks, at first glance, like it’s a name you recognize. “Does it end in '.com.co' instead of '.com'? Then it's like a fake website trying to look like the real thing,” Melissa Zimdars, an associate professor of communication and media at Merrimack College in Massachusetts, told Refinery29. “Does the site include the words 'wordpress' or 'blogger'? Then it's likely not a website with editorial oversight or a fact-checking process.”
If you’re looking for a list of red flags, Zimdars has created a public Google doc listing many news sites that distribute fake news.
Illustrated by Isabel Castillo.
Look at the sourcing in the article
Fake news articles can have attractive headlines and attention-grabbing photos, but at some point, the shoddiness of the “reporting” usually reveals itself to the discerning eye. One obvious “tell” is the sourcing (i.e., who is telling the news outlet the information being reported). For instance, this article about a man who claims he was paid $3,500 to protest a Trump rally quotes someone named Paul Horner. If you search that name, you will discover that Paul Horner is a well-known fake news writer.
Also watch for the phrase "sources say," or links to other phony-looking websites. While many legitimate news outlets will also quote anonymous sources, an article that relies only on unnamed sources should raise red flags.
Another thing fake news writers do is use screenshots of fake social media posts. It is very easy to create a fake tweet or Facebook post that looks like it was made by President Barack Obama or even the pope, so be sure to track down and verify that each one exists outside of the article before you believe it.
Illustrated by Isabel Castillo.
Don't just read the headline
It sounds like a no-brainer, but a study published earlier this year suggests most people share stories without ever clicking them (let alone actually reading to the end). Computer scientists at Columbia University and the French National Institute tracked stories from the BBC, CNN, Fox News, The Huffington Post, and The New York Times that were shared on Twitter over the course of a month. They found that 59% of URLs mentioned on the social network during the period were never clicked. Fake news grows with absent-minded sharing, which is why you should read something before clicking "Share."
“Some headlines over-promise and under-deliver and are crafted to evoke a strong emotion to get you to share,” Carla Zanoni, executive emerging media editor at The Wall Street Journal, told Refinery29. “People often form an opinion based only on a headline instead of reading the information offered in an article. This is especially true if reading it might challenge their own ideas. And when the information is erroneous and likely only supports your personal biases, it only serves to damage your credibility and spread false information.”
Illustrated by Isabel Castillo.
See if other outlets are reporting the claim
One way to quickly figure out if an article is legitimate is by seeing if other news outlets are reporting the same thing. This can be tricky as many fake news sites link to each other to legitimize their reporting, so it's best to stick to outlets with trusted track records.
It's also important to actually read stories from reputable outlets to see where their information is coming from. You might think that two different newspapers or websites have reported on the same story. But this is not always the case. Both publications may have been using the same source, and a single-source story is generally considered weak reporting.
Illustrated by Isabel Castillo.
Search the author of the content
A great way to tell if a story is bogus or legit is to search for an author’s byline. For instance, this story published by a crappy-looking ABC News knockoff (if you look closely, you can see the original URL was "abcnews.com.co" rather than the real site's address: "abcnews.go.com") claims Obama signed an executive order for an investigation into the election results, with a re-vote planned for December 19. Who penned that story? A writer named Jimmy Rustling, who, according to his bio, has “made this multiverse a better place for every man, woman and child ever known to exist.” (Hmm…that doesn’t set off alarm bells.) When he is not writing, Rustling “enjoys being an amazing husband to his beautiful, soulmate; Anastasia, a Russian mail order bride of almost 2 months.”
Illustrated by Isabel Castillo.
Subscribe to real news outlets
The best way to drown out fake headlines? Share — and support — real ones. Have a friend or relative who is always posting bogus stories? Send them links to sources that correct the record with the actual facts. Encourage your friends and social networks to read up on content by credible outlets by sharing them in your feeds.
And if you can, help support actual journalism and reporting financially. You could subscribe to your local newspaper or support any number of nonprofits dedicated to digging into stories that matter. Monthly "memberships" to some nonprofit news sources can cost as little as a Starbucks latte.
Empowering legitimate news outlets is increasingly important as the market for false news is strengthening. Fake news writers have admitted that writing phony stories can be extremely lucrative. Their content also attracts advertisers, which may value an article's traffic over its veracity. Digiday reported that at one point, native ad company Taboola displayed USAToday.com and fake news site USATodaycom.com. Unless we empower legitimate news sites today, there will be more fake news floating around — and flooding out feeds — in the future.
Illustrated by Isabel Castillo.
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