Lindsay Lohan spends more time in Dubai (she moved there and loves it) these days than she does in tabloids, but that doesn't mean she isn't just as entertaining to follow now as she was back in the Britney & Paris clubbing days. Girl's got her shit together and is working on some very interesting projects, like offering Donald Trump legal advice as the spokesperson for Lawyer.com, designing her own island, and developing a beauty line. But just because Lohan is busy devising an epic comeback doesn't mean she neglects family time. Case in point: She recently went to a tattoo shop with her siblings in New York.
Celebrity siblings love getting tattoos together, so it only made sense for Lindsay, her sister Aliana, and her brother Dakota, to do that when she came back to visit them in Manhattan. And who better to go to for ink than the most in-demand celeb artist in town, JonBoy, who's known for tattooing Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin, and Kendall Jenner.
Photo Via @dakotalohan.
But this wasn't quite your typical tattoo session. As revealed on Instagram, Lindsay didn't get anything done; instead, she gave a tattoo... to JonBoy. Dakota made sure to share on his Story a photo of "Linds tattooing JonBoy" while wearing the artist's signature Gucci apron. Aliana, on the other hand, did get a tattoo — although we don't know of what and JonBoy keeps mum to protect clients' privacy — on the back of her neck.
Could Lindsay be adding tattoo artist to her resume? Probably not, but honestly, at this point, anything's possible. And hey, if she does decide to offer up her services to the public one day, we'll be first in line to get a little Burn Book inked on our arm by the Mean Girls star.
Though cross necklaces have been around since the Roman Empire was Christianized, recently, crucifixes have become popular tropes among jewelers like New Top Jewelry and Instagram-popular brands like Bagatiba and Vanessa Mooney for fashion's sake.
Obviously, anyone who's danced to Madonna or Billy Idol knows that the "fashion cross" isn't a new phenomenon. In fact, it's long been used to criticize conformity and chastity, which critics identify as two hallmarks of the Christian faith. But in 2018, there are far fewer people wearing the cross as a subversive act, and many more wearing it as a purely aesthetic one. Perhaps it's because, in today's climate, we're holding each other to a much stricter standard when it comes to wearing sacred symbols out of context.
With the upcoming Met Gala touching on the intersection of Catholicism and fashion, some are wondering whether coopting religious symbols for purely style-related reasons is fair game. Ahead of the event, I asked a few people who buy and make the pieces to share their thoughts — and across both designers and everyday Instagram followers of mine, there's no definitive answer on what's right or wrong when it comes to religious jewelry.
Because for every practicing Catholic or Christian who wears the symbol religiously (take blogger Sami Weaver, for example, who sometimes shares her religious views on Instagram stories and has also worn vintage cross pieces on her page), there are those who are religious and choose not to — whether it's because they're no longer practicing regularly or feel there are other ways to express their faith than through clothing or accessories. Then there are those who don't wear it for fear of offending someone, those who wear it to offend and comment on Christianity.
Read ahead for their thoughts.
"I’m not religious, but I do believe in a higher power. Four out of five of my best sellers on bagatiba.com are religion-related. A few years ago I decided to give people the option to shop 'Religion.' I gave Kendall Jenner our best-selling piece, the D2C Necklace I designed four years ago, and the trend took off immediately, in my opinion. I think 80% of my customers buy religious pieces for fashion purposes. I don’t think they understand what the crosses and charms mean, but that’s not my place to judge. They see girls like Kendall and Bella in them and think of it as a trend, rather than a lifestyle." — Jessie Andrews, Founder & CEO, Bagatiba
"We believe this trend is about personal expression. Jewelry is an essential part of expressing personal style, and unique style is closely tied to personal beliefs. We sell cross jewelry for this reason — to allow our customer to express themselves in the most authentic way possible. We find that our consumers are intentional. Wearing socially and environmentally responsible accessories is becoming more and more important to today’s informed consumer. Since Moissanite is both beautiful and conscientious, many of our customers are making personal statements by wearing our jewelry, and Moissanite crosses are no different." — Sarah O’Dea, Director of Marketing + Communications, Charles & Colvard
"Jewelry, to me, is simply expression. I come from a Christian Orthodox family from Lebanon and Syria. Naturally, the cross symbolizes what generations of my family has believed in. It’s a symbol of love and hope for my family and I. As a child, rather than getting toys for holidays, it was tradition for my family to give us pieces of jewelry. Only did I realize as I got older how much those pieces mean to me.
"Growing up, I worked with my father in the Diamond District in New York City. Seeing the cross in silver and gold has always been a constant in my jewelry box and my life. The trend may be here right now, but it personally doesn’t represent itself as a trend for me.
"I am religious in my own way. I believe everyone is entitled to their own spiritual journey and beliefs. I do believe there is a greater place my deceased loved ones live. I believe in angels, luckily I have a few.
"I took a trip to the Vatican last year. I have never seen so many rosary-style and religious jewelry in my life. The shops had them hanging all over the walls, different colors and materials. Although it was inspirational, it made me come to the fact that jewelry can hold such a powerful meaning to the beholder. I realized, whether it is religious jewelry piece or not, it is a moment in time, a sentimental feeling, a connection that can last a lifetime." — Kelly Shami Creative Director, CEO, Shami
"When I had [my brand] Lyell the first time around, it was a running joke that in every insane situation that comes with a clothing line business, I would say 'have faith.' Around the same time, I worked with a photographer who had it tattooed on his arm, and I also took it as a sign, — and to heart. It is something I do live by even though it's hard to maintain all the time...just mentally.
"I am not Catholic, but I love the cross. I love how it looks on the wall and on the body. I have always had a little vintage one I planned to give my daughter. I plan for Lyell to do different things with them: earrings, colors, and beyond." — Emma Fletcher, Founder and Designer, Lyell
"Symbols are tricky things, because context dictates so much of their meaning. And while we sell a fair amount of religiously symbolic pieces to people purchasing them with their faith in mind, I love that we also have customers that find and appreciate beauty in objects that are outside of their beliefs. We need to cross more borders, and if wearing pretty things is a path to that, I'm all for it." — Jade Gedeom, Founder, We Dream in Colour
"The Amber Sceats girl loves a trend. Aligning to our signature gold hardware, we sourced the finest craftsmen of Italy and France to develop and perfect our new season cross necklaces. Religious symbols including the cross are a beautiful way to reflect the diverse beliefs of the world, and appreciate history and art." — Amber Sceats
"I'm not Catholic, but I have a lot of cross jewelry and am generally obsessed with all things crosses. I justify it because I went to Catholic school. Sometimes I wear rosaries because it's slightly subversive and edgy, but mostly just because I love the look. No spiritual meaning for me." — @alixtunell
"I never have [worn cross jewelry] and never will because I am not religious, and I respect that any motif that is associated with a religion should be just that. Respected." — @__duh__
"I only feel comfortable wearing jewelry with religious symbols if it's something in my faith. Otherwise, I don't feel comfortable. I see plenty of people wearing Om signs because it can symbolize more than just religion, but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a cross." — @adeetsdesai
"There is a fine line between appropriation and appreciation, but generally, if someone has an understanding of the significance of the spiritual symbol they're using or wearing, I think that falls under appreciation, and that is okay by me." — @happy_tunes
"I used to wear cross jewelry since I grew up Catholic, but since I'm not very religious anymore (I've stopped going to church), I've stopped. I feel like people just wear it because it's a fashion trend (Bagatiba is having a moment with its pieces), and I don't know, it feels kind of wrong to wear those symbols if you aren't religious or spiritual. It's surprising that people wear necklaces with Saints that they know nothing about. I swear I'm not super-conservative. Maybe it's just Catholic guilt..." — @brazinda
"I recently started to wear two of my grandma's vintage cross necklaces. Sometimes I layer them with other pieces. I am Christian, so it does have a cultural and spiritual significance to me. Also, in the workplace where it can be taboo to talk about religion, it's an open door or conversation starter for anyone who wants to talk about faith." — @raeganrenee
"While I do like the way crosses look in jewelry, I never buy or wear religiously symbolic jewelry. I don't follow an organized religion, so it feels wrong to represent something I don't personally believe, regardless of whether I love the jewelry piece. I believe in the power of the universe, but not in what we think of God to be." — @steph_abe
"I don't wear religious jewelry, and I find it pointless to do so. If you really believe in the religion aspect of it, your life should tell people — not a piece of jewelry or a tattoo. It seems like a cop out. I also think too many people wear it as an accessory without knowing what the symbols really mean. It's kind of offensive to see strong symbols being taken so lightly." — @lennygrams
"I have an amazing cross necklace I love wearing that was my mother's. I was raised Catholic and have quite the collection of cross necklaces, but I don't necessarily wear them as a religious symbol now. I love how they look layered with other gold necklaces, and see the ones I wear now as an ode to Carmela Soprano who always wore one (she's an underrated style icon, to be honest)." — @colourwars
In our seriesMy Salary Story, women with years of career experience open up about the most intimate details of their jobs: compensation. It’s an honest look at how real people navigate the complicated world of negotiating, raises, promotions, and job loss, with the hope it will give young women more insight into how to advocate for themselves — and maybe take a few risks along the way. Interested in contributing your salary story?Email us here.
Previously, we talked to a 30-year-old unionized attorney in Brooklyn, NY who has been working since she was a teenager. Today, we connect with a senior manager in tech who weathered Wall Street layoffs.
Age: 33 Current Location: New York City Current Industry: Technology (Business Development & Marketing) Title: Senior Manager Current Annual Salary: $110,000 Number of yearsemployed: 11 Starting Annual Salary: $40,000 Biggest Salary Jump: $13,610 (base) increase moving from a manager to senior manager Biggest Salary Drop: 5%. "This was during the recession in 2009. My employer chose to reduce salaries across the board based on income, rather than pursue major layoffs. This was for a one-year period and then salaries were brought back to the original wage." Biggest Negotiation Regret: "There was very limited room to negotiate my first salary out of college during the recession. However, years later when I was promoted to manager, I still had not mastered my negotiation skills and did not negotiate pay. I was intimidated by the process and like many, feared that if I negotiated, the offer would be rescinded. I estimate that I left $5,000-$10,000 on the table by not negotiating. So, although I think I am underpaid by $10,000-$15,000, some of it is self-inflicted." Best Salary-Related Advice: "Know your worth by researching the industry average for your role and evaluating the percentile where your current salary fits. Also, position yourself to be promotable. Go beyond the basics of your role, document your achievements, and pursue advance certifications and training in order to learn new skills. Lastly, be flexible: Compensation is not limited to just your base salary. You can also negotiate your bonus structure, personal time off, benefits, and more."
"My first job out of school was as a communications coordinator at a major financial services institution. I did not negotiate. I was so excited to have a job and to work for such a prestigious company.
"I started as a consultant with no benefits and the goal was to transition to a full-time employee after one year. However, the recession hit, and there were major layoffs within the company. I lasted through October of 2008, which was quite impressive considering the number of layoffs taking place on Wall Street that year."
"The last 30 days at my communications coordinator job were primarily spent job-hunting and interviewing. Two weeks after my last day, I received a job offer through a recruiter to be a training specialist for a major technology company. I felt proud to have secured a position so soon.
"As an added bonus, this job included a higher salary and full benefits — 401(k) matching after one year, paid time off, and medical, vision, and dental insurance. I did not negotiate my salary for this position because again, I was so happy to have found a job during the recession, and finally have health benefits and paid time off.
"There was an opportunity for me to negotiate, however. The HR contact asked me if the salary was okay; I think it was her way of giving me an opportunity to ask for more. I did not take the opening, and I’m not exactly sure why. I guess it’s because in addition to being grateful, I was not comfortable having a conversation about money back then."
"There was an internal opening for another position within my division. I spoke with the director of that line of business at a social event, and she asked me if I was interested in the job. Toward the end of the process, I tried to negotiate for more pay this time around but because I was so underpaid, it was difficult to get where I wanted to be. Now that I'm a manager, I recognize there are usually percentage limits that must be adhered to for promotions.
"The director, who eventually became my internal sponsor, came up with a plan to bring me on in a junior role and promote me within a year so that I could maximize my earning potential. Though I was qualified for a higher analyst title, I agreed to the strategy — and I am happy I did!
"No one had looked out for me this way before, and I was incredibly appreciative of her support. Today, I pay it forward with other hardworking professionals."
"My director kept her promise and promoted me to an analyst role. I took on more complex projects within the team, making this a period of extreme learning and growth for me. I averaged 12-to-14-hour days and helped the company to secure impressive multi-million dollar accounts. In hindsight, I was definitely underpaid for my performance."
"My team's management changed twice due to a reorganization. My first new manager promoted me to senior analyst and the second manager implemented my bonus structure: $4,000 annually, paid out each quarter."
"An internal mentor recommended that I apply for this position, and it was the first role I had to 'fight' for internally. I was hesitant at first because I didn't have any managerial experience, and I was a little afraid of the unknown. However, I decided to pursue this opportunity as a new challenge and leveraged all of my internal knowledge.
"I secured the position at a much lower salary than I wanted to because my manager at the time used my lack of managerial experience against me. This was a major lesson learned for me: If you're good enough to do the job and take on the responsibilities of the role, you should be paid fairly for that role.
"This job came with a bonus structure of $13,000, paid out quarterly each year."
"I received a merit increase to my base salary in 2015, bumping me up to $80,400. In the first half of 2016, I received another merit increase to my base salary, moving me to $83,202."
"In August 2016, I negotiated a base salary increase to $91,800 by researching industry compensation trends and presenting all of my achievements to the division head. I also received back payment up to the spring."
"In 2017, I received a merit increase to my base salary, bumping me up to $96,390. I was later promoted to senior manager and am responsible for multiples lines of business. This is an opportunity for me to learn a different management style and find new ways to add value, streamline processes, and assist with the strategy elements. I will also receive quarterly and annual bonuses based on company performance — approximately $26,000."
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Update: May 4, 2018: Hopes of a Vine reboot were dashed today, when co-founder Dom Hofmann took to Twitter to announce "postponing the V2 project for an indefinite amount of time." Hofmann, who teased a second take on the original viral video sensation in December, cites financial and legal fees as the cause for the postponement. He says he's also working on another early-stage company that requires funding and time.
Hofmann encourages users to try other Vine-like apps — Oevo, for example, lets you create seven-second videos — and says any future updates about V2 can be found on its Twitter account.
This article was originally published on December 6, 2017.
It's been said many times, many ways, but it bears repeating: 2017 was a wild year. Through the good and the bad, we've learned a lot about who we are as a society and as individuals. Some, like Taylor Swift, have launched total rebrands. And it's not just people pressing restart.
On Wednesday, Vice's Motherboard reported that Vine co-founder Dom Hofmann announced that he was pulling a Swift and bringing his beloved social media platform back from the dead as "V2."
Last week, Hofmann teased the announcement by tweeting that he was "going to work on a follow-up to vine" that would be self-funded "as an outside project, so it doesn't interfere with the (quite exciting) work we're doing at the company."
DISCLAIMER: We are no longer connected with @Twitter. We are a separate company.
So far, Hofmann hasn't released any substantial information about what users and viewers can expect, although the Vine Beta Twitter account confirmed the format will accommodate six-second clips and may have a live feature. The account has also shared beta codes with some followers, allowing access to all of the "new upgraded features."
Still have more VIP #Beta Codes available. If you weren't fast enough, Retweet this tweet for a chance. We want everyone to try out the new upgraded features available in Vine 2. #Vine2
Twitter users don't seem to mind the deficiency of details at all. Right now, they're just thrilled that the upcoming year will be contain a little more levity and, for some, a shot at finally becoming a Vine star.
Guys imagine the possibilities of Vine 2. Did Kyle step the fuck up? Can Raven swim? Did Jared ever learn how to read? IS MISS KEISHA STILL DEAD? https://t.co/Xnagu0cqgL
Who knew the next time we'd see a Titanic-style cruise liner — post-'90s — it'd be at Chanel's resort 2019 show? Creative director Karl Lagerfeld really outdid himself this season when he built a marina inside the Grand Palais to show his latest for the French maison. So far, we've seen a rocket ship, a sea of icebergs, an Eiffel Tower replica, a supermarket, a carousel, a waterfall, and more play centerpiece to Chanel's elaborate fashion shows. But a life-sized cruise ship (né La Pausa) docked in the middle of Paris takes the cake. Er, croissant.
Though the show's set design was less inspired by the James Cameron flick than it was Coco Chanel's villa in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, the collection itself carried just as much oomph as the vessel you're seeing not sailing the Atlantic but all over Instagram. Chanel staples were in full swing: pearl necklaces, tweed suiting in all of its changing silhouettes, statement accessories with a twist, and, of course, the Hadid sisters. But there were some new elements and faces to see, too, like the micro-midriff, the brand's more demure version of baring navel, French navy hats replete with signature red pom-poms, distressed denim, and, oh, Adut Akech, the latest South Sudan newcomer who opened the show and its finale.
As most of Lagerfeld's homages to Coco go, he doesn't mince details when it comes to reviving and revamping key elements of her personal style and legacy. He's designed nautical-themed collections before, after all — see: the pre-fall 2018 collection in his native Hamburg from not too long ago — but none quite as detailed as Thursday's show. There's a lot to take in, but be sure to zoom in on the more literal details to catch things like lunchbox-style handbags and miniature lifesaver necklaces. All aboard! Next stop: an iceberg. (Too soon?)
It’s not just the fashion world that’s engaged in an ongoing love affair with the '70s. Take a look around beloved stores like CB2 and IKEA and you’ll find plenty of home goods inspired by the decadent decade. But while egg chairs and mod wallpaper are tempting, we’d argue that the easiest way to integrate the trend into your home is by investing in a disco ball. That’s right, the accessory once reserved for nightclubs and dance floors can make a stylish addition to your bedroom, kitchen, living area, or even home office.
It may sound a bit kitschy, but before you dismiss the disco ball, consider the fact that everyone from Bravo host Andy Cohen to writer Brooke Metcalfe has found a way to incorporate one into their homes. It’s all about styling it in a manner that’s understated — yes, it’s possible — unique, and the opposite of gimmicky. Check out these tips culled from in-the-know interior designers and get ready to bestow upon your apartment a dash of Studio 54 glamour.
Interior designer Ashley Morgan of the Los Angeles-based firm Abstract Mind Interiors cautions that with a statement piece like this, picking the right location and styling it accordingly is crucial. “For me, it’s different if you’re doing it in a living room as opposed to a bedroom,” she tells Refinery29. “Because if it’s gonna be in a bedroom, that’s supposed to be kind of a calming, refueling, relaxing space, so it can be the statement piece of the room and then you work around it.”
If you’re doing it in a living room or similarly public space, she suggests subtly leaning into the ultra-glam vibe with complementary accessories — consider mirrored coasters or throw pillows with a metallic sheen. She also suggests considering the home office as a potential site. After all, why shouldn’t your workspace shine just as bright as the stuff you create in it?
Amber Interiors
Consider the natural light.
"At this client's home, the skylight hitting the ball made it actually light up — having the disco ball light up naturally is a plus! The client dubbed it her ‘happy hour,’” San Francisco-based interior designer Alison DaMonte tells Refinery29. Putting your disco ball near a window where it will pick up sunlight ensures it will live up to all of its mood-lifting, room-expanding potential.
Bruce DaMonte
Leave it on the floor.
If you have especially high ceilings or just really hate hanging things, fear not. DaMonte also suggests leaving the ball on the floor or tucking it into an unexpected corner. "In general, using them in a strange place (a fireplace, a deep shelf) makes it more unexpected than just hanging it,” she notes. This is also a sure-fire way to ensure it looks more "cool, shiny sculpture’" than "leftover theme party decoration."
Bruce DaMonte
Go green.
Another creative option Morgan presents is to transform your disco ball into a planter. That’s right, a hollowed-out disco ball makes for an exceedingly glamorous place to store plants — be they real, fake, or a very real-looking fakes. The contrast between the wholesome earthiness of a plant and the over-the-top glitz of a disco ball is simply unbeatable. If you’re not the crafty type, fear not: You can buy one on Etsy for just $45.
Etsy/DiscoBallPlantHangers
Opt for a (slightly) less extra approach.
If you’re still on the fence about investing in something so flashy, consider Tom Dixon’s beloved Mirror Ball. It has all the shine of a traditional disco ball but because it’s one large mirror instead of hundreds of small ones, it feels more refined and sophisticated. Plus, it’s also a lamp, so it’s got practical functionality in addition to aesthetic appeal.
Tom Dixon
Shop vintage.
While you can easily purchase a new disco ball at places like Pottery Barn and Amazon, DaMonte suggests buying a vintage one, if possible, as it’s likely to be weightier, better quality, and made of wood as opposed to plastic. If you’re able to splurge, check out this one from Chairish; if you’re pinching your pennies, try Etsy or eBay.
Amber Interiors
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Ganni. Staud. Rixo. Wandler. These are all names you either know from Instagram, or will very soon. Because if you follow any amount of fashion-related accounts on the platform, you've likely noticed that these labels — with their photogenic shoes, structured bags, stand-out prints, and vintage-inspired wares — have been popping up repeatedly at fashion week and beyond.
If you really want to stay ahead of the curve, you need to keep a pulse on these labels. In an effort to continue to champion a new wave of contemporary designers, Net-A-Porter just revealed a collective of 11 fresh, exclusive capsule collections from these of-the-moment names. Called the Contemporary Collective, the offering is right in line with the trend we've been noticing in the industry; young brands taking Instagram by storm and reshaping what it means to be a designer today.
"The Contemporary Collective includes some of the key brands that are at the forefront of the buy now, wear now shift we are seeing in the industry," Net-A-Porter's retail fashion director, Lisa Aiken, tells Refinery29. "The capsules came at an ideal time for Net-A-Porter customers, because unlike most spring collections that drop in February or March, these are items are for customers who are ready to shop for what their wardrobes needs."
Click on to dive head-first into the hottest indie brands of the moment. Just be ready to spend a pretty penny (pieces range from about $100 to $1,000), and expect these pieces to sell out quick (though it makes sense, they're GOOD).
It's no secret that American millennials love beauty traditions from other, faraway cultures (just look at the recent rise of Japanese beauty here), but perhaps even more, they love horoscopes. If you're in a room full of twenty-somethings and no one asks your sign, well, your friends are probably all practical Virgos.
Now, K-beauty brand Innisfree, which played a large role in introducing us to double-cleansing and serum-infused CC cream, has taken advantage of those two things and launched a new iteration of its loose setting powder: the Birthstone Matte Mineral Powder Collection.
The translucent formula is the same as the original — perfect for setting makeup or controlling shine on a bare face; it's the birthstone packaging that's going to make it an Instagram success story. (Oh, that's the other thing — us millennials love personalization.)
The Birthstone collection is available now on the brand's site, but if you're hoping to pick one up for your BFF's birthday or collect all 12, we suggest acting fast — these are limited-edition. Click through the slides ahead to shop your stone.
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In the latest attack against a woman’s right to choose, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law the most restrictive abortion ban in the U.S.
Earlier this week, the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature passed a so-called “heartbeat bill ” banning abortion at around six weeks of gestation, when most women don’t even know they’re pregnant. Reproductive justice advocates say the legislation, which only provides few exceptions, would effectively make abortion illegal in the state.
Reynolds, an anti-abortion lawmaker, signed the bill on Friday. Though banning abortion at (and beyond) six weeks is popular among anti-choice lawmakers, passing this type of legislation is not that easy. For example, a similar effort in Ohio failed in 2016 when Republican Gov. John Kasich vetoed the state's "heartbeat bill."
“This is a sad day for women and families in Iowa—their legislature and governor has thrown away their ability to plan their families and their futures. Banning abortion before most women even know they’re pregnant, this law will undoubtedly be challenged by the courts like other unconstitutional abortion bans before it," NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue said in a statement provided to Refinery29.
She added: "This law is not just about the women and families of Iowa, it’s about all Americans having the right to decide if, when, and how to have a family. This should be deeply concerning to anyone who believes women should be allowed to make decisions about their bodies and control their destinies, and we now look to the courts to defend our essential human rights."
The new law has an exception for survivors of rape or incest, but it comes with a few caveats. In order to be allowed to undergo the procedure, the pregnant person would have to report the rape to the authorities or a physician within 45 days of the “incident." Those who find themselves pregnant because of incest would have a period of 140 days to report the situation in order to be allowed an abortion.
Iowa’s new ban is just one of many new abortion restrictions that have been pushed forward in recent months. Mississippi recently banned abortion at 15 weeks, though a federal judge blocked the law. In Ohio, anti-choice lawmakers introduced a total ban on abortion and proposed to charge with murder — a crime punishable by the death penalty in the state — both physicians who provide abortion care and women who undergo the procedure.
The law is likely to be challenged in court. Pro-choice advocates say it is unconstitutional, since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a woman's right to choose an abortion before viability in 1992. (Most researchers have said a fetus is not considered viable before 20 weeks of pregnancy.) Since that ruling, banning abortion before the 20-week mark has been interpreted by the courts as unconstitutional.
“Politicians in Iowa are hell bent on controlling women’s bodies, taking away our rights, and blocking access to health care. People will not stand for it, and we will not stand for it," Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement provided to Refinery29. "Now is the time for us to unite and fight for every person’s right to access the care they need. Gov. Reynolds, we’ll see you in court. We will fight for our patients rights and access to care with everything we’ve got.”
This story was originally published on May 2 at 9:20 a.m. It has since been updated.
The first Monday in May — also known as the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute benefit — is what Andre Leon Talley once called "the Super Bowl of social fashion events." You're not going to get the regular ol' cocktail dress, Christian Louboutins, and Dry Bar blowout here. Celebrities go all out for the Met Gala, either adhering to the Costume Institute-designated theme or doing their own thing. On this night, anything goes.
Though the gowns might be a sight to behold, don't forget to look above the neck, too. The yearly benefit always provides the most inspirational hairstyles and makeup looks that people will be talking about for years to come. Click ahead to see Jennifer Lopez with short hair, Lily Aldridge with gold eyebrows, and Rihanna... well, being Rihanna.
The old Taylor Swift might not be able to come to the phone — but we'd surely pick up for this one in 2016. The platinum blonde bob and vampy lip was the edgiest look we'd seen on her at that point.
Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic.
Rihanna didn't just wear flipped ends to Coachella this year — she also rocked the retro style (along with shimmery pink highlighter and an epic crown) in 2015.
Some people choose reattach their locs after cutting them off. Jaden Smith carried his to the 2017 event.
Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic.
César Ramirez told People that he wanted to adhere to the 2o16 Manus x Machina theme "while still keeping a soft and sexy feel.” To create the futuristic finger waves, he prepped Ciara's hair with Mizani Curl refresher spray, molded her curls with an iron, then pin curled them before sculpting the finger waves and securing them with silver pins.
Photo: James Devaney/GC Images.
We're getting disco diva vibes from Solange at the 2012 gala — which she ironically attended with Rachel Roy, who also designed her dress.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic.
Can you believe that Beyoncé's Neil Farinah-crafted updo was a last minute job? "We were in the elevator on the way down, and she looks at me and says 'Neal, I want to change my hair, will you change my hair?'" he told Us Weekly in 2015."She says, 'You have 5 minutes.' And I said, 'Girl, what do you want me to do with the hair?' And she wanted a high ponytail."
Photo: James Devaney/GC Images.
Zendaya looked like a million bucks at the 2017 event, but her Covergirl Melting Pot Liquid Lipstick (in Tan-Gel-O) only costs $6.94.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Leave it to a supermodel like Lily Aldridge to make gold brows look totally normal and effortless.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
It's rare to see Jennifer Lopez with short hair, so we're still savoring this moment from 2013 — even if it was a faux chop.
Photo: Karwai Tang/FilmMagic.
You won't find this lip color in stores; Makeup artist Sir John used navy eyeliner and a mix of pink and red creams to create Joan Smalls' custom shade, according to Fashionista.
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage.
Purple is the color of royalty — and Nicole Richie looked like a queen on the Met steps in 2014.
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage.
When Cara Delevingne shaved her head for her upcoming film Life In A Year in 2017, it served as the ultimate canvas for this silver bedazzled look.
Photo: Jackson Lee/FilmMagic.
Hairstylist Vernon François took inspiration from traditional African hairstyles for Lupita Nyong'o's 2016 sculptural 'do.
Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images.
Selena Gomez's white flowers were a gorgeous contrast to her dark brunette updo and cherry red lip in 2015.
Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic.
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All eyes are on Julia Michaels to see how she follows up her uber-hit "Issues." If "Jump" is any indication, she's sticking to the confessional style that made "Issues" so appealing. As a songwriter, she's great at tapping into the raw emotions so many of us have but only admit to our besties for fear of being thought of as too much. Even the imagery in her lyric video manages to feel intimate: the handwriting, the knife with lipstick writing, the tampon, the gummy bears, and the makeup all add up to detritus that jumps into and out of the lives of real women. The controlled delivery, though, keeps it from becoming an emotional overload. The secret to Michaels' intimate songwriting is actually letting us know she's in control of everything on the track. She's got issues, but she's also got layers.
Florence + the Machine "Hunger"
I'm so stoked, there is going to be a new Florence record! For those of you who didn't watch her BBC interview like an obsessed fangirl who framed her vinyl Ceremonials and hung it on the living room wall (me), she has found her joy again. And JFC the opening lines for this song, equating love and loneliness with hunger explain so much about her rough past few albums. No more disillusionment here, no more self-loathing either: Florence Welch has given up drinking and found not only a way to be more creative but the courage to get truly personal. I cannot wait to hear more.
Middle Kids "On My Knees"
If you're looking for a new album to stream this week, look no further than the debut from Middle Kids. One listen and you'll get that singer Hannah Joy writes most of her songs in the middle of the night, by herself in an empty house (sure, her bandmates, one of whom is her husband polish it up later). The way her voice works, singing low and thin over a sonic wall of guitars, is very different from most bands who push the vocals forward. To amplify her, they layer the vocals on several tracks, giving us Hannah on Hannah on Hannah with her bandmates behind her in the mix. It's a neat listen from an innovative Australian band.
Ebhoni "Opps"
In the words of Ebhoni: "You and I, let's just state facts." This video, according to the press release that accompanied it, is a gender-reversed take on 6IX9INE's "Gummo." It succeeds, in terms of the song's lyrical content and the scenarios they set up in the shots, but it also manages to be miles and miles and miles better by being listenable, elegantly shot, and infinitely more sophisticated. It also presents this dichotomy that is Ebhoni. How does she manage to sing about gunplay and still come across as someone cool who I'd want to hang with? She contains multitudes, where the man she aims to send-up is one flat note.
Jaira Burns "OKOKOK"
Today in men are trash: Jaira Burns sings an ode to her cheating, POS partner. This song sucked me in with the vocal arrangement on the chorus. I am obsessed with the way she travels up the scale only to drop back down and sing "okay okay okay" in a lower, monotone range. It undercuts the girliness out of her overall delivery. It is that jam for when you're truly over it and out.
After my first job at MTV working as a music programmer, I can't stop trying to matchmake people with music they might like. So, I wrote a book calledRecord Collecting for Girlsand started interviewing musicians. The Music Concierge is a column where I share music I'm listening to that you might enjoy, with a little context. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook, or leave me a comment below and tell me what you're listening to this week.
In three days, I’ll be packing my bags to leave New York City for California. Now, to be clear, I am not a scorned ex-lover of the city, fed up with the noise, the stalled subways, or the stench of baking trash. I’m not running out of here in a huff, throwing my fist up at the bike messenger that side swiped me or the cab driver that laid on the horn as I crossed the street with a walk sign. I’m not even resentful of the things the city has demanded of me — and there have been some doozies.
New York asks you to not only tolerate it but to love and be so grateful for your 240 square feet at 70% of your salary. It demands that you be okay with being shoved into a subway car like cattle, unable to slip a piece of paper between you and the next person. New York asks so many things of you at once that it’s not uncommon to see men and women openly crying on the street, because they know all other New Yorkers can relate to the days when the city has made them feel that way.
But in spite of all of this, I, like many others, never stopped loving the city, never stopped fighting for its approval. And so, inspired by Starz's new series Sweetbitter and my impending move, I started to think about my early days in New York and what exactly it was that kept me, blow after blow, fighting to be here.
Illustrated by Sandy Van Helden.
When I arrived in the summertime eight years ago, I felt like the luckiest 21-year-old imaginable. A family friend had allowed me to house-sit her two-bedroom apartment inside a musty pre-war townhouse on the Upper West Side. My rent? Send the owner the mail and water the irises in the window box off the living room. I was insanely grateful; talk about beginner’s luck. After lugging my four suitcases up the stairs, I sat perched on my bed and thought, I’ve got this. The next day, I would start an internship at a high-level fashion magazine and the following day, a well-paying job at a high-end boutique, at which I’d make commission. Three days at the magazine, four days at the store. I didn’t know enough then to realize that 11-hour days, seven days a week, might be a tad tiring.
My first day of work, I made my way through the Times Square subway station to the iconic building the magazine was housed in. When I exited the elevator bank, I was met by a stylish and surly guy, the “head” intern. He greeted me with a limp handshake and a quick, disapproving once-over that felt right out of a movie. As he pointed out the kitchen and the copy machines, I tried to subtly wipe my sweaty palms on my silk dress. “How long are you with us?” he asked, clearly highlighting the line between me and the “us” to which he belonged.
Illustrated by Sandy Van Helden.
He proceeded to plop down a large book of pages held together by a plastic spiral. “Guard this with your life,” he said. I learned that this was “the book”: a mock-up of the magazine constructed for the editor-in-chief to take home and review every night. My job would be to keep the book updated to the minute, by printing out the layouts and pasting them into the pages of the book. As they were closing the September issue, it was close to 600 pages. Roll on, peel off, print, trim, glue, place. The first time he came over to inspect my work, he looked horrified. I felt my heart drop through my stomach and onto the floor. “Your lines are crooked, the paper is sticky, and do you not see the board?” I had missed a whole section of advertising. I didn’t even blame him for his frustration. I ground my teeth and said I would redo it carefully, peeling the first page off and promptly slicing open my finger. Blood immediately started pouring out, each drop of red blooming on the white pages. He turned purple; he tried to take a breath and when he couldn’t, he told me to go home for the night — he would finish it himself. I cried in the elevator.
That night, exhausted and overwhelmed, I met a group of my friends for dinner. We had all just graduated and were feeling collectively shell-shocked. Together, we reminisced about the earlier days (only a week prior), and somehow, the knowledge that the city was simultaneously testing all of us lessened the knot in my chest. After a few too many drinks, we ended the night watching the sunrise over the city. And we felt lucky that the city had granted us access even for the night, that we would get another chance the next day.
We felt lucky that the city had granted us access even for the night, that we would get another chance the next day.
After an hour of sleep, I woke up and began the first day of my second job. I had worked retail before and knew I was good at it. I was practically buoyant walking to the subway. But that confidence was shattered the second I arrived. I was escorted to the storeroom stairs, missed the first step, and fell all the way down.
I ended up dramatically splayed at the bottom. The five other staff members that witnessed it froze and then lightly laughed uncomfortably. A man who I would later learn was the top sales associate greeted me with another half-hearted handshake and waltzed right past me, taking the stairs two at a time.
That night, my friends and I met up at a dive bar where we could barely afford the $6 drinks thanks to our essentially nonexistent incomes. There, I was approached by a beautiful man who would later become my first bona-fide, New York City, real-deal relationship. After trading a few songs on the jukebox, I learned that he was a musician who was preparing to go on a reality TV show that fall. I would spend the rest of that summer chasing after his acceptance, in addition to New York’s. And this was just my first two days in the city.
Illustrated by Sandy Van Helden.
As the summer went on, I got better at making “the book” and even received praise for making the process more efficient. At the store, I styled celebrities and models and became one of the highest sellers. But I would also get slapped by a stranger in a crosswalk, get flashed by a man on the subway, and lose my cell phone down a subway grate. Oh, and that fall down the stairs? That wouldn’t be the last time.
I ended up leaving both jobs at the end of the summer, taking a position at a nonprofit I deeply admired. I also got my own apartment, a sixth-floor walk-up we would call the “penthouse.” That same week, I watched the musician fall in love with someone else on national television; caught not one, not two, but three mice in sticky traps; and forgot my best friend’s birthday because of a work deadline. I fell down more stairs and then watched a beautiful sunrise over the Rockaways from the A train.
I fell down more stairs and then watched a beautiful sunrise over the Rockaways from the A train.
I realized so many things in those early days in New York, but the most important was this: I could get old enough to know better, to do better, to, hopefully, be better, but my life as a New Yorker, my life as a human being on the planet, would never stop being a constant stream of peaks and valleys. Major setbacks would, if I were lucky, be served with a side of small victories. I also knew that, for the most part, things could have been a lot worse. While the lows certainly felt low, I also knew New York could beat someone down far worse than it had me.
So as I packed up my last box, writing “FRAGILE” in huge letters, I decided something. In my next adventure, I would become better at seeing the upside, at looking for the little things to be grateful for, at finding the balance. New York has a truly unique way of delivering frustrations, blows, and even downright insults at the worst possible times. But it does so with a little bit of sweetness — with profound slivers of hope. These experiences are living proof that the only way to survive New York — or life, for that matter — is to find the ever-fleeting middle ground, your very own sweet spot.
While our legs patiently await dress season, there's no harm in getting a head start on our warmer weather shopping. Unfortunately, actually shopping for your dream frock comes with a few obstacles. For ladies who are fuller on top, it seems that every genre of warm-weather wear comes with its own boob-centric concerns: There's the unique challenge of finding a swim top that fits. Then, there's the sundress conundrum, also known as the hunt for a breathable, flowy number that won't completely eliminate your curves while offering support up top.
At first glance, the terrain may look like it's limited to shift dresses and oversized smocks, but all hope for your dream outfit isn't lost. There are plenty of other breezy silhouettes that are just as playful as they are flattering — for every figure. Ahead, we break down the best styles for busty ladies, with a sweet selection of seasonally appropriate (how many days until summer again?) options that are just right.
& Other Stories Cotton Shirt Dress, $55, available at & Other Stories.
Ganni Tilden Mesh Wrap Dress, $235, available at Ganni.
Eloquii Printed Floral Wrap Dress, $134.90, available at Eloquii.
ASOS Fuller Bust Cami Midi Slip Dress, $29, available at ASOS.
Tome Wrap-effect Pleated Striped Georgette Midi Dress, $1,495, available at Net-A-Porter.
Topshop Mix Spot Ruched Midi Wrap Dress, $90, available at Topshop.
One aspect of the natural hair movement that people fail to mention is the work that goes into maintaining those glorious spirals. Twist-outs take time and protective styles cost cash, which is why the wash-and-go is so appealing. Plus, with summer approaching, who wants to use any additional heat? As Sweet Brown once said, ain’t nobody got time for that.
With that in mind, we asked our favorite hair pros for their tried-and-true techniques for styling waves, coils, and curls fast. According to them, playing up your texture is really just about choosing the right product and knowing exactly how to apply it. Check out their picks, ahead.
While some might equate mousse with the large-and-in-charge ’dos of the '80s, it's still a pro pick for its ability to give fine hair a fighting chance. "I swear by this mousse," Christina B., a stylist at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City, says. "It adds definition without the heaviness." To pump up the volume, squeeze a liberal amount into your palms, rub them together and rake your hands through your hair while it's damp. Then, use a paper towel to scrunch it in — this really makes your waves ripple.
For soft, touchable texture, NYC salon owner Eliut Rivera likes this foamy formula. “The key is to apply product to 100% of the hair so that it dries evenly,” he says. “Be sure to start at the bottom of wet hair and work your way up, focusing product on the ends and not on the roots.”
Milbon Wave Enhancing Mousse, available at select salons.
If you're trying to cut down on your morning routine, then prep your hair at night. Celebrity hairstylist Eugene Smith swears by this time-saving routine: Shampoo, condition, towel dry, and do a braid or two (the more braids, the tighter the waves). Once you take your braids out, pump this silicone and silk protein-infused serum to your palms, then run them through your hair. “It’s the best for anti-humidity protection," he says. "It controls frizz, and gives the hair a nice finish.”
Crunchy is never cute. For moisture and softness, Felicia Leatherwood uses this creamy leave-in. “It hydrates and holds the texture without being heavy,” she says. Her trick: Divide hair into four to eight sections so you can evenly distribute the product. You need to get all up in there so you’re not left with any stray dry spots.
Cream is a curl’s best friend, and Leatherwood uses this formula for all hair types. Shingling is the best technique to apply it, she instructs. Taking half-inch sections, scoop up some cream with your index and middle fingers, gliding down each section from roots to ends.
For fine curls, celeb hairstylist Felix Fischer turns to this lightweight spray. “Comb shampooed and conditioned hair through, shake it up with your hands and then mist it all over," he says. "Finger comb hair lightly; don't squeeze the product in. Then air dry, in order to not disturb your curls.”
Rivera likes to apply a generous amount of this cream – which hydrates and shields your hair from humidity and frizz — to towel-dried hair divided into four parts. "Don't be afraid to saturate your hair with it," he says. "Start from the ends and work your way up, then comb it all through. Use your hands to scrunch, and let your strands dry in peace."
Leatherwood loves this multi-tasker, and even uses it on Issa Rae. "It has the hold of a gel, yet imparts moisture as a cream would," she says. To avoid shrinkage and create a defined curl pattern, coils typically need more coaxing than shingling allows. Two-strand twists (twisting and intertwining two small sections of hair) are your best bet, she notes. You can make your twists bigger than you would with a typical twist-out — just make sure you're covering your sections liberally.
Leatherwood says it’s essential to apply product when your hair is sopping wet... like, fresh-out-the-shower wet. The water-product combo will promote hydration and definition. “I like to apply Kinky Curly Custard in small sections, and wrap each one around my finger,” says Fischer. “Sometimes coils only come if you actually coil them.”
To truly wash and go, you can work Smith’s favorite shine-and-shape enhancer generously throughout wet hair. “From there, rub it in using a circular motion to help define the curl pattern, and then allow hair to dry naturally,” she says. You might want to have a spray bottle with water handy in case hair starts to dry up as you’re applying product.
There are plenty of ways to keep your makeup on all day — some of which you've probably tried (like a dusting of setting powder) and some that are a bit more unusual (powdering your face like a donut and plunging head first into a bucket of ice water). But no matter how you choose to set your face, none of these things do much if you don't start with products designed to cling to your complexion in the first place.
As temperatures skyrocket and humidity spikes, we find ourselves reaching for products that'll keep up, like waterproof finds that last anywhere from eight to 12 hours on the most sweltering day. Of course, not all products that claim to stay in place actually do. To help, our editors are sharing the products that we swear by for the most humid days ahead.
Click ahead for the long-wear products our editors will be wearing all summer.
"You know how the nights you don't have any plans end up being the ones where you find yourself out until 4 a.m. on a Wednesday? I wore this lipstick on one of those and it was still on my lips the next morning." — Cat Quinn, Beauty Director
"I recently tested nearly every concealer on the market, and I couldn't believe I've ignored this one for so long. It's tacky, but the tackiness makes it stick to your skin all day — which is great for covering my bright red acne scars." — Quinn
"I smudged this eye pigment under my eyes at Panorama last year and it lasted through all heat, dirt, drinking, and crying I experienced throughout Frank Ocean's set." — Quinn
"Kat Von D's Lock It Foundation is said to last a full 24 hours. Although I can't say I've worn it quite that long, I did wear it for 12 hours on a sweltering beach day. When I came home, my coverage was pretty much intact, save for a bit of grease around my nose where I get the most oily." — Mi-Anne Chan, Beauty Writer
"The product formulators over at Nudestix weren't kidding when they added 'waterproof' to this cream shadow's list of claims. The creamy crayon slides onto the lid without tugging or pulling, then sets in a couple of seconds to a seriously budge-proof finish. Seriously, you have five seconds tops to blend this out, so work fast." – Chan
"I discovered this liner while grocery shopping at Whole Foods and was very surprised by how long-wearing it is. For a gluten-free formula that has jojoba oil and aloe vera juice on its list of ingredients, it manages to cling to my lashline like most waterproof liners do. It lasts all day on my oily eyelids and never leaves smudges on my lashline." — Chan
"I'm a tinted balm girl through and through, but once a week, I'll feel like more color, and Powermatte is the only lipstick I've been loyal to since it launched last year. I put it on messily, like I would gloss, rub my lips together a few times, blot with a tissue, and it's set for the entire work day, no matter what I eat or drink. But the crazy thing is, despite how matte and non-budging it is, I don't feel the need to apply balm once."— Alix Tunell, Senior Beauty Editor
"I don't love the precise look of liquid and gel liners on myself. I want a smudgy, soft, lived-in look that also lasts through Spin class — a tall order that this Dior pencil handles best." — Tunell
"I don't love wearing foundation during the summer, but when I need to (often to blend my fake tan) I use this. It offers the kind of semi-matte finish that looks natural, but lasts all day without melting off. This formula helped me through every rainy festival last season, and expect it to do the same this year." — Sam Sasso, Beauty Writer
"When the sun comes out, so does my army of body makeup. This one offers a blurring effect that hides veins or scars instantly, but also doubles as a self tanner that lasts up to a week — even after you rinse it off." — Sasso
"A few festival seasons ago, I launched into this really nasty, hour-long ugly cry…because I was drunk. But miraculously, my makeup didn’t budge at all since I set it with All Nighter. If the setting spray can preserve my makeup through tears, then it’ll definitely keep me covered at a pool party." — Khalea Underwood, Beauty Writer
"Lip pencils are a necessary evil when it comes to making your lipstick last all day — which is why I like lining and filling in my lips with this vegan product. It comes in tons of colors, has a rich, creamy finish, and is thin enough to fit in my wallet when I don’t feel like schlepping around with a tote." — Underwood
"I know, the price of this mascara is a little intense, but there's a method to my madness. Most mascaras either immediately bother my sensitive eyes, or smudge and flake until they do. This formula never irritates, but what's more is that goes on thick and rich in one swoop and never flakes or smudges, even in humid weather." – Lexy Lebsack, Senior Beauty Editor
"Wearing sunscreen every day is easy, but reapplying it every few hours is another story. This powder sets makeup in the morning, makes sopping up shine easy through the day, and adds SPF to your skin in the process. Win-win! Plus, it's slim, so it fits in your purse much better than any jar of powder or tube of SPF." — Lebsack
"This is one of the longest lasting blush formulas I've tried — and for $20 for an entire palette, it's also one of the best values, too. I recently travelled to Vietnam where I, quite literally, sweat through my clothes every single day, but my flush (somehow) stayed intact. My favorite effect is to sweep Drama under my cheekbones and Hot on the apples of my cheeks for a slightly-sculpted look." - Lebsack
Morphie 8c Cool Pro Blush Palette, $20, available at Morphe.
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Nearly four decades on, the most famous Catholic in the world, besides the Pope (and maybe the late John F. Kennedy), might still be Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. ("Veronica" is her confirmation name, by the way.) From the moment she debuted in 1983 with her self-titled dance-pop album (accompanied by magnetic, style-setting videos), Madonna — that name alone! — wore her religious upbringing on her sleeve — or around her neck, if we're going to be literal about it. But the pop legend’s relationship with Catholicism — as a central style aesthetic and inspiration, as a symbol of a fraught, traumatic childhood overcome, as an oppressive system to rebel against — has never been straightforward.
In fact, Pontiac, Michigan's pride and joy has been confrontational and provocative with the Church from the jump. First pairing a chunky crucifix with a bra, mesh top, rubber bracelets, and a Boy Toy belt buckle, the blonde superstar would later dye her hair back to parochial-school brown and slip on a negligee to dance before burning crosses and get intimate with a Black saint. On her most recent world tour in 2015-2016, she and her dancers wore modified (read: sexy!) nun’s habits and twirled on modified (read: crucifix-shaped) stripper poles to her intentionally-blasphemous song “Holy Water.” Like we said: confrontational.
It’s a thematic concern that’s never completely gone away — even after 13 albums, 69 videos, two marriages, six kids, and even a deep engagement with Kabbalah. So it makes sense, then, that this year’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute (and its accompanying star-stuffed gala, which she often attends) was clearly made for Madonna.
In honor of that — and her inevitably cool, likely controversial outfit for the evening — here’s a very brief style history of Madonna, Catholic girl gone bad.
The moment Madonna became a music and style mega-star of the highest order? Her live performance debut of “Like a Virgin” at the first-ever MTV VMAs in 1984, when she upgraded her downtown dance-punk aesthetic with white wedding lace and an even bigger crucifix. “Ours was a strict, old-fashioned family,” she told People in 1985. “When I was tiny, my grandmother used to beg me not to go with men, to love Jesus, and be a good girl. I grew up with two images of a woman: the virgin and the whore. It was a little scary.”
Photo: The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images.
The first of Madonna’s dramatic reinventions came with her third LP True Blue and its controversial lead single, “Papa Don’t Preach.” Both Planned Parenthood and the Catholic Church objected to the song, about a girl discussing her pregnancy with her father; the former argued that it glamorized teen pregnancy, the latter that it celebrated teen, premarital sex and babies born out of wedlock. “Immediately they're going to say I am advising every young girl to go out and get pregnant,” she told TheNew York Times in 1986. “This song is really about a girl who is making a decision in her life. She has a very close relationship with her father and wants to maintain that closeness. To me it's a celebration of life.” Also: How good is this gamine Madonna look?!
Photo: Terry McGinnis/WireImage.
Featuring stigmata, burning crosses, and a love scene with a Black, Jesus-like saint, 1989’s “Like a Prayer ” remains Madonna’s most overtly Catholic and controversial video. It led to a canceled endorsement deal with Pepsi and condemnation from the Vatican itself. “My own Catholicism is in constant upheaval. When I left home at 17 and went to New York, which is the city with the most sinners, I renounced the traditional meaning of Catholicism in terms of how I would live my life,” she told TheTimes that year. “But I never stopped feeling the guilt and shame that are ingrained in you if you are brought up Catholic.”
The outrage from the Vatican was even louder during 1990’s Blond Ambition Tour, which featured a simulated masturbation performance that segued directly into a Catholic mass-like segment (stained glass windows, crucifixes, and liturgical costumes designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier). Two concerts in Italy were eventually canceled due to protests. “I am an ltalian-American, and I am proud of it,” she said at a press conference. “I do not endorse a way of life but describe one, and the audience is left to make its own decisions and judgments.”
Photo: Peter Still/Redferns.
Radical reinvention number we-lost-count: 1998 Ray of Light Madonna. The single, 40-year-old new mom (to Lourdes) dropped her most personal and sonically innovative album, in which she muses about motherhood, fame, and the devastating, early death of her own namesake mother — all grounded in a new spiritual outlook inspired by her immersion in Kabbalah, an ancient, mystical form of Judaism. (Side note: her Botticelli beach hair! Her dewy skin!)
"It's a belief system that gives you tools to deal with life. Many of its principles resemble concepts in Christianity or in Buddhism," Madonna explained to Oprah Winfrey in 2005. "I've never felt more creative. One thing I've learned is that I'm not the owner of my talent, I'm the manager of it. And if I learn how to manage my talent correctly — and if I accept that I'm just channeling things that come from God — the talent will keep flowing through me."
Photo: Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty Images.
She's still into the Catholic stuff, though! In her most literal tribute to Jesus Christ yet, she belted the 1986 ballad "Live to Tell " while mock-crucified to a disco-fied cross for her 2006 Confessions Tour — once again angering the Catholic Church, as well as the Church of England. “I don’t think Jesus would be mad at me and the message I’m trying to send," Madonna told the Daily News of the incident.
Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images.
For the 2009 Met Gala ("The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion"), she wore a headline-generating Marc Jacobs-designed Louis Vuitton ruched minidress, styled with dominatrix boots, turquoise bunny ears, and, yep, a relatively dainty crucifix. Mused the Material Girl to The New York Times of her earliest fashion moments: ''When you go to Catholic school, you have to wear uniforms, and everything is decided for you. Since you have no choice but to wear your uniform, you go out of your way to do things that are different in order to stand out."
Her 2015-2016 Rebel Heart Tour featured this red kimono designed by Arianne Phillips for the downright medieval opening portion of the show, where Madge and dancers brandished (surprise!) enormous crucifixes like weapons. "I like crosses," she told Rolling Stone in 2015. "I’m sentimental about Jesus on the cross. Jesus was a Jew, and also I believe he was a catalyst, and I think he offended people because his message was to love your neighbor as yourself; in other words, no one is better than somebody else. He embraced all people, whether it was a beggar on the street or a prostitute, and he admonished a group of Jews who were not observing the prophets of the Torah. So he rattled a lot of people’s cages."
Photo: Graham Denholm/Getty Images.
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We don't need an excuse to sweep highlighter on liberally, but summer always feels like an appropriate time to really glow. The sun's shining, you're spending more time outside, and it goes with every warm weather lewk, from maxi dresses to itty bitty bikinis. Drugstore brands like Black Opal and Maybelline know this, too — which is why there are so many new shimmery luminizers on the market right now. It doesn't matter if you're aiming for a healthy glow or an out-of-this-world gleam... there's one for everyone. And with all picks less than $15, it doesn't hurt to experiment. Our favorites, ahead.
Did you miss out on snagging Fenty Beauty's Body Lava? Try CYO's option, which is only a fraction of the price and infused with moisturizing vitamin E.
According to Sir John, the key to making makeup last is all about duality. He layered L'Oreal's new highlighting lotion underneath a powder highlighter to make Beyoncé's Coachella glow last all night long.
As an Academy Award nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker, Ava DuVernay has proved that she is a force within the world of directing.Since starting as a showrunner on Queen Sugar, she directed the massive Disney feature A Wrinkle In Time and is about to become the first Black woman to take on a film budgeted at over $100 million with DC Comics' The New Gods.
This past Thursday, Duvernay accepted the Woman of Vision award at the 30th annual Gloria Awards in New York City, which celebrates women's creative and technical achievements in media. During her acceptance speech, DuVernay shared a story of how a “friend,” a man and fellow member of the Directors Guild of America, once called to warn her that “there [had] been some complaints.” Apparently other directors were upset with the fact that she had hired female directors for Queen Sugar.
She told her audience she responded to him with, “Thank you, friend, thank you for that call. I invite you to tell whoever is feeling discriminated against to sue me so that I can sue every studio that has left women out...’cause we can do this, if that’s what you want to do.”
Duvernay is merely doing what Hollywood has clearly not been able to do: give women more opportunities. Of the top 100 grossing films of 2017, women represented 8% of directors, 10% of writers, 2% of cinematographers, and 24% of producers. Where’s the uproar over this? According the Motion Picture Association of America, women make up 50% of moviegoers. By this point, in 2018, it should not come as a surprised when women call out the inequality in any industry, Hollywood has definitely proved it is not exempt.
DuVernay continued her speech and emphasized to her audience on the importance of women not only being invited into spaces that they have otherwise not been invited, but for them to be free to create their own. She is clearly unbothered by the tears of her fellow directors.
“He's a professional liar who will say anything to appease whatever crowd he's at. If he's in front of families, he might say something in support of common sense gun reform,” Kasky, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, told CNN when asked what he would say if given the opportunity to have a conversation with the president. “But then when he's at the NRA, he'll say something to get a big cheer."
“Your Second Amendment rights are under siege,” Trump said in his remarks. “But they will never ever be under siege as long as I am your president.”
In response, Kasky compared the NRA convention to Comic-Con (in that only “die-hard fans” think to attend) and urged “average” gun owners to hold Trump accountable for his words and actions.
“The average NRA members, the ones who maybe got their membership free with the purchase of handgun, they’re not showing up there and they’re not holding Trump accountable for what he needs to actually talk about,” Kasky said. “This is President Trump trying to appeal to a group of people who really, really like weapons that shoot bullets fast.”
Musician Florence Welch (of Florence + the Machine) is doing her part to help even up the gender wage gap. She spoke up and demanded co-production credits for her work on her latest album, High as Hope, That production work comes on top of her normal songwriting and vocal recording duties — work she’s been doing since she started recording years ago.
For Welch, co-production came as a result of necessity, she told BBC Radio 1. She recorded most of High as Hope in Los Angeles, and said that the studio they used wasn’t the nicest — “It didn’t have that much [recording equipment],” she said, so Welch was forced to co-produce with Emile Haynie. But producing gave Welch the “freedom to experiment with building my sound.” This meant banging on walls and mistakes on piano parts, she says, and keeping many songs close to their demo recordings. The result is music that feels free and childlike, with a roughness that reminds us of her earliest works.
Still, production is work that Welch has been doing all along throughout her five studio albums. It’s her sound; she’s honed it carefully since the beginning. “I always sort of co-produced,” she says, noting that when she was younger, she very much obeyed the unwritten boundaries of producer vs. artist. “I didn’t know that I could ask for the title!” For the first time in her career, she’s finally getting the production credit she deserves.
That co-production title isn’t just given to Welch in fairness to her work — it also allows her to make more money from her music. When a song is licensed for movies or television, a fee is paid, which is divided up among the songwriter, producer, and artists. This also includes royalties from radio plays and streaming. Welch now has more access to that hard-earned money. By example, Welch is showing us a way that the wage gap can be closed — women should ask for the money we deserve when we are doing the work.
A producer, as our own Courtney Smith explained, functions in a similar capacity as a film director or writing editor. In a recording studio, a producer coaches the musicians through takes, generates beats or crafts song arrangements, and controls the switchboard as the musician records. It’s an extremely involved job, and most musicians don’t have the time to handle all aspects of this process. Artists with productions teams, like Beyonce’s Parkwood Entertainment, have producers (and lots of women producers, at that!); indie bands recording in a basement will also employ producers. Welch, who co-produced, sang, and wrote the music, is akin to Lena Dunham directing, writing, and starring in Girls.
Welch is lucky that she had the technical knowledge to co-produce her music. A recent study by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative notes that only 2% of popular music producers are women — a shameful number in an industry that prides itself on diversity. Women in music are discouraged from pursuing technical skills; they are pigeonholed as performers, with men in the studio calling the shots. The more women like Welch take the reins at the switchboard, the more they talk about it and teach other women audioengineering skills, the more this outdated dynamic will fade away. Check out Welch’s interview below.
