In a statement, Spotify addressed how the code addresses content made by problematic artists like Kelly and XXXTentacion. Saying in a statement that they've thought "long and hard" about how to deal with content from creators who "have demonstrated hateful conduct personally," Spotify ultimately decided not to go so far as to remove their music from the platform, but to decline to promote it. "While we don’t believe in censoring content because of an artist’s or creator’s behavior, we want our editorial decisions - what we choose to program - to reflect our values. So, in some circumstances, when an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful (for example, violence against children and sexual violence), it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator," the company says.
Elsewhere in the statement, Spotify acknowledges that "cultural standards and sensitivity vary widely," and they close the introduction of this policy by leaving themselves some room to learn. "These are complicated issues, and we’re going to continue to revise our Policy on Hate Content and Hateful Conduct. We’ll make some mistakes, we’ll learn from them, and we’ll always listen to you as we work to keep building the Spotify platform," it reads.
XXXTentacion made his debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts at the end of March, despite facing charges of abuse of his pregnant girlfriend, along with multiple charges of witness tampering. The disturbing details, which he denies are true, were published in the fall but did not stop Caroline Records from signing him to a reported multi-million dollar deal. Upon his album's release, XXXTentacion had multiple singles in Spotify's Top 50 charts and on their influential Rap Caviar playlist. The company did not release any specific information on why they have severed promotional ties with him.
The hateful content and hateful conduct policy also targets music that is hateful, such as white power music. The company revealed that they have teamed with multiple groups, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League, Color Of Change, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), GLAAD, Muslim Advocates, and the International Network Against Cyber Hate to help them identify hate content and that they have created "internal content monitoring tool [called] Spotify Audio Watch" in order to catch content that has been flagged on international registers as hate content.
Chances are you've heard (or pinned) at least one famous phrase attributed to the OG female badass of the fashion industry, Coco Chanel. The most timeless one is simple: "A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life." Why? Because it couldn't be more true.
Anyone who's toyed with scissors knows that even the tiniest trim can make a world of difference in how you feel. However, it takes a special kind of motivation to go for the ultra-bold pixie — especially for short hair newbies. For one, maintaining it is far from easy. (If your hair grows fast, you may find yourself freshening up your cut every few weeks!)
Despite the maintenance and initial shock you might feel, the results are always worth it — just ask anyone who's dared to go this short and you'll end up hearing that they felt liberated and empowered. Even more exciting? It's a cut that every texture is able to embrace. All it takes is the right stylist, an open mind, and a whole lot of hair product. See some of the pixies we've had our eyes on lately, ahead...
You can't talk about short haircuts without mentioning Michelle Williams, patron saint of the pixie. Her secret? She keeps her chop longer in front to maintain the versatility of bangs.
Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images.
Teyana Taylor is a color chameleon, which we love, but we can't help but prefer this badass cut. The all-around length allows for her face — and accessories — to take center stage.
Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Looking for something a bit more lived-in? Spanish actress Paz Vega rocks the coolest messy pixie we've ever seen. Ask for choppy layers that frame the face and work with your texture, then scrunch product into wet hair, air-dry, and define pieces with an iron.
Photo: Europa Press/Getty Images.
Model Maria Borges never ceases to impress us with the versatility of her short crop, but it's her take on victory rolls, here, that we're loving right now.
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
"We did the cut during the middle of the night before the Oscars," Janelle Monae's longtime hairstylist Nikki Nelms told us earlier this year. "Janelle was not nervous. It was her idea!"
For Rooney Mara's smooth style, grab your spray bottle and a light-hold product, then get to slickin' with your fine-toothed comb. (This how-to will help!)
Katy Perry's chop is multifaceted. "Sometimes your hair falls out when you go too blonde. So, this is the way I handled it,” she told Ellen DeGeneres in May. But in June, she gave some deeper insight: "People like to talk about my hair, right? They don't like it or they wish that it was longer...That is a little bit of why I cut my hair, because I really want to be my authentic self 100%.”
Did you know that Orlando Pita crafted the short cuts seen at the latest Tom Ford show... without scissors?! A faux snip is simple to get, with the help of bobby pins and hairspray.
"#Pixielicious," is how Cara Delevigne described her new chop (done by Mara Roszak) in July.
Spotted at the Erdos show in Beijing: a badass bowl cut with curtain fringe. Win-win!
#TeamNatural can embrace the pixie, too. As Viola Davis demonstrated, it's all in the silhouette: short in the back, full up top, with a sharp side part.
To keep your curls intact, like Nicole Murphy, try setting your wave pattern with a light gel — and if time permits, sit underneath a hooded dryer or diffuser for a few minutes to set it.
Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images.
Fret not if you wake up with your hair all over the place: A mini flat iron can help put things back into place.
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After a white Yale student called campus police on a Black student for napping in a dorm's common area, the university has issued a response to the incident.
Graduate student Lolade Siyonbola, who is Black, posted a video on Facebook earlier this week of her classmate accosting her after she fell asleep while writing her final paper. Then, she posted another video in which the campus police check her ID to make sure she "belongs" at Yale. (Note that she opens her apartment to them, which is in the same Yale dorm where she fell asleep.)
Kimberly Goff-Crews, the university vice president for student life, sent an email to students on Wednesday night, writing that the predominantly white Ivy League school still has "so much more to do" to address discrimination.
Goff-Crews said that she, Yale police chief Ronnell Higgins, and Graduate School Dean Lynn Cooley plan to hold listening sessions with students. The university will also continue to implement initiatives it announced last year, including "the appointment and training of dean’s designees in each school to address student concerns about equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion, and discrimination and harassment." Yale also recently launched the Bulldog Mobile (LiveSafe) app, through which students can anonymously connect with Yale police and the Title IX office. "As already planned, we will share this tool more broadly with students and clarify the reporting process," Goff-Crews said.
In a statement, the campus police said: "After reviewing the scene in the 12th-floor common room and seeing a computer, books, and notebooks in addition to a blanket and pillow on the couch, the investigating officer determined that the person who had been sleeping in the common room was likely a student."
Police also "informed the caller that the student who had been in the common room was an authorized resident who had every right to be there." They explained to her that this was "not a police matter" and that they will report the incident to the graduate school dean.
Some students are asking that the university take stronger measures. Amanda Joyce Hall, a Black PhD candidate, wrote a letter to Dean Cooley calling on the administration "to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for racial policing that ends in the expulsion of the aggressors." She asked that Yale ban the perpetrator from graduate student housing and from teaching undergraduates, as her racism is a threat to the school's commitment to diversity.
"We will not continue to allow our bodies to be the target of white supremacist politics of discursive hatred, intolerance, and ignorance at a university whose commitment to us is only symbolic and for the brochures," she wrote.
Today graduate students @Yale will flood Dean Cooley’s email and call Yale to action. Please help hold Yale accountable and share our letter widely. #YaleWhileBlackpic.twitter.com/FcHreoHn1r
— Amanda Joyce Hall (@AmandaJoyceHall) May 10, 2018
The Yale Daily News reported that the student antagonized another student of color in the past, who is a friend of Siyonbola's. She called the campus police when Jean-Louis Reneson arrived at the Hall of Graduate Studies, the dorm where Siyonbola lives, for a meeting. Siyonbola and Reneson filed a complaint to the university.
We have reached out to the student who allegedly called campus police and will update this story if we hear back. Her online bio says she is interested in women's rights advocacy and has a Master's in philosophy "to address the sub-human legal status of the world’s women at the source, the philosophical foundations of law."
Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: a law associate who makes $260,000 per year and spends some of her paycheck this week on Thai food.
Occupation: Associate Industry: Law Age: 29 Location: San Diego, CA Salary: $260,000, plus bonus (Last year my bonus was $64,000.) Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $5,897
Monthly Expenses Mortgage: $5,070, including taxes and insurance Student Loan Payment: $3,000. (Law school is expensive and I'm paying down my loans aggressively.) Health, Vision, Dental & Life Insurance: $320 Utilities: $180 Cell Phones: $132 for our family plan TV, Internet & Landline: $142 (Landline is for my husband's business.) Spotify: $10 Netflix: $10.99 Car Lease Payment: $400 Car Insurance: $150 for our two cars 401(k): $870 Roth 401(k): $220
Day One
6 a.m. — I get up with the alarm and eat the granola bar on my bedside table before even getting out of bed. I'm just transitioning into my second trimester of pregnancy and the nausea hasn't let up yet. I've found that eating small meals throughout the day helps keep my energy up (“up” is relative) and prevents some of the nausea. I let our dog out and she happily stays in the backyard while I shower and get ready for my day. Then I answer emails and bill my time from the previous week from my home office in order to let the dog stay outside a little longer. Usually I don't worry about our dog in the mornings because my husband works from home and takes care of her, but he's out of town today, so the morning routine is on me. This means I leave for work later than usual. I would stay and work from home during the morning, but I have a flight to catch at 1 p.m. and several team meetings before that. I'm out the door by 7:30.
8 a.m. — I arrive at the office and get to work immediately. I eat a packet of instant oatmeal and take my prenatal vitamins. I also drink as much water as I can throughout the day, keeping a water bottle at my desk and refilling it several times. I used to drink about three cups of coffee a day (lawyer life), but pregnancy put a stop to that. By 11, I'm finished with my last team call and I'm on my way to the airport.
11:30 a.m. — I arrive at the airport and park in the lot. My husband's flight lands in a few hours and he'll pick up the car to drive it home. $20
11:50 a.m. — After I'm through security (thank you TSA Precheck), I grab a chicken burrito bowl with extra veggies from Qdoba and get as much work done as I can before boarding my flight. I also get a soda, which is out of character for me, but I want a small caffeine boost. ($14.92 expensed)
1 p.m. — On my flight to New York, I pay the ridiculous $34 for internet because time is money and I can't afford to be out of communication for five hours. The flight comes with “lunch” (a.k.a. a snack) and I choose the cheese plate. It's actually a perfect pregnancy snack – hard cheese, crackers, apple slices, grapes, and almonds. ($34 expensed)
9:30 p.m. — Arrive in New York at 9:30 p.m., thanks to the time difference, and hop in a Lyft to my hotel. ($60.10 expensed)
10:30 p.m. — I'm finally at my hotel and stop by the Duane Reade next door to buy a thumb drive (I can't believe I left mine on my desk at work), the salad that least looks like it'll kill me, a Kind bar, and instant oatmeal. Then I get back to work out of my hotel room while I eat the salad (without a fork, because I forgot to buy one) and half of the Kind bar, and take my prenatal vitamins. I'm not a late-night person, and I need sleep before my deposition tomorrow, so I take my anti-nausea medication and crash at 1:15 a.m. I read a few pages of a book on my Kindle before bed – it calms my mind and helps me stop worrying about work. ($33 expensed)
Daily Total: $20
Day Two
5 a.m. — I'm rudely woken up by my own alarm. I don't even want to think about what time it is at home. I've been traveling so much lately that I'm not really on a time zone at this point anyway. I eat the second half of the Kind bar that I saved from last night, take my nausea medication, and snooze for about 10 minutes. (Snoozing isn't normal for me, but I've been more tired lately, thanks to growing a human child in my body.) Then I get out of bed and answer emails before hopping in the shower. While I shower, I let the steam de-wrinkle my suit. I eat two packets of oatmeal, take my prenatal vitamins, and drink of cup of decaf coffee while I finish prepping for my deposition. At some point, my stomach decides that decaf coffee is not cool and I promptly throw up everything I've just eaten.
8:30 a.m. — Makeup and hair done, suit on, deposition outline printed (thanks hotel business center), and I'm out the door. I grab a banana from a bowl of fruit on my way out of the hotel to save for later. I walk to the opposing counsel's office, since it's a relatively nice 40 degree morning in New York. It's only half a mile away, and a walk in the fresh air is much better for my nausea than a taxi ride.
9 a.m. — Deposition time. Opposing counsel provides lunch. I eat salad and a veggie sandwich, even though I would much prefer turkey, but I can't have deli meat. I grab a cookie too, to round out the meal. Since I haven't gotten to sleep much, I drink a cup of coffee during the deposition. (I take the 200 milligram rule very seriously!)
3:15 p.m. — I'm on my way to the airport. Halfway through the deposition I had my secretary get me on a later flight because the deposition was going longer than expected. The only flight she could book was three hours later and now I have time to kill. I would rather get to the airport and set up shop so I can work from there than spend time commuting to my company's New York office. During the car ride I have a call with one of our experts for the case. I try to keep my downtime as minimal as possible. Once I arrive at the airport, I send a couple of urgent emails before I even have a chance to go through security. ($83 expensed)
4:45 p.m. — I see that there's an earlier flight home on the same airline, so I go to the gate and request to be put on standby. There are only middle seats left, but that's completely worth it to me. And there is no change fee, so I'm not costing the firm anything. A large storm is coming into New York tonight and I want to get out of here ASAP. I work at the gate while waiting for the flight.
6 p.m. — I make it onto the earlier flight! I also keep getting alerts that my later flight is delayed due to weather, and I'm very happy I got to the airport early and asked to switch. I do regret not having the chance to grab food in the airport, but I eat the banana I hoarded as I line up to board the flight. Once on the plane, the $18.99 airline wifi is atrocious, and my emails keep getting stuck in my outbox. I can't connect to my VPN, so I do as much work as I can without having access to my firm network. It's painful to be on a five and a half hour flight and be disconnected from my team. ($18.99 expensed)
7 p.m. — I order a snack box with hummus, almonds, and crackers on the flight. ($9.95 expensed)
9:20 p.m. — I answer a few emails at the airport that I didn't get while on the plane and grab a Starbucks breakfast sandwich to eat on my way out. I would normally just wait until I get home to eat, but lack of food leads to nausea. ($4.63 expensed)
10 p.m. — I make it home after an entirely too-chatty Lyft ride. I'll still tip and give her 5 stars, but I did not need to know about her Tinder experiences. I crash into bed with my husband after sending a couple of emails and taking my prenatal vitamins and nausea medication. I'm so happy to be home. ($48 expensed)
Daily Total: $0
Day Three
6 a.m. — My alarm is not my friend today. I snuggle with my husband for 10 minutes because I haven't seen him in five days. I wish I could sleep in and have him make me breakfast, but no rest for the weary. Before dragging myself out of bed, I take my nausea medication. Then I finally get up to shower and get ready for work while eating half a granola bar. I listen to a podcast while getting ready. I also spend a little time with our cat, who has been unhappy with all my travel.
7 a.m. — Out the door. I buy a bagel on my way to work because oatmeal does not sound appetizing. I'm in the office and working by 7:30 a.m. I take my prenatal vitamins – I keep a bottle at the office and a bottle at home because I take them in the morning and at night with food. $2.95
9:30 a.m. — I break down and drink a half-decaf, half-regular coffee from the office machine. A meeting was cancelled, so we have bagels and muffins in the kitchen. I grab half a muffin because I'm already hungry. I should have had protein this morning rather than just carbs to keep me full longer.
11:30 a.m. — I take half an hour to run to Mendocino Farms to pick up a salad and a side of spicy potato salad for lunch. I'll eat half of the potato salad and save the rest for an afternoon snack. The food is way overpriced there, but I haven't spent much money this week, so I splurge a little for the convenience factor. I'm so impressed by people who meal prep and bring their lunches to work. I'm lucky if I remember to bring leftovers from whatever my husband prepared for dinner the night before. I eat the salad at my desk as I get back to billing. $16.95
1:30 p.m. — Time for a coffee nap. Half-caffeinated coffee followed by 15 minutes laying on a yoga mat in my office. It takes about that long for the caffeine to hit my system, and in the meantime I can relax my body and my mind.
2:30 p.m. — I eat the second half of my potato salad while working.
4 p.m. — One of the secretaries gives me an apple from her backyard for a snack. She's so sweet and always shares her fresh fruit.
5:10 p.m. — I make the horrendous mistake of going to the pharmacy to pick up my nausea prescription ($40) right around the time most people get off work. It should take 20 minutes, and instead takes 40. I grab milk and a few apples while I'm there to keep at the office ($4.78). $44.78
7 p.m. — I make a green shake to eat at my desk while working. My work is never-ending and I'm uncomfortable in the pencil skirt I wore to work, so I decide to drive home at 7:15 and finish working from my home office.
7:40 p.m. — I'm back to billing from the comfort of my home, wearing pajamas as my husband makes turkey tacos. My husband typically does the grocery shopping and the majority of the cooking because he works from home. Back when we only had one car, I took on the grocery responsibilities, but I finally leased my car after four years of living in California. It's a splurge (my family thinks a car is “new” if it's less than 10 years old), but I love it, and my husband was going stir crazy in San Diego without a dedicated car of his own. I take a quick break from work to watch TV with my husband on the couch. Schitt's Creek is so good. Then I work from the home office until 2 a.m.
Daily Total: $64.68
Day Four
6 a.m. — Up with my alarm. I would sleep in, but I have a 6:30 a.m. call with people on the East Coast and no time to lose today. I take a quick shower and am logged onto my computer in the home office by 6:25. I eat a couple of pieces of Hawaiian bread while taking my call. It isn't a real breakfast, but hopefully it'll stave off my hunger-induced nausea.
7:10 a.m. — I take nausea medication and make a quick scramble of eggs, spinach, leftover turkey meat, and cheese while getting ready for work. It's an unusual combination, but I need the protein and my iron levels have been low despite the prenatal vitamins. I spend the extra two minutes putting on under-eye concealer (not part of my typical makeup routine) because I look like death today from the lack of sleep.
8 a.m. — I'm out the door an hour later than normal, so traffic is heavy. I get into the office at 8:30, grab a half-caf coffee from the office machine, and immediately get to work. I have another call in half an hour. I eat a banana I brought from home after the call.
11:45 a.m. — I take a half hour break to get a shrimp bowl from Rubio's. I eat it at my desk while working. $10.29
3 p.m. — After a midday filing I need a little pick-me-up, so I drive to Starbucks and get a chai latte. I get an extra one for the secretary who has been busting her butt for us on this case. Sometimes after a particularly brutal midnight filing I'll give each of the secretaries a bottle of wine as a thank you. They aren't compensated nearly as well as attorneys and they have to deal with high-stress situations all the time. $9.20
4:30 p.m. — I eat an apple with a sizable portion of Nutella, which I keep in a dedicated food drawer in my desk for days like today.
6 p.m. — My brain is no longer working and I have more work to do, so I head home to switch into comfortable clothes and work from there. I pick up Thai food for dinner (since my husband is out watching basketball with friends) and take a break watching trashy TV while I eat. I'm back to working by 8 p.m. $19.50
9:30 p.m. — I can only stay focused until about 9:30, so I take my nausea medication, eat half a granola bar, and quit for the night. My husband gets home about the time I'm slipping into bed with a book and we chat for a bit while I fall asleep. He knows I'm exhausted and doesn't try to keep me up too long, but it's good to spend time with him during this crazy week.
Daily Total: $38.99
Day Five
5 a.m. — I wake up an hour earlier than normal because I didn't get nearly as much done as I needed to last night. I'm working by 5:20, but unfortunately another fire drill pops up for the case that has been monopolizing my time, and I have to shift focus to that from the case I was planning to work on. While working, I make avocado toast for breakfast with an avocado from the tree in my backyard. One of the many reasons I love living in Southern California. Then I take a quick shower and switch over to working on another case.
7 a.m. — So much for the avocado toast. I forgot to take the nausea medication this morning and now I really regret that. I lay back in bed for about 20 minutes to feel better after throwing up breakfast. Then I eat a banana and get back to work.
10:30 a.m. — I take a 10-minute break to eat an apple and hang out in the backyard with my husband and our dog. We bought a tiny house on a large lot (large for San Diego) and the backyard is my happy place.
11:30 a.m. — I eat my leftover Thai food for lunch while working. By noon, I'm exhausted, so I lay down for 45 minutes before we have to go to our ultrasound. Work can wait for a bit.
12:45 p.m. — My husband and I drive to the ultrasound separately because I need to go into the office afterwards. Ultrasounds are amazing. Our little girl is only three inches long, and yet we can see her stubby little fingers and toes and hear her heartbeat! Everything looks good, which is a relief because I've been feeling so awful lately. We get a couple copies of the best print-out to give to our parents. There is no copay at the appointment – thanks, insurance!
2 p.m. — I pick up a Crunchwrap from Taco Bell on my drive into work. Yes, I love Taco Bell. And yes, as a native Southern Californian I am aware that it is not "real Mexican food.” I also happen to love real Mexican food, but sometimes a girl's gotta eat a Crunchwrap with about five packets of that Taco Bell hot sauce. I work at the office for the afternoon. I head out at 6:30 p.m., knowing I have more work to do, but I plan to finish up working at the kitchen counter while hanging out with my husband. $3.95
7 p.m. — I work while my husband grills chicken and makes baked potatoes. After dinner, we watch NCAA basketball until I'm about ready to pass out at 10.
Daily Total: $3.95
Day Six
7:30 a.m. — I wake up and answer emails on my phone while lazing in bed. At around 9, my husband makes chorizo breakfast burritos while I work. I add avocado and tomato from our garden to my burrito. After breakfast, my husband and I sit outside to enjoy the nice weather. This turns into me falling asleep on the outdoor couch for a nice half-hour nap.
12:30 — I take the dog on her favorite hike close by our house. I haven't had a chance to work out all week and I know I'm supposed to stay active during pregnancy. After the hike my husband makes chicken Caesar wraps with the leftover grilled chicken while I (surprise!) work. And then our neighbors stop by to drop off fresh eggs from their chickens! I plan to make lemon bars for them using lemons from our backyard as a thank you.
2 p.m. — My husband and I go down our little beach town's main street to walk around. I buy two wrap dresses from a local boutique that will fit as my belly grows. $158
3 p.m. — We stop by our favorite bar to watch NCAA basketball. He has two beers and I have a root beer. $20
4:30 — I need a snack, so I buy toast with hummus, lemon, olive oil, arugula, and cucumbers from a café nearby. $5.50
5 p.m. — Some friends invite us over for dinner of tri-tip, roasted homegrown root vegetables, and sweet potatoes. Absolutely delicious! And I get to tell them about the baby, which is very fun.
8:30 p.m. — Our friends are going to a show at a local music venue, which we were also supposed to attend, but we waited too long to buy tickets and now it's sold out. (I'm not-so-secretly happy not to be going to the show, because I am absolutely exhausted.) We drive home while they Uber to the venue. Once our friends get there, they find someone selling a ticket and buy it for my husband, so I get back in the car and drop him off at the venue. (He pays them back, $30.) With work and the pregnancy, I haven't been up for staying out late, so I'm glad when my husband goes out without me. I get home at 9:30 and crash immediately. $30
Daily Total: $213.50
Day Seven
7:30 a.m. — I'm awake and answering emails. I plan on being lazy today; watching Netflix while working. I remember to take my nausea medication right when I wake up, and eat a Hawaiian roll to keep my stomach happy.
8:30 a.m. — I eat a banana and a couple of pieces of toast while watching Love on Netflix and working. At noon I can no longer keep my eyes open, so I take a nap. I sleep until 1:30, which is longer than I meant to sleep, but after this week, I think my body needs it. I wake up to several urgent emails and get back to work.
3 p.m. — I need ingredients for the lemon bars, so I head to the grocery store. Buy Buy Baby is in the same complex and my mother and sister have been hounding me to look into baby registries, so I walk through and get immediately overwhelmed. That place is a nightmare. I'll be doing all of my baby shopping online, thanks. At the grocery store I get powdered sugar and baking powder, plus everything else we need for the week: milk, chicken, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, carrots, potatoes, mixed greens, ground turkey, tortillas, cheese, bread, pickles, veggie burgers, and ham. It's amazing how inexpensive groceries can be when you aren't buying any wine. $86
5 p.m. — My husband picks lemons from our tree and juices them for me as I prepare the crust for the lemon bars. I love baking, but I love it even more when someone else does the hard part like juice a million tiny lemons for lemon bars or peel apples for a pie. I finish up baking the lemon bars but they need to set before I can arrange them. By the time they set, it's too late to bring over to the neighbors (they have little kids who go to bed early), so I'll have my husband run them over tomorrow while I'm at work. While I bake, my husband brings in the mail. One of my best friends from college sent me a hilarious card and a onesie from our favorite podcast – My Favorite Murder! I text her immediately to tell her how much I look forward to putting our little girl in the “Sweet Baby Angel” onesie.
7 p.m. — My husband cooks peanut chicken while I work. Then we snuggle on the couch and watch the new episode of Silicon Valley followed by Altered Carbon on Netflix and then Barry on HBO. I'm not sold on Altered Carbon, but I'm immediately into Barry. By 10:30 p.m., the Sunday scaries have officially set in and I'm not looking forward to another busy week. But at least this time I won't have to jet off to the other side of the country (that I know of). Time for sleep.
Daily Total: $86
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Now that we’ve confirmed that Rihanna actually is going to outfit our wild thoughts — and that her impeding #SavageXFenty lingerie line will be great for our sex lives (but bad for our wallets) — it’s time to get into the details of what to expect come May 11 when everything goes on sale.
Basically, Rihanna created the equivalent of Fenty Beauty and its expansive, inclusive product range, but for your underwear drawer. If you signed up for the updates on the brand’s website, then you already know that the collection includes bras in sizes 32A through 44DD and bottoms available in sizes XS to XXXL. The offering will include (gasp!) 90 pieces of lingerie, sleepwear, and accessories in its core line, broken down into four capsules. @badgalriri did not come to play — but honestly, when does she ever?
Here's what you need to know about the four collection: There's 'On the Reg,' a selection of bras and underwear in every shade of nude; 'U Cute,' which is full of lacy pieces; 'Damn,' which hopes to illicit that reaction exactly with its sexy rompers, garter belt sets, and bodysuits; and 'Black Widow,' which features cup-less bodysuits, half-cut bras, and open-back bikini bottoms. But the best part about all of this isn't how vast the selection and sizing is — it's how affordable the items are: Bras are priced from $29 to $59, underwear from $14.50 to $29, and corsets, rompers, jumpsuits, and robes from $69 to $99. Vogue is reporting that there will also be handcuffs in the mix, priced from $18 to $29.
“Women should be wearing lingerie for their damn selves,” Rihanna told Vogue in her May cover story. “I can only hope to encourage confidence and strength by showing lingerie in another light. You don’t have to stick to one personality with lingerie; it’s fun to play around. You can be cute and playful one week and a black widow next week. You can take risks with lingerie. I want people to wear Savage x Fenty and think, I’m a bad bitch. I want women to own their beauty.”
Remember the episode of Sex and the City where Samantha gets a chemical peel before an event? "I wanted to look fresh for the party," she tells Carrie. ”Well, you are,” Carrie replies. “You look like beef carpaccio."
Raw, red, burnt skin is not the desired effect of a facial peel, but the treatment actually comes with more pros than cons — and there is a new generation of peels changing the game. Scary words like “chemical” have been banned, and there's no need to fork out for an aesthetician to do the honors. With experts repeatedly advising against harsh and abrasive scrubs, the new peels are an essential step in your beauty routine. Designed to remove dead skin cells and restore the vibrancy of skin, fruit enzymes and natural acids head up the skin-friendly ingredients.
Keeping Samantha's mishap in mind, is there anything to be cautious about when using peels? "Not at all. Regular exfoliation is so important to maintaining healthy skin and maximizing the benefit of all products used on your skin," says Lou Riby, MD, of Elemental Herbology. "The key is to find the right product, follow instructions, and seek professional advice if you are not sure what to do."
Still, there are a few things to keep in mind. "Always ensure that skin is clean, and use it as a booster treatment — so once or twice a week will suffice," says Amanda Bell, global director of training and artistry for Pixi. "Make sure you rinse skin after use and really hydrate with a serum or oil. The skin will look immaculate and the texture will be improved." Hopefully you're all using a daily SPF as a matter of course, but it's even more important when using facial peels. "Skin will be renewed, so more at risk from harmful UV rays," warns Elemis co-founder and creator Noella Gabriel.
So there you have it: the revitalizing and glow-inducing new addition to your skincare regime. Ahead, we've rounded up our favorite facial peels.
The Ordinary's peel solution not only resurfaces skin, but decongests pores while it works.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, $7.20, available at The Ordinary.
Mandelic, lactic, salicylic, and phytic acids work together in DCL's pads to even out skin tone and prevent breakouts.
DCL Multi-Action Penta Peel, $65, available at Dermstore.
You’ve probably tried (and loved) this brand’s cult-favorite Glow Tonic, but these pads are also worth the hype — they fade scars, battle breakouts, and buff away dead skin cells all in one go.
The natural fruit enzymes make this cream exfoliator gentle and leave skin radiant.
Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, $45, available at Nordstrom.
Pads are a quick and easy way to incorporate peels into your routine — we love this antioxidant-boosting one from Zelens.
Zelens PHA+ Bio-Peel Resurfacing Facial Pads, $95, available at Barneys New York.
Apply twice a week for 10 minutes and the papaya enzymes will reduce dark spots and tighten your overall complexion.
Caudalie Glycolic Peel, $39, available at Sephora.
This mask is great for a Sunday evening bath — you'll knock 'em dead come Monday.
Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Peel & Reveal Revitalizing Mask, $36, available at Elizabeth Arden.
If you want to add some life to gray, tired-looking skin, this is the ticket. Swipe a few drops on a cotton pad all over your face before bed, and wake up looking fresh as a daisy.
There are plenty of all-star brightening ingredients in this formula — vitamin C! lactic acid! squalene! — but what truly sets it apart is its milky texture, courtesy of coconut milk, which prevents any irritation.
Dr. Jart Dermaclear Micro Milk Peel, $42, available at Sephora.
Perfect for the peel-pad beginner, these individual sheets are soaked with a potent blend of glycolic acid, witch hazel, and calendula extract to help exfoliate, clarify, and soothe, respectively.
Bliss That’s Incredi-peel Pads, $22, available at Ulta Beauty.
Nothing fits the millennial aesthetic quite like Saturday Skin's debut peel, but it's the gentle, enzyme-packed formula (which is safe for even the most sensitive skin types) that steals the show.
Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel, $28, available at Sephora.
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Yesterday, Glossier launched Lash Slick: a millennial pink, water-resistant, and non-clumping mascara, sure to be an instant hit among the brand's loyal fans. But if you were one of the first customers to place an order for the anticipated product, you might be getting an apologetic refund from Glossier today — and here's why.
Due to a copy error on the Lash Slick product page, the mascara was labeled as vegan. But in the ingredient list, beeswax is listed as one of the main components in the formula. After the discrepancy was pointed out in a tweet from user @jenhendrixx, the brand immediately issued an email apology to customers who had purchased Lash Slick before the inaccuracy could be amended on the site.
In a statement to Racked this morning, a Glossier rep said, “When we realized our copy error yesterday morning, we immediately updated our site and proactively refunded every customer who purchased Lash Slick before the mistake had been updated on our website. We do sincerely apologize for any confusion caused by this.”
Vegan mascaras are particularly difficult beauty products to come by because most do contain beeswax, an animal byproduct known for its long-lasting, conditioning qualities. And sure, there are plenty of other reasons to buy Lash Slick — it's easy to remove and completely smudge-proof — but if you're still looking for your new favorite vegan mascara, click ahead for some options we love.
If you loved Lash Slick for the thin, tiered wand, here's your next best bet. It gives an instant lash lift with a vitamin B complex that will have you wondering why you ever used non-vegan mascaras.
Adding cannabidiol (CBD) to a mascara may be somewhat controversial, but it's also innovative as hell. Found to be a conditioning agent, cannabis sativa seed oil is the vegan alternative to beeswax you never knew you needed.
Suiting is seen as modern armor, and its appeal is a no brainer: suits are equal parts utility, mobility, and easy sex appeal. A suit takes a second to put on and poof! Instant authority. For fall 2017, Raf Simons dubbed the suiting section of his Calvin Klein collection “Wall Street,” and for good reason: A suit works just as well to close a deal as it does to make an impact on the red carpet. Yves Saint Laurent and Marlene Dietrich figured it out. So did Hope Hicks. And now Zara has a mass-market piece of the pie, with a dedicated “suits ” section on its navigation bar.
But from what’s been shown on the runways in both September and February, the suiting iteration of the moment is evolving out of its ‘80s power idiom. Various designers are softening the angles of sharp tailoring and swapping in skirts as the bottoms of the traditional two-piece. Many of them are long or pleated, and moving into a direction that feels less 21st century, and more like the beginning of the 20th — and that might not be a coincidence.
2018 marks the centennial of the women’s suffrage movement in the UK, when some (but not all) UK women got the vote; the US and France followed in 1920 and 1944, respectively. Now, after a succession of seasons of Helmut Newton redux, this change in silhouette signifies a timely shift to a feminine softness and puts a refresh on ideas of conservatism. To advocate for wearing one recalls the tagline Diane von Furstenberg used to sell her signature wrap dress in the 1970s: “Feel like a woman, wear a dress!” But it also reminds us that the suffragettes of this first wave movement strategically wielded their wardrobes to further their cause. Branding is everything, and as the June 18, 1908 issue of Votes for Women told its readers, “You may think that this is a small and trivial matter but there is no service that can be considered as small or trivial in this movement.”
These women were regarded by society as highly dangerous rebels. But while someone like Emmeline Pankhurst, the activist and founder of the Women’s Social and Political Union, was known for her militant tactics like arson, smashing windows, and hunger strikes, she and her fellow sisters-in-arms presented themselves with immaculate consideration: conforming to the conventional Edwardian ideals of the era in long skirts, frilled blouses, tailored coats, and feathered hats. Their dress — fitting in with expectations of the status quo — belied any radical leanings. The suffragette Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, a co-editor of Votes for Women, also devised a color system — white for purity, green for hope, purple for loyalty and dignity — for participants in the movement to wear during rallies and parades, serving as a morale-boosting uniform. Common signifiers united these woman, while their clothing brought their actions — not their wardrobe — to the forefront of the conversation.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images.
Today, designers are innovating the decorous dress concept with their own versions of prim suiting — a move that can be seen as both a nod to the past and a reflection of our times. Take, for example, a dusty rose, ankle-skimming version with a double-breasted jacket and peaked lapel shown at Gabriela Hearst. The Uruguayan-born designer styled it over a skintight zip-up top, with a baseball cap and chunky boots, bringing the Victorian silhouette back down to earth. Max Mara leaned into a sense of propriety with skirt suits in check with a floor-length skirt or a tuxedo version with a knee-length pleat, while Louis Vuitton invoked the archetype of the Chanel tweed-wearing bourgeois French woman with an updated version layered over a slinky tank. Perhaps most subversively of all, at Calvin Klein, Raf Simons retooled the idea of an executive power suit with long-hemmed skirts (in pleats or thigh-high slits) anchoring oversized jackets, adding a protective shield from the elements: environmental, political, or otherwise.
Female power has long been tied to a pair of pants — wearing them was a provocative move by Dietrich, as well as Katharine Hepburn, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others. But breaking out of the rigid line of the power suit and adopting a strategy of “soft power,” to borrow a foreign policy term, allows the idea of softness to take a different approach — one that's a healthy, effective form of transgression.
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Even though I grew up in the years when landlines were still the norm and having one computer in the house was a rarity, tech has always been an important part of my relationship with my mom. As a kid, I remember her getting hooked on Sim Tower (just like I did) and teaching me how to create my first "magazines" using Microsoft WordArt.
During middle school, the paradigm shifted: Tech became a place to retaliate in typical, hormone-raging teenage fashion. My AIM account (may it RIP) was littered with away messages like "The parental unit is making me rake leaves — AGAIN " and "Can't believe I'm only allowed on here for an hour."
Nowadays, that early equilibrium has returned. I happily field questions about how to share photos and why people on Twitter care about Kanye, and she always answers my FaceTime calls when I need a vote of confidence.
Ahead of Mother's Day, I asked 15 women working in tech what skills they've taught their moms and, in some cases, vice versa. Ahead, a look at the humorous, heartfelt moments most of us with a smartphone and base level of emoji knowledge can relate to. Click through to read — and don't forget to FaceTime your mom on Sunday.
“For Christmas one year, I gave my parents a digital picture frame. I loaded it with photos of the family and had it up and running. My mom and dad loved it. A year later I was surprised to see they didn't have it out. They said it broke. Apparently they got another one, but that one broke, too. When I went to find it in the closet, imagine my surprise when I found 6 in there! Everyone of them, as they said, broke.
"Turns out this is code for, we don't know how to work it. Twenty minutes later I had them all up and running. While it was a bit of a pain in the butt to set them all up, it was nice to have six examples to run through so hopefully, this time, they retained the lesson."
"I taught my mom how to use emojis, and she now sends weekly updates of her garden with the exact emojis of the flowers in bloom."
Indy Prentice, Software Engineer, Pinterest
"In my house, my mom is the tech guru. When I was growing up, she taught me everything from how to use Excel to how to fix the printer. To this day, she shows my dad how to use his cell phone, keeps our internet, and my grandmother's, set up and up-to-date, and sets up group chats for her less tech-savvy friends to stay in touch. She has taught me that it’s possible for my tech skills to last a lifetime, and never to doubt the power of turning off the printer and turning it back on again."
Jyoti Sood, Product Manager, Instagram
"My mom started traveling on her own a lot to visit family. My dad and I would check her in online beforehand since she didn’t know how. But once she started flying Southwest each week, timely check-ins became a priority. Without fail, every week, exactly 24 hours and 1 minute before her flight, I would get a call from her reminding me to check her in so that she could get the coveted 'A' group seating.
"However, after a few poorly timed calls during All Hands meetings, appointments with the doctor, and visits to the loo, it was time to introduce her to the Southwest app. I showed her how to log in to the app, find her flight, and check-in at the just the right second to land herself a top boarding number. She’s been checking herself in for weeks now and has really mastered air travel. Next up is ordering an Uber from the airport!"
"While growing up, the experience of learning math and science was always somewhat natural for me. The study of language arts, on the other hand, was a completely different story. Fortunately, this has always been my mom's expertise. As a long-time English literature educator, she was my consummate private tutor. In fact, she proofread every essay I wrote from the time I could write.
"When I left home for college, however, this became a bit of a challenge. So, out of necessity, I taught my mom all of the document editing tools within Microsoft Word, then smart editing within Google Docs. She, even more than I, appreciated the evolution of these products as real-time collaboration became increasingly easier. To this day, she proof reads much of what I write. And we both know that no matter how old I get, she'll always be my favorite editor."
Tara Lydiard-Martin, Data Science Manager, Stitch Fix
"My mom has always been pretty tech savvy. She took a community college FORTRAN coding class for fun before I was born. But I did get to teach her how to replace the RAM and hard drive of her computer. She's big on reduce-reuse-recycle, so being able to upgrade her computer instead of throwing the whole thing away was a win."
Kathleen Barrett, GM, Vimeo
"[When I introduced my mom to Instagram] she couldn’t get past the fact that she couldn’t zoom in on photos. Now, she's completely surpassed me as a power user with live stories editing. And luckily they fixed the zoom in issue. (Good product feedback, Mom!).”
Sarah Bove, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Fitbit
“I sadly live across the country from my parents, but, thankfully, we are all iPhone owners. FaceTime is a must to stay in touch. Unfortunately, my mom still hasn’t gotten a handle on operating the correct buttons. Every time I FaceTime her, more often than not, the video ends up directed at her feet. Good thing she has lovely feet.”
"I taught my mom how to actually respond to a comment on Facebook instead of making it her status."
Dayna Isom Johnson, Trend Expert, Etsy
"First, I had to teach my mom how to text, which led to me explaining the appropriate use of emojis after she recently sent me an eggplant (in the context of cooking, of course). Now, every text she sends includes at least five emojis."
Kaijen Hsiao, CTO, Mayfield Robotics
"I got a call from my mom one day, and, flustered, she said, 'I don’t know what happened to my mouse. When I move it up, it goes down, and when I move it left, it goes right.' She had the mouse upside down the entire time. It was hysterical, but I’m not sure my mom thought so."
Christine Beaubrun, Web Developer, Crew
"My mom really prides herself on being self-taught — a trait she passed down to me — so she set a goal to be more tech savvy. We, the family, decided to test her, so we installed WhatsApp on her phone and let her fend for herself. Turns out, she really didn't need our help after the install, because shortly after she was sending us videos, photos, and reminders to eat healthy. She said, and I quote, "All I did was tap around the app and read the instructions. I can figure out anything as long as I have internet. I just write down what I would like answered and just research it on the internet.' Mom: 1 Kids: 0."
Rachel Glaser, Chief Financial Officer, Etsy
"My mother, an incredibly accomplished psychoanalyst, has had a mental block learning any new technology that came after 1985 or so. That would include cable television, Roku, internet, email, cell phones, smart keys, house alarms, etc. Every member of our family has helped 'teach' her and not always successfully. For instance, she didn't understand that to send a text, a light tap on the screen does the trick. Instead, she was holding down the send button and sending all her messages with effects, or not at all, and she was baffled as to why nobody was getting her messages."
Leslie Ikemoto, Head of Machine Intelligence, Google Photos
"I taught my mom to take screenshots during video calls because she always said take a picture! every time we talked to her. She loved that we’d be crowded together, smiling, and that my kids would do little tricks to make her laugh. Honestly though, she taught me the greatest thing I know about tech, which is that I can do it."
Linda Findley Kozlowski, Chief Operating Officer, Etsy
"I had to teach my mom about attachments in email. She was one of the smartest people I know, but for some reason attachments were just something she couldn't get for months and months. Once it finally clicked, a whole world had opened up and she was sending them all the time. She bought a scanner and next thing you knew I was getting newspaper clippings, photos and any family paperwork flooding my account."
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Since winning American Idol (season four) more than a decade ago, Carrie Underwood has built an enduring, enormous career, singing her way to seven Grammy Awards, selling more than 64 million records, recording 26 number one country singles, becoming the voice of Sunday Night Football, starring in an Emmy-winning musical, The Sound of Music Live!, and clocking a mother lode of other accomplishments entirely too long to list.
In her first TV interview since the ACMs performance, meant to promote her new activewear line, Calia by Carrie Underwood, Today ’s Hoda Kotb first asks Underwood to recount her accident, which sounds pretty scary: She fell on stairs and was badly injured with no other adults in the house while her three-year-old son (Isaiah, whom she shares with husband, NHL star Mike Fisher) was sleeping. But instead of asking the singer how she feels now (or better, about her latest work), Kotb then detours into irrelevant territory, complimenting her on looking “the same.” Online, fans were quick to chime in, applauding Kotb for the apparent praise.
Over on Underwood’s Instagram, the conversation continues, with fans and foes picking apart her face and even questioning her authenticity. “Where are your scars from your fall???” “Shame on you for leading your fans on about your face.” “She needs to get over herself… This woman won’t show her face over a tiny scar. She’s a superficial no talent.” The rants go on...
But here’s the thing: Whether we perceive Underwood as looking different is totally beside the point. What’s the use of qualifying someone’s personal experience — be it a superstar’s accident or an acquaintance's desire to change her appearance — based on how we feel they look? (Who hasn’t heard something along the lines of “you don’t need it” after sharing a decision to get Botox, breast augmentation, or even a hair color change?) If the change was significant to Underwood, then it’s significant, period. And, given she's made the choice to wear makeup over her scars, we also don’t know exactly what Underwood sees when she looks in the mirror every morning. "I have a dedicated team of professionals who can spackle and paint and paste. Every day I’m feeling a little more back to normal,” she told Kotb.
What’s more, provided Underwood didn’t come into the public eye as someone who trades on her looks alone, how is aesthetic continuity a win we’re celebrating here? If you ask us, the real upshot is that Underwood’s voice wasn’t damaged in her fall — and that she’s back, stronger than ever, co-writing, performing, and recording music that millions of fans love.
Mother's Day and food go hand-in-hand. Blame the tradition of breakfast in bed (an activity that, more often that not, just gives the gift of a dirty kitchen). Come May 13, your celebration will likely involve something edible.
Instead of going with waffles consumed while lying down, why not go with a food gift that will last well after Mother's Day is over for the year? After all, with all they've done, from bandaging booboos to explaining how tax returns works, one day is hardly enough.
We've rounded up 16 kitchen-friendly presents for the amazing women in our lives — the ones who appreciate good food as much as we do. Another plus? No counter cleanup required. Though, coffee is still encouraged.
This Brooklyn-born online marketplace carries small-batch and artisanal foods from a wide range of trendy up-and-comers — and now it's offering gift bundles curated just for mom. Each order arrives in a Farm to People-customized tote bag or wooden crate, full of speciality treats from raspberry-rose jam to watermelon lemonade dried fruit jerky.
Farm to People Mother's Day Bundles, $50-$100, available at Farm to People.
Who needs homemade sweets when mom can munch on these money honey caramels? Plus, a portion of the proceeds are donated towards benefiting bee populations.
A coffee mug that matches her sense of humor (versus just telling her she's the world's best mom, something she already knows).
Adam J. Kurtz I Like Coffee Mug, $19.95, available at Fishs Eddy.
Family recipes often live in scattered index cards, memories, inboxes, and favorite recipe books. Get them all in one place for good.
Cookbook Create Customized Cookbook, starts at $29.95, available at Cookbook Create.
The amount on the gift card is up to you, but the gift of not having to cook is priceless.
Grubhub Gift Card, starts at $10, available at Grubub.
For the woman who gave you your love of Masterpiece Theater, and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
First Edition Tea Co Pride And Prejudice Loose Leaf Tea, $12, available at Etsy.
Not all water bottles are created equal. Equal parts form a function, a removable infuser allows your recipient to brew teas or add fruit to her drink and the bright floral painting sets it apart from the pack.
Lulie Wallace Jardiniere Infuser Water Bottle, $34, available at Anthropologie.
A mini Chemex and hand-blown glass mug is the perfect starter set for the woman who is looking to dip her toes into fancier brews but might not be quite ready to say adieu to Mr. Coffee.
Chemex Urban Dweller, $62.50, available at Chemex.
Bliss and Baker's delicious, small-batch rice crispies are the brainchild of a mother-daughter duo, making Mother's Day the perfect time to give a box. (Just make sure mom shares.)
Bliss and Baker Gift Box, $24, available at Bliss and Baker.
Even if she already has a salad spinner, she doesn't have this one: the knob locks flat for easy, stackable storage, the brake allows the spinning to stop on a dime, and the bowl can be used alone for tabletop serving.
OXO Salad Spinner, $30, available at Sur La Table.
Multi-purpose kitchen heroes, these are great by the stove or on the table for salts, by the sink for storing rings, or anywhere you want to gaze on their gold-dipped elegance.
Fisheye Brooklyn Gold-Dipped Pinch Bowls (Set Of Two), $58, available at Food52.
Forget sandwiches and fruit salad — it's all about wine and cheese in the park or at the shore this summer.
Terrain Wine & Cheese Picnic Basket, $78, available at Terrain.
Mother knows best — so let her design her own granola and prove it.
Bear Naked Custom Granola, $9.99, available at Bear Naked.
Homemade kimchi in just three days.
Mother-in-law's Kimchi DIY Kimchi Kit, $19.99, available at World Market.
Starting at $79, adopt an own olive tree for a year in Italy. The gift allows family-run farms to stay in business and gets three 500 ml cans of own olive oil next spring once its been harvested. Can't wait till next year? add on a selection of oils with your purchase so there's no wait time to start enjoying organic, cold-press oil now.
Nudo Adopt 1 Delivery of Olive Oil, $79, available from Nudo.
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It's widely known that getting married can be expensive: For the typical wedding, there are venues to secure, DJs to pay, invitations to send out, and maybe a signature cocktail cleverly named after the newlyweds (or their wedding hashtag). In 2017, The Knot found that the average cost of a wedding in America was a staggering $33,391. But what's also staggering — and talked about a lot less — is the steep cost of simply showing up as a guest.
Attending a wedding can involve a lot of spending: There's the gift, the hotel stay, and the Ubers to and from. And, for those in the wedding, it's a whole other beast: the bachelorette party, the bridal shower, the bridesmaid dress, the hair, the makeup...the list goes on.
According to a Credit Karma study, almost 20% of millennials say they've spent more than $1,000 on attending someone else’s wedding. Nearly 30% admitted to feeling FOMO over missing one. And for some, it's a FOMO powerful enough to make them plop down their credit cards and spend money they don't have. The moral of this story is: Maybe we all need to start saving for our friend's upcoming weddings. (My friend group hasn't started getting married yet, but when we do, god help us all.)
So how much should you be saving for wedding season? Ahead, 10 millennial women get real on how much they save and spend to attend their friend's weddings.
"We're attending seven weddings this season. I'm in one of the wedding parties and my boyfriend is in three of them. The added cost of staying two nights instead of one in order to attend the rehearsal dinner and the wedding has added up quick. For the weddings that my boyfriend is in, the venues are high-end resorts in Maine, New Hampshire, and Cape Cod, that require the wedding party to stay overnight on the premises. We expect to spend a minimum of $2,000-$2,500 on lodging and gifts alone. The biggest cost for my boyfriend has been the bachelor parties he's required to attend as a member of the wedding parties. We agreed that this was a cost he would take care of on his own, and he has paid for a majority of it out of his own savings. We had hoped to get engaged ourselves this year, but it has proven impossible to save for a ring on top of all of the expenses that have come with attending other people's weddings."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"I'm specifically saving for bridal showers, wedding gifts, travel, and lodging."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"The goal is to save at least $2,000. My boyfriend and I set up an account that we each transfer a minimum of $100 into each month. We started saving for the 2018 wedding season in November of last year."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"Last year we attended five weddings and had to travel to Canada and California for two of them. We spent $1,500 altogether for the season, paid on our cards, which we took three months following the weddings to pay off. This year we really want to pay for weddings out of our savings as opposed to just putting everything on a card like we did last season."
Name: Mila Age: 29 Location: Toronto Job: Financial Service Administrator Salary: $45,000
How many weddings are you going to this season?
"I’ve been to two already this year. One was a destination wedding where I was a bridesmaid, so that one cost me about $2,000. The other one was local. I spent about $250 on the bachelorette party, $100 on the gift, and another $200 on miscellaneous stuff like accessories and Ubers. If I have another wedding to go to this year, I'll just be a plus one, so it'll just cost me about $100 for my gift contribution."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"I'm saving my vacation days! And the travel aspect of weddings, like hotels, excursions, and sight-seeing, has been the biggest budget-eater. All my friends live far from me, and most of the weddings I'm going to will require me to fly, so I just take my travel budget for the year and use that."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"I put away $500 per month into my travel fund, which I will use for destination weddings. If it’s a local wedding, then it comes out of my fun fund ($700/month), and then I might dip into my short-term savings if it gets to be too much."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"No, and no one is worth me going into debt for! If we're good friends and my presence means something to them, they would give me plenty of heads up. If not, then I don’t feel bad missing it."
"I have 13 weddings this year and I'm the maid of honor for three of them. I'm not attending them all, though – only seven. But three of the seven are destination weddings."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"All of it. I'm willing to spend the most on gifts, given these are all special, close, dear friends of mine."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"I'm allotting $1,200 for the weddings I am maid of honor in – trying to include hotels, dresses, gifts, and miscellaneous costs, as well as bridal showers and bachelorette parties. (None of these three are destination weddings – thank goodness.) For the destination weddings, I'm allotting $750 for hotels, flights, and gifts. I'm going to wear dresses I currently own – no need to buy new, and I'm not attending the extra activities for these weddings. For the last wedding, which is local, I'm allotting the most money towards the gift."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"No. I am a firm believer in not using what I don't have, which is how I came to attend the seven out of 13 and how I made my budget. I also saved way in advance and started a savings fund for weddings when my friends began to have more serious relationships in our late 20s."
Name: Abby Age: 25 Location: Kansas City, MO Job: Intern Architect Salary: $47,250
How many weddings are you going to this season?
"I'm invited to seven, and one has already occurred, so I have six left, with two destination bachelorette parties on the horizon. I've already spent $1,100 on an Airbnb I paid for up front that I'm still waiting on a few people to pay me back for, a flight, a deposit on another bachelorette which will cover my lodging and activities, a bridesmaid dress, gifts, and travel. I anticipate spending another $1,400 between the remaining dress, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, travel, and gifts. Overall, I anticipate $2,500 worth of wedding-related expenses this summer."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"The pre-wedding events (bachelorettes and bridal showers). I'm maid of honor for both my best friend and my sister (whose weddings are one week apart), and am fronting a lot of the costs for things until everyone else pays me back at the events. I am also mentally preparing for hotel costs, gas, and gifts. I don't have a set savings goal. However, most of my tax return went into buying plane tickets, securing Airbnbs, and buying dresses.
"I use the Tip Yourself app and throw in $2 every time I go to yoga (five to six times per week), $10 or $20 every Pay Day, plus any other time I'm feeling like I won't miss a few dollars. I've been able to save over $400 using just that route over the past six months, so I'm hoping I won't have to touch it until after the wedding, and that will be my reward for surviving it all. If not, I know I have a little safety net of funds to dip into, should I need a little help."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"To save on lodging, I'm staying with my sister for her wedding and for the other wedding, I'm splitting hotel and transportation costs with a friend."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"No, but things are definitely tighter than I'd appreciate them being."
Name: Alexa Age: 29 Location: Los Angeles, CA Job: Executive Assistant Salary: $60,000
How many weddings are you going to this season?
"I was invited to eight this year, and I'm attending six – two on the same freaking day! I'll spend around $2,700 this wedding season. I feel like Katherine Heigl's character in 27 Dresses!"
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"Everything! Mostly plane tickets and hotels. Half of my weddings are out of town and the others are having lavish out-of-town bachelorette parties."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"I save $100 per paycheck. I'm also eating out less and saying no to attending bachelorette parties unless I'm in the wedding."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"Four. Probably going to spend about $3,000 total."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"I'm in two weddings this summer, and both of them are out-of-state. This means that I'll be paying for flights to bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and the weddings themselves, as well as the costs associated with each event (alcohol, hotels, etc.). I also have to purchase two bridesmaid dresses. Honestly, it is all really expensive, and seeing how much members of the wedding party are expected to pay has led me to the conclusion that, if I ever get married, I am going to do everything possible not to ask these things of my friends and family. In addition to the weddings I'm in, I am attending two others as a guest, which also are out-of-state. I already have the flights, and plan to re-wear old dresses."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"I've been saving about $300-$400 a month since January to put towards wedding costs, in addition to the $400-$500 I deposit in my savings account every month. This has meant cutting back on things like entertainment and shopping, as well as making minimum payments on my car and student loans rather than the larger amounts I'd like to pay each month."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"Nope! Fortunately, I've been able to budget everything really well."
"One so far. I'm expecting to spend $700-$1,000. It sucks, but I'll do it."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"Pretty much all of it. I'm a maid of honor in my best friend's wedding, and it's been hard. I want her to have everything she wants, but also I'm splitting the costs with just two other girls. At the beginning, we set firm limits, but those went out the window. We all agreed to spend a maximum of $100 on the bridesmaid dresses, but I ended up paying $140. We have to wear specifically nude shoes, so I had to buy those. (Thank god I work in fashion, because my boss pulled some strings and got me my shoes wholesale price AND gave them to me as a gift – score!). Plus I bought $20 earrings. The bride was supposed to pay for hair, but she just got laid off, so now we have to pay individually. I'm going to practice doing my own hair to save money, but now she's saying I have to pay to get it done since the hairdresser is doing her a favor.
"I haven't even started the bachelorette party planning. I wanted a bunch of people to go so we could split costs, but the bride only wants the three of us there. Originally I wanted an Airbnb for the weekend, but that's too pricey, so now I'm thinking a girls night in, then clubbing one night and staying at a hotel, and then brunch the next morning. It'll probably be about $300. Since I live at home still, I'm thankfully able to save most of my paychecks and do this for her. But it hurts."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"In the beginning, I budgeted $700-$1,000 for everything. I have two savings accounts: one that accrues interest, and one that doesn't. I use my interest account like a retirement account, since I'm not technically a full-time employee. And my regular savings account is my account for emergencies, trips, and bigger bills – basically savings that I can touch if I need to. And then I have my checking account for spending and smaller bills. Of my roughly $600 weekly check, $200 goes to checking, $100 to retirement, and $200 to regular savings. So I'm hoping that a) I won't have any major expenses before her wedding, and b) that I'll have enough saved if I do."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"No. Thank god she's my only friend getting married so far. I'm not sure if I would ever be a maid of honor again. There's so many parties and clothes and shit you have to pay for that I didn't know about."
"Five weddings, and I'm a bridesmaid in one of them. With airfare, attire, various bridesmaid things, lodging, and gifts, I expect to spend about $1,500 in wedding expenses this year."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"Mostly saving for travel, airfare, and lodging. I'm most willing to spend money on travel because I like to try to extend wedding weekends and make mini-vacations out of them when I can. It's worth it if I'm getting a break as well! I also save for formal attire and accessories, which I usually just rent from Rent the Runway, because I hate wearing the same dress to back-to-back weddings, especially if they're in the same friend group and everyone will notice."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"I try to keep $1,000 in an account for 'surprise' expenses, which includes weddings — gifts, attire, travel, etc. I obviously want to spend as little of it as possible, but sadly, $1,000 is a normal goal during wedding season once you start factoring in plane tickets."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"I put expenses on my credit card for the points and then pay it off at the end of the month, but no — I love the people in my life, but their wedding days are not worth going into debt for!"
Name: Sara Age: 28 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Job: Assistant Director of Communication Salary: $50,000
How many weddings are you going to this season?
"I have three weddings this year. Two are out-of-state and one is in another country. It'll cost me about $4,000 total."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"I'm excited to get the chance to travel, but the plane tickets will be the most expensive since the dates aren't flexible. I'm willing to spend the most on hotels because I love nice hotels! I'll also have to get a nice dress (I've lost weight and don't have any that fit), a bathing suit for the resort wedding, gifts, and meals since I'll be traveling for all the weddings."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"One wedding is at an all inclusive resort, and I've already paid $200 towards the $2,000 stay. Those flights will also cost about $400. The other flights I'm anticipating will be about $600, plus a hotel. To save, I'm trying to budget my grocery bill and cut back on eating out. I'm an impulse shopper, so I'm trying to stop."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"Not yet, but I'm definitely expecting to carry a balance of about $1,500 due to these weddings."
Name: Sarah Age: 25 Location: Denver Job: Consultant Salary: $80,000
How many weddings are you going to this season?
"Four, so I think it'll cost me ~$1,500 altogether."
What part(s) of wedding attendance are you saving up for?
"I have four weddings in a three-month period, so I’m saving for everything: hosting a bridal shower, booking Airbnbs for wedding and bachelorette parties, buying clothing/shoes, and of course, gifts for all the couples. The bridal shower is what I’m willing to spend the most on – it's for my best friend and she deserves a great party."
How much are you trying to save, and what steps are you taking in order to do so?
"I’ve been putting away about $100-$200 a month from my budget towards these expenses."
Have you racked up any credit card debt as a result of attending weddings? If so, how much?
"I’m actually in the process of paying off all my current debt, and am not accumulating any new debt for these weddings. I've had to say no to a couple pre-wedding events just because I didn’t have the room in my budget."
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Imagine, for a second, that you could have a superpower — any superpower. What would you choose? Flying would be pretty righteous, provided you’re not afraid of heights; telekinesis means never having to get up off the couch mid-episode of The Crown to refill your wine glass ever again. Invisibility could save you a lot of embarrassment, the perfect escape tactic for those moments when the person who takes your ticket at the movie theater tells you to enjoy the film and you say, "You too!"
But the most super of all possible superpowers — the one thing that would make it worth a life newly devoted to saving the world while putting your safety, and the safety of your loved ones, at unfathomable risk — might just be the ability to snap your fingers and watch your breakouts vanish. Sure, it doesn't have quite the same sparkle as being able to shapeshift or read minds, but when it comes down to it, what wouldn't you do to be able to clear your skin instantly?
But back to earth: Superpowers aren't real, you can't buy an invisibility cloak at Zara, and there's no known incantation one can mutter to erase all their zits just like that. But in the absence of magic or molecular manipulation, these fast-acting breakout-fighters are the next best thing. And whether you're willing to pay $95 for a supposed miracle tonic or want to keep your budget around $5, there's a super-powered spot treatment perfect for you, ahead...
The price isn't a typo: This concentrated blemish-fighting formula is as potent as anything else you'll find on the market, and it's one of the absolute cheapest, too. With a strong dose of 2% salicylic acid to keep pores clear, and a special form of gentle, alcohol-free witch hazel, you can use this one to nix existing zits or use all-over for maintenance.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, $5.30, available at Sephora.
Everything you could ever need to stop a breakout in its tracks is hiding in this tiny-but-mighty tube, which incorporates salicylic acid, vitamin B3, azelaic acid, caffeine, and skin-soothing extracts of cucumber and clove in a vegan, cruelty-free formula that even helps cut down on redness and hyperpigmentation.
Tarte Blemish Bully Acne Spot Treatment, $16, available at Tarte.
Esthetician Renée Rouleau has a cult-like following of celebrity clients, beauty editors, and armchair skin-care enthusiasts alike — and this revolutionary anti-acne serum is one of her biggest hits. Unlike most other topical treatments, it actually delves deep into pores to reduce redness and inflammation associated with large, painful underground cysts that take forever to heal.
Renée Rouleau Anti Cyst Treatment, $45.50, available at Renée Rouleau.
To "put a band-aid on" a problem is usually a euphemism for covering something up without actually solving the root of the issue, but these waterproof patches do both. Stick one on a particularly nasty zit before bed and the hydrocolloid bandage will absorb gunk from pores and reduce inflammation overnight, all while protecting your skin from further irritation.
CosRx Acne Pimple Master Patch, $6, available at Ulta.
Why use one type of technology to fight acne when you can use three, all of which have their own unique way of doing it? Encapsulated salicylic acid penetrates pores without overdrying, active probiotics kill the bacteria that causes breakouts in the first place, and silver ions act as a natural antiseptic — all while camphor, zinc, and sulfur heal damaged tissue to help skin recover faster.
Sonya Dakar Blemish Buster, $29, available at Sonya Dakar.
It goes without saying that, if you're going to call something a "miracle," it better be good. Fortunately for fans of this powerful concoction, from the eponymous skin-care line of one of London's top facialists, it delivers on all fronts, using salicylic acid to clarify and a blend of soothing mint and rosemary to soothe and heal — not to mention how very, very chic it'll look in your bathroom cabinet.
Amanda Lacey Miracle Tonic, $95, available at Net-a-Porter.
You already know and love acne-spot patches — now meet the next greatest innovation in the world of things you can stick on your face. These detoxifying strips use the same hydrocolloid technology to absorb oil, debris, and impurities from clogged pores while zapping blackheads and refining skin texture with vitamin A, and unlike other "pore strips," they peel away gently and easily so you don't tear your first layer of skin off into the process.
Peace Out Peace Out Pores, $19, available at Sephora.
This unassuming tube looks like something you'd spot on the pharmacy shelf through the pickup window while you're waiting for your prescription — clinical, generic, not cute. But what's inside is a multitasking acne treatment that reads like a laundry list of everything you could ever need to fight a breakout: pore-purifying sulfur, clarifying Chinese skullcap, soothing vitamin E, brightening licorice, replenishing aloe vera, antioxidant-rich green tea...
Yes, the first thing that stands out about this hard-working spot treatment is the absurd price tag — but that sticker shock won't hurt quite so badly once you see what's inside. Formulated with a handful of ingredients you've already heard of (salicylic acid, willow bark extract, sodium hyaluronate, colloidal sulfur) and a few you probably haven't (horse chestnut extract, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, colloidal silver, kojic acid), the formula works in three phases, taking care of pre-, post-, and presently broken out skin while hydrating, too. Pat it onto blemishes straight or mix a couple drops in with your moisturizer; either way, $160 is a comparatively reasonable price to pay for clear, healthy skin.
111SKIN 3 Phase Anti-Blemish Booster, $160, available at Nordstrom.
Resist the urge to shake, shake, shake this cute little bottle, and just dip a cotton swab into the charcoal sediment on the bottom instead. It's a lot less entertaining than watching it all swirl around, sure, but the potent combination of calamine, zinc, colloidal sulfur, willow herb extract, salicylic acid, and — yes — activated charcoal nixes blemishes practically overnight. (Which, by the way, is when you'll want to use it.)
Boscia Charcoal Spot Corrector, $28, available at Sephora.
Has there ever been an easier way to "take care of" breakouts Tony Soprano-style than with this handy rollerball, which contains zit-zapping salicylic acid and tea tree and nourishing rosehip and vitamin E all in one bottle? No. There has not.
The Better Skin Co. Better Skin Zit No More, $18, available at Ulta.
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It's a PVC party! If you feel like you've been spotting see-through everything lately, you're not alone. And though Yeezy sort-of lit the trend back in Season 2, it wasn't until this past year that the craze really took off. Thanks to Chanel's spring/summer 2018 plastic-covered runway that took on everything from lucite thigh-high boots to holographic handbags, Christopher Kane's array of clear vinyl raincoats, and the myriad of other designers that invested in the translucent trend, we're all showing off a little more this season.
While we've been throwing our money at PVC handbags with the same fervor we did basket bags, it's the see-through shoes that are really next level. And with most of them coming in sandal and mule form, they're next on our list to conquer with open-toe footwear season on the horizon. So if you're ready to ditch your old school full-coverage shoes, step on ahead. We're ready to bare it all with these transparent picks.
Our hair is a very personal thing. For some, our style or texture represents our culture, heritage, and may even have historical significance. While for others, it's simply one of our many forms of self-expression. Either way, we all have a story hidden somewhere behind our signature style — whether we love to experiment with a variety of bold looks or we've learned to embrace the texture our mamas so thoughtfully #blessed us with.
On a quest to uncover what these personal stories might be, we partnered with Dyson and asked five women to divulge the meaning behind their hair style, type, cut, or texture — from one woman's story about an on-the-whim haircut to another's decision to go natural in order to set a positive example for her daughter. Plus, we asked pro hairstylist Sirsa Ponciano to give us tips on how to recreate each look using the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer and its unique attachments and features. Are we super nosy? Perhaps. But are we glad we asked? 1,000%.
Phoenix
Vintage Vibing “The time period that I’m most inspired by is the '70s — the bell-bottoms, chunky shoes, and matching sets were so awesome. But I’m also in awe of that time because people were standing up for themselves and protesting for what was right — almost, in a way, setting an example for what’s going on today. When I fluff up my hair, it gives me major vintage vibes and makes me feel confident and strong.”
New Standard “I used to wear my hair straight, trying to conform to beauty standards pushed upon me through magazines and media. Then, come high school, I started to embrace my heritage and got closer to my family’s West Indian roots. I realized that that connection was more beautiful than trying to conform.”
Tried & True “I strive to be an honest person all day, every day. Wearing my hair natural does just that — it represents who I am and where I come from, and I feel like I’m being true to myself. It feels easy to just be me. ”
After applying a curl cream or mousse, use the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer — along with its diffuser attachment specifically engineered for achieving curl definition and to help reduce expansion — on a low heat setting, being careful not to disturb your hair until it's about 90% dry. Then, you can start manipulating your roots to get it bigger by thoughtfully breaking up the curl pattern.
Haejin
Play It Up “While my hair is naturally straight, I love wearing it with slight body and wave to it because it actually makes me feel more mature. Growing up in Korea, our schools wouldn’t allow us to curl or color our hair. So after class, I’d always go over to a friend's house and play with my hair to try to look older. I feel like a professional adult when it’s wavy.”
Chop Chop “My bangs were cut on a whim about a year ago. At the time, I knew I wanted to do something new and interesting but didn’t quite know what. One night after a few cocktails, I asked my friend to just chop them — and she did! She ended up cutting off way too much, but I loved how they accentuated my face and freckles, so I’ve kept them ever since.”
On naturally straight hair types or textures that might not hold a curl well, always start by applying a blowdry lotion to damp hair. Then, separate your hair into six sections, and use a round brush and the concentrator nozzle, which delivers precise airflow, to add body in a snap.
Raschelle
Let It Go “Having grown up in Jamaica, we were always told to chemically straighten our hair so that it’s neat for school and easier to manage. Even now, my family wants me to keep my hair tidy, but I decided it was so much more important to me to wear my hair natural and keep it healthy.”
Born This Way “I have an 18-month-old, so I want to set a positive example for her that you can wear your hair any way you choose. I used to protect my hair with extensions, but I didn’t want my daughter to think that mommy has long, straight hair. No, mommy has natural curly hair with a different texture. I want her to see me embracing my natural self — and our culture.”
Curl Appeal “When I stretch my curls into a look that’s fuller, I feel more feminine, confident, and even sexier because, TBH, there’s more to play with!”
When diffusing delicate coily hair, avoid extreme heat damage and preserve your hair's natural shine by using the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer with its unique intelligent heat control. Dry your hair until your curls are fully dry — being careful not to disturb the natural curl pattern. Then, create your desired volume by lifting your roots with a comb or pick.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARLEY RIZZUT. DESIGNED BY ALEX MARINO
Lauren
Make Waves “I strive to be carefree in my day-to-day life, but in all reality, it's easier said than done. Sometimes my straight hair feels too severe and uptight, so I like to create fun waves that feel more me — relaxed and casual.”
See The Light “People always assume that blondes aren't very intelligent, and being a model on top of that doesn't help. I often get completely overlooked as an intellectual, yet I don't feel like I need to prove anything to anyone. The people who know me know that I have thoughtful opinions and can hold my own in any conversation.”
Change Up “I tend to get really bored with my hair, so I’ve been known to switch things up every now and again. I’ve gotten bangs, dyed my hair red, and even colored it blue for a shoot. Each look gives me the opportunity to be someone else or play up a different persona, which is always fun to experiment with.”
To create easy, loose waves with minimal heat damage, use a hair dryer with ultra-fast drying technology. Start by parting your hair down the middle. Twist the first section, and hold it with some tension. Blowdry until the first section of hair is completely dry, and then repeat the twist-and-dry technique section by section. Finally, pull apart your waves and zhush with your fingertips. If you want slightly tighter curls, simply part your hair into more sections at the beginning.
Helena
Sign Us Up “As an aspiring model, I always thought that I needed long hair in order to get signed to an agency. Then, two years ago, I was inspired by a singer I follow to cut it short and decided to just go for it. Funnily enough, within a couple months of making the chop, I got scouted and signed.”
Blurred Lines “When I had long hair, I always felt like I was hiding behind it in a way. I like to think of myself as a mix of both feminine and masculine energies, and now that I have short hair, I don’t have to pretend like I’m not. I like to blur those lines.”
So Freeing “While I do love my short hair how it is now, I’m not attached to it like some people are. You could shave it right now and I’d probably love it just as much! Many women are scared to chop their hair — I get it, cutting it short for the first time was freaky — but honestly, it’s become such a true expression of who I am. It was really freeing to just let it go.”
If you have naturally curly or wavy short hair but want to get it straight, use a flat brush and the concentrator nozzle attachment to create controlled airflow. Brush your hair back and forth from left to right — using your head and forehead as your guide to shape and smooth your hair. The technique is called wrap drying, and it’s super effective if you don’t want to use a flat iron.
For even more hair inspo — including hair tips, tricks, and more — check out these stories curated in partnership with Dyson.
On Phoenix: Creatures Of Comfort top and skirt, The Row shoes, stylist's own earrings. On Haejin: Kowtow top, stylist's own skirt and shoes. On Raschelle: Creatures Of Comfort jacket, top, and pants; stylist's own shoes. On Lauren: Creatures Of Comfort top, stylist's own pants and shoes. On Helena: Creatures Of Comfort tank top; stylist's own sweater, pants, and shoes.
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Update: The Kardashian-Jenner family has never been afraid to throw shade — and, apparently, they got that trait from their mama. Exhibit A: Included in Kris Jenner's very first makeup line alongside shades like "I raised you on mac n' cheese" and "It's snowing pussy willows," there's a color called, "Your sister's going to jail," Mic reports.
For those unfamiliar with the Keeping Up With The Kardashians reference, the quote comes from an episode in which Kim is taking selfies in the car ride while driving Khloé to the slammer for violating the terms of her probation (from an earlier DUI arrest). At least the family can laugh at themselves, right?
This story was originally published on May 8.
No meme in history will ever demonstrate a mother's unconditional love quite like the one of Kris Jenner holding a camera at her daughter's photo shoot saying, "Kim, you're doing amazing, sweetie." She is the definition of a supportive parent — and not just the kind that sends you flowers when you get a raise, but is actually responsible for your multimillion-dollar salary.
In fact, Jenner is behind every Lip Kit, sock deal, cosmetics line, E! spinoff, and perfume launch any of her six children put out — and she reportedly has 10% of the profits to show for it. But after more than a decade playing a supporting character in the Kardashian-Jenner family, it looks as if the momager is finally ready for her time in the spotlight.
Earlier today, Jenner hacked the Kylie Cosmetics Instagram account to announce a brand new line: Kris Cosmetics. The Instagram bio reads, "ONLY FOR A LITTLE 😉" and only one video has been posted since the hack with the caption, "Hey guys.. it’s me! and oh, my collection drops on Mother’s Day."
Never a family to leave you in the dark, she then shared the details on her brand-new lip collection (called Momager, because of course) via Instagram Stories, where she swatched a range of reds, pinks, and nudes in matte, velvet, and gloss finishes on her daughter Kylie's arm.
Pricing and the full range of shade names have yet to be revealed. We've reached out to the Kylie Cosmetics team for more information and will update this post when we hear back. In the meantime, get ready to see a Jenner makeup line you have (actually) never seen before.
Frequent visitors and the born-and-bred alike know that New York City is known for a lot of major firsts, like the first bank-issued credit cards, the first teddy bear — even the first plate of eggs Benedict was served in the kitchen at the now-shuttered Waldorf Astoria.
And in addition to being the original home to our favorite brunch entrée, New York is also the birthplace of the very first nail salon. Fast forward 140 years, and the city is home to more than a thousand of them. And while we can all appreciate giving ourselves a good DIY mani while binge-watching The Office, let’s be honest: Nail care is one beauty ritual that most people are happy to outsource.
To avoid the potential staph infections and design booklets of bad nail art, ahead are the go-to spots worth a standing appointment. Whether you're looking for one-of-a-kind designs or a simple gel manicure, these are the best New York nail salons to try today.
Sundays Nail Studio Highlighting the industrial architecture the city is known for, this Flatiron nail studio brings a down-to-earth vibe to the typical NYC salon. Somewhere between Southern California and Scandinavian style, the hidden gem is a minimalist's oasis — and not just because of the earthy interior design.
Founder Amy Ling Lin was determined to create a studio that provided safer nail care for clients without all the frills, but packed with plenty of wellness benefits. Aside from her own nail polish line (called Sundays, of course) — which is non-toxic, cruelty free, and vegan — Lin's salon also offers guided-meditation manicures for anyone looking for some R&R from the busy city.
Chillhouse Ever wish you could grab a cappuccino to sip on during your mani or follow up that gel nail art with a massage? Chillhouse makes it all possible. With an extensive service menu and an Instagram-worthy aesthetic, this newer favorite has it all — with a matcha latte on the side.
Bisou Looking for a one-of-a-kind nail art experience? Make an appointment at Soho's Bisou. It's the en vogue nail art haven cranking out original designs you haven't seen all over Instagram.
RounGe NYC If Cardi B didn't have a personal nail artist already on call, we could envision her stopping by this salon any time she came back to the city. The hotspot imports techniques, styles, and equipment directly from Japan and employs a team of skilled artists for the bedazzled designs you never knew you needed. But be forewarned: One manicure can take upwards of three hours. (In this video, R29 beauty host Mi-Anne gets a Sailor Moon-inspired set.)
Marie Nails The artists here make sure every manicure is photo-worthy and perfect down to the last detail, but we suggest booking an appointment far in advance — it seems the secret is out.
Nail+Spa Sakura Sisters Yumiko and Fumiko Kano have a long history of successful nail salons: The duo owned three spots in Japan before launching stateside, where they opened their first spa on the Upper East Side in 2007. Next came their serene Lower East Side haunt, which boasts a relaxing, sophisticated interior and a meticulous staff.
Nail+Spa Sakura, 35 East 1st Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-387-9161.
Photo: Courtesy of NAIL+SPA Sakura.
The Red Door Salon & Spa If treating yourself to a luxurious mani/pedi appointment at Elizabeth Arden's famous salon (Marilyn Monroe was a patron) is wrong, then who wants to be right? For your first visit, consider the Escape service, which offers a 10-minute hand and arm massage in addition to the hour-long treatment.
Delacqua Salon It's not cheap, but if you're looking for indulgence, this Brooklyn salon — which looks like a hipster tattoo parlor set in the Victorian era — is your spot. A popular service is the non-acrylic manicure using LNC gel, with some add-on 3-D nail art for drama.
Delacqua Salon and Spa, 2027 86th Street (between Bay 26th and Bay 25th Streets), Brooklyn; 718-266-1233.
Photo: Courtesy of Yelp.
Sweet Lily Natural Nail Spa Sweet Lily's nail philosophy is consciousness: The spa actively avoids the use of harsh chemicals, instead opting for safe, natural, yet still effective products. All of the hand and foot exfoliants are made on site, and the spa exclusively uses Zoya polishes, which are free of formaldehyde, DBP, toluene, or camphor. Treat yourself both vanity-wise and health-wise.
Jin Soon Natural Hand & Foot Salon Nail artist Jin Soon is a mainstay backstage at fashion week, where she consistently whips up gorgeous nail looks that quickly become trends. But her salon, of which there are multiple locations across NYC, is definitely a more low-key experience. The spot is known for its luxe add-ons, like a flower-petal foot soak, to give you a seriously relaxing spa experience.
Photo: Courtesy of Jin Soon Natural Hand & Food Salon.
Hortūs Nailworks An appointment for one of this LES mainstay's totally indulgent — and blissfully affordable — manicure or pedicure treatments will have you feeling like you just came back from one of those spa retreats Gisele gets to take. Listen to smooth jazz, sip cocktails during Hortūs Happy Hour (11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday), and talk it out with Jane, the owner, who might be one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet.
Hortūs Nailworks, 210 Forsyth Street (between Stanton and East Houston); 917-475-1558.
Photo: Courtesy of Hortus Nailworks.
The Nail Boutique Dying to try acrylic but never had the guts? The Nail Boutique has the liquid courage you need — we mean nail polish, of course. This boutique spa manages to be glitzy without forsaking cleanliness or professionalism. Their chief mission: to make you feel fabulous.
Essie Flagship Salon Situated inside Samuel Shriqui is nail legend Essie Weingarten's first-ever salon. Choose from over 300 of the brand's iconic shades (everything from Ballet Slippers to Mint Candy Apple) and sink into one of the oversized, lush leather chairs, which are just as colorful as the polish itself. It's a designer home for a household beauty name.
Essie Flagship Salon, 35 East 65th Street (between Madison and Park); 212-472-6805.
Photo: Courtesy of Essie Flagship Salon.
Bed Of Nails This Harlem nail salon is arguably the neighborhood’s most posh; owner Candice Idehen, who’s tended to models’ nails at global fashion weeks, has stocked her spot with premium lacquers from the likes of Chanel, Deborah Lippmann, Tom Ford, and Essie. When she’s not on set for magazines such as Bazaar and Vogue, Idehen still takes appointments at her salon. It might not be a bad idea to become one of her regulars before word gets all the way out.
Bed of Nails, 2272 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (between West 133rd and West 134th); 212-694-2200.
Photo: Courtesy of Bed Of Nails.
Paintbox So maybe you’re interested in nail art, but you don’t want your thumbnails to have 3D dinosaurs playing ping-pong while a Precious Moments kitten pounces on your pinky. That’s where Paintbox comes in. The spacious studio features a menu of chic seasonal designs all dreamed up by celebrity manicurist and creative director Julie Kandalec. A host of smart touches (complimentary beverages, iPhone charging stations) has quickly placed this spot among the city’s best beautifiers.
Paintbox, 17 Crosby Street (between Grand and Howard); 212-219-2412.
Primp & Polish No, this isn’t the cheapest spot in Brooklyn, and we’re not crazy about having to pay $4 more for Dior or Chanel lacquer. But we’re letting that go because of these three words: outdoor pedicure garden, where you can stretch out while your feet are massaged, your hangnails are removed, and your toenails are painted to a glossy shine. No need to worry about inclement weather, either — the patio is covered, so you can get groomed come rain, shine, or whatever crazy stuff Mother Nature throws at us next.
Primp & Polish, 172 Bedford Avenue (between North 7th and North 8th), Brooklyn; 718-384-3555.
Vanity Projects It’s not quite a gallery, exactly, but this space is so much more than a nail salon. Here, founder Rita de Alencar Pinto fuses two of her professional interests — fine-art curation and nail art — into a high-concept mani/pedi studio. Video-art installations play on the walls, while the “residency” calendar features a rotating roster of well-known nail artists such as Masako Sasaki and Jessica Washick.
Vanity Projects, 99 Chrystie Street, 2F (between Grand and Hester); 646-410-2928.
Valley Nails Dream it up, and chances are good that Valley can make it happen on your nails. Since 2006, this downtown salon has been decorating nails with everything from Degas to Warhol, The Hunger Games to Grumpy Cat — and, if you bring in an inspiration photo, your manicurist will be more than happy to translate it to your nails.
Tenoverten Better show up 10 minutes early for your mani/pedi — you’ll want the extra time to pore over Tenoverten’s massive selection of polish colors. Along with its excellent house brand of five-free lacquers, the salon has the latest hues from the likes of RGB, NARS, Essie, and Dior. As for the services themselves, the cheerful technicians and their obsession with cleanliness are top-notch.
Van Court Studio Looking for something natural and chic downtown? This non-toxic spa is for you. All of Van Court's polish options are five-, seven-, or nine-free (think: LVX, Floss Gloss, Deborah Lippmann, and more) and its creams and oils are natural and often organic. Did we mention that you can book an appointment in your home? Think Seamless for manicures.
Van Court Studio, 90 Water St. (near Gouverneur Lane); 212-509-2222.
Akiko Nails Into intricate nail art? Look no further than this LES nail shop. Here, nail artists borrow traditional Japanese techniques to create, well, anything you want. Not feeling so inspired? No problem: You can check out the gallery here or simply brainstorm with your technician, as the shop specializes in hundreds of designs.
Akiko Nails, 137 Rivington St. (near Norfolk St.); 646-841-6721.
Photo: Courtesy ofr Akiko Nails.
Local Honey This Brooklyn salon does it all — nails, lash extensions, brows, waxing, and more — making it a one-stop shop for all things beauty in Bushwick. Your options are unlimited, from nail art to a simple "quickie" manicure or pedicure. Bonus? The prices are super competitive.
Local Honey, 53 Irving Ave. (at Troutman St.), Brooklyn; 347-404-6139.
Pau Hana If you still think of everything south of Williamsburg as a no man's land, then avail yourself of this teeny-tiny nail salon in one of Brooklyn's most charming neighborhoods. The Hawaiian-themed decor is kitschy in the best way, and they have numerous organic polish options on offer, as well as your Essie and OPI favorites. Just be sure to book a chair well in advance — walk-ins are accepted and the seats fill up fast.
Pau Hana, 235 Court St. (at Baltic St.), Brooklyn; 347-223-4224.
ph7
This tiny salon is decked out in minimal decor, packed with non-toxic nail polish from floor to ceiling, and stocked with organic herbal tea. If you haven't already noticed, this salon boasts a mission statement that includes eco-friendly services, organic essential oil hand massages, and handcrafted wood furniture that looks like something Aidan Shaw made on SATC — with low-key vibes to match. A gel manicure won't cost you more than $50 and walk-ins are totally okay (although appointments are appreciated).
ph7, 227 Grand St. (between Driggs and Roebling), Brooklyn; 718-218-8586
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Most people associate their college years with long days in the classroom and even longer nights playing beer pong. However, we associate college with, well, creamy moisturizers and cult classic eyeshadow palettes. Yes, some of our best memories were made throughout those four (or, uhh, four and a half) years as an undergrad, but some of our favorite beauty products were found during that time as well. We may have left the hallowed halls of our beloved alma maters with memories, along with a mountain of debt, but the products ahead will stay with us forever. Or, at least until one of our loans is paid off.
"I couldn't afford anything but drugstore makeup in college, so I used to steal a swipe of this bronzer from my roommate before she'd wake up for class. She was not happy when she caught me redhanded one morning, but 10 years later, I'm the one sending Bobbi Brown bronzers to her." — Cat Quinn, R29 beauty director
"You wouldn't believe it if you met me now, but there was a period of time when I exclusively wore tinted lip balms and Burt's Bees' makes some of my favorites. The deeper shades (Rose is my favorite) are pretty pigmented but can still be applied easier without a mirror. I still use them to this day, in fact I have one in my purse as we speak." — Mi-Anne Chan, R29 beauty writer
"Mascara has been my ride-or-die beauty product since I stole a tube of my mom’s back in the sixth grade, but it wasn’t until college — when I discovered this gem from Covergirl — that I learned the true potential of my lashes. The pigment is dark, the plastic bristle brush is thick, and it rakes through every last lash, which means I could apply 8,072 coats before a frat party without ever having to worry about clumps. So while I’ve become a bigger fan of regular bristle brushes since graduation, this OG formula will forever remain my exception." — Kelsey Castañon, R29 senior beauty writer
"When I was a wee intern, I'd covet beauty sale days. I couldn't afford prestige products at their actual prices, and would make an entire list of goods to keep an eye out for when the editors cleaned out their closets. I somehow managed to snag this matte red that magically just... worked. Reds have always been hard for me to find, but this blue-based matte made me feel like an editor-in-chief. It's still my favorite to use when I need to boss up." — Khalea Underwood, R29 beauty writer
"I was in a sorority for three out of the four years of school. And during that entire time there was an abundance of Urban Decay Naked palettes scattered throughout our house (with Buck, the medium brown fifth in line, completely used up) because everyone bought this. Even if I don't wear it as often today (I prefer the Heat iteration), it's the one shadow kit I'll never toss." — Samantha Sasso, R29 beauty writer
"I'm doing a lot better these days, but in undergrad, my beauty routine was light on trial and heavy on the error. I went through an embarrassing number of brow pencils while I was learning how to fill my brows, but this one always stuck. It's thick and doesn't slip in my hand, and glides on waxy as it's made of vegetable, coconut, and soy bean oils." — Underwood
"I once kept my first NARS blush for over five years. Although it looked like it was on its last leg months before I even declared my major, I kept this shimmery, cult classic around until I finally had to bid it farewell. Still, I've got a fresh one in my vanity for those days I'm feeling nostalgic." — Sasso
"The first thing I learned going to school in Missouri was how to tease my hair. We'd spray so much of this stuff on the floors of our sorority, you'd see a cloud coming out of the hall bathroom. It's a great hairspray, though, so I still use it to hold my loose waves — not a midwest bouffant." — Quinn
"Not sure which rock I was under, but I had no idea what highlighting was back in the day. However, I did know that a few brushes of this gorgeous bronzer (another score from a random beauty sale) made me glow like J.Lo — and I can't complain about that. Now, I use it on the apples of my cheeks when my complexion's a little drab... and I'll top it off with a gold highlight on my cheekbones, too, when I really want to sparkle." — Underwood
"I also discovered this thanks to a roommate who'd let me borrow a spritz before sorority date parties. It takes me back to fall nights with cheap wine, flannel, and hayrides, which in hindsight was a very odd choice for a summery citrus fragrance inspired by Capri." — Quinn
"Clinique has been a mainstay in my abuela’s makeup stash for as long as I can remember, so I was proud to make this pretty green compact my first Big Girl beauty purchase out of high school. Eleven years later (oh god, did I just say that out loud?) and the powder is still an old faithful that leaves behind a semi-matte finish, which looks just like skin." — Castañon
"This became my 'special occasion' fragrance far before I even had any real, special occasions to go to. Thankfully, I had an intuitive ex who bought me this bottle that smells like sexy witches brew. The woody, vanilla, sandalwood scent was my go-to up until I graduated. Now, I keep it safe at my parents' house back in Connecticut so I can savor the last few drops that remain." — Sasso
"I have eczema, so I like to keep a cream in my purse that doubles as a hand cream and an eczema balm in a pinch. This dermatologist-tested cream is one of the only non-steroids that has made a difference in my flare-ups. It contains colloidal oatmeal, allantoin, aloe vera juice, and shea butter to keep me from scratching. I recommend it to anyone who will listen." — Chan
Another week, another new load of Zara arrivals to lust after. While we're accustomed to overflowing our online cart as a holding spot for everything we're itching to buy, we're not above looking for other options to narrow down our search. With spring quickly approaching, color is rampant, so I'm testing out utilizing a ROYGBIV accordant guide as my new shopping compass.
It helps that color coding is inherently pleasing, and having a store auto-filtered via a rainbow palette helps make my buying decisions that much easier. If I'm on the hunt for a pair of white sneakers or a pantone adjacent sweater to match my new lavender trousers and can find them all in their pretty little color-coded place, I like to think I'm less likely to add a stockpile of unnecessary items to my shopping list. That's why I've neatly tied all of Zara's spring/summer essentials up into one cute rainbow-hued bow. May this make your — and my — shopping excursion that much simpler.
By day, Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti defends the adult film star against the Trump administration's brutal attacks. By night, he is apparently a heartthrob among the moms of Facebook. Well, not just moms. And not just Facebook. But a lot of people seem to think he's hot.
Avenatti is known for his brash persona: He takes no bull from Trump or anyone else, and signs his tweets #basta to punctuate his punches. He lives a fast and furious lifestyle, racing cars in his spare time. Hollywood has even come calling for him. But most importantly, he demands that Daniels be taken seriously.
Maybe this is why people can't stop crushing on him on social media. There's even a private Facebook fan club dedicated to him that calls him the "sexiest man alive." (Included in the description: "If anyone can take down the Orange Trumpty Dumpty, its Michael Avenatti!!")
Here's what people on Facebook have to say about his hotness.
This person loves his way with words.
A friend responded: "I'm SO glad you shared this ... I think he is pretty hot ... not particularly good looking, but he has that aura of someone who knows EXACTLY who he is ... I also like the way he speaks about his client ... I thought I was the only one ... I do think he has an incredibly sexy mouth ..."
This Facebook user also appreciates Avenatti's ability to speak in complete sentences. (Are we dropping the bar all the way to the ground, ladies? JK.)
#Dimples.
Kind of a douche, but still hot.
"Intelligent, smooth, and takes no crap!"
Many people are speculating that Avenatti could be the one to finally bring down Trump, so it's no wonder he's the pinup boy of the #Resistance. We have reached out to him to ask how he feels about having a fan club, and we'll be sure to update this story when we hear back. #Basta.
