In an age in which countless categories of skin care offer exceptional twofers (see: serum foundations, overnight masks, skin-nourishing makeup primers), is it enough for sunscreen to do just one job, protecting skin against UV rays and leaving it at that? In our opinion, no — and especially not when there's such a high demand for sunscreens that simply do more.
Luckily, the beauty industry is right there with us. Some of the newest SPFs build on our expectations for non-greasy, non-chalky sun protection by offering formulations with serum-like benefits built right in, to help fade dark spots, offer DNA repair, hydrate skin, and more.
That old idea of layering essences and serums and moisturizers onto skin before busting out the SPF? It’s becoming a little less vital, thanks to the latest iterations. The best options for your skin type, along with tips from New York-based cosmetic dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD, and Los Angeles-based dermatologist Ronald Moy, MD, ahead.
Premature Aging
Dr. Moy notes that SPF only measures redness, not DNA damage and aging — a major oversight, as far as he's concerned. So he created this sunscreen packed with plant and marine-based DNA repair enzymes geared to target and repair damaged DNA, something that may be particularly helpful after the age of 30, when our own DNA repair enzymes start to decrease.
DNA Renewal DNA Sheer Defense Medium, $65, available at DNA Renewal
DNA repair enzymes are the star of this SPF: They not only help weed out more immediate damage to the DNA strand inflicted by free radicals, but also target damage from previous sun exposure.
Priori Tetra fx250 Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen, $90, available at Priori Skincare
Dry Skin
We wish we had this hydrating, phthalate-free fluid when battling the elements — and flaky skin — while at Coachella. Ingredients like squalene, glycerin, and dimethicone serve as hefty hydrators while mineral actives help block UV rays without leaving skin tacky.
Biossance Squalane + Mineral SPF 45, $39, available at Sephora
Dull Skin
As Dr. Shah notes, some go-to skin brighteners, like AHAs can make skin more sensitive in the sun. But that doesn’t mean sunscreens can’t include tried-and-true radiance enhancers. "Vitamin C and niacinamide can also be helpful,” she says. This oil-free moisturizer with SPF 50 contains both ingredients to help brighten, protect, and hydrate — all in one shot.
Eve Lom Daily Protection + SPF 50, 50ml, $90, available at Neiman Marcus
This liquid sunscreen doesn’t just feel like a serum going on; it’s made to work like one, too, thanks to the inclusion of kiwi fruit extract to help brighten and peptides to address fine lines and wrinkles. A drop of highlighter mixed into the formula also made our skin look healthier instantly — so much so that we walked around thinking we were having the best skin day and totally forgot it was the sunscreen doing the work.
Volition Prismatic Luminizing Shield SPF 50, $35, available at Volition
Hyperpigmentation
With ingredients like niacinamide, linoleic acid, and licorice, this derm-developed sunscreen is primed for those battling hyperpigmentation and focused on helping prevent new dark spots from forming.
Specific Beauty Active Radiance Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30, $46, available at Amazon
Acneic
“Acne-prone skin should use an oil-free, non-comedogenic sunscreen,” Dr. Shah says. With a proprietary ingredient shown in studies to to reduce excessive oil production and the proliferation of oil-producing cells, this liquid formulation is a great choice for those who are prone to breakouts and hate using a thick cream. What’s more, it’s also free of chemical actives, fragrance, and oil.
Avène Mineral Light Mattifying Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+, $28, available at Avène
This liquid formula melts into skin, leaving no greasy feeling behind, and contains witch hazel to help control oil production, according to Dr. Moy.
“Those with sensitive skin can benefit from avoiding irritating ingredients, such as fragrance and dyes,” Dr. Shah says. "I also generally recommend sticking with mineral sunscreens as they are less likely than chemical sunscreens to cause a reaction." This option does one better by including skin-calming ingredients, like licorice root and green tea, among a host of other plant-based skin nourishers.
Vive Sana Serum Crema, $75, available at Vive Sana
A fragrance-free physical UV protector stocked with skin-calming ingredients like chamomile, calendula, and cucumber, and the hydrating power of hyaluronic acid? Sign us up.
HydroPeptide Solar Defense Non-Tinted, $48, available at HydroPeptide
Oily Skin
This oil-free sunscreen includes lactic acid to help slough off dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores, along with niacinamide, which not only brightens skin, but helps minimize the look of large pores and uneven skin tone.
Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, $33, available at DermStore
This derm-created mattifying formula not only helps even skin tone with a universal tint, but taps just about every ingredient in our favorite serums (resveratrol, vitamin C, green tea and Coenzyme Q10), too. It also happens a go-to pick for Angelina Jolie.
Dermbasics RR Perfection Cream, $48, available at Rhonda Rand, MD
Redness/Rosacea
If your skin is already prone to redness, the prospect of getting a sunburn can feel twice as bad. This moisturizer replacement is tinted green to help immediately counter redness, and it's made with tiger grass (also known as cica), which helps counter inflammation and redness. It can also help repair the skin barrier, according to Dr. Shah.
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair ™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30, $52, available at Sephora
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As much as we hate to let the weather dictate what we wear, there comes a point each year when we have to succumb to what's happening outside and, well, just deal with it. And that moment may be right now. With temperatures nearing the 100s and humidity levels that leave you feeling like you just took a shower, getting dressed in the morning becomes less about style and more about survival. But it is possible to make an outfit that does both?
While we may not have cracked the code just yet, we have unfurled a few hacks — stick to breezy dresses, try a bathing suit as a top — that (in our opinion) make summer dressing slightly more bearable. Ahead, you'll find 31 looks that make warm hot weather style look easy, even when it feels like it's too hot to wear anything. Because if it's 100 degrees outside, your outfit deserves to be a 100 too.
Have you met 2018's version of the gladiator sandal, the lace-up?
See-through bags may have been around since February (at least), but they seem most at home with a summer dress or pair of shorts.
In this economy, $4.69 isn't going to get you very far. Even at the drugstore, the pack of gum and Burt's Bees lip balm you realize you need when you're standing in the checkout line can easily run you over a five-spot. Same goes for the box of assorted plastic cutlery you said you'd bring to the Fourth of July BBQ, a pack of scrunchies, or the clear top-coat polish you grab to re-shine your at-home manicure.
When you're talking about pinching pennies, it seems best to just avoid CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and Target altogether — unless you're a glutton for punishment, or plan to take up coupon-cutting. So, given the learned in-and-out mentality in which we often enter our go-to corner store, strategically avoiding the makeup section when we go in for toilet paper, you can imagine our surprise to find that, hiding in the triggering beauty aisle, there's a creamy liquid highlighter that costs just under $5 — and it's better than some cult-favorite $40 formulas.
Wet n Wild's Hello Halo MegaGlo liquid highlighter is the ballin'-on-a-budget highlighter that's perfect for summer. Find out why we're obsessed, see the swatches of the 6 illuminating shades, and shop them all in the slides ahead.
Wet n Wild's liquid highlighter is a creamy liquid version of the brand's best-selling powder compacts, housed in a cute glass bottle that makes it feel more luxe than its $4 price tag. Fans have dubbed the blendable illuminating formula a dupe of the Cover FX Custom Enhancer drops, which retail for $42, but we think the drugstore brand is in a class of its own: It comes with a spongy, easy-to-apply doe-foot applicator and is available in the most gorgeous range of shades, from golden bronze to pale pink to iridescent white.
The consistency is also top-notch, thanks to the formulation of grapeseed oil, murumuru seed butter, and vitamin E, all which help make the creamy highlight glide over the skin, leaving a dewy glow that doesn't get chalky or cake-y with wear. For application, you can dab the velvety-smooth formula directly onto the high points of your face with the wand, or you can swatch the pigment on the back of your hand and apply it with a Beautyblender or your fingers for a softer finish.
@wetnwildbeauty
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Have you ever fallen down a shopping rabbit hole? You know, when one awesome brand leads you to another with a similar aesthetic, and then another, and then another? That's basically what happens when we shop onTictail. Every two weeks, we'll be teaming up with the site — which makes it easy to discover emerging brands from around the world — to unearth a selection of labels you probably don't know about, but definitely should. Prepare to open a LOT of browser tabs.
If we're being real, it's currently too hot to be fully clothed. That's why, over the weekend, we've been sticking to swimsuits as bodysuits, easy mini dresses, and athleisure pieces that can wick the inevitable sweat dripping from who-knows-where. But during the week, societal norms unfortunately require many of us to wear, well, actual clothing.
Luckily, light, natural materials like linen and straw are both trendy and practical for nearing-100-degree heat — because since we can hardly bare to wear clothes at all, we're definitely not looking to wear synthetic fabrics. Since this weather has it feeling like vacation even though it's not, we might as well dress for it, right? Ahead, our friends at Tictail have curated the summer staples that look and feel cool whether you're on a boat in the South of France or just the subway platform at Union Square.
“This summer dress checks all the boxes: loose, breathable, shows just the right amount of skin — and it has pockets.”
“Keep the sun out of your eyes and look good doing it with a hat that’s just as chic in the city as it is on the sand.”
Ashley Summer Co. Straw Hat, $29, available at Tictail
"With its wooden beads and crocheted construction, this little bag was made for the beach.”
Brunna.Co Wooden Beads Bag in Natural White, $52, available at Tictail
"This woven bag is handmade using palm leaves from the Portuguese countryside, which means you can carry a little piece of paradise with you wherever you go.”
Mikanu Mini Round Basket, $34, available at Tictail
“Is there anything more versatile than a button-up linen T-shirt? Why yes, because this style from South Korean brand CO/RCA has a cute belt that adds details in all the right places.”
Corca Linen Tied Shirt, $130, available at Tictail
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The next major fashion exhibition to open in London was announced this weekend with a cryptic message delivered via topiary hedges outside the British Embassy in Paris. In town for the haute couture shows this week, fashion editors would recognize the silhouette almost immediately — even in bush form: Christian Dior’s iconic Bar jacket, an essential component of his revolutionary 1947 collection The New Look.
The bushes told them that the rumor was true. The blockbuster Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition held at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris from last summer until January 2018 would travel across the channel to London. Opening in February 2019 at the V&A, the retrospective will be the museum’s largest show since Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty in 2015, and the largest Dior exhibition ever staged in the United Kingdom.
Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images
More than 200 rare Dior couture garments will be shown, from Christian Dior’s original designs to Maria Grazia Chiuri’s contemporary feminist T-shirts, via the work of historic creative directors Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, and Raf Simons. The pieces will be shown alongside accessories, makeup, fragrance, photography, film, magazines, and Christian Dior’s personal possessions, with a special new Anglophile section exploring Monsieur Dior’s relationship with the UK.
"In 1947, Christian Dior changed the face of fashion with his 'New Look,' which redefined the female silhouette and reinvigorated the post-war Parisian fashion industry," says Oriole Cullen, a fashion and textiles curator at the V&A. "The influence of Christian Dior’s design was all-pervasive and helped to define an era. In their own individual ways, each of the House’s successive artistic directors have referenced and reinterpreted Dior’s own designs and continued the legacy of the founder, ensuring that the House of Christian Dior is at the forefront of fashion today. More than 70 years after its founding, the V&A’s exhibition will celebrate the enduring influence of the House of Dior and uncover Dior’s relationship with Britain."
Christian Dior with model Sylvie, circa 1948.Courtesy of Christian Dior
It will be interesting to note whether the V&A’s exhibit will explore the evolving politics of the House of Dior, from Christian Dior’s reactionary post-war vision of femininity to Maria Grazia Chiuri’s modern "We should all be feminists" mantra (taken, of course, from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s lecture and essay of the same name). Of his New Look, Christian Dior once wrote, "We were emerging from the period of war, of uniforms, of women-soldiers built like boxers. I drew women-flowers, soft shoulders, fine waists like liana and wide skirts like corolla." That first sentence is generally cut from quotations, presumably to make the second read as a statement rather than as a judgement. In fact, some feminists blame Dior’s cinched-waist Bar jacket and swishing skirts for setting the revolution in gender roles back a decade to the pre-war period.
Écarlate afternoon dress, Autumn-Winter 1955 Haute Couture collection, Y line. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.Photo by Laziz HamaniSoirée de décembre evening dress, Autumn-Winter 1954 Haute Couture collection, H line. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Gift of Dame Margot Fonteyn. Photo by Laziz Hamani
Dior’s experiences as a young man in Paris in the 1920s and his affinity with avant-garde artists contextualized the Paris exhibition, and demonstrated how later creative directors took inspiration from his life and interests. Similarly, the couturier’s passion for the aesthetics of foreign cultures will butt up against contemporary debates around cultural appropriation, but it would be a shame to bypass the opportunity to discuss how we value fashion statements from historic periods, when being woke simply meant you had been roused from sleeping. And with the V&A promising to create a blockbuster exhibition to follow Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, it will be thrilling to see how they recreate the stunning finale of the Paris exhibition, in which couture gowns — many worn by celebrities and royals — were presented in a spectacular Dior ballroom.
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams will open from 2nd February – 14th July 2019 at the V&A Museum. Tickets go on sale in autumn 2018.
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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.
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Today, as part ofYour Spending In Your State:an engineer working in government who makes $85,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on a new pair of trail runners.
Occupation: Engineer Industry: Government Age: 32 Location: Denver, CO Salary: 85,000 Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): ~$2,100
Monthly Expenses Mortgage, Insurance & Property Tax: $820 (The total is 1,670, but I currently have a roommate who pays $850) Car Loan Payment: $375 (My parents loaned me the remainder I needed to pay cash for my new car since interest rates were so high, so my payment goes to them. We agreed I'll pay off their loan in three years, though I'm going to do it sooner.) Medical Insurance: $34.12 Dental Insurance: $4.46 HSA: $50 Identity Theft Protection: $14.99 Life Insurance: $12.35 Pension: 8% of salary (My employer contributes 11.5%.) 457(b): $50 (but I need to up it) Transit: $10 (My employer heavily subsidizes the EcoPass to promote multi-modal transportation, so I can go anywhere with this.) Car Insurance: $100 Gym: $25 Cell Phone: $53 Cable, Internet & Netflix: $82 Electric & Water: ~$100 (roomie pays half) Savings: $500-800 (depending on extra income)
Additional Expenses Amazon Prime: $100/year
Day One
7:45 a.m. — I wake up in my friends' guest room and get up for a workout class. I flew to Houston last night for a college friend's wedding, and my friend and I want to get a workout in before the wedding. She's a member of an outdoor boot camp that lets her bring friends for free.
8:23 a.m. — We are barely through the warm-up and I know my core is going to be so sore.
9:15 a.m. — DONE! I can feel those endorphins, damn. We head back and make eggs and toast, do a bunch of stretching, and then head to the grocery store while my friend's hubby goes for a run. Since they already have wine and liquor, I pick up snacks and craft beer for the three of us and our other friends who are driving in today. $42.63
12 p.m. — We realize we forgot champagne for brunch tomorrow, so we run back to HEB and each get a bottle. $9
1 p.m. — I check a few work emails just to make sure there are no emergencies. Still haven't showered, so a beer in the hot tub seems like a good call. We relax there until the other couple arrives, and then we start to get ready.
5:20 p.m. — We arrive at the wedding on the other side of town. Luckily the couple I'm staying with is splitting driving duties, so we don't have to drop $$$ on Ubers.
7 p.m. — Reception time. The venue is at a flight museum with a ton of old planes, so we get drinks and walk around taking pictures. Most of us post up around the bar after dinner, talking and catching up until the bride requests more presence on the dance floor. I toss $10 in the tip jar for the night. $10
9:30 p.m. — The bouquet toss. I'm perfectly happy with my single status in Denver, but then I come to the South and am one of only three ladies above the age of 23 who is single. One of the 10-year-olds snags the bouquet.
Daily Total: $61.63
Day Two
9 a.m. — Wake up for brunch with a group. I decide my hair looks good enough and head downstairs.
11 a.m. — Armed with our BYO champagne, we arrive at a cute bakery and restaurant. I order a croissant with turkey, egg, and brie, plus a side of fruit and potatoes. My friends order a huge almond croissant for the table to share. $13
1:30 p.m. — Tour de Houston. We see a beer can house and a cool water feature, and then head to a new brewery near my friends' house. I try out three different beers. $14
5 p.m. — Back at the house to relax. In the midst of this, we find out our pregnant friend, who was at both the wedding AND brunch, has gone into labor. We cheers to her new daughter for the rest of the night.
7 p.m. — There's a sushi spot around the corner, so we head there for dinner. The other out-of-town couple pays for my first round of sake since I bought all the beer, and then I cover the dinner tab as a thank you for the free crash pad. $67
9 p.m. — Back to the house. We go in the hot tub, shoot pool, and drink beer.
Daily Total: $94
Day Three
9 a.m. — Wake up to breakfast tacos! I pack up my suitcase after eating and we head to the airport.
11 a.m. — Despite the long weekend, I can't ignore the siren call of a frozen margarita from the airport Pappasito's. The ones in CO mostly have the consistency of Sno Cones, so I want the real thing. $12
1:30 p.m. — Land back home after sleeping the entire flight. I will never understand how it takes people so long to get off a plane. I make it on the train about a minute before it departs!
2:30 p.m. — On the train, I check the bus schedule and realize I'll have to wait 40 minutes for the one that goes by my house, so I call an Uber once I'm off the train. $8.91
3 p.m. — I lay in bed for a few minutes before being roused by my friends who are at a pup-friendly patio. I suck it up and head to meet them. I'm greeted by a Golden Retriever puppy and a Frenchie, so life is as it should be. I order a beer because I don't want to be a jerk taking up space on a packed patio without getting anything. $8
5 p.m. — One friend and I head to her house to talk more. She's messaging an older dude about their date tonight, and he's communicating terribly. (Why date "more mature" men if they're actually not?!?)
7:30 p.m. — I head home with the intention of cooking and unpacking, but I watch one episode of Schitt's Creek (it's hilarious), and then decide I'm not leaving the couch.
11:30 p.m. — Wake up on the couch and decide at the least to brush my teeth. I have to use a special fluoride toothpaste after years of grinding my teeth, so I also make an effort to use that. Pop in the night guard and transition to my actual bed.
Daily Total: $28.91
Day Four
7 a.m. — Roll out of bed and get dressed for the day. I don't wear a lot of makeup to work (a mixture of laziness and my skin being decent enough), so getting ready doesn't take me much time. I make a quick protein shake, drive to work, and pay to park. I have a phone interview today and can't really do that in my cubicle, so I'll do it in my car. $5
10:30 a.m. — Sneak down to my car for the interview. I can tell that it doesn't go great. Oh well. I'm not looking for a new job very intensely, but just keeping an eye open.
12 p.m. — Eat a frozen TJ's bowl. Browse REI and finally bite the bullet on a fresh pair of trail runners, just in time for summer! After my member coupon, they're $73, but I have a rebate gift card from buying new tires, so I use that to cover it.
3:30 p.m. — I have a meeting to kickoff a new project, which goes fairly well. Working in local government, there are a lot of people who think their department or interest is the ONLY one, and a big part of my job seems to be reining them in and making them all work together.
4:50 p.m. — Munch on an apple for my afternoon snack and buy a ticket to see one of my favorite groups DJ on Friday before heading home. $22.19
5:10 p.m. — Take out chicken sausage to thaw while I unpack and clean up my room. Then, I make penne and sausage in marinara, with broccoli on the side. I pack up all the extras for lunches and dinners this week.
7 p.m. — I get to the sand volleyball courts and warm up. I play well, but the rest of the team is off and we lose. Still, such a great workout, and I leave happy.
9 p.m. — Head over to see a guy I'm dating. He's getting over a divorce, so I'm keeping it fairly casual while he gets things sorted out. We decide to go play pool. His roommate joins us and we head to a local dive. I discover they have frozen margaritas that are actually good and I'm so excited! (He pays for all of us.)
12 a.m. — We eat Taco Bell overlooking the lake by his house. This is somehow both adorable and completely not.
Daily Total: $27.19
Day Five
7 a.m. — Throw on comfortable clothes — I'm attending an all-day certification class, so I don't care how I look. Two coworkers pick me up, and we swing by a local spot for breakfast burritos and coffee on our way. $4.05
11:30 a.m. — We finish the class and opt to take the test right away so we don't have to come back after lunch. Unfortunately, we have to wait for everyone to finish the open book test. Once I'm done, I sneak out to call my friend about her dates over the last two nights with the older gentleman.
1:30 p.m. — Officially certified in Commuter Rail Safety. #Livingthedream. My coworkers and I decide a team lunch is in order, and head to a deep dish spot. I get a slice, a spinach salad, and garlic bites. $13.34
3:15 p.m. — We all decided to work from home for the rest of the day (training was supposed to last until 4), so I respond to emails and flag a few for follow up tomorrow. Three of my projects are on hold for different internal reasons, so things are slower than I'd like them to be.
7 p.m. — After getting ready, I stop and get gas on my way to a date ($15). We meet at a restaurant in a converted air controller tower. We sit on the patio, and I get a wedge salad and a cocktail. He's a really interesting guy, but I'm not sure there's much chemistry. He pays. $15
10 p.m. — More volleyball! I play in two leagues per week — one on sand and the other court or grass, depending on the time of year. I don't play as well as I did last night, but my team does, and we win! I head home and pop a Xanax, since I've been anxious and edgy all day. I was in a car accident a few weeks ago, and have really been struggling since. Rinse off, wash my face, brush my teeth, and sleep.
Daily Total: $32.39
Day Six
6:45 a.m. — I decide to take the later bus and sleep for 30 more minutes. After showering and trying to settle down last night, I didn't fall asleep until after midnight. My bed is so comfortable and legitimately my favorite possession, so it is very difficult to leave sometimes.
7:15 a.m. — I put on one of my favorite dresses, booties, jewelry, and makeup, because we're taking my closest work friend to lunch for her last week and I want to be cute. Head to the bus stop feeling like the sidewalk is my runway.
8 a.m. — Get a Potbelly breakfast sandwich with peppers. $3.02
10 a.m. — Take a break for my "money minute." I open my budgeting website (LearnVest), file my transactions from the weekend, and update my meal planning spreadsheet. I've been going over my budget the last few months and I'm trying to buckle down and map out my spending week by week.
12 p.m. — My coworkers and I head to a nearby spot for sushi burritos and poke bowls. I order a burrito with tuna, shrimp tempura, and avocado. This could be bad for my wallet, but I'm in love. $12.96
1 p.m. — I give $5 to my coworker for our March Madness loser pizza party from a few months ago, and another $5 to chip in for appetizers at an upcoming team happy hour. $10
6:15 p.m. — Work late to make up for my late arrival. I bus home and squeeze in a quick workout of plyometrics and weights.
7:30 p.m. — My roommate arrives home and we catch up on our weekends…and then decide to go for margaritas. Clearly today's money minute was particularly impactful.
8 p.m. — We chat for two and a half hours, drinking margaritas on the rocks and munching on chips and queso. I'm a regular, and the bartender leaves a drink off each of our tabs, so I tip extra. $27.54
10:30 p.m. — I get the Uber home, since she got the one there. I wash my face and actually complete my routine with Vitamin C serum and retinol night cream. Then it's floss, fluoride toothpaste, night guard, and sleep. $8
Daily Total: $61.52
Day Seven
6:45 a.m. — Shower, quick blow dry, protein shake, and bus.
10 a.m. — I check my bank account and am happy to see my insurance payout from my car accident has arrived. I bought a new car a few weeks ago, but that check won't clear until the end of the month, so I transfer the money to my savings for now.
12 p.m. — Run club! My coworkers and I do a lunchtime run of three miles a few times a week, but it's particularly rough for me today. Tequila isn't the best fuel for a workout — who knew!
1 p.m. — Broccoli, penne, sausage. I'm still starving, though, and I discover mini Kit Kats in my backpack left over from a snowboarding trip, so I eat those, too.
3 p.m. — A guy I've been chatting with on Tinder wants to meet up for a patio drink after work. I debate, since I'm already meeting a guy for drinks at 7, but then decide it'll save me the Uber from home if I just stay downtown, so why not? And it's true what they say — when it rains, it pours.
5 p.m. — Freedom! I don't know why, but getting through a Thursday always feels better to me than a Friday. I walk to the pub where I'm meeting Guy #1. (He pays.)
5:45 p.m. — This was a really good choice. He's cute, intelligent, funny, nice, and sarcastic. He also calls me out and correctly assumes I'm squeezing in two dates in a day, but “doesn't mind a little competition.”
7 p.m. — Second date for the evening. This guy is cool and normally I'd probably go out with him again, but I can't help but compare and Guy #1 was so great.
8:30 p.m. — I sneak a peek at my phone and see #1 has texted me to tell me he hasn't laughed that much in a long time, and he'd like to get dinner this weekend. I have a healthy dose of cynicism from a fair number of bad relationships, but this still makes me really excited.
9 p.m. — Uber home and toss in a frozen pizza that will double as lunch tomorrow. I'm heading out of town on Saturday morning, so I text back #1 and we agree on dinner tomorrow. $7.50
Daily Total: $7.50
Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
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But even when Thompson steps out of her eclectic roster of characters, it's her real-life personality that tends to grab people's attention — especially when it comes to her statement-making fashion a nd beauty choices. Now, with all eyes on her, there's no better time to walk through Thompson's impressive Hollywood transformation, from a fresh-faced actress to a bold boundary-breaking star. Check it out, ahead.
2005
From the very beginning of her career — and a quick appearance on Cold Case — Thompson never shied away from a bold lip, starting with this classic red.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.
2007
Before the days of her graphic eyeliner and twisted updos, Thompson stuck to natural makeup ands loose curls for almost every red carpet.
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
2010
With every additional role, it seemed as though Thompson was gaining more and more confidence with her look — and this bold orange lipstick was no exception.
Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.
2011
Sticking to classics like a black cat-eye and muted red lip, Thompson looks like a Hollywood star in the making.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
2012
A year later, Thompson lightened up her ends with some auburn highlights.
Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage.
2014
Fast forward to 2014 and Thompson rocked — for the first and last time — a warm honey blonde hue.
Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic.
2015
While attending the 6th Annual AAFCA Awards, Thompson let her shiny curls take center stage, complementing the look with a glowing base and burnt-orange lip.
Photo: Unique Nicole/Getty Images.
2016
For the European premiere of Creed, Thompson opted for something sleek and sexy: a tousled blowout, bronze smoky eye, and wash of nude gloss.
Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images.
2017
Certainly in the top five of her best looks, this blunt bob and brown monochrome makeup combo turned heads at the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
Photo: J. Merritt/Getty Images.
Thompson and her hairstylist Lacy Redway channeled Frida Kahlo with a modern take on her classic floral updo. Her makeup artist Kirin Bhatty stuck to soft browns and pinks to keep her look feeling soft and romantic.
Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.
2018
Thompson looked fresh as hell at HBO's Golden Globe Awards after party, where Bhatty gave her a glowing makeup look and Redway topped her off with a set of cornrows.
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images.
According to Redway, you're looking at Thompson's glorious natural texture here. The modern cut and shape — not to mention that killer wine-stained lip — makes this one of our all-time favorite looks on her.
Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images.
Thompson's first time at the Met Gala was nothing short of memorable — and it was all in the dramatic details, like her face and body pearl embellishments, upside down white liner, and three-tiered bun.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
Most recently, Thompson became the newest member of Redway's "braid gang." Look even closer, and you'll spot her subtle matchy-matchy red eyeliner, officially cementing her as the red carpet beauty star we always knew she was.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
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After Terry Crews testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee about his alleged sexual assault at the hand of a Hollywood agent, 50 Cent took to Instagram to mock the actor. 50 Cent’s post featured a shirtless Crews with the words “I got raped. My wife just watched.” A photo of Crews in a suit with a rose in his mouth with the words “Gym time” was also posted. In the caption 50 Cent wrote, “LOL, what the fuck is going on out here man?”
Why the rapper thought these “memes,” which he has now deleted, would even be remotely funny is unclear. Now, there is a petition for the rapper to be removed from one of Starz's most watched shows, Power, which he stars in and executive produces.
The petition, which has garnered more than 22,000 signatures and counting, explicitly calls for 50 Cent’s removal by the Starz network because his posts insinuated that Crews was “less of a man” for being a victim. “50 Cent has sent a message loud and clear that he is not a fan of the #MeToo movement...Starz should send a message to the rapper and to all other potential producers and filmmakers that they will not tolerate this type of ignorance."
50 Cent isn’t swayed by the backlash though. In fact, he took to Twitter to make yet another ignorant statement saying that “people are so sensitive.” It just keeps getting worse.
Now, I completely agree with petition that 50 Cents needs to go. Time is up on any type of sexual assault and harassment or anyone who thinks any type of sexual violence is a joke. But his removal should not come at the expense of the entire show.
"Power is not a Black show. It's not a white show. It's a New York show," she said. "And it is full of the ethnicity, personality, and downright swagger in this room tonight. The faces in this crowd and the faces represented on this screen tonight are a statement about the need for programs like ours. It is more important now to stand up and be counted." I couldn’t agree with her more.
Starz has yet to address the petition but hopefully they’ll take a cue from ABC and give Power the Roseanne treatment. Cancel the problem child — and I do mean child — and his bullshit, not the whole shebang.
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As with every fashion house appointment, on January 22, much of the industry found itself split when news broke that Hedi Slimane would take the reins at Céline. After more than a decade at the French label, its fearless leader Phoebe Philo quietly stepped down, and, in typical Philo form, without word on what she'd do next. Now, a man who's known for a fantasy type of heroin chic and backstage rebel aesthetic, who bans journalists who aren't quiet about their distaste for his collections (and barely speaks to them, anyway), whose runways are notoriously white, has been tasked with continuing the legacy of a woman who designed for real life.
Though his first collection for Céline is set to debut in September, predictions of what lies ahead are steadily rolling in, setting the tone for what's sure to be the most talked about show of the season. But for someone who's heralded as one of the industry's most controversial creators, will his return to the industry be as successful as his stints at brands like Dior Homme and Saint Laurent? While he works to get his head (back) in the game, his intentions, as announced by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, are loud and clear.
Upon his arrival, Slimane will assume the role of artistic, creative, and image director of Céline. While his contributions to womenswear will surely be the target of most of the industry's curiosity, given the Céline woman we've come to know and aspire to, Slimane will also introduce menswear, couture, and a fragrance, in addition to revamping advertising campaigns and stores. It's a type of crash landing we've seen him pull off in the past, given his complete and total remodel of Saint Laurent that resulted in high sales for the brand, but it's also a feat very few who've set out to do the same have achieved. His quest for newness surely won't fail him now.
The biggest question, though, is: Is this really the right move? Especially for a designer who's reclusive ways have made him more of an industry shadow than an industry star? Sure, Slimane's glam rock collections for Saint Laurent have earned him enough clout to be recruited for his next great venture. But at a time when the map to a more empowering and realistic approach to fashion is being redrawn, what place will the working women Philo strived so hard to cater to have in Slimane's vision? We can't yet be sure, which feels more uneasy than it does hopeful. But, as goes with these sorts of things, optimism is key — and a maturing of Slimane's obsession with "young" and "cool" could be a part of the plan.
For now, Slimane's studio for Céline is based in Los Angeles, where his Saint Laurent quarters sat in a bubble of West coast trends. Additionally, a prototype studio and atelier remains in Paris, and Philo's studio in London has closed. And Slimane's already brought several of his ex-Saint Laurent staffers over. As we wait for Slimane's takeover to commence, we're looking back at his signatures during his time at Saint Laurent that could very well show up in his collections for Céline. See: nudity, grunge, asymmetry, a (mostly) black color palette, leather, and more. Whether that's a good or bad thing, especially for a brand that practically defined contemporary minimalism, well, we'll find out very soon.
The Rock Cape For three seasons, almost back-to-back, Slimane sent capes down the runway for his men's and women's collections. No word yet on why this is a thing, especially for a West Coast state of mind, but it's the closest to Céline he ever came during his three years at Saint Laurent.
Fall 2014
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Fall 2015
Photo: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images.
Fall 2015, Menswear
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Le Smoking, Le Always A strong thumb for power suiting may be Slimane's strongest asset to Céline, as the designer made it a hit with women, working and otherwise.
Spring 2014
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Fall 2015
Photo: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images.
Spring 2015
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
No Sense Nudity Blatant nudity was a constant theme during Slimane's tenure at Saint Laurent. But when it comes to male designers making bare breasts a top note in their womenswear collections — and in Slimane's case, completely foregoing fabric altogether — it almost feels a little, well, anti-Céline (and less empowering as it does exploitive for the sake of shock value or Instagram). There's nothing wrong with freeing the nipple, of course, but what's the payoff?
Fall 2015
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Spring 2015
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Spring 2014
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
Spring 2016
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Fall 2014
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
The Bigger The Skirt, The... Though it was more prevalent in the fall 2016 collection (which would be his swan song for Saint Laurent), Slimane has a propensity for keeping hems high and wide. With Philo's swaddling, often oversize silhouettes, will we see this new type of party dress fly chez Céline?
Fall 2015
Photo: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images.
Fall 2016
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
The Kate Moss Effect We all remember when supermodel Kate Moss stepped out in a next-to-nothing, model-off-duty slip dress. But Slimane couldn't let it go. Sheer overlays will no doubt always be in fashion, but whether or not this will make it off the runway (and out of the house) is still up in the air.
Fall 2013
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Fall 2013
Photo: MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images.
Spring 2016
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Asymmetry Or Bust A type of silhouette that survived Slimane's time at Saint Laurent and made it well into Anthony Vaccarello's designs, too, the asymmetrical tendencies of Slimane will almost certainly make their way to Céline.
Fall 2016
Photo: Francois Durand/Getty Images.
Spring 2014
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Fall 2015
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
The French Kiss Though he favored a standard rotation of flirtatious prints (see: florals, polka dots, and stripes), Slimane always found his way back to lips. It's a motif that works well — just look at Diane von Furstenberg — but we're not sold on their longevity.
Spring 2014
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
Fall 2015
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Spring 2014
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
The Courtney (Love) Factor In an utmost glorious return to the spotlight, rock heroine Courtney Love became one of Slimane's most iconic muses. (And it's no secret the two are pals.) Floral dresses and combat boots — and Kurt Cobain's iconic white sunglasses — are not a new concept, per se, but it's definitely still trending.
Fall 2013
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Spring 2016, Menswear
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Hats On Hats On Hats Floppy hats and fedoras are ultimately a thing of the West Coast. But with their recent presence on the runways of brands like Dior and Jacquemus, perhaps Slimane will revive this pre-fall 2013 classic?
Spring 2013
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Spring 2015
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
Spring 2015, Menswear
Photo: Francois Durand/Getty Images.
Make The Pussy Bow French Again While the pussy bow bit has come into the spotlight more recently than when Slimane was vibing it, it's become its own symbol of resistance against the patriarchy — and fighting against society's standards for women is at the heart of Céline's DNA.
Spring 2013
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
Fall 2014
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
Spring 2013
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images.
An Agender Agenda During his time at Dior Homme, Slimane became known for incorporating a sense of much needed femininity to menswear. He's smart to keep this up come the introduction of Céline men's.
Fall 2013, Menswear
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Spring 2014
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/GammaRapho/Getty Images.
Fall 2015
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
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"I love your armpit hair! I’ve been trying to grow my own!" shouts a very enthusiastic — and probably quite drunk — girl just as I get down from my friend's shoulders in the crowd at a music festival. "Thanks," I say back, feeling awkward.
Unlike "your hair looks nice" (possible responses: "Thanks! I just had it cut," "Really? I haven’t done anything different," "OMG, no it does not, but thank you"), there is no template for how to respond to a compliment about body hair that many people believe should neither be seen nor discussed. I was suddenly self-conscious, when just a second before I had been lost in the moment. It might have been less confronting coming from one of the hippie types I knew at university (where there was a mutual acknowledgement that we were against The Man in a wider sense), but a giddy 20-year-old at a one-day city festival? The times, they are a-changin’.
Keeping my body hair is a philosophical and feminist choice, not an aesthetic one. I don’t have hairy armpits and legs in order to look edgy or cool. I leave the natural hair where it is because I want to accept myself and my body exactly how it is.
Change is good. In a digital-first age, with traditional media establishments that previously had a tight control over women's body and beauty standards now in retreat, youth culture has created the representation it wasn’t getting from the old guard. Since the early 2010s, DIY feminist zines like Polyester have presented a more radical and inclusive vision of beauty; a plural vision that says boo to the ghosts of fat-shaming, femme-shaming, transphobia, racism, and a squeamishness about bodily functions like periods and skin-deep issues like acne and stretch marks. A measure of their success is how the aesthetic has been co-opted by commercial culture — if not always the message. Today, in the lovely little liberal bubble we’ve created for ourselves in London and other diverse major cities, showing unexpected body hair is now A-OK. Or at least your colleagues know it should be, even if they can’t help but stare.
But let’s be real. The bubble is small. Really small. Armpit hair has become way more accepted since Julia Roberts displayed hers at the 1999 London premiere of Notting Hill, which made international newspaper headlines. But when the artist Arvida Byström appeared in an Adidas advertisement with her leg hair visible at the end of last year, she received rape threats in her DMs. And despite what the new right-wing will have you believe, even London is not a total refuge for those who visibly challenge heteronormativity. Just the other day a man shouted abuse at my colleague and her girlfriend for holding hands in the street. Trans women fear violence and murder, women like Naomi Hersi, a black trans women who was subsequently misgendered in the press. People in the capital may be more accepting relative to many other places, but it can still be frightening and dangerous when you don’t fit someone’s narrow expectations of how you should look and behave.
As female body hair slowly gets more screen time and advertiser co-signs, it becomes easier for a white, cisgender, able-bodied person like me to show it in real life, among my comparably open-minded friends, and in my job at a feminist publisher. That is a privilege. For transgender women, visible body hair can lead to threats from bigots. As Juno Roche says, "Trans women with hair are not marked out as 'hairy' — we become real targets, often for abuse and violence, because people read us as 'men pretending to be women.'"
As a person who is read by others as a hairy cis-woman, I am far less likely to face this kind of violence and abuse. It is a privileged position to be in, but that doesn’t make it a walk in the park. I will never forget the time, years ago, when a close friend visibly recoiled at the sight of my armpit hair, and asked me, only half joking, "Why can’t you just be normal?" For most of the winter, I do appear "normal" — the hair is covered by clothes, so no one can tell. But come summer, and the lure of cool skirts and light dresses, suddenly I wonder whether it would just be easier to shave it all off. To just look "normal." There’s no magic solution for how you push through that fear and uncertainty. Yes, it would be more pleasant to take the train and not be stared at by grown adults, whispered about by straight couples, or sneakily have pictures taken of you by people who haven’t worked out that their phone screens are reflected in the glass behind them.
But keeping my body hair is a philosophical and feminist choice, not an aesthetic one. I don’t have hairy armpits and legs in order to look edgy or cool. I leave the natural hair where it is because I want to accept myself and my body exactly how it is. I would rather spend time working on my mind, rooting out, challenging, and unlearning the oppressive assumption that women must pluck and shave and wax themselves bald in order to be acceptable, fuckable, and deserving of love. It’s an oppression that’s probably impossible for me to completely eradicate, because it has been socially enforced and culturally reinforced every day of my life, for over three decades.
Deprogramming is difficult, but I think it’s important. When I’m being stared at, laughed at, or yelled at, I hold that in my mind, and try to remember that this may be one of the first times the person has been confronted with gender non-conforming body hair in real life. They have been trained to see it as disgusting and embarrassing their whole lives, too — and if they don’t react in a way that acknowledges that, they open themselves up to scrutiny about their own allegiance to the gender binary. But the more frequently they see it, the less shocking it will be, and the impulse to react should begin to fade away. Like seeing women with short hair — or wearing trousers, or driving — eventually it will become completely unremarkable. Until then, it’s my privilege to gross people out all summer long.
This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.
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We know what you’re thinking (because we thought it, too): another Chanel haute couture show about Paris. But before we put out a call for newness to the storied French fashion house, you’re better off asking yourself if there’s anything left to learn about the institution and the city that made it. For Karl Lagerfeld’s fall 2018 haute couture collection, he drew upon early memories, a post-war Paris that was struggling to dust itself off and move forward, and the bouquinistes that helped bring the joie de vivre back to the city.
At the Grand Palais, the scene — er, Seine — was set. Lining the runway as they do the historic river, like the Quai d’Orsay and Cours la Reine, verdigris colored stands that may look familiar to Parisians and tourists were filled with replicas of the books, posters, and old Vogues. (Unlike real life, however, these Chanel-themed memorabilia were not purchasable via cash.) This made for a torrent of Instagram opportunities and didn’t draw too much away from the clothes, as Lagerfeld’s larger-than-life ready-to-wear sets so often do. Celebrities like Tracee Ellis Ross, Lily Allen, Penelope Cruz, and more queued up to get their shots.
For an haute couture show that’s meant to be the best-of, so to speak, Lagerfeld’s latest offering was sturdy and stoic. The silhouettes were tight, framing bodies instead of extending them outward via tulle and chiffon — or all the things we love about the flou of a garment (made by the flouncy, party dressing arm of a couture atelier) — and hems were practical, no longer dragging behind or adding any unnecessary drama. We’ll assume this was meant to reflect the city’s quest for normalcy after a period of postwar trauma. And in terms of color, well, there wasn’t much outside of a stream of grays and black; save for a shimmering Adut Akech in pale green who closed the show as Chanel’s latest and greatest bride.
It’s this return to its Parisian roots that Chanel, founded in 1910, sends a friendly reminder to those who indulge themselves in haute couture that an outfit can carry a past just as precious as whoever wears it. That the garments are made by hand and include top of the line embroidery (for Chanel, this means by Lesage) is standard; that they understand the history of the garment, too, is worth just as much as its price tag — especially at a time when clothes just feel like clothes. Ahead, we photographed the cooler moments of Chanel’s fall 2018 haute couture show for your viewing and pleasure. It may not be the most memorable offering from Lagerfeld, but it is one of his more complex — an homage to the beautiful and ugly parts of a most romantic city.
Bookmark this one for your next black tie event.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
We should see this one hitting street style slideshows any season now.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Because a Chanel show wouldn't be complete without a new batch of outre accessories.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Of course, it wouldn't be a fashion show in Paris without a dash of navy.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
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If we were to review the first batch of the fall 2018 haute couture shows like a sports commentator, it'd sound a bit like this: "And we're off! Following a swift start from Ronald van der Kemp (thanks to a sustainable sneaker collaboration), Sonia Rykiel picked up the pace with a stride that felt more light than haute! Later, Schiaparelli took the lead — nice moves, Stephen Jones — though Iris Van Herpen is still the oddball contender! But Dior may prove that slow and steady could take the race!"
But hey, this is haute couture we're talking about — the only week of the fashion calendar when the industry slows down and brings fans from all over the world to take in the magic that is clothing that took more than a few months to put together. And what better time and place to peacock than Paris in July? We're talking about the street style moments outside of the shows that, if you ask us, bring the heat unlike any other season. And now that we've reached the end of it, it's time to look at the MVPs of ultra luxe fashion.
Apart from the supermodel lineups on the runways — see: Jaime King, Erin O'Connor, and Adriana Lima, who don't usually strut their stuff at couture week — the frenzy around the annual spectacle is a little more controlled. Think: fashion without the chaos (and a front row that may not have a million followers on Instagram, but who have more than a few million in the bank). It's why, like a very chic spectator's sport, we love to post up outside of the shows to people watch. Double the clothes, double the fun.
In the slideshow ahead, we'll be keeping you posted on the best street style moments outside of the Paris haute couture shows until the finish line. So far, it seems showgoers are pulling out all the stops when it comes to flexing for the 'gram — there's (still) plenty of Vetements and Balenciaga to go around — but stay tuned to see why, when it comes to street style, haute couture is where it's at.
When your friend says your ex will be at the function tonight, so just keep it cool and casual.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
The Parisian heat didn't stop Vetements attendees from pulling looks.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
See? A look.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Is there such thing as Leg Slit Energy? Because this is it.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
What? You don't tattoo your shoes?
Photographed by Chris Smart.
No, really — you should try it!
Photographed by Chris Smart.
A cookie as an accessory is not just a #mood, but a #forevermood.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Big Pocket Energy? Okay, we'll stop.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Logomania shows no signs of slowing.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
In case you were wondering — yes, fanny packs are a thing now ( er, again).
Photographed by Chris Smart.
A clutch that holds your essentials — but also says "Right this way, please."
Photographed by Chris Smart.
In fashion, going from the office to the club is actually pretty easy.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
One of the very few examples where doubling (or tripling) up on prints doesn't mean they have to clash.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Take it from Natalia Vodionova: Leopard print is always a good idea.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
A lesson in how to be business and casual.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
These boots were made for...burning the house down.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
It's a dress! A skirt! A...blazer?
Photographed by Chris Smart.
A dress full of secrets (or, like, in-between show snacks).
Photographed by Chris Smart.
We'd walk through traffic if we were wearing this, too.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
"Say what now?"
Photographed by Chris Smart.
It's pretty, but how does it work?
Photographed by Chris Smart.
The Dior saddle bag is back and (almost) all is right in the world again.
The number of skills, both niche and broad, is rapidly multiplying: In Amazon 's 2017 third-quarter earnings report, the company reported there were over 25,000 skills available globally. This week, an Amazon spokesperson told Refinery29 there are now over 45,000 skills available globally. That amounts to roughly 2,500 new skills created by internal and third-party developers every month.
That's a lot to keep track of, and try, even for the person who keeps an Echo Dot in every room of their home. To help cut through the clutter — and spice up your daily interaction with the virtual assistant — we asked seven of the women who work on Alexa to recommend their top, go-to skills, and their favorite lesser known skills. Ahead, their picks for the Skill you should try, stat.
Cami Williams, Developer Evangelist, Alexa
Go-To Skill:
iRobot Home: "I love telling Alexa to start my Roomba. It is the epitome of lazy cleaning."
Favorite Lesser-Known Skill:
Chop Chop: "It’s a really fun skill for Echo Show that gives you tutorials on how to chop different fruits and vegetables."
Designed by Janet Sung.
Jenny Lin, Senior Manager, Alexa International Product and Tech
Go-To Skill:
"World's Best Mom" Blueprint: "I used Alexa Skill Blueprints to create my own skills with what I want Alexa to say to my kids. When I say, 'Alexa, who is the greatest mom in the world?' Alexa now says, 'It’s Jenny, mom to Max and Elyse.' Jaw-dropping for the kids — and they never argue with Alexa."
Favorite Lesser-Known Skill:
Alexa Announcements: "Instead of yelling upstairs dinner is ready, I now just say, 'Alexa, announce that dinner is ready.' Alexa works like a one-way intercom to my kids’ Echo Dots to tell them, in my voice, dinner is ready and they should come downstairs."
Designed by Janet Sung.
Miriam Daniel, Director Product Management, Alexa Devices
Go-To Skill:
Alexa Routines: "Routines [let me create] a personalized routine that gives me the weather, traffic, and my Flash Briefing every morning. Try 'Alexa, start my day.'"
Favorite Lesser-Known Skill:
Sleep, Relaxation, and Meditation Skills: "Try 'Alexa, help me sleep' or 'Alexa, ask Sleep Sounds for Rain' or 'Alexa, play guided meditation.'"
Designed by Janet Sung.
Zoe Corneli, Head of Product, Echo Look
Go-To Skill:
Multiple timers: "I love to cook, so I often have two or three timers going on Alexa at a time. It’s convenient not having to wash my hands or stop what I’m doing."
Favorite Lesser-Known Skill:
Tracking Outfits: "I use my Echo Look to keep track of what I wear over time. I just say, 'Alexa, take a photo' and she captures a head-to-toe look and blurs out the background."
Designed by Janet Sung.
Anna Khabibullina, Senior Technical Program Manager, Alexa Smart Home
Go-To Skill:
Music: "When I do my workout, [I say,] 'Alexa, play pop music from the 90s.' It really lifts my mood."
Favorite Lesser-Known Skill:
Drop In: "I tell Alexa to 'drop in' on my husband’s Echo Show when I miss him since we are doing long-distance."
Designed by Janet Sung.
Carrie Swint Wood, Head of Consumer Marketing, Alexa Skills
Go-To Skill:
AnyPod: "I am podcast obsessed and this is the easiest way to listen to them."
Favorite Lesser-Known Skill:
Alexa, Let’s Chat: "She will have often hilarious conversations with you, all while helping advance conversational AI. The skill stems from the Alexa Prize, a $3.5 million Amazon-funded global university competition to accelerate advancements in conversational AI. In 2018, eight student-led university teams are competing to build a socialbot that can carry on a coherent and engaging conversation on trending topics."
Designed by Janet Sung.
Priya Abani, Director, Alexa Voice Service
Go-To Skill:
1-Minute Mindfulness: "This beginner mediation skills helps me take quick — literally, one minute-long — breaks to recharge and reenergize during busy workdays."
Favorite Lesser-Known Skill:
7-minute Workout: "This skill is a set of exercises that helps me stay healthy. It’s a small daily, or sometimes weekly, commitment, so it works well for me."
Designed by Janet Sung.
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Here comes the sun! Finally! After a few months hiding under a scarf, a little sunshine means that the first thing on our minds is "new." New weather, new life, new outdoor happy hour plans, and most importantly, some new clothes.
From the spend-y feeling that comes with a new season to a reminder that layering is more fun when it's not in the name of survival, the shift towards warmer weather brings out the style star in all of us. Our eyes on the prize of finding the perfect sundress this summer, and brands aren't letting us down. From gingham halter dresses with asymmetrical hems to a cozy-yet-dressy LBD that will take us from couch to brunch and back again, we've rounded up 20 plus-size dresses worth celebrating summer in.
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Long before she was the first daughter and special adviser to the president, Ivanka Trump was often deployed as the face of the her family's business. That included joining her father, President Donald Trump, in his reality show and interviews. And when she was by herself doing press, she unfortunately sometimes had to fend off creepy men.
A newly resurfaced video of a 2007 interview with Jimmy Kimmel Live! shows comedian Andy Dick groping Ivanka. She was in her mid 20s at the time and Dick was in his 40s. During the interview, the comedian started rubbing Ivanka's legs while telling her: "You don’t play up the glitter on your legs?"
Ivanka looks shocked and uncomfortable, but tries to defuse the situation by laughing it off and slapping his hands away. She then covers her thighs.
Kimmel is also uncomfortable, trying to keep Dick in line. He tells the comedian: “Andy, don’t, please, don’t touch Ivanka.”
After some back and forth, Dick ended up being dragged off the set by a security member. At the time, Kimmel told Extra that Dick also tried to kiss Ivanka once she left the set.
The video has made rounds just days after it was reported Dick was recently charged with sexual battery because he allegedly groped a woman and made inappropriate comments to her this past spring. He was also fired from the film Raising Buchanan last fall after it surfaced that he had allegedly harassed people on set — including groping them, kissed without them without consent, and making unwanted advances.
The 52-year-old comedian addressed the 2007 incident on Instagram back in December, though he seemed to think the whole thing was still a joke. He wrote: "The time I 'groped' Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Her legs were sparkling, and I was trying to see if the glitter would wipe off. I also mistakenly thought she would date me."
Despite his longwinded post, he didn't apologize to Ivanka for his behavior.
We can't believe we have to repeat this in 2018, but just so we're clear: Don't touch other people without their consent, even if their legs are in fact glittery.
We reached out to Ivanka Trump for comment and will update the story if we hear back.
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Finally, beach season is here. Some of you may even have a long-awaited summer vacation on the horizon. Sure, you probably have a drawer of bikinis at the ready for your next getaway, but swimwear is one section of our wardrobe that could always use an upgrade.
Keep in mind, though, that upcoming jaunt will only be the first of your many forays into the water this year. You'll likely enjoy many more sand and pool moments through August (remember August?). So, chances are you'll want to spring for a few new suits in the coming months. Rather than dropping your entire budget on a single fancy one now, keep your purse strings on lock with an under-$50 option to start. Ahead, we found a few affordable styles to make a splash in this season.
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By now, you're ready to wave goodbye to your drawer of constricting pants and leggings. You're probably so ready that you've made a comprehensive shopping spreadsheet that includes all of your favorite leg-baring finds from around the web. But before you sort that whole thing in order of price to save your budget, read on. We've done the legwork for you.
Dressing your best for the sunny seasons shouldn't mean crying away your hard earned cash on your dream Mara Hoffman puffy sleeved sleeper gown (but if you're able to, power to you, we'll watch on enviously from the sidelines). Summertime is prime for doing away with your inhibitions and trying all of the best (or craziest) new trends the fast fashion retailers and indie designers are pumping out for less than your vacation deposit.
Ahead, find the season's best dress that look like a million bucks, but actually ring in at $125 or less. You'll never have to blow a whole paycheck on one look again.
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Would you pay $16.99 every month for Netflix? This is a decision streaming subscribers may soon need to make.
CNET was the first to catch a report from Italian blog Tutto Android, which revealed an early look at tests of a new, more expensive Netflix membership tier, called Ultra.
A Netflix spokesperson confirmed to Refinery29 that Ultra is indeed an ongoing test:
"We continuously test new things at Netflix and these tests typically vary in length of time. In this case, we are testing slightly different price points and features to better understand how consumers value Netflix. Not everyone will see this test and we may not ever offer the specific price points or features included in this test."
What could Netflix possibly offer to justify someone spending $3 more every month for an Ultra plan? Early tests show that the main differences between Premium and Ultra are the picture quality and number of simultaneous streams. In one test, it looks like Ultra could have ultra HDR (brighter colors appear more vividly bright and detailed), while Premium would just have Ultra HD, and both would be available on four screens at once. Another test shows both Ultra and Premium with ultra HD, but limits Premium to two screens, while Ultra has four.
If the latter became a full-time streaming tier, it could mean existing Premium subscribers are worse off, with their number of simultaneous streams cut in half. However, there's always the chance Netflix would take the same approach it did when it began raising prices, and grandfather in current customers, allowing them to keep their four simultaneous streams. (If the past is any indication though, it would likely be just a matter of time before those special privileges are revoked.)
According to Cordcutting.com, a third test, shown below, suggests Ultra could cost as much as $19.99.
Courtesy of Cordcutting.com.
If Ultra is rolled out to the masses, it would be the priciest Netflix subscription yet at $16.99 or $19.99 a month. The existing plans — Basic, Standard, and Premium — run from $7.99 to $$13.99. However, it's worth noting that Netflix has increased its prices every year for the last four years. In 2014, all new members were charged $8.99, up from $7.99, for a Standard subscription. In 2015, new members faced a steeper price hike to $9.99 per month. In 2016, all OG, pre-2014 customers who were grandfathered in to the new Standard plan at $7.99 per month were finally forced to pay the same $9.99 as everyone else. Then, in 2017, prices for all both the Standard and Premium plans were increased, to $10.99 and $13.99 respectively. The Basic plan remains at $7.99 per month.
Of course, this is all just speculation: Plenty of apps and services conduct tests that are ultimately scrapped, including Netflix. Still, it can't hurt to think about which option you might go with if Ultra does eventually roll out to the masses.
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Now is not the time to buy a new iPhone. So long as your current model can survive the summer, you're better off waiting until September: That's when Apple is expected to announce its promising 2018 iPhone lineup, including some less expensive models.
Last year, Apple made its big iPhone X reveal, a phone the company said would usher in a new iPhone era. This means you can expect the new 2018 models to share many attributes with that flagship version, as well as some exciting advances.
Ahead, a look at all the rumors swirling in the notch-filled universe right now. While none of this will be confirmed until Apple's big event come September, we do know what software each will run: Last week, Apple unveiled everything packed into iOS 12, from Group FaceTime to Memoji.
We will continue to update this piece as new rumors are announced.
The iPhones
In 2017, Apple released three new iPhones — iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. In 2018, it's rumored to launch another three, all of which will look similar to the iPhone X with an edge-to-edge display (i.e. no Touch ID fingerprint sensor) and a notch at the top with Face ID.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is known for his reputable Apple rumors reporting, there will be a second generation, 5.8-inch iPhone X and a larger, 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus. Both of those are predicted to have OLED displays, which the iPhone X currently has. There are also rumors of a third, 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD display, which would be a more affordable, mid-range option. MacRumors was the first outlet to report Kuo's findings, and has also shared some early renderings of the three phones.
The Colors
If the rumors are true, the new iPhones could come in the largest range of colors yet. 9to5Mac reports that Kuo believes the 6.5-inch model will come in gold, black, and white. But it's the 6.1-inch LCD model that sounds the most interesting: Kuo says it could come in red, orange, and blue, in addition to gray and white.
Red isn't unheard of: In April 2017, Apple released red version of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus; this year, it released red version of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The special edition models were part of the company (PRODUCT)RED line, in partnership with the organization that fights AIDS.
Orange and blue are less expected on the iPhone color wheel, but we're not holding our breath yet: The iPhone 7 was reportedly going to come in blue, a rumor that never came to fruition.
The Prices
One of the most talked-about features of the iPhone X was the price tag. The new flagship phone set loyal Apple users back $999 — more than any iPhone before it.
Costs for the models rolling out in 2018 may be lower: According to Kuo, the iPhone X Plus will likely fall in the $900 to $1000 range, while the second-generation iPhone X will cost $800 to $900, and the LCD iPhone will be the most cost-effective of the bunch at $649 to $749.
The Cameras
Most speculations about the second generation iPhone X and new iPhone X Plus say the phones will have two rear-facing cameras (a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens), while the LCD iPhone will come with a single rear-facing camera.
However, a report from Forbes claims the iPhone X Plus will not just be bigger in terms of physical size: There will also be a third camera, possibly there to improve low-light photography. In other words, dark restaurants and poor nighttime lighting will have nothing on the X Plus.
This piece has been updated to reflect a new report on colors.
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In a world where people pay money to put their feet in what's essentially a small-scale aquarium to let hundreds of little garra rufa fish chew off their dead skin, clearly all bets are off when it comes to getting smooth, silky feet. But if you're not down for the aquatic foot facial (we don't blame you, and not only because it's considered both unsanitary and inhumane), there's a much easier way to get your toes to touchable, soft, and callus-free condition, without stepping into a salon or painfully pumice-stoning your bunions into submission.
An at-home foot mask is your DIY answer to sandal-ready feet. As dermatologists Susan Bard, MD, and Monique Chheda, MD, tell us, foot masks serve as a quick, over-the-counter alternative to an in-salon pedicure treatment — and are often more effective because most are very gentle on the skin (and marine life). From medicated socks to soft creams and gels, the pros are breaking down the best foot masks on the market, so you can shed your dry foot skin and soften your calluses without ever setting foot in a fish tank.
"If you don't want something that causes dramatic exfoliation, then you can opt for creams that are applied daily to improve dry and callused foot skin over time," says Dr. Chheda, adding that she recommends the Glytone Ultra Softening Heel and Elbow Cream to her patients with general dry-skin concerns.
Glytone Ultra Softening Heel and Elbow Cream, $54, available at Glytone
For a more wallet-friendly option, Dr. Chheda recommends this gel because it's specifically formulated to heal and soothe thick calluses and cracked heels using gentle skin-softening ingredients, such as tea tree oil and aloe vera.
Bare Bare Urea 40% Percent Plus Salicylic Acid Cream, $17.98, available at Amazon
"Active ingredients such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, and several fruit extracts cause a pretty dramatic exfoliation with Baby Foot Peel," Dr. Chheda explains. "It works best after soaking your feet for 15 to 20 minutes, and then applying the medicated booties according to the instructions. Within 4-7 days, the skin on the feet begins to peel and will continue to shed over the course of two weeks — almost like a snake. Ultimately, it results in skin that is much softer and smoother."
Baby Foot Baby Foot Exfoliant Foot Peel, Lavender Scented, 2.4 Fl. Oz., $16.11, available at Amazon
Dr. Bard tells us the peeling results are slightly less dramatic with these magic foot shoes, but the reasonable price means they're still a great option to stock up on and keep around the house.
TonyMoly Foot Peeling Shoes, $6.5, available at Ulta Beauty
According to Dr. Bard, these sock masks are moisturizing, have a soothing scent, and are super fun to use — not to mention just $5, which is always a plus.
Sephora Collection SEPHORA COLLECTION Foot Mask, $5, available at Sephora
Next time you're browsing through Anthropologie's beauty section, look for this $10 exfoliating foot mask by the Korean skin-care brand Kocostar. It's formulated with 33 easy-to-pronounce natural botanical essences and oils, sans phthalates and parabens, so you know you're not dealing with any harsh chemicals.
Kocostar Kocostar Foot Therapy, $10, available at Anthropologie
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