Month: June 2020

June 22, 2020 at 06:30AM While supporting the Black community and Black-owned businesses feels especially important right now, there is a need and an opportunity to supply this kind of support, love and commitment every single day. Now and forever. Black culture has informed and inspired the beauty space for decades—a fact that we need to celebrate and sustain. There is a lot of work to be done. As we’ve communicated on-site and on our social platforms, now is the time for us to rise above (not simply to) the occasion and make actionable steps with deep indentations. Here, our Who What Wear editorial team has outlined a collection of ways you can make a difference in the fight against racism, in addition to a list of resources to get you started.  One such way to support and take a stand right now is, if you’re able, to put money where your mouth is. Alongside educating ourselves, attending protests, signing petitions, making donations and calling our government officials to demand justice, buying fashion and beauty products from Black-owned brands is extremely helpful, especially considering the financial impactCOVID-19 has had on Black-owned brands, which have been hit harder than others. (Please familiarise yourself with this helpful graphic to understand why.)   Below, we’re sharing 25 Black-owned beauty brands to support (now and forever). Keep scrolling to start shopping, or, if your funds don’t allow, simply take screenshots or bookmark for a later shopping date.  Uoma Beauty (pronounced uh-mah) was founded by Nigerian beauty executive Sharon Chuter and supports

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June 22, 2020 at 06:30AM Six years ago, my family experienced a huge scare when my then 65-year-old mom was rushed to the ER in order to receive an emergency cardioversion—aka a medical paddle used to restart her heart. The day before the trip to the emergency room, we’d been travelling, and my mom (who has since discovered she has an extreme sensitivity to sugar) had a pumpkin spice latte and an almond-filled French pastry for breakfast and then later on after dinner a small vanilla ice cream cone. As she explains, it was enough sugar (at least for her) to send her heart into atrial fibrillation, or an uneven heart rhythm. “As scary as the experience was, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” she tells me. “I banished heavy sugar doses from my diet and noticed that my skin started looking better. Soon after this, I forced myself to watch a programme on PBS I’d recorded called The Age Fix, hosted by plastic surgeon Anthony Youn (and later read his book by the same name). I’d resisted watching the show because I knew it wouldn’t be my personal choice to go the route of plastic surgery when it came to age prevention, but as a makeup artist who specialises in helping women over 50, I felt like there could be some helpful information.” As my mom told me over the phone, Youn connected the dots for her when he said the most important thing we can

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June 22, 2020 at 06:00AM There’s nothing like months spent inside to make you crave the great outdoors—after spending most of 2020 in a second-floor flat with no balcony or outdoor space, I’ve been dreaming of fields and walks that don’t involve dodging people on pavements. Whether you’re isolating in the Cotswolds or Clapton, the lockdown has brought on a nationwide appreciation of nature. I’ve personally been flower pressing daisies I’ve collected from the banks of East London’s canals and now class a bike ride as my perfect activity.  Turns out I’m not alone and this has a name— ‘cottagecore’. It’s an internet aesthetic that started trending on the platform TikTok and which The Guardian defines as ‘a visual and lifestyle movement designed to fetishize the wholesome purity of the outdoors.’ Holiday pictures on Instagram have been replaced by images of freshly-baked sourdough, bikes with baskets filled with hand-picked flowers and art-directed picnics. This social media trend is also impacting how people dress, with a return to nostalgic countryside styling. Think Princess Diana on a weekend away in the country—vintage floral tea dresses, basket bags, colourful gingham and shorts sets. Keep scrolling to see the nine items that are perfect for a summer spent outdoors—whether you’re in the countryside, or pretending you are.  Look for mini dresses in vintage floral prints that look straight out of a Laura Ashley catalogue.  Gingham is a print that will always remind me of summers spent outdoors—don’t just stick to a classic navy check, but play with colourful ginghams for a

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June 22, 2020 at 06:00AM Unless I’m working out, I’m not generally a fan of sweating. It’s not that I object to perspiring, but I hate feeling too hot. I’m a Northerner, so anything that’s above 16 degrees feels boiling, quite frankly. So when it comes to spring/summer wardrobes, I tend to stick to the principles of wearing loose garments and usually in cotton. Oh but fashion had other plans for me this season. What had started as the stirrings of a trend at the end of last summer is now set to be a full-fledged look for the coming warmer months: summer leather. Yes, I hear you scoff, but if you think about it, we’ve always worn biker jackets during July and August evenings. However, that’s not just what I’m talking about. I mean leather wrap dresses, minis, pencil skirts, shirts and shorts. Even jumpsuits have been given the leather overhaul. Thanks to the likes of Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu and Loewe, which all showcased leather looks on their respective spring/summer 2020 runways, this is genuinely one of the chicest trends for this coming year. To play this trend as cooly as possible, I’d suggest starting the jackets and graduating to the leather shorts. Jackets and shirts can, of course, be worn now but ideal for throwing over slip dresses during peak summer months. Got all that? Keep scrolling for a look at this trend on the runway, then shop the best leather and faux-leather pieces available now. Tiffany

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June 22, 2020 at 06:00AM Every month, Londoner turned Parisienne Marissa Cox of Rue Rodier will bring you her pearls of Parisian fashion wisdom and beauty tips straight from the French capital. A writer, photographer and influencer, we turn to the oh-so-chic Marissa on a regular basis for a truly unique take on her adopted country’s signature style. Whether we’re looking to her décor decisions, handbag purchases or chic hotel choices, we can all agree that looking un petit peu plus Français could never be a bad thing… One thing I’ve been more exposed to more since moving to Paris seven years ago—besides good wine, baguettes and French men—is great skincare and overall more respect for it. I’ve always looked after my skin, but that’s because my mother instilled in me the importance of a good beauty routine from a young age and my knowledge came from her. I’ve generally found that when growing up and entering the workforce in the UK, unless one works in an industry that has more emphasis on appearance or has a mother that had you cleansing, toning and moisturizing early on (I even had the three-step Clinique products as a young teen), this hasn’t been the norm compared with the other side of the channel. It’s usually been me advising my British friends on what to use and buy, or looking at their face and telling them that they should probably be wearing eye cream. In France, I discovered that there is a very

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June 22, 2020 at 05:00AM We created What to Buy Now to bring you a concise edit every Monday of the items we really love—from the high street, designer labels, vintage gems you can buy online and even charity-shop treasures. We’re constantly scanning the most stylish online stores so you can feel safe in the knowledge that you won’t miss a thing. We know that your fashion requirements can vary massively from season to season, whether you’re looking for an immaculately tailored staple, an affordable sundress or the perfect pair of shoes. So not only will we cover all the bases, but as ardent believers in mindful consumption, we’ll make sure everything we include will look just as fresh in a year’s time as it does now. Of course, we’ll also bring you those pieces that simply set your heart racing in a way that only fashion can. This week’s highlights include plenty of winning wardrobe gems, such as a a pair of pre-loved Prada sandals, a summer-ready linen shirt and a seriously statement midi skirt. Scroll down to shop the buys on my wish list this week. You know what to do. A little bit of smocking never goes amiss in a summer dress… Get Prada’s cult velcro sandals for less on Vestiaire Collective.  The ultimate ’80-inspired summer blazer.  A pleated midi is the wardrobe workhorse you won’t regret investing in.  Wear with everything from jeans to dresses and skirts.  The linen shirt is a firm fixture in our warm weather capsule.  Throw over your bikini in the

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