December 26, 2018 at 10:00AM With the New Year right around the corner, here at Well+Good, we’re looking ahead toward our 2019 fitness goals. But as we map out the resolutions and PRs that we want to set in the months after the ball drops, we’re also looking back on some of our favorite workouts of 2018. Though we may have vastly different sweat preferences (one woman’s spin class therapy session is another’s treadmill sesh), one thing that nearly all of our editors agreed on this year was that the digital fitness revolution is here to stay. Many of us swapped their fancy gym memberships and boutique class habits with workouts we could do in their living room, or as one editor put it, with “no pants required.” Keep on scrolling to see our editors favorite workouts of year—nearly all of which you can download and do no matter where you’re sweating it out. Photo: Getty/Hinterhaus Productions Aaptiv, $15/month, digital “After years of dropping a lot of cash on boutique fitness classes and brand-name big boxes, I finally joined a no-frills neighborhood gym, complete with a lap pool, sauna, reformer classes, and brand-spanking new equipment. Okay, okay, Chelsea Piers Fitness in Brooklyn isn’t totally no frills, but it’s a lot less moola than I was paying, so I’ll stand by that statement. As of late, I haven’t been going to the studio-led classes, however, I’ve been following along on cardio and strength workouts on Aaptiv. My fave thing to do, as of
Category: Fashion
We asked a French woman: What are the casual-cool staples every woman should have in her closet?
December 26, 2018 at 09:55AM Generally speaking, I’m the type of person who overshoots the basics and becomes prematurely enthralled in the minutia of details. Recently, I realized this is the case for me when it comes to French fashion. I’m so engrossed in figuring out how they style their activewear, where they shop, and what type of accessories are seasonally trendy that it’s occurred to me that I don’t know much about their everyday outfit staples. The reason we’re all obsessed with French fashion (I think) is because of its laid-back, didn’t-try-at-all, sophistication that seems to be part of the Parisienne DNA. In the interest of getting down to brass tacks and figuring out how and why French women are able to exude such an era of je ne sais quoi, I spoke to stylist Adrienne Coléon Gaskell, author of the blog “Oh So French” for Paris’ famed lingerie brand Simone Perele. Below she shares the foundational pieces she says make up the core of a casual-cool—yet incredibly chic—wardrobe. 1. silk camisole Photo: Everlane Everlane The Clean Silk Cami, $75 Gaskell says, “A simple, sleek, elegant silk camisole (in black or white) is a French wardrobe staple,” since it pairs seamlessly with everything from jeans, to tailored trousers, or a pencil skirt. Think of it as French women’s answer to the classic white T-shirt. 2. black bra Photo: Simone Perele Simone Perele After Work Demi Bra, $110 “To a Parisienne, the black bra isn’t just a seduction piece, it’s
I’ve worn the same $12 tacky Christmas sweater to bed every night for the last year
December 25, 2018 at 05:00AM December 25, 2015, was the first Christmas my mom and her boyfriend were dating, so naturally, two-families worth of uncomfortable adults spent the day making small chat about what vehemently felt like our sole common denominator: the splendid job my mom did on the ham (pineapple-glazed, if you must know). Eager to cut the awkwardness by at least 50 percent, in 2016 it was decided that we’d spend the holiday painting the unfinished basement floor—which led to a poorly painted floor and eight adults with back pain. Determined (read: stubborn), in 2017, the couple doubled-down and planned an outing to the bowling alley. But my mom never does anything halfway, so she surprised our Brady Bunch with matching tacky Christmas sweaters. She walked in the alley with eight matching holiday sweaters draped over her arm. Like she’d been gifted the collection by Mrs. Claus herself. So as the alley speakers belted Michael Bublé’s holiday album, we adults, between the ages of 24 and 60, ponied (err, reindeer-ed?) up in our sweaters. Ahh, blended families partaking in #festivities. To be clear, these aren’t put-the-cash-in cashmere tunics or chunky cable knits. These are hooded, 100-percent polyester, practically neon red pullovers. And the design on these holi-yay articles of clothing? A sheep literally wrapped in Christmas lights with the trying-too-hard-to-be-punny phrase, “Fleece Navidad.” (Fashion is in the details, all.) Photo: Well+Good Alas, we bowled. We took a family photo donning our matching sweats and posted evidence of our togetherness on the internet,
The guaranteed way to make and exercise more challenging? Do it on a stability ball
December 25, 2018 at 03:00AM The surefire way to make any exercise move harder? Do it on a stability ball. Stability ball exercises are a $20 way to take your floor routine to the next level, adding a bonus level of dynamism to your workout. “Adding a stability ball to an exercise can take a basic move from ‘I can do this in my sleep,’ to ‘this is the most challenging thing I have ever done,’” says Tiffani Robbins, director of the sculpt program at NYC’s Fithouse. This happens because your core has to fire up to do work in addition to whatever other exercise you’re doing, and that means a major payoff. “Stability balls challenge both balance and stability, which are a part of functional training that should not be overlooked since they are a huge aspect of our daily lives,” Robbins tells me. “Working with any type of unstable surface or object will automatically recruit additional muscles when performing certain moves. When adding a stability ball to an exercise, your core will have to engage more to find balance than when you do the the move without it.” That added muscular engagement ultimately has other positive side effects, too. “There are two standout benefits that come to mind when I think of the stability ball: Improved spinal stabilization and increased use of muscle fibers during a given exercise,” explains Nicole Petitto, senior manager of group fitness and co-creator of the Pilates Remix class at Equinox. “The stability ball is also ideal for increasing
There’s one way to tell whether you’re spending too much time with your new hot fling
December 24, 2018 at 08:00AM Have you ever fallen head over heels for a new partner who seems equally smitten with you? There aren’t many things more euphoric than realizing that your dinner date essentially turned into an entire weekend staycation together. (Anyone else ever had an impromptu 48-hour date?). Daytime rendezvous turn into sleepovers; sleepovers turn into breakfast; and suddenly, things with the new apple of your eye feel serious. Is it too much too soon? Can you spend way too much time with someone when you’re first dating? The answer, of course, is a little more complicated than just a mere “yes” or “no.” “I wish there were a magical rubric that told you how much time is ‘good’ in a relationship, especially a new one,” says sexologist and relationship expert Megan Stubbs, EdD. “But alas, there is not.” So as many times as friends might tell you to remain a little mysterious, or to keep some distance to make the heart grow fonder, as they say, the only person you should really be listening to is yourself. According to Dr. Stubbs, you’re your own best barometer for the right amount of time to spend with someone. And basically, if you’re having fun and sense the other person is also having fun, you’re probably solid. And if that ends up being a lot of time, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad for your burgeoning relationship. One study that examined couples in the early-on throes of a new fling found that
Everything I’ve learned on dressing with confidence has come from this beloved children’s book character
December 24, 2018 at 07:30AM The only books I remember being obsessed with during my childhood (… and adolescence) were the ones in the Eloise universe. For those of you who don’t know the meaning of true happiness and freedom (I mean, aren’t familiar), Eloise, Eloise at Christmas Time, Eloise in Paris, and Eloise in Moscow are a series of beautifully illustrated children’s books that tell the story of a 6-year-old who lives with her nanny, pet turtle, and dog, on the top floor of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Obviously, her lifestyle is enviable but the part of the book I find myself endlessly referencing is her fashion. During my childhood, I spent a ton of time surrounded by senior citizens and looking for bizarre and mischevious ways to amuse myself, which is where Eloise comes into play. (There is an entire book dedicated to her flooding the hotel while taking a bath.) As an adult, I no longer spend the majority of my day trying to bamboozle people, but the spirit of Eloise lives on in the numerous sartorial lessons I’ve picked up from the beloved children’s book character. 1. a messy bedroom is, in fact, an aesthetic choice Eloise’s bedroom would probably make Marie Kondo cry. But for the wabi-sabi enthusiast, it’s a more youthful take on the concept. Her room was chaotic but it was organized and mindful chaos—and an important lesson on mixing prints. In all honesty, it’s got a Basquiat-like artistic quality to it
Finally! A trainer tells me if it’s okay to hold onto the treadmill rails while I run
December 24, 2018 at 04:00AM I hope I’m not the only one who’s been there, schlepping through a run on the trusty ol’ treadmill, when—inevitably—my legs get tired. Picking them up every millisecond becomes like the Sisyphean task of pushing a rock up a hill. So what can I do if I’m still trying to finish a run but am in need a smidge of a break? Hold onto the handrails, for one. Personally, I’m known to hit up those rails when dealing with a challenging incline or if I’m galloping in a hardcore sprint. You’d think that’s what the rails are there for, but, at the same time, it kind of kills the power of your workout. So, I had to find out the answer, once and for all, from a pro trainer. Turns out that yes, you should be doing your best to not hold onto the handrails while on a treadmill. “Literally the only reason you should ever hold onto the treadmill while running or even walking is for safety or because you have an injury or an issue that requires you to hold on,” says Matt Nolan, an instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp. “Holding on does no good except to give the illusion that you’re running fast or hard,” says Vinnie Miliano, a coach at Mile High Run Club. “It’s like cutting a race course or lying on Strava—why even do it?” Another scenario that could call for the rails? If you’re using a treadmill in dynamic mode, AKA
The hygge lounge staple that doubles as the ideal party outfit
December 23, 2018 at 09:02AM Any social outing that requires changing out of my cozy loungewear is a chore during the winter. It’s so cold and I find it hard to look cute or even just presentable when all I want to do is swathe myself in layers of chenille. But this year I’ve found a solution that makes anyone look chic and put together—while essentially allowing you to leave the house in pajamas: the slip dress. A slip dress is, in my opinion, the most important wardrobe staple of hygge season. They are either literally pajamas or as comfortable as sleepwear (which, is equally as good, to be honest). Plus, these types of slinky sheaths are so easy to style. Really, it just comes down to individual preference. Personally, I like to layer it over mesh and lace tops or a black turtleneck. If I’m already lounging in a slip dress, however, and need an easier way to convert the outfit, I’ll throw on a sweater or cardigan. Depending on the temps, bare legs might be fine, but you can also add an extra layer of warmth with patterned tights, crew socks, and (to be entirely on trend) hiking boots. To create your I-very-elegantly-rolled-out-of-my-boudoir look, you can transition any nightgown slip you have lying around, or you can get your hands on one specifically meant for wearing out of the house (i.e. a version that isn’t too sheer or too short). With the right planning, you too can spend the entire season
These $22 fuzzy slippers are single-handedly combatting my winter blues
December 22, 2018 at 02:12AM Once the temperature starts to plummet, you won’t see me trying to figure out if that dress I bought in August could still work with a pair of thigh-high boots and a jacket. Nope. I abandon all breezy fabrics and immediately start pulling out my collection of oversized sweaters, flannel pajamas (yeah, I have multiple pairs), scarves, and pom-pom hats. “Cozy” is the watchword, my friends. And while this California expat has successfully figured out how to keep nearly every body part warm during an East Coast winter, there is always one place that has consistently stayed frozen: my feet. I don’t know if this is just because I’m tall and thus have poor circulation or what, but my feet are basically always cold. My boyfriend calls them “witch feet.” I wear socks to bed even in the summer, that’s how cold they are all the time. But I have officially solved my “witch feet” problem—well, while I’m indoors, at least—thanks to my impulse purchase of Muji’s fuzzy slipper boots. They’re “so ugly, they’re cute,” cost $22, and I’m obsessed with them. These bad boys are the perfect kind of slipper. They’re fuzzy on the outside and the inside thanks to the boa fleece fabric, keeping my feet toasty warm while making it look like my legs end in teddy bear paws. (The dream!) The softly padded sole gives your feet a bit of extra comfort and insulation from potentially cold floors. And they come up
Fashion…but make it accessible: The millennial mantra that’s reshaping an industry
December 21, 2018 at 11:18AM Between the extremes of fast fashion and high-end design, there’s a subtle, but massive, industry shift happening toward accessible luxury items. It’s largely thanks to the tastes and conscientious shopping habits of millennials. But what is accessible luxury exactly? The definition is open to interpretation depending on your disposable income. But in general, it’s offerings that aren’t as lavish or expensive as those from traditional fashion houses such as Chloé and Gucci. Yet, they tend to include nicer materials and craftsmanship than what you’d find at the mall. Think buttery leather jackets and French-seamed denim. While the concept itself isn’t new (Kate Spade and Coach have become billion-dollar brands by selling $300 handbags in this space) the way it looks now is rapidly evolving. Accessible luxury is about more than “stuff” First things first: “accessible” luxury doesn’t mean that prices are cheap. For most American women, a $400 bag or a $500 dress is a prohibitively expensive price point. But for a growing number of consumers who value owning fewer, well-made products over lots of disposable, cheap items, the investment is worthwhile. That’s partly because a flurry of young labels and cool-kid designers, like Rouje, Anine Bing, Sandro, and Ganni (really, the list is too extensive to include here), haven’t just created clothes and bags. They’ve created an aspirational, beautiful, nearly all-encompassing world that includes on-point social media feeds, in-the-know messaging, and fresh points of view. Crucially, they speak the language of women in their 20s