December 21, 2018 at 04:24AM I lost my fanny pack virginity when I was traveling through Thailand last year, shopping for an outfit for the legendary “Full Moon Party.” I found a nylon silver belt bag that I figured would look cute with the neon bikini I had on deck for the event (yes, I was that girl), and dropped $5 on it in an H&M in Bangkok. I figured I would wear it once—it was a fanny pack, after all—and donate it post-party. Boy oh boy, was I wrong. What was supposed to be a one-night stand turned into a full-on love affair that’s totally changed the way I travel—for the better. After that first evening together, I never went anywhere without my trusty hands-free accessory again. I wore it to hike mountains in Bulgaria, glaciers in Iceland, and on a five-day motorcycle trip through Chile. (I was the queen of being well-prepared for the tolls, TYVM.) Then, I bought another fanny pack while traveling in Peru that is heavily featured in all of my photos from Machu Picchu. Both options are now in permanent travel outfit rotation because 1. I secretly think they look cool AF, and 2. I never have to worry about losing my passport in the airport again. View this post on Instagram Plz enjoy this photo of me and a terrifying ice pick hiking a glacier in Iceland last year. A post shared by Zoe Weiner (@zoeweinerrr) on Dec 19, 2018 at 8:44am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Screw purses, I say! They’ve
Category: Fashion
Michelle Obama’s sparkly boots can’t outshine the wisdom she delivered in NYC
December 20, 2018 at 10:37AM Did you see those boots? On Wednesday, with glittery thigh-high Balenciaga boots peeking out of her full-length gown, former first lady Michelle Obama brought some serious holiday sparkle to the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center—and set the internet ablaze. (Astrologer and writer Chani Nicholas pointed out that Obama, a Capricorn, wore them to usher in her sun-sign season, which kicks off December 22: “Capricorn showing up early for their own season. #OnBrand.”) During a sit-down with Sarah Jessica Parker, Obama talked clothes (how could she not with SJP?), but that was just the start. “She actually didn’t want to spend too much time on fashion,” says marketing executive Gabrielle Gibbs, who attended the sold-out event. “But she did say that being out of the White House has allowed her to really tap into herself and have fun—hence, the boots.” Obama updates her husband’s famous message of “hope” with an addendum: “Hope isn’t passive.” Obama delivered the serious shine when she offered lessons she had learned as part of the only African-American First Family in U.S. history. “Often time, when you’re the first or the only, the bar shifts a lot, right? The bar gets set, you meet it, exceed it, they move the bar,” Obama said, according to the Associated Press. Obama said that, as the first black American president, her husband felt as if no mistakes could be made. When they finally left the White House after eight years of intense pressure—always trying to measure up
Kayla Itsines is pregnant! Here’s how she’s changing up her workout
December 20, 2018 at 09:17AM Fitness superstar Kayla Itsines will be putting her signature burpee-heavy routines on the back-burner—at least for now. After officially announcing that she’s 20 weeks pregnant in a series of Instagram posts yesterday, the HIIT queen added that she fully intends on keeping her sweat sessions alive through the nine or so months ahead—but with a few modifications. When a follower, using IG’s question feature, asked Itsines exactly how she planned on switching her routine up, she answered, “I now do… modified exercises, lots of walking, no jumping [R.I.P., burpees], lower weight reps, and heart rate monitoring” You listening, soon-to-be mamas? View this post on Instagram Thank you SO MUCH everyone for all your amazing comments and support today Tobi and I have had the BEST DAY EVER!! I’m off to bed now, BUT in the morning I’ll be posting a workout video Keep in mind i’m literally HALF WAY (20 weeks pregnant). I’ve been active my whole pregnancy and I DO have a bump so just be prepared for that. It’s going to be so different for you ladies to see a different body than you have been used to seeing since 2013 .. but I’m soooo excited to share this with you! For now, we need sleep. It’s been a huge day. Thank you SO MUCH LADIES!! www.kaylaitsines.com/app #bbg A post shared by KAYLA ITSINES (@kayla_itsines) on Dec 20, 2018 at 3:00am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Joanie Johnson, co-founder of New York City’s Fit Pregnancy Club, says that
What having a school counselor for a mom taught me about being a man
December 20, 2018 at 07:40AM “A lot of guys my age…they say, ‘Every day I think I’m becoming more like my dad,’” comedian John Mulaney tells an audience. “I think I’m becoming more like my mom.” Well, after re-reading some texts I sent to a friend who’s going through a tough breakup, it became clear that I, like Mulaney, am becoming my mom, too: “Hang in there, ok? Be kind to yourself.” “Small steps—one day at a time.” “Just checking in. How are you today? I love you.” While I definitely sent those affirmation iMessages, they were probably at one point direct quotes from one Felice Kassoy—the mother, the bubbe, and the LGBTQ+-advocating school counselor who scooped a casual PhD at age 57 and who, through nature and nurture, created me in her image. Growing up with her, as you might imagine, there was a lot of talking. A lot of emoting. A lot of learning how to feel, how to listen, and what to say. I was encouraged to express myself and, from an early age, to explore intellectual, emotional, and creative dimensions of myself, outside assumptions or expectations of what a heterosexual male—how I identify—is or should be. When I asked, Mom gladly took me to Claire’s to get my ear pierced in third grade; she loved when my older sister would give me hair wraps (remember those?!) during road trips; she was an enthusiastic supporter when I took up basketball and baseball and tennis, along with ballet and
9 fashion-forward athleisure pieces that’ll make holiday dressing comfy and cool
December 20, 2018 at 05:02AM The holidays are that special time of year when wearing your pajamas to the airport and lounging around your parents’ house for hours on end in your sweats is completely acceptable. The mere prospect of wearing “real clothes”—AKA jeans, dresses, and tops—suddenly feels like a dreadfully unnecessary task, and, in fact, it is. An equally comfortable and stylish alternative to your faded tees and holey sweats are fashion-forward athleisure pieces (and yes, leggings fall into this category). When comfy is key, the trick to looking more pulled together is finding those just-stylish enough pieces that are performance-inspired but built a little more for form. Then, it’s a matter of pairing them with relaxed essentials like an oversized sweater, fleece-lined legging, or knitted jogger—when you’re feeling particularly driven, stretchy jeans are an easy way to level up athleisure staples without feeling like a comprise in comfort. The effect is the epitome of cozy-cool and a look that your family (and onlookers you encounter during a grocery store run) can’t judge you for. If you’re planning to spend the rest of 2018 catching up on Netflix and face-masking on the couch, check out these nine ultra-stylish athleisure pieces that are equal parts comfy and chic. Real clothes, see you in 2019. Photo: Bandier All Access Tune Up Track Pant, $145 Track parts are one of those pieces that look as great with a button-down and heels as they do with sneakers and a tee. For laid-back luxe at
18 pieces that’ll help you embrace those hygge-and-hibernate vibes
December 19, 2018 at 01:45PM It was around mid-September when I had to accept that bare-leg season was officially over (hello, patterned tights). Mother Nature charmed me into fall with her beautiful foliage, helping to ease the pain of packing away my beloved sandals until next year. I started hearing words like flannel, shearling, chenille, and teddy. It all sounded so romantic and brainstorming winter clothes ideas suddenly sounded dreamy. I know cozy means something different to everyone. According to Erin Rittling, senior manager of styling for Aerie, cozy is “all about you.” This is to say, there’s no wrong way to add more warm, fuzzy feelings into your winter wardrobe. But if you’re looking for a place to start, blanketing yourself in a super-soft sweater isn’t a bad idea—Rittling’s been styling everyone from the model and inclusivity advocate Iskra Lawrence to singer Rachel Platten in them all season. Prefer hygge with a hint of luxury? There’s no shortage of cashmere on the market right now. You can find everything from scarves and wraps to sweaters and robes in the luxe-feeling fabric. And if you can’t stay inside and hibernate ’til spring, the next best thing is to feel like you’re still in bed even when you’re not. Oversized puffer coats, blanket scarves, or long, cozy layers like this cashmere coatigan (coat and cardigan combo) from Grant Hill, $188, can help recreate those vibes. Whether you’re dressing up or down, here are some cozy pieces that’ll look just as good by the fire
Here’s how often you actually need to wash your jeans, because you know you’ve totally been wondering
December 19, 2018 at 09:44AM When I lived with my (now) ex-boyfriend, I didn’t realize how blessed I was to have an in-apartment washer and dryer. After moving out, I quickly realized that having a functioning laundry in your home is kind of like finding a Gucci Marmont handbag on sale. (Read: incredibly lucky/doesn’t happen.) Now, cleaning clothes is a strategically-planned event and I’m more aware of how often I should be washing different items in my wardrobe to prevent me from hauling anything to the laundromat unnecessarily. While some articles of clothing obviously need a wash after one use—like, say, workout clothes—other items are a little less clear, like denim. If I had to wash my jeans after every time I wore them (or, honestly, every two times I wore them), I would spend more money on laundry than on coffee… and I spend a lot of money on coffee. Plus, I try to do laundry as little as possible because I’m both interested in conserving water and kind of lazy when it comes to household chores. So how often do you need to wash your jeans? Is it really that gross to wear them approximately 10 times before throwing them in the wash? I turned to the experts to answer my laundry-related queries. Heather Loduca, wardrobe stylist and fashion expert, says that how often you need to wash your jeans comes down to what they’re made out of. For instance, vintage Levi’s are typically 100 percent cotton. “These are
5 ways to enjoy digital downtime over the holidays, without disconnecting completely
December 19, 2018 at 05:30AM During the holidays, so many things compete for your attention: gift-buying errands, family obligations, work-related holiday parties, wrapping, baking, and so on, and so forth. Add a steady stream of iPhone notifications related to scary world events and the many unattainable things Instagram influencers are spending the season doing (like making marshmallows from scratch or doing poolside yoga at a stunning resort) to that list, and you might just go crazy—or at least not feel awesome about yourself. In other words, it’s a great time to disconnect. Doing so let’s you actually enjoy QT with the great people in your life. Before you dismiss the suggestion as unreasonable, keep in mind that I’m not prescribing a digital detox—during the holidays or anytime of year for that matter. (Tech and I are good friends; my devices make my life easier and bring me joy in many ways.) Rather than shutting things off for two weeks and dealing with the anxiety of digital withdrawal, simply apply a little more consciousness to your tech habits so you can rein them in just enough. Think of it like making some healthy food swaps rather than going on a full-blown elimination cleanse. So, check out a few easy ways to kind-of, sort-of disconnect in order to enjoy some desperately needed digital downtime. 1. Turn off your notifications Between Christmas and New Year’s, if you’re not working and aren’t required to respond to your manager’s “urgent” requests, the only “ding!” that should
When a luxe lingerie brand starts making athleisure, here’s what the sensual product looks like
December 18, 2018 at 12:41PM Athleisure is no longer a niche within the retail market. Rather, its an omnipresent, ubiquitous sector that you’re as likely to find evidence of at Nike as you are at Gucci or Asos. Some would even say it’s high fashion’s next frontier. And now, it’s coming for your nether regions (well, kind of): Luxury lingerie brand Kiki de Montparnasse is now expanding into athleisure and activewear. The collection, which debuted yesterday, WWD reports, is currently four items strong: leggings, shorts, a workout bralette, and a sports bra crop top. Each of the garments appear exactly as you’d expect (think: if lacy, silky lingerie underwent some kind of activewear transformation). The four pieces are only available in black, and all feature lace details for a general aesthetic that points to Kiki de Montparnasse’s signature style of sensuality. So basically, if you’re looking for the perfect getup for that luxe pole-dancing boutique fitness class you want to try out, consider it found. Previously, Kiki de Montparnasse was a brand I enjoyed from afar—I, personally, cannot justify spending $650 on an everyday dress (though I do dream). This collection, however, is priced in the good company of other higher-tier activewear brands, with all four items retailing in the neighborhood of $150. If you’re looking for the perfect getup for a luxe pole-dancing boutique fitness class, consider it found. And while the lace accents used throughout the pieces evoke the sexiness of the flirty lingerie signature to the brand, here the fabric offers a more
Dentists say this common ingredient could be messing with your mouth
December 18, 2018 at 10:21AM The best part of brushing and swishing your teeth (aside from the whole “no gum disease or cavities” thing) is that “ahh”-inducing feeling you get right after you’ve finished. And, thanks to flavoring with essential oils, these days natural toothpaste and mouthwash can give your mouth the same minty-freshness as the old-fashioned stuff most of us grew up on. But no matter how much you love that cool and tingly breath after a particularly satisfying brush sesh, there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to putting those sweet-yet-spicy smelling essential oils in your mouth. “Using essential oils in the mouth sounds like a great, natural idea, but this should be done on occasion—not everyday,” says Dr. Mark Burhenne, creator and author of AsktheDentist.com. “The powerfully antibacterial nature of essential oils means regular use can actually upset your oral microbiome over time by killing off the good bacteria your mouth needs to fight cavities and gum disease.” As in—yes, your mouth has a microbiome. In some studies, essential oils have been proven to be just as effective as chlorhexidine–AKA the main ingredient in prescription-strength mouthwash. But, while we’re all for going the au natural route with your oral care, in this case, it may not be the best idea. “[It] might sound like a good thing, but [essential oils are] not beneficial for long-term oral health,” says Dr. Burhenne. “If you’re using mouthwash, chances are you’re trying to make it a daily habit. But killing all