March 12, 2019 at 01:48PM by CWC Today in collaborations that I didn’t know I needed but now cannot possibly live without: Adidas has partnered with Game of Thrones on a limited-edition collection of six new varieties of its popular Ultraboost running shoe. Call me Beric Dondarrion, because I just came back to life after seeing this lineup. Thanks Lord of Light slash Adidas, I’ll be setting my alarm for 7 a.m. PST on March 22, which is when you can officially order the collection. I have no shame. I take sneakers very seriously, and I take GoT very seriously. I often “joke” that when Game of Thrones is airing new episodes, it’s the most stressful time of the year for me—which is saying something, because I always operate under a high level of stress. I’m currently testing the limits of my anxiety by rewatching all seven seasons before April 14th, when the final season premieres. (I’m close to the Red Wedding, pray for my heart.) But I digress… As mentioned, the shoes are the brand’s iconic Ultraboost, which feature a lightweight and breathable Primeknit upper and the signature supportive sole. Each design in the GoT line was inspired by a different faction in the show and feature the House sigils on the tongue and mottos on the heel tags. The night may be dark and full of terrors, but at least we have these sneakers to bring us joy. Let’s look at the Adidas x Game of Thrones Ultraboost shoes (each $18) one by
Category: Fashion
The internet lied. That pineapple pulling “hack” is just a sticky mess
March 12, 2019 at 10:21AM by CWC If you were stranded on an island and you could bring only three things, what would they be? If one of your chosen items is a knife to split open juicy pineapples (hopefully) growing on the isolated atoll, the internet has news for you. A series of viral “pineapple pulling” videos suggests you don’t need a sharp edge to slice through the tropical plant’s barbed exterior to reach the sweet golden flesh. Instead, while you’re secluded and staring out at a miles-long crystal blue sea all around you, you can simply pluck a pineapple straight from the trees and proceed to pull it apart like monkey bread. At least, in theory. In case this is the first you’ve heard of this so-called “hack,” it involves slicing off the bottom of the pineapple (this part is optional but helps) and yanking out pieces of the fruit in bite-size chunks. “Pineapple is like a Jenga of pulp,” says YouTuber Patrick Cloud. Pineapple belongs to the Fibonacci fruit family, which means each ridge visible on the outside corresponds with a “spear” of fruit within. When my coworkers and I tried the technique for ourselves, we were rendered speechless but for one word: “Why?” Why would anyone do this? Yes, the technique worked, stripping the pineapple piece by piece to leave nothing but the core. But under the fluorescent lights of civilized office decor, it seemed—well—extra. I suppose if you don’t know how to cut pineapple, have at it with your
We found the sneakers to invest in if your a HIIT devotee
March 12, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC To borrow a line from Seinfeld: “What is the deal with split sole sneakers?” While the design looks a lot like it’s there just to make your kicks look more fashion forward or sculptural, split-soled sneakers actually borrow their structure from dance shoes and are meant to take your HIIT workouts up a notch. Case in point: When I tried a pair myself, I could quickly tell that I was more in control of my own foot during a HIIT class. I had a wider range of motion (good for all those high-knees and burpees), but I also didn’t have to sacrifice any stability to the ground. Even when I was moving side-to-side, I was very aware that the gap between the front and back soles enhanced my agility while doing lateral motions. In other words: I quite liked them. And I’m not alone. Since I laced up my first pair, I’ve seen them all over the place, including at Rumble, where my instructor Jeremiah Maestre was working out in a pair of Reebok Sole Furys ($90). When I asked him why he was a split-sole convert, he had a lot to relay about why they’re a good pair for your next workout. Here’s what to know. How to use split-sole sneakers to up your workout They are multifaceted: When looking for a versatile shoe, Maestre wanted his sneakers to help with his movement, while also providing stability, and that wasn’t something he was able to find before
How to generate passive income online, so you can literally make money in your sleep
March 12, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC No matter how you finance your life (traditional full-time gig, odd jobs to make a burgeoning side hustle work, entrepreneur, or something else), it’s possible to wake up to more earnings after a night of doing nothing but dreaming about it. All you have to do is share your passion. Also known as passive income, the money earned while you sleep can cultivate a sense of freedom, empowerment, and opportunity. You can enjoy freedom to save, spend, or travel; feel empowerment in your unique expertise and knowledge that you can create even more; and then there’s the opportunity to share your intel with others. And in the online space especially, passive-income opportunities abound. Think: e-books, online courses, and membership sites. These options require work in the beginning stages, but after laying the groundwork, they allow for content that can forever generate income without you really needing to lift a finger or click a mouse. Below are steps to get you started 4 steps for setting up a passive income—so you can literally make money in your sleep. 1. Identify areas in which you’re an expert and niche audiences you can serve You have a unique set of skills that makes you an expert in something—you just have to be able to identify them. What is that people love to reach out to you about? Perhaps its your amazing plant-lady skills, or your crunching-number talents, or your baking chops. Something that comes more easily for
Lindy West gets “Shrill” about bathing suits and toxic bosses—and promises to only get louder
March 11, 2019 at 04:30PM by CWC Feminist journalist and author Lindy West has detailed her life on the internet, in print, and—starting Friday, March 15—onscreen. Shrill, the forthcoming, six episode Hulu comedy series, is based on West’s experiences via her best-selling 2016 memoir of the same name. In the show, Aidy Bryant stars as Annie, the West-inspired character who’s a writer at paper in Portland, Oregon, navigating a symphony of series issues like abortion, body acceptance, a toxic boss, internet trolls, and more—all with the lithe gravitas HBO’s Girls often missed the mark on a handful of years ago. I caught up with West (who is an executive producer—alongside Elizabeth Banks, Lorne Michaels, and others—and writer on the show) before Shrill hit the streaming service to talk about pool parties, sticking up for yourself at work, and what it means to reclaim negative terms. Spoiler alert: If you call her shrill, she takes it as high praise. View this post on Instagram 4:22 am, wrapped A post shared by Lindy West (@thelindywest) on Sep 15, 2018 at 4:26am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js On taking a literal plunge into body positivity In the fourth episode, Annie attends a body-positive pool party to write about it for work. “That episode is pivotal,” West tells me. Annie has an a-ha moment of personal acceptance spawned from being among fat women in bikinis, on pool floats, thrilled to be in their skin. In the first few episodes of Shrill, Annie starts “to have inklings that
5 chic shoe brands that are made in the USA, for more sustainable style
March 09, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC If “made in America” brings to mind one of those obnoxious beer commercials with fire and bulls and bald eagles—same. But as I began to be a more conscious consumer, I realized the impact domestic craftsmanship can have, from an ecological and sustainability standpoint. Brands are also taking note of this. Shoemakers like Astara Collective and Zuzii are creating high-quality shoes here in the US—offering up new, chic options for anyone who values earth-friendliness as much as style. “Shoes are hard because when you’re shipping overseas, they take up a lot of space because they’re being shipped in shoe boxes,” says Mariah K. Lyons, the founder of Astara Collective, who says environmental impact was a key concern as she designed her line. “So the cargo is that much heavier, which obviously makes the plane or ship that much heavier.” AKA it creates a bigger carbon footprint to ship boxes of shoes overseas. By offering her shoes direct to the consumer, and manufacturing in downtown Los Angeles, she’s able to bypass that wasted energy. “I also love having a personal relationship with my team, both on the production and the artisan side,” she says. For your (sustainable) shoe-shopping pleasure: Here are five brands that are made in America. That’s right, it’s a shoe party in the USA. Astara Collective, $422-$435 Each sandal is designed in Venice, CA, and handcrafted in downtown Los Angeles out of vegetable-tanned leather. The minimalist design of the slide is
Some bralettes are too cute not to be seen—here are 9 genius ways to style them
March 09, 2019 at 09:00AM by CWC IMHO, a bralette is a perfect article of clothing. Aside from holding your boobs in place without any pesky (and often painful) underwire, there’s something about the lacy unmentionables that make me want to mention them, loudly, from the rooftops. Or at least wear them very publicly and on full display outside of my clothes as part of an outfit. If you want to know how to wear a bralette as part of your springtime #lewk, it’s first important to understand what, exactly, this heaven-sent closet staple actually is. A bralette is basically a bra without all of the uncomfortable bells and whistles. There’s no underwire or clasp, which somehow puts it in a category smack in between “lingerie” and “clothing,” and means it can easily serve double duty as both. They’re pretty, sexy, and so cozy that I’d go so far as to call them the clothing equivalent of the Lovesac. The best part, though, is that you can enjoy the wonders associated with wearing a bralette whether you’re a 32A, a 40D, or anywhere in between. Thanks in large part to the fashion industry’s movement toward size inclusivity, there are a lot of supportive—and more importantly, sexy—options out there. One W+G staffer is a fan of Cosabella’s Never Say Never bralette ($66) and The Evolution bralette ($80) for her own DDs, and The Lively Busty Bralette ($45) is a fan-favorite that goes up to a size 38DDD. So if my true obsession has you feeling inspired to try
Here’s exactly how to make Jennifer Garner’s favorite breakfast
March 09, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC If you haven’t noticed, Jennifer Garner has become quite the star chef lately. She’s always trying out new recipes on her #PretendCookingShow on Instagram, whether it’s something from her cooking idol (a certain Barefoot badass) or her own collection. And most recently, she shared one of her go-to breakfast recipes: a warm and cozy bowl of apple oatmeal. In her video, Garner showed just how easy it is to whip up the meal. And there’s a reason she’s such a pro. Thanks to a helpful tip she got, she’s completely mastered the recipe. “Ina Garten says the trick to learning how to cook is finding something you eat and making it over and over again—maybe this time try half water/half almond milk? Or instead of brown sugar, drizzle some maple syrup? That’s how you gain a little confidence. And that’s me and my favorite winter oatmeal,” she writes. “Ina Garten says the trick to learning how to cook is finding something you eat and making it over and over again…That’s me and my favorite winter oatmeal.” —Jennifer Garner So, what exactly makes this oatmeal such a winner? Along with the old-fashioned rolled oats, it also contains tart apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and chopped almonds. Basically everything that makes for a comforting—and filling—breakfast. If you want to try it for yourself, you’re in luck: she shared the full recipe. Bon appétit! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Garner (@jennifer.garner) on Mar
A trainer explains when you should be using intervals versus reps to clock your workouts
March 08, 2019 at 12:30PM by CWC Despite the fact that the rise of digital fitness has given everyone access to some of the world’s top trainers at the push of a button (sometimes for $0!), every once and a while you’re bound to find yourself attempting to structure a strength-training workout of your own. Whenever I find myself in this situation, there’s one question that constantly haunts my brain, and one that I’ve never quite been able to figure out the answer to: When am I supposed to monitor my moves by reps, and when should I be using timed intervals? Over the last few years, you’ve definitely seen interval-based training become more and more popular. Think: the four-move, seven-minute circuits in Kayla Itsine’s Sweat app, or the AMRAP (which, as I recently discovered, stands for “as many reps as possible”) that often serve as “closers” in HIIT classes. While these types of workouts can help get your heart pumping and muscles pounding all at once, there’s still a time and a place for good, old fashioned repetition work. Here, Aaptiv trainer Kenta Seki answers the question once and for all of when you should be using reps versus timed intervals to calculate your workouts. When to use reps: If you’re hitting the heavy weights, reps are the way to go. “Rep-based training is ideal for strength training and muscle building,” says Seki. “It generally doesn’t raise your heart rate as high as timed sets, and focuses on isolating the muscles you’re working.”
Just a friendly reminder that your “power suit” is whatever you want it to be
March 08, 2019 at 09:49AM by CWC For those of us still waiting for someone (anyone!) to invent the ensemble-generator Cher Horowitz fires up in Clueless, getting dressed in the morning is a real chore. What can I say? The blonde trendsetter would surely categorize me as a “fashion victim,” thanks to my lack of color coordination and steadfast belief that leggings and better than pants. But if there’s one thing the effortlessly chic Cher and I share, it’s and affinity for the power suit. Now, you won’t catch me in a yellow plaid suit, but I do reach for the same pieces each and every time I need an extra boost of confidence. And here’s the secret: a power suit doesn’t have to be a suit at all. My power outfit consists of an ’80s-style long sleeve T-shirt (which, bargain brag, I snagged for $5 at H&M) with a black wrap-around skirt lined with fringe. I select a pair of white sneakers from my embarrassingly large collection, throw on a leather jacket, and I feel ready to take on the world. It’s not the coordinated blazer and trouser combination you’ll find on Horowitz, Hillary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the runway models of Paris Fashion Week, but it makes me feel like like the mightiest iteration of me. A power suit makes me feel like like the mightiest iteration of me. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before actress Lana Candor told People that her choice garments for gassing herself up look a lot more like mine