January 06, 2019 at 08:32AM It might be peak snow boot and fuzzy slipper season. But for a growing number of women, white sneakers continue to stay in heavy rotation this time of year—barring bad weather, of course. All you really need to winterize them is a crisp pair of white crew socks to keep your ankles warm. (Picking up some extra baking soda to keep your kicks optic all season long isn’t a bad idea, either.) The better news is that there are a ton of options that can endure the wicked windchill from your office to your boxing class on the market right now. (Hello, high-tops.) These winter white sneakers are so cool, they might just put a pep in your step—even during the January blues. Scroll down to see 7 winter-ready sneakers to scoop up ASAP. Photo: Lou & Grey Lou & Grey x Veja Extra White Pierre Natural Puxador, $120 Photo: Loeffler Randall Loeffler Randall Elliot Sneakers, $295 Photo: Adidas Adidas Continental 80 Sneaker, $80 Photo: Senso Senso Adrianna Sneakers, $199 Photo: Surperga Superga White Out Package High Top Sneakers, $85 Photo: Nike Nike Air Force 1 High Top Sneaker, $100 Photo: Allbirds Allbirds Wool Runner, $95 Photo: Vans Vans Canvas Sk8-Hi Sneaker, $60 And now here’s how to keep your sneakers white through the slush and snow. Continue Reading… Author Katie Maguire | Well and Good Selected by iversue
Category: City
8 jackets that’ll make you rethink everything you thought about fleece
January 05, 2019 at 01:11PM Once upon a time, fleece jackets were sold strictly at outdoor retailers for hikers, campers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Luckily for us, however, as gorpcore (i.e. dressing like a badass woman about to hit the trails) goes mainstream, oversized fleece jackets have made their way onto the backs of millennials, bloggers, and Instagrammers in what might be the coziest trend ever (or at least this season). These jackets are essentially the chic way to wear a blanket in public. Also known as teddy, fuzzy, and faux shearling, these jackets are essentially the chic way to wear a blanket in public. Pair it with leggings, jeans, or even a skirt—the beauty of the 2019 version of fleece is that there are so many ways to style it, from super-casual to structured and work-appropriate, you really can’t go wrong. Whatever you do, just try not to fall asleep while rocking this cozy look (no promises on our end). Scroll down for 8 fleece jackets we can’t wait to wrap up in. Photo: Penfield Penfield Breakheart Fleece Jacket, $160 Photo: ten Sixty Sherman Ten Sixty Sherman Oversized Fleece Jacket, $72 Photo: BDG BDG Urban Outfitters Chevron Teddy Coat, $94 Photo: Patagonia Patagonia Los Gatos Fleece Bomber Jacket, $139 Photo: Urban Outfitters UO Willow Fuzzy Drawstring Teddy Jacket, $69 Photo: Outdoor Voices Outdoor Voices MegaFleece Pullover, $135 Photo: Madewell Madewell x Penfield Haight Fleece Jacket, $100 Photo: Alo Alo Yoga Foxy Sherpa Jacket, $188 Further proof that fleece is having
These (foodie-approved) Mediterranean diet cookbooks make healthy eating feel like an indulgence
January 05, 2019 at 05:13AM One of the best things about the Mediterranean diet is that it’s based on an established culinary tradition in the Middle East, Greece, Italy, and Spain—some of the best and oldest food cultures in the world. Yes, it is the most popular healthy-eating approach right now, shown to improve digestion, gut health, and heart health—and studies show it can even help you live longer. But the deep roots of Mediterranean cooking also make it a favorite of foodies who couldn’t care less about slow carbs or ketones. Translation: When you want to feel like a kitchen goddess, creating beautiful plates of food and serving them up on your rustic Tuscan dining table (dare to dream, in a tiny New York City apartment), Mediterranean is the nutrient-dense way to go. The deep roots of Mediterranean cooking also make it a favorite of foodies who couldn’t care less about slow carbs or ketones. While the huge communal dining table may be all in your head, the chef-approved dishes are absolutely doable, thanks to the huge selection of Mediterranean cookbooks at pretty much any bookstore. Here’s a curated list of favorites, from chefs who will help you make everything from a weeknight meal to Sunday dinner with the family extra-special (and healthy!). Photo: Knopf Shaya: An Odyssey of Food, My Journey Back to Israel Two-time James Beard award-winning chef Alon Shaya made New Orleans foodies swoon for Israeli cooking when his namesake restaurant opened a few years ago, and in this cookbook-slash-memoir, he offers up something
The only instruction manual you need to slide into someone’s DMs the right way
January 04, 2019 at 08:32AM A successful DM slide seems is like an urban myth. Many have attempted it, but few of us have pulled it off flawlessly. It’s the triple Lutz of flirting—a move so difficult, only a true pro could nail it. Because if you proceed too quietly or cautiously, there’s a good chance you’ll get lost in the Instagram shuffle. But slide into a stranger’s DMs too aggressively, and—bam!—you’re bordering on predatory behavior. Yet, I’m constantly hearing of folks (or maybe more like folklore) whose DM game is incredibly strong. They use a good opener, get to chatting, and voilà! A relationship begins to flourish. Seemingly, there’s a right way to go about this—and an instruction manual sure would be nice. So, I tapped an expert. “First of all, you have to prepare yourself for the situation where the person you’re DM-ing doesn’t respond,” says sexologist and relationship expert Megan Stubbs, EdD. “That chance decreases significantly if they have a huge following.” Alternatively, the chances increase if you two follow each other and are connected in some other way—like through mutual friends. Then, take note of whether your social profiles are private, since that may affect whether or not a person responds to your DMs. “If a person you’re messaging can’t see who you are and what you’re about, they may think ‘stranger danger,’” Dr. Stubbs says. Whatever you do, make sure you know when to back off. If your first message goes unanswered, accept defeat, move
7 places around the world where you can see the majestic Northern Lights
December 31, 2018 at 09:20AM There are few natural phenomena as visually impressive as the aurora borealis, or northern lights. One of the oldest and most well-known types of astrotourism, you likely know the northern lights as the occasion when the night sky lights up and looks like the fumes of a lava lamp. In fact, the aurora borealis happens when charged solar particles meet certain atmospheric gasses and the Earth’s magnetic field. Technically the phenomenon behind the northern lights can happen year-round but for best visibility, you’ll want to be somewhere with low light pollution and go during a time of the year when the days are dark. There’s no exact information or way to tell if and when or for how long the northern lights will happen, but it can be anywhere from mere minutes to days at a time. The best place to see nature’s light display is somewhere with a magnetic latitude above 55 degrees. This is, understandably, probably not the easiest parameter to use when planning a vacation. Instead, below you’ll find a list of the best places to see the northern lights—as well as the ideal time of year to do so in each location. Photo: Getty Images/Sjo 1. Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks is home to one of the country’s most revered nature escapes, the Denali National Park. It’s one of the US’ northernmost (and thereby best) options for catching a glimpse of the aurora borealis. The northern lights are visible yearly from late August until
6 stories that changed wellness in 2018
December 30, 2018 at 06:00AM Let’s just say it: 2018 came with its fair share of garbage-fire headlines. But if we could all kick back to watch a sequence of the highlights of 2018, we’d also find plenty to celebrate: We nominated a record number of women to serve in Congress. Aly Raisman, Christine Blasey Ford, and so many other brave people told their #MeToo stories on an international stage. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry said “I do.” The whole world got to know—and love—Adam Rippon. The $4.2 trillion wellness industry had a pretty groundbreaking year, too. CBD seeped into, well, every part of your self-care routine—from your moisturizer, to your post-workout recovery, to the honey you add to your afternoon cuppa tea. The idealizing of “me-time” got a reality check. And we officially unsubscribed from the belief that being pro-science and pro-wellness was impossible. In short, this year was mega for all things falling under the category of “living your best life.” For your 2018 wellness debriefing, just keep scrolling. Photo: Getty Images/Nastasic The 2018 Farm Bill laid the groundwork for CBD to go fully mainstream To elaborate on the above, the non-psychoactive element of the cannabis plant known as CBD, cannabidiol, has gained traction (read: blown UP) in the wellness world as an anti-inflammatory superstar capable of quelling maladies ranging from insomnia to psoriasis. And even more innovations are on the way to your beauty cabinet and pantry thanks to this year’s Farm Bill—a piece of legislation that, among other things, removes industrial hemp from the illegal Schedule 1 drugs list.
How to choose a Champagne with the least amount of sugar
December 28, 2018 at 06:24AM With the holidays going strong and New Year’s Eve right around the corner, chances are you’ll be raising a glass of bubbly sometime between now and January 1. And if you’re tempted to skip it due to its sugar content, don’t refuse a flute just yet. According to Champagne expert Chantelle Corbo — ambassador to Champagne Taittinger, sommelier, and partner of RBC Hospitality Group — there’s a super-easy way to select a low-sugar varietal. Take a quick peek at the label. “The dosage [of added sugar] determines the category of Champagne: brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra dry, demi-sec,” Corbo explains. Brut nature has the least amount of sugar and demi-sec has the most. She adds that while wine producers do add sugar to Champagne to balance the naturally high acidity of the grapes and help with the aging process, “one of the most fascinating things about wine is that it doesn’t take much sugar to make it taste sweet,” she says. “The grams of sugar in a 5-ounce serving glass are actually quite low compared to other beverages.” “One of the most fascinating things about wine is that it doesn’t take much sugar to make it taste sweet.” According to Corbo, 90 percent of Champagnes are dosed as brut, which have less than 15 grams of sugar per liter—about 2 grams of sugar per 5-oz. glass. (By comparison, a 16-oz. bottle of kombucha has 10 grams of sugar on average, or roughly about the same amount per 5-oz. serving.) For a slightly
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
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
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