November 26, 2018 at 04:04AM I don’t think it’s a coincidence that 1977 was the year that two pinnacles of fitness—the high five and the first sports bra—were invented. (Yeah, both of those things are only 41 years old, so let that settle in for a moment.) Something else they both have in common? Little has changed about either of them since they were invented. Fortunately, at least for your boobs, sports bras are finally being brought into the 21st century thanks to new technology and retooled designs. To get an idea of how far sports bras have come, it’s important to know where they started. Dubbed the “jock bra,” the first sports bra was the brainchild of Lisa Lindahl and her seamstress-friend Polly Smith, who wanted to find a solution for female runners. While gunning for a solve, Lindahl’s husband jokingly stretched a jockstrap across his chest, and in a stroke of genius, the modern-day sports bra was born. Though we certainly don’t use man slings as material-of-choice anymore, sports bras haven’t been totally reimagined until recently. In fact, every time I squeeze into my jog bra, that scene in Now and Then where Christina Ricci (as a young Roberta) tapes her boobs to compress them to her chest comes to mind. I’m not the only one who’s ever felt disatisfied by her sports bra options, either. “Women have been making compromises when it comes to their sports bra for years,” says Danielle Witek, Reebok senior innovation apparel designer. “I kept coming
Category: Fashion
I tried a mini computer to count my CrossFit reps while I worked out
November 25, 2018 at 10:00AM CrossFitters have embraced many fashion trends that the non-initiated may balk at, because fashion has to meet function during a WOD. First there were compression knee socks, then there were booty shorts covered in pastry prints, and now we’re living in a world where the Nexus, a high-tech arm sleeve, counts reps for you. Nexus is geared to adding a little #science to CrossFit. Inside this sleeve sits a what I’ll call a “mini computer”, which is the shape of a snack-sized Kit Kat, and it provides information about your reps. “Other trackers do not tell the story of the exertion you are putting your body through externally. Nexus can measure your physical movement patterns, counting reps, and providing meaningful information about your performance and fitness,” explains Mike Dawson, the brand’s CEO. Before the workout, you let the Nexus app—which you sync up to the device using Bluetooth—know which workout you’re planning to do for the day. You can execute pre-programmed workouts, go for “AMRAP” (as many reps as possible), or power through for time. It sounds complicated, but it takes me roughly two minutes to execute, and I usually do so during my pre-WOD nervous pee. During your workout, the device literally counts and tracks your reps for you. Then after, you can check your round-by-round splits, cadence, work-to-rest ratio, and the Nexus-invented power metric that calculates your overall intensity into a raw metric on the app. “This gives you info that can help you
Yes, we’re still in Mercury retrograde—but this week has major make-things-happen mojo as well
November 25, 2018 at 04:00AM Tuck a crystal into your bra and bring your A-game, because it’s on. That’s right, even with Mercury in retrograde, this week offers potential to get things done—if you’re in the right mindset, says astrologer Jennifer Racioppi. Here’s her best advice on riding the high-vibe energy this week, no matter what your sun sign is. Monday, November 26 The week kicks off on a promising note. With the sun aligned with good luck Jupiter we can expect the first day back from the holiday weekend to have a high vibe (which also brings the tenacity to stick with wellness goals). With retrograde Mercury forming a sharp angle to Mars, the cosmos compliment the abundance of Jupiter and the sun’s alignment with enough friction to keep us on our toes. So with that in mind, grab your running shoes and get to the gym. Feel short on time? No problem, do a 20-minute HIIT workout on a treadmill and then take 10 minutes to stretch out before leaving. Tuesday, November 27 Yesterday’s high-performance energy carries over into today. With Jupiter still traveling close to the sun and meeting up directly today with Mercury too, the positive influence continues. This opulent potential might feel subtle, maybe even subdued. If so, it will likely require you to meet it halfway. (Especially since Mercury is retrograde!) So, bring your A-game to the day. Show up with a smile on your face. If affirmations are your thing, spend time in the morning reciting
3 unexpected ways dance-based fitness classes give your brain a boost
November 24, 2018 at 07:00AM You can tell just by how sweaty the dance floor gets on a Saturday night that getting down to Cardi B and Ariana Grande in dance fitness classes can be a workout just as much as any other cardio-based activity. (And seriously thank God, because sometimes hopping on the treadmill can feel like pure torture.) Yes, it gets your heart rate up and tones your body (twerking is basically a level up from holding a squat), but the benefits don’t stop there. It turns out that when you take the time to learn dance moves—like in a dance-based fitness class—there are a lot of science-backed benefits for your brain, too. Intrigued? Here, two experts in the space go deep into the hidden benefits. Keep reading to find out how dance-based fitness classes not only work your body, but your brain, too. Photo: Getty Images/People Images 1. It strengthens neuroplasticity There are some workouts, like running or spinning, that you can do and just completely zone out. Learning choreography in a dance class can be meditative too, but in a different way. “When it comes to dance, you have to be cognitively ready to function,” points out DanceBody founder Katia Pryce. “It doesn’t take the same amount of mental processing to hop on a bike and just spin the wheels.” Just like learning a musical instrument, language, or any other new skill, learning dance moves takes focus and activates the hippocampus—the part of the brain that’s
How to wash your sneakers so they look brand-new again
November 24, 2018 at 04:15AM After a fall filled with hikes, apple picking, and all sorts of adventure, your sneakers could probably use a little TLC. But don’t worry: There are some easy ways to make your favorite pair of shoes look brand-new again and the best part? It’ll hardly take you any effort at all. Whether you want your former shiny white kicks to reappear or want to make now-dull colors pop again, all it really takes to get the job done is a few different materials you already have hanging out in your home. And get this: There’s even a way to use your washing machine—hello, timesaver—without causing any damage to your beloved tennies. When you’re ready to give your kicks a serious makeover, here’s how to wash sneakers at home. 1. Put them in the washing machine According to Reddit users, the best method is to remove the soles and laces, then put your shoes in a mesh sweater bag and wash them in cold water with your regular laundry soap on a medium spin speed. After they’re done, don’t put them in the dryer—just let them air-dry. And as for your laces, let them soak in a bowl of warm, soapy water for an hour, rinse them off, and let them air-dry. 2. Clean them with baking soda and a toothbrush If your white sneakers could use a refresher, grab a toothbrush. After mixing up 1 Tbsp of baking soda, 1/2 Tbsp water, and 1/2 Tbsp laundry
The driest places on your body are begging you to add this step to your skin-care routine
November 23, 2018 at 01:22PM I have a seven-step facial skin care routine, but most days I can’t be bothered to have more than a “meh” attitude toward body care. Until recently, when the temperatures began to drop in Los Angeles, causing extremely dry skin on my knees, elbows, and lips. (It was a brisk 66 degrees here, which, I know, is not exactly frigid—but it was definitely a drop in warmth.) As a single woman attempting to date, I really don’t need to be worrying about whether my scratchy knees will draw blood if they make contact with my paramour. So I turned to Kerry Benjamin, celebrity aesthetician and founder of Stacked Skincare, to find out how to most effectively moisturize the driest places on one’s body. And get this: Instead of just slathering on some shea butter and sending a prayer off into the universe, it turns out that the key to hydrating extra-parched body parts is actually exfoliation. “You need to exfoliate those areas to get the dead, dry skin off,” Benjamin says. “Sloughing off the dead skin allows the products to penetrate better… The dead skin is like a layer of brick.” This goes for all of the most arid areas of your body—elbows, heels, lips, knees, and knuckles. Benjamin recommends using her TCA Body Peel, which is full of gentle acids, twice a week. And don’t worry if you experience some slight flaking—that’s a good thing, according to her. Gently brush away the flaking skin,
The 20/80 shopping rule Hilary Swank uses to get the most out of her wardrobe
November 23, 2018 at 09:24AM When it comes to decluttering your life, Marie Kondo’s spark joy test is pretty much the gold standard as far as organization goes. The one downside to her method, though, is that it’s focused on helping you part with things you already own. If you’re looking to become more mindful with how you spend your money in the first place and guarantee you reap the most satisfaction from what makes it into your closet, you might want to try Hilary Swank’s 20/80 method instead. “The goal is to find items that take up only 20 percent of your wardrobe but control 80 percent of what you wear” explains the actress and founder of luxury womenswear label Mission Statement, which recently made a major mainstream expansion. (It’s now being carried at Nordstrom.) How does the Oscar winner do this? “I’m always looking for fabrics and designs that are of incredible quality and look that will hold up for many years,” Swank says. It’s the intention she sets for herself as a consumer as well as a creator of fashion. In fact, Swank started her own clothing line in 2016 because she was having a hard time finding pieces that followed her rule. Her, ahem, mission became making “evergreen wear for everywhere,” as the site refers to it: A skort disguised as a skirt that functions as well at the gym as it does for a museum date, a dress appropriate for your dance cardio class or the red carpet (as Swank
A new earring trend that’ll have you seeing red
November 23, 2018 at 03:42AM Statement earrings—both pairs and asymmetric styles—such as diamond strands or oversized hoops, started trending last season and show no sign of losing momentum heading into the holidays. For winter, the one twist is that it’s red earrings in particular that seem to be everywhere right now. You can find them from deep ruby to crimson and cranberry. And in case all of this has conjured images of brazenly kitschy ball ornaments hung from wire hooks, fear not: For 2018, red earrings come in styles to suit everyone from Marie Kondo minimalists to Gucci-level maximalists like myself. There are hoops (lots of hoops), drop earrings, and even small every-day wearable studs. Find your piece of holiday cheer below. Holiday cheer for your ears Buy Now Double Disco Double Down Red Hoop Earrings $190 Buy Now Dady Bones Cherry Bomb Earrings $45 Buy Now Rachel Comey Maya Hoop Earrings $92 Buy Now Cult Gaia Rhea Small Tubular Hoop Earrings $78 Buy Now Tuleste Pom Pom Earrings $38 Buy Now Svnr Xi’an Lifesaver Post or Clip-On Earring $300 Buy Now Made Au Gold Troubled Heart Earrings $16 Buy Now Super Cool The Full Palm Earrings $25 Buy Now Girl Crush Bling Bisou Earrings $37 Buy Now Of Arc Silver/Red Gelcap Clip-On Earring $80 Buy Now La Diamantine 6 Vermilion Red Stones Little Hoops $105 Buy Now Topshop Oval Link Drop Earrings $18 Buy Now BaubleBar Clip On Scarlette Bow Drop Earrings $38 Buy Now Clare V. Lizzie Fortunato
All the top winter jacket styles for 2018 in one place
November 21, 2018 at 12:05PM We’re finally making that seasonal shift from sweater weather to outerwear no longer being elective. It’s a wardrobe transition that confounds more than a few every year. Since your coat is essentially your outfit for an entire season, the sartorial stakes are pretty high. The market is completely oversaturated with more options than you could ever sift through—a problem which led to the creation of this glossary of winter jacket styles. Shopping for a coat comes down to picking the style that both fits your aesthetic and your cold weather requirements. But you can pretty much find every jacket style with different levels of insulation so what it’s really a matter of homing in on a silhouette and letting that filter down your options. “Brands that focus on material and construction quality are the same brands that are thinking about the longevity of their designs in the ever-changing, trend-driven fashion landscape.” —Jeff Johnson, co-founder and creative director of outerwear brand The Arrivals To help you do this, take some advice from Jeff Johnson, co-founder and creative director of outerwear brand The Arrivals. “Follow quality,” he says. “Brands that focus on material and construction quality are the same brands that are thinking about the longevity of their designs in the ever-changing, trend-driven fashion landscape.” When you’re looking for a jacket that’ll work this season (as well as for seasons to come), Johnson suggests asking yourself a few questions: “Does the product keep you warm and dry? Is it comfortable? Does
Finding deals on eBay and Etsy will be so much better if you use these 6 simple tips
November 20, 2018 at 08:35AM New York City may have a reputation for being one of the world’s foremost fashion capitals, but from personal experience, this doesn’t always hold true for secondhand shopping. The stylish millions occupying the city have picked through its thrift and vintage stores pretty thoroughly. As a result, I (and a lot of millennials my age) have turned to online vintage shopping. The internet is like one big warehouse capable of producing pretty much any piece of vintage clothing your heart desires; eBay is one such portal, but I more often find answers to all of my problems on Etsy. Yes, the website known mostly for cute home decor and handmade jewelry is also the best place to buy your vintage duds. Most of my prized Earthly possessions are things I’ve found while sifting through the thousands of items that fill its pages. They include but are not limited to a burgundy ’90s leisure suit, a very heavily shoulder-padded blazer emblazoned with stars, and an everyday black slip dress I wear, well, almost every day. In a lot of ways, negotiating secondhand goods online feels like digging through racks IRL to find exactly what you didn’t know you’d been searching for—just on a bigger scale. So as a seasoned and successful veteran of Etsy’s vintage section, I have a few important tips to help you navigate the seemingly endless options—plus some insider intel from Etsy’s resident trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson. Photo: Getty Images/PhotoStock-Israel 1. Have your