October 24, 2018 at 06:53AM After a summer filled with hikes, runs along the beach, 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 are the best three tactics to start with. 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
Category: Fashion
All about the French sneakers Meghan Markle laced up down under
October 23, 2018 at 11:01AM She’s only been the Duchess of Sussex for a few months, but Meghan Markle is already a bona fide influencer. People are curious about what she puts in her easy banana bread recipe, her cold-busting travel hacks, what she wears to the gym, the secret to her signature messy bun…This list goes on. So, when she showed up for a sailing trip in Australia on October 21 wearing a pair of sneakers, inquiring minds immediately wanted to know one thing. Who made those shoes? Her low-tops of choice were the V-10 Extra White Black from Veja, and the ecofriendly French brand is already feeling the Markle effect. “When Meghan wore the V-10, our Instagram ‘broke down,’” says Sebastien Kopp, Veja’s co-founder. “We got thousands of likes and comments. A lot of people were looking for the pair she was wearing—and a lot of people discovered our project thanks to her.” Photo: Veja You see, Veja doesn’t just make chic sneakers that are an ultra-cool alternative to a Stan Smith (IMO). Kopp and his co-founder François-Ghislain Morillion have built their 14-year-old brand to be socially responsible at every stage of production. They use raw materials from organic farms, apply fair-trade practices to both their sourcing and manufacturing, use recycled cotton, plastic, and leather, and—ready for this one—don’t advertise. Not advertising is a big deal because “70 percent of the cost of a normal big sneaker brand is related to advertising,” says Kopp. “Eliminating ads, marketing costs, brand ambassadors, and billboards means
6 quick ways to relieve neck tension, because who has time for that?
October 23, 2018 at 07:07AM Neck tension is, well, a pain in the neck—literally and figuratively. It really puts a damper on your day and can lead to headaches. (Or worse, migraines.) Some of the causes of neck tension include looking down at your phone 24/7, stress, carrying heavy bags, working out, and even eating certain foods that cause inflammation in your body, says Michelle Ebbin, touch therapy expert and spokesperson for on-demand massage service Soothe. Of course, most of us have zero time to be dealing with pesky neck aches on the daily—hello, we’ve got important things to do! (Although, as mentioned before, a stressful schedule is part of the problem…) So for those times when acupuncture or a chiropractic visit just won’t fit on the calendar, I asked Ebbin how to relieve neck tension ASAP—and help prevent it from coming back. Keep reading for an expert’s tips on soothing a sore neck. Photo: Getty Images/Fizkes How to relieve neck tension, once and for all 1. Stretch it out Slow neck rolls are your best friend when you have neck tension, Ebbin says. To do them, drop your head forward and make slow circles with your head in one direction. Whenever you feel tightness, hold it there for a few seconds. Then, continue making circles in the opposite direction. 2. Give yourself a massage Although splurging on a massage is always a good idea, if your busy schedule or budget doesn’t allow it, you can totally go the DIY route. All you
Now’s the perfect time to bust out that black turtleneck
October 22, 2018 at 11:39AM Besides happiness, you know what a lot of women (myself included) seem to endlessly be in pursuit of? The foundational wardrobe pieces in which to live their best lives. Seriously, how many hours have you spent searching for a flattering black bathing suit you can actually be active in, a strapless bra that stays in place, all-white sneakers that go with everything, or high-waisted leggings that make your backside look like you just did J.Lo’s butt workout? Now add to that list the one staple item that seems to be peaking this week: a black turtleneck. That’s the beauty of basics. They really allow your personality to shine. No joke. This morning I walked into work and half of Well+Good’s edit team was sporting some iteration of the high-necked knit. But just like the ladies we were wearing them, no two were the same. That’s the beauty of basics. They really allow your personality to shine. Plus, you can style them to suit pretty much any situation. Pull a bodysuit or fitted version on under those breezy summer dresses you can’t bring yourself to put away quite yet—extra style points for adding a pair of patterned tights. Or use one to create a little buffer between yourself and all those cozy (yet itchy) long sweaters you plan on living in for the next few months. Better still, wear one all on its own á la Audrey Hepburn with a red lip, full brow, and perfect-height ponytail. Really, there’s no wrong way
Can’t touch your toes? These two yoga moves will change that
October 22, 2018 at 09:59AM You know those Insta-famous yogis who can “throw” their legs behind their heads in a pose that is equal parts graceful and admirably bendy? Or that woman sporting Alo Yoga in your HIIT class who practically collapses in half for the seated forward fold at the end of class who makes you wish you could touch your toes? I am neither of those girls. In fact, I am so definitively *not* flexible that I can’t even touch my toes. (TBH I can barely touch my shins without a muscle-warming sauna sesh). The disparity between these (capital Y) Yogi’s flexibility and my own often makes me wonder if it’s even worth the effort to move through a yoga flow if I’m unable to fully participate the poses. In a recent asking-for-a-friend convo I had with yoga instructor Francesca Valarezo, who happens to be leading our next Well+Good Retreat in Miami this December, she said told that, despite not being able to touch my toes, I could still do yoga. “There’s a misconception that you have to be flexible to do yoga, but that’s not the case,” she tells me. Flexibility isn’t a pre-requisite. “In fact, the less flexible you are, the more you’ll actually get out of incorporating yoga into your routine,” Valarezo says. Her reasoning? If you’re already flexible, you probably like yoga because you’re good at it, but if you’re not a Bendy Wendy, she tells me that, “yoga can help lengthen your muscles, open up and create space in your
Proof you need more long cozy layers in your life
October 21, 2018 at 01:04PM With a chill in the air, it’s officially time to pile on warmer clothes. From chunky long sweaters to plush coats, breathing new life into cozy layers is essential for a wardrobe fall reset. “I love the idea of a cozy sweater or turtleneck under a blazer,” says Caroline Belhumeur, Vince’s creative director. For a touch of femininity, she recommends pairing back the menswear-inspired with a pleated skirt. When going for a textured look, Belhumeur says, “turtlenecks styled under sweaters or dresses feels fresh and modern. Layering also helps to extend the life of the garment from one season to the next.” Another option when styling versatile pieces like a silk slip dress? Add a cardigan or wrap-style coat to create a transitional look that goes from day to night. Pulling a long sweater over leggings is another option that’ll take you from the gym to just about anywhere. For a trend-focused look, Moda Operandi buyer, Lisa Ruffle says it’s all about plaid this season. “We saw it in many iterations from outerwear to accessories, but the plaid trouser was undoubtedly the hero piece of the season,” she says, adding that’s it’s a polished alternative to go-to denim. For a cozy effect, Ruffle says, “it looks best paired back with other cozy textures such as cashmere, chunky cable knits, and oversized shearling, worn with a great boot.” From classic to cool, shop 12 cozy layers ahead. Layers we love Buy Now Free People Irreplaceable Duster Cardigan
Online vintage shopping will be so much better if you use these 6 simple tips
October 19, 2018 at 12:36PM 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
Amazon reviewers have must-read intel on these cult-beloved dad sneakers
October 19, 2018 at 11:46AM It pained us to do it, but last year we admitted that our fathers were right about something: Chunky sneakers really are cool and comfortable. We weren’t alone in this revelation, either—so many people have embraced dad shoes as one of the biggest sneaker trends for 2018. The pair at the top of this shoe pile would have to be the Fila Disruptor 2. Not only is it an OG of oversize kicks (it launched in 1996), but at $65, it’s a way more accessible option than, say, Balenciaga’s Triple S, thus lending itself to mass dadcore-meets-sleek-streetwear appeal. “The Disruptor 2 has been one of the most popular footwear styles in 2018, both in the US and globally,” Louis W. Colon III, vice president of heritage and trend at Fila North America, told us last month. Amazon reviewers generally say the Fila Disruptor 2s fit small. If you want to add a pair to your sneaker collection and plan to buy yours online, here’s a very helpful tip a lot of Amazon reviewers are sharing about the way these kicks fit. While the women who’ve bought ’em love ’em, find them super comfy, and are excited to lace up and go, they generally say the Fila Disruptor 2s fit small. It’s ironic, given how big they look, but it’s nonetheless important intel to have if you’re adding them to your digital cart rather than trying them on IRL. Depending on how much wiggle room you like
Finally, the psychological reasons men send those unsolicited dick pics
October 19, 2018 at 05:28AM There’s a time and a place for sharing private photos. For some people, it’s many years into an LTR, as a way to keep things sexy and fresh. For others, it’s in that early infatuation phase, when you just can’t get enough of your partner. But—bafflingly—it can happen shortly after “hello” (or swiping right). According to the 2017 Singles in America survey conducted by Match.com, 49 percent of women have received an unsolicited dick pic. And if you’re dating penis-having people right now, you’re probably sitting there thinking, Duh. “Guys would ask if I wanted to see their penis before I even met them,” says one New York City-based woman in her thirties about her online-dating experiences. “As if that’s the selling point for me: a picture of a semi-flaccid penis, in inevitably bad lighting, with bad cropping, and just all-around bad.” According to, oh, every brunch I’ve been to for the past couple years, dick pics are simply not the thirst traps these dudes clearly believe ’em to be. But what does science say? According to, oh, every brunch I’ve been to for the past couple years, dick pics are simply not the thirst traps these dudes clearly believe ’em to be. But what does science say? “Despite how common this behavior is, I haven’t really found any research that specifically addresses it,” says Harvard sex scholar Justin Lehmiller, PhD, writes on his site, Sex and Psychology. But he points out, “There’s a large body of research
Newsflash: Transitions lenses now have serious style cred—and wellness benefits
October 19, 2018 at 04:50AM We’re living in the heyday of trendy eyeglasses, can’t you see? (Had to.) Reaching for your glasses is no longer a last resort on mornings when your peepers are tired. Rather, you don your choice of black cat-eyes, wire aviators, or tortoiseshell frames on a daily basis because you look and feel rad. Need proof rocking specs has become a major fashion statement? Mega-accomplished babes like Lupita Nyong’o, Oprah, and Kate Winslet walk the red carpet in outfit-making frames, and high-profile designers are working with enduring eyewear makers to help disrupt the industry. Case in point: Fashion designer Christian Siriano (of Project Runway fame) recently teamed up with Transitions lenses to launch a next-level style initiative with new style colors and style mirrors lens designs. The photochromic lenses go from clear to dark to protect your eyes when you’re outdoors (and from dark to clear when indoors, to help protect your eyes while you’re staring at your laptop for eight-plus hours a day). How’s that for a wellness perk? Here’s the gist: Now, instead of doing the awkward fumble between your glasses and sunglasses (err, all day), you can make a hands-free swap from chic intellectual to your fave mirrored aviators look, while being mindful of your eye health, to boot. Insert praise hands emoji here. Scroll down for 3 legit wellness benefits that come with upgrading your glasses with Transitions lenses. 1. Upping your style game Okay, so maybe appearing fashionable isn’t a wellness benefit, but look good,