Celebrities are notorious for taking risks with fashion. Events such as the Met Gala or the VMAs offer the perfect excuse to test-drive an adventurous look, but lately, I’ve been noticing celebrities wearing one particularly daring trend with no red carpet in sight. Yep, I’m talking about the underwear-as-pants look. Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Tessa Thompson, and Bella Hadid have all experimented with the trend and generated plenty of headlines while doing so.
All four women have taken different approaches to styling the trend. Tessa Thompson, for instance, wore an oversize Loewe sweater with a trench coat, while Bella Hadid went casual in underwear and Ugg boots. Meanwhile, the sisters Jenner both added tights to their underwear-as-outerwear looks, with Kendall also opting for a gray wool coat. Scroll down to see how celebrities are wearing the controversial look.
Beauty experts, they’re just like us! Well, kind of. Of course, most of us don’t possess the professional know-how when it comes to prepping a celebrity for a red carpet sparkling with flashbulbs or assessing the health of a person’s complexion, but many of us do have one thing in common with the industry’s best makeup and skincare experts: Amazon! Despite having access to quite literally any product in the world, over the years I’ve discovered that even the most prestigious experts still count on plenty of products you can snap up during your next Amazon shopping binge.
In case you’re curious for some actual examples, I reached out to facialist Candace Marino, makeup artist Jamie Dorman and board-certified dermatologist Ellen Marmur for their signature Amazon shopping picks. Marino did add the caveat that she always recommends continuing to support small businesses, too, but if you’re looking for Amazon content, exclusively, right now, she still has your back with tons of great beauty picks. Keep scrolling! Everything beauty experts would snap up right this second is just below, plus quotes explaining why they feel they’re superior.
Another way that H.E.R. is staying true to herself is by representing a brand that coincides with her beliefs. As an ambassador for L’Oréal, H.E.R. is able to work with a brand that she feels aligned with. I caught up with her ahead of the brand’s annual Women of Worth event, which celebrates the philanthropic achievements of 10 nonprofit leaders who are committed to helping communities across the country.
“It’s really cool to be a part of something like this,” H.E.R. says. “You go throughout life, and you [wonder], ‘How can I create change? How can I help? How can I use my platform?’ That’s exactly what this event is about. That’s what L’Oréal is about—extending your platform and showing up and being the support that I think we all need. These women are really actively creating change. This is actually the work and not just saying you’re about change, but being about it.”
Being able to work with L’Oréal is a dream come true for H.E.R. “I’ve always been a L’Oréal girl,” she says. “I never thought I would be able to work with a beauty brand.”
Beauty means a lot to the singer, as she’s always used it as a mirror for her emotions. “It’s really about the inside and what makes you feel good on the inside,” she says. She reveals that she lets her feelings dictate how she dresses and presents herself.
This, of course, makes sense. If you live for award shows, you’ll know that H.E.R.’s looks are often one of the highlights of the red carpet. She’s not afraid to play around and experiment with makeup, like the bold eyeshadow look she wore to perform with Alica Keys or the graphic cat eye she sported at the Oscars, and it pays off in spades. “I recently tried a new eyeliner look that I’m obsessed with,” she says. “It’s been a trend, and I finally did it myself. But I went to Doja Cat’s birthday party, and I did this liner look. The liner kind of extends the inner corner of your eye.”
Given the chatter over dainty Cinderella-esque stilettos and skyscraper platforms last year, we were all due for the pendulum to swing the other way. And you can say that it has definitely shifted. Casual, low-maintenance shoes have been at the forefront of fashion’s dad-core renaissance with notable styles like Birkenstock’s Boston clogs and Uggs leading the charge. The trend is a nice change of pace for an industry that notoriously favors hardcore heels and toe-pinching silhouettes; these shoes are easy on the feet.
Not too long ago shoes like Uggs and clogs were on the fringes of the trend cycle, so it’s a bit unusual to see them embraced so hardly among fashion insiders all over the world. But fashion girls have been styling them in surprisingly chic ways that make even the most dubious person reconsider. Along with weathered biker jackets, baggy parachute pants and oversized button-down shirts I guess looking like a dad is here to stay.
To check out the styles that are defining the dad-core wave right now, keep scrolling below.
TV and movie characters have always had an impact on mainstream beauty trends. Take for instance “The Rachel” haircut from Friends, or the maximalist makeup in Euphoria that brought rhinestone-studded eyes to the mainstream. Sometimes, a particular beauty product that’s worn by a fictional pop culture icon is catapulted to astronomical popularity after becoming a viral TikTok sensation. This, of course, happened with Clinique’s Black Honey after it was identified as the exact lipstick that Liv Tyler wore in Lord of the Rings.But the latest pop culture–inspired makeup that’s got the TikTok girlies hastily filling up their Sephora carts takes its cue from the dark side. It’s the goth-inspired makeup seen in Wednesday, the Addams Family spinoff series that stars our recent cover star, Jenna Ortega, in the titular role.
Since Wednesday’s November 23 debut, it has earned the record for the most hours viewed in a week for an English-language TV series on Netflix. It has also spawned an enormous number of #Wednesdaymakeup tutorials on TikTok (reaching over 43M views) with users re-creating the main character’s subtle smoky eye and muted plum lips. The lip look, which uses MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Nightmoth($21), quickly sold out after the brand’s executive director of global trends, Cat Quinn, shared the details on the app.
While Ortega’s Wednesday shares the same penchant for braided pigtails and Peter Pan collars like Christina Ricci’s in the original Addams Family movies, her makeup is much more distinct. According to the show’s head makeup and hair designer, Tara McDonald, the character brief for Wednesday was edgy, modern, and current. “I wanted Wednesday to have a strong, distinct lip but natural—almost a ‘just bitten’ look,” she tells us. “This can be achieved with tinted balms, sheer lipsticks, and lip stains, but in this instance after trying numerous colors and applications, we settled on the MAC’s Lip Pencil in Nightmoth and Dr. PawPaw’s Multipurpose Soothing Balm ($6).”
Other products used for Wednesday’s “half-dead” look consisted of MAC’s Eyeshadow in Brown Script on her lid, crease, and under-eye; then Carbon, an intense rich black, underneath her eyes; and Glitch in the Matrix, a gray metallic, in the upper lash line. (Brown Script is no longer available, but we like the shade Soft Brown as a substitute.)
For complexion products, McDonald says they used various matte foundations that were always applied very sparingly with a damp beauty sponge on Ortega’s face, neck, and hands in a shade or two lighter than the actor’s skin tone. “Wednesday was to look matte at all times,” she explains. “The application was so sheer—I wanted her freckles visible.” McDonald also used MAC’s sculpting powders in Sculpt and Shadowy for contour.
For the hairstyle Wednesday wore during episode four’s now-iconic dance scene, McDonald found inspiration from an unlikely, non-goth source: Alexa Chung. The model wore milk braids in a 2013 L’Oréal hair campaign, and McDonald found it perfect for the scene. “That look was etched in my mind,” she says. “I took some inspiration from that for Wednesday’s look at the Rave’N.”
Wednesday wasn’t the only character to have a modern makeover. Anjelica Huston’s ’90s-era Morticia was known for her red lipstick, but McDonald opted to “change the palette,” using darker makeup for Catherine Zeta-Jones. “I wanted to add more purple, mahogany, and plums,” she says. “These colors made Catherine’s dark eyes pop beautifully and look so sultry.” McDonald says she only had one day of tests with Zeta-Jones to get the look right; together, they decided to go with a warm plum tone for lips, using the now-discontinued Tom Ford Bruised Plum lipstick. (Though, we’ve provided two similar options you can shop below.)
For Morticia’s waist-length hair, daily clip-in hair extensions were used. “Catherine is a great collaborator and very knowledgeable about makeup, so together we created this modern Morticia,” says McDonald.
Anyone missing Morticia’s crimson pout may be satisfied with Principal Larissa Weems’s look. Weems, played by Gwendoline Christie, was “a Hitchcock blonde all the way!” according to McDonald. She’s always seen in a statement red lip, which was attributed to Code8’s Opera, at least for the first couple of episodes until McDonald ran out of the product.
“We were filming in Romania during the pandemic,” she explains. “Lisa Eldridge sent me a selection of reds to try on her. We settled on her stunning Velvet Ribbon. MAC’s Redd Lip Liner worked perfectly with both.”
Black folks have always played a tremendous hand in pushing creative culture forward. From innovative musical masterpieces to gorgeous art on display world-wide, the impact of Black people in society is undeniable. As a fashion editor, it brings me immense joy to see both the up and coming and well-established Black-owned brands stocking beautiful products at my go-to retailers. We all know Nordstrom has a pretty robust selection of goods—and Black-owned (and founded) brands are among the retailers offerings as well. On the retailer’s website, there is a dedicated curation of these offerings that serve the purpose of uplifting and highlighting these Black brands.
Since I’m currently on the hunt for a new handbag, I took the time to dig through the black-owned designer handbag brands currently listed on Nordstrom. Fortunately, I unearthed many chic, cool options worth snatching up ASAP. Whether you’re into soft fringe details, dual-toned leather, or bright, vibrant colors, I’ve identified a some handbags that can cater to a variety of unique sensibilities.
If you’re interested in investing in a new designer handbag, you might be quite interested in the information coming your way. That’s right. We tapped one of the ultimate handbag experts—Charles Gorra, CEO and founder of resale mecca Rebag—to get his thoughts on the specific bag shapes that will rise in popularity in 2023 given the current sell-out factor and most-searched bags in general. He also filled us in on the styles he thinks will retain or increase in value in the new year.
It’s also to note that Rebag just introduced “Rebag Wallet,” a new tool that, as the brand describes, “centralizes seller payouts, known as Seller Funds, as well as all additional Rebag proceeds.” Basically, once your transaction is fully processed, you’ll have the opportunity to see your total spending power in a new section called “Wallet.” It’s also to note that Seller Funds will increase by 1% per month for up to 12 months. And if you put your funds towards another Rebag purchase, you’ll get a 10% spending bonus. Essentially, there’s a whole lot happening in the world of Rebag right now.
With all of this in mind, keep scrolling for handbag shopping inspiration, featuring the trending styles, according to Gorra.
If you’re like me, you find unrivaled levels of joy in digging through the seemingly endless pages of online retail hot spots like Shopbop. During my latest window-shopping adventure, I stumbled upon the holy grail of affordable yet pretty bags—the site’s “under $300” bag section. When I began to scroll through, the excitement started to build when I quickly realized how many solid bag options were available for less than $300, including some designer handbags.
Are you in need of a work tote to lug around your laptop, notebook, and other work documents? Are you trying to diversify your handbag collection without going broke? For your shopping pleasure, I selected some pieces that caught my attention. Some bags are in line with the latest trends, and others are cute and functional. Perhaps you need a gift for someone special. No matter the reason, season, or need, I’ve found a bag to fulfill your needs. Ahead, shop the wide variety of amazing under-$300 bags on Shopbop.
I’ve always had a thing for underwear. I love collecting pretty lingerie pieces and have tried so many different brands to find the perfect everyday pair of underwear. Something about it just feels so girly and fun. When looking for a pair of underwear to wear every day, I’m the type of person who gravitates toward something seamless and body-hugging. The most important thing is to hide panty lines and find a fabric that feels comfortable and doesn’t irritate my skin.
When shopping for lingerie I’m a huge satin and lace fan (anything with dainty details or that looks like it would be in the closet of a princess, I’m into). Color-wise, while black is always a good choice, I recommend sprinkling in some color but, a great skin-tone pair of panties is also a must. Of all of the underwear brands that I’ve tried, check all of my boxes.
Keep scrolling to see which underwear brands are in my top five.
When I think about my version of “the perfect outfit,” one that’s simple yet still fashion-forward is where it’s at. After spending time scrolling through IG recently, I actually uncovered a range of said ensembles that are especially modern and easy. Naturally, I wanted to share the looks with you here in case you’re interested in trying something fresh for the season.
Below, you’ll uncover the six outfits I think everyone will want to wear thanks to their versatile and simple nature. For the most part, the ensembles feature pieces that are easy to style and could actually be mastered using items that may already be in your closet. That said, if you’re looking for something new to add to your wardrobe, I also shopped out inspired picks for each outfit. Without further ado, keep scrolling to potentially find your new go-to ‘fit.
Your best friend’s birthday is coming up, and let us guess: You still have to find the perfect gift? Don’t stress. Even if you left the task until the last minute (we won’t tell), you can take a shortcut and find them the best gift from our guide. That’s not to say you’ll be slacking, though; we created the list knowing that your gift has to be perfect. After all, they’re one of the most important people in your life, so you’ll want to get them a gift that speaks to the depth of your amazing friendship. Thus, this curated selection of gift ideas (at every price point) for the best friend in your life was made with care.
The key to the perfect gift? Finding an item that is as unique as your friend is while still being useful in their everyday lives. Every time they use your gift, they’ll think of their best friend (that’s you). To find the ultimate gift, just start by asking yourself about your best friend’s personality—we’ve done the rest. Is your friend the type who’s always sporting the most on-trend items of the season? Are they all about the wellness movement and holistic beauty? Or are they always telling you about the latest skincare brand and recommending the best products? You know your best friend better than anyone, so shop the gifts that fit them the best.
Keep reading to shop our curated list of best friend gifts they’ll absolutely love—you might even want to buy them for yourself too. (Don’t say we didn’t warn you.)
While the dermatologists I spoke to were all proponents of growth factors, it is a controversial topic. Some derms question whether topical growth factors can be effective without delivery through microneedling or laser resurfacing, claiming their molecules are too large to effectively penetrate the top layer of the epidermis. There is also concern that because growth factors are mitogenic, theoretically, they could cause cancer cells to replicate, however, there hasn’t been any evidence pointing to topical growth factors doing that.
“Growth factors are molecules, enzymes, and are particular pathways that contribute to cell proliferation, or cellular growth and turnover. The reason there is a little controversy is because unchecked cellular growth is, by definition, cancer,” explains Henry. “So there was always this concern, especially in the early iterations, that if we’re using these growth factors, could it simulate skin cancer. Now, a lot of formulations have been changed, and we better understand whatever growth factors are in this particular serum or cream, and what pathways they activate, but prior to that we didn’t.”
There’s also the issue of where the growth factor can come from. In 2018, Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett caught flack for talking about a $650 “penis facial” they had gotten at celebrity esthetician Georgia Louise’s spa. The growth factors used in the serum were “derived from the progenitor cells of the human fibroblast taken from Korean newborn baby foreskin.” SkinMedica’s serum also uses growth factor proteins that are lab-created but were derived from the stem cells of a single neonatal foreskin over 20 years ago. But if you’re curious about growth factors and would rather not use anything connected to human cells, opt for a plant-based product.
Between restocking my more “boring” wardrobe basics and adding household products to my cart, it’s easy to forget that there are some surprisingly stylish items among Amazon’s never-ending product offerings. I might have let many of these hidden gems go unnoticed in the past, but I’ve been spending more time scrolling through the retailer’s site in lieu of an IRL shopping trip, and, well, discovering these affordable fashion items has been the upside.
Okay, so Amazon’s fashion section is hardly new or noteworthy (we’ve been publishing our edits of everything from coats to dresses for a while now), but the following 22 sweaters, jeans, sunglasses, bags, and more were hand-selected by yours truly for being exceptionally stylish for how affordable they are.
From trendy faux-fur bucket hats to wear-everywhere jewelry staples, you’ll find some impressive pieces here that are cheap but hardly look it. And since nothing in this roundup exceeds $20, they’re easier to add to your checkout cart alongside those baking essentials and cleaning supplies I know you’re already shopping for. With that, scroll down to shop all the hidden gems in my Amazon cart.
If you’re going into the new year with a more intense shopping budget than usual, you’re not alone. I’m a designer-clothing addict, but I am planning for a lot of travels and weddings so will need to spend my money wisely this year. So far, tapping into my favorite affordable fashion sites has been such a joy because you can buy so much more and not feel guilty for your spending. We all know money can’t buy style. Being a true fashionista means that you can look your best at any price point. That’s why I’m challenging myself to explore more budget-friendly sites this year, and first up is Amazon.
There are so many great finds on Amazon, but it can be so overwhelming to simply head to the site and type into the search bar what you are looking for. There seems to be an endless number of options, and sometimes, the good things are several pages in. It’s my job to shop, so I spent several hours browsing the millions of products on the site with the hopes of being able to report back to you all on what is worth actually buying. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations, but I was so impressed by the quality of the items that ended up being winners. I’ve always known Amazon to be a trend-driven retailer, but my picks are actually items that I’ll be wearing for years to come. After I tried on 15 items, there were six true standouts that I can genuinely vouch for. Scroll on to find your favorite.
You know how certain things just make you feel more informed about people, like their yearly Spotify Wrapped reveal or their favorite comfort food? In the realm of beauty, the equivalent to that are the luxury products that have stuck in people’s minds for years. When I meet a fellow beauty lover, I love asking them which high-end products have burrowed themselves into their minds and taken hold.
When I was young, I spent my weekends milling around through Sephora, bee-lining to the luxury face creams and creating a full face with the samples. When I first started being able to buy higher-end beauty products (or beg for them as gifts) I shopped strategically—so much so that the luxury products I was obsessed with at age 16 are still mainstays in my beauty routine. I decided to ask the beauty editors on my team if there were products they felt the same way about, and their answers did not disappoint. Keep reading for the first luxury beauty products we ever purchased and just can’t seem to shake.
If Nordstrom had saved searches, the first one I’d set up would be for new arrivals from Open Edit, the retailer’s affordable label for elevated basics and trend-forward pieces alike. I say this because every time the brand drops something new, I have to buy it. Even so, my regular Nordstrom checks keep me pretty in-the-know about fresh arrivals, which is how I discovered everything the brand just debuted.
From classics like oversize button-downs, split-hem leggings, and point-toe slingbacks to of-the-moment must-haves for the holiday season, from velvet midi skirts to slip dresses, the latest from Open Edit is all you need to see (and shop) today. Keep scrolling to get to it.
He also emphasizes the importance of pinning the curls, although he recommends incorporating rollers to get the most out of the look. “Apply curlers to each section of hair that has been curled, and pin up with bobby pins,” he says. “Let the curls sit for about 30-40 minutes, then slowly unravel each curler.” From there, he recommends applying a texturizing spray, finger combing the curls for a sexy, undone look, and finishing up with a strong-hold hairspray to ensure your hair won’t fall throughout the day.
If there’s one thing I love it’s something pretty. What can I say, I’m a libra and one of our key traits is our love with all things beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. Lately when I have been needing my fashion fix for something pretty to add to my wardrobe I’m going straight to Reformation and Nordstrom. They have everything I’m looking for from great dresses to jumpsuits that would be perfect for a holiday party to sweaters I can wear all season long.
One of my favorite things about shopping Reformation is that the brand has such a strong emphasis on sustainability. So not only are the clothes high quality and some of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe but they care about the environment and making clothes sustainably. I have been a Nordstrom shopper for years now and I have to say they have been stepping up their game lately. They have added so many brands lately that are personal favorites of mine like House of CB and Cult Gaia.
After a deep dive on both websites I found 30 items that I just can’t stop thinking about. Keep scrolling to see which items made the cut.
While Los Angeles-based influencer Jen Andrews-Cater certainly dresses up for specific occasions, her “real life” day-to-day style often skews on the more casual side to lean into her self-described minimal aesthetic. That said, “casual” and “simple” certainly don’t equate to “boring.”
While Andrews-Cater likes to keep it more low-key, those said looks are still forward and highly modern. On that note, she actually shared with us a few of the items she’s been wearing more of and those that she wants to add to her closet for the new year to create her 2023 casual ensembles.
Below you’ll uncover Andrews-Cater’s current shopping list. You’ll notice easy-to-wear trends that could truly work for a variety of styles. Keep scrolling for more, along with testimonials, visual references, and shopping recommendations.
As a plus-size fashion editor, I can’t begin to tell you how many trends I’ve looked at and thought, Huh? As much as I love being on the cutting edge of style and experimenting with new silhouettes, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to say that not every trend is neither accessible (nor inclusive) for people of all body types to implement into their wardrobe.
Historically, fashion has a size-inclusivity problem, but the spring/summer 2023 season was notorious for its large lack of plus-size models on the runway, something non–straight-sized influencers and editors questioned. As someone who spends all day looking at runways to predict the next big trends, I’m inclined to agree.
Thankfully, denim’s 2023 resurgence means more retailers and designers are releasing plus-size styles that feel fresh and exciting for any fashion lover, regardless of size. My favorite piece of clothing is jeans so naturally, I’ve spent hours scrolling through all of my favorite retailers to find that oh-so-perfect piece of denim I’ll be adding to my closet.
Below, shop all of next year’s cant-miss denim trends—including the ones that are made with every body in mind.
