Shopping for each person in your life can get chaotic pretty easily, making it so tempting to buy everyone the same pair of socks. But we’re here to make shopping for one particular person in your life seamless this gifting season. If you have a friend or loved one currently in college, we can bet you’re stumped on what to give the studious but stylish young person for the holidays.
To ease your gift-giving stress, we’ve selected the coolest gifts approved by the chicest coeds. There’s so much going on in a collegian’s life—classes, extracurriculars, internships, and more— and with that in mind, we shopped the ideal piece to gift each type of student with. From trendy yet cozy pieces perfect for them to stay warm while taking online classes to a fashionable yet functional hoodie for the fitness-obsessed, there’s something for everyone.
Check out the 25 gifts any university student will be happy to receive.
When it comes to investing in a luxury handbag, it’s obviously important to find a style you really, truly love. Equally important (and often overlooked) is educating yourself on which handbags will hold their value and never go out of style. The exclusive Birkin, for example, is forecasted to double in value in the next 10 years. But that’s not the only bag worth scooping up. To give you a sense of the bags worth your money, we tapped the experts at LePrix (the trusted online destination for pre-owned luxury) to spill on the styles you need to try. “To get the most resale value for your investment bag, I only have one piece of advice: Invest in the holy trinity—Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès. While the value of luxury handbags can fluctuate due to trends or buzz, these three iconic brands in certain styles have the most resale value at LePrix,” the company told us. Keep scrolling to check out more on the top bags you should buy.
“The resale value of Hermès depends on the style, type of leather, and hardware,” Le Prix shares. “The power behind the Hermès brand is due to their limited quantities. This creates an unparalleled level of scarcity and exclusivity other brands have yet to achieve. While there’s no such thing as an Hermès waiting list, there is a certain waiting period for your dream Birkin or Kelly—depending on your relationship with your Hermès salesperson, the amount spent at Hermès over some time, and pure luck.
“The Birkin specifically is the most sought-after handbag of all. On the arms of celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kate Moss, and the entire Kardashian-Jenner clan, this bag has exponentially increased in popularity. The fervor for Birkins transcends both retail and resale. LePrix stylists are constantly searching for Birkins through our consignment boutique partners for our customers. Birkin bag retail prices range from $9000 to $150,000 and can see resale prices up to $223,000.
“Most Birkins retain or increase in value, again depending on leather, hardware, and demand. If you happen to score the exclusive, highly sought-after black Birkin with gold hardware or otherwise known amongst the fashion tribe as ‘the holy grail,’ this bag will pay you back in spades.”
“Inspired by Grace Kelly, the Hermès Kelly bag also retains or increases in resale value,” Le Prix tells us. “The Kelly bag is a classic and happens to be a favorite for Miranda Kerr, Emma Watson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosamund Pike, Beyoncé, Karlie Kloss, and, again, the Kardashian-Jenners.”
“While the Birkin recently got buzz for beating the S&P 500, this is not the only handbag that has outperformed the S&P 500,” Le Prix shares. “Ten years ago, I purchased my first Chanel medium flap in caviar leather for $1600. This same exact bag now retails for $4900. That is a 206% return (not adjusted for inflation). Whereas, in the last decade, the S&P total nominal return was 49% (not adjusted for inflation). The resale value of this bag also retains or increases depending on leather and hardware. It’s also a constant favorite of Alexa Chung, Rita Ora, Demi Lovato, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Lauren Conrad.”
“Another bag to consider for investment is the Chanel Boy Bag,” says Le Prix. “While the Boy Bag is fairly new, introduced in 2011, it’s now a mainstay, joining the ranks of the classic flaps and reissue flaps. Five years ago, this bag started at $2500. Today the Chanel Boy Bag starts at $5100. It typically retains at least 90% of its resale value. You can find this bag on celebs like Jessica Biel, Leigh Lezark, Bella Thorne, and Taraji P. Henson.”
“The Neverfull continues to be one of our fastest-selling handbags on LePrix, and there’s a reason why,” Le Prix shares. “While certain fashion-industry reports dictate there’s a decline in the category of tote handbags for other brands, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull remains popular due to periodic price increases and high demand. The Neverfull is one of Louis Vuitton’s all-time most successful bags that come in endless options of materials as well as limited editions and special artist collaborations. It has been worn by A-listers like Sofía Vergara, Cara Delevingne, Diane Kruger, and Reese Witherspoon. It retains at least 85% of its resale value, unless it’s a rare limited-edition bag, which can see upward of double the resale value.”
On the whole, jewelry never goes out of style. No matter the decade or the trend, unique designs of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings have served as both statement pieces and daily accessories. Whether pearl, gold, silver, rose gold, diamond, or something else entirely, a good jewelry piece can stand alone, completing your outfit and adding the right amount of elegance and sparkle. As much as we love our day-to-day pieces, though, we’re always on the hunt for new ones to add to our collection, ones we will hopefully be able to pass on as family heirlooms. And so, more often than not, you must invest in designer jewelry brands to acquire a piece that will outlast trends and generations.
Whether it’s a renowned Cartier Love bracelet or a classic Mikimoto pearl necklace, so many designers are elevating jewelry and creating pieces worth every penny. To streamline the best designer jewelry brands in the market for you, we decided to put the 12 best in this article. Make sure you commit them to your memory, from brands whose clothing you love (hi, Hermès and Chanel) to labels that have been perfecting their craft for many years.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I typically find award show makeup looks boring. Don’t tell anyone, okay? It’s just that more often than not, stars tend to play it safe and go for the classic awards show combos: smoky eyes with a nude lip, red lipstick with winged liner, or glowy skin and neutral colors. Don’t get me wrong, these looks are classic for a reason—they just don’t necessarily elicit a heart rate spike on my end.
That’s why when I saw Sabrina Carpenter’s makeup at the American Music Awards last night, I was pleasantly surprised that my heart skipped a beat. Her makeup was just so. Damn. Good. Glossy, two-toned lips and shiny lids are exactly the kind of show-stopping makeup I want to see at an awards show.
Like many, fall fashion is something we get the most excited about. But since we are optimistic here (or at least try to be), we’re still holding out hope for our devotion to fashion to continue on into the winter months. It can be difficult to navigate the freezing temperatures and the sun sets earlier than we’d prefer, but we’re still focusing on the positives of all. That includes thicker knits, statement outerwear, and a whole lot of other trends that will keep you cozier than a cup of hot chocolate. And while we’ve already given you the rundown on the main pieces you’ll be seeing this season, we also did a little digging to find the colors popping up on social media and within the market. While many fall hues trickle on into winter, there are a few new shades that have popped up just in time for the holidays and the New Year.
Some days may be dreary, but you can supplement the lack of sunlight with some of the colors ahead. Since we’ve included saturated shades like cobalt and fuschia, we don’t think that will be a hard task. Keep scrolling for our seasonal color report and find where you can shop each right away.
You see, besides being a beauty editor, I am also likely in the top 1% of Elemis fans. I’m a sucker for efficacious luxury skincare that has a spa-like, sensorial aspect that just makes you feel great whenever you use it. The best skincare product, after all, is the one that you actually use. So needless to say, I love Elemis, and I’m not alone. With every fan of Elemis singing its praises all over social media, it’s no wonder that so many people are intrigued.
However, it’s worth noting here that I am also someone who fervently believes in honest and open conversations around skincare, and that is hard to come by when it comes to luxury products. When we part with a lot of cash for something, we become determined to make it work. And this is where I come into the conversation.
As someone who is hard-pressed to name a single Elemis product I haven’t tried and as someone who has also tried just about every other luxury skincare product out there for comparison, I’m in a pretty good position to say which products are (and which aren’t) the best of the best. So to answer my most-asked question definitively, this is my honest review of the 13 best Elemis skincare products out there, from the brand’s cult cleansing balm to the Pro-Collagen line that ticks all of the boxes.
SolaWave suggests using the wand for at least five minutes per session, three to five times a week. Start with a washed face (be sure to dry your face after washing it), and then apply SolaWave’s Renew Complex Serum to keep skin moisturized throughout the treatment. (You can swap this for your favorite serum as desired.) After applying serum to the forehead, cheeks, and neck, pick up your tool and start by moving it outward from the center of the forehead and down the temples on both sides.
To address under-eye bags, place the device in the corner of the under-eye area and work your way outward. Next, move on to the cheeks, and apply the wand like you would contour, keeping it pressed against your skin. Following the cheeks, do the smile line, beginning at your lips and gently pulling your skin up toward the cheeks. Finally, rub the wand against your jawline and then upward on your neck. Voilà, that’s all it takes to successfully use the wand!
Thanksgiving is just a few days away. Hopefully you’ve already planned your menu, and now it’s time to plan your look for the cozy holiday. We provided plenty of outfit inspiration here, here, and here, but what about the pieces you shouldn’t be wearing on Thursday? Sadly, there are plenty.
When you’re eating, drinking, and socializing with family and friends all day, you undoubtedly want to look stylish, but comfort is key on Thanksgiving (duh). Similar to travel outfits, we’ve all made our fair share of Thanksgiving outfit mistakes. It happens, but hopefully you’ve learned from them.
In case you’re in need of a little refresher, we’re here for you. Keep scrolling to find out what to wear on Thanksgiving and, well, the seven worst things to try and avoid. Then, shop the stylish, comfortable pieces we recommend instead.
“A sneaker girl never gets cold.” Or at least that’s what I thought until I had to carefully waddle through the snow in a pair. Some people are lucky to live in more moderate climates than New York City so can show off our regular kicks, but for us East Coasters, a thick pair of socks is required along with special styles. For me, high-tops and shearling-lined sneakers are currently high on the list for their warmth and protection.
Regardless of the weather, there are some It-girl sneakers that are worth wearing no matter the weather. We can’t forget that with the ups and downs of winter there are bound to be easier days to walk around with our sneakers on. Every season, I’m interested in buying a new pair, so below find 29 options that I’m seriously considering (and you should too).
Using this observation as a guide, it made me think a bit more deeply about my own favorite hues—especially when it comes to my nails. During the colder months, I tend to favor deeper polishes that fit a sweater-weather mood. To take it a step further, I thought it only appropriate to gain a bit of insight from Marks on some of the most common dark winter nail colors and what the emotions evoked by each could say about us.
Obviously, color theory and psychology are subjective subjects, but if you’re curious about why your go-to winter nail shades speak directly to your soul, keep scrolling below for what Marks had to share.
Stop everything because Sephora is about to launch its Black Friday deals, and we could not be more excited for some savings on our favorite beauty products.
The retailer is known for its expansive brand offering and beauty deals in the lead-up to the festive season, so it’s safe to say that when we heard that Sephora was launching a week’s worth of savings from 11/21 to 11/28, we got our cards ready.
As a 34-year-old, I’d be lying if I said that dressing to look a bit more youthful wasn’t something I thought about often… especially in the winter. The bulky layers and dark colors that are so prevalent this time of year tend to be quite aging. When I lived in Los Angeles (from 2009 to 2015), I didn’t have to think much about this subject, but now that I’m a bit older and I live in North Carolina, where it’s surprisingly freezing, I’ve had to develop a skill set to keep my winter wardrobe from inadvertently aging me. The good news is that these “tricks” are subtle. Some are as simple as avoiding certain colors near my face, and others are as easy as switching up my shoe selection. Keep scrolling to check out my tricks and to shop pieces I rely on in the winter for their non-aging powers.
Whether you have to dig through the back of your closet to find them or have them on constant rotation, your favorite skinny jeans are about to become your favorite essential. With bulky outerwear such as puffers and faux-fur coats trending, skinny jeans make the perfect addition to your wardrobe. We could wax poetic about the slim-fitting denim, but we have a feeling you already know and love it.
Which brings us to our next topic: shoes. We fully believe that the key to making your skinny jeans reach their full potential is the footwear you wear with them. And since we’re well into winter, you need shoes that are not only stylish but practical and warm enough to get you through even the coldest, wettest days. Ankle boots can be tricky with slim jeans (to tuck or not to tuck?), so we ventured out to find 10 pairs of cozy, winter-appropriate boots (including ankle styles), sneakers, and heels to wear with your favorite skinny jeans.
Keep scrolling to shop the shoes that will make your skinny jeans look incredibly stylish this winter, along with specific pairs of jeans to wear with them, if you’re so inclined.
Looking good in photos is a skill that can be taught (hence the number of stories we’ve published on the subject), and one of the easiest ways to control that is what you wear. As you probably suspected, some colors look much better than others on camera, and who better to tell us exactly what they are than Lee Eiseman, the executive director at Pantone Color Institute and author of the book The Complete Color Harmony, Pantone Edition?
When it comes to the worst color to wear in photos, Eiseman told us, “Solid colors are always best, as opposed to patterns. Very pale pastels and whites can make the subject looked washed-out. However, color in makeup can help considerably, especially professional makeup application. Cameras sometimes have difficulty adjusting between very bright contrasts, so it’s best to keep brights as solid pieces as opposed to separates.”
So what should you wear? Eiseman gave plenty of options for what colors to embrace, explaining that “the best colors are deep reds, teals/turquoises, and other shades in the blue-green family (the most universally flattering family of all colors). Rich and deeper greens, purples, and blue are all good. If a neutral is preferred, gray is the best, even better than black. Earthy and warm browns are good. Black and white together can offer too much contrast as well. Mid-tone or more vibrant rose-pink tones and corals are flattering.”
Given your newfound knowledge of photogenic colors, you’re probably ready to add some of them to your wardrobe, right? That’s what we’re here for.
Keep scrolling to shop pieces that will look great in photos.
I’m always keeping an eye on what’s trending in the nail space because I’m a major design enthusiast. Every few weeks, I sit down with my nail tech Stephanie (who is the best), and we plan out what designs we’re vibing with the most for the season. We now have my nail looks on lock for the rest of 2022, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still curious what other folks will be sporting during the colder months. Regardless of the season, I’m always screenshotting looks for future inspo anyway.
To get the scoop, I tapped three celebrity nail artists. They dished on what designs and winter nail colors they foresee being a hit. Read on to find out what they had to share.
First of all, vitamin C and niacinamide are both vitamins—niacinamide is also known as vitamin B3. They both help improve skin, and their differences work in complementary ways.
“As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps to neutralize harmful free-radicals and environmental toxins that may come in contact with the skin,” says Imahiyerobo-Ip. “Vitamin C has photo-protective properties, which help to combat UV-induced skin damage. It also plays an important role in collagen synthesis and wound healing.” It can also help treat and prevent hyperpigmentation by decreasing melanin production.
Niacinamide, on the other hand, chiefly helps improve skin barrier function by keeping skin moisturized. “It does this by improving ceramide production and by preventing the evaporation of water from the skin into the environment,” says Imahiyerobo-Ip. Niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help soothe irritated or inflamed skin.”
But that’s not all—niacinamide has some of the same properties as vitamin C. It also helps boost collagen production and stop melanin production, making it an anti-hyperpigmentation hero.
The holiday season calls for festive lipstick—it’s just a fact. Although red is a classic (sometimes considered cliche) shade, you’d be surprised to know that I often get the most compliments on my drugstore-priced shades rather than my designer ones. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a good luxury formula, but I think the point I’m trying to make is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have the gorgeous pout of your dreams. If you’re also into a classic shade like red, you’re going to want to keep reading. I’m letting you in on my best-kept lipstick secrets and even snatched a few favorites from other WWW beauty editors. Scroll down below and check out our tricks of the trade.
I’ve heard and used BB creams before. In fact, I wrote about my beloved Clinique BB cream a few months ago. I vaguely knew about CC creams, but since I was pretty happy with my BB, I didn’t really think about giving it a try. But now I’m intrigued!
If you’re new to CC creams like I am, they help you get that minimal, effortless look like BB creams, but they offer a little bit more coverage. BB creams are short for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm,” and they nourish the skin while giving lighter coverage than a regular foundation.
CC creams, on the other hand, are known as “color-correcting creams” or “complexion-corrector creams.” They can help even your skin tone and mask dark spots and redness. CC creams are a bit thicker than BB creams, but many also contain beneficial skincare ingredients such as sunscreen.
With that distinction, Hill also wants to highlight the benefits of using a hair loss prevention serum and how strands become thinner in the first place. “What is being experienced with ‘hair growth’ serums is the reawakening of the hair follicle,” says Hill. “It creates a healthier scalp microbiome, which increases the numbers of hair fibers that each follicle produces. To clarify, each hair follicle can produce multiple hair fibers and most people can have two to five hair fibers per hair follicle. (This is genetically predetermined.) As the follicle is compromised, the follicle produces fewer hair fibers, which results in ‘hair loss’ and thinning. The benefit and goal of these serums is to address miniaturization in its infancy stages for the best results.”
Even if hair loss isn’t a concern for you and you simply would love a serum to help promote long, luscious locks in some way, you can still look for hair strengthening serums containing ingredients that help keep breakage at bay. Hill recommends looking for hair products containing ingredients like saw palmetto, caffeine, licorice extract, pfaffia extract, ergothioneine, ginseng root, and burdock root. These will help nourish your hair at the root so strands have the opportunity to grow longer than ever before. Keep scrolling below for a few options recommended by Hill and other user favorites.
It’s that time of the year again! The sale season has kicked off with Nordstrom’s Holiday Sale, offering a selection of majorly discounted beauty items you’ll want to grab before they disappear again. As a Seattle native (the home of Nordstrom), lover of all this beauty, and an avid shopper, I’ve come up with a list of 15+ products I’m planning on grabbing for myself and my loved ones during Nordstrom’s Holiday Sale. If you’re looking for a little inspiration to get shopping (it’s never too early to start on those holiday presents, even if they’re just for you), here’s everything I have my eye on. Cheers to great beauty products for less!
Read on to find out which discounted beauty products have already landed in my basket!
