I began my Pilates journey having absolutely no idea what I was getting into. The start of my career as a beauty editor was similar, so it was no surprise that I had to reconsider the products I used on a daily basis. Everyone talks about the more “obvious” benefits of a Pilates-led fitness regime, but have a tendency to skim over the smaller, skin-related details. While Pilates is lower impact than weight lifting or running, it has may of the same (if not all) the same impacts on how my skin responds to physical activity. I don’t perspire easily, but when I do, I notice how my complexion responds to it. Blemishes appear overnight along my t-zone, prompting me to spend extra time cleansing my skin and replenishing essential hydration.
Over the past year of countless mat and reformer Pilates sessions, I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate the pros and cons of every one of the skincare products populating my vanity; zeroing in on the ones that have been the most helpful with delivering hydration, playing defense against environmental aggressors, combating hyperpigmentation, and keeping post-work-out breakouts at bay. Below, I’m sharing the 18 skincare picks I can’t live without as well as my gym bag must-haves. No fitness journey is without its wins and fails, but your skincare product lineup can definitely be all wins.
There you have it! Sofwave is a less invasive alternative to Botox that doesn’t just create the appearance of smoother, fine line–free skin—it actually creates it from within! Naturally, a treatment like this doesn’t come cheap (ugh), but it’s definitely worth it in the long run if you want to keep your skin looking youthful. Shieh shares a bit more about what kind of results you can expect and how much each treatment costs.
“People can expect to see lifting and wrinkle reduction of the areas treated,” he says. “For someone that receives a typical full-face treatment, including under the chin, at around the two-week [mark], they enjoy seeing brows that are lifted naturally, improvement in wrinkles and fine lines, and improved lifting of the jawline and under the chin area. This result continues to improve as collagen remodels and can be more noticeable at two months. A single treatment gives noticeable results in the majority of patients. Although, additional treatments may be performed for additional improvements.”
As for the price, I’ll be honest, it’s steep. But it could be well worth it for those long-term results since Botox can’t exactly provide that. Shieh says, “Sofwave costs vary depending on the size of the area being treated. A partial face treatment starts around $1500, with full-face treatments running approximately $2500 to $5000. A neck and under-chin-area treatment can run $2000 to $3000.”
Penzi recommends looking for hydrating ingredients that help to retain moisture and reinforce the skin barrier without clogging pores. “Look for hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides, as well as niacinamide,” she says. “Be sure to avoid comedogenic oils like coconut oil. Also avoid heavy occlusive ingredients like petrolatum.”
To be honest, there are also a lot of other ingredients you should probably steer clear of if you have acne-prone skin, but these are the main culprits derms and facialists consistently say to avoid. Azadeh Shirazi, MD says, “It’s best to avoid ingredients that form a film on your skin’s surface, like silicone derivatives (dimethicone and cyclomethicone). Also, avoid fragrances, mineral oil, lanolin, shea butter, or comedogenic oils like coconut oil,” she says.
This is a good place to start, but it’s also key to remember that everyone’s skin is different. While shea butter is considered a heavier ingredient by some, I’ve never had an issue with it clogging my pores and it may work for others with acne-prone skin, too. The same goes for silicones. Silicones have sparked much debate over the years with some saying they can create a film over the skin that can further trap bacteria, but again, everyone is different. If you’re highly sensitive it might be best to avoid silicones, but I also haven’t had an issue with those clogging my pores or causing new breakouts. If you’re super sensitive and want to err on the side of caution, choose a moisturizer without these ingredients to start, then maybe later down the line you can try adding one with the above ingredients to see if they’re a trigger for you. Take a look at some of our best noncomedogenic moisturizer recs below.
Despite the nature of my job, I’m not a big shopper. I go on no-buy periods occasionally (I was recently on one since October), and if I do buy something, it’s usually one or two things each season. If there is a time when I do hit “add to cart” more than usual, it’s during fashion month. I’m always inspired by the street-style images that come or the newest collections released by designers, and thus like to make a wishlist of what I love and would want in my wardrobe during fashion week and beyond. With fashion month upon us, I thought I’d share a peek into my running wishlist in case you’re on the hunt for a bit of shopping inspiration.
Ahead, you’ll find my complete fashion month wishlist from red mesh flats to balloon jeans. Keep scrolling and see if anything special catches your eye. I haven’t clicked purchase on anything yet, but I’m certain that fate will change by tomorrow.
Valentine’s Day is one week away, so needless to say, it’s crunch time. Not to stress you out or anything, but the time to order those last-minute gifts is now. I know we’ve all barely recovered from holiday gift shopping, but time marches on. The deadline has already passed on some retailers’ sites but there are still plenty of options that will arrive before February 14—from the likes of Shopbop, Nordstrom, and Net-a-Porter, to name a few excellent ones.
Valentine’s Day gift shopping is a little tricky as stereotypical “cutesy” gifts can be difficult to avoid, but I think I did a great job of finding cool gifts for the holiday, if I do say so myself. So scroll on while there’s still time to get something good for your loved ones—or treat yourself to a Valentine’s Day gift of your own choosing. You deserve it.
While some wardrobe staples come and go, there’s absolutely nothing like a classic. A white turtleneck will always be a must-have in my opinion. Just a few weeks ago, I went through my winter staples to figure out what I was missing. I found that it had been a while since I upgraded my selection of white sweaters. I also found that my favorite white turtleneck was piling and slightly outdated. While a practical person would be bummed to find that a sweater they once loved wasn’t right for them anymore, I was thrilled with the opportunity to replace it in my collection.
If you’re like me and have been holding onto things for a little bit too long, this is your sign to say goodbye to the sweaters of yesterday and hello to a brand-new future. At the same time, if you already have a great collection of white turtleneck sweaters, there are so many ways to wear them that I just have to tell you about. Below, find the nine white-turtleneck outfits that I will be copying this fall.
Everyone has their go-to procrastination tactic. Maybe you find yourself refreshing your Instagram feed, whipping up an elaborate meal, or going for a leisurely walk when you’re putting off a task. My personal coping mechanism? Making shopping lists. No matter what mood I’m in or why exactly I’m looking to kill time, my first instinct is to draw up a list of things I need (well, more often than not, things I want but don’t actually need). Grocery lists, arbitrary to-do lists, and, yes, shopping lists.
Being a fashion editor, I keep a running tab of my favorite brands and boutiques that are owned or designed by Black talent. These names are top of mind throughout the year, but given that February is Black History Month, it’s the perfect time to highlight all the stunning Black-owned fashion items that are occupying my cart (and my headspace) right now. In the below edit, you’ll find a range of items from pretty pearl earrings to trendy sneakers and brands from smaller indie labels like K.ngsley and Sammy B to industry heavyweights such as Telfar and Christopher John Rogers. This one goes out to you, Who What Wear readers, because there’s no one who loves a good shopping list more than you do (except for yours truly).
Rejoice: the spring 2024 collections are beginning to land in stores, and there’s so much to discuss. Now that the spring looks are making their way into our carts and even onto the street, it’s time to report on what is actually resonating in the wild because, let’s face it—not everything we loved on the runway will translate into a practical item worthy of our (already maxed-out) closets.
We may have dissected the runways months ago, but now we’re actually observing which items are becoming popular and buzzy IRL, and we’re pleased to say that there are a number of pieces that have managed to break through as *the* ones to know. Whether it’s the pretty satin mules from Prada’s spring runway, the High Sport kick-flare pants that are the talk of every fashion Substack, or the new Bottega Veneta bag that celebrities are already carrying, the most-buzzed-about luxury items are set to define spring, if not 2024 as a whole.
Here, we’ve put together our master list of the 29 pieces that are making their mark on style right now. These are unquestionably the items that have everyone talking.
If you’re like me, you probably have enough black, and neutral-colored shoes at this point, so it’s my fashion-editor duty to put some color on your footwear radar. We talk a lot about shoe trends here at Who What Wear, but a more niche subject is shoe color trends. Yes, they’re definitely a thing, and they’re usually in line with the overarching color trends during any given season.
You could say that one of my personality traits is that I’m obsessed with shoes. So, you’re in good hands when it comes to shoe trends. I often scroll through Instagram with the sole purpose of looking for shoes. And now that winter is winding down, the shoe color trends for spring have really revealed themselves. And while the red shoe trend is still going strong, I’m here to talk about the even fresher color trends.
Scroll on for the five biggest shoe color trends of the season, and to shop the best pairs in each colorful category.
The watch industry is traditionally a male-dominated space, but we’ve seen women carving out a bigger presence in it—from an expert POV and a shopping standpoint. On social media, specifically, we’re seeing a new wave of experts who are educating their audiences on the world of watches and inspiring a new generation of collectors. Among them are Brynn Wallner of Dimepiece and Trang Trinh of Girls O’Clock, whose content is both educational and entertaining, making the watch world a fun, less intimidating place to enter. As Wallner puts it, “With social media, anyone can talk about it, and there’s no gatekeeping. If you use the tool correctly, then you get your voice heard, and it has the power to impact the entire industry.”
Wallner got her start in the watch world after she was laid off from Sotheby’s in 2020 and set the tone for the new direction of women in the industry. “To me, what I was doing wasn’t all that groundbreaking—it was mostly just identifying watches that celebrities wore, but with my tone and my point of view and the people that I was covering,” Wallner explains. “Scary Spice to Bella Hadid to Princess Diana—all of these women with great style—and I injected my personal sense of humor into it.” Trinh, too, approached the luxury watch space less traditionally. “I began Girls O’Clock with two missions: to be a resource for women who don’t know where to begin in the world of watches and to amplify the dialogue on why women are interested in watches and the styles they lust after, all of which I hope I accomplish with a bit of fun!” Trinh shares. Each of their platforms has resonated in a major way and has translated to a new generation of watch enthusiasts and collectors.
Curious to know more about where the watch world is headed in 2024, I consulted Wallner and Trinh. Ahead, learn about the hot watch trends and styles to own.
Let’s be honest for a moment. Fashion can feel frivolous at times, especially within the context of contemporary couture. It can sometimes feel ostentatious compared to our approachable capsule wardrobe. Because modern couture is inaccessible to most consumers and there’s so much happening in the world, it’s only natural for most to ask, Is haute couture really that serious? I’d never surmise that it would have the weight that so many other topics do in the world, but I’d also never discount its influence. Like it or not, couture has often acted as a reflection of current times—it can tell us what’s happening in the stars and the stock exchange. Long before something blows up on TikTok, you better believe its origins can be traced back to couture fashion week.
The essence of what’s fashionable always comes back to haute couture because it’s about the craft of making clothing. It’s not about hyperconsumption; it’s about the art. That feels particularly topical as more conversations in the cultural canon center on the idea of adopting the quiet luxury ethos—the shift from keeping up with trends to investing in timeless items. Couture offers people a permission slip to escape from the never-ending trend cycle, and it’s a way to fall in love with well-made clothing again. At best, couture can make us see the world in a new light or, at the very least, change our wardrobes. If you’re still not convinced about how couture can apply to your relationship with your own closet, you’ll want to keep reading.
After hours of image research, I’ve narrowed down the six best spring/summer 2024 couture collections based on how they made haute couture feel relatable to our everyday lives. Plus, I’ve identified three looks from each show that are easy to re-create with shopping recommendations. Prepare to become a lover of haute couture.
Japan is known for many things—spectacular food, beautiful temples, high-speed trains, and a welcoming culture—but fashion certainly tops the list. So when I visited for the first time a few weeks ago, I was eager to drink up all the street style around the major cities. While all of Japan is incredibly chic, Tokyo, specifically, boasts a standout street style (it’s no surprise given it’s the biggest city with influential fashion neighborhoods like Shibuya and Harajuku). It’s also a haven for vintage shopping, with entire streets lined with incredible stores filled with treasures from the past.
That effortlessly cool style mixed with the electric city energy against the backdrop of neon lights was exactly the style inspiration I had been craving. So needless to say I had my fashion-editor cap on while exploring Tokyo, taking note of what all the most stylish Japanese people were wearing. While Tokyo style is quite directional and people have their unique styles, I did notice a few trends many people were incorporating into their wardrobes in interesting ways. From an emerging outerwear silhouette to a statement accessory color, below are the four fashion trends I saw all over the streets of Tokyo.
Last night, the 66th annual Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles. While there were many notable beauty looks to discuss, including Taylor Swift’s Schiaparelli Couture dress and Miley Cyrus’s “golden goddess” makeup, we noticed something that would have otherwise slipped subtly under the radar. Two Gen Z celebs walked the pre-show red carpet with classic nude manicures that were created with the exact same drugstore nail polish, and it’s only $12. As far as red carpet beauty moments go, this one couldn’t be easier to re-create. Keep scrolling to see each celeb’s manicure and the nail polish used and learn the exact steps it takes to re-create it.
Yoko Sakakura is the celebrity nail artist who created Rodrigo’s manicure. “Tonight, we decided to switch it up from Olivia’s usual dark and edgy nails,” she said in a press release. “OPI has the prettiest classic shades, and we specifically chose two of my favorite natural tones to capture the same elegant aesthetic as her cream dress adorned in crystals.”. She used OPI’s salon-only gel nail polish, but lucky for us, we can re-create the look at home using the exact same shades of the brand’s traditional nail polish. In other words, we can get the look without a UV lamp. Sakakura started by prepping Rodrigo’s nails, and then she applied a base coat and cured it. For our purposes, we’ll use OPI’s Natural Nail Base Coat ($12). Then, it’s time for nail color.
First, she applied a thin coat of the brand’s iconic shade Put It in Neutral, which is a pink-beige.
Then, she applied a thin coat of another iconic shade, Bubble Bath, over top. (This is a classic sheer pink and a Who What Wear team favorite.) Sakakura finished off the simple yet effective combo with a layer of topcoat. Again, she used the salon-only gel version, but we’ll use OPI’s Top Coat ($12). It’s as easy as that.
Sreynin Peng is the celebrity nail artist who created Madison Beer’s manicure. “Keeping it very classic, we went with two popular OPI shades, Do You Take Lei Away? and Put It in Neutral, for Madison’s nail look,” she said in a press release. “Madison has amazing nails, so we kept the same almond shape that she regularly sports, which can really elevate any nail look. This combined with the layering of the shades offered a timeless nail that perfectly complemented Madison’s gown.” Again, OPI’s salon-only gel nail polish was used, but we can re-create the look with the same shades in traditional nail lacquer. Just as before, we’ll start by prepping our nails and using OPI’s Natural Nail Base Coat ($12) to set the foundation for color.
Once the base coat was dry, Peng applied a coat of this muted beige onto Beer’s almond-shaped nails.
Then, she added a layer of Put It in Neutral over the top. The final step was to apply a topcoat. Again, we’ll use OPI’s Top Coat ($12). That’s it—four easy steps to re-creating a red carpet manicure.
We love this elegant muted rose.
This soft brown is so pretty.
Essie’s Ballet Slippers is another drugstore icon.
Chanel has some of the best neutral nail polishes.
Jennifer Lopez had a busier weekend than most of us as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Naturally, she was dressed to the nines for the weekend and everything leading up to it. “Mob wife” seemed to be the theme of the weekend for J.Lo, and her wardrobe for her time in New York was all about statement-making coats. It was what she wore under her coat for her arrival at the studio for the taping that undoubtedly turned heads. Underneath her dramatic sleeveless maxi coat, Lopez wore a completely sheer top over a nude Victoria’s Secret bra. Aside from the bra, the outfit was a full Valentino Haute Couture S/S 24 look.
Lopez is certainly no stranger to incorporating sheer pieces into her wardrobe. She’s been doing it effortlessly for decades, and her glamorous arrival at SNL was just the latest example. But she didn’t stop there. Lopez paired her sheer top with dramatic teal leather gloves that were long enough to act as sleeves. The gloves aren’t the easiest thing to pull off, but if anyone can, it’s her. Thank you for being you, J.Lo! No notes!
Keep scrolling to see this and all of Lopez’s looks for her SNL weekend and shop chic sheer tops.
A few years ago, a new fitness brand entered the scene, completely innovating they way people worked out through its iconic piece of equipment, the Bala Bangle. Natalie Holloway is the co-founder and visionary behind Bala and has grown the business from the Bangle to a 360 lifestyle brand. As many successful businesses begin, Holloway founded Bala after noticing a need in the market. In fact, her life completely took a turn when she met her future husband and business partner, Max, when they were both working at global ad agency 72andSunny. Holloway began her career in advertising, where she worked with major clients such as Jeep and Starbucks, but once she and Max realized their mutual burnout, they decided to leave their jobs and embark on a yearlong travel adventure.
Throughout their travels, the couple brainstormed various business ideas, and their aha moment came during an unchallenging yoga class in Indonesia. They wondered why no one was creating stylish wrist or ankle weights to amp up workouts like these. With this idea in mind, they returned from their travels and set out to create the now-beloved Bala Bangle, using a successful Kickstarter campaign to launch their business.
Whether you actually tuned in for the 2024 Grammys or not, you probably saw what the biggest stars of the evening chose to wear. From beauty close-ups to full red-carpet breakdowns, my social feeds were alight last night with photos from every angle of the occasion’s attendees. But one thing that’s easy to forget is that Grammys night doesn’t end when the guests depart Crypto.com Arena. The party continues far into the wee hours, and at the next venue, a whole new slew of looks come out.
This year, there were a number of big Grammys after parties, including one at Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard that was attended by everyone from Sabrina Carpenter and Selena Gomez to Anya Taylor-Joy and Storm Reid. Hunter Schafer, Julia Garner, and more hit up another at Fleur Room, hosted by Billie Eilish. And yes, they all came dressed to impress. Scroll through all of the best Grammys after party outfits below.
“That’s so fetch!” When we first heard Mean Girls, the Broadway musical version, would be adapted into a movie, we were excited to see what a 2024 version of one of our all-time favorite films would look like. That enthusiasm doubled when we heard who would be stepping into the high-heeled shoes of the Plastics. We stan Reneé Rapp, of course, but we also love a fresh face and couldn’t wait to see Avantika Vandanapu and Bebe Wood in action. Wood—whose previous credits include Hulu’s Love, Victor, Ryan Murphy’s The New Normal, and ABC’s The Real O’Neals—is so fun to watch as the catty but vulnerable Gretchen Weiners. Not only does she deliver on the laughs, but she also has a noteworthy musical number in “What’s Wrong With Me.” What’s more, she’s a fashion risk-taker and lover of all things vintage—a woman after our own heart.
My experience auditioning for Mean Girls was… Totally surreal! I grew up with Mean Girls. I truly can’t remember a world before it. In fact, did the world even exist before Mean Girls? It was such an honor to be considered for the part and totally insane and thrilling to actually be cast. It really is a dream come true.
I was excited to put my own spin on Gretchen Wieners by… The nature of my being me! Gretchen is such an iconic character that so many incredible actors have touched. It’s easy to overthink it! I tried my best not to fall into that trap and trust that, by virtue of my being a different performer, the performance will be different. At the same time, I think the essence of Gretchen will always be the same. Tina’s writing is so brilliant. Gretchen’s voice is so clear. Sometimes, as an actor, if you’re going out of your way to try and make a character different, you can actually stray from who said character really is in a way that will hinder you.
If I could go back to one day on set, it would be… The day we were shooting “I’d Rather Be Me” and a full-on blizzard broke out. That whole sequence was done in two very long takes. From the cafeteria to the outside area, we don’t stop. We had done it a few times, making it outside each time. The weather seemed perfectly fine! But then, we did it again, and when Janis (Auli‘i Cravalho) opened the door, it was fully snowing. We were all like “WTF?!” It was hysterical. We had to go home and film the rest another day. Aha ha!
The stories and/or characters that make me feel excited to work in this industry are… Stories about women with big minds, hearts, and ideas. I also feel excited about stories that thematically touch on the nuances of life and humanity, all the beautiful little things that lay within the in-between.
Outside of acting, some of my other passions include… Music and songwriting!! I am passionate about so much, but music feels more like my soul. I released my debut EP 21st Century Hippie back in 2021, but I’m excited to record some new stuff I’ve been working on. I also love art, history, poetry, nature, antiques, and my cat and puppy!
If you catch me off duty, chances are I’m wearing… Ooh! It depends on the season. In spring and summer, I love a white cotton number. Turn-of-the-century Edwardian underwear is really my 21st-century outerwear in the summer. In the winter, you can catch me in knitwear, my long black Max Mara coat, and a wide-leg pant. These seeded denim trousers from Carrier Company are my favorite. I also always wear little gold hoops.
When it comes to fashion, I’m a total sucker for… Vintage! Clothes tell stories. I like to think about who wore something before me. And it’s good for Mother Earth—yay sustainability!
My winter wardrobe would not be complete without these three pieces:
While Mytheresa is a luxury retailer through and through (one of the best, I might add), not everything in its inventory is in the thousands—far from it. I check the new arrivals nearly daily and among the Loewe It bags and The Row and Alaïa shoes everyone want to get their hands on, I routinely find items for far less—great items, I might add.
Since I scroll through Mytheresa so often anyway, I thought I’d share my favorite wallet-friendly finds with you—with $250 being the limit. Among them are the perfect pair of earrings, designer socks, trend-forward accessories, chic basics, and swimwear for the season ahead—to name a few of my finds. Present and accounted for are Gucci, Toteme, and Jacquemus, among others.
If this sounds up your alley, scroll on to shop the picks I’m currently coveting from Mytheresa (and some I already own, so I can certainly vouch).
Although we spend the majority of our days looking at new trends, there are moments when we like to shine a light on the tried-and-tested pieces that work 365 days a year. You know, the jeans that fit in all the right places or the blazer that makes you look like you’ve made an effort—even if you haven’t brushed your hair. Then there’s the top that never lets you down: the Breton.
As far as iconic fashion pieces go, the striped top is up there with the best of them. Introduced as the uniform for the French Navy in 1858, the one and only Coco Chanel later took inspiration from the sailors’ look for her nautical collection in 1917. Since then, we can categorically say that the rest is, well, history.
Striped tees and jumpers are now go-tos for an entire range of women, from the likes of Kate Middleton to the fashion industry’s elite. Giving that certain je ne sais quoi to any outfit, this is the chic separate that will go the distance in your wardrobe way beyond 2024.
In case you missed it, the 66th annual Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles last night. There were so many notable nominees, and Coco Jones was one of them. She was nominated for five Grammys, including Best New Artist, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album. The singer-songwriter ended up winning Best R&B Performance for her song “ICU.”
Before her big win, Jones walked the red carpet wearing a Celia Kritharioti dress and a glowy, fresh-faced makeup look that made us stop and stare. You can imagine how delighted we were to learn that the entire look was created with drugstore products… all priced at $17 or less. Yep, it’s proof that “red carpet” and “affordable” aren’t always mutually exclusive.
Diana Shin was the celebrity makeup artist behind this look. “I created a bronze, glowy glam for Coco Jones at the Grammys using L’Oréal products,” she said in a press release. “I wanted to keep the makeup clean and beautiful to complement her glamorous dress.” Ahead, see and shop all seven of the exact makeup products Shin used.
