Let's say that Raven-Symoné's character from That's So Raven looked into the future, oh, about 15 years from its premiere in 2003. She'd see a bevy of baddies proudly rocking their natural hair at all lengths, all around the world. But for Raven then, and Raven now, she prefers to stick to weaves and wigs — at least in public. And that's her prerogative.
"I can change who I am with a track, but when I take it all out and my hair is healthy, I can enjoy my texture for what it is," she said on a recent episode of Essence 's My Mane Moment. "I have curls, I really do. You won’t be seeing it, but I got curls. And I like my curls."
To Raven-Symoné, those curls are a reflection of her truest self, one that isn't for everyone to see. “I feel like when I wear my curly hair, it’s really Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman: who my parents birthed and who I am," she continued. "It’s not the person that’s on camera or this. That’s why you’ll rarely see that hair. It’s more me than anything else.”
Instead, Raven-Symoné leaves the natural styles to her personal hair icons — including Lisa Bonet, Viola Davis, Jurnee Smollett-Bell — and expresses herself with wigs and weaves in a rainbow of hues. "What inspires the hair change? It's mostly because I had to have one style of hair for my whole entire childhood for work — the long curls," she notes. "It was cute, but I was tired of it... and why not have fun?"
This isn't the first time that Raven-Symoné, an executive producer for Disney's Raven's Home, has opened up about her hair story. She appeared in Chris Rock's 2009 Good Hair documentary. During a presser for the film, she recalled a rare instance when she wore her natural curls in public. "Yeah, I did that," she said. "And I went on the red carpet and somebody called me a poodle on the internet." She added, "I'm totally fine with speaking about the fact that I wear a weave. I think the reason I feel that way is that underneath it all, I'm very confident in my own personal hair. Even though I'm wearing this, in my mind I feel like I have my short curly hair going on. And that's what I wear in front of my friends, that's what I wear when I'm at home, and then when I work there's a certain look it has to be."
Though Raven-Symoné's hair choices are ultimately up to her, and she shares a similar viewpoint as other stars and activists who feel empowered wearing weaves, she did receive a fair share of skepticism from the video's commenters — mostly because of her headscratch-worthy statements from years past, including the time she told Oprah that she isn't African American (just "American") or when she defended Rachel Dolezal. But despite those public missteps, Symoné now seems to be confident in her identity. "My Black is expression at the highest degree of love, affection, and what I feel is me at the time," she told Essence. "I can do whatever I choose. I wet it up, I can straighten it out, I color it up, I can jet black it... because I'm beautiful."
In 1994, a figure skating scandal rocked the Olympic world at television drama levels — Nancy Kerrigan, long-time rival of Tonya Harding, was attacked with a club to her knee, just weeks before the Olympics. The perpetrator of the crime? A man connected to Harding's ex-husband, and thus Harding herself.
But of course, time distorts many stories — which is why I, Tonya, out Friday, might just clear up some misconceptions. The film, in which Margot Robbie embodies the legendary figure skater and tells her tale, is a dark comedy that brings viewers into the competitive, grueling, and dramatic world of competitive figure skating, all while telling the story of the crime from different perspectives.
Still, it's fun to play a little game of trivia. Ahead of the film's release, we took to the streets of New York to see how the Kerrigan-Harding drama has stood the test of time. Sadly, plenty of facts have been forgotten.
Turns out, not a lot of people know the true story behind the events that transpired in Detroit in 1994. In fact, some people think Harding herself attacked Kerrigan, or forget which figure skater was attacked to begin with. There were, of course, folks who had heard the story of Kerrigan screaming on the floor, "Why?!" But did they remember whether or not she could actually compete at the Olympics because of the attack? Or whether or not Harding was sentenced to prison?
So to clear things up, we chat with Paul Walter Hauser, who plays Harding's bodyguard in I, Tonya. Watch the video above to get the true story — and see just how wrong some people have it.
The new year always seems to bring a newfound desire to get our lives in order and start "adulting" once and for all. A major goal of mine for 2018: start meal-prepping!
Almost nightly, I leave the office with a growling stomach but little energy to actually cook a meal. And lunchtime isn't any better: some days, I'm so absorbed in my day-to-day work that I forget to eat altogether, or a wind up scraping together a measly lunch of cereal, fruit snacks, or whatever else is in the office pantry.
When I discovered Alyssa Gagarin on Instagram, I was instantly inspired. She's a chef and cooking instructor with a colorful social media feed chock-full of meal prep ideas.
With her help, I spent $107.00 total and took three hours out of my Sunday to meal-prep for the entire week ahead. Five days and five meals per day (breakfast, lunch, a snack, dinner, and dessert), equaling $4.28 per meal. Not bad!
Click ahead to check out my 5-day challenge video — and to see the various recipes I made with Alyssa's pro meal-prep tips.
Press play to catch my entire meal-prep adventure. Spoiler: zoodle cravings will definitely follow, so click ahead for all the recipes.
Chia Pudding:
Instructions Start by mixing 2 cups of coconut milk with 1/2 cup of chia seeds. Next, add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Add a drizzle of the sweetener of your choice (honey, maple syrup etc). Once it's all combined, pour your chia pudding into individual mason jars and refrigerate.
Pro tip: you might want to consider doubling this for a full week's worth of breakfasts.
Instructions Spiralize about 1 large zucchini per serving or buy them already spiralized (for meal prep, keep the noodles raw. If you cook them in advance, they get soggy. So keep them raw, then just heat up in a pan when ready to eat). Cut cherry tomatoes in half. Make Pesto Sauce- recipe below. (You can always buy pesto, instead). Cook shrimp (simple salt pepper and EVOO, sear 1-2 minutes on each side until pink! Grab your tupperware, and you're all done!
Spinach Pumpkin Seed Pesto
Ingredients 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds 1/4 hemp seeds 4 cloves garlic 1 tsp salt 2 cups basil 2 cups spinach 2/3 cup olive oil Freshly ground pepper Squeeze of lemon juice.
Instructions 1. Add pumpkin seeds, hemp seed, garlic, salt, basil and spinach to a food processor or blender. 2. Pulse to grind up mixture. 3. Slowly add olive oil through the lid of the food processor while it is on and running. 4. Add fresh ground pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, to taste!
Ingredients 1/2 cup All Natural Peanut Butter 1 15 oz. can Chickpeas, drained and rinsed 2 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup 2 tbsp Honey (to make Vegan, use another 2tbsp Maple Syrup) 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract 1/2 tsp Salt 1/4 tsp Baking Soda 1/4 tsp Baking Powder.
Instructions 1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees. 2. Spray 8x8 baking dish with nonstick spray. 3. Blend all ingredients, except chocolate chips, in a food processor until smooth 4. Pour the mixture into baking dish and spread evenly. 5. Sprinkle with desired amount of chocolate chips! (Or if you would like to mix some into the batter, go for it!) If you like sweet/salty flavor, like I do, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the top. 6. Bake for approximately 18 minutes. 7. Let cool and cut into squares.
Burrito Bowl
Instructions Cook rice according to package. Grill your chicken, using cumin, paprika, garlic powder and chili powder. Cook black beans in diced red onion with cumin, garlic, chili powder. Add salsa, avocado, corn, romaine, cabbage and Jalapeno.
Spiced Roasted Chickpeas
Instructions Preheat your oven to 400 ° F. Drain and rinse 2 cans of chickpeas, and dry them by pating them with a towel. In a large bowl, mix chickpeas with drizzle of olive oil, 1tsp cumin, 1tsp paprika and a pinch of cayenne (if you like it spicy).Bake for 25-35 minutes, shaking them up after 15 minutes.
Instructions 1. Preheat Oven to 425. 2. Cut sweet potatoes into sticks. 3. Toss in large bowl with a dash of olive oil. Add spices. Toss. 4. Arrange on baking sheet w/ parchment paper. 5. Bake for 15 minutes. 6. Flip. Bake for addition 5-10, until appears crispy.
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It's no secret that actress and activist Emma Watson is an avid reader. After starting her own feminist book club, Our Shared Shelf, the 27-year-old became the one A-lister we could trust for five-star recommendations. In her most recent Instagram post, Watson shared her latest suggestion: Reni Eddo-Lodge's Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race. The book explores Eddo-Lodge's decision to disengage from discussions about systemic racism with a vast majority of white people due to their emotional disconnect. Watson signed her post, a selfie including the cover of the book, with the caption: "Have you had a chance to pick up a copy of @oursharedshelf Jan/Feb book choice, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by @renieddolodge ?! #oursharedshelf."
After we enthusiastically added the book to our Amazon carts, we took a second look at the photo. And for a moment, we almost missed one tiny insignificant detail that will surely ignite a tidal wave of trends starting now: her baby bangs.
If you needed any more proof that Watson is constantly ahead of the trend curve, let's rewind to two years ago when she debuted curtain fringe — a look that saw a huge spike in Pinterest searches when other stars like January Jones and Dakota Johnson also made the chop. And while the rest of the world hopped onto the bandwagon in 2017, it's apparent that Watson started the fad a year before everyone else caught on. Our best guess is her new, shaggy baby bangs will have the same ripple effect, but nothing's stopping you from getting them today — especially now that you have a book to bring to your appointment.
After my first job MTV working as a music programmer, I can't stop trying to matchmake people with music they might like. So, I wrote a book calledRecord Collecting for Girlsand started interviewing musicians. The Music Concierge is a column where I share music I'm listening to that you might enjoy, with a little context. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook, or leave me a comment below and tell me what you're listening to this week.
BØRNS feat. Lana Del Rey "God Save Our Young Blood"
If you ask me what's good this week, the first thing I'm gonna say is this BØRNS track with Lana Del Rey, which is 99.9% up my alley. It was inevitable that these two would team up, they're like two sides of the same West Coast-obsessed coin. Though she's only a feature on the track, this seems to be written for Lana. Lyrically, it invokes youth, religion, and puts dark visions of blood into your mind all at once — practically a trifecta of her hot topics. But since it's a BØRNS track the explicit sexuality is missing, in favor of illusions to wild nights and spinning rather than overtly (or even metaphorically) talking about drug use. Where Lana likes a Lolita-esque take on innocent sexuality in her songs, BØRNS prefers romanticism. More interesting than the lyrical interplay telling the story of a couple on an adventure is what Del Rey does for BØRNS' voice; her monotone, lower register seems to give him permission to not only hit the high notes he's known for but to let his voice dance in the melody in a more animated manner than usual (note it in the second verse, as well as the final bridge). BØRNS has, from the start of his career, eschewed gender-norms about what music by a man should sound like or concern itself with, but in this track with Del Rey as his foil, he also manages to play with gender roles using their voices. It's a gorgeous twist on California dreaming.
Lolawolf "Baby I'm Dyin"
The soft and slow side of trip hop will live on if Zoë Kravitz has anything to say about it. Her new track with Jimmy Giannopoulos, who produced it with an assist from Bekon (Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre), goes so far as to incorporate some baritone sax ( a la Morphine if that helps you place why it feels familiar) with Kravitz's droning chant of "home, home" lulling us into a sense of calm determination. There are hints of Portishead and Morcheeba here too, all combining to create a lush, dreamy song that feels like the glow you get in a drunken haze at the end of the night. The band is teasing a new album in 2018, it will be interesting to see what else is up their sleeves.
Camp Cope "The Opener"
And now for something completely different: Australian band Camp Cope has become my obsession with their brutally honest and real as fuck take on being women in a band/women in music. When singer Maq snarls the lines, "It's another straight cis man who knows more about this than me...It's another man telling us to book a smaller venue," what you, the listener, have to know is that this happens to women musicians constantly. Rock is still considered a male space. Breaking into it for bands like Camp Cope is a political act — so lend them your support.
Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA "All the Stars"
Lamar and SZA teaming up is a dream come true, but having it happen for the Black Panther soundtrack is about as poetic as it gets. In a word, this song is defiant. The beat is the sound of a ticking clock, counting down the moments until change comes. Lamar delivers a fuck you to privilege and conversations that exclude POC, while SZA croons a chorus of longing for something better that tells us that there is still hope. Lamar uses phrases that invoke the feeling of the song ("haunt you," "running out of time," "hoped for ya") that cleverly mirror the music, reinforcing what it wants to make us feel and taking the edge off some of his harder moments. This one's got layers.
Olden Yolk "Takes One to Know One"
There is something creepy about this track. Maybe it's the dueling vocal chanting, maybe it's the sitar, maybe it's the staccato percussion, maybe it's the way they recast things with a known meaning to have a different meaning (including the phrase that is used for the song's title). It's captivating but unsettling. It's a song that the band describes as being about finding beauty and solace in everyday life during highly disturbing times — and the backdrop is what makes it so unsettling? I truly can't put my finger on it, but I also can't stop listening to it.
Breakouts aren’t generally thought of as a taboo topic. For example, if I have a zit on my chin, I usually announce to friends, colleagues, and whoever happens to be standing next to me that I’m housing an absolute honker.
But nobody talks about butt acne. Probably because not only are butt breakouts embarrassing, but they tend to come in the form of a rash-like, bumpy patch that seems impossible to get rid of, no matter how many exfoliators you use.
So why do we get them — and WTF are they? We spoke to Dr. Anjali Mahto of the British Association of Dermatologists to get the lowdown on what’s going on back there.
Why do I get butt acne?
"Spots affecting the buttocks are quite common, and usually caused by a skin condition known as folliculitis," explains Dr. Mahto. "It occurs due to irritation, infection (by bacteria, yeast, fungus), or blockage of the hair follicles, and looks like a red, bumpy rash on the skin." Apparently it occurs equally in men and women, and it’s not just limited to your butt, either. Anywhere with hair follicles is at risk of developing folliculitis. It’s just more embarrassing to discuss when it’s on your butt.
Illustrated by Anna Sudit.
But why is this happening on my butt, not on my face?
The skin on your face is exactly the same as on your butt but, to put it frankly, you don’t often sit on your own face. Your backside, however, does feel the pressure on a daily basis.
"Structurally the skin is the same on both sites, but the main difference is that the bottom can be a hairier site for some people, and it's also an area of pressure," says Dr. Mahto. "It’s an area you sit on a lot, so the hair follicles can be more inflamed and infected."
If you're working out, those tight synthetic leggings that trap all your sweat (lovely) could also be a culprit — so yoga pants all the way, or choose a breathable fiber to give your ass a chance.
Illustrated by Anna Sudit.
How can I stop myself from getting butt acne?
If you want to avoid the itchy, bumpy chaos in the first place, it can be prevented by using a mild cleanser with a touch of salicylic acid, like Peter Thomas Roth Blemish Buffing Beads for face and body, and make sure you always shower immediately after you've been doing your squats. "Ensure you shower straight or soon after exercise as heat, sweat, and synthetic clothing can contribute," advises Dr. Mahto. “Avoid sharing towels or other personal care items, and do not shave over the bumps, as this can cause further irritation.” And don’t use body oils back there, either — they can trap bacteria in the follicles and worsen the issue.
Illustrated by Anna Sudit.
How can I get rid of butt acne if I already have it?
Start using that salicylic acid cleanser to cut down on pore-clogging bacteria ASAP, and if it's itchiness that's bothering you, try a warm compress — it'll help with the itching, and draw out any pus in the pimples. “Topical acne treatments, like those containing benzoyl peroxide, can help reduce inflammation,” says Dr. Mahto. “For severe cases, dermatologists use oral medications, including courses of antibiotics or isotretinoin.”
The good news is that folliculitis may get better on its own without treatment. If it persists for more than a few weeks, and isn't responding to over-the-counter medications, then go to your doctor. They’ll be able to work out what type of folliculitis you have, and the exact treatment you need. And definitely don't do what I did, which is use a harsh scrub to try and exfoliate the bumps away — because it'll get a lot worse.“Exfoliation is a bad idea,” Dr. Mahto tells me, after I explain that I scrubbed it and found it did nothing but make my butt cheeks sting. “If the skin is already irritated, and you’re irritating it further, you can actually make it worse.”
You heard her: Be nice to your butt. It’s just trying to do its job, and you spend all day squashing it against a chair in return. No wonder it gets annoyed...
Illustrated by Anna Sudit.
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Scientists have managed to develop life-saving antidotes for rattlesnake bites and mercury poisoning, but as far as I know, they’ve still yet to pinpoint a surefire remedy for the dull, grayish cast the human face starts to develop around 3 p.m. on a workday. That seems like one hell of an oversight to me. (Or maybe that's just because I've never been bitten by a rattlesnake — who's to say?)
Of course, there's caffeine, which can help to increase mental alertness, or a quick splash of cold water, which stimulates the body’s sympathetic nervous system and triggers its fight-or-flight reflex. That stuff might make you feel a little better (or, on the down side, give you heart palpitations), but there's no one true antidote for the effect a long day has on your skin.
But there is the aptly named Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm — and I swear, your lip color isn't the only thing it'll revive. It's a bracing power walk around the block that flushes your cheeks in the brisk weather of early January in a tube, a quick fix for a late-afternoon slump that will make you look and feel more alive than a mediocre cup of office coffee ever could. It has the instant face-brightening effect that you always think a "pop of color" will have, only you put on that fuchsia lipstick and it's still just your same tired face but now there's lipstick on your sandwich.
With a sheer, dewy finish and a balmy, not creamy, texture that actually hydrates just as well as the unsexy heavy-duty balms you reach for when your lips are chapped beyond repair, this is a product that simply makes your lips look good. It comes in five satin shades (including the original, Pink Glow), two shimmers, and one soft, velvety matte — but you won't know what it really looks like until you put it on. Each lightweight tint gradually evolves in color after it's applied, which sounds like those products that claim to customize color based on your unique skin tone, but the Lip Glow makes no such promise: It just promises to enhance, and does it ever.
I'm partial to the new Matte Raspberry shade, which does something for my fair, occasionally sallow-looking complexion that no other lip color has in the past: given me the much sought-after effect of a natural, healthy glow, without looking makeup-y or like, yes, I did put on a bold lip hoping it would distract from how exhausted I actually look. (Which never works, by the way.) Sure, it can't save you from a wild snake attack — but I've always been kind of an indoor kid anyway.
Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm, $34, available at Sephora.
Taraji P. Henson is on a mission to change Hollywood for the better. The Empire actress stars in and serves as an executive producer on the upcoming action film, Proud Mary and, as she explained in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, this film means more to her than another highlight on her IMDB page. Henson's character, Mary, is an anomaly: It’s not every day we see a 47-year-old Black woman play an ass-kicking assassin.
"When women get older in this business, they tend to send us out to pastures; meanwhile, you have Liam Neeson, however old he is, still kicking ass in Taken and Denzel Washington, who, at any given drop of a dime, will do an action film," she said to THR. It was also noted that Henson is more than a decade younger than both Neeson and Washington.
"Fuck that. If men can do it, why can't we? I feel like women get better as we age. Give us the same chances as you give men," she continued.
Proud Mary is just one of a couple of pivotal roles Henson is set to get off the ground in the near future. She’s also set to portray Ann Atwater, a civil rights activist who fought for Black rights and was instrumental in the war on poverty, in The Best of Enemies. Atwater also formed an unlikely friendship with a former ranked KKK member. "She's very boisterous like Cookie — oh, she's a barracuda — but that story is very relevant and needed now," Henson said, comparing her fiery Empire character to the IRL Atwater.
Speaking of Cookie, Henson also explained to TRH that she’s been fighting hard to get Empire streamed “legally” abroad, despite pushback from bigwig executives. "They weren't even gonna sell Empire overseas — you know what forced them to sell it? The people, because they were streaming it illegally,” she said. “Then [studio executives] go, 'We can make some money,' and all of a sudden they want to sell the show [internationally]. What? You don't even expect us to do well." That experience has also inspired Henson to put the pressure on Proud Mary's distribution team for exposure abroad.
Clearly, Henson is just as fearless IRL as the women she chooses to play on the big screen.
In the beauty arena, there's no one quite like Val Garland. Experimental, unconventional, rebellious, and incredibly skillful, the beauty book rule-breaker is a true master of makeup. Working as a hairdresser in Bristol, England in her teens, she had an idiosyncratic, punk-y style, vibrantly colored hair, and heavy makeup, and was constantly seeking out new adventure and challenge. One day, Garland decided to pick up and move to Australia, where she soon opened a salon. Tired of hair after some years owning the scene, Garland sold the salon and moved to London in 1994 to try her hand at makeup instead.
She swiftly became part of a stylish and multitalented set including Eugene Souleiman, Kate Moss, and Katy England, who she'd frequently work and party with. In the mid '90s, super-stylist Katy England asked Garland to work with her on Alexander McQueen's SS95 show 'The Birds' and a new partnership was born, befitting the makeup artist and designer's similarly dark and romantic aesthetic.
Garland's boundary-breaking ideas have led her to work with many of the world's most radical, directional artists, including Lady Gaga and Nick Knight (on those extraordinary prosthetic cheekbones on the cover of Born This Way), Sam McKnight, Björk, Gareth Pugh, and Vivienne Westwood.
In May 2017, L'Oréal Paris named Val Garland its Global Makeup Director, a role which covers everything from product development to makeup artistry for the brand. Then, just a couple of months later in July 2017, Garland was announced as a contributing beauty editor at British Vogue under Edward Enninful's new leadership, alongside beauty heavyweights Sam McKnight, Guido Palau, and Charlotte Tilbury.
We spoke with the makeup guru to delve into her beauty bag and discover her must-have products, favorite clients, and more.
If you had just five minutes to get ready what would you do/use? Load up some mascara and bang on the bronzer.
What's your hair routine like, and what are yourfavorite products? I like to blow-dry my hair and use a round brush, then I spray some of Sam McKnight’s Easy-Up Do at the root for weightless lift and volume.
Can you remember the first beauty product you bought in your teens? Barry M bright pink blusher.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue beauty professionally? When I was 15. To my 15-year-old mind’s eye, everyone who wore makeup looked exceedingly glamorous. I wanted to be in their club. I wanted to be glamorized, outrageous... I wanted to be noticed.
Can you remember your worst beauty faux pas? Drawing my eyebrows in bad lighting.
Favorite mascara and why? L’Oréal Paradise Mascara because it lifts, it curls, gives volume, and nourishes the lashes! What more can you ask for?
Who are your beauty icons and why? Maria Borges.
Is there a particular person whose face you enjoy making up most? Throughout her career, Helen Mirren has epitomized the strength of womanhood. She is as charming as she is iconic, certainly a true representation of a hero for our times.
Which is the one transformative beauty product that makes you feel your best?L’Oréal Pure Clay Glow Mask. It gives transformative texture and brightness to the skin.
Makeup aside, what else makes you feel beautiful? Love.
Bespoke beauty, much like anything personalized or tailored, used to be expensive, exclusive, and elitist. 2018, however, signals the end of one size fits all, as an increasing number of brands are offering custom products, from fragrances and hair shades to facial oils and lip color.
There are several explanations for the recent growth of the bespoke movement. Firstly, as the industry makes moves towards embracing diversity – led last year by Rihanna’s Fenty and ASOS’ Face + Body campaigns – it’s waking up to the fact that not everyone has the same hair and skin color and type, and that everybody needs to be catered to.
Additionally, customers are no longer seeking to mirror a universal look. In recent times, everyone rushed to grow their eyebrows thick to emulate Cara and practiced contouring like Kylie, but in reality, platforms like Instagram have provided beauty fans with an incentive to experiment, explore and celebrate their individuality.
Finally, customers are both savvier and busier than ever. Why would we spend money on an eyeshadow palette with only two or three shades that suit our coloring, when we could fill a bespoke kit with personalized hues? And why would we lug around a full-to-the-brim makeup bag, when we could pop a customized stack in our tote for on-the-go top-ups?
Photo: Via @bleachlondon
So why and how are brands delivering this personalized approach? “The backlash against what the advertising world was portraying as ‘ideal’ body types, hair types, and skin types for many years became a bigger call to action a few years ago with the use of tools like Instagram,” Alex Brownsell, founder and creative director of Bleach London, states. “There, everyone could have a platform and celebrate what was unique about themselves and ask the question, 'What does ‘beauty’ mean?’”
Bleach London offers two kinds of bespoke beauty. Always celebrating a customer’s individuality, Brownsell and cofounder Sam Campbell took the personalization of a stylist appointment to their Berwick Street store. “It’s a very important thing, particularly for hair colorists, to be able to customize color to suit their client, so it’s only natural for our product range to be able to do that too," says Brownsell. "A certain shade of pink may look amazing on one person but not so great on someone else – so what can we do to make it suit them?”
Make custom Super Cool Colors at their Berwick Street store, of course: “If someone wants their pink hair color to be a little bit more violet to stop it going too salmon-pink, then we can create that color.” Alongside the hair colors, the brand’s makeup range has been bespoke since its launch last July. Not only are magnetic palettes available to fill with Louder Powder eye colors of your choice, but the store’s glitter press allows you to make the shimmering, iridescent shadow of your dreams. With individuality at its heart, Bleach London was always going to nail bespoke beauty, but it isn’t just the more DIY brands tailoring their products to unique customers.
Photo: Via @bleachlondon
A brand that burst onto the scene last year was Trinny London. For founder Trinny Woodall, bespoke is more than just a passing trend: “There are more brands than ever before, and I feel lost in a sea of choice. One of the reasons we came to be as a brand is because I spoke to consumers and they wanted something that made the choice for them.” Enter Match2Me, Trinny London’s online build-your-profile system, whereby customers enter information about their hair, eyes, and skin before getting matched to the shades on offer. The system draws from the analyzed data of over 3,000 women to find your pairings, and offers examples of skin undertones and hair color to make the process more simple. “There’s a lot of confusion in beauty – are you yellow-toned or pink-toned, do you have green, purple or yellow veins? I don’t know what the fuck the color of my veins are, but I know the color of my hair and eyes.”
What’s notable about Trinny London is the fact it’s rooted in providing a service for real-life women. “I’ve never worked in the world of models and covergirls,” Woodall explains. “I’ve only worked with women who aren’t in front of the camera. We’re giving women an easy choice, something she understands, offering a solution.” The products, packaged in small, stackable pots, are ideal for building according to your day or evening plans – but busy lifestyles and limited handbag space weren’t the sole priorities. “I like singularity because I’ve always bought palettes for one color,” explains Woodall. “Equally, I like portability. I asked how we could offer something small enough but with a concentrated pigment, so it goes a long way and can also be reused.”
Photo: Courtesy Of eSalon
Alongside Bleach London, another hair-care brand offering personalized hair shades is eSalon, a company that delivers bespoke, professionally formulated shades to your doorstep. Courtney Goebel, client education manager at eSalon, cites the rise in resistance to mass-manufactured products as the driving force behind the brand. “People are more and more into the idea of customization. Having something personalized to you, instead of choosing from a small group of pre-made options, is so much more meaningful and valuable,” she says. “There’s also a paradigm shift away from how beauty used to be represented, where people are interested in celebrating individuality and what makes us all unique.”
For eSalon, custom means taking into account (by way of an online form) your grey hair, color history, previous treatments, hair type and condition, skin tone, and eye color – as well as the shade you’re after – before a personal colorist mixes a formula that works for you. Since at-home color may frighten those unsure of their own abilities, the brand also includes personalized instructions for the color itself, and encourages customers to ask questions and give feedback throughout the process. “Our bespoke offer isn’t just about our product, but it’s also about the relationships we build with our clients,” Goebel explains. “We’ve had people call us literally from the shower with dye in their hair to ask a question – you can’t get that with traditional boxed home color.”
Photo: Experimental Perfume Club
And it’s not just color that’s being custom-made. Skin care and fragrance are also making moves towards the tailored-for-you market. ‘Non-invasive facial workout, exercises and toning’ brand, FaceGym, made its first foray into skincare with the Make It Bar, where customers can create their own elixir tailored to their skin-care concerns. With the help of expert mixologists, clients mix a range of essential oils and extracts with properties known to tackle a particular issue, whether it’s dry skin or hyperpigmentation, before packaging up and labelling the formula as they wish. Meanwhile, Emmanuelle Moeglin founded the Experimental Perfume Club last year, running workshops where fragrance fanatics can learn about the history of scent, the nuances behind each note, and create their own perfume to take away – with the option of buying a larger bottle afterwards.
Looking forward, then, will 2018 mark the beginning of a new way to buy beauty? Brownsell is confident of bespoke’s future: “It’s definitely going to continue growing as new technology allows customers to be able to customize all aspects of their beauty regimes. Why would you ever go back to a product that you knew only looked good on you when you have a tan, when you can create custom shades to suit your skin all year round?” Perhaps it’s au revoir to varying shades of seasonal bronzer and blusher. “Or imagine if you could create the perfect lip color that you have been searching for for years, with just the right amount of moisture or matte to suit you,” she muses. “All you would need is the formula and you could keep going back for more. Bespoke beauty will never be discontinued.”
Goebel agrees. “If someone has the choice between picking one of 30 shades, or having a custom shade created for them at nearly the same price, they’re going to choose custom. And if someone can get the same results at home as they would get at a salon, they’re going to skip the salon,” she says. “The future of beauty is owning your individuality and being able to take the reins. Being able to do your own hair at home like a pro, with a color literally created just for you – we think that’s pretty futuristic.”
More than ever, as beauty fans, we're celebrating our diversity, but the individuality that independent brands both represent and offer can’t be ignored, either. Bespoke beauty comes with that vital personal touch – whether it’s chatting to someone at Bleach London’s Berwick Street store, calling up one of eSalon’s colorists, or having various fragrance notes explained to you in a workshop.
As Moeglin says: “Bespoke is not a product only, it's an experience. What they receive from it goes beyond the product itself. With bespoke offerings, consumers have the opportunity to be a part of the design of what they use, rather than simply being a consumer of their product.” As we’re all becoming more switched on to what goes into our beauty products, being a part of the process could be the future of the way we buy into them, too.
Former Fox News host and empowerment advocate Gretchen Carlson has a new job. Last week, she stepped into her voluntary role as chairwoman for the Miss America Pageant, following the resignation of the organizations' CEO and COO at the demand of a cadre of former Miss Americas. And everyone wants to know what Carlson — the woman who was crucial in taking down former FOX News CEO Roger Ailes — is going to do to take down the patriarchal traditions of pageants.
Carlson is the first actual former pageant member to serve as the organization's leader. On the new board, she'll also be among three other former pageant winners. In her role as chairwoman, Carlson has explained that changes are a coming, but it is still unclear what those changes will be. The one thing she's firm on is that she intends to make the Miss America institution more empowering for participants.
In an interview with PBS Newshour, Carlson told host Judy Woodruff that she plans to bring the Me Too movement to Miss American to let the "experience play out" and "really focus on that theme of empowerment for these contestants."
On Friday, in an interview with Amy Robach on Good Morning America, Carlson discussed her new role with the fervent optimism. She explained to Robach that she plans to modernize the Miss America Pageant. Though, when it came to her opinion about the swimsuit competition — a long-held and controversial pageant tradition — she kept things vague, but hinted it might be going away.
"I have so many great ideas for this organization, and I will be talking about those with all the other board members and the eventual CEO of Miss America and staff of Miss America," she said. "So what I would love to say about that is, please stay tuned, because I plan to make this organization 100% about empowering women. Changes are coming — potentially big changes."
Her PBS interview broached the same subject, and Carlson said that she is “going to be taking a very serious look at that.” When Woodruff brought up the swimsuit competition again, later in the interview, the former pageant winner stayed noncommittal. “I’m planning to reach out to experts in all those fields to figure out what’s best to get people interested. But I’m not worried about that at all right now," Carlson said. "What I’m worried about is wrapping my arms around this organization, getting up to speed as quickly as I can, getting just exactly the right people in place to help me on this mission.”
While the changes Carlson has in mind for the nearly century-old competition are unknown, she did discuss the importance of the talent competition and how it empowered her as a contestant during her 1989 win with PBS. She shared that Miss America gave her "amazing life skills."
The ousting of the pageant’s top leaders came after a thread of controversial emails surfaced, thus revealing what insiders knew from the beginning: the pageant biz isn’t as wholesome as it appears on TV.
However, this is not just a Coachella problem, it is a problem for all music festivals. Not only do men dominate all festival lineups, but the likelihood that women will appear on the bill shrinks as the names get bigger. Last year, Lady Gaga was the second female headliner in the history of the festival — Björk is the only other female headliner, landing in the top spot in both 2002 and 2007. That means that in 18 years, Coachella has only deemed three women to be worthy of a headline slot.
Rather than a DJ-heavy lineup like years past, breakout and streaming-friendly R&B and rap artists are featured this year with acts including Cardi B, Migos, SZA, and 6lack. When women can succeed in these genres, it is often record-setting because they are heavily male-dominated. For example, when Nicki Minaj's album Pink Friday went platinum at the end of 2010, she was the first female rap artist in nearly a decade to reach that milestone. Cardi B's single "Bodak Yellow" is the first song by a solo female hip hop artist to top the charts since Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998.
This shift proves that a key factor in choosing who headlines and how represented women will be is the festival attendees who buy the tickets. We know festival planners are taking streaming numbers and chart positions into account — the overall genre shift bears that idea out. If fans were to support more female artists, it could be reflected at Coachella next year and the years to come. At the end of the day, the music industry is a business, and consumers have the ultimate final say.
In a post-EDM world, rock is also becoming less and less of a focus for Coachella. For the first time in its nearly 20-year history, Coachella will not have a rock band as one of its headliners, although the festival is not entirely lacking in this area. St. Vincent, one of the most visible women in rock, and HAIM, the genre-crossing family band, both have highly placed slots this year.
While many might not suspect it given that rock bands have historically been comprised of men, the genre has added a considerable amount of new talent in recent years, many of whom are women. So much so that the New York Times ran a feature celebrating the women in the rock and DIY-punk music space. It feels like Coachella is abandoning the genre as more women are picking up their guitars and coming into their own, just outside the mainstream.
An important thing to note about 2018's lineup: the women billed to perform this year at Coachella, while still far fewer than men, represent diversity and inclusion in more ways than just genre. It is imperative that more women are included in festival lineups, and it is just as momentous that there is equal representation for a diverse group of artists. Beyoncé is the first woman of color to headline Coachella. That it took the festival this long to meet that milestone is stupefying.
One could make the argument that festivals are not responsible for the gender disparities present in their lineups, but rather, they are indicative of an issue which has long-existed within a notoriously male-dominated profession. More women have been making progress as producers, managers, and music photographers as well as performers which only helps to create equality in the industry. Fans can speak with their streaming choices, but it is just as important to have women in decision making roles — including in Goldenvoice, who book Coachella. When there are more women in greater positions of influence in the industry as a whole, there will be more women advocating for each other to have a place in it.
Ann Curry has a new show on the way and some pretty straightforward advice for the men in our lives.
During a promotional lunch for her forthcoming PBS show, We'll Meet Again, the former Today Show anchor discussed the #MeToo movement and the many branches the conversation has sprouted since it gained traction last fall.
"The harassment is actually systematic and pervasive," she said as noted by The Hollywood Reporter. "But, we should remember: It's limited to very small group of perpetrators, and that should not define how we look at men."
This pivotal movement where men have been held accountable for sexual assaults and lurid behavior has primarily been driven by women, despite women being on the receiving end of those assaults. It has caused many women in Hollywood and beyond to wonder, Where are the men leading this discussion?
During the lunch, Curry echoed a similar sentiment and made a broader point.
"The vast majority of men I've worked with have been exemplary," she said. “It's the abnormal, the smaller group of men that is defining. And, I think men should be upset that they have been defined in this manner."
According to Curry, the antidote for problematic men behaving badly and with brash impunity is accountability from their peers. She also posed questions about whether corporate America is ready to police itself (spoiler: not quite) and why we need more watchdogs.
Despite multiple accounts of his behavior, most of Lauer’s cohorts expressed shock. As for Curry, who many know to have had a rivalry with the fallen anchor, she hasn’t said much about her former coworker. As THR noted, she didn't mention Lauer during her lunch either and instead did what she's become known for: focusing on the big picture.
Can't wait to wash away the stress of 2017? You're not the only one. The relentless headlines have left us with a lingering emotional migraine we'll (most likely) have until March — not to mention how the year treated our skin. There's nothing like a tumultuous 24-hour news cycle to fuel a budding hormonal breakout. Luckily, we have a foolproof solution that'll save your stressed-out skin in no time. Starting today, Ulta Beauty is having its biggest skin care sale of the year.
The Love Your Skin event is one of the brand's largest beauty sales you'll find in 2018. Similar to its Gorgeous Hair event, you can except major discounts and deals on your favorite products. Spoiler: Expect Clinique, Murad, and Philosophy prices up to 50% off with one-day-only sales starting January 7 and ending on the 27th. Our advice? Start a wish list now so you can score every last serum, mask, and de-puffing eye cream your medicine cabinet desires.
Click ahead to check out every in-store and online deal during Ulta Beauty's Love Your Skin Event.
January 7
Still suffering from the damage of the summer sun? Treat your complexion to this dark spot corrector that'll have you skipping foundation in no time.
Murad Environmental Shield Rapid Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Serum, $34.50 (reg. $69), available at Ulta Beauty.
By now, we know there's nothing to fear about at-home peels — and these on-the-go pads packed with glycolic acid are gentle enough for every beauty beginner.
Exuviance Performance Peel AP25, $38.50 (reg. $77), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 8
After falling asleep in your makeup at least twice last week, you could use this enzyme peel ASAP.
Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Peeling Gel 3.4oz., $24 (reg. $48), available at Ulta Beauty.
When you need to hide those dark circles that tell your boss you spent most of last night at an extended happy hour.
PüR Hydragel Lift, $13 (reg. $26), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 9
If your 2018 bucket list includes traveling more, be sure to stock up on TSA-friendly eye masks that look luxe, but cost less than you think.
Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask, $8.75 (reg. $17.50), available at Ulta Beauty.
There's a reason why some products become classics. Case in point: This eye makeup remover banishes raccoon eyes faster than any wipe.
Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover 4.2oz., $15 (reg. $38), available at Ulta Beauty.
January 10
A Sunday beauty "detox" may be a myth, but this purifying mask will deep clean every clogged pore in sight.
Proactiv Skin Purifying Mask, $19 (reg. $38), available at Ulta Beauty.
Instead of rubbing coconut oil from the grocery store on your face, opt for this rose-infused concoction that wipes away every stitch of makeup in one rinse.
Organic to Green Coco Oils, $21 (reg. $42), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
The holidays are over, but a good skin-care set is always a great gift.
StriVectin Power Starters Age-Fighting Trio, $42.50 (reg. $85), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 11
Just in case your New Year resolution includes channeling Gwyneth Paltrow, here's a heavy-duty cream that will hydrate like a champ.
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Overnight Cream, $38 (reg. $75), available at Ulta Beauty.
Considering the majority of Perricone MD's products cost an arm and a leg, a four-piece kit including its best-sellers is far from a bad deal.
Perricone MD PRE:EMPT Kit, $34.50, available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 12
The satisfying feeling of this cleansing brush on your skin might actually convince you to exfoliate once a week.
Clarisonic Mia 1 Cleansing System, $99 (reg. $129), available at Ulta Beauty.
While the pads will buff away all your winter skin woes, the Ultra Repair Cream cures all signs of chronic dry skin in one use.
First Aid Beauty FAB Faves to Go Kit, $15 (reg. $30), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 13
An eye cream worth a try — it's packed with actives and costs under $22 — even if you hate eye cream.
Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream or It’s Potent! Eye Cream, $17-21 (reg. $34-42), available at Ulta Beauty.
January 14
This no-frills serum makes you feel rich AF and makes your skin look radiate — even if you stayed up all night watching The Crown.
BareMinerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Infusion Serum 1oz., $19 (reg. $38), available at Ulta Beauty.
The one ingredient you need for a stellar glow: vitamin C.
Algenist Genius Vitamin C+ Serum, $59 (reg. $118), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 15
You can never have too many TSA-approved products.
Origins Travel Size Checks and Balances, $6 (reg. $12), available at Ulta Beauty.
For when you have to go to your cousin's wedding and can't bear to hear your aunt complain about your wrist tattoo one more time.
Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation, $18.50 (reg. $37), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 16
Seriously, that Equinox sauna will make your skin feel like it needs a glass of water. Pack this trendy moisturizer in your bag and you'll never have to worry about going straight from the gym to work ever again.
Clinique FIT Post Workout Mattifying Moisturizer, $14.75 (reg. $29.50), available at Ulta Beauty.
January 17
This non-greasy formula is just what someone with oily skin needs. Seriously, you'll never use a blotting paper ever again.
N07 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serums, $15 (reg. $29.99), available at Ulta Beauty.
This mask and cleanser hybrid works to lift oil and dirt away without stripping your skin. Bonus: Multipurpose cleansers help increase cabinet space.
Estée Lauder Nutritious Radiant Vitality 2-in-1 Foam Cleanser, $15 (reg. $30), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
Nothing sounds simple about an injectable in a bag, but it's easy and it actually works — for a limited amount of time. While it won't do away with deep wrinkles, it can make those tiny crow's feet disappear for a couple hours.
Skyn Iceland Face-Lift-In-A-Bag, $9.75 (reg. $19.50), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 18
Help soothe your hellish eczema with these buttery body creams.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Minis, $10 (reg. $20), available at Ulta Beauty.
This gentle scrub uses ginger, ginkgo, green tea, aloe, and coconut to remove dullness without sucking you dry.
Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub, $13 (reg. $26), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 19
Pro tip: Keep this on you at at all times. After all, there's never a wrong time for a hydrating mist spritz.
Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist 5.1oz., $21.50 (reg. $43), available at Ulta Beauty.
So you can smell like you're at a spa when, really, you're just sitting in your studio's 40-year-old tub.
Julep Boost Your Radiance Reparative Rosehip Seed Facial Oil, $18 (reg. $36), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 20
Thanks to the lactic acid, this lotion not only continues to hydrate your skin all day long, but ensures that by the time you rinse it off, your visage is softer than you found it that morning.
Philosophy all 2oz. moisturizers, $18.50-40 (reg. $37-80), available at Ulta Beauty.
An oil for someone who is terrified of using 'em. The lightweight formula will make every facial oil fear disappear thanks to its light texture.
Tarte Travel Size Maracuja Oil, $8 (reg. $16), available at Ulta Beauty.
January 21
Skincare that makes your foundation last hours longer? Get it while you can.
IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Anti-Aging Primer, $24 (reg. $48), available at Ulta Beauty.
Less messy than a liquid peel, these pads offer the same radiant results without all the fuss.
Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads, $22.50 (reg. $45), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 22
The kind of moisturizer that will have your coworkers asking if you just went on vacation.
Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer or Face Finishing Moisturizer Tint, $34.50-37.50 (reg. $69-75), available at Ulta Beauty.
If you hate serums that sit on top of the skin, this fast-absorbing treatment soaks in almost immediately.
Dermadoctor Wrinkle Revenge Serum, $34 (reg. $68), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 23
This jojoba and shea eye treatment leaves even the flakiest undereyes velvet soft.
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Eye Treatment, $25 (reg. $50), available at Ulta Beauty.
This deluxe set includes a curated skin-care routine that's sure to make you a beauty convert.
Meaningful Beauty Ultra Deluxe System, $39.50 (reg. $79), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 24
Behold: One of the only beauty treatments you can use while commuting to work.
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels 4ct & 8ct, $7.50-$15 (reg. $15-30), available at Ulta Beauty.
Blackheads are no match for this exfoliating wash. Bonus: It includes 2% salicylic acid.
Proactiv Deep Cleansing Wash (3oz. & 9oz.), $8.75-17.50 (reg. $17.50-$35), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
Faster than the amount of time it takes for your Keurig to turn on.
Real Chemistry 3-Minute Peel, $24 (reg. $48), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 25
The one beauty treatment you probably overlooked, it's time to stop neglecting your neck.
Strivectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream, $47.50 (reg. $95), available at Ulta Beauty.
Relaxing and cool, this brightening mask is more refreshing than the 18 ° weather outside.
OFRA Peptide Brightening Mask, $22.50 (reg. $45), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 26
Perfect for mature skin, this antioxidant-packed eye cream really delivers,
Exuviance Age Reverse (50% off select items), $39-39.50 (reg. $78-79), available at Ulta Beauty.
Don't feel bad about skipping the dermatologist that one time, just treat yourself to a pro-quality facial with these essentials.
Dermalogica Meet Dermalogica Kit, $15 (reg. $30), available online only at Ulta Beauty.
January 27
Find a face mask that works for you, your mom, your best friend — even your cousin once removed.
Mario Badescu 50% off all masks, $9-12 (reg. $18-24), available at Ulta Beauty.
Revisiting your high school favorite might be the best dose of nostalgia you'll feel all year.
Clinique Liquid Facial Soap 6.7oz., $8.75 (reg. $17.50), available at Ulta Beauty.
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You know how in epic love stories, even after war, betrayal, or being strangely forbidden by someone's mustached father, the couple always finds their way back to each other? Well, no disrespect to Jane Austen or all the hopeless romantics out there, but I just never believed in that fairytale — until I fell head over heels with MD Complete's Acne Clarifying Gel Mask... again.
I was first introduced to the product four years ago, when I was testing hundreds of items for a magazine's beauty awards. It wasn't love at first sight — I had a bag of 30 skin, hair, and makeup products to get through, after all — but the moment it touched my skin (and then stayed on for a minute, per the directions) I was hooked. It ended up winning "best acne treatment," and for the rest of that year, I hoarded it any time I saw one in the beauty closet. Eventually though, and as most good things do, my stockpile ended. But it was recently brought to my attention yet again with a new name (it used to be called Pro Peel) — and I can't help but feel like it's fate.
Luckily, the clear, non-irritating formula is the same. It's still loaded with a potent blend of exfoliating AHAs like glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids, plus salicylic acid that works like CTRL + Z on my acne, yet remains surprisingly gentle. On the first day, you apply a dime-sized amount of product all over your face and leave it on for 60 seconds before rinsing. Every day thereafter, for up to five days, you leave it on for one minute longer. Et voila! Even this many years later, one week of using it left my skin clearer and more even-toned than it has been in months.
But of course, even the greatest loves have their flaws. For me, I feel personally conflicted about the tube's size. If I'm being conservative and guarding it like Gollum from my roommates, I’ll get 10 uses out of it — a number that hardly seems like enough. Then again, they do say nothing lasts forever...
MD Complete Acne Clarifying Gel Mask, $19.99, available at MD Complete.
In a panel discussion alongside Foxx and HFPA Member Margaret Gardiner, Garcia Johnson revealed the surprising way she wants to follow her father's footsteps, which show she is rooting for to win an award, and why she will be wearing black during the award show.
What was going through your head as you were chosen to be the Golden Globes Ambassador?
Simone Garcia Johnson: "It was surreal. My parents told me on my 16th birthday. Then to find out later that I was going to be the first ever Golden Globes Ambassador. It’s really something special. I’m looking forward to this Sunday. I feel like this show is going to be particularly special with the movements and all the women coming together. It will be interesting to see where Hollywood goes after this."
Tell me about how you’ve gotten involved in the Time’s Up movement and how, if at all, you will use this roll to promote the mission of all of these equality movements.
" I will be wearing black on the day of the Golden Globes. The movement is special. One of my favorite things about it is, not only is it shedding light on sexual assault in Hollywood, but it is shedding light on sexual assault across all different work fields and pushing for equality by saying that this treatment of women is over."
As someone who has grown up in Hollywood, do you think that your first reaction was “finally!” because your Mom has told you about things to look out for when living in Hollywood?
" I think that it’s not even a matter of 'in Hollywood.' It is a matter of treatment of women throughout all workplaces. Like the movement says, the time is up and women deserve to be treated better."
You mentioned you are rooting for Alison Brie in GLOW. Did the show hit close to home when you started watching it?
" Yeah, I love wrestling, and I have so much respect for female wrestlers. To see them do that show and how well they portrayed it, I could see how hard all those women worked. Fingers crossed for that show for sure."
Do you think you’ll ever want to be in the spotlight more, like acting?
" I’m not sure, but something that comes to mind is wrestling."
Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: a managing director who makes $1.5 million per year. This week, she spends some of her money on Stuart Weitzman boots.
Occupation: Managing Director Industry: Hedge Fund Age: 35 Location: New York City Base Salary: $200,000 Bonus: Ranges from $300,000 to $2,800,000. On average, my salary has been $1,500,000 the past four years. Paycheck (2x/month): $5,000
All Other Monthly Expenses Preschool: $2,500 Gym: $50 for my husband's membership Music Lessons: $240 for one kid's piano lessons Cable & Internet: $120 Travel: $1,660/month. We allocate $20,000/year toward travel and spend ~$320/month renting a car to do mini-trips outside of NYC. Term Life Insurance: $250. I have $6 million on my head and $1 million on my husband. Metro Card: $121 for a monthly pass. I also spend about $30/month on taxis. Donations: $415 to our alma maters and kid's public school
Day One
7:20 a.m. — Wake up and get kids ready for school. They need to be out of the door by 8 a.m. sharp, yet I can only get them out of bed at 7:30. I am fortunate to have my parents live with us, and my dad has breakfast ready when the family wakes up. He walks my daughter to school and my mom takes my son to preschool via subway. I normally leave home at 8:40 a.m., but today I have a global conference to attend at the Palace Hotel, so I'm out the door by 8:20.
4 p.m. — After six back-to-back meetings with different companies, I am exhausted. I walk back to my office, but it is hard to ignore the shops on 5th Avenue. I make a quick stop at Zara and buy two dresses. $150
5 p.m. — Back at my office. I check the Bloomberg terminal for stock prices and reply to emails. I have a full day of the conference again tomorrow and I have not prepared myself, ugh. I print out companies' presentations and analysts' reports to read tonight. I hate going to meetings under-prepared. I get home around 6:30 p.m. (it only takes 15 to 20 minutes), and that is considered late for me. Usually, I am home by 6. I make it a priority to have a relaxing dinner with my family 90% of the year. I usually leave before other people, but I hate face time. I read and play with the kids until 8:30. After that, I don't know where the time goes and am in bed by 10:30.
Daily Total: $150
Day Two
7 a.m. — I was a bit late to the conference yesterday because I never budget time for train delays. The stress was not worth it, so I leave at 8 today and eat breakfast at the conference. Standard muffin, fruit bowl, and coffee. At least it's free.
12 p.m. — Lunch break, buffet style. The Palace Hotel has surprisingly good food. I get raisin walnut bread, salad with crab meat, grilled salmon with fingerling potatoes, and asparagus. I'm also making sure to sample two types of dessert each day: the tiramisu was good, but the chocolate cookie is average. I eat while listening to a long presentation on the global biotech outlook for 2018.
3 p.m. — I stop by Stuart Weitzman at Columbus Circle. My feet have widened after having two kids, and now only SW shoes are comfortable for me. I love their stretchy boots, but I can never buy them on sale because my sizes are always gone by then. $707.40
6 p.m. — I take the subway home. Dinner today is Vietnamese spring rolls, yum — but my husband refuses to eat because it's fried food. More for me! (We mostly cook at home and spend about $800/month.) After dinner, my daughter goes to a swim class with her father. They don't come back until 8:30 because après swim, she is entitled to visit a dessert place. On swim day, both kids go to bed at 9:30 p.m. After that, I have just enough time to prepare myself for bed.
Daily Total: $707.40
Day Three
7 a.m. — There's a publishing party at my daughter's school today so I take her to school. I have no time for breakfast and am starving by the time the publishing party is done at 9:30.
10:30 a.m. — I discover that I need to attend a conference in early January. I am probably the last person to register, and it seems like the whole investment community will be there. Luckily, I get the last room left near the conference for $600/night. That same room will cost "only" $200 any other time. Unfortunately, all the business class flights are also sold out so I will fly economy. ($4,300 expensed)
12 p.m. — I plan to fly my family out to join me over the long MLK Jr. weekend. While I'm at the conference, my husband can take the kids explore the city for two days. Then I will join them for the long weekend, and we can take a day trip and a weekend trip to the beach. Flights for them cost $660, but hotels on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are "free" because I have lots of hotel points. (Otherwise, it would cost us $850 plus tax.) $660
3 p.m. — I have a meeting with the CEO of an insurance company followed by another meeting with a pharmaceutical analyst. After, I need to do a few write-ups on investment ideas I got from the conference yesterday.
7 p.m. — We meet up with a group of my husband's friends for dinner at a fusion restaurant in Union Square. The restaurant only opened a few months ago and the food is good; I overeat as usual. $160
10 p.m. — My son is still awake when we get home and because he napped earlier. I read to him and we both go to bed by 11 p.m.
Daily Total: $820
Day Four
9:30 a.m. — I have my first meeting of the day. Today is not too busy, only two meetings total, but some of my investments are not doing well. I need to finish up my write-up and Excel models.
12 p.m. — I attend a luncheon with Girls Who Code at Bank of America, and get seated next to a very arrogant male hedge fund managers, which kind of ruins the mood. Still, the speaker is passionate and funny, and I will definitely encourage my daughter to code. I can't really help her though because I got a C+ in my college coding class.
7 p.m. — I have a conference call with an overseas company at 7, so my husband takes the kids to our building's playroom where they can be loud. Later in the evening, after putting them to bed, I enjoy my time planning our trip to Asia next year. I've gone to a conference in Asia every year for the past 10 years, and this is the first time my husband will join me toward the end of my work trip. My flight and I hotels are expensed ($6,500 for the business class flights and $3,000 for the hotels).
11 p.m. — My husband and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2018, so we "deserve" a trip without the kids. We'll spend three days in Tokyo, two nights in Hakone (known for their onsen, or mineral hot springs) at a ryokan (traditional Japanese house with homemade meals), and four days in Kyoto. It is so hard to choose a hotel because they are all rated highly by travelers. That's Japanese hospitality for you. I finally book my husband's economy flight ($1,100) and our accommodations in Hakone and Kyoto ($1,500). The hotels are not fancy, but are in a central location. $2,600
Daily Total: $2,600
Day Five
8 a.m. — I take my son to school today. His grandma said he has been fussing and did not want to go to school, but he seems very happy when I take him. He knows how to push our buttons to get what he wants.
12 p.m. — I am taken out to lunch by my favorite salesperson and good friend. We often go to 15 East in Union Square, and it is absolutely the best sushi place in New York. We do omakase at the sushi counter and chat about work, life, vacations, and girly stuff. ($200 expensed) My friend will also join me during my work trip to Asia, as she has for the last 10 years. She is nine years older with two kids but we are on the same wavelength. (And in fact, most of my friends are older than me.)
9 p.m. — After the kids are in bed, my husband books a car to drive to Maryland for Christmas ($800), and I book a one-night hotel stay in Washington, D.C. for my family and his sister's family. The hotels are surprisingly cheap and there are so many choices. I am a Hyatt loyalist and find two studio-suites for $203.50 each per night. $1,207
Daily Total: $1,207
Day Six
9:30 a.m. — After my daughter's piano lesson, my husband rents a car and we drive 45 minutes outside of the city to the Palisades Mall. We previously bought a multi-visit pass to Billy Beez, so we head there first. Our kids spend hours climbing in several story-high jungle gyms and bouncing around. $120
12:30 p.m. — We have lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. I always thought that place only had desserts, but boy, I was wrong. The menu is huge and kids must end the meal with two different slices of cake. $80
2 p.m. — After lunch, my daughter goes on the merry-go-round. My son is too chicken for it, but he loves the indoor Ferris wheel and I ride that with him. (The rides cost $20.) After, we go back to Billy Beez for more climbing, bouncing, and jumping. $20
4:30 p.m. — It's time to go home. I spot a newly opened Kung Fu Tea at the mall and stop by. I love bubble tea! Two drinks to go, please. $10
Daily Total: $230
Day Seven
10 a.m. — We take my son to a birthday party at a New York kids' club, and I bring a present ($30). The party lasts two hours, and the kids have lots of fun. Lunch is catered: pizza, sandwiches, and appetizers for the adults, and pizza and cake for the kids. $30
2 p.m. — We take the kids to a friend's apartment for a playdate. I bring a gingerbread house kit and all the baking ingredients ($20) since, apparently, my husband's friends do not cook or bake. The kids have a blast cracking eggs, mixing cupcake batter, and decorating a just-out-of-the-oven cupcake we make with lots of icing and sprinkles. They want to eat the gingerbread house too, but that would be too much candy, so I tell them no. My friend's building has a pool and we burn off our extra energy there before heading home. $20
7 p.m. — It's Grandma's (my mom's) birthday today and we celebrate at a restaurant. My daughter makes a beautiful birthday card and my son loves singing "Happy Birthday". We have a homemade birthday cake (Grandma loves baking!) that is better than most (even Magnolia) — but not Lady M level! The kids are in bed by 10. I am exhausted. $150
Daily Total: $200
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The 2018 Golden Globes are finally here, and beyond the inherent excitement of what are often described as the “craziest awards in Hollywood,” there has been another layer of expectation added. And not just because this is the first post-Weinstein event gathering the industry's biggest power players. On top of that, a few months ago it was announced that actresses would wear black as a way to protest the harassment, assault, and other acts from powerful men in Hollywood — acts that have, until now, been allowed to go unchecked for decades.
Recently, it was confirmed that fashion protest would be part of a bigger movement called Time’s Up. The initiative gathers the influence and attention of Hollywood’s female stars to help the working class women who are suffering from the pervasive inequality in whatever field they may work — be it farmers, hotel workers, or factory workers — and give them access to money, lawyers, and advice so that they too are able to rise up and fight for what’s right without fear of not being able to provide for their families.
So when you look through the slideshow ahead, you may notice the majority of women this evening have decided to wear black on the red carpet. But this is not a symbol of mourning. It is a symbol of protest — to join together as a united front that screams loudly to the world ' We are not going to stand for the inequality, for the injustices, for the “lesser-than” treatment. We will no longer be silent.' Time’s up for the patriarchy. Time’s up for the abuse. Yes, they will be wearing black, but they will still be as beautiful and glamorous as years before, because they are rising triumphantly into what will hopefully be a new era in Hollywood.
Allison Williams in Armani Privé
Sadie Sink in Miu Miu
Dove Cameron in Monique Lhuillier
Kelly Clarkson in Christian Siriano
Tracee Ellis Ross in Marc Jacobs
Meryl Streep in custom Vera Wang and Ai-jen Poo
Katherine Langford in Prada
Claire Foy in Stella McCartney
Chrissy Metz in Sachin and Babi
Dakota Johnson in Gucci
Amanda Peet
Sarah Paulson in Calvin Klein
Jessica Biel in Dior Couture
Samira Wiley in Romona Keveza
Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton
Gwendoline Christie
Debra Messing in Christian Siriano
America Ferrera in Christian Siriano and Natalie Portman in Dior
Zoe Kravitz in Saint Laurent
Tarana Burke and Michelle Williams
Michelle Pfeiffer in Dior
Lena Waithe in Alba
Kerry Washington in Prabal Gurung
Angelina Jolie
Lily James in Valentino
Viola Davis in Brandon Maxwell
Isabelle Huppert in Chloé
Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji and Jessica Chastain in Armani Privé
Gal Gadot in Tom Ford
Margot Robbie in Gucci
Saoirse Ronan in Atelier Versace
Emilia Clarke in Miu Miu
Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen and Eva Longoria in Genny
Millie Bobby Brown in Calvin Klein
Nicole Kidman in Givenchy
Emma Stone in custom Louis Vuitton and Billie Jean King
Salma Hayek in Balenciaga and Ashley Judd in Elie Saab
Marai Larasi and Emma Watson
Issa Rae in Prabal Gurung
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We've long been stans for a good pair of pants on the red carpet. But if Sunday's night's Golden Globes is promoting any one message — between its blacked-out dress code and omission of the question"Who are you wearing?" — it's that we're experiencing a shift, not only in the entertainment industry, but in how women are treated in their workplaces and their personal lives across the world. And beyond wearing black or sporting a "Time's Up" pin, a handful of women opted for pants the festivities — and rightfully so.
"Tonight is about women wearing the pants, so I chose to literally wear the pants," Glow and Mad Men star Alison Brie said on the E! red carpet. Aside from wearing black for equality, safety, and inclusivity for women across industries, it certainly feels like an appropriate time to wear black pants specifically.
And while Brie led the charge opting for a stunning silk strapless, skirted jumpsuit by designer Vassilis Zoulias, she wasn't the only one who wore power pants tonight. Actress Rita Moreno went for a leather suit complete with a thin, satin tie, and Maggie Gyllenhal put her own sequined twist on a festive, cropped-pant look. Of course, we were already eager to see how the women of Hollywood would take tonight's black dress code and made it all their own, and we were excited to see so many turn up in a pair of trousers as opposed to your typical red carpet outfit — because, clearly, tonight's red carpet is anything but typical.
It's a skirt! It's a dress! It's...pants! Alison Brie looked effortlessly gorgeous in Vassilis Zoulias.
You of course recognize Rita Moreno from all the classics — West Side Story, Singing in the Rain, and The King and I, to name a few — but tonight she's shaking things up with an all-leather get-up.
Kyra Sedgwick reminds us we can't go wrong with a simple black suit.
We see those pants peeking out from underneath your look, Laurie Metcalf.
Lena Waithe, glowing from head-to-toe.
Maggie Gyllenhaal singlehandedly proving you can support the cause and look damn good doing it.
Debra Messing knows the key to a good look: party on the top, business on the bottom.
Accessorizing a suit with a bold rep lip. Nicely played, Claire Foy.
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On the Golden Globes red carpet, the conversation has revolved around Time’s Up, the sexual harassment prevention initiative introduced last week by some of the industry's biggest heavy hitters, including Shonda Rhimes, Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone, and America Ferrera. The movement also includes a pin designed by stylist Arianne Phillips and jewelry designer Michael Schmidt, who put out a call-to-action for the fashion industry. And on Sunday, designers responded, going beyond just dressing Hollywood’s leading actresses and actors.
“I can’t think of anything more appropriate than fashion brands who have built careers on the red carpet donating to the Time’s Up legal fund because as we’ve learned in the last year, there’s nothing more powerful than how we spend our money,” Phillips told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview. “I will take notice of these brands and want to do business with them.”
Four labels, in particular, are putting their money where their mouth is and donating to Time’s Up legal fund (in addition to providing dresses): Sachin & Babi (which dressed Chrissy Metz), Genny (which dressed Eva Longoria), Prabal Gurung (which dressed Kerry Washington) and Calvin Klein (which dressed Sarah Paulson and Millie Bobby Brown).
Designers Sachin Ahluwalia and Babi Ahluwalia of Sachin & Babi told Refinery29 of their decision to contribute: "As designers we are afforded an incredible platform to dress some of the most talented actors in the spotlight. This is an issue that encompasses all industries including ours and as men/women, husbands/fathers, mothers/daughters, and colleagues of innumerable talented women that we work with, it’s our obligation to show solidarity and commitment to this cause."
In a statement posted on his website, Gurung said: “The 2018 Golden Globe Awards has significant potential to alter the course of this historic movement. It is a moment where these admirable, strong and brave actresses have decided to use fashion as a means of protest.” He continued: “We — the fashion industry — should be proud to help amplify and visually communicate such a powerful agenda. When future generations look back on this watershed moment, I hope they will realize that fashion served a crucial role in conveying this powerful message — and that fashion is no longer just about beauty and glamour.”
“I personally don’t view this upcoming red carpet as a missed fashion opportunity," he adds. "In fact, it is quite the opposite — I am excited to see these strong women exercise their power of choice to wear all black together while talking about their beliefs, values and principles. As designers, we’re in the service industry — providing women with options that represent them as human beings. My team and I are beyond proud to be a part of this beautiful moment.”
“This is not a silent protest,” Gurung says. “This is a resounding crescendo of resistance, resilience and unity.”
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