Yolanda Renee King is a name you may not know, but you can be sure it’s a name you’re likely to hear more of in the future. On Saturday, the March For Our Lives commenced and King — who is the 9-year-old granddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — gave a passionate speech.
"My name is Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King," she said to a massive, roaring crowd.
Holding the mic and pacing herself, little Yolanda then proceeded to pay homage to her late grandfather like an old pro.
"My grandfather had a dream that his four little children would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” she started. “I have a dream that enough is enough, and that this should be a gun-free world, period."
Onstage, Martin’s eldest granddaughter stood beside Jaclyn Corin, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, which happened earlier in February. (Corin, who appears on the cover of a recent issue of Time magazine, also gave a memorable speech.)
“Can you please repeat these words after me?” she asked the crowd. “Spread the word, have you heard, all across the nation, we are going to be a great generation!" Though the best part was, despite the crowd’s high energy, she knew they could do better. “Now say it like you really, really mean it!” she asked her crowd, before having them repeat the chant. After the final chant, she and Jaclyn then gave one another a huge hug.
Way to command a crowd, girl. Yolanda wasn’t the only young person to win over the attention of thousands today, 11-year-old Naomi Wadler also commanded the crowd. Watch Yolanda’s moment below and prepare to get inspired.
This story was updated to correct Coretta Scott King's name. We regret the error.
The March For Our Lives is sobering, important, and should shame us all into action. But like any form of activism, it can fall into the trap of amplifying only one type of voice: the voices of cisgender white people. Luckily, the march’s organizers have taken steps to ensure that a diversity of voices are heard, and that the march’s goals are unifying, not exclusionary. They’ve handed the megaphone to speakers and performers of color, as well as LGBTQ+ folks and those from communities who deal with other types of gun violence.
Activist David Hogg criticized the media for centering the stories of white gun control activists. He told Axios that the media dropped the ball when it came to representing Parkland students of color. “My school is about 25% black, but the way we're covered doesn't reflect that,” he said. (Teen Vogue notes that Parkland’s district census data is closer to 40% black.) Through his activism in organizing the march, and his student activist community, March For Our Lives centers voices that have been shut out of the conversation.
The list of speakers is also refreshingly diverse. Black teens have a been a fierce voice for gun reform, even if their activism is not on the front page. Mya Middleton, a 16-year-old student activist from Chicago, spoke at the rally on Washington. She witnessed an armed robbery, and became involved in activism through the group After School Matters. One of the movement’s most visible faces, Parkland survivor Emma Gonzáles, is a queer teen who takes her responsibility to her community seriously.
Singer Jennifer Hudson also gave a rousing musical performance. Hudson has seen the impact of gun violence in her personal life: in 2008, her mother, brother, and young nephew were killed as a result of domestic violence. Fellow singer Ariana Grande also was touched by violence when a suicide bomber attacked her show in Manchester, England last year. Rolling Stone notes that it was Grande’s first public performance since September 2017.
"I should be writing my college essay, not my will," read one of the countless signs protesters brought to the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. on Saturday.
In downtown Washington, protesters braved a cold morning that would go on to feel like a quintessential spring day. Several marchers talked to Refinery29 about everything from anger at lawmakers' lack of action to curb gun violence, to the policies they would like to see implemented at the local and national levels, and how inspiring they found the Parkland teenagers and all the other young activists that had worked tirelessly to keep pushing the debate about gun safety forward.
Refinery29 was on the ground in D.C. for the protest. Ahead, a look at the faces of the March for Our Lives.
"Sorry it took us so long," reads Reformation's latest press release. In an apology we're willing to accept, the L.A. based brand has officially launched a size-inclusive collection of clothing. Marking its first foray into plus-size pieces, Reformation's The Reformation x Ali Tate Cutler Collection will run from sizes 0 to 22 and XS to 3XL.
In a refreshingly honest turn, Reformation's released a public statement expressing that, within the last year, Reformation has received an influx of comments and requests for "more inclusive sizing." The brand continues: "We agree it’s unfair..we’re super sorry we didn’t do it sooner." But hey, better late than never, right?
It's worth noting that Reformation has delved into the world of expanded sizing in the past. In 2015, it launched a line for bigger busted women with its Big Boobs line, and just last year saw the arrival of a petites collection. But true plus-sizing? This is a complete first. Teaming up with curve model Ali Tate Cutler, the size-inclusive spring line-up is full of recognizable Reformation looks. While unfortunately the expanded sizing is only available as a limited edition capsule for the moment, Reformation's founder and CEO, Yael Aflalo tells us that "this is our first step towards fully launching into the category and we will continue to fine tune our fit as we get feedback from our customers."
The collection will feature a range of Reformation staples from off-the-shoulder gingham dresses to frilly tops, two-piece sets, and bodysuits, all running between $78 to $218. Essentially, all of the stylistic elements, and, more importantly, the same sustainable manufacturing ethos the brand's come to be known by, are both still there, just now for a wider variety of women. As Aflalo puts it, "I want all women, regardless of shape or size, to feel good and still do good by the environment."
You always want what you can’t have — especially when it comes to beauty products. That’s why we’re getting the inside scoop from your favorite retailers on what’s selling out right now, how to sign up for waitlists, and where to go to find the next best thing. Because if everyone’s buying it, you know it has to be good.
A simple search for the word "rose" on Sephora's website churns out 1,091 results, which is a lot for a flower that was once most commonly associated with powdery grandma fragrances. Some of these products, naturally, pertain to the names of blushes and lipsticks, but hundreds more refer to skin-care items containing various forms of the flower, touted for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.
Biossance's Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil is one of those products and, unlike many of its rivals, it's been sold out for nearly two weeks on Sephora's website. In fact, according to the brand, the product's sales have tripled in the last year alone. The lightweight oil features Damascus rose extract, along with sustainably-produced squalane and vitamin C. And while most facial oils get a bad rap for being greasy, that's not the case with this formula. Its consistency is ridiculously thin; we might even venture to say that it's the lightest and fastest-absorbing oil we've tried to-date.
Fortunately, the oil is still available on the brand's website for those willing to buy it without trying it first. If that's not you, check out five of our favorite alternatives in the slides ahead.
This oil isn't just texturally supreme, it's also full of squalane to hydrate, rose extract to soothe, and vitamin C to fight free radicals and brighten dull skin.
If you're looking for a moisturizer that will do the job and sit pretty on a vanity, this is it. There are actual rose petals floating around in the vitamin C- and rose oil-infused blend.
This facial oil may not contain squalane or rose extract, but it is loaded with some other buzzy skin-care ingredients like the antioxidant lycopene as well as oat kernel extract for soothing inflamed skin. The main hydrator in the formula though, is good ol' rosehip oil, which is touted for its scar-fading capabilities.
If you simply cannot get your hands on a bottle of Biossance's facial oil, might we direct you to the brand's 100% Squalane Oil instead? Housed in a convenient pump bottle, the oil can be used from head to toe. We especially like slathering it on our limbs and face then running the excess through the mid-lengths and ends of our hair.
According to one of our writers, this bright-orange oil is responsible for seriously diminishing her post-acne hyper-pigmentation thanks to ingredients like rosehip oil and vitamin E.
Best for drier skin types, this formula contains rose extract, rosehip oil, evening primrose, and rose geranium. It also contains a host of heavy-duty oils like sweet almond, apricot kernel, and grapeseed oil. If your parched skin is barely functioning in the cold weather, this is your best bet.
Tiffany Trump, President Donald Trump's second-favorite daughter, keeps a pretty low profile. Her Instagram is much like that of any 20-something; there are photos of her fabulous vacations, of her working out and studying, with an occasional pic of her presidential family.
And while the 24-year-old law student hasn't waded into politics like her big sister Ivanka, her recent Instagram likes tell a curious tale of where she may stand on the issue of gun control.
"Today we participated in the #MarchForOurLives and I Feel SO proud! #EnoughIsEnough #NeverAgain #StudentActivists," the caption of the series of photos read.
One of the photos in the post was of someone holding a sign that read, "Next massacre will be the GOP in the midterm elections."
InstagramInstagram
That could make for some awkward dinner table conversation.
While the White House has not totally balked at gun control considerations — first lady Melania Trump said she was "heartened" by the student activists and the president met with some of the survivors of the shooting — Republicans are rarely open to any legislation that could potentially limit gun rights.
With one of the rallying cries of the Never Again movement being "Vote them out! " and mounting evidence that a Blue Wave is actually real, it's a very real possibility that Republicans could see big losses come November.
Is "the forgotten Trump child" secretly hoping for a GOP purge in November and positioning herself as the radical anti-Ivanka? Or is she just in support of common sense gun reform that prioritizes the safety of children over the profits of the gun industry? Perhaps it's a little bit of both.
In 2016, aspiring actress Claire Glassford was given the opportunity of a lifetime: to play a supporting role in a massive Hollywood movie. She got the chance to act alongside a slew of Hollywood’s biggest stars, like Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, and Kate Winslet. Glassford was ecstatic— after years of hard work, disappointments and heartbreaks, she finally had a vehicle to showcase her talents and take her career to the next level.
That movie was called Collateral Beauty, and when it was released, it was universally panned by critics, with Sophie Gilbert of The Atlantic saying it had “no endgame in mind other than simple profit.” If that wasn’t enough of a disappointment, shortly after, Glassford was unexpectedly dropped by her agents because the relationship wasn’t working. It was almost as if her career had actually taken a step backward instead of forward.
This narrative is very different than the narrative of last year’s Best Picture nominee, La La Land. Unlike Emma Stone’s character, who followed her dreams and became an A-list star, there is no guaranteed fairytale ending for Glassford. For the vast majority of Hollywood dreamers, their aspirations will never come true. Even Stone’s character initially gave up and moved back in with her parents. For the lucky few, however, one role can catapult them to stardom — and that’s what Claire still strives to achieve, every day. Two years after Collateral Beauty, she’s still hustling, heading to audition after audition and memorizing lines after lines.
Watch Glassford navigate the highs and lows of Hollywood life, and go deeper into what makes her tick as an actress, in the first episode of L.A. Land.
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness" — Eleanor Roosevelt
Emily Baum is the founder of Reboot Democracy, a former Managing Director at Girls in Tech, and an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) for the Citrix Accelerator. She has a degree in neuroscience and musical theater, a masters in engineering, and an MBA from Northwestern University. She is also the only woman in the New York Gay Men's Choir.
Baum has an impressive resume, but her journey has been far from smooth. In this episode, she shares her struggles and failures as a woman in tech.
"I was under the impression I was adequate," she says. "I had so much experience and a really unique product. Customers wanted to buy the product that didn't exist yet, and were willing to pay a lot of money for it. And so I think I was surprised to learn that wasn't enough."
Baum opens up about the struggles of being a female founder in Silicon Valley and the struggles of not being able to raise funding for her company. She addresses how to emotionally process a situation when you've done all the things you were "supposed" to do but you're still are not getting the results you want. For Baum, she learned the value of finding a community and finding support from those who are going through a similar struggle. Most of all, she learned to never give up.
Baum's failure advice? Keep this in mind: "Overnight successes are not real; no one is really overnight they have been working for a really long time before you heard about them."
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On Monday, Louis Vuitton announced that Virgil Abloh, a designer with no formal training yet has the industry captivated by his street smarts ( er, streetwear), will be its new artistic director of menswear. Abloh, 37, is the French house's first African-American artistic director and succeeds Kim Jones, who announced his departure in January. “I find the heritage and creative integrity of the house are key inspirations," Abloh said of his move in a statement, "and will look to reference them both while drawing parallels to modern times.”
Founder of label Off-White, Abloh has garnered a youth-led following most heritage brands could only dream of — for example, his personal Instagram account has 1.6 million followers, with his label sitting at a cool 3.1 million. Before founding his own company in 2013, Abloh interned at Fendi and served as Kanye West's creative consultant. Since going at it on his own, he's been nominated for the LVMH prize, won the Urban Luxury Brand award at the Fashion Awards in 2017, collaborated with everyone from IKEA to Levi's and Nike, and has become just about the most sought-after brand out there.
Abloh's appointment at Louis Vuitton confirms that streetwear and athleisure will soon see a luxury-level type of industry respect, and we can expect the same much-hyped pieces that we saw from his predecessor Jones, a close friend of Abloh's whose Vuitton collaboration with Supreme was the sellout drop of 2017. As the industry struggles to figure out just what makes new age consumers tick, the promoting of Abloh marks a new era of creative directors that are genuinely keen to push the industry forward at a pace that's less glacial than we're used to.
Abloh's first collection for Louis Vuitton menswear will be shown in Paris in June; until then, we're revisiting the prolific designer's influence on our wardrobes. Click through to find all the trends Abloh has had a hand in shaping over the last several years.
Princess Diana If your wardrobe is looking more and more like that of the People's Princess — pearls, polka dots, and cycling shorts — then look to Off-White's spring 2018 collection, which paid homage to the legendary figure just weeks before the 20th anniversary of her death.
Checked blazers, polka dot blouses, pussy bow detailing, and pink skirt suits may sound like a dream lineup for spring, but Princess Di was working these looks way back when. Abloh brought her aesthetic to a whole new audience.
Photo: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage/Getty Images
Hoodies Alongside Vetements, Abloh is, too, responsible for the hoodie becoming acceptable at work, at dinner, and at Fashion Week. Launching both 'round-the-block-line-causing hits and more affordable $170 sweatshirts, Off-White gave the ubiquitous pullovers a luxe touch, winning the approval of the Hadid sisters, who teamed them with silk slip dresses, and Rihanna, who paired hers with denim and slouch boots.
Photo: Melodie Jeng/Getty Images
Yeezy It would be unfair to attribute Yeezy's entire earth-and flesh-toned aesthetic to Abloh, but he certainly had an influential hand in our perception of Kanye's brand. Just as the industry doubted Victoria Beckham's entry into high fashion before accepting her as a industry staple, naysayers mocked the musician when he diversified into clothes.
But that soon changed, thanks to Abloh's 13-year input as Kanye's creative director, art directing lookbooks and limited-edition tees, curating the show music, and casting models. “His life is a living, breathing art project,” Abloh said of his relationship with Kanye. “My job is to know how he thinks and to put forward the right tools and options that inform the whole scenario.”
Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for adidas
The Fashion Collaboration Sure, it's been going on for decades, but Off-White embraced the fashion collaboration in a way the industry had never seen before, inspiring other brands to turn their hands to high-low alliances, too.
With Off-White x IKEA in the making (the release date, still TBD), bringing rugs and a yellow take on the Frakta bag to our homeware, it seems that no brand is off limits for Abloh. Not even Sunglass Hut. (Off-White's line of sunnies for the fast fashion staple launches today.) Add Moncler Outerwear, Vans, Nike, Umbro, Ssense, and Levi's to the list of other brands Abloh has collaborated with. Phew.
Photo: Sunglasses Hut X Off/White
Off-Kilter Irony Take a look at Off-White and Abloh's Instagram accounts and you'll notice a heavy dose of irony via quotation marks. It's something the designer puts into everything he does, from his spring 2018 show invite reading "Runway Show Invite" to a pair of Off-White x Nike shoelaces labelled — you guessed it — "Shoelaces."
Abloh reworked the Nike tick on tees with a handwritten copy and the word 'logo' written above it, reflecting a wider trend of counterfeit fashion (just look at Gucci's 'Guccy' sweater). Hiss penchant for sleight of hand and tongue-in-cheek detail is very much reflective of Off-White's ethos. As the designer said in an interview: "My brand started in the streets and the alleys of the internet."
Photo: Peter White/Getty Images
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I've been on YouTube for just about two years now in my Refinery29 series "Try Living with Lucie." I've challenged myself to face my fears, perform on the streets of NYC, and practice radical self-care, all for five days in a row. And whenever I connect with aspiring YouTubers, I'm always asked: What are your tips for someone who's just starting out on the platform?
I figured, if people want to ask me that question (someone who's relatively new to YouTube), how much more effective would it be to hear from a YouTube veteran with millions of subscribers? So on a recent snowy day in New York City, Anna Akana came by Refinery29 to chat with me about the crazy world of YouTube.
The Refinery29 office was closed due to weather on the day of her visit, so I was concerned that she wouldn't make it. But (spoiler alert!) she found her way through the tundra and the day was a success.
Check out the video to hear the seven things Anna's learned from being on YouTube for 7 years. And don't forget to check out her new series, "Youth & Consequences" on YouTube Red now.
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Life is full of necessary evils: going to work, doing the laundry, calling your grandma, sending "thank you" notes, having to put on pants every single time you leave the house, wearing sunscreen daily. But you can quit your job, excommunicate yourself from your family, go completely off-the-grid, and join a nudist colony — and once that's all said and done, you'll still have to wear sunscreen, provided it's not a subterranean mole colony you've actually signed yourself up for.
Waking up every morning and cleansing and moisturizing and finishing it all off with a generous amount of a good SPF might not fill you with quite as much joy as, say, waking up on a Saturday and realizing you don't have to go to work; it's more Groundhog Day than joie de vivre. But look, you don't really have a choice in the matter, so why not focus on the things you can control, like finding a sunscreen you don't hate more than you hate your most constricting pair of jeans?
With so many avowed SPF haters out there in the world (what, you thought you were special?), there's a huge market for sun protection that doesn't sting your eyes, make your face shiny, or smell like the beach as imagined by a person who's never been to a beach. These new formulas bring humankind ever closer to a sunscreen we'll actually want to apply — or, at the very least, won't mind keeping on hand as the sun gradually gets hotter and hotter and then explodes.
From its promise to defend skin against not only UVA/UVB rays (the kind that come from the sun) but also HEV and IR exposure (the kind emitted from all those damn screens we're all glued to), to its fast-absorbing serum-like texture and aesthetically-pleasing packaging (in a lovely washed-out shade of Baker-Miller pink), this breakthrough organic formula fits the Platonic ideal of the perfect sunscreen for convincing millennials to wear sunscreen.
The transparent finish of this twist-up stick renders the chalky white cast left behind by lesser sunscreens a thing of the distant past — and the exceptionally smooth, clear formula can even be applied over makeup without melting your foundation into a wax-figure version of your face.
The goal here was not to create yet another sunscreen, but to somehow manage to formulate a luxurious luminizing moisturizer that happens to provide sun protection. And if you're going to call something the "anti-sunscreen" — as this one purports to be — then it better deliver. Fortunately, it does, leaving nothing but a flattering pearly finish and a strong dose of SPF in its wake, sans oiliness or shine.
If your least favorite thing about sunscreen is the idea of all those chemicals with their endocrine-disrupting hormones leaking into your body via its largest organ, look no further: This baby provides maximum UVA/UVB protection without parabens, petroleum, phthalates, sulfates, and artificial colors and fragrances, and leaves a lovely, powdery matte finish behind that's perfect for layering your plant-based makeup on top of. (And chill out, by the way — all that worrying will kill you faster than the parabens will. Probably.)
Do you hate everything about sunscreen? Do you hate the smell, the texture, the sheer weight of it? Doesn't matter — just buy this moisturizer and quit complaining. Feather-light and fragrance-free, with a smooth, non-greasy finish, it provides a hit of sun protection that feels nothing like sunscreen as you know it... and the bottle it comes in is so minimalist and unassuming, you'll forget it even contains SPF at all, provided you turn it in your bathroom cabinet just so.
Boring as it may seem, being diligent about your preventative SPF ensures better, healthier skin in the long run. But if doing your future self a solid still isn't enough to convince you to wear sunscreen every day, the light-diffusing properties of this next-gen mineral formula provide instant gratification in the here and now.
Oil-based sunscreen: sounds terrible, is actually great. This easy twist-up stick has a unique dry-feel finish that leaves skin looking fresh and dewy without greasy residue, thanks to a blend of antioxidant-rich fatty acids that work to hydrate and protect all at once. And, yes, the travel-friendly format makes it easy to toss it into your purse for reapplication throughout the day. (You do know you're supposed to reapply, right?)
Beyond looking like something you'd find at a local surf shop, if you were to have a local surf shop, this kitschy tube contains a virtually idiot-proof formula that's sheer, non-sticky, and fragrance-free. You really can't go wrong — all you have to do is remember to put it on.
Sure, it doesn't have the highest SPF count out there (it's not our go-to for hot summer beach days), but it's perfect for your weekday commute into the office. The blueberry, edelweiss extract, vitamins C and E, and jojoba work to brighten and significantly moisturize while protecting against UV rays, and it never pills under makeup.
Maybe you want your SPF so "healthy" and "natural" it's only a couple tiers beyond Tom Brady's alarming conviction that drinking water is like wearing sunscreen. In that case, you're sure to love this simple formula, which contains only six ingredients: coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, tea tree oil, and zinc oxide. It's natural, waterproof, and smells delicious — and hey, it's a hell of a lot better than water.
Everlane really is making good on its promise of taking over your wardrobe expanding your wardrobe “bit by bit.” “When you launch everything in a group you kind of make one big bet," the retailer's founder, Michael Preysman, told Refinery29 in August when Everlane announced its foray into denim. “We’re doing a lot of smaller bets at once, which has proven to be better for us.”
As it turns out, this particular bet has been in the works for two years. And 40 prototypes later, Everlane is ready to introduce its latest innovation to the world. On Monday, the sustainable fashion brand officially added “a line of beautiful, Supima cotton underwear."
“We thought this was the perfect Everlane category to provide a really beautiful, modern, clean first layer,” Kimberly Smith, Everlane’s head of apparel, tells Fast Company. “We decided that the underwear didn’t need to be see-through or gussied up with bows and lace to be sexy. We focused entirely on cut and shape. We really believe that beauty is all about how you feel, not how you look.”
In a letter to its customers posted on Everlane’s website, the company promised to provide “simple, natural underwear that women can feel confident and comfortable in. No frills. No Bows. No bullshit.” Beginning today, customers are able to shop a collection of seven styles — four bottoms, one bra, a bodysuit, and an essential men's boxer brief — all priced from $12 to $30.
If you’re keeping track, within the past year, Everlane has introduced wool sweaters, blazers, boots that will make you feel like a boss, denim, and $100 cashmere. No wonder stars like Meghan Markle and Millie Bobby Brown are carrying its totes and wearing its shoes — the brand is literally everywhere.
Just hours after millions descended into the streets for March For Our Lives, the largest anti-gun protest in years on Saturday, actress Millie Bobby Brown took to the Kids’ Choice Awards stage wearing a protest piece of her own. When the 14-year-old accepted her award for favorite TV actress for her role on Netflix’s Stranger Things, she did so in a custom Calvin Klein outfit that honored the victims of the Parkland shooting.
Photo: Emma McIntyre/KCA2018/Getty Images.
Brown, who fronted Raf Simons’ first-ever Calvin Klein ad and stars alongside Paris Jackson in the brand’s latest installment of #MyCalvins campaign, showed that clothing can be a form of protest. She wore a Calvin Klein denim outfit featuring the words “Never Again” on the front and “March For Our Lives,” as well as the names of the Parkland, Florida shooting victims on the back, calling attention to the 17 people who were gunned down when a shooter opened fire on February 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Not content to let her outfit do all of the talking, Brown spoke out about the shooting in her acceptance speech, too. “Thank you so much for this award, and to Nickelodeon for bringing us all together," she said. "As we saw a moment ago, the March for Our Lives demonstrations that took place all over the world today have inspired me and impacted us all in one way or another. I'm fortunate to be here tonight to receive an award as an actor. I'm so very grateful, and I appreciate the love and support of my fans, and the opportunity that our show, Stranger Things, has created for me.”
She went on to say that, more than anything, she was thankful to be able to amplify her voice through such a large platform. “I get to be up here, and I'm privileged to have a voice that can be heard, one that I can use to hopefully make a positive difference and help influence change,” she adde. “Okay, so there's an amazing support, love, and kindness in this room right now, and I want to encourage everyone to embrace it and to pass it on.”
Brown finished her speech with one final call-out for the victims: “For the angels among us, your spirit lives on. This is for you.”
Switching up your makeup is easy — and it wipes away in a flash. But most of us approach changing our hair with a little more trepidation. After all, you can’t erase a haircut. And dye — even the semipermanent kind — lasts longer than an evening. Which is why we’re here with the gentle reminder that the simple act of changing your part can be completely transformative. Oh, and it requires zero commitment. Zero.
Countless articles have told us that a good part can make or break a look. Scientists have even developed the Hair Part Theory, which suggests that parts subconsciously highlight our mental attributes. A part on the left might send the message that we’re more left-brained, while a center one might show that we’re balanced or neutral.
Although this theory seems tidy and appealing, choosing the part for you isn’t just about face shape (or whether you consider yourself right- or left-brained). “It all depends on the impact you’re trying to make,” says stylist Matt Fugate from Serge Normant at John Frieda. “Sometimes you want something that is just super-flattering, and sometimes you want something that’s very model-esque and high-fashion.”
In general, a center-part will highlight the angularity of your face, but it will also be less forgiving of any asymmetry — so your cat-eye better be on-point. Side-parts, on the other hand, work to soften your features by adding a bit of asymmetry.
This doesn’t mean you should stick to one part. “Ultimately if you’re going to switch your part, you’re going to accentuate another part of your face by opening it up,” Fugate says. “You might draw attention to your cheekbones by adding your part right where your cheekbones rise.”
So how can you find the part you’ll love? Take a lot of selfies. “Before you change your part, do a fun experiment where you start your part far off to the side, take a picture, and slowly start moving it to the center,” Fugate says. “Then, you can flip through the pictures and see what it does to your face. Pictures are honest, so it’ll be eye-opening for you to see what it does.”
The best part about all this? You can change your part in a snap — and you’re never tied to it for longer than you want to be. Just look to any of the stars ahead, whose looks were transformed with a single flip. Click to see their transformations, with commentary and tips from Fugate.
This story was originally published on November 1, 2016.
Zendaya's side-swept look is soft and romantic.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock.
... but a structured center-part really dials up the girl-boss factor — and puts her makeup center stage.
Photo: BEI/Shutterstock.
A deep side swoop looks cool and fresh on Priyanka Chopra.
... and we're loving the mysterious allure her middle part creates.
Liu Wen's off-center part frames her face and emphasizes her jawline without being too severe...
...while a romantic side part on Liu Wen, on the other hand, enhances her dimples. (We can't decide which we love more.)
A side-part opens up Miranda Kerr's strong, gorgeous features.
Photo: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock.
...while a center-part lends softness to Kerr's enviable cheekbones.
Photo: Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock.
Weighted on one side, Zoe Saldana's curls accent her impeccable brows...
Photo: Picture Perfect/REX/Shutterstock.
...while a relaxed center part frames her smile and her eyes.
Photo: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock.
A center-part lengthens J Lawr's face...
Photo: Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock.
...while a side version adds curves.
Photo: Variety/REX/Shutterstock.
Solange's curly middle-part draws your eye up...
Photo: StarPix/REX/Shutterstock.
...while a side part brings attention to another feature. "It draws a perfect line from the high point of her eyebrow to her smile," Fugate says.
Photo: Greg Allen/REX/Shutterstock.
Kim Kardashian's deep side bangs put her lips on display...
Photo: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock.
...but a sleek middle-part narrows her face and adds balance: "It's like a beautiful curtain," says Fugate.
Photo: Jim Smeal/BEI/BEI/Shutterstock.
A middle-part frames Emilia Clarke's smile...
Photo: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock.
...but when the hair is swooped up and over, "you can see her jawline, which draws attention up to her eyes," says Fugate.
Photo: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock.
A jagged side-part accentuates Jennifer Aniston's cheekbones and chin...
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
...but a sleek center-part narrows Jennifer Aniston's face and brings the attention to her gaze.
Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.
Lucy Hale's mod center part brings her green eyes to your attention...
...but swept to the side, she emphasizes her jawline — and her sick ear piercings.
A middle-part hugs Mila Kunis’ round, symmetrical face...
Photo: Eamonn McCormack/WireImage.
...while a side-sweep lengthens her jawline and lifts her brows.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock.
Bangs cover Hilary Duff's forehead, creating a heart shape...
Photo: StarPix/REX/Shutterstock.
...but swept to each side, they frame her face and evenly flatter her cheekbones.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/BEI/Shutterstock.
Pulled back hair with a side-part feels youthful on Karlie Kloss...
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.
...and a sharp middle line adds regal flair. "It makes her more square, adding strength and structure," says Fugate.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock.
Rihanna's voluminous hair works well with a side-part...
Photo: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock.
...but a chic, sleek middle-part shows off her face more. "The side-part closes her off," Fugate says.
Photo: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock.
A side-part highlights SJP’s eyes...
Photo: Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock.
...while an elegant middle-part lengthens her neck.
Photo: StarPix/REX/Shutterstock.
Beyoncé's beauty is amplified (if that's even possible) with a sharp part and waves that accentuate her high cheekbones...
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.
...but her features soften with a deep side part.
Photo: James Devaney/GC Images.
Selena Gomez looks both edgy and glam with this side-swept blowout...
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
...but with a center-parted blowout, we get a more everyday look.
Photo: Mike Pont/FilmMagic.
Kylie Jenner's blonde bob at the Met Gala was on point — and perfect for her futuristic dress...
Photo: Noam Galai/FilmMagic.
...and it flattered her features even more when shifted closer to the center.
Photo: Via @kyliejenner.
Gabrielle Union's textured waves are rockstar worthy when parted to the side...
Photo: Melodie Jeng/Getty Images.
...and chicly polished for the CFDA Fashion Awards when sharply parted down the middle.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Teyana Taylor wore the same wig throughout New York Fashion Week, making daily tweaks to switch things up. To sit front row at Kith, she went for a cool center part...
Photo: Amber De Vos/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images.
...then added some edgy mystery with this over-eye bang and deep side part.
Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage.
Yara Shahidi's curls always leave us in awe, and this funky side-swept wash-and-go was no exception.
Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic.
Then for the 2018 SAGs, she turned the glamour up all the way by channeling Diana Ross.
Photo: JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP/Getty Images.
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modeled by Sian Osborne.
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On Sunday night, porn star Stormy Daniels went on 60 Minutes to set the record straight about her alleged affair with the president, the threats she's received, and being pressured into silence. It drew the highest ratings for 60 Minutes in 10 years.
Our main takeaway from the interview has nothing to do with their affair, though. The story is important because it sheds yet more light on the intimidation and threats Trump and his team have reportedly used to bully people who tell inconvenient truths about them into silence.
Reports fromBuzzFeed suggest a pattern of Trump using power and money to get what he wants even before he was president.
Even now, when the public already knows about their affair, Trump and his legal team are seeking to punish Daniels, claiming she is liable for damages "in excess of $20 million" for unspecified violations of her non-disclosure agreement. Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen had paid Daniels $130,000 for signing an NDA so she will keep quiet about what happened between her and Trump. But Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is suing Trump, saying the agreement is invalid because he himself never signed it.
Further, she said the team allegedly intimidated her into publishing a statement that said she's denying the affair because it never happened — not because she was paid in hush money. She told Anderson Cooper the words used to get her to sign the agreement were, "They can make your life hell in many different ways." Cohen has denied intimidating Daniels.
As Vox writer Dylan Matthews argues, "A decent person who had an affair would, when faced with the prospect of that affair going public, tell their spouse what happened, apologize, and accept the consequences. That is not what Trump did. And it’s not what Trump is still doing."
In the interview, Daniels said she was threatened in a parking lot in Las Vegas in 2011, a few weeks after she had agreed to tell InTouch magazine her story.
"I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness class with my infant daughter. Taking, you know, the seats facing backward in the backseat, diaper bag, you know, gettin' all the stuff out. And a guy walked up on me and said to me, 'Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.' And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, 'That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if something happened to her mom.' And then he was gone."
"You took it as a direct threat?" Cooper asked her. She responded, "Absolutely."
On Monday, Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti said she "receives threats on a near-hourly basis" on CBS This Morning. "Now, we don't have anything tying those to Mr. Cohen or Mr. Trump, to be clear, but she's certainly scared for her safety and the safety of her family."
The amount of misogynistic runoff from the Stormy Daniels story is as endless as your Twitter feed. But, unlike some will have you think, this story isn't a big deal because it's pushing politics in a "tawdry and celebrity-oriented" direction. We've been knee-deep in that for a long, long time. It matters because a woman is being threatened for speaking up.
"This is about the cover-up," Avenatti said on 60 Minutes. "This is about the extent that Mr. Cohen and the president have gone to intimidate this woman, to silence her, to threaten her, and to put her under their thumb. It is thuggish behavior from people in power. And it has no place in American democracy."
Here's another reason there's more to this story than salacious details: Daniels is standing up for survivors of sexual harassment. "This is not a 'Me Too,'" she said to Cooper. "I was not a victim. I've never said I was a victim. I think trying to use me to further someone else's agenda does horrible damage to people who are true victims." With that, you could argue she's sending a clear message to the 19 women who have accused the president of sexual misconduct: "Your voices matter."
Way back in 2016, when we first discovered the existence of frosé — that is, frozen rosé wine, obviously — we were convinced our lives had peaked. How could we ever find another frozen treat that would top this refreshing and boozy one? Well, instead of trying to top it, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, simply decided to expand on its brilliance. Two years later, there's a frozen dessert that actually matches the perfection of frosé.
As part of its 2018 spring line of new ice cream flavors, Jeni's recently introduced Frosé Sorbet, which means frosé fanatics can now eat the boozy frozen treat by the pint. Unlike classic frosé, which is more like a rosé slushie, Jeni's new sorbet is for snacking with a spoon. Or, if you're looking to have a little extra fun, it could be scooped into a glass and topped with a heavy pour of your favorite rosé, creating a rosé float of sorts.
Photo: Courtesy of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.
According to it's label, Frosé Sorbet is meant to mimic the taste of a rosé sangria, and to achieve that effect, it's made with an assortment of fruits including pear, strawberry, and watermelon. We had a chance to try out the sorbet, and let us tell you, it does indeed taste extremely fruity. Upon first bite, strawberry is the most prominent flavor — it actually almost tastes kind of like a strawberry Starburst. As you eat more, however, the rosé and other fruits definitely come through. The fact that the Frosé Sorbet is so strawberry forward makes total sense because it's made with a rosé from Peregrine Ranch in Sonoma Valley, which is said to have strong notes of strawberry.
Besides possessing both the ability to cool you off and booze you up, Jeni's Frosé Sorbet has something else going for it. Let's face it, the treat is downright adorable. Just looking at the pint's color combination of pink and teal makes us feel like it's finally summer, and the millennial pink shade of the sorbet itself is ripe for Instagram posting. Basically, Frosé Sorbet has all the things that made us fall head over heels in love with frosé in 2016, with the added bonus that we can get pints of it sent right to our door with a single mouse click.
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 digital account manager working in advertising who makes $23,150 per year and spends some of her paycheck this week on Diet Coke. Editor's note: All prices have been converted to U.S. dollars.
Occupation: Digital Account Manager Industry: Advertising Age: 29 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Salary: $23,150 Paycheck (1x/month): $1,611, after compulsory tax and unemployment fund deductions Freelance Work: ~$400/month Flatmate's Rent: $400/month
Monthly Expenses Housing: $200. (I am extremely fortunate to own a small apartment, which is pretty unusual in this city, where property prices are sky high. I paid for it in full a few years ago using money I inherited. My only housing expenses now are the levies I pay for the building and my parking spot. I also have a flatmate, who pays me $400 in rent every month. This covers most of my home-related expenses.) Credit Card Loan: $167
Student Loan: $0. (I inherited money from a relative, which was designated for travel and study.) Utilities: ~$83 Internet: $43 Health Insurance: $159 for my private medical aid and gap cover. (Our public healthcare system is almost always overwhelmed, and it's normal to have private medical aid if you can afford it.) Gym Membership: $135 for two memberships. (One membership is through my medical aid and works on a points system. If I achieve all my fitness goals in a month, I am refunded the full amount.) Cell Phone: $33 Retirement Fund: $210, directly deposited each month.
Additional Expenses House Cleaning: $19/week
Day One
8 a.m. — Today is Thursday and a payday – the end of a very long month. We get paid early over the holiday season, so although I did a pretty good job of managing my budget, the sight of my new bank balance brings some relief. I start off the morning with an almond milk cappuccino from the deli near my work. I pay extra for almond milk since I'm trying to cut back on the amount of dairy I consume. $2.77
1 p.m. — Some of my monthly expenses are scheduled automatically, but there are a few I prefer to pay manually every month. I use my lunch break (leftovers from home) to pay my municipal bill and also my cleaning lady. I pay her a weekly fee of $19 and she comes for three hours on Wednesday mornings. I usually pay for the whole month in one go. January had five Wednesdays, but she borrowed money from me, so I deduct that and pay her the balance.
7 p.m. — My boss hosts a mini-workshop at the end of our workday and chats with us about ways to achieve the best results for our agency and clients. Afterward, we get dinner and drinks at a nearby brewery. I haven't felt very well this week, so I sip on Diet Coke and eat a few snacks from the platters on the table; the company picks up the bill. I head home at about 9 p.m. and prepare my lunch for work tomorrow. I've been doing this for a few weeks, as I'm trying to take control of my eating habits – plus, the ease on my weekly spending is a definite bonus!
Daily Total: $2.77
Day Two
8:15 a.m. — Buy a coffee ($1.50) from the office coffee shop on my way to my desk. Since I've given up my daily lunch order, I'm letting myself have this vice. While I wait for the barista to make my order, I use the banking app on my phone to pay a friend who has organized an Airbnb for our weekend away next month ($60). I have a few weekends away planned over the next two months and am trying to spread the costs as evenly as possible. $61.50
2 p.m. — My colleague treats me to another cappuccino after lunch to celebrate the end of a busy week at work. We work for an acclaimed advertising agency that has a lot of perks, but the industry can be very stressful. There are big budgets and tight deadlines, and our clients have high expectations.
7 p.m. — In my spare time, I volunteer as an emergency responder for a national rescue organization. Our monthly meeting is tonight and I don't have time to go home first. I'm starving but don't want to splurge on fast food, so I pick up a coconut water and a raw cacao muesli snack from a health food store to keep me going for the evening ($6). I also pop into the pharmacy to pick up corn plasters for my feet – a lesson in wearing ill-fitting shoes ($3.77). It's a Friday night, and I wish I were out partying, but after a week of illness and an early morning tomorrow, I take myself home to bed and a movie. $9.77
Daily Total: $71.27
Day Three
6:30 a.m. — It's an early Saturday morning for me, my colleagues at the rescue center, and about 30 potential new recruits who are meeting us on the beach for their fitness tests. I've woken up with a raging headache, so my friend buys me a cup of coffee ($1.50) to perk me up.
11:30 a.m. — I leave the beach mid-morning to meet a friend I haven't seen in months. She's invited me to join her at a pottery painting studio, but my head is still pounding and I'm not feeling inspired. I order food and eat a toasted sandwich with fries with a sparkling mineral water while she paints. Eventually, she sends me home — I'm not great company today! $4.60
1:30 p.m. — On my way home to sleep away the afternoon when I get a text reminding me that I have work due to my freelance client. I'd totally forgotten about it, and I'm miserable that I have to do it this afternoon when I'm feeling so rough. So, in typical style, I stop at a garage shop on the way home and buy a stupid amount of sweets and chocolate to comfort myself while I work. Screw the diet. $12
7 p.m. — Done for the day! I worked all afternoon and I'm still feeling ill, but a good friend of mine is about to fly home to New Zealand and this is my last chance to see her and her kids for at least a year. I pop a few painkillers and drag myself to a local kid-friendly steakhouse. We order sirloins with baked potatoes, crispy onions and Diet Cokes while we chat. It's a sad goodbye, but I won't lie – my bed tonight is a very welcome sight. $15.50
Daily Total: $32.10
Day Four
9 a.m. — Sunday: The best day of the week! I wake up feeling refreshed and energetic. I go for a long walk along the coast with a friend, followed by breakfast at one of our usual spots. We do this most weekends and it's my favorite way to spend the morning. I order an unsweetened iced latte and a slice of banana bread with honey. We're heading down to the beach, so I order a cold juice to go; it's hot outside! $9
3 p.m. — I spend the rest of the morning on the beach, and it's a perfect day. After a few miserable days, I am in my element now, spending hours swimming in the tidal pools. My family is coming over for dinner tonight, so eventually, I drag myself up and go to the grocery store on my way home (parking costs $1). I shop for the week's groceries as well as ingredients I need for the dinner party, so my bill comes in quite a lot higher than normal. Even though I'm saving a lot of money by not ordering lunch during the week, my weekly grocery bill has definitely gone up lately. I buy chicken, lettuce, cucumber, baby tomatoes, sesame seeds, cheese, butter, hummus, Diet Coke, fish cakes, grapes, and plums for the week. For the dinner I'm cooking, I buy meatballs, pasta, fresh basil, my favorite pasta sauce, and zucchini noodles for my mother, who doesn't eat pasta ($70.47). My aunt is bringing dessert, and I plan to make a salad using what I have in the fridge. $71.47
Daily Total: $80.47
Day Five
8:20 a.m.— It's Monday morning, and I get my regular coffee order from the office coffee shop. I find myself staring at the fresh muffins that have just come out the oven, but I resist and eat some leftover fruit salad from last night's family dinner. $1.50
3:30 p.m. — My checkup with the dentist last month revealed two cavities emerging, so I'm back in the chair today to have those filled. Even though I pay for private medical aid every month, my plan only covers hospital visits, so I have to pay out of pocket for this. This amount throws my whole budget off, so I decide to pay for it out my savings account. I usually transfer my freelance income straight into this account and keep it for rainy days. This is definitely one of those days. $18
3:45 p.m. — My dentist's office is above a grocery shop and I pop in there on the way to my car to buy milk, which I forgot to add to my cart yesterday. It's not my usual grocery store, and when I see that they have five-liter bottles of water in stock, I grab two. Our city is in the midst of a serious drought, and we're faced with the very real threat of our taps being switched off in a few months. People have been panic-buying water, and finding five-liter bottles in stock is akin to winning the lottery. On my way out, I pay $1 for parking. $6.50
4:30 p.m. — My mouth is numb on both sides and pretty sore. I pull into the McDonald's drive-through on my way home and treat myself to a small strawberry milkshake for dinner. I drink it while taking a gentle walk along the seawall. $1.43
Daily Total: $27.43
Day Six
7:30 a.m. — I'm at work early today and the office coffee shop isn't open yet. I order an almond milk cappuccino from the deli up the road and cringe at the extra cost of almond milk. $3
7 p.m. — I haven't needed to pull out my debit card all day! I finish up my first gym session after two weeks of being sick and then go to a friend's house for dinner. I stop at a store on my way and pick up a bottle of Diet Coke. (I drink a lot of Diet Coke.) $2.10
11 p.m. — My friend and I spent the evening gossiping about our work colleagues and planning our outfits for our company's 20th-anniversary party, a fancy event we're going to next week. In a moment of panic, I order a designer dress online. I have a wedding later this year, so hopefully I can wear it again! $91.85
Daily Total: $96.95
Day Seven
5 a.m. — I rise early for emergency responder gig. I quickly change into my work clothes at our base and stop at a garage shop on the way to the office to get coffee and a croissant. I am ravenous. $3.48
1 p.m. — When I left the house in a rush this morning, I forgot my lunch box in the fridge. I visit our office coffee shop for lunch and fill a bowl from the salad bar with lettuce, roasted zucchini, button mushrooms, roasted peppers, mozzarella crumbs, and grilled chicken. $2.90
7:30 p.m. — My best friend is back in town after being away for almost two months. I've managed to catch her for a drink and a chat in between her trips, but this is the first time in a while that we've had the time for a proper catch-up. We meet at one of our favorite laidback restaurants, which is conveniently just down the road from my house. We order pizza and ciders and spend a few hours chatting about everything and nothing. It's so good to have her back! $17
Daily Total: $23.38
Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.
Have a Money Diary you'd like to share? Right now, in addition to our ongoing diaries, we're looking for potential diarists along the following theme:
Your Spending In Your State:We want to run one Money Diary from a different state each week. Want to rep your state? Submithere!
Have questions about how to submit or our publishing process? Read our Money Diaries FAQ doc here:r29.co/mdfaqs
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The hype around Supreme shows no sign of waning, and why would it? The cult New York skate brand drops some of the most exciting collaborations with the freshest creatives out there. On Monday, Supreme announced its latest offering, a collection created with iconic, subversive American photographer Nan Goldin.
If you're unfamiliar with her work, Goldin created provocative images of New York’ nightlife in the '70s and '80s. Documenting her lovers and friends throughout the AIDS epidemic, she explored gender, sexuality, love, loss, hope, and death in her 700-photograph-strong The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, now considered her greatest piece of work.
Goldin left home at 14 to live in a Massachusetts hippie commune, during which time she became the school’s photographer. This period inspired her later aesthetic of capturing the truth and exploring tender moments between her and her subject, or her subjects together.
“Nan Goldin's work is real and raw — in the time, places and subject matter she shot,” a Supreme spokesperson said in a press release. “It comes from an era where the subjects she documented were taboo by society’s standards. To do this project with Nan Goldin is to celebrate the diversity her work represents and expose young people to it.” For the line, Supreme dug through Goldin's archives to select photographs to print on jackets, sweatshirts, T-shirts, and, of course, skateboards.
Though admirers of Goldin's work may not be skate-obsessives, and Supreme's super-fans (or "Supremacists") may not know much about her legacy, it is actually a fitting collaboration: Goldin has always captured the zeitgeist and reflected the reality of life, and Supreme is yet to miss a beat in shaping contemporary culture.
Ahead of its launch March 29, click on to see the Supreme x Nan Goldin collection.
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The 2018 Mercer Quality of Life Index, one of the most comprehensive annual lists of its kind, has ranked 17 U.S. cities in its top 100 – but none make it anywhere near the top.
San Francisco comes in 30th place on the 231-strong list, followed by Boston (35th), Honolulu (36th), and Seattle (44th). All of which suggests the U.S. should probably look towards its international counterparts for lifestyle tips.
The ranking rates cities based on various factors contributing to quality of life, from the political, social and economic environment to housing, recreational opportunities and the natural environment. Based on this, the city to which we should all be flocking in 2018 is Vienna, thanks largely to its thriving arts scene, top quality restaurants and excellent healthcare. In all, the top 10 is dominated by Europe.
2018 marks the ninth consecutive year that Vienna has bagged the top spot, but does the reality of living there measure up to the hype? Olivia, 27, a communications specialist who left London for Vienna two years ago, told Refinery29 she wasn't surprised by the city's victorious place on the list.
"The city contains lots of elements that make for comfortable living, including fantastic social housing and rent restrictions that put tenants first. My boyfriend and I live in a flat with what is essentially a permanent contract, so the rent can never increase more than in line with inflation and we can never be kicked out. Even if we had a child in the flat, they could inherit our rental agreement from us and pay the rent that we pay now, plus inflation, for the rest of their lives too.
"The summers are lovely and warm, too, meaning you can swim at the Alte Donau (Old Danube) and spend long evenings drinking wine in the vineyards around the city, known as Heurigers (Eastern Austrian taverns)."
However, she pointed out the city is far from a utopia. "This ranking doesn't take into account issues like racism, which, considering a far-right government was last year voted in in Austria, I think would prevent Vienna from being listed top, if issues to do with social justice and political activism were considered."
Carly Hulls, 32, head of sales for travel website TourRadar who also blogs about Vienna, is from Melbourne originally and moved to the city in 2012 to be with her Austrian husband. She described Vienna's pole position as well earned based on its design, public transport, services, festivals and events for locals and the "exceptional lifestyle that everyone, not just the rich, can enjoy here."
But its best traits, she told Refinery29, are "its pace of life, which is much slower without becoming ineffectual, the wineries and affordable excellent dining options, the proximity to other travel destinations, the architecture and the creative energy of the city."
"We have a large student community and a lot of startups and hipster districts filled with indie stores, popup cafes and thriving events which means it's always interesting to spend a weekend exploring with a camera in hand, or hopping from brunch hotspots to picnics by the riverside, to rooftop bars and enjoying the scenery along the way. There's also a lot of upcoming new coffee shops (besides the classical ones) that roast their own beans and are winning awards all over the place."
The 20 cities with the best quality of life in the world
(Duplicate numbers signals a joint score in the ranking)
Every Monday, we take a deeper dive into the Money Diaries community. We started by rounding up some of our favorite comments. Later, we asked all of you whom you like (or don't like) to talk to about money. Today, we're sharing lessons that past diarists have learned after tracking their spending.
While we aren't able to publish everyMoney Diarythat gets submitted — which means that not all of the following What I Learned submissions come from published diaries — we do hope that the exercise of keeping such a journal is helpful. Here's what a handful of diarists and Money Diaries community members have to say about the experience.
One recent diarist, a project writer in Dallas, TX, noted how lucky she feels that she doesn't have to deal with student loans or pay for the expensive medications she takes for her anxiety and autism:
"These money diaries are incredibly humbling for me. I spend a lot of money on fitness and exercise, which is really important to me, but if I had to pay off loans or for my medications, I wouldn't be able to afford my fitness lifestyle. Seeing what other millennials spend motivates me to try to become more independent with my health care."
"I also have to remind myself that having autism makes my daily life more difficult. I rely on my parents and live and work close to them so that I can lean on them for support. I'm doing shockingly well for someone on the spectrum, and I try to remind myself of that and to adjust my expectations accordingly."
"I learned a lot from my Money Diary. I know I make a lot of money, but I had a secret pride that we don't spend like we do. Well, that is not exactly true. The amount of money we spent eating was absurd. I realize that I don't even look at prices when I go to a restaurant. $180 for sushi on a Tuesday? Come on. That is crazy. We could've easily had a great sushi dinner out in L.A. for half that price.
"I think some small changes and cooking a little more could help us save even more money. That is always hard with two working parents, a toddler, and a kid on the way. I still enjoy going out, but I realize we end up being wasteful, too. I think I may keep up the diary so we can be more mindful of how we spend."
This diarist, a 30-year-old manager in Chicago, IL, reflected on writing a Money Diary in the midst of a difficult personal time — and how it helped her see the good in her life.
"I'm currently going through [the] breakup of a long-term relationship. There are many times throughout the day I don't feel great about myself or my situation. Doing this diary helped me realize I have so much to be grateful for, and that I have accomplished a lot financially, professionally, and personally in my 30 years.
"... And the fact that I mainly spend money on food :)"
"I learned so much by tracking my spending for a week. As good as I am with saving money and staying out of debt, I spend much more than I realize on things I don't need, like food and coffee. I wish I spent more on entertainment simply because I sometimes feel like a recluse due to the amount of work I have, and put on myself.
"Moving has also been a crazy experience. I thought that moving from California to Oregon would cut my costs, but it hasn't. Certain things are cheaper in Oregon, but others are more expensive. I make less money too, because back in California, I was higher up in the library food chain.
"Overall, Portland has a much simpler and calmer vibe, and I moved here for my sanity. I am determined to get my money in order so I can live the life I want. And the best way to do that is to stay motivated by reading self-improvement and financial health books, staying positive, and working hard."
Back in March, one of our diarists, a finance VP in New York City, drummed up a lot of conversation after readers learned of her high income and spending habits. Here's what she had to say:
"I had no idea [my diary] was going to cause such a shit storm. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised; most of the comments were very nice.
"I learned a LOT. I am the kind of person who (oddly, [considering] my line of business) wants to avoid really tallying up what I'm doing. I always review my credit card charges and I think I'm pretty responsible for the most part. I [tend to] spend frugally day-to-day, but will save up and be happy to spend on something like a vacation or a new handbag. I care a lot more about the big-ticket items than buying coffee every day. (BTW, I went back and ordered that sofa from ABC Home! It cost just under $2,000, but I expect to keep it for at least five years. I am a trader; I like to invest.)"
"One place where I could definitely be saving is grocery stores! I tend to go every two or three weeks because, honestly I just hate doing it. Then, when I go, I wander around aimlessly and pick out random things. I enjoy cooking, but there's only so many vegetables you can eat as a single person in a week before they go bad and you have to throw them out! I think I will work on either going more often or making a list.
"With regards to the comments on my charity spending, I spend about $3,000 a year on various charities. The form asked for monthly expenses, not yearly ones, so I was just following instructions. I had no idea that's what people would focus on, especially considering I spend quite a bit on causes that matter to me. Also, taxes are nuts! Something like 30% to 40% of my headline income goes to taxes. Especially in Manhattan, you get dinged three time — federal, state, and city. I work on commission, so it's hard to budget. But I'm not complaining, I am in a high-income bracket — so I have very high tax rates.
"I think I have a healthy relationship with debt, which is something I've learned from reading a lot of these Money Diaries. Credit scores are SO important! I was really fortunate to have parents who made me get a credit card when I was in middle school (!!) and pay it down. I've had a credit score for almost 15 years! I have friends who just got a credit card last year.
"There were a few comments about privilege that, honestly, I expected. I went to public school until I went to a top-notch university; it was private and crazy expensive. But my parents grew up very poor and have managed to do some incredible things. This will probably make me sound even more frivolous (I already got nailed for spending $100 on a single candle!), but my parents knew the kind of lifestyle I wanted to live from a young age. They've been very open in telling me, Hey, if you want that $5 million townhouse, you're going to need to make a lot of money. Here are the career paths you can take. They really pushed me into finance because they knew this was the career path I'd need to take to make the kind of money I want.
"I think this is a message that gets lost on a lot of people. If you want to go be a humanitarian or work for a nonprofit, that's great — but it comes with a different financial picture. For me, this was more important. I am fully aware that my job is loathed by some, but it's the choice I made to live the kind of lifestyle I want. I've also been lucky to have parents who understood how much they could help. I'll confess that I originally wanted to be a doctor! This would have also, eventually, yielded the kind of income I'd need to live the life I want, but my parents sat me down and said, 'Look: We can't pay for medical school. How long and how much debt do you want to be in?' It's all about payoffs.
"I am really glad I wrote this because I've never actually itemized the things I've done. And I am happy, overall, with the responses I've gotten. I hope that women — or people — reading this got something out of it as well."
Another diarist, a 28-year-old marketing manager in Vancouver, BC, Canada, makes $58,500. She expressed confidence in her ability to enjoy life in the short-term, but also voiced some longer-term concerns after tracking her expenses.
"I can afford to live quite comfortably in what's known as the city with the highest cost of living here in Canada. That said, [because of] a comfortable lifestyle and frequent travels, I haven't been able to put as much money away for a house, or a wedding, or a rainy day. I want to be able to shed light on the common issue that's facing a lot of the working class here in Vancouver, and that is the balance and struggle of enjoying your life while building your future.
"Filling out the Money Diary was a huge eye opener because you don't realize that even the simplest items are a luxury. It was also a pretty heavy spending week for me; I usually don't spend that much on make-up or clothes. This week showed me that it's not only the larger shopping totals that are a detriment to your savings, but it's also the paying for everyone's movie and not getting paid back. It's the unnecessary dessert after dinner. It's the coffee for two every morning. This was a very helpful exercise to shed light on the changes I need to make for the future."
One diarist, a 29-year-old executive assistant in New York City making $112,000 used her Money Diary to find places to cut back.
"I wanted to keep my own [Money Diary] because I know I spend WAY too much on food and drink, and 'treat' myself on clothing more often than not. Both have led to tremendous amounts of credit card debt. In the past year, I was laid off before landing a new [job] with a major raise. With that [money], I am paying off said cards while trying to save as much as possible. I also realize that I don't donate to charity (time or money) nearly as much as I would like to, so I plan to increase that as well."
One diarist, a 29-year-old school counselor in Richmond, Virginia, said that she learned to be less afraid of money.
"I realized that I hate spending money and I'm constantly trying to stay on a budget that doesn't exist in reality. I need to stop being afraid to spend money on myself. That's not exactly the moral I thought I'd get out of this week, but self-actualization is good, too."
Another diarist, a 27-year-old office manager in Bellingham, Washington, wrote about learning what to prioritize as she and her husband begin raising children. This diarist works in the field of biotechnology and makes $44,000; her husband's salary is $55,000. Here's what she had to say:
"After submitting my Money Diary and looking back at all my notes, I noticed that I have been spending a lot more [money] than normal now that my husband and I are preparing for kids to enter our home. Some of it was in preparation — whether it be toys, furniture, or equipment — but we also spent a lot of afternoons and evenings out. Unexpected purchases are bound to happen when you expand your family, especially in our case, with regard to adoption. Not only are there agency fees, but we will also have lawyer fees in the future.
"Moving forward, especially when we are settled with kids, it will be important to remember that saving is so important. Something I'm still trying to learn is that you may not always need the most extravagant items. I want to make sure we have healthy savings while still providing a fun and exciting life for our little family. I think the key to all of this is to find the right balance for you and those you share your life with."
"I've been tracking my spending for about six months, [a period in which] I realized I needed to consolidate my $16,500 credit card debt. Through a lack of financial oversight and acumen, serious illness, and high/compounding interest rates, I racked up a severe amount of debt in a short period of time (about 4 years). I realized I have to be much more prudent about credit and pay my balance in full each month — if I ever use credit again. For now, and the foreseeable future, I've been credit-free.
"The main thing I learned while tracking my expenses is that despite increased budgeting and awareness, I still am an impulse-spender, especially when it comes to things like groceries, gifts, and non-essential personal items like records. I think I need to be more aware of that and employ more self-discipline to stay on track, while also allowing for a fun purchase here and there."
Another diarist, a 27-year-old office manager in Garden City, Kansas, wrote about how it feels to make $12,000 per year.
"While doing my Money Diary, I felt really awkward about how little I made; my poverty and art degree provide plenty of fodder for internet trolls. I know it's my fault for getting a useless degree, so thanks. It is hard to write a diary about what I spend when I don't have much money to spend — and definitely not on anything exciting.
There are many circumstances that led to me returning home and taking a part-time job. I had to constantly remind myself that this is a temporary pit stop in my life. I often feel guilty spending money on anything that isn't gas, bills, or food, and that's something I want to work on. Nobody should beat themselves up over spending $4 on a water bottle.
"I already have nearly a year's worth of my earning in savings, so I know I can't save much more without making more. On the bright side, the diary kept me motivated. I am working on my résumé for a full-time position where I can live with my boyfriend and not have to commute."
This diarist, a 28-year-old higher-education coordinator in the Metro Detroit Area making $45,000 per year wrote about how her schedule impacts her finances. She realized that operating within time crunches results in her spending more than she and her husband would like to.
"My husband and I have known that we spend a lot on food, but we both love cooking and eating out. This was a week where my schedule allowed me to be home every evening, so I tried to cook at home more, and didn't go to Starbucks as often as I typically would for breakfast.
"Tracking made me recognize how little of our income is going towards saving and investing, so we will be setting up IRAs ASAP. We are also not doing a good job of managing our mornings. Neither of us likes to wake up earlier than we have to. However, hanging onto our old habits while managing our son in the morning presents time management issues that lead us to overspend out of convenience."
"I learned that I don't spend as much on food as I thought I did, [but] I found I was spending way too much on coffee and transportation. I'm okay with paying over 50% of my income toward my living expenses, but I could definitely buy coffee out less and use [fewer] car shares (which I've come to rely on)."
One diarist, a 30-year-old public health advisor in Washington, D.C. making $77,490 per year said she learned to pull back her spending on other people.
"I learned that I spend a lot of money in service of other people (buying coffee/tea, hosting parties, donating to fundraisers, buying from friend's small businesses), and that I rationalize some of the beauty and clothing spending that I do, saying that I 'need' everything."
"I learned a great deal writing a Money Diary," she wrote. "I am normally really conscious of my spending, but writing everything down made me realize just where my money is going. It was a valuable experience and showed me that although I think I am a frugal spender, there are still ways to cut down on costs, such as watching what I spend on the weekends, as well as during the week."
One Money Diaries submitter, a 28-year-old marketing specialist making $55,000 in Portland Maine, said that she sometimes uses her thriftiness on eating out as an excuse to go all out at the supermarket.
"I learned that I should just direct-deposit my paycheck to Trader Joe's. Kidding aside, I realized that I'm very careful with my spending aside from food and drinks, and I make a big effort not to eat out or order takeout, which really helps me stay on track. That said, I also realized that I sometimes use the fact that I cook up to 95% of my meals to justify a sometimes-bloated grocery budget. Give and take, I guess."
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