Welcome to Unprofessional Advice. With zero professional experience and a complete lack of credentials, I'll take on your issues with compassion and humor (and I'll keep it anonymous). Got a question? Email me.
Dear Kelsey,
Recently, I called off an engagement that has been years in the making. I seriously walked away from the perfect guy. Women stare at him with open jaws, and I catch major shade. He is smart, articulate, well-versed in pop culture, and honestly the sweetest, kindest, and most thoughtful human being in the history of the world. He wanted to offer me the world. The wedding of my dream, a house in the suburbs, and probably the most good-looking children (besides the Beckhams, unfortunately — damn those jawlines!) to ever pitter-patter the earth.
So what’s wrong with me? I just don't feel the spark of what used to be there. I've tried this "rekindling" that has always been suggested to me, but after a while, I got tired of the damn flame going out.
I have been accused of being selfish and ungrateful. How can I be so careless as to let such a perfect specimen of a man get away? How can I throw everything away to join the hordes of soulless, uncoupled women? (At least, this is the vibe I catch). Is it wrong to want to be my own person? I have hurt him, my family, and my friends. And on some level, I'm hurt too. We've been together so long, I've forgotten what it was like to be alone. But mostly, I sort of feel relief.
But the temptation to crawl back is always there. Life was so easy, and I was so comfortable. But I know that going back is not the answer. I rack my brain for a solution to repair all the relationships that have been a result of collateral damage (my parents barely speak to me, and I've lost a lot of friends in the process).
What do I do? I fear that time is the only solution here, but the lingering threat of loneliness is more than I can handle.
Please Help,
Millennial Lone Wolf
Dear Millennial Lone Wolf,
I don’t know you — your age, your personal history, etc. But upon reading your letter, I couldn’t help but make two immediate assumptions. First, you are young. And second, you are growing up.
I suppose those are both relative terms that could technically apply to anyone. But when I envision you, I see a woman standing at the intersection between young adult and adult — full stop. For some of us, it happened when we realized, maybe we didn’t want the career we set out for in college, so we went to grad school and started on a new path. For others, it happened when we stopped taking money from our parents and felt the slightly scary freedom of truly supporting ourselves. But we’re all familiar with this crossroad, because we’ve been there, too.
What’s wrong with you, you ask? Nothing. Everything. You’ve just taken a wrecking ball to one of the primary structures in your life. Even if your fiancé weren’t allegedly perfect (more on that in a sec), this was a person you were planning to have in your life every single day, and to build a family with. Whoever he was as a person, he had an important role in your story, and in walking away from him, that story has inevitably, irrevocably changed. Of course it’s disruptive, to say the least — change always is. But when the dust settles (and it always does), I think you’ll see both your ex and yourself in a clearer light.
On to Mr. Perfect: He’s super hot, I get it. Sure, he has other attributes (Thoughtfulness is great! Being well-versed in pop culture? I mean, sure!), but it seems like most of what you saw in him was what you could literally see. At least, his physical attractiveness seems to be the primary reason you feel crazy for breaking up with him. Given that, I have to wonder if perhaps you were with him for superficial reasons in the first place — and maybe something inside of you finally woke up and realized that.
Illustrated by: Michaela Early.
Attraction is important in relationships, don’t get me wrong. You can’t know the inner workings of people by looking at them, but if you like the way they look, you’re more likely to go up to them, introduce yourself, and start the process of finding out. Especially at the beginning of a relationship, you need that “spark.” Over time, you develop intimacy, shared experiences, trust, and other things that bond and attract you to this person. But the spark, by its very nature, is designed to go out. And if you haven’t found something deeper by the time it does, well, the relationship might be over.
The good news is you haven’t done anything wrong. Most of us go through this process dozens of times in our lives. As you point out, it’s really hard to walk away from a relationship in which everything looks great on paper. But just because you can’t put your finger on what’s wrong doesn’t mean it’s right. You don’t need a reason. You didn’t want to be in this relationship, so you did the right thing by leaving it.
Speaking of the way things look, let’s talk about those “hordes of soulless, uncoupled women.” Normally, I’d drop a third-wave feminist nuclear truth bomb on you for that one, because yikes. But you’re in a vulnerable state right now, so I’ll just say that is a very judgmental and fearful assessment of single womanhood. I imagine when you’ve been single for longer, you’ll understand that uncoupled women are not desperate, wild zombies wandering the earth in search of a warm body.
But I realize there are a lot of deeply rooted societal norms that are sending you that exact message, and perhaps that’s why your friends and family are saying that as well. The fact that they’re being so unsupportive (to put it mildly) is appalling. But, you know, that’s a lousy fact of adulthood: People disappoint us — even those who love us most.
Remember, though: The dust will settle. You, your ex, your friends, and your family will all eventually get back to normal. For you, it will be a new, more honest normal, and truthfully, I’m excited for you. You’ve just taken a risk, and you’ve done it for the right reasons. Whatever mistakes you’ve made in the past, this wasn’t one of them. Yes, people have been hurt, and you should own your part in that. Yes, you have been hurt too, and you will be hurt again. You — and every other adult — will make a million decisions in your lifetime, and some of them will be bad decisions. But this isn’t one of them.
You’ve cleared out something that wasn’t working in your life, and while your slate isn’t totally blank, there’s a lot more space to write on it now. What are you going to do with it?
Be Brave,
Kelsey
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Through the years, Carmen Sandiego has been more elusive than even the master of disguise, Waldo of Where's Waldo. The fictional character was the star of the PBS television show, Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego, which premiered in September of 1991. The series even inspired a computer game of the same name.
Players on both the show and the game used their geography and problem-solving skills to help track down the international thief, Carmen. Still, at the end of each episode, or level of the game, we were left to wonder, Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
Using only the knowledge gleaned from the television series, Van Luling set out to find which actress was behind the iconic role of Carmen.
Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong! This is Carmen Sandiego, guys. She is sneaky. The showrunner's wanted the series to be as believable as possible, so they did not include the actress' name next to her role in the credits. Carmen was supposed to be continuously on the run and an enigma for the audience, which was primarily children. They couldn't expose the kids to the truth and let them see the wizard behind the curtain.
Finally, after working on the case for more than a year, Luling was put in contact with the woman he believed brought Carmen to life. Viewers only saw her briefly, and she was always wearing her character's signature wide-brimmed hat, red trench coat, and black gloves to cover up any traces she may leave behind. Her real identity was a total mystery. Until now.
So, without further adieu, meet the woman behind Carmen Sandiego — Janine LaManna.
Photo Credit: Djamilla Rosa Cochran / Contributor.
Appearing as the evasive, and stealthy Carmen on PBS was LaManna's break-out role. She wasn't upset that she was never credited for playing the character, and remembers her time on the television set fondly.
In the 20 years since the series' final episode, LaManna has married and had two children, the oldest of which is the ideal age to start watching reruns of the show. However, when asked about her current whereabouts, LaManna would not say.
“I can’t really say that I’m in one place or the other, because it could change in a week," she told the reporter.
How very Carmen Sandiego of her. Old habits die hard.
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Another week, another lawsuit for Tyga. Last week, the rapper reached a settlement with his former landlord after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He sued Tyga his outstanding $480,000 tally in unpaid rent and property damage to the Malibu home.
As for this week, Beverly Hills jeweler Jason Arasheben is suing the 26-year-old for damages going back several years, reports People. Arasheben claims that in 2012, Tyga agreed to pay him $28,275 for a diamond pantheon watch — and that he borrowed a $63,000 diamond Cuban link chain that he never returned.
This isn't the first time the jeweler has tried to collect from Tyga. According to People, he first filed a suit against him in 2013, and in 2014, a judge ordered Tyga to pay Arasheben more than $200,000. The addition of legal fees and interest brings the grand total to more than $270,000, Arashaben's attorneys — the same legal team Tyga's former landlord used — told People. "In the meantime, Mr. Stevenson gives away cars, jewelry and cash," said lawyer Danny Abir. (Tyga's real name is Michael Stevenson.)
He has a point: Tyga bought girlfriend Kylie Jenner a $200,000 Mercedes Maybach for her 19th birthday earlier this month. (How else was he supposed to top the Ferrari he bought Jenner for her 18th birthday?) "We will question his source of funds: Where's the money, what are you spending it on, what are your assets, will you be able to pay up for all of this?" Fair questions, sir.
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If you love Refinery29 and also love emoji, we have a treat for you. We're launching our very own emoji keyboard. It's called AltMoji, and you can download it from the App Store and Google Play today.
AltMoji is filled with diverse, beautiful designs illustrated by the R29 team. (That is, you've probably seen some of these images across our website, Instagram, and Snapchat accounts.) These images should fill the gaping void in your emoji needs. The keyboard includes sizzling bacon and Bloody Mary icons, women of many ethnicities and facial expressions, and even a pimple-popping emoji — because yeah, that's a part of life.
Getting the app is simple. After downloading AltMoji from the App Store or Google Play here, just follow the in-app instructions to add the keyboard as one of your phone's default keyboards. From there, you can find and drop the perfect emoji for every situation into your conversations.
We hope you're as excited about adding AltMoji to your texting routine as we are!
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Celebrities on Twitter are gifts that keep on giving.
These days, stars use Twitter to release personal statements about personal drama or opinions on politics. Or sometimes, they just want to let us know how they feel about TV shows and movies.
It's only August. But we've already been #blessed with a number of hilarious celebrity tweets this year. From Lindsay Lohan's #Brexit rampage to Kanye being, well, Kanye — so far this year, A-list missives on the social media platform have been fire.
But how well do you know your favorite celeb's Twitter cadence? Are you as devoted a fan as you think? Try to guess who tweeted each phrase below. The results might surprise you.
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Clad in a floral shalwar kameez with her hair swept up, Ashi Jaan was one of the first transgender women to arrive at the protest on August 6 in Lahore, Pakistan. Her demand was simple: no more rape.
"We are raped and abused from the first moment we embrace our identity, and no one supports us. But this time, we will not back down until the government comes forward and punishes those who raped my sisters," Jaan told Refinery29.
Soon, other members of the transgender rights movement joined her, arriving in rickshaws in groups of five. Known as Khwaja Siras (a colloquial term for transgender people) in Pakistan, they gathered together outside of the Lahore Press Club to protest the gang rape of three members of their community over several days in the nearby city of Faisalabad.
On July 26, two transgender women — Julie and Nomi, who identified themselves only by their first names — said that they were brutalized in their own home. They accused members of a well-known criminal gang in Faisalabad of assaulting them. The women said that throughout the night, they were abused physically and sexually with screwdrivers and glass bottles, among other objects. When morning came, the assailants, who the women said had forced their way inside with guns and knives, fled.
Julie told Refinery29 that she had been raped numerous times before. Even while they were still in the hospital, they received threats from the men they say attacked them, Julie said. The intimidating phone calls warned them they would be murdered, mutilated, disfigured with acid, and raped again, she explained. She is currently living in a safe house in Islamabad. Both she and Nomi are in hiding because of the threats they face.
Policemen will allege that the transgenders enjoyed the forcible sex and that they shouldn't complain about such small things.
Theirs is just one story of abuse and violence suffered by transgender people in Pakistan. Estimated to be about 300,000 hijras (the South Asian term for transgender, or the "third sex," as they call it) in Pakistan in 2009, when they were first incorporated in the national census, they are ostracized for not fitting into a binary gender category. Transgender Pakistanis are often kicked out of their homes and cut off from their families. Some are forced out of jobs and educational institutions with harassment and abuse.
The concept of a third gender, or hijra, is part of both Indian and Pakistani cultures. In some circles, blessings from hijras or Khwaja Siras are considered very powerful. They are often invited to bless weddings, births, and other happy occasions, but then sent back to live on the margins with a measly amount of money. Across the country, many transgender people earn their income from dancing at weddings and other gatherings. But when they can’t find enough clients to dance for, they feed themselves through begging and sex work, Jaan said.
By coming forward after the attack, Julie and Nomi did the unthinkable, said Uzma Yaqoob, a transgender rights activist who runs the nonprofit Forum for Dignity Initiatives. Many survivors of assault are afraid to come forward because they do not believe their attackers will be held responsible, she said.
Noor, a transgender woman living in Lahore, said that bringing their community into the mainstream is the only way forward. Photographed by: Maham Javaid.
"It is very rare for transgender [people] in Pakistan to report a rape," she added.
Yaqoob added that many times, if a transgender person does summon the courage to walk into a police station and lodge a complaint, they face taunts and verbal abuse.
"Transgender rape, by thugs, the police, or really just anyone, is so common that it is not really thought of as a criminal offense," Yaqoob said. "Policemen will allege that the transgenders enjoyed the forcible sex, and that they shouldn't complain about such small things."
Police did take Julie and Nomi seriously, however.
"Julie and Nomi came to the station with activists and media to lodge a complaint about being raped. We registered their complaint and now we are investigating the case. These cases take time, [so] we will only be able to tell you more when we know more. We are trying our best to find and arrest the suspect and continue investigations," Mazhar Irfan, the station house officer in Faisalabad who received the complaint, told Refinery29.
But if a survivor is able to lodge a formal complaint with the police, the next step is a physical exam by a legal medical officer at a government hospital. That, too, is often met with resistance from authorities, said Falak Ali Chaudry, a lawyer who works at the Neengar Society, a center that provides pro bono legal counsel for transgender people.
"This examination is a form of physical and mental torture,” Chaudry told Refinery29. Often, he added, doctors will simply refuse to examine the rape victim, citing that "only females can be ‘raped,’ and examining transgenders is not part of their job."
We are raped and abused from the first moment we embrace our identity, and no one supports us. But this time, we will not back down until the government comes forward and punishes those who raped my sisters.
Julie and Nomi had activists and the media by their side when they went to the police station, so the police were forced to lodge their complaint, according to Yaqoob. They were not, however, able to convince the government doctor on duty to examine them.
"The doctor first made light of the matter saying that it's just rape, not murder, and we shouldn't create such a fuss," said Yaqoob. "He then asked how much money we wanted to settle the matter."
Often, such cases are settled privately between rapist and victim for amounts of money that can range anywhere from $100 to $1,000, said Jaan, who said she has personally witnessed such transactions.
Eventually, after five hours, the victims were examined and medical reports citing that the rapes had occurred were issued, Yaqoob said.
Activists in Faisalabad protest rape in the transgender community on July 27. Photo: Courtesy of the Forum for Dignity Initiatives.
"This in itself is quite an achievement," Chaudry told Refinery29. He claimed that in transgender rape cases, it is nearly impossible to persuade the police to formally lodge a police complaint and receive medical evidence from a doctor.
"It’s not the laws that need to be amended. What Pakistan needs is to sensitize and train its police force and its doctors to aid transgender people instead of abusing them," Chaudry added.
But others disagree, saying that in order for transgender people to find safety, employment, and a place in mainstream society, laws must be put in place to protect them and recognize them. A 2009 Pakistani Supreme Court ruling helped establish some protections for transgender people, including how they can inherit property.
Many transgender activists feel that the government needs to do more to educate trans people about their rights. The reason Nomi and Julie stood up to demand that their alleged attackers be punished is because they were aware of their rights, Chaudry said. Like Yaqoob's organization, Chaudry is focused on empowering transgender people by teaching them the law so they can know and report abuse by police and others when they see it.
"Most disenfranchised people don't know they have rights," he added.
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Thrifting is fun enough on its own, but what really bumps it to the next level is if you take the time to get to know the history behind those long-lost treasures. The best way to do that? Ask the shop owner! You'll be able to get some context on the pieces and you'll have a great story to tell when someone asks where you got the latest addition to your closet.
Watch as Kailee McKenzie searches for some chic clothing finds at Brooklyn's Awoke Vintage.
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In the wake of recent reports about Nate Parker's 1999 sexual assault case, the Birth of a Nation actor and director has responded to news that his accuser killed herself in 2012.
In a statement posted on Facebook Tuesday night, Parker wrote that he wasn't aware of the accuser's suicide, but was saddened to hear of her passing.
“I myself just learned that the young woman ended her own life several years ago and I am filled with profound sorrow… I can’t tell you how hard it is to hear this news,” Parker wrote. “I cannot — nor do I want to — ignore the pain she endured during and following our trial. While I maintain my innocence that the encounter was unambiguously consensual, there are things more important than the law.”
The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in most court documents, accused Parker and Birth of a Nation 's co-writer Jean Celestin of raping her while all three were students at Penn State. Parker was acquitted of the rape charges, but the woman's suit against the school for violating Title IX (a gender discrimination law that affects federally funded colleges) alleged that both men also harassed her during and following the legal process.
The woman's brother spoke to Variety about her mental state after the rape, and in the years leading up to her suicide. "She became detached from reality," her brother, identified as Johnny, told Variety. "The progression was very quick and she took her life."
Parker's rape charge has come under new scrutiny as his film The Birth of a Nation emerges as an awards season frontrunner.
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There are holiday rentals, and then there are holiday rentals so unique, they’ll make you laugh and squeal with excitement. And, while Airbnb has come to be known as the low-key, economical way to travel, it also boasts some seriously incredible, one-of-a-kind accommodations.
So, yeah, you could stay in hotel. Or, you could stay in a glass tree house in the Tuscan forest, or a real-life Scottish castle, or even a restored windmill in Santorini. Ahead, we've scoured the site to find 40 of the coolest, quirkiest, and most all-around awesome Airbnb listings. You'll want to spend a night in each and every one, just for kicks.
Mayne Island is a secluded spot in the Gulf Island chain of British Columbia. This cozy cottage, located in a rural and agricultural neighborhood, is constructed out of sustainable materials, with softly lit interiors and just enough room for two. The round construction and wooden accents give this house a story book vibe. Find your inner zen while relaxing on the second-story deck.
With an open floor plan and overhanging deck, The Rancho feels very Swiss Family Robinson. Even the bathtub is carved out of a single tree trunk. Nestled on four acres of land in the heart of a tropical paradise, staying here you'll feel instantly relaxed. It's just what you'd expect from a country who's slogan is pura vida.
This unique rental (which has been featured on HGTV) rests just at the edge of the Sierra Foothills, less than a mile from the heart of Nevada City. The recently renovated one-bedroom home is made out of a converted covered bridge (hence the name), offers plenty of space, and comes complete with a private bath and patio.
As the listing for this unique seaside hut explains, you'll be bunked up 900 miles south of the border, 12 miles from the nearest town, and 100 steps from the ocean in Baja, Mexico. The palapa has no real walls or doors, meaning you'll wake up to the sights and sounds of the beach every morning. While there's not much more than two beds inside, the hosts' home is yards away, and you'll have access to their bathroom and kitchen. Oh, and their cat might stop by to visit, too.
Tucked away in a tropical forest, this cabin is the perfect getaway for two. It's so close to the beach, you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves. The front yard includes a private gazebo and outdoor picnic area, and the property is perfectly secluded from the surrounding village. The open structure — which features a tree limb growing right through the ceiling — is made from Balinesean teak, and the intricate woodwork only adds to the magic.
This unique rental gives you a glimpse into the past — without sacrificing any modern comforts. The hanok, a traditional Korean house, was built in 1934, but was completely renovated in 2012. The simple furnishings include bedrooms with futons, dining tables where guests sit on the ground (atop gorgeous silk pillows), and sliding glass doors that let in lots of light. It's almost like stepping back in time — until you see the high-tech thermostat and high-speed internet.
Calling all fans of the Magic School Bus! If you can find this off-the-grid converted school bus (it's on a five-acre farm in Monterey Bay and, apparently, most GPS devices have a hard time finding it), it offers surprisingly comfy interiors and sweeping views of the sunrise and sunset. And though it's really just a bedroom, you'll have access to the hosts' bathroom and kitchen in their nearby house. Other perks include optional sunrise yoga and fresh eggs from the farm's chickens.
The Airbnb listing says, "There really is no other airstream like this one" — and that's not just because Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss shot their Vogue cover there. It's been renovated into a one-room interior with glass walls and stunning views of the California coast. It's a bit of a rough drive up the hill, but once you're there, you're on your own (except for the deer and coyotes that sometimes drop by in the morning). And if you think the daytime views are stunning, just wait until night falls and the stars come out.
Your Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants dreams are one step closer to coming true. Up to five guests can enjoy this lovingly restored traditional classic "cave house," which is literally carved into a cliff above the seaside town of Oia. It's a five minute walk to restaurants and bars, but you may not want to leave — why venture out when you have your very own Jacuzzi and these views?
Overwater bungalows are pretty much the beach-lover's dream vacation — but with notoriously high prices, actually staying in one is probably a fantasy. Until now. For under $200 a night, you can enjoy the overwater experience in a resort setting with this private rental at the Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa. In addition to direct access to the azure waters, you'll also be able to utilize the hotel's spa, fitness center, and restaurants.
This quaint geodesic dome house is conveniently located in Monterey, a short drive from town and the beach — but you'll feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. The eco-friendly construction includes a composting toilet, which may take some getting used to, but there's a full kitchen, which comes pre-stocked with snacks, and a sleeping loft with a Casper mattress. The owners also welcome guests to enjoy their farm (with baby goats!), as well as the hummingbirds that flock to the many feeders around the property in the summer.
If you don't mind close quarters, it doesn't get much cozier than this tree house, perched on the southern tip of England. Built around an ash tree, the little house contains a small kitchen and dining area and snug sleeping loft for two. The magical feeling of the home extends to the craggy cliffs and coastline of Cornwall's Lizard Peninsula, only a 10-minute walk away.
There are several Frank Lloyd Wright houses open to the public for tours, but actually staying in one is more of a rarity. When you book this stunning home, which appeared in Life Magazine in 1938, you can experience the architect's designs as he intended — as a place to live. If that's not enough of a draw, guests can also enjoy the peaceful nearby marsh and the small-town charms of Two Rivers.
Charming and rustic, this perfectly French abode — near the one-time home of Leonardo da Vinci — will transport you to another time with its cave-like structure, period furniture, and open-plan bathroom.
If you’re climbing the walls in a shoebox apartment with little to no natural light, you're in luck — because this Atlanta loft has plenty to spare. The ultra-modern space is essentially a glass box in the sky (complete with a queen-size bed, A/C, and an espresso machine), so you can sleep easy, and wake to the Georgia sunrise.
Be kind to the planet as you lap up holiday luxury in this impressive eco-cottage, which slays in style and sustainability. Take a leisurely snooze in a curtain-enclosed bed fit for royalty, and savor your Indonesian coffee each morning on your private patio, as you gaze out over the rice fields.
Why merely admire Denmark’s beautiful waterfront when you can sleep on it? This renovated houseboat lets you get up-close and personal with the sea from the comfort of a luxurious (and dry!) abode. And, you can jump directly into the water outside for a summer swim.
Why stay in a hotel when you can stay in a transparent, tent-like bubble under the stars, in a real bed? Surrounded by fields and forests, and with unobstructed views of the sky, this out-of-the-norm retreat promises peace and quiet, and good god, think of the romantic possibilities!
This tropical two-story eco-unit is tucked into a tree canopy in Nicaragua, and comes with its own infinity plunge pool and stunning views of the Pacific (and plenty of wildlife). Oh, and it’s only a five-minute drive to three of the area's most pristine beaches. Surely, it’s too good to be true.
A wooden box never looked so appealing. This cozy spot in Palma de Mallorca might be small, but it has everything you need — not just fresh sheets, high-speed Internet, and cooking facilities, but a pool and barbecue, too. Two free bikes are also provided, so getting around town is a cinch.
Sharp, slick, and blissfully isolated, this spiky two-bedroom rental offers the ultimate escape from urban life. The only thing you'll find around here is an outdoor hot tub surrounded by wild blueberries, trees, and crowberries.
Escape from reality and into a fantasyland, as you watch the sunset over Grecian waters from your very own windmill hideaway in Santorini. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is luxurious throughout; there’s even a bean-shaped pool in back with hydro-massaging jets.
For fans of the Rubik’s cube, this crazy, sunshine yellow house in the center of Rotterdam awaits. The kooky space is spread over three floors and accommodates four, with a cozy box room at the top that offers epic 360-degree views. Amsterdam is less than an hour away by train.
Live out your Downton Abbey dreams in this stunning, restored 12th-century Scottish castle, which can be your home for the weekend. Bring 12 friends and have cocktails in the Great Hall or the Gallery before exploring the property's herb garden, orchard, and six acres of woodlands.
Hide from real life in this sublime retreat tucked into the Moganshan mountainside near Hangzhou, China. The 150-year-old former farmhouse is now a three-bedroom, four-bath villa with naturalistic structures and modern furnishings. There’s Wi-Fi, huge TVs, and even a baby grand piano. Outside, a wood-burning pizza oven and large hot tub are calling your name.
You want quirky, you got quirky. This bizzaro, beagle-shaped inn in Cottonwood, Idaho, is worth visiting for the LOLs alone. There are lots of outdoor activities (horseback riding, jet-boat tours, etc.) nearby, and the owners are happy to provide recommendations to guests. Naturally, dogs are welcome to stay, too.
Set on the grounds of a larger guesthouse, this igloo-like white pod contains a beautiful, colorful interior. Here, guests get comfort, privacy, and quirk, plus their own dining table in the sun and access to additional facilities in the main guesthouse — it's a win all around.
Headed to Maui? How about crashing in this gorgeous garden cottage, where Jimi Hendrix reportedly stayed during his travels in the '70s? It’s set on 4.5 acres of land and has a vegetable farm, fruit trees, and a stream. Mahalo!
A far cry from the treehouses you used to play in as a kid, this impressive glass structure right outside Florence offers undisturbed views of the Tuscan landscape from the comfort of your queen-size bed. There's also a small kitchenette, en suite bathroom, and a private outdoor terrace. (And, if you can't make the trip to Italy but you like the idea of crashing in a treehouse, we've got you covered.)
Yikes, we think we may have found the most beautiful property on the whole of Airbnb. Rural, natural, and architecturally stunning — what more could you want?
Cool off in the California desert at this stunning off-grid house, powered exclusively by solar panels. Set on a serene, private piece of land, it's ideal for some serious R&R — and 360-degree views of the desert.
If you're looking for accommodations that are particularly unusual (not to mention photo-worthy), Seashell House is a whitewashed, curvilinear villa in Isla Mujeres, Mexico — and it's looks just like, well, an actual seashell. Take the round staircase up to the master bedroom, which boasts stunning views of the Caribbean sea.
Glean some serious interior decorating tips from this wonderfully simple, perfectly contemporary Ginza apartment, which fuses traditional Japanese and Scandinavian design elements to magical effect.
For those of you who struggle to stay awake on your commute home at night, meet the train carriage you're actually supposed to sleep in. Set in the middle of vineyard country in New South Wales, the compact carriage offers beautiful scenic views, all the standard comforts, and luxurious spa bathing facilities. Not bad.
Feel oh-so-fancy in this swanky B&B villa, which has three beds and baths, a rooftop solarium, and all sorts of antique furnishings. Just be advised that the rooms are treated as separate bookings, so if you want to occupy the whole place, you'll need three individual reservations.
Though it looks like something that’s been erected for a music festival, this cutie is actually a very permanent windmill near Lisbon, which sleeps two and offers stunning 360-degree views of the Portuguese countryside. Inside, bold, contemporary furnishings contrast with the old-worldy architecture, though it’s the outside that’s begging to be Instagrammed.
Hong Kong accommodations tend to be insanely expensive, but we’ve found a solution that’s authentic and affordable. Stay in the heart of the harbor on this beautiful Chinese teak wood boat, and experience life in Hong Kong without the eye-popping price tag.
The formula is simple: Stay in a yurt, Instagram a lot. This is the most glamorous glamping site of all — full of character, color, and panache, it's wonderfully inviting with its felt and linen furnishings. Outside, it’s all apple trees and plum trees, with cooking facilities in the welcoming host’s house.
Very few people can say they've slept in a clock tower — let alone one in the middle of London. Provided you don't mind sharing common areas with the host, book this comfortably modernized tower (originally built in 1868) and enjoy the Gothic revival architecture, along with your bird's-eye view of the bustling streets below. The location is excellent; the tower is situated above St Pancras King's Cross, one of the city's major rail and tube stations.
The owner of the Tile House has been working on his masterpiece for 11 years. Mosaic, tile, fused glass, and homemade ceramics cover the building inside and out. The location is ideal for a quiet getaway, just seven miles outside of Joshua Tree, and with 360 degree desert views. It sleeps four comfortably, but this whimsical retreat is especially perfect for a romantic getaway.
$175/night
Photo: Courtesy of Airbnb
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If there's anything we've learned about sexuality, it's that it is complicated. And as much progress as we've made in dismantling the notion of the gender binary and recognizing the full spectrum of sexuality, we still haven't seen quite as much recognition for asexuality.
Part of this is because many of us still aren't completely sure what asexuality means. The Asexual Visibility and Education Network defines an asexual person as someone who does not experience sexual attraction to others. This doesn't necessarily mean that you don't get crushes on people, or even that you don't feel sexual arousal at all. In fact, asexuality itself is a spectrum, and there is considerable diversity within the asexual community. Still, since asexuality is only starting to become the subject of research, we have a lot to learn.
However, thanks to the growing number of online communities, those who identify as asexual are getting more support than ever.
In this video, one person gets real with Refinery29 and explains what it really means to be asexual, from the moments of self-discovery to helping others feel comfortable in their own skin.
The gap between what we learned in sex ed and what we're learning through sexual experience is big — way too big. So we're helping to connect those dots by talking about the realities of sex, from how it's done to how to make sure it's consensual, safe, healthy, and pleasurable all at once. Check out more here.
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It's been a while since we've thought about the matching set. It enjoyed a very well-publicized ride in 2014, when it became Taylor Swift's go-to outfit. Manyfollowed in her high-heeled footsteps, but the trend more or less tapered off sometime between athleisure's swift ascent and Swift's embrace of chokers. Well, the convenience and zero-guesswork factors that made this look so popular in the first place haven't gone anywhere. In fact, it's since matured from off-duty (or post-gym Swiftian) to something you can wear to work or other more buttoned-up functions. Take it from Natalie Portman.
It's a trend redux so nice, she wore it twice — in the same day, no less. Portman is currently doing press for A Tale of Love and Darkness, her directorial debut. What's a star to wear when she's likely running from on-air interview to meeting to yet another interview? Earlier this week, Portman opted for a duo of polished takes on the matching set.
Photos: Alessio Botticelli/GC Images, Robert Kamau/GC Images.
First, she wore a buttoned-up, collared blouse and an A-line skirt in the same shade of icy blue; then, another top-and-skirt pairing — this time, an all-white, embroidered, floral Valentino version. Her Dior So Real sunglasses; black, quilted tote; and lacy, pointy-toed stilettos made the outfit-switch cut.
Her matching sets of choice are closer to skirt-suits than the fast-fashion versions we bought en masse not too long ago. (We expect nothing less of the ever-sophisticated Portman, who can make even a plain, black T-shirt red carpet-appropriate.) Still, these outfits offer a refreshing update to a trend we fell hard for in 2014. We're adding the matching set to the list of business-casual outfits we can totally get behind.
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Dude, we think coming home with a gold medal means she gets to pick the toppings. We just hope Biles doesn't get jealous about her pal's one-on-one time with Efron. It's all starting to feel like an episode of The Bachelor, no?
Kristen Stewart is only 26, but she has been famous since she was 9 years old and starred alongside Jodie Foster in Panic Room. Since then, she has been the leading actress in a slew of good, great, and just-okay movies. This month she is on the cover of T Magazine to promote a whole new roster of films, including the French psychological thriller Personal Shopper. In the interview, she was, of course, asked to speak on her current and former relationships.
Stewart famously dated her Twilight co-star, Robert Pattinson, and the pair ignited an intense fandom with their on-screen and offscreen romance. She was then, just as famously, caught cheating on him with a married movie director. But in this interview, she lessens the intensity of the breakup, which shocked fans at the time.
“People wanted me and Rob to be together so badly that our relationship was made into a product," Stewart told the magazine. "It wasn’t real life anymore. And that was gross to me. It’s not that I want to hide who I am or hide anything I’m doing in my life."
The actress also added that she has no interest in being "part of a story" that is being used for "entertainment value" in the media.
The actress was much more excited to talk about her current partner, visual-effects producer Alicia Cargile. “I love her so much,” she said. She also shared pictures of the two from her private Instagram page. "I would never talk about any of my relationships before, but once I started dating girls it seemed like there was an opportunity to represent something really positive,” she said. “I still want to protect my personal life, but I don’t want to seem like I’m protecting the idea, so that does sort of feel like I owe something to people.”
Wow — sounds like a whole new Stewart.
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Blair Waldorf. Kathryn Merteuil. Carrie Bradshaw (played by AnnaSophia Robb). Hollywood's portrayal of the quintessential New York teenager is that of decadence and privilege; and while it may make for great entertainment, it isn't exactly an accurate depiction of how the majority of the city's under-20 set acts, talks, or dresses.
Today's real teens aren't spending their dollars on Dior; they're thrifting, digging through second-hand shops, and trading clothes with friends to ensure they're not pictured in the same outfit twice on the 'gram. Their personal style is being defined not by what's considered "popular," but by what appropriately reflects their identity. Their outfits are a rumination of their beliefs, their taste, and their environment. Rather than subscribing to the status quo, they approach getting dressed as an opportunity to be both authentic and unique. And isn't that what fashion is really about?
Here, 17 New York City teenagers show off their style, and open up about life, social media, gender, and how clothing is so much more than something you wear.
"I’m wearing thigh-high boots from NastyGal. I’ve been looking for a thigh-high pair that didn't cost a million dollars and I finally found these on sale. I haven't worn them that much because it's summer and it's really hot, but I thought a short romper (which is from ASOS; I got it when I did an interview with them) would be really cute with it. It's kind of a cowboy look: a modern, sexy cowboy. My look is everything and a little bit extra. I love standing out from the crowd and I don’t want to blend in with anyone. Being unique is very important to me, because if I wasn’t unique, I wouldn’t feel confident. I feel like being different is what makes me really confident."
What excites you most about fashion today?
"That it can be whatever you want. It's 2016: There aren't really any boundaries when it comes to what you wear. It’s cool seeing everyone else's style, and how unique and creative they can get."
How does being a woman in 2016 affect your life and style?
"It’s definitely hard being a woman today, because I’m someone who always wants to wear something that might considered a little provocative...it doesn't even have to show that much skin, it just has to be somewhat provocative, and guys act like freaking animals towards me. It’s gross. I hate being a woman in 2016, just for that reason. Style is so important to my identity as a woman, because I like looking good. I like looking down and saying, 'Oh, you look so cute!' But it can be really dangerous to walk down the street just because I want to wear a certain outfit.
"Besides that, I know that I definitely have a bigger voice than someone else in a different time period, and I’m really happy about that. I couldn't stand to be a woman in any other decade."
"It's really funny, I’m wearing all American Apparel except for the shoes which are Vagabond. And my choker, which is L Train Vintage. I really love [the top]. It’s old American Apparel, like 10 years old. They stopped making stuff like this, and this is the kind of stuff that I really enjoy. It’s not like their usual pieces; it's very, 'I’m here,' and ‘life of the party,' which is like my personality. I'm very extroverted. I’ve always been that way, and I like fashion that makes that statement."
What would you say most inspires your style?
"I want to feel like Rihanna, because she is just so cool! She’s a musician, like me. Personally, I just really appreciate someone who can ― I mean, she obviously has a team ― curate themselves in a way that appeals to so many different types of people. And that’s one of the main reasons I like Rihanna: She’s not afraid to be herself."
What would you say is a quintessential "Sophia" outfit?
"I do very classic silhouettes. I wear pretty much only neutral colors. To me, I like to be pretty subdued, but then always with something contemporary thrown in. For example, I was wearing kind of weird-ish sunglasses with this earlier. Otherwise, I would’ve looked like a '60s mom."
Where do you look for style inspiration?
"I mean, I like really, not really old, but pretty old things, from like the '40s, '50s, '60s. Also, Linda Rodin. She is the coolest ever. I kind of freaked out when I saw a picture of her for the first time, because I was like, This is what I want to look like now and also when I’m 67. She understands everything I want to be."
How accurate would you say your Instagram is to your real life, and what's something you've felt really good about posting?
"I try really hard to not let people think that my life is pretty cool, or that I own cool things, or make people feel bad about themselves, I guess. Because that’s what a lot of people who use social media like to do, and I think that’s really harmful. I think [my Instagram] is pretty authentic.
"A few weeks ago, I was shooting a personal project with my friend Heather, and I was in my underwear, but not sexualized; it was in really gross, weird positions and like a really awkwardly close, stomach folds and all, type of body project. When she released something from it I was like, ‘Wow, I’m kind of becoming the person I want to become!'"
"I’d probably say 2000s teen boys; they dressed pretty cool. I mean, there was a lot of weird stuff happening then. I feel like that’s where a lot of graphic tees come from. The whole shoelace belt, I love that. It was the idea that, 'Damn, I didn't have anything else, so this is what we have to use.’"
How does your identity as gender non-conforming influence the way you dress?
"Sometimes, I’ll wake up and be like, Hey, this is not what I’m supposed to be wearing. I’ve gone through half a day and had to leave and change because I was wearing something I didn't feel comfortable in. Recently, I’ve been trying to wear shorts again, really short-shorts. But whenever I see a crop top, I’m so afraid. I feel like fighting it. I don’t know what it is; I've never really felt completely comfortable in my own body. Once I realized I was gender non-conforming, I started to feel I could dress the way I want and represent myself accurately, rather than having to stick with you’re a girl, or you’re a boy, and if you’re a girl that dresses like a boy, you’re gay, and if you’re a boy that dresses like a girl, you’re gay. You know, this whole weird gender thing we have going on."
How do you navigate that day-to-day, or is it just a feeling?
"It’s just a feeling, and once you put words to it, you can’t really un-think it. You have this girl identity, and then you get out of high school and you’re allowed to wear what you want, think what you want, and say what you want. And you just feel differently. You’re just like, that’s not what I identify with anymore. I don’t identity with just being a girl. I don't identify with being a dude. I don’t feel like I’m in the wrong body, I just feel like I should be able to represent myself how I want to outside of the gender binary."
"I really love jackets, and today I’m wearing this Isaac Mizrahi jacket from 20 years ago. It was given to me by my mom, who was Isaac’s assistant for like 10 years. So, it has its own history behind it that I’m not attached to. But other than that, I’m wearing this random skirt I got for $8 at a thrift store; a shirt I bought in fourth grade, also in a thrift store; and shoes I bought during a semester I was in California, which was about four years ago. I got them for $4, and they had this ugly Ed Hardy button on the side, which I ripped off immediately at the store. At the time, I was really into flames, which I still am. When I got home, I took some time to color them, and I never really finished."
Is there a certain style you'd say you're wearing?
"I don’t know. I think I would say it’s a teen-delinquent-meets-fire-girl situation. If you split it in the middle, look down and I look like I should be somewhere illegal, look up and I look like I’m a singing child."
How does this outfit reflect who you are as a person?
"I think I like contrast in general. Both in the work that I make and also just in everyday life. I think it’s important to have opposing sides. For this outfit specifically, a church girl is not going to get caught in the same space as a teenage rebel. So, I think it’s interesting to take two things that don’t really belong together and force them to exist in the same place. And I do that, honestly, whenever I can."
My style is very quirky and '90s; it's unusual, interesting, where everything clashes. Like, it's weird, but it looks good. I love looking at Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell and getting inspired by their outfits. And Rihanna, too. I get [my confidence] from Rihanna. Before, I used to get it from Kate Moss. She's so free. Before, I used to be so scared of showing skin. But I watched a documentary about how Calvin Klein loved her because she wasn't afraid to be sexual and be herself and be naked all the time. She was just like 'Hey, this is me. This is the real me.'"
Everyone on Instagram identifies as something. What do you identity as?
"My Instagram bio says: 'petite is the new model.' Especially in this industry, you don't see a lot of representation for different body types. You have to be a 0 or 2, your shoe size has to be 7 or 8, and you have to be 5'10". Devon Aoki is 5'5" and she's a high-fashion model: What's the the difference between her and me?"
How does being a woman in 2016 affect you?
"It affects me a lot. Especially now, because if you post a selfie of yourself in a bikini, girls will be like, 'Ugh, you're showing off too much,' and men will say, 'Hey, would you like to go on a date with me? Are you single? Are you married?' And stuff like that makes it hard. You're being judged for what you do and what you don't do. It's like a competition. We're always judging each other."
"I can't really say it plays a big role, because I really don't care if you're a boy or a girl. If I want to dress a certain way one day, it doesn't matter to me. There's no labels for me. In the store, you know how there's a boys' section and a girls' section? If I like something from the boys' section, I'm not going to look at the sign and make a different decision just because it says 'boys.' Most of my clothes are from my brothers' or dad's closet, anyway, so it's all a blur when it comes to gender, I think."
Have you ever worn something you regret, or that got you in trouble?
"I got box braids once, and I got a lot of backlash that it was cultural appropriation. I understood and I learned from it and apologized and addressed the situation. Yes, it was cultural appropriation. But some people don't know that my father is mixed, he's half-Haitian, half-white. So, I grew up in places where everybody had braids. I thought it was cool. But once I put the picture on social media, I realized, Wow, there's a real world out there that knows more than I do at 13. Now, I'm pretty aware; if something doesn't feel right, it's probably not."
"My biggest style influences are probably Kylie Jenner and my friends. Honestly, my friends help me curate my look. It happens that a few of my friends are in the fashion industry and get to be around such amazing people, and bring me around amazing people. It all builds. I see the way my best friend Luka [Sabbat] dresses, and he inspires me to find my own style. They let me be me and help me bring it out to the world, I think. Nowadays, [you can] really create whatever look you want. Even if I’m inspired by Kylie, it doesn't mean I have to dress exactly like her. But, I could take one piece of clothing I see her wearing and wear it my own way."
"I didn’t really know where New York magazine was going with the article, I guess. I tried my best to show myself in the way I see myself, and whatever the author wrote beyond that was out of my control, I realized. I learned a lot through the experience, and it taught me a lot of lessons; it showed me that I can’t control the way other people perceive me. So, I do my best to share myself. It gave me a platform ― although, some people view it as negative. It brought me a lot of attention, and then it was up to me what I wanted to do with it."
"Something that’s very...pretty accurate to describing who I am. It’s a more self-expressive outfit, because I always try to be as self-expressive as possible, physically as well as verbally. It reflects the way I feel. I don’t know, I think it’s important to not look boring, or I try to not look like everyone else, because I don’t feel like everyone else."
How does being a woman affect your life?
"That’s a big question. I mean, it affects everything. I’m a girl. The fact that I have a vagina makes it threatening for me to walk home really late at night. I think right now, there’s a widespread, at least maybe in all of America, recognition of the fact that both girls and boys need feminism, and that you shouldn’t be afraid to figure out what your voice is, as a woman in 2016, or use your voice with other people, and be able to speak out on actually what you feel and not be oppressed."
How do you do that?
"I don’t let anyone talk down to me. Especially guys. Because I think that that’s a really hard thing that a lot of girls are yet to be able to do, to talk back to guys, if they’re being rude to them, and tell them that they’re being rude. I think that there’s this big imbalance in power initially when you come to this world when you’re not a boy."
"To be honest, I'm always in overalls. I really like baggy clothing, it's just what I'm most comfortable in. I've always gravitated towards oversized clothing, even as a kid; I was always in basketball shorts and tall tees, that's what I call them. I'm in my element what I'm dressed like this. As a kid, people would always be like, 'You're a dyke,' or 'You're a lesbian for dressing like that,' so there was this phase I went through when I was 13 or 14 that I dressed super feminine, not because it was what I liked, just because I wanted people to stop saying things to me. Then this past year, I was like, 'Okay, this is all stupid.' My sexual identity isn't anyone's business, and you can't tell someone's sexual identity from what they're wearing. So I'm just going to wear what I want."
Is there someone or something that inspires your look most?
"Probably my mom. She dressed a lot like me when she was in her mid-20s, wearing a lot of gender-neutral clothing. I have a lot of pairs of my mom's overalls in my closet. I have a lot of hand-me-downs, which is great. The life of a piece of clothing doesn't end."
"Today I’m wearing my mom’s shirt that she bought a long time ago in Indonesia, these overalls from L Train Vintage, as well as my Nike Air Force Ones. The significance of what I’m wearing is basically just something that I’m really comfortable in; I want to be really natural, and not so extravagant. I think the most important thing about being natural is just being comfortable with yourself, be laid-back, and don’t care what anybody else thinks, because it’s just you."
Were do you pull inspiration from?
"My style influence is a lot from the '90s, and also from my mom, and Jennifer Aniston in Friends."
"I don't know. I feel like it's kind of me just because it's like, funny and weird. Like Crocs are so funny to me. I used to go to summer camp and it was the 'thing' to have really chill Crocs. And we used to put charms on them, and if you had a bunch of charms, you were the coolest kid, ever. I had pink Crocs with a bunch of Smurfs on them. They were really tight."
What does authenticity mean to you?
"To me, it's someone who doesn’t try to impress other people with who they are, but just kind of is unapologetically themselves. Like, a personality should be the same wherever you go, no matter what crowd you're hanging out with. That's authenticity. Having a consistent personality and not trying to change it for someone else."
"I kind of like the early 2000s vibe. The style then was a little bit crazy, though. Like the show H2O, have you ever watched that? It’s a really good show about these two girls that become mermaids from the moonlight. I like their style."
How would you describe your style?
"I don’t know, whatever looks cute. I think, Alright, I’m going to wear that. I’m going to try that and fix it whatever way I’d like it."
What inspires how you dress?
"I like the '80s, the '90s, and oversized stuff. Just chilling and vibing. I kind of get a lot of inspiration from boys, because sometimes what they wear is pretty dope."
What about your look is edgy, as per your Instagram handle?
"People say my eyebrows, a lot. That’s my main thing, I guess."
Do you identify with a certain scene or look?
"It really differs depending on my day. A lot of people say I have, like, a mom style. No matter what I always wear, I always incorporate really clean cut things with really baggy and dark things, like black shoes with a white outfit. I've noticed that on Instagram, people always want to have different outfits. I know a friend who borrows clothes from everybody because she doesn't like wearing the same things in pictures. And I’m like, that's ridiculous. That's why fast fashion is cool, because it's throw-it-away fashion. I do believe it's really important to spend money on good basics, like jeans, a trench coat, and stuff like that. But, it's also about experimenting: If you buy something cheap and you don’t end up loving it, it’s not so bad."
What do you think influences your style the most?
"My mother, the '60s. I bleached my hair, and everybody is like, ‘You look like Twiggy, like Edie Sedgwick.' Now I'm going to [try] their makeup, because they look great. I just love '60s style, it’s very feminine, but also very mod."
"It's very fluid. I try not to think of clothing having any gender, so I really just wear whatever I want. If I wake up one morning and want to wear a suit, I'll wear a suit. And sometimes I'll wake up and I'll want to wear a dress. But, it really changes depending on how I feel. I think the thing that's so cool about your personal style is that you're not attached to any brand, you don't really owe anyone anything, so you can change it up however much you want."
What do you think is the best thing about the state of fashion today?
"I think it's really exciting that more women and femmes are wearing what they want, especially in an industry mostly run by men, who have been dictating what they think is good for us to wear and what they think makes us look good. And it's cool that women and femmes are taking that back."
Would you say your style falls under any specific category?
"My style is very functional. I dress to accommodate the various activities I partake in throughout my day, like skating, painting, sculpting, and modeling. It might be a combination of skater and girly. I love to accessorize, even if I'm wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothes."
How much of a role does fashion play in your identity and how you express yourself?
"My artwork and my style is how I express myself; I feel that I have the same amount of freedom with my style as I do with my art. My appearance usually has an impact on my mood, too. The more comfortable I am with my outfit, the more positive and optimistic I am during the day."
Fighting for inclusivity, diversity, and gender-neutrality, Generation Z is poised to turn the fashion world on its head. Get to know today's most influential teenagers with #TheZList, our week-long celebration of under-20 visionaries changing how we think about style.
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Ariel Winter is a busy young woman. And if you don't enjoy the photos she shares... Well, that's not her problem. That's the message the actress conveyed during a candid chat with Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday. "Everybody is so hyped up on the fact that I post photos where my butt's out. It's a butt. Everyone has a butt... I don't think it's crazy," Winter told ET at a Variety event in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
"It's like, 'Let me live!" continued the actress, who has faced body-shaming on her Instagram posts more than once. "I'm enjoying my life, you're enjoying your life, you should be posting your butt if you like it, too!'" The 18-year-old Modern Family star says that although she'll fire back at trolls, she refuses to engage with individual commenters. "I'm not going to fight with someone on my Instagram that tells me they don't like my outfit or I should put my butt away," Winter told ET. "I'm sorry you think I should put my butt away, but just unfollow me." She makes an excellent point.
On another empowering note, Winter also shared that she has one of her curvaceous co-stars to thank for inspiring her self-confidence. "I really had the greatest opportunity to have some wonderful role models, especially Sofia Vergara." She continued, "Working with a curvy beautiful woman that everybody looked up to and loved the way she looked… that was my inspiration to move forward and accept myself because that's what matters." Oh-so-wise.
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The Strawberry Moon rang in the summer solstice. Now, as we get closer to September's fall equinox, we have a different "fruit" in the sky. Tonight, the Blueberry Moon, this month's full moon, will shine bright.
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, Native American tribes named the full moons after corresponding fertile crops as a way to mark the seasons throughout the year. The Blueberry Moon is also frequently called the Sturgeon Moon, in reference to a type of fish that Native American tribes frequently caught in the Great Lakes and Vermont's Lake Champlain during this time. Other tribes called the moon the Grain Moon or Green Corn Moon.
The moon will reach peak fullness at 5:27 AM tomorrow, but you'll still be able to see a mostly full moon tonight. You can catch a full broadcast starting tonight at 8 p.m., on the website Slooh.
Sadly, only the moon's shape, not it's color, will resemble that of a ripe blueberry. But you can always celebrate its arrival with blueberry-studded sweets.
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J.K. Rowling isn't done with Harry Potter just yet. The outspoken author will be releasing a series of short e-books through her website Pottermore this September, Entertainment Weekly reports. Her recent Pottermore work has introduced new characters who shape the history of North American wizardry. But the upcoming stories, which will include both new and previously published content, will focus on characters from the original seven books.
Fans fascinated by the moving staircases Harry navigates at school can check out Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide. Readers who love Professor Minerva McGonagall and Remus Lupin can learn more about their favorite magical teachers in Hogwarts: Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies. And anyone with an interest in the villains of the school of witchcraft and wizardry can read about Dolores Umbridge and Quirinus Quirrell in Short Stories from Hogwarts: Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists.
The series, collectively titled Pottermore Presents, will be released on the site September 6. If you read them slowly enough, they might just last you until the next big HP event — the debut of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on November 18.
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When people think “abs” they usually think of endless crunches or sit-ups, but it’s really way more complicated than that.
What they really should be thinking about are moves that work the core — as in the entire core. These muscles are so much more than your six-pack (yes, everyone has a “washboard” they can be proud of, whether there’s some harmless padding on top or not), both in form and in function. Your core includes everything from the tops of your shoulders to the creases below your butt, from the outermost rectus abdominis (this is the muscle that looks like a six-pack) and side obliques to the deep stabilizers that support your spine. They’re also responsible for pretty much all coordinated movement — and non-movement — you do all day, from putting away groceries to sitting up at a desk.
Therefore, the very best “abs” exercises work all those core muscles in one of two ways (or both): by facilitating movement or by stabilizing against movement.
Ahead, we'll show you 16 moves that fit the bill. My advice (oh yeah, did I mention I'm a personal trainer?) is to choose three to five of these (ideally, one or two that target the front, sides, and back of your body, respectively), as a great core finisher to your regular workout.
To make it a core workout all on its own, do that same number of moves as a circuit, one after the other, and repeat it up to four times through.
Cross Connect
Think core work mean you have to be on the ground in some way? Think again. The core has to work in upright activities like walking and running as well, and this exercise helps to train and strengthen in that regard.
How-to: Stand tall with your hands behind your head.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Cross Connect (cont.)
Alternately raise one knee high and across your body while twisting from the upper torso to bring your opposite elbow toward it. (You may not actually connect.)
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Cross Connect (cont.)
Keep your elbows wide; don’t bring them in around your head to make it happen.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Squat Chops
Another standing core move, here the upper and lower body move while the core stays strong and stable.
How-to: Stand with your feet hip- to shoulder-width apart. Raise your hands straight overhead and clasp them. Squat back and down, weight in your heels and sending your butt back as if you were sitting in a chair, while simultaneously chopping your arms down in front of you and between your knees.
Squat Chops (cont.)
Push your feet firmly into the ground to stand up, sending the arms back overhead. Repeat 10 times. To make it more challenging, hold a medicine ball or single dumbbell (or really anything else that’s heavy and graspable) in your hands.
The Plank
It wouldn’t be a core exercise roundup without it. Before you roll your eyes and click on, there’s a secret to a perfect plank you might not know. Ready?
You have to use your butt.
Think about it for sec. You’re holding yourself up on your forearms and toes only. The part of the body that’s farthest from those two points is your booty, which is the heaviest part of anyone’s body (the glutes being the biggest muscles and all). So, as soon as you pop up into a plank, squeeze those cheeks and don’t let go.
How-to: From your stomach, place your forearms flat on the ground, so your elbows are directly below your shoulders. Kickstand one toe, then the other, and clench that tush. Pretend you’re gripping a $100 bill and you don’t want anyone to steal it. Hold for up to a minute, then rest before repeating. (There’s no huge benefit to holding it any longer, because you’ll just get fatigued and lose your form.) Also, forearms are better than hands, because most people’s wrists will give out before their cores will.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Up Up, Down Down
When minute-long planks become a cinch — and it will happen — try adding movement, which pushes those core muscles to stabilize even more (read: work harder).
How-to: Start in a forearm plank. Carefully pick up one arm and place the hand so it’s right under your shoulder; press up and let the second arm follow, so you’re now up in a straight-arm plank (that’s the “up up” in the name).
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Up Up, Down Down (cont.)
Lower back down, leading with the same arm, then the other, so you’re back on your forearms (the “down down”). Repeat with the opposite hand leading. Do 10 total (5 each side). The trick: Really engage your glutes and core, so your hips don’t sway or dip side to the side.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Plank Hip Dips
This variation adds a bit more oblique action to the usual plank, while still requiring stabilization through the front and back core muscles.
How-to: Begin in a forearm plank.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Plank Hip Dips (cont.)
Keeping your feet planted and rotate your hips to one side, maintaining a hovering position above the ground.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Plank Hip Dips (cont.)
Right yourself back through center plank, leveling the hips, then rotate the other hip under you. Do 10 sets.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Bird Dogs
A staple of yoga and physical therapy alike, bird dogs are basically core coordination 101 — but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re easy.
How-to: Come down to all fours, hands under shoulders and knees under hips.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Bird Dogs (cont.)
Extend one arm straight forward and the opposite leg straight back, foot flexed. Hold for a moment or several, focusing on making the longest line possible from fingertips to sole of foot while keeping shoulders and hips square to the ground. Bring both limbs back in, not touching down if you can help it, and repeat. The longer you hold the limbs out, the harder it is.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Bridges
As already mentioned, the core includes a whole bunch of muscles other than that front six-pack. Bridges particularly target the posterior — or rear — part of the core, including the spine-supporting muscles and, yep, the glutes (this will be a theme).
How-to: Lie on your back, arms along your sides. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor, heels as close to your butt as you can get ‘em.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Bridges (cont.)
Press your feet hard into the floor (don’t let the heels pop up), and squeeze your glutes to lift your hips up, so they’re fully extended and your body forms a straight line from shoulders to knees. Hold for a few seconds or longer, then lower down for a moment before pressing up once more. Do 10.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Chorus-Line Bridges
Once you’ve mastered the standard bridge, kick it up a notch (literally) by adding kicks. You guessed it: Adding movement makes it harder on the core.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Chorus-Line Bridges (cont.)
How-to: From a strong bridge position, shift your weight into one foot so you can pick up the other, extending it so that the leg is straight and the thighs are still parallel.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Chorus-Line Bridges (cont.)
Now, go from bent knee to straight knee without anything else changing — at all. Replace that foot right next to the other one, then shift and extend the second leg in the same way. Repeat for 10 sets (both legs = 1 set).
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Side Planks
The side plank is similar to the standard plank, in terms of requiring the muscles to work in coordination with each other to support the body, but it puts more onus on the oblique muscles (the ones along the sides of your waist).
How-to: Lie on your side, elbow bent and aligned under the shoulder, and forearm perpendicular to the body. Stack your feet and bend your knees slightly.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Side Planks (cont.)
Press the side of your foot into the floor to pop up, so you’re resting on that foot and the forearms; extend the top arm along you body (easier) or up to the sky (harder). If this is too tough to hold for at least 10 seconds, come down and bend the lower leg; pop up again so you’re resting on the side of the knee and the forearm. If the straight-leg version is too easy, lift the top leg up and hold it in the air.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Plank To Side Plank
Once you’ve mastered planks, front and side, why not put ‘em together? For this one, you’ll be on straight arms, so take care with your hand placement to protect your wrists — or even come up on a fist if your wrists don’t like being bent.
How-to: Start in a straight-arm plank, hands right under shoulders and glutes squeezed. Have your feet about hip-width apart.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Plank To Side Plank
Rotate to one side, lifting the opposite arm up to the sky and rolling onto the edges of your feet. Try to move as one unit, in a straight line from head to toe and not letting the hips drop at all. Do 10 reps (side-to-side is one).
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Walkouts
In case you haven’t caught on, a major function of the core is to stabilize. This full-body exercise works the core, back, and shoulders all together, with some mobility-based flexibility thrown in, because who doesn’t have tight hamstrings?
How-to: Start standing.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Walkouts (cont.)
Hinge at the hips to place the hands on the floor (bending your knees if you need to).
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Walkouts (cont.)
Take small steps forward with your hands until you’re in a straight-arm plank, hold for a moment, and then walk your hands back to your feet. Roll up to stand and repeat 10 times.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Russian Twists
These should really be called “twist-resistors,” since that’s more of the point here. (No idea why they’re Russian, though.)
How-to: Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Clasp your hands, fingers interlaced, and pull your bellybutton in toward your spine to lift your shoulders up off the ground.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Russian Twists (cont.)
Move your clasped hands to touch the outside of one hip, but keep your shoulders broad and square, resisting the urge to let your waist twist. Move your hands to the opposite hip, maintaining your form and not letting your shoulder blades drop. Repeat 10 times. Too easy? Hold a medicine ball or weight in both hands and move it from hip to hip, instead.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Leg Raises
Crazy: There is no such thing as lower abs, at least in terms of being able to “work” them. The primary abdominal muscle is the rectus abdominis, or six-pack muscle, which starts just under the ribs and ends just above the pelvis. If you’re contracting the “lower” portion, you’re contracting it all. However, there is definitely a benefit to doing certain exercises touted as being for the “lower abs,” particularly this one, because it forces the core to stabilize so beautifully and completely.
How-to: Lie on your back, placing your hands underneath the sacrum (lowest part of the spine). Keeping your back flat, raise your feet up toward the sky, ideally straight and together (though a micro-bend in the knees is cool, too).
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Leg Raises
With control, keep the legs extended and lower them slowly, as one unit, toward the ground — stopping the moment you feel your lower back wanting to pop off the floor. Hold and hover the legs for a moment; then, raise them back up to the sky. Do 10 reps. The slower you go on the raise and the longer you hover, the harder it is.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
U-Ups
Sit-ups and crunches have gotten a lot of trainer backlash of late, mainly because they involve repeated spinal flexion (bending at the waist), which our bodies are already great at, since we sit and slouch so much — so why train your muscles to do something you don’t want them to do in day-to-day life? But that's not really what's going on.
This move might look kind of like a sit-up, but the goal is actually the opposite: to control the limbs from the core as they extend out and away from it.
How-to: Lie on your back, arms on the ground overhead, legs straight.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
U-Ups (cont.)
Simultaneously raise your arms so the fingers and toes are pointed toward the sky, forming right angles with the torso. Keep the head down.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
U-Ups (cont.)
Slowly extend both your arms and legs out at between a 30- and 45-degree angle to the ground (don’t let the lower back pop up). Hold; then, bring back together at 90 degrees. Do 10.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Windshield Wipers
This one trains the obliques in particular to hold stable even as they want (desperately) to twist. Start with a small movement and get bigger with the windshield-wiper action as you get stronger.
How-to: On your back, place your arms flat out on the ground like a T. Raise your legs up, feet to the sky.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Windshield Wipers (cont.)
Keeping your legs glued together, lower them slowly to the side, going only as low as you can control without your hip lifting off the ground.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Windshield Wipers (cont.)
Bring your legs back to center, then over to the other side. Do 10 sets. If keeping the legs straight isn't happening yet, bend your knees.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Supermans
Another one for the back of the core, these also have a posture benefit by unfurling tightness in the chest that can lead to a forward shoulder hunch.
How-to: Lie on your stomach on the floor, arms extended overhead.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Supermans (cont.)
Keeping your head neutral (nose toward the floor), squeeze your glutes, back, and shoulder blades to lift your arms and legs up off the floor. Hold for a beat, then lower down.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Swimming
A progression from supermans, this exercise makes the rear core muscles both stabilize against and coordinate movement. (Yeah, it’s not easy.)
How-to: Lie on your stomach, arms extended overhead, neck neutral. Lift up both arms and legs off the floor and alternately raise and lower the opposite arm and leg, kinda like you’re doing a swimming flutter kick with all your limbs.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Swimming (cont.)
Count 10 sets.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Reverse Hypers
For so many people, lazy or inactive glutes are a huge factor in core weakness. This move is great to target those muscles as well as the spinal stabilizers that become stretched out from slouching in chairs.
How-to: Lie face-down atop a bench, so that your torso is supported and your legs are hanging off from the hip-crease down, toes resting on the ground.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Reverse Hypers (cont.)
Hold on with your hands, and engage through the glutes to lift both of your legs simultaneously, until they’re parallel or very slightly past parallel with the bench. Hold for a second or several; then, lower your legs down without letting your feet actually rest on the ground. Repeat 10 times. The longer you hold at the top, the harder it is, but don’t hold so much that you feel pinching in your lower back.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Mountain Climbers
Core exercises are just about contracting, resisting, and holding—they can be aerobic, too, like this one.
How-to: Start in a straight-arm plank.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Mountain Climbers (cont.)
Walk your feet in slightly, so your butt pikes up toward the sky. Pick up one foot and drive your knee in toward your chest; then, quickly replace that foot and drive the other one up.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
Mountain Climbers (cont.)
(It’s kind of like running in place with high knees, but your hands are on the ground.) Too much for your shoulders? Place your hands on a bench or another slightly elevated surface.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
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For a makeup aficionado, it's just as important to know the makeup of products as it is to memorize their shade names — meaning, the finish, texture, consistency, undertones, and more. Why? Well, how else are you going to find drugstore dupes when you're in a pinch? (Ahem, Kylie's Lip Kit lovers.) What's more, knowing what you like can help you make better-informed purchases when you want to branch out.
So, how well do you know your favorite buys? To test your knowledge, we rounded up nine cult classics known to be universally flattering and beloved by pros and makeup fans alike. These beauty buys are so iconic that their shades are almost legendary. But do you really know what NARS' Orgasm and MAC's Ruby Woo look like without the packaging? Click through to see if you can match the shade to the name.
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There's no denying that "texture" is the hair-product buzzword du jour. The term covers the formulas used to create the roughed-up, lived-in, imperfect, or full and thick looks that so many of us crave — but not everyone has naturally.
Between texture spray, beach spray, teasing powder, and hair balm, the influx of body- and movement-boosting buys on the market is seemingly endless. However, not every texture product is created equal. For example, a salt spray and a dry, aerosol formula will make your hair look completely different.
To decipher the options, we quizzed Matt Fugate, a hairstylist at Serge Normant Salon in NYC. Ahead, he breaks down different products that offer texture and provides tips for how to use them. Which one will work for you? You'll never be left wondering again.
Salt Spray
Salt spray is considered by many to be the mother of all texturizing products, but Fugate says you should only use it in certain situations. "This is good for any style that you want to look piece-y and mussed," he says.
If your hair is long, Fugate suggests using a salt spray after using a curling iron to give it more of a beachy wave. If you have short or mid-length hair, "salt spray will give you more of a wet look," he says. Beach sprays are also great for prepping fine hair for a blowout or rough-dry; they deliver structure that makes curling or braiding easier.
You're right to assume that texture powder (also called teasing powder or teasing dust) is not well-suited for your entire head. That's because these formulas are normally packed with ingredients that provide serious, can't-run-your-fingers-through-your-hair structure. That being said, a little sprinkled onto the roots or on a braid will give you instant fullness.
"These are great for root amplification," Fugate says. "They're especially good for mod styles, like huge blowouts, or Bardot updos." The best way to use a texturizing powder is to sprinkle a bit at a time around your roots, massaging as you go, until you've reached your desired volume. "They're better for creating volume than removing oils," Fugate says.
Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder, $27, available at Sephora.
Texture Spray
Texturizing spray is a staple in many hair routines — and for good reason. This type of spritz is super-versatile, but Fugate says it's best for reviving a blowout on the second day.
"Flip your hair and spray from root to tip to add more guts to the hair," he says. "Then, finger-fluff the roots and shake your head to create movement." Tip: Don't brush your hair (or mess with it at all) once there's a texturizing spray in it, or you'll brush out all the benefits, Fugate says.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, $44, available at Oribe.
Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo isn't just boss for soaking up excess oil — you can also use it as a texturizing spray in a pinch. "It's great for making the hair look more matte and less oily," Fugate says. So those fuzzy, non-greasy waves you're always trying to achieve? That's when you want to reach for dry shampoo.
It's easy: Fan out your hair by tipping your head to one side, then slowly layer the product into your roots and mid-lengths. Massage the roots for volume — but again, don't brush or you'll risk brushing out the thickness you just created.
These are great for creating sexy bedhead on mid-length strands, Fugate says. Think: rumpled, woke-up-like-this textures our favorite models-off-duty rock on a regular basis. They're really heavy, so they're great for fluffy hair because they give it some weight.
"Use it on the bottom sections of the hair to tame and separate it," Fugate says. Be careful if you're putting the product on the top of your head — it can look matted down and crunchy if you use too much.
Those with short hair who are looking for a lot of hold will love themselves some hair balm. "It's very thick and gives high control to short hair," Fugate says. "It's also great for sculpted styles like finger-waves." He warns that this is a very unforgiving product, and that you'll be able to spread it better if you warm it up in your hands first. "It's great for sweeping your hair back, and is also good for a wet, combed look," Fugate says.
"This is used almost exclusively on fine hair," Fugate says. "But the trick with mousse is that it needs to be styled right away." Mousse works best on damp hair, which is then dried in sections. "If you apply it to wet hair and let it air-dry, you won't get the same effect," he says. "It will just become a weak gel." Translation: Stick to salt spray for air-drying and mousse for a pre-blowout boost.
Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse, $15, available at Ulta Beauty.
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