Our past shapes our present, which grows into our future. That’s pretty much true for all of us, whether you take a straightforward path through life or your road’s a little more roundabout.
Take Jessica Wu. She may have stuck out as a style-obsessed middle schooler growing up in a laid-back West Coast beach town. But the playful confidence and strong visual sense she developed there are the keys to success in her current life as a stylist, model, and e-commerce director for a growing womenswear brand. And the experience and insights she’s gaining in the industry now are paving her path to an even more impressive future.
In partnership with ALDO, we spoke with Jessica about the milestones that made her who she is today, how she made a home for herself in the fashion industry, where she’s going next, and what she wore along the way.
Join us as we look back — and forward — with a woman who has come a long way and is on the verge of even bigger things.
So I heard a rumor that you were a trendsetter back in middle school. “My heels! I was obsessed with them in middle school. I grew up in a beach town where everyone wore flip-flops and casual surfwear every day. I’d developed an interest in fashion and decided I needed to ‘invest’ in some cool footwear. For some reason, I was dead set on wearing heels to middle school. I begged my mom to let me buy these wedge ankle boots, and I wore them with red denim cutoffs and a striped blouse. Sure enough, a few weeks later, other girls started wearing wedges to class.”
What made you start experimenting with fashion? “Discovering my aunt’s stash of Vogue magazines changed everything. Suddenly I was seeing girls not much older than me, styled in a really out-there way. I realized, Hey, this isn’t too difficult — so naturally I went into my mom’s closet, stole a bunch of things, and started styling myself!”
Middle school can be a tricky time to stick out. Did you ever get a negative reaction? “My style never got a negative reaction — people were mostly just confused! I was never the ‘popular girl’ in high school, but a lot of people knew me because of how I dressed. I was that girl who always dressed crazy, wore tailored shorts and super-high heels to school, and struggled down the hallway [laughs]. But I didn’t care; I was into being different and dressing for myself. Between that and sharing outfits online, style became my way of connecting with people.”
So when did you make the connection that fashion was something you wanted to do as a career? “From an early age, I knew I wanted to do something creative, but I wasn’t initially sure if I wanted to be a fashion designer or interior designer. By high school, I was starting to narrow it down to fashion — I had a blog, and I started to get some opportunities locally, modeling for stores in my hometown.”
Were you like, “I’m major, I’ve arrived!” “I was so excited, but the day of my first shoot I was super sick and you can totally tell in the pictures. So I’d done some modeling in high school, but I didn’t have that ‘this is real’ moment until I saw my face on a billboard last year. That was when it clicked for me.”
What brought you all the way from your beach town to New York? “I went to FIT for advertising and marketing, and since it’s a fashion school, I continued soaking up knowledge about the industry — I used to spend hours researching designers, models, photographers. At FIT, I met my friend Peter Do and started styling his collections and eventually getting freelance styling work.”
I always remember the “lucky shoes” I wore to interview at Refinery29, which was my first-ever writing job. Do you remember yours? “I do — I was obsessed with these black pointy ankle boots with two side zippers and a little heel. I didn’t land my first fashion interview wearing them, but I did get a job in them eventually, because I wore them to literally every interview — and everywhere else I went my first year in New York!”
So you’re now e-commerce director for Peter Do. What’s a typical day like for you? “I’m always juggling 20 different things at once. At Peter Do, we’re a really small team, but the brand is growing fast, so we all do a little of everything. E-commerce direction is a lot, because as soon as one season is done, it’s time to start the next one. Plus, in addition to those duties, I do anything from answering emails to making sure the website’s updated to customer service. It’s intense, but we all work together really harmoniously and have a shared mission to build this brand. Seeing how it’s grown already and that vision of where we see it going in the future keep us going through it all — it’s about passion.”
How do you approach getting dressed for a day that could take you anywhere? “I’m running around constantly, so comfort and ease are priorities — but I have some tricks to make it cute. My go-to outfit is a black miniskirt with a plain white T-shirt or blousy button-up, hoop earrings, and a huge tote bag. Every girl in New York needs a good tote! And a reliable pair of sneakers is crucial — I need something flat with a cushion because styling a shoot means running all around the city to different showrooms, picking up clothes, taking them to set, steaming everything, and dressing models all day. It gets pretty crazy, so I need to stay mobile and ready for anything.”
So where do you see your career going from here? “At Peter Do, I see my role diversifying as we grow over the next few years. I’m excited to take on new challenges, oversee future shoots and runway-show production. I’m also working to launch an online platform called Period Space, created for women to talk about their periods and reproductive health. My ultimate goal is for the organization to link with related charities to give back to girls and women in need around the world.”
That’s incredible — so moving into boss mode? “Maybe eventually! Since announcing it, I've had about 50 people reach out to me as potential contributors and collaborators, which has been amazing. Ultimately, I’d love to open up an intergenerational conversation about these taboo topics and contribute to making diversity and acceptance the standard.”
Do you think that’s improving? “The front end of fashion, especially modeling, is thankfully becoming so much more diverse. There’s a growing understanding that not everyone needs to be the standard 5-foot-9 runway model, and diversity brings a fresh visual perspective and new stories to the table. We still have a long way to go, but I hope I can be a small part of that change.”
Was that something you felt like you had growing up? “Not as much, but I’m so happy the sense of possibility is opening up. After my Glossier ads came out, I had so many young Asian girls message me saying how much it mattered to them to see someone who looks like them in a campaign. That made me feel really good — I think it represents new possibilities.”
Is there an overarching lesson you feel like you’ve learned? “I think self-confidence is everything. Knowing yourself and feeling confident in what you have to offer is key. And honestly, just being yourself and being kind is so important. There’s a cliché that kindness is rare in this industry, but on so many sets I’ve been lucky to truly connect with people. It’s not a mean-girl vibe. Now it’s cool to be passionate about your work, open, to let what’s unique about you show.”
So where do you go from here? “Everything about my fashion career, from seventh grade until now, has been about community, fostering a sense of communication between people, and learning about other people’s perspectives. That’s something really important to take with me into the future because fashion is always collaborative. I genuinely love getting to know people, so I hope to continue having various creative roles, exploring new areas of the industry, and staying interested in people’s lives, their passions, and their causes.”
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There are few things in this world that scared us more than seeing Bill Skarsgård transform into Pennywise in 2017's It. But, while some people went to see the new iteration of the classic Stephen King novel just to judge it against the 1990 film, we went for a completely different reason: the Halloween beauty inspiration.
With the big night only a month away, we're eager to lock down a killer costume ASAP, and let's face it: Pennywise is (still) this year's Harley Quinn. There's something so creepy about the red-stained grin and fiery hair that makes it the perfect costume. But how can you stand out amongst a sea of clowns? Luckily, a handful of horror film fans have shown off their It looks on Instagram — and the results are almost as terrifying as the actual movie. Even better, each one is unique from the next.
Click ahead to check out the coolest Pennywise beauty looks. Just don't expect your friends to want to spend a whole lot of time with you should you dare to try one.
We're familiar with Jordan Hanz's special effects work from last year's impressive Harley Quinn look. But it seems as if she dropped Suicide Squad for some major Pennywise action. No one could make that blood-red smile creepier...
As if staying inside the lines isn't hard enough, one Instagram artist pulled off the detailed portrait of Pennywise on her mouth. Her hero product of choice: Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Witches, of course.
Another artist felt inspired by the iconic red balloon known to float around its future victims in the town of Derry, Maine.
Not ready to go full Pennywise? Opt for this somewhat subtle (keyword: subtle) rendition — and swap out red lips for black.
Can't pick between the two twisted clowns? Combine a Harley Quinn wig with Pennywise makeup for your next Halloween party.
Wear Pennywise's spooky smile on you fingertips all month long to show your true dedication to the classic horror film.
Here's how to show your deep appreciation for the film without scaring everyone at the party: Wear an intricate nail tribute instead. Then maybe wear gloves.
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In 2018, when you can milk an oat and make a bottled meal replacement drink out of soy beans, it should come as no surprise that you can make butter out of chickpea water , aka "aquafaba." As it turns out, aquafaba is an emulsifier, so it can bind fats into a spreadable, butter-like substance.
Why would you eat butter made from bean water when you could just eat delicious butter churned from milk? Well, for people who eat a vegan diet, aquafaba butter is pretty close to the taste and texture of dairy butter, and cooks better than margarine. And some people who aren't vegan turn to plant-based butter because they think it's a smarter choice than dairy butter.
Why is aquafaba butter suddenly big? Vegan aficionados have been making their own aquafaba butter at home for a while, but recently a plant-based food company launched packaged aquafaba butter, called Faba Butter. As the story goes, Aidan Altman and Andrew McClune "grew up just eating crap," and decided to go vegan a year and a half ago. They were drawn to a vegan diet because it's supposed to be more environmentally responsible — and the fact that it got them to eat more vegetables didn't hurt, either.
Many people who eat a vegan diet just use margarine, which is a butter-like spread made from vegetable oils. But coming from a background in the food industry, Altman and McClune wanted to make a butter substitute that would be more functional for cooking. Their Faba Butter usesrecycled chickpea water they get from hummus manufacturing communities, a coconut oil cream base, plus a little salt. "It's really high in fat, which gets us the extremely high smoke-point of 450 degrees, which is over dairy butter," Altman says. For comparison, extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 325 degrees, and the smoke point for coconut oil is 350 degrees.
If you're looking for a plant-based, dairy-free butter alternative for cooking, aquafaba butter might be better than other options. But Altman says that, from a health perspective, aquafaba butter really is for everyone. "It's interesting because our product technically is healthier than majority of butters out there," he says. It is still a high-fat product (consisting of 80% fat), but it does have slightly less sodium per serving than dairy butter. But everyone is different, and food decisions are way more nuanced than saying one food is "healthier" than another.
"Of course if a person has an interest in following a vegan diet for ethical or environmental reasons, obviously this stuff would be a great option," says Kathleen Meehan, MS, RD, LDN, an anti-diet registered dietitian in Houston. If you enjoy the taste, and you find that it satisfies you, then go for it, she says. On the other hand, if you're worried about the amount of fat in standard butter and think that this will be a better choice, then you might want to re-think that. Because remember: just because a product is "vegan," doesn't mean that it's necessarily healthier for you.
In the past couple years, there has certainly been a push towards eating more sustainable foods, Meehan says. "But what I find is that our culture sort of muddies that a little bit, and acts as though there's a morality involved in terms of nutrition or quality of the food you're eating," she says. So, sometimes that can get challenging, and make you think that a sustainable or "plant-based" food is inherently a better choice, or that you're a bad person for eating regular butter. Think about how everyone thought coconut oil was the miracle cooking oil a few years ago, just because it was new. Now we know coconut oil is not all it was hyped up to be. Aquafaba might be hyped up right now, but knows what we'll think in a few years time.
TL;DR If you eat a vegan diet and want to use aquafaba butter, that's your call, but plain butter from cow's milk is totally fine as well. You should just eat whatever butter you please — no buts about it.
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This morning, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the first of at least three different women to come forward and say they experienced sexual misconduct at the hands of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her allegations. The process of Dr. Ford even getting to tell her ordeal was fraught, with Republicans claiming her story wasn’t credible and instead just an attempt by Democrats to obstruct a GOP Supreme Court pick. The result was inevitable: A tense hearing focused on scrutinizing some of the most traumatic moments in Dr. Ford’s life.
Watching the first 90 minutes of Dr. Ford’s hearing unfold, there was a lot to be appalled by, from Republican Senator Chuck Grassley’s opening statement — where he tried to paint Kavanaugh, the alleged assailant, as a victim — to the fact that Republican men didn’t even plan to lead the questioning of her, opting for female prosecutor Rachel Mitchell to do so instead. But one series of actions left me particularly unsettled. It began when Dr. Ford made a joke about needing caffeine just as the hearing started and after Senator Grassley said the first of many unkind remarks towards her, including questioning her timeline and motives for coming forward.
Then Dr. Ford began laughing nervously once the opening marks concluded. And next, after being told to read through evidence presented to her and swear under oath that all of her statements were true, she told the committee that she could “read fast” so as not to slow down the hearing and the five-minute time limits Senator Grassley imposed. Towards the end of the first round of questions, as Senator Grassley said that they were going to give Dr. Ford a break, she asked him a question: “Does that work for you?” followed by an explanation of trying to be “collegial.” She followed up more than a few questions with an “I’m sorry.”
What I found so difficult about watching Dr. Ford’s dutifulness to the senators — the moments of levity, the politeness — had absolutely nothing to do with her or her story. She’s beyond courageous and incredible. Instead, what left me heartbroken was that I saw myself and practically every other woman in those moments of deference where she felt the need to apologize and almost play “hostess,” even though she was the brave person telling her story to the world and putting everything on the line.
Ask any woman you know if she’s nervously laughed, apologized repeatedly, or made endless accommodations for others at the expense of her own feelings and I guarantee you most will say yes. After all, it’s just one of the many costs of womanhood: In particular, the “rule” that men — and specifically white men in power, at that — always need to be the most comfortable people in the room and that women need to be the ones making them feel comfortable. And in exchange for playing your assigned role as a woman, you may be spared utter destruction by those same men. There’s no better contrast to this theory than how Kavanaugh conducted himself during parts of his portion of the hearing — angry, loud, and aggressive. At one point, spit practically flung out of his mouth as he vehemently defended himself.
Yet for women, this politeness, even when we’re the aggrieved party, is still a gamble. And it’s a gamble that women routinely lose. We watched, after all, as Senator Grassley continued to try and spin the narrative of Dr. Ford’s testimony as some sort of Democratic hit job. Her attempts at lightening the load for Senator Grassley in the hopes of him lightening hers didn’t pay off. Worse still, if women don’t play this role of polite mediator, if they don’t accommodate others, their physical, mental, and psychological safety are in jeopardy.
And in trying to be ever-accommodating, women also deal with the fact that they may have to compensate in other ways if deference isn’t enough. Dr. Ford herself juggled between apologizing for being “collegial” while also talking about topics within the realm of her academic expertise, such as epinephrine and neurotransmitters. It wasn’t naivete; like many women have had to do in the past, it was likely in the hopes of striking the right tone and making the right impression. Kavanaugh had to do none of this as he called the mere existence of the allegations against him a “national disgrace,” and lamented the effects of them on him and his family. (Never mind that Ford and her family have had to hire private security and leave their home since going public with her story.)
Even if the public does end up feeling like Dr. Ford is “credible enough” — an entirely different travesty where she needs to prove herself and yet Kavanaugh somehow doesn’t — the fact still remains that she had to go through emotional gymnastics to be seen that way. And therein lies a common experience of womanhood.
In order to counter this, we need to support one another. That means standing up for those around us in our daily lives. In personal situations. In the workplace. At the ballot box. What Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is doing — standing up on her own to tell her terribly traumatic story — is nothing short of heroic. She’s not only standing up for herself; she’s standing up for all of us and the sanctity of the Supreme Court.
But imagine a world where women could stand up for themselves and others without feeling the need to accommodate people — especially men — in the process. And imagine a world where a woman who is called upon to speak about a traumatizing experience of her life can feel free to object or say "no," and others in the room would have to accommodate her.
If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, please call the RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Lily Herman is a contributing editor at Refinery29. Follow her on Twitter. The views expressed are her own.
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You know that scene in The Notebook, where Ryan Gosling tells Rachel McAdams that he had actually written to her every day for a year, grabs her face, and rain-kisses her with such ferocity that she nearly ricochets off the boat deck? I had a similar experience recently.
Except mine ended up with me prying my date’s hands from my face, muttering an excuse, and leaping onto the nearest bus. Don’t get me wrong; the date had gone well. But in the last month, a cluster of lovingly persistent zits had made my jawline their home, and while they’d been hidden under a curtain of hair for the duration of the date, they were now sitting in prime territory. I couldn’t shake the embarrassment. And this was only the beginning.
Now, this wasn’t my first rodeo. Since the age of about 15, my skin had always been unpredictable, launching fleets of spots at the most inconvenient times. After a visit to the doctor, going on the pill temporarily blessed me with a couple of years of what I like to call the tinted-moisturizer-and-nothing-else era, but with it came the irrational mood swings, constant periods, and grim migraines. So I came off the pill, walking away thinking it was possible I’d outgrown acne; one year later, the treacherous bastard made a U-turn back into my life.
After the night of my Great Date Escape, things got much worse. Day after day, the cute baby spots of my teen years were traded for huge painful cysts. Spots so big that they demanded their own sequel and prequel. An unrelenting Star Wars franchise on my skin. "The Spot Strikes Back." And they weren’t short-stay visitors. They would hang around for weeks, and left a smattering of angry red scarring in their wake.
Before I knew it, my skin began to permeate every area of my life. As an editor for a fashion company, I was constantly faced with models, shoots, and crowded meetings, and it took every ounce of strength not to bury myself at home all day. I stopped wearing my hair up, earrings — anything that drew attention to the sides of my face.
I feared public transport with its harsh overhead lights, a magnifying glass finger pointed at my imperfections. It had even changed my day-to-day interactions with strangers. I was obsessed. Not in a casual-glance kind of way but in a Hitchcockian, Rear Window -obsessive type of way. I found myself staring at poreless waitresses in restaurants, unblemished teenagers munching on McDonald's on the bus, even babies. That’s right. I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve openly coveted the skin of a jam-smeared child.
I developed a hate-hate relationship with Instagram, which regularly taunted me with impossibly smooth selfies or experimental makeup tutorials that didn’t reflect my own repetitive routine of shellacking layers of foundation on my face. I cancelled plans with friends and became uneasy with dating. On days when I managed to feel less self-conscious and I’d force myself out, megawatt bar lighting was my nemesis, and any post-date extracurricular activity would end with me escaping in a 5 a.m. Uber to avoid the guy seeing me sans makeup. Yes, it was that deep.
I launched myself into a healing saga of harsh topical creams, trying every antibiotic under the sun, spironolactone, probiotics, Chinese herbs, going dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, chugging spirulina (tastes like and looks like pond scum), eating chia seeds (shares the unfortunate consistency of congealed gravy), getting less sun, getting more sun (one ill-advised SPF-free sunbathing session left me looking like I was wearing a painful red head-to-toe bodysuit for four days). I felt exhausted. I put all my energy into my skin, and it repeatedly rebuked my advances like a hostile nightclub bouncer. My breaking point came the day I turned 26, when I looked in the mirror and barely recognized myself. That was that. I had been battling acne for over a decade. I was going to need a bigger boat. I made an appointment at The London Skin and Hair Clinic to see consultant dermatologist Martin Wade, and it was one of the best things I ever did.
Going into my first appointment, I was asked to remove my makeup before my face was put into a beastly scanner which, after a few clicks, told me to what degree my skin was afflicted with things like redness (66%), wrinkles (2%, baby) and spots (20%). This would be monitored throughout the length of my treatment for improvements. After closely examining my face with magnifying goggles, Dr. Wade then asked me to relay in detail my skin history up to that point (which, trust me, is like therapy for an acne sufferer).
He then told me what I already knew — that my skin situation was on the severe side — but that there was something I hadn’t yet tried: Accutane. A last-resort drug and reserved for extreme cases, he explained that it wasn’t for everyone and certainly not to be taken lightly. First off, you absolutely have to be on some form of birth control (it can cause birth defects), undergo monthly check-ups, blood tests, and limit any drinking as it’s hard on the liver (farewell Chardonnay, my old friend). But used correctly it had a high cure rate. Yes, a cure. I signed up then and there.
The first month was hard. I experienced the phenomenon so dreadful and unutterable that it has its own acronym: IB, the Initial Breakout. Within two weeks of starting the first course of treatment, every pore on my face expelled monstrosities worthy of a Guillermo del Toro film. And dry lips, peeling, red skin, and fatigue came in the package deal. After a panicked email to my dermatologist, I was assured that this was completely normal and to ride it out. In the second month, things started showing the smallest signs of improvement, and from then on it’s been a slow crawl upwards.
Right now, I’m only partly through the course (which usually lasts five months), and while it hasn't been easy and I’m nowhere near clear yet, I have no regrets. I know that your skin doesn’t define who you are, and at times I've felt guilty that I was so inhibited by something that is, after all, literally only skin-deep, but I've also spent too long feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. Seeing a sympathetic expert and learning that there was a light at the end of the tunnel has been the greatest relief of all.
And along the way, I was reminded of some things I already knew: Friends don’t actually give a shit about what you look like; my parents (aka my 1-800-breakdown hotline) are an actual godsend; and self-love and how you feel about yourself is so important. I learned to go easy on myself and that it was okay to cancel plans on days I couldn’t face it. But every day that I did force myself to go out and face the world and/or board an almost comically crowded commuter train, I felt a little more badass. Acne is alienating and exhausting, but clearing my skin aside, taking control of it has been the most empowering and life-changing experience of all.
There's one month to go until Halloween, and your group chat is buzzing every two seconds. All the same costume ideas keep popping up on your lock screen: Betty Cooper, Lara Jean (yes, you're still talking about that movie), and Kate Middleton are the few you catch before another suggestion pushes the last deeper into the thread.
For the record, those are all great , commendable costumes. Being the "good girl" is always fun: She's royal, she's sweet, she even dates Jughead Jones. But we've decided to go in another direction this time around. We're skipping the pink lip gloss, school-girl ponytails, and cubic-zirconia tiara and trading it in for something a little... darker. Hey, even Betty has a dark side, and frankly, we wouldn't mind dressing up as her — black wig and all — for a night.
This means we're in the market for moody eyeshadows, eyeliners, and lots of black lipsticks this year. If you are, too — whether your idea of Halloween plans entails channeling your inner Nancy Downs or skipping the party altogether to stay home and listen to Joy Division — we've got every product necessary to make your October 31st a total success. Our go-to goth makeup, ahead.
A liquid lipstick that lasts through several rounds of themed punch (spooned out of a cauldron, naturally) that's under $10 and named Roseblood almost seems too good to be true. Luckily, it's not.
L'Oreal Paris L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-matte Liquid Lip, $7.49, available at Target
Last year, Rituel de Fille collaborated with singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe to create this lipstick that pays homage to the '90s goth-punk scene. It's just a spooky bonus that if you blot it onto your lips, it kind of looks like stained blood.
Rituel De Fille Enchanted Lip Sheer: Swarm, $24, available at Rituel De Fille
Diving deep into goth beauty always requires one very important product: black lipstick. After all, it does go with everything.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Collector’s Edition Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick, $0.12, available at Sephora
Don't want to ditch all your glitter this year? Try a liquid lipstick infused with some sparkle for a glitzy take on the trend.
Black Up No Transfer Double Effect Liquid Lipcolor, $27.5, available at Sephora
This deep-purple lip color probably wouldn't be Downs' first choice (she prefers something matte and slightly terrifying), but it's one we keep in our bags year round.
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Deliciously Shiny Lipstick, $32, available at Sephora
Ready to color your waterline in black like it's 1996? Try Milk Makeup's new gel formula, which goes on smoothly without turning your eyes red and lasts longer than Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
Milk Makeup Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, $22, available at Sephora
Kajal liners like Shiseido's latest make transforming into Lydia Deetz as easy as summoning Beetlejuice from the underworld.
Shiseido Kajal InkArtist Shadow, Liner, Brow, $25, available at Shiseido
Sure, this smoky palette is an investment, but if you're prepared to lean into the moody vibe there's no better way than with this jewel-toned set.
Pat McGrath Mothership I Eyeshadow Palette - Subliminal, $125, available at Sephora
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While the traditional wedding season has already passed, we're betting you haven't seen your last save the date mailer just yet. In an era where quick engagements are the norm — we're looking at you Ariana, Justin, and Priyanka — and destination weddings are on the rise, the marriage buzz now happens year-round. Where we used to store away the what-to-wear-to-a-wedding dilemma come fall, we're no longer allowed a reprieve. If anything, we're guessing the number of wedding-guest outfits you'll need this season is about to see a significant hike.
Despite being a mere season apart, summer and fall weddings couldn't be more dissimilar. From color schemes to the dinner menu, there's a clear shift in tone, meaning your dress code will, too. Your breezy, go-to summer wedding dresses aren't going to cut it. Instead, turn towards warm, natural colors, satiny fabrics and the bounty of patterns available. To save you the headache, see our 15 picks ahead that will make dressing for your next fall wedding easier than ever.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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Mulberry’s spring 2019 collection may have been presented in Paris, but this season, creative director Johnny Coca took us back to London’s Swinging Sixties. "I was looking at a defining moment in British culture," Coca tells Refinery29 at the brand’s showroom. "The collection is very playful. I wanted to protect Mulberry’s history and show where the brand came from." Mulberry so often reimagines codes from its British heritage, and this time, the key elements of the decade of liberation have been employed to create a collection that is at once nostalgic and contemporary.
Think matching scallop-hemmed jackets and skirts, 3D geometric earrings, and vinyl raincoats in pop-bright hues; all the '60s signifiers are there. Sure, the decade is often referenced, to the point that a mini skirt and block heel can feel like fancy dress, but what sets this apart is Coca’s ability to make cuts and colors which are intrinsic to British label's DNA feel totally fresh.
How? It’s all in the coats, prints, and accessories. Checked coats are all-pervasive this season, but Mulberry’s oversized cocoon shape and orange and navy palette make for an instant classic. The leather coat, made up of scalloped circles in autumnal tones, will also be a hit, nodding to the '60s while seamlessly sliding into our wardrobes alongside black turtlenecks and flared denim.
The showstopper may just be the marble print, which Coca says was manipulated by hand and computer. "We worked with new fabric because we couldn’t use the same fabric from the '60s. The marble wasn’t a print we found. Instead, we found flowers in colors pervasive during the decade and twisted them on a computer to create the effect. It feels really impactful."
The devil was in the details for this collection, too, as a closer look revealed shift dresses with vintage mismatched buttons, go-go boots with geometric plates, and metallic Mary Janes with perspex block heels – an homage to the space age, Barbarella -esque fabrics of the time. Of course, Mulberry’s bestselling items are its bags, and this season didn’t disappoint. From oxblood woven check holdalls to big leather totes with chain detailing, via paintbox-bright iterations of the brand’s Amberley and marble-effect top-handled pieces, the bag selection was a masterclass in creating 'It' items and an accessories collection as strong as your ready-to-wear.
With other luxury houses still fawning over the streetwear and athleisure trend, it feels good to come back to a more fanciful and playful approach to dressing up. And while us Brits may find it hard to escape the long shadow of the Swinging Sixties, Coca thinks the decade feels more relevant than ever.
"As I trawled through London's archives, I was inspired by the women in the photographs," he explained. "The power of women really started in the '60s. Women stopped being traditional and started having fun, being cool, and fighting for freedom. It really was the beginning of female power."
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Not long after the hearing began, Twitter users noted that Dr. Ford chose to wear a blue suit, in what they believed was a nod to Anita Hill. 27 years ago, Anita Hill testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that her former boss, Judge Clarence Thomas, had sexually harassed her. Thomas was confirmed anyway, and today he sits on the U.S. Supreme Court bench. Still, Hill held her own as a Black woman in a bright blue suit, surrounded by a crowd of white men in black and navy suits in 1991.
Sen. Feinstein "Anita Hill, attractive woman in a blue suit". Dr. Ford, attractive lady in a blue suit. Must just be coincidence,; no one would have done that deliberately would they?
Though it's admirable to think Dr. Ford is wearing blue in tribute of Anita Hill, who underwent similar proceedings, Hill actually wore a bright blue linen suit that leaned closer to teal. In fact, protestors in D.C. are wearing teal to celebrate Hill. The National Organization for Women wrote on its website, "WEAR TEAL to support Dr. Blasey Ford," in preparation for Thursday's rally. "Anita Hill wore TEAL when she testified in 1991. Summon the courage and strength of Anita Hill when you support Dr. Blasey Ford this week."
If anything, Dr. Ford's navy blue suit illustrates the burden of proof needed to be a believable accuser testifying during a sexual harassment hearing — and there isn't anything honorable about that.
When it comes to sexual assault, what a woman is wearing is often given too much attention — what she wore before or during an assault is often used to discredit the victim. Dr. Ford's muted, conservative suit was an attempt at giving her words the spotlight, and it's time the world lets her speak. Because if this was a man in her position, no one would be thinking twice about the blazer and trousers he'd no doubt be wearing.
If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, please call theRAINN Sexual Assault Hotlineat 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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It's no secret that we love sweaters — chunky knits, turtlenecks, striped jumpers, you name it. And can you blame us? Slipping one on when they're finally appropriate is like, well, coming home. But if we have one tiny little complaint about the state of knitwear this fall, it's this: Every style looks the same as always. Oversized turtlenecks are still just oversized turtlenecks. Striped sweaters are, per usual, still striped. But, there is one style that's finally starting to shake things up: the cardigan.
That's right — we said cardigans. And no, we're not talking about J.Crew sweater sets or your grandpa's itchy collection. Sure, cardigans don't have the most stylish rep, but lately, we've spotted a new kind of cardigan that's anything but boring. From oversized weaves to brightly-colored hues, sweaters are finally giving us something to talk about. With sweater weather fast approaching, there's no better time to add to your collection with a new-and-improved cardigan (or two). Here's 17 options to get you started.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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It’s sometimes said that a woman carries her entire world in her handbag. But it’s actually deeper than that. A bag, in reality, can only hold so much. It’s also usually a pretty private space. So the items we choose to carry with us as we speed through our busy days and nights are like the distilled essence of us — the real us — and they are the things we hold most dear.
In partnership with Stuart Weitzman, we asked three of our favorite creative women to give us a glimpse into their bags — a peek not even their closest friends usually get. Inside, we found sentimental treasures that transport them to the past, gadgets that help them find their “space in the crowd,” beauty essentials that get them ready to face the world, and the sacred objects they use to clear the air and feel at home. Maybe bags aren’t a woman’s entire world. But they are an intimate part of our style, a faithful keeper of secrets, and they help us hold on to what we value most. Read on for a look inside.
Me & My Style
"I’m a model, stylist, and sales associate from Queens, New York. My style depends on my mood, but my overall vibe is unpredictable and effortless, even when I’m dressed up.
"I love the contrast between my chartreuse skirt and the bold fuchsia Envelope Clutch. The shoes are like a classier take on combat boots — they ground the look. I feel quite high-end in this outfit but with a little toughness, too. I love that contrast.
"I always look for a bag that works easily with any outfit. The sleek, structured lines of this clutch elevate anything you pair it with. I’m a hands-free kind of person, so even if I’m carrying a clutch, I need a strap so I can sling it over my arm or shoulder."
A Look Inside
Fig. 2 "I'm a collector. Everywhere I go I pick up little mementos. I do it randomly, whatever catches my eye. The shells are from a trip to Rockaway Beach I took right at the end of summer — nothing too deep, just a little souvenir of a great day."
Fig. 3 "I carry a planner at all times — with bits and pieces of dried flowers I find pressed on the pages. Physically writing things down helps me remember what I have to do, so I’m constantly scribbling notes, dates. It keeps me as organized as possible. If I lost my planner, I’d feel super lost, even if I had my phone."
Fig. 4 & 6 "I’m usually in a rush, so I always carry my cosmetic pouch with some essentials — lip balm, hair pins, a small perfume. Basically, what I use daily in case I don’t have time to get ready at home!"
Fig. 5 "A real, physical photo is so much better than having a thousand on your phone. I like to keep a few special ones with me. The most unexpected item in my bag? Probably my Lucky 7 scratch-offs — so far not so lucky.
"I’d let a friend go through my bag — as long as they know they’ll probably never find what they’re looking for.
"One secret you can totally tell about me from my handbag? I’m an organized mess!"
Me & My Style
"I work at a media company as a creative director and strategist. My style is minimal, impactful, sustainable, a little nerdy. My personality is dichotomous. I can be quiet and still, or inspired and rambunctious. It’s the Gemini in me.
"I feel powerful in this outfit. The skirt is a favorite vintage find. It’s long but teases enough leg to make it fun. Pairing it with a slim boot with an interesting but walkable heel and the Shopping Tote, I can run around to meetings and hit the gym after a long day.
"I like to dress in a uniform and let my bag be the conversation piece of the look. It has to have personality, room to carry what I need for a busy day, and be a little bit of a party. I love a small bag that packs a big punch."
A Look Inside
Fig. 2 "Of everything I carry, my notebook is the most "me," because it’s essentially my brain on paper. It’s a playground for ideas — everything from sketches to dreams and to-do lists. It keeps me sane."
Fig. 3 "My father always took photos of my family and filled up albums in our home. It’s such a rich feeling to flip through them, so I carry a disposable camera. I want to record as much of my life and the people who are dear to me as possible."
Fig. 4 "The vintage resin keychain has held what feels like hundreds of apartment keys. I’ve been pretty nomadic the past 12 years, but this keychain has been a constant."
Fig. 5 "This brass box is like a hidden treasure within my bag. It holds a travel-size scent, shells from a beach visit, and a fabric swatch. Tiny reminders of home keep me grounded."
Fig. 6 "My refresher kit contains my favorite lip balm, lip color, and face oil. It’s important to have tiny moments of self-care throughout the day. I’m constantly moving and immersed in work, so these small resets keep me going. I also carry Palo Santo — you never know when you’ll need to clear a space.
"I'd never let anyone go through my bag — I’m too mysterious for that."
Me & My Style
"I work at a tax firm and I model for independent designers. My style is deceptively simple, minimal, yet feminine. I’m a lover of candles, yoga, plants, skin-care products, R&B, and comfort.
"I love a flowy white dress — it makes me feel angelic, delicate, and graceful. The Shoebox Clutch makes the outfit elegant. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece that feels ladylike, with the right amount of edge. I’d wear this to a social event — or for a walk to the bodega.
"Handbags are my most essential accessory. You wouldn’t wear sneakers without socks or leave your apartment without a coat in February, right? My handbag is that vital. I have a daily uniform: jeans and a loose-fitting top with sandals or a low heel. I rely on bags to add interest through sleek lines or bold color. I like small purses, which limits the items I can carry, so I’m an expert at paring down to the must-haves."
A Look Inside
Fig. 2 "I love to carry scents and crystals for clarity and energy, too. I recently purchased these perfume balls during my trip to Mexico City — they’re divine and remind me of that trip vividly."
Fig. 3 "No matter how I feel or how tired and disheveled I look, I know that a swipe of the right lipstick will give me the boost of confidence that I need. It’s fun to switch things up and feel fancy with a bright red or orange lip."
Fig. 4 "I’d never leave home without a book — they’re perfect for long train rides, or for when your phone’s battery dies after a hectic day juggling office emails, mom’s calls, and texts."
Fig. 5 "If it’s too humid outside or if I’m having a bad curly-hair day, I’m always prepared to wrap my hair in a low ponytail using a scrunchie, with my curly bangs hanging out. It’s been my go-to look as of late. Sometimes my curls draw attention away from my outfit, and it’s refreshing to pull back my hair for a chicer look."
Fig. 6 "I keep random Polaroids in my bag to reminisce on recent events. This particular one is my cousin and me, celebrating his new journey living in New York City and attending NYU.
"Usually, I’d never let anyone go through my bag — that would be too intimate.
"What does my bag say about me? I don’t carry a lot of baggage, physically and metaphorically."
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Two folding tables stand side-by-side in the Georgetown University student union. At both, students sit staring at their laptops, transfixed by what's happening on their screens. They're watching Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, effusively defend himself against sexual assault allegations from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who testified earlier on Thursday. He is angry and forceful, at times spitting and breaking down in tears.
The two groups of students represent two factions of the traditionally Catholic university in Washington, D.C., that don't see eye-to-eye on women's reproductive rights. At one is the group Georgetown Right to Life, a student organization "dedicated to protecting human life from conception to natural death." At the other is H*yas for Choice (they are not allowed to use the Hoya school mascot as part of their name or receive funding from the university because of the school's Catholic identity), the only group that provides condoms and Plan B on campus. There's a bowl of condoms on their table and students in the busy thoroughfare are walking by and taking them. The two groups are cordial to each other, but they're not interacting and they don't know each other.
Today, H*yas for Choice is encouraging students who walk by to take a photo with an "I Believe Survivors" sign, and posting it on social media. This echoes the protest signs that were lining the halls of the Hart Senate Office Building in the hundreds on Thursday during the pivotal hearing.
"Any kind of visibility is crucial for showing survivors that they are not alone and they are supported," Angela Maske, a 22-year-old senior and president of H*yas for Choice, explained the social media campaign. "Being a survivor can feel very lonely, especially in times like this high-profile case, with narratives around doubt swirling around that can be harmful and invalidating."
Maske, who is from Lexington, KY, spent her summer canvassing the offices of Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski (a Georgetown alumna), the two Republicans who are considered possible swing votes in the Kavanaugh confirmation. Every morning that the Senate was in session since Kavanaugh was nominated in July, she would wake up an hour early before her internship and meet with staffers from their offices. Maske came to the hearing on Thursday morning in solidarity with survivors, wearing an "I believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford" pin.
It’s just very concerning that this is being painted as his life being ruined when he’s just not getting onto a lifetime appointment onto the Supreme Court.
Like many women Maske knows a lot of sexual assault survivors, and she says the atmosphere on campus has been heavy and tense as the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh poured in. According to 2016 survey, 31% of undergraduate women at Georgetown experienced non-consensual sexual contact as a result of physical force or incapacitation, a statistic that Maske says is higher than at similar schools largely due to "the culture of toxic masculinity that pervades many campuses," but also the "large amount of privilege that many of our students have where they feel they are entitled to anyone and anything."
Angela Maske is the president of Georgetown University's H*yas for Choice. She's here in solidarity with survivors as she knows a lot of them @natalie_nyc reports from Washington D.C. #KavanaughHearingspic.twitter.com/2llg7iS2IR
A few of Maske's friends are helping her manage the H*yas for Choice table, which students take turns doing in hourly shifts. As they watch Kavanaugh get angrier and angrier, some of them are perplexed by his reactions. "He's so visibly angry and it is mind-boggling to me," Emma Vahey, a 20-year-old junior, says. "It’s just very concerning that this is being painted as his life being ruined when he’s just not getting onto a lifetime appointment onto the Supreme Court."
Everyone at the table agrees. "I think it’s really concerning to see how this parallels the Anita Hill hearings" in 1991, says Avery Moje, a 20-year-old senior. She's taking a class called Gender in the Law in which they're watching a documentary on Anita Hill, and she can't help but notice that, "Clarence Thomas was also very angry when he was asked to respond, he made comments about how unreasonable this all was." All of the students are concerned that if Kavanaugh gets confirmed, it would have a negative effect on sexual assault survivors' abilities to report their stories, a process that can be demeaning and convoluted on college campuses as it is.
Ben Amadi, an 18-year-old freshman who plays football for Georgetown, walks by and takes a photo with the I Believe Survivors sign, telling the students he appreciates what they're doing. "From what I read, I fully believe the women," he tells Refinery29. "I have respect for the women and the fact that they’ve been through a traumatic experience. The likelihood that they’re actually lying, the statistics toward false reporting is very slim." He adds that especially in sports, there is often a "culture of conquest" and he doesn't shy away from talking about that with his male friends.
"We talk about how the norms of society have made it easy for things like this to happen, how the culture around guys and their friends is, they put a lot of value towards getting with a female, and so that kind of affects how we look at females and objectify them and that leads to sexual assault and rape," says Amadi.
Ben Amadi, freshman at Georgetown University
A couple of feet away, Hunter Estes (no relation to Ashley Estes Kavanaugh that he knows of), a 21-year-old senior, joins his friend Caroline Willcox at the Right to Life table.
We talk about how the norms of society have made it easy for things like this to happen.
As a 2015 alum of Georgetown Prep, from which Kavanaugh graduated in 1983, Estes sees Kavanaugh as a role model and says he was "ecstatic" when the judge was nominated, as he respects his lifetime of public service and literal approach to the law. Estes says that while we must listen to and empathize with sexual assault survivors — "This is something that hits me deeply. I have three younger sisters" — he doesn't think the allegations are currently credible enough to bring Kavanaugh down.
"I don’t think everyone has a right to immediately be believed, I think those decisions can only be made once evidence is provided," he says, adding that he believes there is a lack of evidence and corroboration in Dr. Ford's case. "That’s the problem I face in this situation. I don’t believe or disbelieve an accusation immediately. I think the basis of Western legal tradition is everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and I think that doctrine is what provides us with the capability to function in a legitimate democracy." Even though this is a job interview and not a trial? "Even in a job interview, due process should apply and we should walk in with the assumption of innocence."
In a sworn statement shared by lawyer Michael Avenatti on Wednesday, Julie Swetnick alleged that Kavanaugh and his friends would spike drinks at house parties, which would lead girls "to become inebriated and disoriented so they could then be ‘gang raped’ in a side room or bedroom by a ‘train’ of numerous boys."
Estes says that while he has no idea what happened in the '80s, he's never witnessed anything similar. He says he believes that Georgetown Prep has been portrayed in a negative light throughout this process as a hard-partying playground for privileged kids, and someone from a military family who got financial aid to go there, he disputes that.
"I’ve never been shown a case of any other school that has taken more seriously the sense of discipline and honor...an overarching sense of service and deep devotion to our community," he says. "And so everything that has been said, and the attacks against the school, is exactly the opposite experience that I’ve had."
Sitting next to Estes watching the hearing, Caroline Willcox, who is from South Carolina, is more conflicted about the allegations against Kavanaugh. Willcox, also a 21-year-old senior, is the president of Right to Life, although she says her opinions on Kavanaugh are her own and do not necessarily represent the organization.
They both seem really sincere, and that’s the hard part.
"Her testimony is very compelling and it’s hard to watch that and not feel something and believe her and have your heart go out to her," Willcox says of Dr. Ford. Like Estes, she says she believes that although Dr. Ford may not have political motivations, Democrats have manipulated the accusers and made their stories into a political issue, "kind of detracting from the situation at hand."
She says, however, that before making a decision we simply need more evidence in the case — not ruling out FBI involvement, which Democrats have been pressing for. "If these allegations are true, then I don’t think he deserves a spot on the bench," Willcox says. Republicans are pushing forward with Kavanaugh, with the Senate Judiciary Committee slated to hold a committee vote on Friday despite Democrats calling for a more thorough investigation or his resignation.
Pausing for a bit, Willcox shifts her gaze back to Kavanaugh defending his honor on-screen. "They both seem really sincere, and that’s the hard part."
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Raise your hand if you've apologized to your manicurist for your super-short nails? Now why do we do that? Long, bedazzled, Cardi B-inspired claws might get all the love on Instagram right now — and boy are they badass — but short nails are cute in their own right. Plus, they'll never annoy the heck out of you when you're clicking away on your keyboard, trying to remove your contact lenses, or opening a can of fizzy water.
According to the pros, the trick to making short nails feel more glamorous is to make them look purposeful by keeping them clean, smooth, and shaped. "The most important part of ensuring your nails look great at any length is taking good care of your hands," Megan Richardson and Gretchen Tiernan, owners of Sand Spa, explain. "Short nails look best when your cuticles are pushed back and you can see your half moons."
Groomed, short nails might allow for a more practical morning, but that's not to say you can't fake the look of more length — manicurists can even paint them in ways that give the illusion of a longer nail bed. As famed nail artist Miss Pop told us: "Nail art is not big nail exclusive. If you’re a nail biter, just focus the attention not on the tip, but down to the cuticle."
Whether you're after the chic look, or just want to rest your nails between longer lengths, we've rounded up the coolest manis to copy now, no growth required, ahead.
Soft pink peonies and gold wire accents would make even the most loyal acrylic-devotee consider going natural.
Tiny and precise details make all the difference.
A thin stripe of sparkly glitter running vertically from your cuticle to the end of your nail makes a statement without being overly embellished.
You can make an evil eye mani a little more interesting by making the base color a shade lighter than your skin tone, placing the eye contour at the base of your cuticle, and adding some long lashes to the adjacent nail.
Ombré glitter spillage also gives the illusion that your nails are longer than they actually are — and it's an easy DIY, too.
Parallel purple lines are so simple, yet have an elongating effect when they're thin and placed towards the middle portion of the nail.
There's something about a teensy white dot that elevates any neutral manicure.
Bright red polish looks good on any nail shape, no matter the length. But if yours are on the shorter side, try making red your accent color on top of something softer, like a baby blue.
Pop says that if you want to make your short nail beds look extra long, you can shift the perspective with art. "I do little mini moons, because tinier details do tend to make nails look larger," Pop says. "I love doing them in gold."
Instagram
Triangles extending from the cuticle can also lengthen the look of nails. "Do a triangle but a really very, very long one that elongates the look of your fingers," Pop says.
Instagram
"Wearing a solid color or dark color might make [nails] look smaller," Pop says. So she loves the idea of playing with negative space and covering the entire nail in a pattern, like imperfect polka dots.
Instagram
Pop also loves painting what she calls "diagonal halfsies," which involves swiping one shade of polish diagonally across the nail, and leaving the rest of the nail naked. "That really elongates the nail, and it also helps mask the fact that your nails might not all be the same length," Pop says.
Instagram
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Ivanka's schedule has not been made public, so each week, we will do our best to cover the public events and forums she attends, the meetings she has with lawmakers and government officials, and her social media presence.
Monday, September 24
• Ivanka had a busy week in New York at the United Nations General Assembly. In between talking #jobs and #womensempowerment at the Concordia Summit, she posted many vanity shots behind-the-scene photos on her Instagram stories.
• At the summit, Ivanka explained how she stays out of the daily drama that engulfs the White House. "It’s been a work in progress, but I’m getting better at ignoring the noise," she said. "I tend not to respond, I tend not to debunk criticism or say when things are inaccurate." The presidential adviser added: "Getting too engaged in the daily chaos is distracting; I don’t pay too much attention because it would be unhealthy." Perhaps she can give her dad some tips?
• Ivanka met with the Foreign Minister of South Korea, Kang Kyung-wha.
Tuesday, September 25
• Ivanka sat on a panel with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimi, and World Bank President Jim Young Kim to talk the global economic empowerment of women.
• She also met with the Women's Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative Leadership Champions.
• The lost Trump sister Tiffany Trump was spotted with Ivanka and the rest of her family during their dad's speech at the UN (where he was laughed at by other world leaders).
• Ivanka tweeted praise to U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who she has been spending a lot of time with this week at the UNGA.
Congratulations to our great US Ambassador to the United Nations @NikkiHaley on a successful Security Council Presidency and productive meetings at #UNGA2018. pic.twitter.com/rq5yibuf5O
• Ivanka, who had been posting constantly on Instagram and Twitter all week, was unusually silent on Thursday, when Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's Supreme Court nominee, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford alleges Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when they were both in high school. Kavanaugh, who has been accused by two other women of sexual misconduct, denies the allegations.
Since its genesis in 2003, we've seen the Pumpkin Spice Latte go from being completely novel to overly trendy to a total fall cliché. Now that the PSL has gone from hottest fall beverage on the block to settling into its place as a seasonal staple on coffee shop menus across the country, there's plenty of room for a new festive drink to take its spot.
So, we set out to discover coffee trends that have the potential to spark the same level of excitement PSLs once did. For insight into what coffee orders people will be obsessing over in the crisp months to come, we reached out to baristas from cafes across the country. Ahead, find all the autumn beverage fads they've been noticing, including different variations on oat milk lattes, sweet and savory mashups, and even CBD oil add-ons.
Cardamom Coconut Cold Brew
"Our Cardamom Coconut Cold Brew has almost outsold our lattes, which is huge. You’re seeing a lot of sweet/savory mashups and people using ingredients you don’t always think about when you think of coffee pairings. With the huge surge in oat milk in the industry, I'm sensing that people are looking for heartier coffee beverages, both in flavor and mouthfeel. I am currently working on a smoked sea salt caramel for one of our seasonal beverages. I think sea salt is making a big move right now and it pairs with the acidity of coffee in a really interesting way. I also think we’re going to see more earthy flavors- maple, cinnamon, cloves, even star anise. These flavors don’t present as overly sweet, either, which I feel a lot of our guests are moving away from." — Valerie Pollock, coffee program manager
"Maple Lattes aren't an item that Birch Coffee serves but I would love to see Maple Lattes make their way into people's seasonal coffee routine. I think this drink would taste great made with oat milk."
"I'm sure this isn't the first you're hearing of this, but Oatly 0at milk is all the rage right now, and I have a feeling people will get really creative with this for the fall season. Oat milk is an incredibly approachable non dairy, milk alternative, and I think that's a huge reason people are becoming familiar with it — its dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and it doesn't have any added sugar — so it is seemingly one of the more healthy milk alternatives." — Sara Kjelsvig, barista
"We are seeing big trends in oat milk lattes and CBD oil add-ons (and this way, you can still taste the balanced flavor of the espresso we are serving!). We will be offering CBD as an add-on this fall. We decided to partner with Higher Wave Wellness — they have a water soluble CBD product that doesn’t interfere with the taste of the coffee. According to them, 'Merging the stimulation of caffeine with the calming nature of CBD, customers will enjoy the synergistic effects and in addition counteract unsettling feelings of anxiety, shakiness or jitters brought on by one two many cups of brew.' I’ve tried it and personally, felt much more focused and relaxed." — Claire Chan, owner
"Our honey latte is a popular choice among our customers year round... Offering homemade syrups help showcase and compliment the coffee we serve — to open up the dialogue of the story and origin of the coffee if possible or simply provide a consistently delicious beverage for any new or current customer."
"The next trend could become more focused on transparency of "seed to cup." This will include, sharing with guest what country the coffee beans come from, the relationship we have with the farmers, using the same coffee in various brew methods ie cold brew, nitro, pour over, and espresso. These topics have contributed to having menus that are a bit more simplified and specialized." — Adriana Uriostegui, barista
"For the fall menu at Black Fox, I wanted to create a beverage that I personally would enjoy as well as our customers. That drink is a Vegan Buttercup latte. Though I'm not vegan, I am lactose intolerant and felt it necessary to have something on our menu that we could enjoy. The Vegan Buttercup includes a single shot of espresso, steamed oat milk, and a house-made vegan butterscotch syrup made with coconut milk and panela sugar, all in an 8oz cup. It's the most delicious vegan sweet treat! I carefully balanced the ratios to highlight each element of the drink." — Brittney Bell, barista
"This fall, Colectivo is kicking off cooler weather with our Maple Cold Brew Oat-Lait. Offered hot or cold, it’s a combination of creamy Oat Milk, our signature Session Cold Brew, and maple-flavored syrup infused with cinnamon, clove, and ginger. Maple is a rich, deep flavor for fall. Combined with warming spices, the Oat-Lait will be helping me ease into the harsh, Wisconsin winter." — Rebecca Siahaan, retail and wholesale barista trainer
"This fall we are rolling out some new drinks that I'm really excited about. The 'Oh Snap!' is super refreshing drink with a hint of spice. It's an iced drink, because even though it's autumn, it's still 90 degrees outside here in Texas! The 'Oh Snap!' is made with ginger beer, cold brew, lime juice, and house-made maple-infused simple syrup, with a candied ginger garnish." — Julie Serafini, shopkeeper
"I know that Turmeric has been gaining traction for a bit now, but I think it’s going to go big this fall. A Turmeric Chai Latte is perfect for fall because its earthy taste is great for the colder weather and the chai tea and hint of ginger gives just the right amount of spice. Turmeric is also great for your immune system which is oh so key during the cold and flu season." — Hyeyoung Tarin, co-founder and in-house barista expert
"Seasonal specialty beverages are putting a strong emphasis on synergy, allowing for the coffee's true flavor to shine through. There is also definitely a trend of drinks that have a house-made ingredients like homemade nut and other alt-milks, and many of these drinks are being developed with health, wellness, and sustainability in mind." — Allie Caran, director of education
"I've noticed a shift away from the traditional fall palette of pumpkin + common baking spices to fresher and more vibrant botanicals. Creative ingredients are surfacing in cocktails and coffee drinks alike as part of a broader interplay of mixology and specialty coffee — many craft coffee beverages make use of techniques and ingredients from behind the bar, including tonics, shrubs, and bitters." — Pia Barnet, green coffee coordinator
There's one piece of money advice that people love to offer — often unsolicited — to millennials: stop buying daily coffees. We understand that the relatively small amounts we spend on lattes and cold brew can add up in just a week, but imploring us to deny ourselves one of life's simplest, most wonderful pleasures doesn't really seem fair. But there is, thankfully, one day each year when we can put aside our guilt over buying coffee because, on this most joyous of days, there are plenty of ways to get coffee for free or at a serious discount.
This year, National Coffee Day falls on Saturday, September 29. This Saturday and on the days leading up to it, cafés, coffee shops, and restaurants across the country are giving us ways to save on the very thing we've been told repeatedly that we're spending too much on. Plus, several coffee brands are also offering deals on beans and other products that will make doing the financially responsible thing (you know, brewing your coffee at home) seem like less of a sacrifice. Whether you're a PSL fanatic or an iced coffee queen, there's sure to be something for you to enjoy — sans pesky financial guilt! — this National Coffee Day.
Barnes & Noble Cafés: Cafés inside Barnes & Noble locations across the country will be offering a free cup of tall, freshly-brewed hot or iced coffee on National Coffee Day.
Birch Coffee: On National Coffee Day, Birch will be offering a pay what you please promotion. Customers will be encouraged to pay what they please for any coffee based beverage (drip, cold brew, espresso-based) at Birch locations across New York City.
Bruegger's Bagels: Bruegger's Bagels Inner Circle Rewards members can get a free medium coffee with any purchase. The offer is valid from September 22 — the first day of fall — through National Coffee Day on September 29. To redeem the offer, present barcode from your email, Bruegger's Bagels mobile app, or provide your phone number to the cashier.
Bulletproof Coffee: Bulletproof is celebrating National Coffee Day on both the east and west coast. On Thursday, September 27 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., customers can stop by the wellness retailer PREVIEW in New York City for complimentary coffee and latte art from coffee artist Michael Breach. On Saturday, September 29, customers can get $1 coffee all day at Bulletproof Cafés in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Seattle. And, in New York City, customers can get free Bulletproof Coffee from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Tribeca at the intersection of Warren and Greenwich near Whole Foods Market. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., complimentary cups will be available at Virtual World.
Caribou Coffee: On Saturday, September 29, Caribou Coffee is offering a free coffee of the day in any size to guests who buy any food item. That includes the entire lineup of bagels, sandwiches, and bakery items at Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels locations nationwide.
Community Coffee Company: Beginning September 25, Community Coffee will be offering customers 30% off all online purchases with the promo code "COFFEEDAY2018."
Corner Bakery Café: In honor of National Coffee Day , Corner Bakery Café locations nationwide are offering a free hand-roasted coffee or cold brew of any size with any purchase on both Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29.
Cumberland Farms: Celebrate National Coffee Day at Cumberland Farm with a free hot or iced coffee in any size by texting FREECOFFEE to 64827. You'll receive a mobile coupon, which will get you a free Farmhouse coffee, tea, cappuccino, or hot chocolate.
DEZ: This fast-casual middle eastern restaurant in NYC will be offering free hot drip Devoción coffee to the first 100 customers to stop by on National Coffee Day.
Drinkfinity: Now through October 1, Drinkfinity is offering 50% off on its Americano Starter Kit. This is a $33 value that you can get for $16.50. Use the code "COFFEE" to redeem the offer.
Dunkin': In honor of National Coffee Day, anyone who purchases a hot coffee at Dunkin' this Saturday can get a second one for free.
Eight O'Clock Coffee: On National Coffee Day, Eight O'Clock Coffee is giving away a free bag of coffee each hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST on the brand's official Facebook page. For a chance to win, just comment on the Facebook post shared on September 29 and tell Eight O'Clock which coffee variety you want to win. 12 winners will receive a coffee prize pack with one bag of Eight O’Clock Coffee, a coffee scoop, and a mug. You must be a U.S. resident and 18 or older to win.
Espressotoria: If you buy six Espressotoria coffee pod packs on Walmart.com on National Coffee Day, you'll get a free Espressotoria machine. The deal will save you $99.
French Truck Coffee: All French Truck Coffee locations in New Orleans will be serving coffees for 25 cents on National Coffee Day.
Holiday Stationstores: On National Coffee Day, Holiday will be giving away a free coffee of any size to customers who text "COFFEE" to 44022. Additionally, Holiday will be running a Free Coffee Tuesday promotion from now until October 9.
Illy: This National Coffee Day, shoppers will receive a complimentary can of Illy coffee when they purchase four cans using code "5FOR4." The offer is valid until 9 a.m. ETS on September 30.
Intelligentsia Coffee: In celebration of National Coffee Day, Intelligentsia Coffee will be offering a promo at all 12 coffeebar locations in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston. Any guest that purchases a 16-ounce (or 20-ounce cups for Boston coffeebar locations) reusable cold coffee cup will receive a free cold coffee or cold tea.
Krispy Kreme: In addition to selling new Coffee Glazed Doughnut and Original Glazed Coffee all week long, Krispy Kreme is also giving out free coffees of any size on September 29.
LaMar's Donuts and Coffee: On National Coffee Day, customers who buy a 16-ounce LaMar’s reusable travel mug for $1.19 can get it filled with coffee for free.
Neuro Coffee: On September 29, customers can get 60% off the first month of the Roaster's Club monthly auto-replenish subscription service with the code "COFFEEDAY." Customers can also use the code "FREECOFFEE" to take advantage of a buy one, get one free offer on enhanced ground beans or K-Cups.
Nickel & Diner: On National Coffee Day, hit up the Coffee Counter at Nickel & Diner in New York City for buy-one-get-one-free Coldbrew Softserve for $6.
Peet's Coffee: This Saturday, customers can get 25% off one pound of beans and a drip coffee or tea for free at participating Peet's Coffeebars. They can also get 25% off all regular one pound bean purchases made online. Just use the code "COFFEEDAY18" at checkout to take advantages of the savings.
Pilot Flying J: On September 28 and 29, Pilot Flying J is treating guests to a free Pilot coffee of any size. Just download the myPilot app, and you'll find the coupon in myOffers waiting to be redeemed.
RISE Brewing Co: On National Coffee Day, customers can get 20% off site-wide on risebrewingco.com with the code "NationalCoffeeDay." Additionally, Rise is offering a BOGO deal at its cafés in New York City.
Sheetz: This Mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience chain will be celebrating National Coffee Day by offering free cold brew to any customer who orders through the Sheetz app. This offer is valid on any size and any flavor at all 583 Sheetz locations.
Sprinkles: On Saturday, September 29, Sprinkles Cupcakes is giving away free High Brew Coffee. Visit one of the 20 Sprinkles stores where High Brew is sold to receive a free can with the purchase of one regular cupcake while supplies last.
Teaspressa: To celebrate National Coffee Day, Teaspressa is offering 10% off all products purchased online. The discount is valid on Teaspressa’s website on Monday, September 24 through Sunday, September 30. Use the promo code "COFFEEDAY" at check out to get the discount. Teaspressa is also offering 10% off Signature Drinks served at its café locations in Phoenix, AZ and Ann Arbor, MI.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: To celebrate the official coffee holiday, participating locations of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be offering customers a free 16-ounce hot or iced Brewed Coffee when they purchase a food or bakery item. Additionally, rewards members who make a purchase of $20 or more will receive a free limited edition Heritage Tumbler.
Verve Coffee Roasters: This Santa Cruz-based coffee roaster is celebrating National Coffee Day by offering $1 quick cups of coffee at all retail locations. Verve is also offering free shipping on all orders placed online for 24 hours on September 29, as well.
VitaCup: On National Coffee Day, VitaCup will be offering 30% off its entire website.
Wandering Bear: In honor of National Coffee Day, Wandering Bear teamed up with Coolhaus Ice Cream to serve free Cold Brew Affogatos out of its coffee truck on Friday, September 28 in New York City.
WestEnd Coffee Bar: The coffee bar located inside the Hutton Hotel in Nashville will be serving complimentary drip-coffee all day on National Coffee Day. The beverages will be made with Parlor Coffee.
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Your mind plays tricks on you in September. For all intents and purposes, it's still summer(ish) and you're pulling your hair into a ponytail the second you step outside in an attempt to survive the damp humidity. But then, you reach the crosswalk, and you're standing next to a girl sipping something burnt-orange out of a Starbucks cup brimming with whipped cream, and you realize: Pumpkin Spice season is upon us.
We're not here to shame the eager fans who flocked to Starbucks this morning for a pump of artificial pumpkin in their cold brew. No, we get the appeal — sweet, cinnamon-y, somewhat nostalgic — and we're down to lay on that pumpkin butta thick this season. We're here for wearing an exfoliating face mask that resembles the gooey innards of a jack-o'-lantern and coating our legs with pumpkin marshmallow lotion. Heck, we'll even trade our powdery floral deodorant for cinnamon-spiced pits — 'tis the season.
You can find every seasonally-apropos body product you need to transform into a walking shrine to the PSL, ahead.
There is a lot of product out there — some would say too much. At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team, but if you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Massaging this pumpkin lip scrub into your lips will slough away chapped flakes and give a similar satisfaction to polishing off a cinnamon-dusted pumpkin doughnut (though it's definitely not the same). The sugary taste will linger after you've wiped away the exfoliating crystals and slathered on a soft balm or a silky plumping gloss — both of which are also included in this kit. It's one way to have your pumpkin spice, without eating it (though, you definitely should).
Sara Happ Sara Happ Pumpkin Spice Lip Scrub Kit, $45.52, available at QVC
Just in case the whiff of pumpkin spice alone — which is strong enough to herd a crowd of sassy pre-teens — isn't sweet enough for you, let's rip open a jumbo bag of marshmallows.
Bath & Body Works Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte Super Smooth Body Lotion, $12.5, available at Bath & Body Works
Here is a face mask for the consummate adult who regularly drinks black coffee, knows an AHA from a BHA, can drop $58 at Sephora — and would pick an slice of iced pumpkin bread over a bran muffin any day of the week.
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask Enzymatic Dermal Resurfacer, $58, available at Sephora
You never thought you'd see the words "pumpkin spice" and "stoner" in the same sentence — but here we are. This churro-scented moisturizer is laced with a PG-version of the devil's lettuce. See mom? Everyone's doing it.
Hempz Pumpkin Spice & Vanilla Chai Body Moisturizer, $23, available at Ulta Beauty
On a normal day, you'd raise your arm to grab the subway bar and catch a whiff of the familiar powdery lavender scent of your deodorant. But now that it's fall, the guy crammed up next to you on the subway on a humid September morning can be surprised (and probably a little confused) by the smell of cinnamon sticks wafting from your pits.
The sophisticate among us defuses the overly-sweet, creamy pumpkin latte with equal parts spicy chai. Turns out, that combo is a good idea if you want to have great-smelling hair, too.
Good Earth Beauty Shampoo Pumpkin Chai Natural, $16.98, available at Amazon
Before you lather your lips in a balm that's scented in synthetic pumpkin and vanilla, you best make sure whoever you're kissing likes their pumpkin spice latte with extra whipped cream.
Burt's Bees® Burt's Bees Lip Balm, Pumpkin Spice with Beeswax, $2.97, available at Walmart
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Christina Aguilera, the Olsen twins, Aaliyah, Sarah Jessica Parker, Justin Timberlake, Dionne from Clueless; all celebrities (real and fictional) known for spotting one particular trend in the '90s and early aughts. Bandanas styled over, around, and tied over the head were all the rage. Whether you're stoked or not, they're making an official comeback after appearing all over the runways this fashion month.
Granted, a new throwback trend doesn't come as much of a surprise considering the number of '90s and early 2000s nostalgia we've been experiencing in the fashion sphere these days — and yet, we can't say we saw this particular trend coming. But before you make grab at your $1 stack of paisley print bandanas, take note that the trend is getting a chic facelift. In place of actual bandanas are silk scarves putting just the right amount of a vintage vibe to the look. Some styling approaches are taking us further back in time. Rather than giving us flashbacks to the days of '90s pop-stars and boy bands, we've seen scarves tied under the chin rather than behind the head, reminding us of the feminine driving ensembles of the '50s and '60s. The returning styling piece just might be the perfect Halloween accessory to channel your inner Jackie O.
Click ahead to see how some of the runways are bringing this look back from the grave.
Max Mara
A.W.A.K.E.
Kate Spade
Kate Spade
Derek Lam
J.W. Anderson
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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 nurse practitioner/assistant professor working who makes $102,000 per year ($220,000 combined with her husband) and spends some of her money this week on Terra chips.
Occupation: Nurse Practitioner/Assistant Professor Industry: Healthcare & Education Age: 29 Location: Jersey City, NJ MySalary: $96,000 plus $6,000 for teaching My Husband's Salary: $108,000 with a ~$10,000 bonus MyPaycheck Amount (2x/month): $2,884.56, plus $610 for four months for teaching. I teach once a week, one class a semester. My Husband's Paycheck Amount (biweekly): $2,823.80
Monthly Expenses Mortgage/Taxes/Home/Flood Insurance: $4,162.05 Mortgage/Taxes/Insurance (for rental property): $1,751.46 FSA: $104.17 Transit: $75 Health Insurance: $92 Cable/Internet: $110 Heat/Electric: ~$230 Water: $46 Hulu: $0 (I still use my former roommate's account.) New York Times Subscription: $0 (I share my parents' account.) Netflix: $10.99 Phone: $0 (I'm currently on my family's account, but my husband and I are researching new family plans and will switch soon.) MealPal: $50 (I joined with a discount but may cancel at the end of the month.) Charitable & Political Donations: ~$100 Savings: $2,000
Annual Expenses Malpractice Insurance: $1,086 (Although I need this in order to work, my company doesn't pay for it.)
Day One
7 a.m. — Wake up and lounge in bed for 15 minutes. I shifted my work hours on Mondays because I'm teaching a class at night, and that means waking up an hour earlier.
7:45 a.m. — I assemble a PB&J for breakfast and eat it on my walk to the PATH. I use my unlimited monthly pass and get a seat on the train. Now that I'm getting to work earlier, I can avoid the rush. At least for today.
12:30 p.m. — I'm done seeing patients for the day, and head out to pick up my lunch. It's a MealPal day and I reserved a fancy grilled cheese and soup combo from a restaurant nearby that I've never tried. I opted for the 12-meal plan, and it is very satisfying to walk into a restaurant and pick up a full-sized lunch without exchanging money. I take the meal back to my desk and start on notes.
1:30 p.m. — My boss comes in to offer me fruit from his garden and my officemate offers me a cookie. I may not make the salary I could elsewhere, but one of the things that keeps me in my current job is my coworkers — they're fantastic.
3:30 p.m. — Leave work early and make my way uptown to teach my first class to doctoral students. I was asked to teach the class by the doctoral program director, and I am super excited but also nervous. It's a big class — 75 students! It's also late, three hours long, and probably not a direct interest to the students who are becoming nurse practitioners. (It's an epidemiology class.) I stop at a deli and grab a grapefruit La Croix and a bag of Terra chips in case I get hungry tonight. $3
6:30 p.m. — Short class, since it was just an introduction. I think they could tell I was nervous. No matter what, this is a big opportunity for me. Head home, and tell my husband to wait for me to have dinner.
7:45 p.m. — Walk in the door to a surprise cake from my husband. He baked one to celebrate my first day teaching. He's the absolute best. He also throws together quesadillas with turkey and rice for dinner. What a wonderful way to be greeted.
10 p.m. — Get in bed and watch Netflix for a bit. I usually fall asleep around midnight.
Daily Total: $3
Day Two
7:45 a.m. — Alarm goes off, and I stay in bed for a while browsing the internet. I've been really bad about getting up for work lately.
8:30 a.m. — Finally out of bed. I make my standard half PB sandwich and head off to work.
10 a.m. — Today I'm giving a presentation to some of our social workers about medical conditions that our clients have so that things don't feel so foreign. The lecture goes well.
12 p.m. — I grab a quick $1 pizza slice on the way to our mobile medical clinic to see patients. I spend one to two days each week on this bus seeing kids in some of the outer boroughs. I don't love the mobile unit because I'm less connected to the team, but having a rotating schedule keeps things interesting. On the way there, I reload my MetroCard using my pre-tax transit money. $1
6:30 p.m. — I get home from a long afternoon of seeing back-to-back families and immediately go on our elliptical. If I don't do it right when I get home, there's no way I'll work out.
8:30 p.m. — Husband's home, and he wants a fancy burger tonight. We decide to go to White Star, where at my husband's insistence, I get a fried pickle burger. He gets a double chili cheese burger and an Old Fashioned. I'm both impressed and grossed out by how much food he can put away. Once we get home, we watch TV until bed. $50.62
Daily Total: $51.62
Day Three
8:02 a.m. — Up with my alarm today. I often set alarms at random times before or after a round number. I'm not sure why I do it, but I find it more relaxing to wake up at 8:02 than 8. That's two extra minutes of sleep!
9:30 a.m. — My coworker brought bagels today because we have a new nurse starting in our department. I grab a blueberry bagel the size of my head, slap on cream cheese, and call it a day. Seriously, I've never seen bagels this large. She apparently got them at a bagel place in Astoria. Then I head into a morning full of meetings.
1 p.m. — Finally done with meetings and run out to grab lunch. Another MealPal credit. This time a Lebanese salad with grilled chicken. I bring it into the nursing office where I chat with a few nurses about my bad mood. I'm not sure what's wrong — maybe just the stress of this new teaching gig on top of some outstanding notes I have to write. Either way, I feel better after venting.
7 p.m. — Finally leave work for the day and head out to Brooklyn to see my best friend's new apartment. I lived with her for a total of seven years before I moved in with my now husband. We were college roommates, and I've known her for over a third of my life. Her boyfriend is making us pizza tonight. On the way, I realize I should bring a housewarming gift, and stop at a nursery to grab a succulent. I feel a bit pressured to spend more than I was intending, but I'm in a pinch and this works. $43.55
12 a.m. — Finally home! The pizza-making took much longer than expected, but I had a lovely time with my friends. They got a new cat, too, and they were trying to get me to warm up to him. I'm just not a cat person. Once home, I quickly get ready for bed and try to fall asleep, though it takes a while.
Daily Total: $43.55
Day Four
7:37 a.m. — Wake up and quickly head to work because I have a student coming today to shadow me, and I need to get to the office to prep charts before she arrives.
2 p.m. — Hoo boy, those were some intense case conferences. I run to Fairway to grab some tuna salad and throw it on a bagel leftover from yesterday. I have to scarf it down because a couple patients have come, and I don't want to fall behind. $3.30
5 p.m. — I successfully convince five of the nurses to go to a bar next door for Wine Thursday. One of the nurses and I typically go on Wednesdays, but we were both busy yesterday, so Wine Thursday it is. We each grab a glass and then realize we should have just split a bottle, so we get a bottle after. I pay and they Venmo me their shares. $20.50
7 p.m. — I call my husband when I'm finished with drinks to ask what he wants to do for dinner. He's feeling Cuban food, so we meet at Hard Grove. We each get an order of empanadas (beef for me, shrimp for him) and split a steak quesadilla. He also has two margaritas, but I decide my wine was enough alcohol for me for the night. $46.23
9 p.m. — Finally get home after the long day to find that my first Stitch Fix has arrived. I immediately try everything on. For the most part, the style is right but the sizing is off. I keep a pair of work pants and a cardigan but decide to ship the rest back. Then it's TV and bed. We just started watching Animals. on HBO. It's weird, but I'm liking it. $96
Daily Total: $166.03
Day Five
7:45 a.m. — Up again, PB again, and I'm out the door in a hour.
12:50 p.m. — I take part in a strategic planning group to discuss our agency's long-term vision. It's very interesting and full of departmental directors. I'm waiting on the official word about a promotion to Assistant Medical Director. It's all set, but the raise isn't finalized yet. I'm not expecting much, though — that's nonprofit work for you. I run to grab another MealPal meal: chickpea curry with rice, root veggies, greens, and shallots.
3 p.m. — Step out with a coworker while she buys lunch. While we're at the deli, I see a box of Hello Pandas, which I haven't seen since I was studying in China. She buys them for me, and I pay her back once I'm back in the office. $2
7 p.m. — Once I'm finished with work, I meet up with a friend for dinner. We stumble into Society Cafe because it's near the PATH, and we get short rib poutine, kale caesar salad, coq au vin ravioli, and roasted baby carrots to share. The food is delicious, but it turns out the ravioli is filled with pâté and it's sooo rich, so I don't eat much of it. My friend grabs the check since I'm lending her my ukulele (which is why we met up in the first place). Totally unnecessary for her to pay, but I'll take it. On my walk to the PATH, I pass Pinkberry and can't help but get a small cup of pomegranate yogurt with pineapple, raspberry, and yogurt chips on top. $6.80
9:30 p.m. — Once I get home, my husband and I start the new season of BoJack Horseman on Netflix. The show is amazing and so smart and heartbreaking. Between this and Animals., we are really filling out our time with shows about animated animals. We binge a few episodes and then hit the hay.
Daily Total: $8.80
Day Six
8:30 a.m. — I wake up early on my own and spend a couple hours doing prep work for my class in bed.
10:45 a.m. — I grab half a PB sandwich (of course) and then my husband and I head out to the AT&T store to set up a new phone plan. We've been married for a few months and have been meaning to do this for a while now. While we're waiting to speak with the AT&T agent, my husband runs to Best Buy and picks up a Roku, since our current one is on its last legs. $56.81
12:30 p.m. — Well that took a while! Now it's off to Home Depot for two shades with mounting hardware for our office, caulk remover, clear silicone caulk, and a six-pack of lightbulbs. We bought our home five months ago and are mostly settled in, but it still needs the finishing touches. $108.70
1:30 p.m. — I'm dragging when we leave Home Depot and tell my husband to expect me to walk slowly until I get food in my belly. We pull out of the parking garage and he pulls into the liquor store across the street with a big smile on his face. I wasn't thinking we needed booze, and tell him I'll wait in the car while he gets what he wants. He tells me that I need to get out because we're going to the 7-Eleven next door so I can get a Coke Slurpee since I'm in need of energy. I have a weird nostalgic fondness for Coke Slurpees and once again appreciate his very simple thoughtfulness. He grabs a chicken taquito while I fill up my small Slurpee. $3.07
2 p.m. — We head to a street festival going on in celebration of our neighborhood. It's huge! While there, I get a pork bun from one stand ($5) and a pickle at another ($1). I also give a $5 donation and spin a prize wheel, where I win 20% off at a local pizza spot. Then I finish the afternoon off with a slice of ice cream pie ($5). $16
4 p.m. — Once we get home, we decide to hang our new shades we just bought at Home Depot. Unfortunately, we discover that one has a slit cut into it and both of them are super cheaply made. My husband puts them in the car so he can return them on his way home from work next week.
5 p.m. — The tenants from our rental property stop by to drop off their rent for the month. Currently, we just about break even on the condo, but this year there was a tax reassessment and the property taxes are going up such that we will be losing about $100 each month, but getting much more than that in equity. After this year, we may end up selling if the monthly loss is affecting us too much. If we do, the equity will be applied to our home's down payment so our monthly will be lowered. We've already put 27% down, but more can never hurt.
6 p.m. — We binge more BoJack, and afterward I do more prep work for my class. I also scramble a couple eggs for dinner, since I'm not terribly hungry.
10 p.m. — My husband is still downstairs playing video games. I finished my work, so I grab one of my banjos and practice for a bit. I used to practice much more, but at least it's coming back to me pretty well. When my husband comes up, we watch one more episode of BoJack and then try to sleep.
12:45 a.m. — My husband and I both smell something burning. We try to find a source but can't, so we get back in bed a little uneasy. 15 minutes later, we see flashing lights outside and there's a fire truck. My husband goes out to ask what's going on, and it turns out a neighbor called 911 because of a burning smell but no one knows where it's coming from, so the fire department is investigating every home in the area to make sure everyone is okay. We go to bed feeling reassured that our house isn't burning down.
Daily Total: $184.58
Day Seven
7:30 a.m. — Again I wake up early without an alarm set. And again I stay in bed longer than I should.
11 a.m. — I'm frantically cleaning because I really stayed in bed too long, and we have six friends and one of their toddlers coming over in two hours for a BBQ. While I clean, my husband runs out for hot dog and hamburger buns, two Chinese eggplants, one zucchini, four bell peppers, one red onion, one pineapple, macaroni, two blocks of sharp cheddar, one tub of hummus, two bags of chips, two packages of cookies, one tomato, one head of lettuce, one box of chicken bouillon cubes, one jar of peanut butter, a couple sodas, lemonade, and iced tea. Mostly for the BBQ (we have the burgers and hot dogs already), but also a couple things just for the house. $100.10
2:30 p.m. — Our friends arrive, and we get right to grilling. One of my friends brought her new boyfriend, and he is so lovely. My best friend is here from Brooklyn, too, and I'm super happy she made the trek all the way out here. Especially given the horrible weekend PATH service.
8 p.m. — The last of my friends leave and we clean up. Husband does his own video game thing while I intermittently prep for my class for tomorrow and play banjo. Followed by BoJack and then bed. It'll be another long day of work and teaching tomorrow, and this time there won't be celebratory cake.
Daily Total: $100.10
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Despite being accused of sexual assault and misconduct by three women, Judge Brett Kavanaugh is sailing through to a confirmation vote to the highest court in the United States.
On Friday, less than a full day after hearing testimonies from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh himself on charges that he attempted to rape her, the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee is voting to advance his nomination. A full Senate vote is expected to take place early next week.
It's likely all Democrats will vote along party lines and because the GOP only has a 51-49 majority, Kavanaugh's fate will rest in the hands of Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Once again, it could be up to the two moderate Republican women to make a monumental decision.
Alaska's Indigenous peoples, which make up 20% of the state's population, had already been pressuring Murkowski to reject Kavanaugh out of concern for his positions on tribes' rights and healthcare. Both in Maine and in D.C., Collins has faced pressure from protesters and TV ads targeting her decision.
Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, another potential swing vote, lived up to his name and announced Friday that he would support Kavanaugh. He was confronted by two tearful sexual assault survivors over his decision: "Look at me and tell me that it doesn't matter what happens to me," one said. "That you're gonna let people like that go into the highest court of the land."
So, what can you do if you think he shouldn't be confirmed and President Donald Trump should pick someone else on his shortlist?
You might be tired of hearing this, but if you oppose Kavanaugh you should call your elected officials and let them know. Calling is the most effective way to put pressure on them — even more so than social media, email, or snail mail. Here's a quick guide on how to do it. Also remember to call only your senators. Unless you can provide a zip code, which proves you're one of their constituents, your call will not be tallied.
Groups are also organizing protests in D.C. and in some of the senators' home states, including Alaska, Maine, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, and West Virginia. If you can't physically join a protest and you're able to afford it, you should consider donating to the candidates challenging the senators that support Kavanaugh.
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