Come fall, we've only got one thing on our mind: staying warm. While tights, chunky sweaters, and yes, leggings, deserve a shout-out for helping us stay heated, the real MVP of the latter half of the year is our trusty outerwear. From a fluffy sherpa jacket to the quintessential camel waist-tie, our coats are what keep our spirits up, no matter how cold it is outside. And when you're over it and want to wear the same sweats and tee combo for the third day in a row, your coat has you, and your outfit, covered. Literally.
As our tastes in outerwear varies from cropped and furry to sleek and knee-length, so do our budgets. The cost of a nice coat can run higher than we're comfortable shelling in out in one setting, so we set off to prove you can still get a good coat for less than your Thanksgiving flight home. Ahead are 19 picks under $150 that are a far cry from the same black pea coat you've been wearing out for years. Bring it on winter.
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If you frequent Sephora, then you're very familiar with the rigmarole that is "I'm just running in to grab [insert anything here]." You need a new Benefit mascara, and you walk out with that, plus a plastic tin of Cocofloss you eyed while standing in the checkout line, a few sheet masks, and a discounted cologne for your dad's birthday. Well, the temptation is about to get even worse, because the cult store's hair section just grew...again.
No matter your budget or need — cheap semi-permanent pink hair dye for Halloween or the best hairdryer money can buy — you can find it all at Sephora this fall. Scroll through to see all the best, fresh, new arrivals in haircare, ahead.
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It's already October and we expect you've probably asked yourself, at least once or twice, What haircut should I get for fall?
Talk to a friend, hairstylist, or simply scroll through your Instagram saves and you'll spot a feast of inspiration, like Lady Gaga in micro-bangs, Cara Delevingnestill rocking a pixie, and Bella Hadid getting yet another blunt trim on her '90s bob. But, what if you want inspo that's neither dramatic or transformative? Who do you look to if you want a no-fuss haircut that's equally low-maintenance and refreshing on your dead ends? Our suggestion: Emma Stone.
Yep, the Maniac star just a got a haircut, but it's nothing to scream about — and perhaps that's exactly why we love it. Mara Roszak, Stone's long-time hairstylist, debuted the actress' new style on Instagram, co-signing the look with a quick caption, "Someone got a chop chop✂️ today! Blunt & little shorter in the back."
Although Stone is no stranger to rocking shorter styles (she's maintained something between a bob and a chest-grazing length for years), it's this trimmed lob you should take straight to the salon. Why? Not only will it get you out of the chair in under an hour, but it's also a take on a rad style trending in New York.
Joseph Maine, a stylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon, told us that blunt bobs are cool (we get it), but adding invisible layers to a longer look can add quick texture where it otherwise wouldn't be with such a straightforward style. In Stone's case, Roszak kept the length in the back shorter than the front — a trick that adds movement to your wash-and-go style without even really trying.
Not like we should be too surprised Stone is ahead of the curve. After all, she's the one who convinced us perms were cool again — and that's saying something.
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Before Netflix made cult movies their own subcategory on the streaming service, niche films like Heathers, The Room, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail had no place in your queue. Back then, you were a part of a small, passionate fanbase that would resort to watching the films alone on DVD whenever your roommate was out of town because they just "wouldn't get it."
These days, that's not the case. Thanks to blockbuster remakes and reboots, our go-to cult favorites are getting a second life with a warm welcome from wider audiences. That's exactly why we're celebrating the anniversary of one cult film that remains more popular now than it was when it first premiered: Practical Magic. Although the 1998 film still holds a 20% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, that doesn't change how dedicated fans are to this movie.
The movie taught us a lot, like how to overcome the haters, to never trust Transylvanian cowboys, and how to make a really good midnight margarita. But the '90s beauty trends riddled throughout the movie shouldn't be overlooked, either. In fact, we're still rocking most of them today, and maybe a few for Halloween.
In honor of Practical Magic 's two-decade anniversary, we rounded up the best beauty lessons we learned from the film — plus a few looks worth copying — ahead.
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As much as we love to talk about mascara and lipstick, sometimes we need to get into the nitty-gritty of beauty. Sure, we could wax poetic about acne, dullness, and the like — but there's another skin ailment that most of us suffer through (and no one seems to talk about): itchy, irritated skin.
And now that we're at the start of the cold weather season, tight, itchy, and sometimes even cracked skin is about to hit its peak. So, we rounded up a few proven skin soothers that alleviate the urge to scratch. Check them out in the slides ahead.
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Fifty years is a long time, especially when it comes to fashion. Turning the big five-o this year is none other than iconic American brand Ralph Lauren. Through the decades, the heritage brand has remained a recognizable household name, at the top of our shopping lists, and on the forefront of our IG feeds — all of which are no small feat.
This is the label that made polo shirts a thing and that continues to give us fresh, modern wears that never fail to elevate our wardrobes — everyday basics and unforgettable statement pieces alike. To honor this milestone anniversary, take a look at how some of our favorite style stars are continuing to make RL pieces their own today. From neutral knit maxi-dresses paired with polished, navy blazers to monochrome pantsuits dressed down with chunky sneakers, 50 is looking pretty good.
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Some American workers dream of working from home — creating our own hours, providing for ourselves, while having the flexibility to take care of our families.
Now, imagine this life in India, but with no electricity, no running water, and barely any access to education. That’s what life is like for the beading breadwinners of Bareilly, highly talented artisans commissioned by designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, AllSaints, and Ralph Lauren. These are the protagonists of the latest documentary film from UNLEASHED, featuring female artisans around the world.
Gudia Khan, Fulwano Noor Bano, and Nazama Begam are going against tradition and working to help support their families. Begam, in particular, works so her children can continue their education.
“After [my children] finish their studies, I want them to get jobs,” Begam says. “They’re not ready for marriage. I want them to study first.”
UNLEASHED co-founders Jaclynn Brennan and Kara Ross discovered these revolutionary artisans after researching beading trends. When they discovered Adda, a popular embroidering-style in India, they got in touch with one of the production managers who oversees the women featured here. Ross and Brennan flew to Bareilly to check out the women's impressive handmade work.
“We were shocked,” Brennan told Refinery29 in a phone interview. “These women sit on the floor of their hutch hours on end and never got credit or recognition. We made it our mission to tell their stories and share what motivates them.”
During their two-week journey with the artisans, UNLEASHED commissioned the women to bead at 1.5 times the wages paid by couture brands, in addition to bringing Gudia Khan, the main subject of the film, to Delhi to debut her work at the FDCI Amazon India Fashion Week.
Khan, who became the financial and emotional head of her family after her father passed away, works to take care of her mother and siblings. “I think a woman can pick up work from outside the home and then do the work in her own home with honor,” Khan says in the film.
As for Begam? Her goals are already in fruition, with her work inspiring her own daughters. “After I finish my studies, I will relieve my mother from this work,” Begam’s daughter says in the film. “I’d also like to take her on vacation.”
Watch the entire film above.
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With less than two weeks now until Halloween, chances are high that you've already decided on what you're going to be. So now it's time to think about the kinds of makeup, nails, and hairstyles are going to take your costume from good to exceedingly great. The easiest way to make sure all eyes are on you this Halloween? A shit ton of glitter of course.
Like, why would you dress up as just a zombie rather than a glittery zombie? Why would even think to go as Cardi B when you could go as super sparkly Cardi B?
With innate dramatic flair, glitter for Halloween is a necessity, and we're not just talking about glitter eyeshadow here. Glitter has every right to be in your hair too. And thanks to more high-quality brands getting into the glitter hairspray trend, these aren't gonna totally ruin your hair for a week.
We rounded up our favorite glitter hairsprays that won't destroy your hair, or your bathroom, ahead.
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Have you ever found yourself unable to stop thinking about someone in your every waking moment? A new crush you can't stop Insta-stalking? The ex you can't get over? The new acquaintance you're dying to be friends with?
Kate Stewart, a psychotherapist and dating coach, says that if you can't get someone out of your head, you can likely blame your brain chemicals — especially if your obsession is with someone you've just met.
Stewart says that when we bond with someone, that triggers a release of dopamine in the brain, which is a feel-good chemical that's released when you achieve a goal you've worked really hard for.
"When we ruminate and really obsess about someone, it’s because the dopamine response has gotten triggered," she says.
That's why, more often than not, you obsess over people you don't really know quite as well — as opposed to someone you've been in a relationship with for five years.
"Dopamine draws people together and when they’ve been together a little longer, the oxytocin sets in and that’s a bonding hormone," Stewart says. "It’s more about comfort and stability."
Eventually, you'll likely stop thinking about them so much, either because you've found someone new to think about, or you've realized that the person you can't stop thinking about wasn't as great as you initially thought. But that beginning stage — where they seem to occupy every part of your waking mind — can be tough to get through.
If you want to stop thinking about them, Stewart says that unfortunately, there's no fail-proof method to completely get them out of your head.
The one thing you can do? Distract yourself.
"What I usually tell people is, when you catch yourself thinking about someone, turn to something else that you can think about, whether it's a project you want to do, or something else positive," Stewart says.
It's a little bit like meditation: When you get distracted, gently bring yourself back to your breathing or what you're meditating on (in this case, something other than this person). And, like meditation, you have to try not to beat yourself up if your thoughts drift somewhere you don't want them to be.
"What happens for a lot of people is they catch themselves thinking about someone and beat themselves up, like, oh I shouldn’t think about them anymore," Stewart says. "That doesn’t help, that makes it worse. But if you focus on redirecting [your thoughts], there isn’t a judgment there — it’s just like, ok we’re going to think about something else."
So whether you can't stop thinking about a new crush, an ex, someone you barely dated, or the friend who ghosted you, the next time you catch yourself obsessing, switch your thoughts over to something positive.
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Let's just say it: Sticking to a budget while traveling is extremely difficult. Not only are flights and lodging pricey, but activity fees, cabs, and on-the-go meals can add up quickly. And don't even get us started on stuff like exchange rates and foreign transaction fees. But just because we're watching our bank accounts doesn't mean we're cool with missing out on seeing the world.
There are plenty of small strategies you can implement while traveling that will help save dough without ruining the fun and spontaneity of being in a new place. In some cases, it might even make your experience feel more authentic. We asked three bona fide travel experts — women whose passport stamps inspire serious FOMO — to share their strategies for saving money on everything from flights to food. Read on to hear what they had to say.
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If you are a pregnant person right now who is looking for a celebrity or fictional character to emulate for Halloween, you're in luck. Between the Kardashian baby boom, and the multiple pregnant Mamma Mia! characters you could dress up as, Halloween in 2018 is a good time to have a baby bump.
But pregnant or not, chances are you do not have time to DIY an elaborate costume that you saw on Pinterest or Etsy, which is understandable. But with a little imagination, you can whip up a witty Halloween costume with clothes and accessories you probably have in your house already or can easily buy in a pinch.
Ahead are a handful of pregnant celebrities and fictional characters that you should dress up as this year.
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"It was totally harder," she told Kimmel. "She broke my vagina."
She continued: "Why nobody tells you about those things? Nobody told me they were gonna stitch my vagina,. People just be like, 'Oh, you know, when you give birth, it’s gonna hurt.'"
Your vagina can definitely change after natural childbirth — it's not unusual for the vagina to feel wider, dry, or sore, and the perineum (the skin between the vagina and the anus) may tear. Despite those pains, Cardi told Kimmel that she was definitely enjoying motherhood.
"It’s the best," she said. "It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I should have had you when I was a teenager. This is what I was missing my whole life? I love you.'"
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Ivanka and Tiffany Trump have a unique relationship. The half-sisters are 12 years apart (Ivanka is about to turn 37 and Tiffany just turned 25) and Tiffany was raised by Marla Maples in California after she divorced Donald Trump in 1999, while Ivanka grew up on the East Coast. They didn't grow up together.
But in a 2016 People magazine interview, Ivanka said that "we would see each other on all of the holidays and talk to each other frequently," even though they weren't always on the same coast. "She’s my little sister! I’ve been close to Tiffany her whole life, and I really love her," Ivanka said. During the 2016 presidential campaign, they had a chance to spend more time together and grow closer. Now, Tiffany is attending Georgetown Law School in D.C. and is mostly out of the spotlight, unlike her older sister, who's a senior White House advisor.
There's a time and a place for maximalist jewelry. Take this past summer, for example, when beach-y shells and beaded fruit were strung around our every limb. But there will always come the time when you'll tire of oversized earrings and multi-colored friendship bracelets and opt for something a little more minimalistic. So unless you have a beach vacation on the horizon or plan to dress up as Spencer Pratt for Halloween, the moment has come to put those kitschy pieces to rest.
First things first, minimal does not equate to being boring. All it means is that you can wear it more and get way more bang for your buck. What are you more likely to gravitate towards on the regular? $300 beaded cherry earrings, or classic gold hoops that cost the same? Exactly. So this fall, why not try a pendant necklace or simple pair of white gold studs that you can wear to any and every occasion? And if you're not sure where to start, here's 16 options, from bracelets to rings, that just so happen to ring in under $500.
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In Refinery29'sSweet Digs, we take a look inside the sometimes small, sometimes spacious homes of millennial women. In today's episode, the Sorry Girls YouTube stars welcome us to their DIY-decorated dream loft in North Toronto.
If your entire brand revolves around DIY, it makes sense that your home would, too. For Kelsey Macdermaid and Becky Wright, the team behind mega-popular YouTube channel Sorry Girls, they chose to apply those DIY touches to an industrial loft, which they filled to the brim with plants.
"We did a no-light plant challenge on our YouTube channel to see which plants would survive — before that challenge there were only faux plants in here," Macdermaid says. "Those that survived were moved around the loft."
The duo made their North Toronto loft a hub for work and home, utilizing its 1,000 square feet for separate work spaces and living spaces. But true to their style, practically everything is personalized or DIY-ed.
"Once you know that you can make something and you can make it your own and you can customize it, you kind of just can’t let that go," Macdermaid says. "Everything you do has to be customized a little bit because you know that you can make it or make it better."
Watch the video above (and click and drag the video to see a full 360-degree view) to see their $1,500 USD Toronto loft, and learn how to make a home and work space both affordable and on-trend.
In case you hadn't heard, cauliflower is kind of a big deal right now. Everyone from Ina Garten to Chrissy Teigen can't get enough of the trendy vegetable. Even Queer Eye 's Antoni Porowski took a break from his beloved avocados to make a cauliflower dish on the show's most recent season. But, as much as we want to keep up with the latest food trends, we're not always up for putting in the work to make a dish worthy of Ina, Chrissy, or even Antoni, especially when it involves delicately slicing up messy florets and a food processor. That's where Trader Joe's comes in. Unsurprisingly, the always on-trend grocery chain carries a number of cauliflower products that involve little to no prep.
Recently we went to three different Trader Joe's locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn and snatched up all the cauliflower products we could find. Then, we put them to the test. We wanted to see which products tasted the best, which ones were easiest to prepare, and which ones might even impress the three food gurus listed above.
Ahead, we've ranked the nine items from our least favorite to the one we'll be adding to our weekly shopping lists, so you'll know exactly which cauliflower products are worth purchasing.
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There are only two weeks to go until Halloween, and your group chat is buzzing every three 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.
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One of the things we can't help but look forward to most about fall style is all the outfit add-ons we can't be bothered with during summer: scarves, gloves, thin coats, thick coats, and, of course, hats. While there's something liberating about the less-is-more approach to getting dressed when it's 80 degrees outside, it's the little outfit-finishers that can really take an outfit to the next level.
This season, berets have taken center stage as the must-have fall-to-winter accessory — just take a look at how popular they've become over the past year. The best part, though, is that berets aren't just limited to classic black. While that certainly is the most versatile, now that they've been trending for a minute, tons of brands are putting their own twist on the beret, from unexpected materials and embellishments to (you guessed it!) lots of logos. So not only will you be able to find a beret for whatever look you choose, but you can also keep updating your hat game well through February.
Ahead, find 18 berets to get your collection going.
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It might seem like fertility is an easy thing. All you need is a sperm and an egg, right? Certainly, your typical sex ed makes it seem like it's extremely easy to get pregnant. But there's a lot more that goes into it than you might think — especially when you're talking about ovulation.
So what's actually happening when you're ovulating? "A follicle inside an ovary is releasing a microscopic egg so the fallopian tubes can catch it," explains Carolyn Alexander, MD of the Southern California Reproductive Center. This happens roughly midway through your menstrual cycle. From there, the egg will eventually make its way through the fallopian tube to meet up with a sperm in your uterus. If that doesn't happen, your body will just reabsorb the egg, you'll have a period, and the whole cycle will start again.
But that's just the short version of the story. "There’s actually a lot of mechanisms going on in order for the egg to safely exit and be caught," she says. During all of these steps, there is, of course, the surge of hormones that affect a lot of your body's processes (not just your menstrual cycle). There are also specific enzymes released that are responsible for opening just the rim of the follicle to allow the egg to escape. Finally, we can't forget the granulosa cells, which form a sort of shell for the egg and help prevent miscarriage down the line.
With all of those complex factors at play, it's no surprise that so many of us are kind of clueless when it comes to ovulation. This can set us up for some frustration when we start to think about fertility. "The window of opportunity for fertilization is actually quite slim when you think about a whole month of timing intercourse," Dr. Alexander says. "Once the egg has been ovulated, it has about 24 to 36 hours to see sperm." That means that the few days right before and after you ovulate are when you're most likely to conceive.
Knowing your cycle can make your life so much easier — whether you're trying to get pregnant or actively avoiding it. In addition to tracking your periods (with or without the help a friendly app), there are some common (if not universal) signs that you're ovulating:
1. The "hallmark" sign that you're about to ovulate is that your vaginal discharge will become thinner, clearer, and stickier, Dr. Alexander says. This change in consistency, compared to the thicker stuff beforehand, makes it easier for sperm to embark on their long journey to the egg.
2. Your basal temperature (a.k.a. your temperature when you first wake up, which you can track with a thermometer and more apps) will also fluctuate throughout your cycle. But there's a temperature spike right after you've ovulated. So, if you're trying to get pregnant, your prime sex-having time is right before that, which means you may need to track it for a few months.
3. One of the more unusual signs is a change in libido. Specifically, Dr. Alexander says it's common for her patients (and many women) to report an increased desire for sex around the time of ovulation. That's all thanks to climbing estrogen levels combined with the surge in testosterone that results in ovulation.
4. Ovulation may also cause a particular kind of cramping called mittelshmerz (literally "middle pain"). Not everyone gets it, but those who do tend to feel a dull, aching pain on one side of their lower stomach. The side that's painful corresponds to the ovary that's releasing an egg that month. Luckily, the pain doesn't usually last for more than a day and may be as short as a few minutes. (If it's lasting or it's really uncomfortable, you can take acetaminophen to ease it.)
5. You may also notice some spotting around the time of ovulation.
Sometimes this spotting is actually implantation bleeding. This happens when an egg has been fertilized, and "the embryo [is] trying to burrow into the uterus," Dr. Alexander explains. It usually occurs around the time you'd expect to have a period, but it can happen as soon as five days after ovulation, Dr. Alexander says.
Otherwise, any mid-cycle bleeding should be investigated by your doctor. Sometimes this is the result of normal hormonal changes, but it can often be a sign of a fibroid (a benign uterine growth). So your doctor will want to know what's going on.
6. Some women also have PMS-like symptoms when they ovulate, including breast tenderness and bloating. "But that can be clouded by actual PMS because estrogen has spiked," says Dr. Alexander. So it's hard to tell whether those are coming from ovulation or the hormone surge right before your period.
However, not everyone experiences all of these signals. First of all, if you're on hormonal birth control, you are not ovulating at all (this is how the pill and similar methods prevent pregnancy). For those who are not using a hormonal method or are trying to get pregnant: Some of these signs, such as the changes in discharge and temperature, are more universal than others.
Additionally, women with other issues affecting their reproductive systems may have unique challenges when predicting ovulation and fertility. For instance, the environment around the egg in the follicle may be altered in women with endometriosis. And patients with PCOS often ovulate later in their cycles than others (around day 16-20 compared to day 13-15), Dr. Alexander explains. Still, if you think something might be up with ovulation (or any stage of your cycle) it's worth checking in with your gyno.
Correction: This story has been updated with clarifications about basal temperature, pain relief during ovulation, and implantation bleeding.
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Our favorite fashion brands aren't just going fur-free — now, going plastic-free is a growing trend among retailers. On Thursday, Everlane, the direct-to-consumer company bringing radical transparency in pricing, ethical manufacturing, and social responsibility to fashion and retail, doubled-down on its commitment to sustainability. On Thursday, Everlane announced that by 2021, it will eliminate all virgin plastic from its supply chain.
"Plastic is destroying our planet and there is only one solution — stop creating virgin plastic and renew what’s already here," Michael Preysman, Everlane's founder and CEO, said in a press release. "Companies have to take the lead and any company that hasn't made this commitment is actively choosing to not improve our environment." Presyman believes companies have a responsibility to work towards a waste-free future, especially considering the world is currently, as The Guardian put it in June, "on the edge of a global plastic calamity."
From this point on, all new Everlane products containing synthetic materials will be made with recycled versions; anything made with virgin synthetic fibers will also be replaced with a more eco-friendly equivalent. Eventually, all Everlane apparel, footwear, accessories, and packaging will be virgin plastic-free, as will its all of its stores and its San Francisco-based headquarters.
We'll get our first look at the first plastic-free items on October 24 when Everlane releases its 'ReNew collection,' which features men's and women's parkas, puffers, and fleece sweaters, priced from $55 to $198. Each piece is made from three million recycled plastic bottles, and, within five years, Everlane promises to have recycled 100 million plastic bottles.
"We try not to use polyester and nylon where we don’t have to because, in general, it is still petroleum-based, and we’d rather use natural materials," Preysman told Vogue of the retailer's commitment. "With outerwear, you need polyester, and we had done these [pieces] before, so it felt like the right way to revamp and rebuild the product." Presyman wants Everlane's customers to adopt this mindset, but he also wants it to inspire the fashion industry as a whole. "It is our hope that other people follow suit towards a path of using renewed materials."
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