A few months ago, Sandra Bowes left her home of Maui to pursue her lifelong dream of being an actress in Hollywood. The catch: Sandra is 69 years old.
Sandra first caught the acting bug as a teenager, when she was asked to replace the lead (coincidentally, a young Glenn Close) in her high school play. After that, she continued to act into her early twenties, working in college and in community theaters. Eventually, however, life happened, and Sandra gave up her aspirations to start a family.
Now, all these years later, Sandra finally has the opportunity to tie up some loose ends. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to pursue an acting career at this stage of life, but that’s exactly what Sandra is doing. So just how is Sandra settling in to the Hollywood life? Watch the above video to find out.
You always want what you can’t have — especially when it comes to beauty products. That’s why we’re getting the inside scoop from your favorite retailers on what’s selling out right now, how to sign up for waitlists, and where to go to find the next best thing. Because if everyone’s buying it, you know it has to be good.
Undereye bags can be caused by a laundry list of things, some preventable (pulling an all-nighter) and some not so much (allergies; genetics). For those times when getting a full eight hours of sleep or minimizing your salt intake are just out of the question, we turn to eye cream. The latest to catch our eye (sorry, had to)? Ole Henriksen's Banana Bright Eye Cream, which is sold out at Sephora and the brand's website.
This clearly isn't any old eye cream. The formula is packed with hydrators like jojoba seed oil and shea butter, along with vitamin C to brighten and coconut alkanes to smooth. Plus, the product itself is pale yellow, which has a slight color-correcting effect on dark circles.
The product has been wiped clean at the moment, but you can keep tabs on restocks by signing up for email updates via the brand's website. Until then, check out five eye creams that'll fill the void.
Onomie's Eye Treatment is an eye cream and an illuminator all in one. The antioxidant-rich serum comes in three shades (pearly pink, copper, and Champagne) and manages to brighten the undereye area without looking obvious on the skin.
Those with oilier complexions will like this lightweight gel-serum. It contains hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate, along with light-reflecting pigments to obscure the look of undereye circles.
This thick eye cream was made for mornings when you wake up with puffy, irritated eyes. Coffee bean and green tea extracts perk up tired skin while cucumber extracts, plant oils, and shea butter soothe and hydrate.
We love SkinFix's gentle body products for our sensitive skin, so when the brand launched a line of skin care products, we jumped on them. This fast-absorbing cream contains alfalfa seed extract to de-puff, macadamia oil to hydrate, and vitamin C to brighten.
This oil- and vitamin C-rich eye cream feels thick to the touch, but absorbs surprisingly quickly — just be sure to give it a few seconds to sink in before following up with concealer.
Tarte, $12, available at TarteTarte, $38, available at Sephora
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Spring cleaning in 2018 may not mean dusting the stairs in your apartment 40 times or changing 362 light bulbs like it did in the 19th century, but the tradition of starting fresh still stands. Like clockwork, people declutter their kitchen, donate old clothes, pot some plants, ditch their cuffing season partner, and — without fail — cut their hair.
Just take Selena Gomez, for example, or Natalie Portman or Rowan Blanchard — all of whom have been doing their own spring updates by lobbing off a few inches for the new season. So to get you in the spirit, and because it is infinitely more fun to book a hair appointment than whip out the trash bags and Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, we've rounded up our favorite celebrity pixies, bangs, blunt bobs, and lobs, ahead.
We'll continue to update this story as more celebs inevitably hit the salon in the coming weeks.
Selena Gomez has been around the hairstyle block — making stops at platinum, brunette, bangs, bobs, and beyond — but her latest look is one we've never seen from the star before: an undercut. Courtesy of L.A. hairstylist Tim Dueñas, the look is equal parts subtle and bold, and can be easily hidden when her hair is not in a ponytail.
The only thing more perplexing than the impending plot line of Big Little Lies 2 may just be the makeover that left one of the show's stars nearly unrecognizable. Exhibit A: Shailene Woodley, last night, with jet-black hair and a thick set of bangs. The jury's still out on whether this is a wig or something more permanent... or whether it's related to a role at all.
Not completely unlike the crop she had in Fox's television special Grease: Live, Vanessa Hudgens' latest cut makes her look like an old-school Hollywood movie star. The salon responsible for the French-inspired style later wrote on Instagram, "Blunt bob it is. Slight angle to hug the cheek and voilà..."
After the birth of her third child, Jessica Alba took to Instagram to thank her hairstylist Chad Wood for the mid-length cut saying, "It feels sooo good to shed the pregnancy hair."
Natalie Portman will do just about any haircut for a role, but we think this latest dark, slicked-back pixie — presumably for her upcoming movie, Vox Lux — may be her most badass yet.
Photo: James Devaney/GC Images.
This week, hairstylist Laurie Heaps took Rowan Blanchard's lob shorter than ever before. But with the feathery chop comes an even stronger message: "Very interested in cutting my hair and fixing on my appearance during the 'revolution' as a survival way of temporarily fulfilling, focused distraction- girls/women/nb people exercising whatever autonomy over own bodies we have left- whatever that means," Blanchard wrote in the Instagram caption.
With a lighter blond color and choppy, textured ends, Ashley Benson's fresh new style is hitting all the right notes this spring.
Kylie Jenner said she was "meant to be a blonde " on March 27... then had a change of heart two days later and reverted back to brunette — with considerably less length.
Photo: Via @kylizzlemynizzl.
César DeLeön Ramirêz gave Demi Lovato a very of-the-moment A-line cut with exaggerated, chin-grazing pieces in the front.
Roommates are good for a lot of things, from saving on rent to helping with zippers you can’t reach. But it’s not all easy: shared spaces, conflicting schedules, and different definitions of what “clean” means can make home-sweet-home anything but.
It doesn’t matter if your roomie is your best friend since childhood or a Craigslist rando; at some point, you’re going to have to deal with one of these all-too-common roommate disputes. It can feel uncomfortable to tackle things head-on, but more often than not, being up-front is the best solution. Plus, having these conversations now can be good practice for moving in with an S.O. down the road (or so my married editor promises me). While I have yet to bunk up with a boyfriend, I’ve certainly had my share of roommates: 24 in just under 10 years. And I’ve navigated every issue and fight out there, with varying levels of grace.
To learn from my mistakes (and do better in the future), I spoke with Lizzie Post, great-great granddaughter of Emily Post and host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast, to get her advice on dealing with cohabitation problems productively. Spoiler alert: A lot of it comes down to what Post calls the three C's: communication, compromise, and commitment.
Moving is the worst. And the best. It can signal a fresh start or a devastating end. Whatever your style, wherever you settle, at the end of day, the most important thing is finding a place to call home. Check out more of our "Get The F Out" moving stories here.
Living with a roommate can save you money…if you actually split the bills. But if you’re always the one stocking the TP and filling up the fridge, it can feel like you’re throwing cash out the window. Before you accuse your roommate of trying to bankrupt you, however, remember that she's probably unaware that your idea of what’s fair runs counter to hers.
When talking about a more equitable way to share finances, Post emphasizes that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, so be willing to compromise. If you feel like you’re always the one buying staples, maybe you can offer to make that your job — provided your roomie agrees to pay you back once a month. Or maybe make a list of what’s shared and what each person is responsible for. It may seem obvious to you that you’ve never once touched the communal groceries, but your roomie could be totally oblivious.
The thing to avoid is preemptively deciding something should be split and just presenting your roommate with a bill. It will only lay groundwork for resentment. Conversely, if your roommate decides that twinkle lights or $100 of dry goods are communal property and asks for your half, consider the benefits of swallowing the cost this one time and setting a policy going forward. When it comes to an unexpected expense, I remember what a friend once told me: You’re saving money in your current living arrangement, so chalk it up to an occasional “happy roommate” tax and move on.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
One topic about which roommates often take their gloves off and fight? Apartment temperature. It’s a perfect storm of cost and comfort. Whether you're a penny-pincher or just cold-blooded, it can be easy to start watching the thermostat like a hawk and marking your roommate’s every adjustment. Heck, even when I lived in a dorm and paid nothing for utilities, my roommate and I managed to maintain a winter-long heating war. I wanted to never feel cold, even when emerging from the bed at night to pee, and my roommate wanted to be able to sleep under a massive comforter with a flannel duvet cover. We spent the entire winter cranking the heat up and down in angry silence.
Once again, Post advises compromise. If you’re uncomfortable with the temperature, offer to try some solutions before adjusting the thermostat. It might be that you use a fan or take a shower and then reevaluate the situation in 20 minutes. If your roommate sees your efforts to find a happy medium, he might be more understanding when you eventually do have to modify the thermostat settings. If your roommate’s concerns are cost-driven, Post recommends offering to pay more. A 60-40 split might be well worth it if it means being comfortable in your own home.
While my college roommate and I were never able to work things out, I did manage to compromise on AC with my current roommate a few summers ago. In a perfect world, I sleep with the AC on full blast, while she prefers a warmer apartment. We tinkered with the AC for a few nights, eventually figuring out the highest temperature at which I could sleep soundly through the night, and we left it at that temperature at bedtime for the rest of the summer.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
Here’s something I’ve actually had no experience with: a roommate who suddenly gets a permanent shadow around the apartment when she starts dating someone. While I haven’t had to deal with it myself, I’ve heard it all from friends: boyfriends or girlfriends who steal coffee and toothpaste, dominate common areas, and/or basically move in rent-free. While the lovebirds are lost in each other’s eyes, you're eyeing the water bill wondering how much the creeping cost is due to new boo’s very long daily showers.
Post, unlike me, has dealt with this in the past, and she says it’s important to bring things up early. Let your roommate know, gently but firmly, that you’re not signing up to live with a couple. It’s completely reasonable to ask that the significant other chip in, whether it’s with actual cash or doing the dishes. It’s also within your rights to ask to renegotiate the rent so the couple is paying more than 50% of the share — should you eventually decide, as a group, that it’s okay for the S.O. to move in full-time.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
Oh, the chore wheel. I think every year of college, whatever set of roommates I was living with came up with some kind of list of rotating chores. And then we did it…exactly never. Cleaning can be a sensitive issue, and an easy way to cause fights, since someone else’s mess can feel like a personal insult to you. Sometimes, you might not even agree on what a "mess" is. Once, my roommate and I were tidying after a party and, since it was late, we both knew we’d save some of the clean-up for the next day. I started immediately shoving every dish into the sink so at least the counters would be cleared. She looked at me like I was crazy and said that, to her, an over-full sink is worse than cluttered counters. I was gobsmacked!
If you keep in mind that a person’s cleaning habits have much more to do with their personal preferences than with any disrespect for you, you can again approach the conversation with a willingness to compromise. What’s a reasonable standard for apartment cleanliness you can both live with? Once you decide what a workable solution is for both of you, Post says the dreaded chore wheel can actually be a good solution. “It’s a third party that dictates what’s going on, so the other person can feel less personally attacked” when you remind him of his duties.
That said, if the cleaning plan doesn’t work, revisit the initial conversation and see what can be changed. Are you and your roommate willing to nag each other to get things done, or is there another option that hasn’t been tried yet? Sometimes, throwing in cash for a cleaning service will go a long way in making everyone happy.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
Slamming doors and heavy footsteps might only disturb you for a few seconds of the entire time you’re home, but that can be enough to ruin your day if it disrupts your sleep. Post once again emphasizes that it’s highly unlikely your roommate knows her noise is bothering you, so approach it as a friendly ask, saying something like, “I don’t think you have any way to know this, but when you close the cabinets, it wakes me up.”
And, again, big shocker: Be ready to compromise. If your roommate is an early riser, you can’t expect her to silently apparate out of the apartment every morning. Post’s own life is a good example here: She once asked a roommate to leave the kitchen cabinets open in the morning so the slamming wouldn't wake her. It meant Post would have to come through afterwards and do more tidying in the kitchen, but it also meant she got a lot more sleep.
For my own part, I once had a roommate who would come home late and turn on every light in a hopes of being able to tiptoe around as quietly as possible. But the light would wake me up immediately. I would have far preferred a bit of noise in exchange for minimizing the light. Had I just let her know, I would have gotten a lot better sleep that year.
If the problem is TV or music, offer to set quiet hours during which the two of you can still enjoy entertainment, but in your rooms, with headphones on. And, like with the AC, you can suggest your own compromises as well: Offer to try solutions on your end, such as earplugs or a white-noise machine.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
If you’re having friends over, Post counsels notification. “It’s not about asking permission; it’s about keeping people informed,” she explains. It’s amazing how much a little heads-up can change someone’s outlook when they come home to find guests.
If you’re the one continually caught unawares by guests, Post suggests saying something like “I’d love to get some advance notice when other people are going to be in the house.” This is also a good time to talk about closing time for get-togethers. If you’re worried about noise on a weeknight, it’s perfectly reasonable to make a rule that people should be out by 10 or 11 p.m., or ask that they retreat quietly to a private space after that.
Sometimes, though, clueless guests can overstay their welcome. Hosts might not always feel comfortable giving them the boot, so you can use my tried-and-true method: Get up and say it’s time to put on your PJs, or find an excuse to tiptoe through the common space dressed for bed. Do it with a smile on your face, and it sends the message loud and clear regardless: It’s lights-out at your casa.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
If you and your roommate's bedrooms are each your own individual kingdom, common areas like kitchens and bathrooms can turn into a no-man’s land. Most spaces are big enough to share, but bathrooms in particular can become hotly contested turf. Post proposes creating a schedule, especially if one or both of you has a set time to be at work in the morning. If this hasn’t been something you’ve talked about, your roommate might not be aware that this is a problem, so, once again, approach it with the “There’s no way for you to know this, but…” method.
However, if you’re both dashing for the bathroom every morning, be the bigger person and bring it up first — with kindness. After all, for every day she’s edged you out to do her 12-step Korean beauty routine, there’s another day you dove in first to have a nice long soak in the shower. Just try to bring it up it with the same grace, as if she didn't know there was a shower-related Cold War going on, and you’ll have a less defensive conversation — and happier results.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
This one is short and sweet: If you long for a cat or dog but your roommate doesn’t want one, there’s nothing you can do. Pets are a serious commitment. They're something both parties should agree on — and something you should discuss, especially regarding who gets custody should you part ways. I hate to admit it, but when I was 20, I brought home a stray cat I named Pickles without asking my roommate’s permission. Seven years later, Pickles is still with me (and my current roommate, who hates cats and is very patient with her), and we make it work. But any dependent creature you bring into the space should be something you’re both enthusiastic about.
And, if you have a pet, be sure you’re conscious not only of the messes you make, but pet messes as well. The general rule in my house is that if Pickles leaves a "surprise" and I’m not there to deal with it, my roommate gets a small gift on behalf of the cat.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
Whether it’s cat vomit or a broken lamp, owning up to your "mistakes" is vital to keeping the peace. As Post puts it, “You really need to offer to fix, replace, or manage the damage.” If you (or your pet) have damaged something and can’t afford to replace it right now, offer to pay in installments. Just ignoring it is only going to make things worse.
Meanwhile, if you have something truly irreplaceable in a common area, consider moving it somewhere else. Sure, you’re living with another adult, not a toddler, but accidents happen, and you can’t babysit Grandma’s vase 100% of the time.
If the damage is related to trust rather than material possessions — like hosting five out-of-town friends the night before your roomie’s LSATs — do whatever it takes to apologize. Otherwise, smaller issues could grow into big grudges that blow up under stress.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
There are two kinds of people among us: those who clean out the fridge, and those who let expired yogurt hang out on the bottom shelf for six months. If you’re in the latter party, don’t fret, science says you’re smarter. But being smart doesn’t necessarily make you a good roommate, so listen up.
Whether or not you split weekly groceries with your roommate, the fridge is joint real estate because there's usually just one per residence. You should have a conversation with your roomie about how to divide it up, whether it means allocating one shelf per person and sharing the cheese drawer, or simply splitting right down the middle with masking tape.
Whatever the case, you should have a conversation with your roommate about your respective expectations. Some people are cool with their roommates taking a splash of their milk when they’re not home, and others can smell when even the smallest drop of their precious nectar has been stolen. Same goes for fridge clean-out: to avoid one roommate pulling all the weight and single-handedly throwing away three months’ worth of old food, set the precedent early on. Make a rule about joint monthly fridge purging, and stick to it.
The bottom line is that, since you use your fridge every day, these conversations need to happen. So should you protect all of your food items with individual Post-It notes that say your name in all caps? Aggressive, but maybe. To each her own.
Of course, you could do everything suggested in this list (and then some!) and still not be able to make it work. Or maybe it’s time to move on to a new living situation or city. Once again, Post recommends being up-front from the beginning. When you sign your lease, just let your roommate know you’d like as much notice as possible, so you’re prepared. If he does give notice, it’s fair to ask if there’s anything you could do to change his mind, or ask why he is moving on. But after that, don’t try to convince him — he's already given it a lot of thought if it’s come to this.
If you’re the one moving out, Post says in-person is best. No one wants to hear over text that he might need to find a new roommate. It might be a little awkward, especially if you’re friends, so it’s fine to give each other space. Post says that, in her experience, it can take up to six months for former roommates to become friends again.
Illustrated by Tristan Offit.
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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 clinical project manager working in pharmaceuticals who makes $65,000 per year and spends it some of her paycheck this week on Kanebo Moisture Rich Lotion.
Monthly Expenses Rent: $682.50 for my half. (I live with my boyfriend in a three-bedroom apartment. We split the rent evenly. Worth every penny.) Student Loan Payment: $200 Transportation Pass: I pay $61 and my employer pays $46 Health Insurance: I'm on German statutory insurance. My employer pays 8% of my salary, and I pay 7%. Dental Insurance: $25 Gym Membership: $69 Netflix: $10 Phone: $30
Day One
7:30 a.m. — I oddly wake up an hour before my alarm rings and get ready for work. I'm the first in the office, as everyone somehow has the flu. Luckily, the clinic I work at is above a grocery store and a very well-stocked drug store. I can't resist the urge for chocolate today, so I pop downstairs and get some, as well as gluten-free müsli and almond-rice milk. $7.45
1 p.m. — My boyfriend and I recently made hummus and millet-parsley salad, which I bring today for lunch. I take my lunch break a little early and sit on the fluffy sofas between all of our offices. I notice my boyfriend got a little garlic happy on the salad, but at least I don't have to go buy lunch today.
6 p.m. — I decide to leave work a little early and continue one of my projects at home. I try to cook as many meals as I can at home; I have celiac disease, which is not the easiest in Germany. I go to the grocery store around the corner from my apartment and pick up spinach, bean sprouts, goat cheese, lactose-free milk, and other odds and ends. By the time I finish my work, I'm too tired to cook. Boyfriend eats leftover gluten-free pizza from the weekend, and I just drink some tea because I'm not hungry. $10.86
Daily Total: $18.31
Day Two
7:50 a.m. — I slept terribly last night and wake up on the wrong side of the bed. I get ready quickly for work with my boyfriend. He makes me espresso and steamed milk every morning, which saves me money on coffee. As usual, I forget my thermos at home and I have to turn back and run upstairs. Coffee is life.
10 a.m. — I have about 100 emails when I get to the office. However, since I'm in a grumpy mood, I decide to restock some of my skincare that I've been holding off on rebuying. After filling my cart eight times with different things, I finally decide on Kanebo Moisture Flow Rich Lotion and my signature perfume, which has been empty for a while. Retail therapy always brightens my mood. $137
1 p.m. — Since I was too tired and not feeling well yesterday, I didn't make anything to bring for lunch today. I run down to the supermarket and grab a salmon California roll and yogurt. I always chat with the workers who roll the sushi — they know to make me gluten-free rolls. The yogurt reminds me of what I used to eat as a kid in the U.S. $8
7 p.m. — I was sick most of last week and my boyfriend was too, so we decide to spend tonight in. Normally on Tuesdays, I go to the gym and he has psychology class, but we both skip. We make a salad for dinner, cuddle up on the couch, and begin to plan our upcoming Japan trip. I'm already thinking of all the Japanese skincare products I'm going to buy there. We're both super tired, and I fall asleep to an audiobook.
Daily Total: $145
Day Three
1 p.m. — The day has flown by. I have some deadlines and backed up emails from missing work last week. I eat a jar of salad that I made last night, and then run downstairs and buy a couple of a things, including a large bottle of water since I am incapable of drinking the right amount of fluid. $4
7 p.m. — I meet up with a friend to go to the gym. After having the flu for approximately two weeks, I am thrilled to finally be able to move around again. She isn't feeling so well, so we take it easy on the elliptical machines and chat. She's actually joining my company in two months, so we exchange office gossip. (I used to work at her old company.) She drives me home and we go to a small Venezuelan hole-in-the-wall arepa shop next to my apartment. Due to the lack of gluten-free options in Hamburg, I am a regular here. I get two arepas with black beans and plantains. I haven't seen her for a while, and I think it's my turn to treat. Arepas and freshly squeezed mango juice are the perfect end to Hump Day. $19
Daily Total: $23
Day Four
9 a.m. — A handyman is coming to repair the floorboards under the heater in our apartment, so my boyfriend and I both work from home for the morning to let him in. We have a breakfast of avocado, cheese, and our favorite: Ei im Glas (soft-cooked egg plopped into a glass with spring onions, fig mustard, salt, pepper, and herbs to garnish). I make an appointment for a 90-minute Thai massage after work ($55), and go into the office around lunchtime. $55
3 p.m. — My perfume and moisturizer have arrived! There's a package station right outside of my work, so I go pick them up. It's 12 degrees here, and I am happy to go home soon, enjoy a massage, take a bath, and hibernate until tomorrow.
8 p.m. — I forgot that I promised to stop by a friend's house tonight to help her with her taxes. Somehow, I have become the German tax expert in my group of friends. I leave the massage super refreshed, shower off, and walk 20 minutes to her apartment. She is making us dinner, so I buy strawberry sorbet for dessert. We catch up, as she has been on vacation for a couple of weeks, and then finish the rest of the entries for her taxes. I take the bus home because it's far too cold to walk. I double cleanse, try the new softener, use my beloved Alpha-H, and squeeze into my bed with my boyfriend. So happy tomorrow is Friday. $6
Daily Total: $61
Day Five
6 a.m. — Boyfriend is still sleeping soundly when I leave for work, so I pick up a coffee on my way to the office to snap out of my pure zombiedom. I take some patients to their treatments, and five hours later I am back at my desk going through my emails. $2.75
1 p.m. — My coworkers and I order poke from a nearby place. I get the truffle tuna bowl. Can't wait for the weekend! $12
5 p.m — I pick up a bottle of wine and vegan gummy bears to take to a friend who is going back to the States on Monday. She comes over to our place, and we talk about going to a birthday party later, but the weather makes us not want to do anything. When 11 p.m. rolls around, we all decide to call it a night and open up another bottle of wine at our place. I whip up gluten-free burrito bowls and make homemade tortillas from ingredients I bought last week. Thick blankets and freshly fried tortillas make for a good night. Wow, winter has turned me into a hermit.
Daily Total: $14.75
Day Six
11 a.m. — We sleep in today. I meet the same friend from last night to do last-minute vintage shopping, and find an amazing acid wash denim jumpsuit with rhinestones ($84). I came, I tried it on, and it conquered me. I also return a dress I bought from & Other Stories. It's far too cold to be outside, so we go back to our apartment. $84
5 p.m. — My friend goes home and my boyfriend and I go to a play that friends of ours are acting in. We get there and have a couple glasses of wine. The play starts at 7 p.m., and we sit in the theater bar until then. Drinks and tickets are paid for by our friend, whose family owns the theater. We settle into our seats for the show.
11 p.m. — We're back at the theater bar, taking rounds of vodka shots. I buy a round for everyone. We chill there for a while, then head to one of our favorite bars in the Schanze. We know the bartenders, who give us a discount on drinks. Our apartment is a mere couple of skips away, and we decide to call it a night around 1 a.m., though our friends have a second wave of energy and decide to stay out. As it is still frigid out, I order us a cab ($5) and we're home in four minutes. Sweatpants on, movie on, boyfriend and I out. $45
Daily Total: $129
Day Seven
10:30 a.m. — We wake up around 10 and realize one of our friends slept in our guest room. We forgot we gave him the keys last night! I round the boys up, and we make breakfast with leftovers we have. Our traditional Ei im Glas, as well as a couple of salads. Plus, bacon and hot sauce. Perfect hangover food.
3 p.m. — We all settle in on our couch and immerse ourselves in a Netflix binge. Luckily, it's still snowing outside and we're all hungover. Needless to say, no one feels bad about having a day in. Our friend decides only fries will cure his hangover, and I walk to the nearby emergency apothecary and get aspirin for all of us. $5
8 p.m. — Our friend leaves and we continue our lazy day mainly on the couch. We take a quick break and do yoga in our living room, before scrounging up leftovers for our dinner. I've been eyeing a pair of corduroy mom jeans online, and decide to order them. Nothing says obsession like having eight pairs of cord overalls and culottes. I check my work email so I won't have any surprises tomorrow morning. The weekend went by way too fast, and we don't have enough food in the house to meal prep for the week. Oh well. We fall asleep with the lights on at 11 p.m. and wake up bright and early for Monday! $55
Daily Total: $60
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Nashville police arrested 29-year-old Travis Reinking, who is suspected of killing four people at a Waffle House in Antioch, TN, on Monday afternoon.
On Sunday morning, Reinking allegedly got out of his truck, naked, and shot six people, killing four and injuring two. The two injured victims are being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with one in critical and the other in stable condition.
James Shaw Jr., a 29-year-old patron of the chain, wrestled the AR-15 away from Reinking, preventing him from killing more people. A bullet grazed his elbow and he burned his right hand. Shaw has created a GoFundMe page for the victims of the shooting that has already raised around $20,000.
Reinking was arrested by the Secret Service in 2017 for trespassing near the White House. Shortly after, the FBI seized his guns. But after authorities returned the guns to his father, he gave them back to his son. In May 2016, police said Reinking had a delusional episode in which he believed Taylor Swift was stalking him.
The victims were all young people of color and include a star athlete, an aspiring musician, and an employee of Waffle House. The White House has not yet responded to the shooting.
Groves, who was at the restaurant with her Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters, was a senior at Belmont University, majoring in social work. According to the Tennessean, she had been an excellent student and star athlete at Gallatin High School.
"She was a brilliant young lady, very, very intelligent and a very hard worker," former Gallatin High basketball coach Kim Kendrick told the newspaper. "She was a very likable young lady. She was one of three seniors on her team, and she was a great role model for the other players because of her hard work and dedication to her studies and to her school."
Belmont University issued a statement about Groves: "The entire campus community is shocked and devastated by how such senseless violence has taken the life of this young woman, an individual full of immense potential. We extend our thoughts and prayers to her family and friends as they come to terms with unimaginable grief. Belmont will be offering counseling and other support services to members of our campus in the coming hours and days."
Groves' sister tweeted photos of her on Sunday evening: "A piece of shit walked into Waffle House today and took the lives of 4 people. One was my sister. I have so much anger in my heart right now. But I want y’all to see the beautiful face of the woman that was taken from us today! Baby girl I love you so much. I’m so sorry."
Photo: Courtesy of DeEbony Groves' Facebook.
Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29
Sanderlin was an employee at the Waffle House who was fatally wounded as he stood outside the restaurant, police said. He was from Goodlettsville, TN.
Photo: Courtesy of Taurean Sanderlin's Facebook.
Joe R. Perez, 20
Perez was also killed outside of the restaurant. "Please say a prayer for my family for today is the hardest day of my life," his mother posted on Facebook. "Me, my husband and sons are broken right now with this loss. Our lives are shattered."
Photo: Courtesy of Trisha Perez's Facebook.
Akilah DaSilva, 23
DaSilva was critically wounded inside the restaurant, and later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was a musical engineering student at Middle Tennessee State University.
"He meant the world us," his mother Shaundelle Brooks told CBS News. "He was humble, kind, compassionate, outgoing, and very creative. We could describe him in so many words. He spoke through his creativity and he entertained the world through his music... Akilah...meaning the intelligent one who reasons."
His family said, in a statement: "We hope that this tremendous loss will spark tangible action in true gun law reform so no other family would ever have to experience this sort of tragedy."
DaSilva's girlfriend Shanita Waggoner was one of the two people injured in the shooting, according to his family. They said the doctors were "trying to save her leg."
Photo: Courtesy of the DaSilva Family.
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Recently, if anyone asks me what trend I just can't stand, my response is 'anything off-the-shoulder.' Some styles come and go; some overstay their welcome. And in my opinion, we've hit peak saturation with the off-the-shoulder neckline. I've just had enough.
However, if we must keep riding the off-shoulder wave — and it seems like we will be, with the look is sticking around through summer — allow me to suggest a few dresses that I actually quite like. These are off the shoulder in the less traditional sense — whether they feature a unique structure, voluminous sleeves, dramatic vintage vibes, or a relaxed slouch — as opposed to the typical straight-across neckline.
So if you are going to continue to embrace the off-the-shoulder trend, we suggest shopping one of the variations ahead. Just no elastic bands, please!
You may remember Lisa Bonet as the free-spirited Denise Huxtable from '80s sitcom The Cosby Show. Or on Girls, as Tandice Moncrief. Much like her onscreen persona, Bonet is admired for her rebellious, elusive approach to celebrity and, of course, her killer sense of style. As one of the most popular young actresses of the '90s, her bohemian aesthetic became a defining look of the decade and still wields influence today.
After her character graduated from the Cosby cast, Bonet starred in the spin-off series, A Different World. The popular American sitcom focused on the ups and downs of Denise's college life – watch a few episodes for a peek into early '90s campus dressing. IRL: Bonet eloped with musician Lenny Kravitz a few months into filming and gave birth to their daughter Zoë the following year. Zoë, whom we all know as the cool mom on Big Little Lies, has since grown into a modern fashion muse, incorporating elements of her mother's eclectic style into her own.
To no one's surprise, Bonet’s style continues to inspire fashion trends today. The ultimate inspiration for festivalgoers, her aesthetic is an effortless mix of the best decades: '70s flower child, '80s glam metal, and '90s grunge. Bonet was rarely seen without hair accessories, from top hats to baseball caps, headbands, and flower crowns. Her '90s wardrobe welcomed loose, flowing fabrics, maxi skirts, lace, tie-dye, and floral prints. And she embraced the decade’s love of natural, no-makeup beauty and her long, waist-length locks are the hair goals of rebel women.
Ahead, we bring you some of Lisa’s best '90s ensembles. Click through for the perfect balance of eccentric and effortless.
You know what they say: The higher the hat, the closer to... dethroning Slash from being the king of his own signature look.
Photo: Getty Images.
Could they get any cooler? The multicolored shirt dress, shades, and waist-length hair is your festival look, sorted.
Photo: Getty Images.
Bonet's post-baby glow is complemented by this scarlet, '70s-inspired empire-waist maxi dress.
Photo: Getty Images.
Even when suited up, she looks effortlessly cool. Try pairing a structured waistcoat and trousers with a loose, flowing coverup.
Photo: Getty Images.
Bless those who missed the black blazer memo for Naomi Campbell's 20th birthday.
Photo: Getty Images.
White sleeveless A-line dress, black booties, and a baseball cap. Bonet was a pro at balancing masculine and feminine elements.
Photo: Getty Images.
So '90s, so good. There are few sartorial pieces more classic than a white button-up. Try a linen blend shirt with a cutaway collar for a look that's more bohemian and less corporate.
Photo: Getty Images.
We're not sure which is better, Lisa's silk onyx blouse or mini Zoë in a silver suit.
Photo: Getty Images.
Note the cheongsam layered under a velvet kimono and maroon mid-calf cowboy boots.
Photo: Getty Images.
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Two white police officers wrestled a Black woman to the ground at a Waffle House in Saraland, AL, exposing her breasts in the process. The men also choked her and told her they would break her arm if she didn't stop resisting arrest, according to a now-viral video of the incident early Sunday. The violent arrest has drawn comparisons to a racial-profiling incident last week where two Black men were arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, PA.
The video shows Chikesia Clemons, 25, sitting in a chair and speaking with Saraland Police officers briefly before the men pull her down to the floor of the Waffle House. While the officers try to flip her over to cuff her, she appears to be conscious of her top and tries to cover herself.
But as she struggles with the officers, her clothes come down, revealing her breasts while the rest of the patrons look on.
"What are you doing?" Clemons asked the officers. One of them responded: "I'll break your arm, that's what I'm about to do."
The video was shot by Canita Adams, a friend of Clemons. At one point, one the officers put his hands around Clemons neck, to which she yelled: "You’re choking me!"
Clemons' mother Chiquitta Clemons-Howard told AL.com that her daughter was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. According to the mother, the incident began because Clemons was told by a Waffle House employee that plastic utensils costs an additional 50 cents.
Clemons and Adams reportedly told the woman that they had not been charged additionally for the plasticware when they bought food from the same Waffle House the night before. The employee then allegedly cancelled the order and Clemons asked for the contact information of the food chain's district manager.
"They didn't even ask her to leave, she was waiting for them to give her the district manager's card so she could file a complaint on one of the waitresses," Clemons-Howard said. "When they went to go get the card, that's when the police showed up. The officer should've come in and said we need you to leave."
The Mobile chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, better known as the NAACP, is making sure the incident is investigated. At the national level, the organization is also monitoring the situation.
"The violent arrest of Ms. Clemons is something that we can't let go," Ngozi Ndulue, the NAACP's senior director of Criminal Justice Programs, told Refinery29. "Often the conversation about police violence is focused on the treatment of Black men, and that's important, but we also know that Black women are at risk of police violence."
Ndulue said that it's important to talk about violent arrests like Clemons', but also of the issue of sexual assault Black women can face at the hands of police officers, like in the case of Charnesia Corley.
A spokeswoman with the Saraland Police Department announced Sunday that Clemons' arrest is being investigated.
"The Saraland Police Department is aware of the arrest at Waffle House and the accompanying video on social media," Det. Collette Little in a statement. "The situation is being thoroughly reviewed and is under active investigation right now. Our department strives for transparency and we encourage our community to be aware of current events."
But Ndulue said that an independent investigation into the arrest could be a better course of action.
"The evidence of police abuse shouldn't be investigated by the prosecutor that police works with day-to-day," she said. "There should be transparency about this. The information they're getting in their investigation should be released to the public in a timely manner."
She added that the public should know what, if any, disciplinary measures will be taken and what's the procedure around those.
"Seeing how this incident is actually handled is going to say a lot about whether the police department's investigation is serious about true accountability," she said.
Ndulue also said it's important for consumers to pay attention to the interaction between police departments and private businesses.
"This is a police problem, but also a societal problem. A lot of negative police interactions can start in the private sphere. We need to think about how businesses are showing an affirmative commitment to being places that we can go to without fear that at the slightest conflict law enforcement is going to be involved," she said. "We need to hold business owners and leaders accountable for the way they're treating us as consumers, and one of the things we have is the power of our purse. We can send the message that we're not willing to be treated as second class citizens."
There are very few certainties in life, except for death, taxes, and the fact that you need to wear sunscreen every single day. Sun protection is up there with getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and not setting yourself on fire with things that are absolutely essential for staying healthy — and beyond health, sun damage is one of the foremost causes of premature skin aging, so the need for SPF should appeal to your vain side, too.
But how does sunscreen work, and is wearing it really enough to protect yourself against the sun's most detrimental effects? The answers to these questions might seem obvious, but it's about time we clear it all up, just in case. Ahead, we demystify the specifics of SPF — and why it's so important that you wear it every day. (Have we mentioned that you need to wear it every day?)
So what is sunscreen, really? "Sunscreen products contain ingredients that help absorb UV rays and convert the sun's radiation into heat energy, which acts as a physical sunscreen that helps to deflect and scatter the rays before they penetrate the skin," a REN spokesperson explains. These products work to provide varying levels of protection from UVA, UVB, and IR rays.
Though the terms are often used interchangeably, SPF is not synonymous with sunscreen. It's actually an acronym that stands for sun protection factor, which dermatologist Howard Murad (whose City Skin Age Defense SPF 50 is one of our absolute favorites) says refers to the "theoretical" amount of time after application that you could stay in the sun without getting sunburned. "For example, an SPF of 15 would allow you to stay in the sun 15 times longer than you could without protection," Dr. Murad explains.
That accounts for why someone with sun-sensitive fair skin would need protection lasting up to 50 times longer in the heat. "It's important to remember that the higher the SPF means the longer the protection, not the stronger the protection," Dr. Murad tells us. "So once that time period has elapsed, reapply. And remember other factors may reduce the protection levels, like water, sand, clothes, perspiration — so if you're ever in doubt about your SPF protection, reapply."
Not all sun exposure is made alike, which means some types of sun protection are better than others, too. "The best protection from the sun is a product that is 'broad spectrum,'" a Skin Laundry spokesperson tells us. That's because you need to account for both UVB rays, which are considered the "burning" rays that cause visible damage straight away, and UVA rays, which are the skin-aging rays that cause irreversible DNA damage and encourage free radicals.
Always make sure your sunscreen of choice is labeled as broad spectrum to get all the wrinkle-busting, skin-protecting coverage. You may even want to consider some of the newer formulas that promise to protect against infrared and High Energy Visible Light (or HEVL), just to cover all the bases.
Uh, yes. Skin is the body's largest organ, the sun is hotter than ever, and wearing sun protection daily is the smartest thing you can do for your health and your skin — especially if you're concerned about signs of aging. Even if you aren't particularly susceptible to sunburn, and still believe in the idea of a "base tan," any sun exposure can result in DNA damage from harmful UV radiation.
But more than just an extra step at the end of your already-comprehensive skin-care routine, your sunscreen can provide major added benefits beyond simple sun protection. "Sunscreens should always include hydrators, anti-inflammatory agents, and antioxidants, as these products will also help repair the skin's barrier to make it better able to defend itself from the sun and other environmental aggressors, like bacteria and pollution," Dr. Murad explains.
As we know from Money Diaries, we all have our unique styles when it comes to saving and spending money. Some people are partial to money-saving apps that do (some of) the work, others use piggy banks, and some are ready to hit purchase on the cart that's been filled for days as soon as that direct deposit hits.
These habits doesn't necessarily have to do with salary: Sometimes, a diarist with an entry level salary one-third of what our highest-paid diarists earn is the most willing to shell out cash on beauty products or morning coffee. The bottom line is: Everyone has a different idea of what's worth spending on and what they can afford — be it a fresh pair of Gucci loafers, a honeymoon, or a home. We don't judge! But the interesting thing to know is why these purchases were worth the hard-earned cash.
Ahead, some recent Money Diarists tell us their biggest purchases, why they bought them, and — most importantly — how they feel about them now.
In this Money Diary, an executive recruiter in Austin, TX, bought herself new Vince Camuto boots and got stood up at the dog park by a Bumble BFF match.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"My most expensive purchase to date is my Mazda sedan, which I bought when I moved from New York City to Los Angeles. I made a $3,000 down payment and financed $17,000, but I'm going to end up paying around $21,000, due to interest."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"Once I knew that we were moving to L.A., I decided to buy a car, and saved up enough money for what I thought was a hefty down payment."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"I definitely do. I moved to L.A. with my boyfriend for his new job, and we thought he'd be driving into an office every day. I work from home, but I bought a car so that I'd be able to run errands and visit with friends while he was at work. Three months after the move, his position transitioned to full-time remote, and we definitely didn't need two cars.
"I've owned the car for two years now, and it has less than 9,000 miles on it. It would be even lower if we hadn't driven from L.A. to Austin, TX, when we moved here last December. I'm still making payments on the car, though I've really buckled down on paying off debt this year, and should pay it off nearly two years early this July. I really let my emotions get the better of me with this purchase. I was so excited for the freedom of having a car after living in NYC for almost five years, that I didn't really think it through."
Was it worth it?
"Yes and no. The car is very nice and incredibly reliable. At the rate that I use it, I could drive it for the next decade without hitting 100,000 miles. In that sense, it's a good value. However, I'd much rather have avoided the 'stupid tax' in the form of interest on my auto loan. Not paying for a car payment/gas/insurance for the last two years would have made a big difference on my overall financial situation. Plus, I've learned that my car is really too small for what I want to do with it. When my family visits, they can't all fit comfortably in the back seat, and I plan on getting a second, larger dog. I wish I'd purchased an SUV instead of a sedan."
This communications manager in Glendale, CA, spends her Money Diary reading parenting books and buying things for her nursery in preparation for the birth of her baby.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"A new King-size bedroom set and mattress that we bought when I was pregnant with my son. One of my friends works at a mattress store, so we were able to buy our mattress and sheets at a major discount. Our bed and dresser are the matching dark gray Hemnes set from IKEA. Altogether, the furniture, mattress, and bedding came out to about $2,500. Before that, my husband and I were sleeping in the Queen-size bed he had since high school. When we moved in together, we were saving up for our wedding, so we re-stained his bed and dresser ourselves to avoid buying new stuff."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"We had been talking about buying a new 'grown up' bedroom set for a while, but it wasn’t a priority. With my pregnancy support pillows taking up most of the bed and our 60-pound dog who loves to hop in bed with us, there was barely any room left for my husband. It was definitely time for an upgrade.
"We hadn’t specifically saved up for a new bedroom set, but we do have a savings account dedicated to miscellaneous big purchases that might pop up, like this one."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"When the mattress arrived, it felt a lot softer than I remembered it being at the store, but we decided to try it out for a few days. But then the holidays happened, and our baby was born, and we never got around to reevaluating if the mattress was the right firmness before the return window expired. I still think it’s too soft (while my husband thinks it’s perfect), so I’m having a bit of buyer’s remorse. It probably wasn't a good idea to buy a new mattress while I was pregnant."
Was it worth it?
"The size upgrade was definitely worth it; it feels so luxurious to be able to stretch out as much as we want and also have our dog and baby in there with us. But I wish we had spent a little more time and effort making sure the mattress was a better fit for my preference, because it’s something we’re going to keep for the next decade, and having the right amount of support is essential for preventing back pain. At least for now I have an excuse to indulge in more massages, so there’s a bright side."
In this Money Diary, a service coordinator in NYC spends most of her money on clothing and makeup. She has a skincare obsession and a Sephora VIB Rouge card to prove it.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"My most expensive purchase was my Givenchy Small Antigona leather satchel. It was $2,290, before tax. My mom loves it and asks how much I paid for it, but I'll never tell her since she would probably murder me, lol."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"It was a bit of both. I tend to be careful with my spending and I work VERY hard for my money. But I'd been wanting a designer bag for so long, and I finally found the perfect one, so why not?"
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"Initially I was like, 'Whoa, this is f**king ridiculous, I can't believed I really paid this much for a bag.' After that, I fell in love with it. It makes ANY outfit look amazing and I get compliments on it all the time."
Was it worth it?
"YES. It's my go-to bag. I know this will sound vain, but when you walk into any place with a designer bag, that place turns into your runway. It's an amazing feeling."
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"A road bike in the summer of 2014, which was about $950."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"I bought it on layaway, giving the bike shop $200-$300 whenever I could. I finally took it home with me about three months after I first saw it. I bought it because my boyfriend at the time was a cyclist, and I wanted to be able to ride with him."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"I occasionally have buyer’s remorse, because I’ve ridden it maybe 10 times in four years. I keep saying this will be the year I get out and ride it, and I even bought one of those stands to make it into a stationary bike so I can ride it indoors during the winter. We’ll see if I actually follow through on riding it outdoors."
Was it worth it?
"Yes, because I’d really like to be a person who cycles regularly. But I’m also sort of terrified of riding it on the actual road, even if it’s just a small stretch that connects trails."
This deputy director in Silicon Valleywrote in her Money Diary about how she and her husband sleep on a mattress on the floor because they aren't ready to buy a bed as expensive as what they ultimately want.
What was your most expensive purchase, and how much was it?
"The most expensive purchase I’ve ever made was my three-week honeymoon to Europe. It was a little under $16,000 altogether, including airfare, trains, hotels, restaurants, and tours."
Was it impromptu, or did you save up for it?
"It was the opposite of impromptu, as you might have guessed from the London planning in my Diary. I meticulously researched everything we did, from hotels to tours to restaurants. I knew approximately how much the trip would cost ahead of time, and we were fully prepared."
Do you have buyer's remorse?
"We save pretty effectively most of the time, so we made a conscious decision to spend a chunk of our savings on this trip. We didn’t travel much in our 20s, so we decided to do and eat everything we wanted to in Europe. We spent almost no money on shopping, however. Every expense was experience-related. I have no buyer's remorse."
Was it worth it?
"With the exception of one tour guide who I didn’t like much (he only took up six hours of our three-week trip), I loved our honeymoon. It was worth every penny."
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While we often associate fall with the best scents (hello, pumpkin spice!), we'd like to make a case for what the spring season has to offer: laundered linens, fresh rain, and sweet florals galore. Our favorite bloom? Sure, honeysuckle, gardenia, and cherry blossom are up there on our list, but nothing epitomizes spring quite like rose.
But it’s not only the sweet scent that’s winning us over. When used in skin and hair care, rose can be hydrating, calming, and even brightening. So whether you have sensitive skin and are on the market for a gentle toner or you're just looking for a gorgeous new fragrance, read on for a few of our favorite rose-infused beauty buys gracing Target 's beauty shelves this spring.
After a long winter, your hair is probably in need of some serious moisture. For hydrated hair in a pinch, look no further than this rose-oil-infused mask. Simply apply it evenly from roots to ends while in the shower, and rinse after 5 minutes. Or if you have the extra time, cover the mask with a shower cap and apply heat for 30 minutes.
Pretty pastels are everywhere this spring — including in our balayage. There's nothing quite as fun as experimenting with soft lavender, baby blue, and rosy-pink tones. But sadly, the upkeep of color-treated hair is a pain. On those days when a hydrating hair serum just won't cut it, we’re maintaining the vibrancy of our color with this murumuru-butter and rose-petal shampoo.
Love Beauty and Planet, $6.99, available at Target
Long days at work can take a toll on the luminosity of your skin, but that doesn't mean you should stop hustling. Get your glow on by introducing a facial oil into your routine. One of our faves? This luxurious rose-oil blend. Use it on its own or add a few drops to your morning moisturizer for a natural glow that lasts all day.
Sensitive skin — and we mean super sensitive skin — requires a little extra TLC, especially when it comes to abrasive toners. So instead of reaching for an alcohol-infused formula, pick one with lightweight, restorative ingredients. This one from Thayers features rose water, which hydrates, and aloe vera, which soothes sensitive skin. It's a fresh, soothing take on an old classic. What's not to love?
You (and your skin) deserve a little spa time every now and again. So why not pull your hair up and kick back with a good old-fashioned mud mask? This one from Yes To contains primrose oil to reduce redness and hydrate dry patches. If you're feeling like taking your spa night up a notch, light up your favorite candle and add some cucumber slices to your eyes. Ooh. Ahh.
Planning an adult spring break trip somewhere tropical? Don't forget to pack this roller-ball perfume that's small enough to toss in your carry-on. With notes of rose, violet, and myrrh, trust us when we say it'll be your next go-to scent.
These days, you can buy deodorant in almost any scent: charcoal, Champagne, coffee, you name it. Sure, you might not want to stray from your beloved powder scent, but we vote for giving a floral a try — especially now that it's spring. This combination of rose and vanilla is subtle but refreshingly sweet. Plus, it's all-natural, 100% vegan, and aluminum free.
My 'fro and I are — to put it politely — having creative differences. I was really feeling how my copper dye job brought every curl to life, but with great color comes great responsibility — which I wasn't as prepared for. My stylist warned me that I'd need to co-wash at least every other day to keep my 4C 'fro moisturized. If you like to sleep like me, then you know how quickly that presented a problem.
I looked and looked for stylers that worked for my texture and timeframe, but continually came up empty. Gels made my coils springy if I used a diffuser, but flaked up when I air dried. Creams took a lot of muscle to work through my strands, and my hair just didn't dry as fast when I used them.
Turns out, the key to easy, defined curls was neither a gel nor a cream — it was an oil, marula and olive to be exact. They're two of the hero ingredients in Mizani's new True Textures Perfect Coil Oil Gel, made specifically for the naturals who love to wash, go, and get on with their lives. I admit that I was a little bit skeptical about its other main ingredient, coconut oil, which even SZA warns against using in your hair. But I knew Marula oil has lots of fatty acids and soaks in super fast, while olive oil is a godsend for detangling. Altogether, these three oils have given me some of the best curls of my life.
Photo courtesy of Khalea Underwood.Photo courtesy of Khalea Underwood.
(Left: A dry, three-day-old wash-and-go without the product. Right: The results of a wash-and-go with Mizani's Coil Oil Gel.)
After rinsing out my conditioner, I spray in a little leave-in conditioner, because my hair gets dry really fast. Then, while my hair is still soaking wet, I'll section it off into four parts and work a generous dollop of the oil gel from roots to tips. Usually, I'm already detangling while co-washing, but if I do miss a few spots, then it's all good: The gel has fantastic slip that helps me get them out.
Once my sections are covered in the product, I give my hair a good shake so that my curls fall in place (see Yara Shahidi do it here). Because it's still cold in New York City, I'll diffuse with medium heat before I leave the house. But I tried washing and going on a recent trip to Austin (where the high was 80 degrees) and my coils air dried perfectly, with no flakes in sight. Maybe it's spring fever, but it's safe to say that I'm falling back in love with my 'fro once again.
Mizani True Textures Perfect Coil Oil Gel, $22, available at Ulta.
Syracuse University has permanently expelled the Theta Tau engineering frat after a pair of videos surfaced in which members offended just about every marginalized group.
After 93 years of existence, the professional fraternity will "never be able to reorganize at Syracuse University," a spokeswoman said in a statement to Syracuse.com. A permanent expulsion, under SU policy, is reserved for "extraordinary circumstances."
Chancellor Kent Syverud said that individual students could also be expelled or suspended as a result of the "racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, ableist, and sexist" videos. Last Thursday, he suspended Theta Tau. "The students have rights in this process and they will be observed," he said. "Outcomes could include suspension or expulsion from Syracuse University."
On Saturday, Syverud said that the university is pursuing an investigation into the videos with "speed and vigor" and has interviewed dozens of people, according to the Daily Orange.
In the first video, members participate in a series of sketches in which they simulate sex acts with a beer can, laugh about gassing Jews, and one of them pledges, "I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for n------, s----, and most importantly the fucking k----."
The second video shows them pretending to sexually assault a disabled man. One of the members says, "He's drooling out of his mouth because he's retarded in a wheelchair."
The videos have initiated a campus-wide conversation about race and identity at the upstate New York school, with many minority students speaking out about feeling unsafe on the mostly white campus.
The fraternity, in a lengthy apology posted on its website, maintained that the video was meant to be satire — a roast of a conservative, Republican brother in the frat. "It was a satirical sketch of an uneducated, racist, homophobic, misogynist, sexist, ableist, and intolerant person," the frat said in the statement. "The young man playing the part of this character nor the young man being roasted do not hold any of the horrible views espoused as a part of that sketch. We would like to believe that the new members seen in the video laughing at the horrible things being said were not laughing in concurrence with these beliefs, but in fact the opposite — that racism, sexism, and homophobia are so wrong that they are laughable. None of the satire was said or done in malice."
Water — maybe you've heard of it? — is vital for all known forms of life here on earth (which, by the way, is 71% water in and of itself), and yet we use its derivatives as a synonym for weak. Nobody ever asks for a watery cocktail or cup of coffee, and a "watered-down" version of something is just a gentle, passive-aggressive way of saying it's the same thing, but worse. But if it's run-of-the-mill moisturizers you find too strong for your liking — too rich, too heavy, too creamy — forget your anti-dilution prejudice: Their watered-down counterparts strike just the right balance.
Lighter than your typical lightweight moisturizer (no, really), these gel-like formulas feel like nothing going on, but leave even dry skin types shockingly well-hydrated. It's sort of like when you complain about the Happy Hour drinks being weak so you order another and another and then suddenly the room is spinning and you're DMing your ex. Ahead, the best new water gels and creams to add to your list of things you can't live without... right after actual water, of course. You're still going to need that, no matter how much ice has already melted in your margarita on the rocks.
It’s not a mirage: This whipped gel is like a tall drink of water for desert-dry skin, giving you all the hydration without the heaviness of a cream. The key is in the star ingredient, a rare cactus species known as “queen of the night,” which is a climate-adaptive succulent with a remarkable ability to thrive in harsh, dry climates.
Boscia Cactus Water Moisturizer, $38, available at Sephora in June.
The skin-care equivalent of those one-a-day vitamins you bought that have been gathering dust in your medicine cabinet ever since, except smoothing on this light, lush oil-free formula is so pleasant, you'll want to do it a lot more than once a day. (Twice, ideally.)
Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel, $60, available at Murad.
It's a gel, it's a cream, it's a moisture cushion, it's... all of the above: a bouncy, lightweight moisturizer enriched with marine algae from the waters of Okinawa and a whole range of amino acids and B vitamins that leave skin plump and dewy.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion, $60, available at Dr. Dennis Gross.
Water lily extract makes this moisturizer as blue as the crystal-clear waters on the shore of some exclusive island unspoiled by civilization yet still accessible to the very rich, and as refreshing as them, too (assuming you close your eyes and put your imagination to good use).
GlamGlow Waterburst Hydrated Glow Moisturizer, $49, available at Sephora.
This weightless gel does to your skin what 30 minutes in a flotation tank does for your overactive brain: soothes, heals, and makes you forget you live in a city of 8.5 million people and an apartment with four roommates. Almost.
Dermalogica Calm Water Gel, $48, available at Ulta.
Because putting actual cucumber slices over your eyes is impractical and makes it hard to watch TV, this smoothing, brightening gel is the next best thing — better, because it doesn't involve slicing any vegetables.
Estée Lauder DayWear Eye Cooling Anti-Oxidant Moisture GelCreme, $40, available at Nordstrom.
If it looks like water and feels like water, then it must be water, right? Wrong. It could also be this moisturizer, which is remarkably similar in texture and appearance to what happens when you combine two atoms of hydrogen with one atom of oxygen — or, rather, when you infuse Provençal spring water with glycerin and hyaluronic acid.
L’Occitane Aqua Réotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Gel Moisturizer, $29, available at Sephora.
The perfect summer moisturizer, reimagined: Light and easily absorbed, with a satiny finish ideal for oil slick-prone skin types, this gel-cream ups the ante on the usual hot-weather hydrator, thanks to an ingredients list packed with probiotics, soothing aloe, and watermelon extract (which you might recognize from another buzzy, perpetually sold-out formula...).
Miss Africa Great Britain is a beauty pageant that takes place every year in a grand venue in east London. Founded in 2011, its mission is to “give young African girls born or living in the UK a platform to showcase not only their beauty but their culture, talent, and creativity.”
The pageant is typical in that there’s an evening-wear round, where the beauty queens parade down a catwalk in a beautiful dress and a crown; a cultural-wear round, where the queens model traditional dress from their native African countries; a talent round; and an interview round. The winner goes on to become a goodwill ambassador for Miss Africa GB, a role which revolves around implementing a charity program in their native country. Of 26 contestants from 14 African countries, last year’s crown went to Larissa Tcheukam from Cameroon, a student and health practitioner whose mission is to support the education of underprivileged children, which was the basis for her charity mission to Cameroon in March this year.
Levon Ijeh, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Ebele Nwangwu, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017
South African photographer Alice Mann, who moved to London in 2014, attended the 2017 pageant to shoot portraits of the contestants. Having grown up in Cape Town, Alice is deeply interested in the African diaspora and themes of race, identity and community run through her work. Earlier this year, Refinery29 featured her previous series Always Wear Your Best On A Sunday — a portrait of the community at Walworth Methodist Church in south London. This new series on Miss Africa GB addresses similar themes, while subsequently reframing beauty pageants and Miss World-type competitions as meaningful celebrations of women that can have multiple positive impacts.
Here, Alice talks us through the series, and what she’s working on next.
Jessia Anyan-Brown, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Photo: Alice Mann.Anta Wilkins, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Photo: Alice Mann.
How did you find out about Miss Africa GB?
Alice: I found out about the pageant two years ago and it piqued my interest because of the scenes I’m examining and the images of empowerment, looking at African communities in the UK. When I initially tried to get hold of the pageant organizers two years ago, it didn’t work out, but last year I got an email from them to say auditions were starting, and that I could go along. I organized shoot portraits of most of the contestants. Miss Africa GB works with girls who have African heritage [entry requires at least one parent from an African country] and links to different African countries, and they work with girls in getting ready for the pageant, too, increasing their confidence and creating a positive image around their cultural identity. It was a positive story, and I liked that. All the girls chose their own clothes for the portraits and I worked with a makeup artist who has an amazing sense of color so it was a nice collaboration between lots of women, which was fun. In simple terms, I was looking at this positive sense of community, and I wanted to create images that people felt proud of.
Djene Camara, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Photo: Alice Mann.
What happens in Miss Africa? What’s the format — is it like Miss World?
Alice: I know that beauty pageants are seen as quite outdated and as these archaic standards of beauty that women have to conform to, but what I liked about Miss Africa GB was that it’s a self-defining idea of beauty, focusing on the individual rather than making people conform. Miss Africa GB is linked up with charities in Africa and the winner does charity work for the subsequent year in her native country, so it creates positive links between London and Africa.
Djene Camara, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Photo: Alice Mann.Jamila Doh, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Photo: Alice Mann.
Are the contestants judged on how they look or what they’re wearing or what they’re saying?
Alice: It’s a combination of things; they have several rounds, including a cultural-wear round. A number of them chose to wear their cultural outfits for the portraits, which I really liked. A lot of the contestants are second generation, born in the UK, so it’s that mix — it’s not necessarily African people or British people. The fact that they can be both is what I wanted to look at.
How old are they?
Alice: The age range was 18 to late 20s. And a lot of them were from outside of London — the pageant goes quite a bit wider than I first assumed.
Rebecca Mphongo, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Photo: Alice Mann.
How did they feel about you photographing them?
Alice: A number of the girls are models, or online personalities, and I created a portfolio for each girl I photographed and sent it back to them, which I hoped they might use somehow. The goal was to create images that they wanted.
Do you know how they hear about the pageant?
Alice: I think it’s quite mixed. A number of them were part of modeling agencies and found out about it through that.
Oluchi Osuona, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Photo: Alice Mann.Julie Gikami, Miss Africa GB Beauty Pageant Contestant. London, 2017Photo: Alice Mann.
Any other projects we should look out for?
Alice: I recently got published, which was quite cool; it was a series I worked on in Cape Town on drum majorettes. In an area that’s very badly affected by gang violence, there are these girls at a primary school who participate in a sport called "drummies," which is taken very seriously as a sport in South Africa. I know in a lot of places it’s viewed as quite obscure, but these young girls train for hours and hours during the week and over their weekends; they take it so seriously, and through it they have become very empowered. It was incredible to work with them, and they look amazing. They put on these uniforms of sequins and feathers and they just embody this confidence and power through being part of this team.
You’ve written about the fact that you are a white South African photographer who often photographs black subjects — and about wanting to dismantle white privilege. How aware of your skin color are you when you're working on a project like this?
Alice: Being a white photographer is something I’m very aware of. I have to be aware of my privilege when I’m working with people — white or black. Having a sense and an understanding of the position that I’m coming with as a photographer is important. My awareness of my own position makes me more critically consider how I’m engaging with people. You can’t just "lightly engage" on certain topics — you have to look deeper and that’s the way I tend to approach the subjects I’m working with. I am personally very interested in how migrant communities create a positive sense of community in a new place, and I wonder how I, as a photographer, can work to produce positive imagery, to counter the often negative imagery we see in the media of people who are seen as outsiders or "other."
This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.
Many moons ago, when I first moved to NYC in pursuit of the elusive Dream Job in magazines, I vividly remember my 85-year-old Abuela sending Nina Garcia — the creative director of Marie Claire at the time (now Elle 's new EIC) — a hand-written note requesting a job for me. She, along with 4 million other people, had seen Garcia on Project Runway. "Nina is Colombian, she will help you," she said to me, blissfully unaware of how ridiculous that sounded. "Latina women, that's what we do."
And while I didn't get the gig (and still don't know if Garcia ever received that note), it's true: There's a special, unprecedented bond within our community that lifts one another up. That's why I decided to show my support by shouting out my favorite Latinx-owned beauty brands on the market.
For an entire month, I only used beauty products (makeup, skin, and hair) made by Latinx people. And I found a ton of new favorites along the way — which you can check out in the slides ahead. Abuela, this one's for you.
Makeup
Photographed by Shaliqua Alleyne
I was already familiar with the bright and colorful Reina Rebelde line (which translates to "Rebel Queen" in English). It was created last year by Mexican-American Regina Merson as a nod to her culture, and I've been in love with the brand's pigment-packed lipsticks since first swipe.
"I wanted the [lip] colors to be as strong as our mouths," she recently told me. "These are highly pigmented, so they make a statement. Each of the names were inspired by attitudes I feel every Latina woman can relate with." This fiery-red shade, for example, is called Brava, "which means woman on fire, in a sense," Merson says. It's so good, I didn't want to take it off every time I wore it.
Reina Rebelde Bold Lip Color Stick in Brava, $16, available at Reina Rebelde.
All my life, people have (kindly) compared me to Eva Mendes, calling her my celebrity dopplegänger ever since 2005's Hitch. Whether or not that's true — though, you can guess which narrative I'd like to believe — we are both Cuban-American and have a deep affinity for baby powder as a means of dry shampoo. So, I remember being especially excited in 2015 when she helped launch the affordable, pro-grade drugstore brand Circa Beauty.
I've already used (and loved!) the brand's highly pigmented eyeshadows and blush, but this velvety, hydrating, oil-free BB cream cannot be beat. So I slathered it on all month, which may not have left me looking like Mendes... but my even skin tone certainly didn't hurt.
Circa Beauty Color Balance BB Cream, $14, available at Walgreens.
I'm about 10 years late to the Beautyblender fandom game, but this experiment pushed me to give it a go, since the revolutionary makeup sponge was created by Mexican and Portuguese entrepreneur, Rea Ann Silva. Now I'm fucked, because I'll never go back to using my fingers — and I've stocked up on every color, including this swirly pink egg.
The one thing every single member on the Hispanic side of my family has in common: dark, deep-set undereye shadows. (The only beauty product request I get at Christmas from my dad, brother, uncle, and sister? Eye brighteners.) So, it's good to know I'll now be recommending this concealer from Honest Beauty. Not only does it come from Mexican-American actress Jessica Alba, but it's also formulated with jojoba oil and includes two lightweight shades you can cocktail to find your perfect match.
Honest Beauty Undereye Concealer Duo, $20, available at Honest Beauty.
As if Argentinian founder Gabriela Hernandez, who happens to be a cosmetics historian, wasn't cool enough, her beauty brand Bésame creates the cutest-ever vintage-looking products. I discovered, though, that the formulation inside each one is even better than the packaging. Take this cheek cream, for example, that's inspired by the late 1930's, comes in the most adorable red tin, and smells like cherry Skittles — sweet and delicious.
I remember first coming across this brand during a holiday press preview for Sephora (where the makeup bags are sometimes sold in limited edition batches) and fell, hard. The products and kitschy quotes are the works of Puerto Rican and Cuban makeup artist Angelique Velez, and each one helps you say everything you can't.
It's hard to believe long, fluttery lashes can come from a tin can (plus a toothbrush-looking applicator and black bar that resembles soap), but it's true. This mascara, another winner from Hernandez, is unlike anything else I've seen or tried on the market — and it's a hell of a lot more fun to use.
You may have heard of Mexican-American makeup artist Lora Arellano because she's responsible for creating some of Rihanna’s most memorable looks to date (including what she wore to the 2017 Met Gala). But she's also the co-founder of Melt Cosmetics, a line of bold, dreamy makeup products that'll make you feel inspired yourself. This four-pan "stack" of eyeshadows? I wore 'em out every single weekend during this challenge — and don't plan to stop anytime soon.
Melt Cosmetics Gun Metal Stack, $48, available at Melt Cosmetics.
Beauty entrepreneur Kat Von D is of German, Italian, and Spanish descent, but the tattoo artist and owner of her namesake cosmetics line was born in Mexico and immigrated from there — and she credits much of her work to her upbringing. "[It] plays a huge role in everything I do — the music I write, the way I draw, the Spanish shade names and themes for my makeup collection," she told Popsugar.
She's also used her background as a tattoo artist to create her line of long-wearing beauty products, like this liquid liner that's a regular in my makeup rotation.
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, $20, available at Sephora.
Hair Products
Photographed by Shaliqua Alleyne
Cuban native Orlando Pita is one of the biggest names in the beauty world, and I can attest that every product in his eponymous hair-care line lives up to the hype. My favorite, though, has to be his volumizing shampoo, which lends a little lift to my flat hair and has a great scent that lasts long after you rinse.
Orlando Pita Foam Full Volumizing Shampoo, $28, available at Ulta.
One of my favorite things about Jessica Alba's beauty line (which expanded to include hair products last year) is that they're all formulated without sulfates, parabens, or harsh chemicals. So, when I'm spritzing on this hydrating leave-in conditioner, I can feel good about what I'm putting on my hair.
Honest Beauty Beyond Hydrated Moisture Milk Leave-In Conditioner, $20, available at Ulta.
For years, I've waxed poetic about Cuban-born hairstylist Oribe's Texturizing Spray. It adds texture, smells like heaven and luxury in a bottle, and takes a lot to build up on my hair. But I may have just found its new replacement. This dry shampoo features everything mentioned above, but requires me to shower less often — for which I am disgustingly thankful.
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo, $44, available at Oribe.
Skin
Photographed by Shaliqua Alleyne
I've long been a fan of Colombian native Tata Harper's natural, toxin-free skin-care line (as is pretty much every beauty editor I know), but her newest moisturizer might be my favorite yet. Not only does the formula feel silky and lightweight going on, but it's also loaded with hyaluronic acid and humectants that made my feel skin dewy for a full day.
I would like to thank facialist-to-the-stars and Mexican-American beauty entrepreneur Joanna Vargas for turning me on to oils. (Yes, I realize this is marketed as a "serum," but the consistency and finish is near-identical to an oil, so I'm running with it.) Within two weeks of using it, my skin looked brighter, smoother, and more toned — so I'm calling this vitamin C-packed elixir my new fountain of youth potion.
Joanna Vargas Rescue Serum, $150, available at Dermstore.
I have a really hard time finding a good cleanser (they're either too slimy, too watery, or too... bleh) but this one is a best-seller for a reason. It's loaded with essential oils and tiny beads that gently exfoliate the gunk off my skin without leaving my face with that dreaded tight feel.
Like I mentioned before, I live for dark circle-fighting products, so I was excited to try this one from Angelica Fuentas, who was named one of Mexico's most influential business women by Forbes. It has a bit of a soapy smell (which took some getting used to), but the texture is velvety soft and instantly sinks into skin — and, yes, it made me look more bright-eyed by morning.
A Complete Youth Preserve Eye Contour Cream, $46, available at A Complete.
Being the world's laziest beauty editor on the planet, I always forget to do a weekly face mask, so I only used this exfoliator once during the challenge. I will say, though, that it was a lot more satisfying to apply than most others I've tried: You're supposed to massage on the gritty paste for 30 seconds before leaving it on for 20 minutes, so you really feel like you're putting in the work. And my skin looked so much brighter after just one use.
Joanna Vargas Exfoliating Mask, $75, available at Dermstore.
Catch Vida when it premieres Sunday, May 6 — only on STARZ.
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Nothing says summer like a little exposed midriff, right? As soon as Memorial Day weekend (a.k.a. the unofficial start of the season) hits, we're 100% swapping our white T-shirts for white crop tops. Why? Because we can.
As soon crop top season enters the horizon, we're leaning into it full-force, pairing them with everything from denim Bermuda shorts (yes, seriously) to airy A-line skirts to our favorite mom jeans. And a white crop top, in particular, is the summer staple you didn't know you needed. This season, they're a bit frilly and a bit feminine, and feature elements like dramatic sleeves and gathered details. But not to worry, there are also simple camisole versions and sportier variations, just in case puffy shoulders and ruffles aren't quite your thing.
However you choose to tackle this summer must-have, it's guaranteed to be a hit. Here's 16 of our favorites to shop right now.
When you're living in a city whose history dates back to the 1600s, every day is an opportunity to discover another mind-blowing piece of historical trivia. Many of New York City's secrets have been covered up and forgotten for decades, while the tourist hoi polloi zooms in on the more predictable attractions, such as the Empire State Building or Lady Liberty.
It's about time you give the the more strange and surprising of the city more thought. Many of these gems are hidden in plain sight: A Soho loft filled with nearly 300,000 pounds of dirt, for example — while others are so exclusive that most New Yorkers will never see them. From an abandoned subway station at City Hall to a colonial African burial ground lost for almost 300 years, we've rounded up the city's most unbelievable, best-kept secrets.
The Cloisters This museum is one of the best kept secrets in NYC. With a collection over 2,000 pieces of medieval artwork from Europe and a stunning Gothic facade, this is the perfect place to decompress and get away from it all.
Speakeasy Under The Woolworth Building The Financial District's glorious Woolworth Building — New York City's tallest skyscraper, when it was built in 1913 — has been regarded as rather mysterious since access to the public was closed off after 9/11. Once dubbed the Cathedral of Commerce, the Gothic skyscraper is known for its opulent lobby, which features Byzantine-style mosaics decorated in gold leaf. Even more fascinating is the ultra-hip speakeasy hidden beneath the building. Heading into The Wooly feels a bit like stepping into a Wes Anderson film, with whimsical paintings of animals and lamps rescued from the Plaza Hotel. For now, sadly, it's only open for private events.
Photo: Daniel Cavazos/The Wooly.
Doyers Street This alleyway is one of the most notorious streets in Chinatown. Also dubbed the "Bloody Angle," this street — with its rather sharp turn — was ground zero for Chinese gang fights back in the 19th century.
Washington Mews Greenwich Village is one of the busiest parts of downtown Manhattan, but this picturesque street corner shares none of the bustling traffic. This gated street was once the home of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, founder of the renowned Whitney Museum, and is now leased by NYU for faculty purposes. Despite the block being technically closed to the public, many Instagrammers seem to be able to bypass the gates and snap their #OOTDs.
Smallpox Hospital, Roosevelt Island This former infirmary has been abandoned since the '50s, but its spooky reputation captivates visitors to this day. It's been said that spooky sounds and dark shadows are a common occurrence on the grounds. The structure is located on the Southern tip of the highly walkable Roosevelt Island, should you want to try your luck.
Tonybee Tiles Unlike many of NYC's secrets, the Tonybee tiles are hidden in plain view. They first started appearing around the Northeast the 1980s (eventually spreading to South America), and have fascinated amateur sleuths determined to figure out exactly who placed them and why. There are some pretty compelling theories, the most convincing one put forth in a 2011 documentary, Resurrect Dead, but we may never know for sure. If you keep your eyes out, you might see one of the dozens of tiles in NYC in various states of decay right under your feet, or just check out the map of all known Tonybee tile locations if you want to make sure not to miss them.
Bowling Alley Beneath The Frick Gilded Age industrialist Henry Clay Frick is best known for his exquisite collection of Old Master paintings and French decorative arts. Walking through the Fifth Avenue museum in his former mansion, you're more likely to imagine masquerade balls than bowling balls, but hidden in the sub-basement lies Frick's private bowling alley. Obviously not one to cut corners, he installed the finest lanes (and billiard table) money could buy. Sadly, it's now closed to the public, but you can see its beautiful wood paneling inside the Frick Art Reference Library.
Photo: Michael Bodycomb/Frick Collection.
The Garment District's Freight Entrance Restaurants It's easy to pass by these tiny lunch counters when they blend into the street scene of the Garment District. But, if you stop to look, you'll find several little spots serving cheap, simple food in active loading docks. Some have been around for decades, like El Sabroso, which serves $1 empanadas and daily specials. There’s nothing glamorous about these places hidden amongst designer showrooms, but they're fun spots for a cheap, off-the-beaten-path lunch.
Photo: Michelle Young/Untapped Cities.
Abandoned City Hall Subway Station One of the city's oldest and most beautiful subway stations remains abandoned, but intact, in downtown Manhattan. The old City Hall stop was built in 1904 with Guastavino tiled arches (the same kind used in Grand Central), stained glass skylights, and brass lamps. It was decommissioned in 1945 because the elegant curving track couldn't accommodate the city's new, longer trains. You can tour it through the Transit Museum, or stay on the 6 train as it returns to the uptown track from the end of the line to catch a glimpse of the beautiful, old station.
Photo: Michelle Young/Untapped Cities.
Rockefeller Center's Hidden Rooftop Gardens Thousands of people visit Rockefeller Center every day, but almost none of them get to see — or even know about — its secret rooftop gardens. High atop midtown's Art Deco masterpiece, the lush little garden — which is exclusively rented out for private events — provides lucky visitors with amazing views of Fifth Avenue and the plaza's ice skating rink below (if you’re willing to shell out the $12,500 rental fee, of course).
Photo: Courtesy of Rockefeller Center.
Chinatown's Doyers Street Tunnel Though the Doyers Street tunnel (next to the trendy speakeasy Apothèke) is innocuous today, it used to be an escape route for people fleeing the gangs that populated the area in the 1800s. (In fact, Doyers Street was once called "the bloody angle " of the city because its sharp curve allowed rival gangs to sneak up on each other.) If you thought Gangs of New York overdramatized NYC's history for the sake of box office appeal, think again. Ruthless groups like the Dead Rabbits ran amok, and this is where it all went down.
Photo: Michelle Young/Untapped Cities.
Central Park's Hallett Nature Sanctuary You might think you know every corner of Central Park, but New York’s favorite green space has its secrets. In 1934, parks commissioner Robert Moses (the man responsible for the BQE) sealed off this four-acre piece of land, aiming to preserve it as a bird sanctuary. It remained untouched for nearly 70 years — visible but inaccessible. The Central Park Conservancy has been hard at work cleaning up the overgrown patch and weeding out invasive species. They opened the Hallett Nature Sanctuary to the public on a limited basis for the first time in 2013.
Photo: Laura Itzkowitz/Untapped Cities.
Brooklyn Heights' Secret Subway Ventilator If you've ever walked past 58 Joralemon Street in residential Brooklyn Heights and thought something was slightly amiss, you're absolutely right. The blacked-out windows conceal the fact that there’s actually no house behind the red façade. In fact, the building hides a subway ventilator and emergency exit that blends into the row of townhouses almost seamlessly.
Photo: Michelle Young/Untapped Cities.
The New York Earth Room Tucked away among Soho's chic boutiques is a rather unusual art installation. A small sign at 141 Wooster Street marks the site of the Earth Room, run by the Dia Art Foundation. Go upstairs and you'll find an otherwise pristine white loft filled wall-to-wall with 280,000 pounds of dirt. Earthworks artist Walter De Maria created the installation in 1977, and the soil has never been changed. You're likely to find the place all to yourself, which actually makes for a tranquil, meditative moment. Kinda makes you wonder what other art installations you're missing, doesn't it?
Photo: John Cliett/Dia Art Foundation.
Lower Manhattan's African Burial Ground For nearly 300 years, New Yorkers walking by Duane Street and Broadway near City Hall had no idea that they were treading over the largest and earliest African-American cemetery in the United States. Africans were brought over as slaves as early as the 1625, and built the original fortified wall that gave Wall Street its name. By the time the cemetery closed in 1794, an estimated 20,000 people were buried there. Though marked on old maps, the burial ground's existence was forgotten until 1991, when an excavation rediscovered it. It's now a National Historic Landmark.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress.
Radio City Music Hall's Secret Apartment Imagine having your own private apartment inside one of the city's most gorgeous Art Deco buildings. As a token of their appreciation, the architects of Radio City Music Hall built a lavish apartment — complete with leather club chairs, velvet curtains, and murals — for Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel, the impresario who produced the theater's glamorous shows. High above the stage, Roxy entertained Hollywood's elite, including Samuel Goldwyn and Alfred Hitchcock. After his death, the apartment was forgotten and disused, but today it’s kept in pristine condition and rented out for private parties.
Photo: Luke J. Spencer/Atlas Obscura.
The New York Public Library's Book Vault When the main branch of the New York Public Library was built between 1902 and 1911, it was not only a major triumph for knowledge, but also a symbol of wealth and beauty; at the time, it was the largest marble building ever completed in the United States. And, while the library houses too many books to count, it's also home to some very valuable treasures kept under lock and key, including Shakespeare's folios, Walt Whitman's original copies of Leaves of Grass, and Jack Kerouac's manuscripts. Storage for the collections goes 30 feet deep under Bryant Park, so if you picnic on the lawn, you're literally sitting atop some of the world's greatest literary treasures.
Photo: Celeste Zhou/Untapped Cities.
Cow Tunnels Under 12th Avenue If you think traffic is bad in New York today, just imagine what it was like getting stuck on 12th Avenue thanks to a herd of cows crossing the street. Long before Chelsea and the Meatpacking District were cleaned up, the area became so overrun with cows heading to the slaughterhouses that it was necessary to come up with a solution to keep them out of the way. Though cow tunnels are often believed to be an urban legend, it’s been proven that they existed at 34th Street and between 38th and 39th streets on 12th Avenue.
Photo: Courtesy of George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress.
Track 61 Under Grand Central Grand Central Terminal is chock full of secrets, but the most fascinating one may be the abandoned Track 61, with its private elevator that goes directly into the Waldorf Astoria. VIPs used it as a discreet escape route — most famously, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who may have taken advantage of this mysterious mode of entry to hide his worsening case of polio. Supposedly, the elevator was built large enough to fit his car, which it brought up to the Waldorf’s garage. Unless you're POTUS or a VIP, this spot is definitely off-limits.
Photo: Sam Horine/Gothamist.
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Right before our very eyes, the mirror-framed wrath of Gigi Hadid descended upon our Instagram feeds, utilizing her status of model of the moment and position as one part of world-famous BFF duo KenGi to transform the way we do athleisure. We know it's been a while since the world was first introduced to the name Hadid, but she and sister Bella aren't going anywhere anytime soon. And our wardrobes are better off for it.
You see, Hadid's style consists of taking something high and pairing it with something low, like an overcoat you'd normally wear to the ballet, except with a pair of workout leggings and some sneakers. Or in this case, a pair of house shoes. Or, like the slideshow ahead will show you, a minimal crêpe de chine coat and a pair of jeans so ripped she might as well just wear shorts. This isn't a new concept, per se, but Gigi Hadid takes athleisure into a new realm. And to put it simply: we're here for it.
Styling tricks à la Hadid are fast, easy, and — trust us on this one — affordable. Hell, even chokers cost less than your Starbucks run these days. And if that ain't enough, there's always Bella.
It's all in the details.
Photo: Gotham/GC Images.
The New Yorker's wardrobe in one photo.
Photo: Gotham/GC Images.
We're not sure what kind of weather this calls for, but when you've got your own personal driver, it doesn't matter. You. Better. Work.
Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images.
That's not your mother's coat (by Tory Burch, nontheless) and definitely not your mother's (python) pants. Whoa.
Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images.
No choker left behind.
Photo: Pierre Suu/Getty Images.
Leave it to Gigi to remind us that it just might be time to update our just-going-to-the-corner-store wardrobe.
Photo: James Devaney/GC Images.
Are you ready boots? / Start walking.
Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images.
If you're not picking up the Annie Hall vibes Gigi Hadid is throwing down here, then...then just forget it.
Photo: Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto/Getty Images.
Is the corset the next big thing in lingerie-inspired dressing?
Photo: Alo Ceballos/GC Images.
Can you count how many acute angles there are in this look? Bonus point if you can spot the obtuse ones, too...
Photo: Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto/Getty Images.
Like a soldier suiting up for battle, Gigi struts in tweed towards a full day of press.
Photo: Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto/Getty Images.
It's like it's just drooping off of her.
Photo: Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto/Getty Images.
Orange you glad she didn't say wear banana?
Photo: Ignat/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images.
Wearing a side of Tommy Hilfiger we've never seen before, Gigi rocks a corset that looks more like a disco ball than your typical Met Gala gown.
Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images.
Now that's what a birthday suit should look like.
Photo: David Becker/Getty Images.
Is that a vintage AC/DC T-shirt? Um, as if she couldn't get any cooler.
Photo: Josiah Kamau/Getty Images.
You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, I'm telling you why. Gigi Hadid is coming...to kick your ass.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images.
Who doesn't love when Gigi goes all corporate chic on us?
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images.
Sure, real women wear pink. But supermodels wear two pinks at the same time.
Photo: Raymond Hall/Getty Images.
Like a snow leopard, Gigi whips her hair back and forth.
Photo: Robert Kamau/Getty Images.
Will the designer of this T-rex button-up please stand up? Please, stand up.
Post-Fenty x Puma, Gigi gives us life with a crop top, easy denim, and some booties to die for.
Photo: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images.
Alright, you're seeing it here: Trucker hats circa Britney Spears in the early '00s are cool again.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.
Backstage at Diane von Furstenberg's fall 2016 show, Gigi owns the camera (like usual) in a slip dress to give all other slip dresses a run for their money.
Photo: James Devaney/Getty Images.
Are those leggings paired with a fur circle scarf? Gigi, you did it again.
Photo: Raymond Hall/Getty Images.
This is what fashion looks like when you get to take cars everywhere. What snow?
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images.
Dude, just be cool.
Photo: Foc Kan/Getty Images.
Be right back, buying a match coat and trousers set.
Photo: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images.
We're going to let this one speak for itself.
Photo: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images.
A denim coat? Now that's something we haven't tried yet.
Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images.
Like a porcelain vase, Gigi stands tall in her boots.
Photo: Alo Ceballos/Getty Images.
There's something magical about this dress and we can't quite put our fingers on it. Hell, maybe all of it?
Photo: Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle/Getty Images.
Cool. Calm. Collected. It's the Gigi way.
Photo: Robino Salvatore/Getty Images.
The Balmain hair (and lewk) that shook the internet.
Photo: Pierre Suu/Getty Images.
Do you even cape, bro?
Photo: Victor Boyko/Getty Images.
An outfit so comfortable, you could fall asleep in it. No, really, is that a luxury Snuggie.
Photo: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images.
That coat must make getting dressed in the morning that much easier.
Photo: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images.
We're getting step-sister of the bride vibes here, and we're not mad at it.
Photo: Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images.
Now this is how you dress up ripped jeans (and exit a Chanel couture show, no less).
Photo: Jacopo Raule/GC Images.
Introducing: the carpet coat, for temperatures too chilly for any old blanket.
Photo: Marc Piasecki/GC Images.
The '70s are back — and in a very big (and crocheted) way.
Photo: Pierre Suu/GC Images.
Those jeans are not a want, they are a need.
Photo: Marc Piasecki/GC Images.
Give us a halter top and feathers, and we're in.
Photo: Franziska Krug/Getty Images.
This coat brings new meaning (and gravity) to "off-the-shoulder."
Photo: Alo Ceballos/GC Images.
It's too bad this Charlotte Simone cap is sold out. We bet Minnie Mouse would have wanted one.
Photo: Pierre Suu/GC Images.
Can you feel the swag?
Photo: James Devaney/GC Images.
Is that Gigi Hadid? Or shall we say a high-fashion orange sorbet en haute talons?
Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images.
Ladies and gentleman, this is what doin' the damn thing looks like.
