@brycehall #stitch with @centennialworld ♬ original sound – Bryce Hall

While the moment may have been seemingly innocent, some of the aforementioned TikTok creators didn’t think so — and they were pissed. The day after the show, content creator Bryce Hall responded to Eilish’s comment in, what else, a TikTok. In the video, Hall sarcastically apologized for not “bowing down” to the singer at the event and informed Eilish that Hall, alongside fellow creators like Chris Olsen, Alix Earle, and James Charles, were invited to the event by the People’s Choice Awardsorganizers. Hall wrapped up his video by telling Eilish that as a fan, “Now I don’t think I can renegade to any of your songs anymore. So thanks for taking out all my content.” So yeah, not pleased to say the least.

While the Eilish/TikTok-er feud will most likely blow over by the time the next viral trend comes around, the Billie Eilish People’s Choice Awards comment brings up an interesting debate over the role TikTok creators have at awards shows in general, and if they should even be there at all. Consider the following.

TikTok stars are the new era of entertainment

In 2024, the reality is that the entertainment industry has been taken over by social media stars, specifically TikTok. This isn’t a new phenomenon. Before TikTok, there was YouTube, with now mainstream stars like Canadian (and former FASHION cover star) Lilly Singh and Emma Chamberlain getting their start and building their fanbases on these platforms. Since welcoming fans into their lives via YouTube videos in the mid 2010s, both Singh and Chamberlain have gone on to amass millions of followers, branching out from their initial video content to the mainstream, becoming history-making late night TV hosts and launching coffee empires, respectively.

 

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In the same way the Kardashians crossed entertainment boundaries, ushering in reality stars as the new type of celebrity, Youtube, Instagram, and now TikTok content creators have started to do the same. We’ve seen this with OG creator Addison Rae, who used her TikTok celebrity to launch a beauty brand, make a foray into acting with He’s All That, and launch a (kind of successful, at least catchy) music career. As the highest grossing app in 2023, TikTok has over 1.5 billion active users a month, many of them from Gen Z, meaning that users are turning to the app for every part of their daily lives; fashion advice, cooking tutorials, and entertainment.

In this way, showing up at awards shows like the People’s Choice Awards makes sense for these content creators. They are the entertainment — and the people — that mainstream audiences turn to. In many cases, through views, likes, and shares, they are the people’s choices. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t also be critical of the role TikTok and its prominence in the entertainment industry does play, or that we even need to necessarily like it.

But virality comes with downsides

While content creators have become more aligned with mainstream celebs over the past several years, there are some ways in which they differ, specifically when it comes to visibility and the need for it. As opposed to a traditional Hollywood celeb like Selena Gomez or Dakota Johnson, who value privacy off-screen, the whole idea behind TikTok content creators and what have propelled them to stardom is the very opposite, the fact that they’re scarily unfiltered. They need to be, because their livelihoods — and virality — depend on it. Which can add a level of invasiveness and surveillance into these awards shows that didn’t exist before, with moments captured and shared for viral views. And this continues even after the show is over.

@oliveluvsyoux100 The way hes distracted looking in her eyes 🥹 #kyliejenner #timotheechalamet #goldenglobes ♬ My Love Mine All Mine – Mitski

Because another thing audiences have seen on the rise this awards season are lip reading videos, with TikTok creators taking snippets of private convos between celebs, at the Grammys,  front row at Fashion Week, on the sidelines of football games, and at the Golden Globes and incessantly dissecting them — then sharing their findings with literally everyone on the internet. Like many things, it all started with the Kardashians. During the January 7th stream of the 81st Golden Globe Awards, a video of couple Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet intimately chatting went viral, with hundreds of people attempting to determine what 2023’s most surprising couple talk about on the down-low. (The actual convo is still TBD, ranging from the young duo cooing “I love you” to each other, to Jenner complimenting Chalamet’s necklace. Ah, young love).

Later that same night, lip readers of TikTok struck once again when BFFs Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, and Keleigh Teller were caught seemingly gossiping on camera about Jenner and Chalamet, with many on the social media app saying Gomez was denied a photo with Chalamet by his girlfriend. It was, to say the least, a frenzy.

@jessweslie #greenscreen #kyliejenner #timotheechalamet #kyliejennertimotheechalamet #selenagomez #goldenglobes #goldenglobes2024 #fyp ♬ original sound – Jessica Weslie Arena

And while I’m all for some good, grade A celeb gossip like this Billie Eilish People’s Choice Awards drama (blind items are my life’s blood), there’s something that feels a little icky about taking tangible private moments and conversations between celebs and blasting them all over the internet. Even if there’s no harm initially meant by it,  it inevitably leads to said celebs having to become extra vigilant and guarded. Since the Golden Globes debacle, celebs like Swift and even Billie Eilish have taken to shielding their mouths while on camera or in photos talking to people around them, reinforcing the idea and feeling that just because these people are celebrities they’re not allowed an inkling of privacy. Which is a fallacy I thought we got over a long time ago.

Regardless of whether or not TikTok-ers pop up at the Oscars or any and all awards shows to come, one thing’s for sure — they’re probably here to stay.

The post Billie Eilish Has Thoughts On TikTok Stars — And So Do We appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

We shouldn’t be too surprised at this latest venture for Queen Bey. Fans of the singer have long been anticipating that the icon, who grew up in Texas, would someday return to her country roots with an album. Beyoncé has made nods to the genre in the past, releasing “Daddy Lessons” off her 2016 album Lemonade (and performing with The Chicks at the Country Music Awards the same year).

In 2022, the mogul leaned into her cowboy roots with her Ivy Park x Adidas campaign, celebrating Black cowboys and cowgirls. And even her Renaissance album and tour, which largely drew inspiration from Black dance music, included a nod to country style, with the singer donning disco cowboy hats and performing atop a horse onstage. As Time writer Taylor Crumpton noted in a recent article about her upcoming album, Beyoncé has always been country. The rest of the world is just catching up.

 

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And, because this is Beyoncé, who never does anything half-assed, her country aesthetic is infiltrating not just her sound, but her wardrobe as well. Since the beginning of February, the singer has been donning cowboy hats, boots, and bolo ties, at first a hint (the singer loves a good Easter egg) and then confirmation that she’s more than just a little bit country.

Shortly after the announcement of her upcoming album, Beyoncé popped up at the 58th Super Bowl sporting an inarguably Texan look: A custom Dolce & Gabbana minidress with thigh-high boots, a turquoise bolo tie, and teased hair. The singer’s manicure even got in on the theme, with nail artist Miho Okawara giving the star a french tip featuring turquoise gemstones typically associated with western wear

 

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A post shared by Miho okawara💅ishimaru (@mihonails)

On February 13, the singer made a New York Fashion Week appearance at Luar’s Fall 2024 show. While Bey was there to support her nephew’s modelling debut, all eyes were on the singer who donned a silver suit dress from Gaurav Gupta with matching embellished thigh-high boots, an iridescent Ana briefcase bag from Luar’s collection, and an oversized cowboy hat.

And on Valentine’s Day, Ms. Carter blessed us all with yet another sexy cowboy look, rocking a Dolce & Gabbana point d’esprit tulle gown with boning, a tulle veil and gloves, and a garter belt. And, of course, the singer wore a black cowboy hat.

 

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Unlike the attire at your local rodeo, Beyoncé’s yeehaw aesthetic clearly has a formula: A minidress + thigh-high boots + lots of embellishment. It’s not only cute, but also easy to emulate — whether you have a designer or Amazon budget. Below, find some of the best picks for channeling your inner Beyoncé-approved cowgirl.

Turquoise ring

If there’s one thing that every cowboy-chic look needs, it’s turquoise. Turquoise anything and everything. Jewellery is a great place to start when it comes to incorporating this western-beloved stone into your look; pair a bunch of stackable rings with some necklaces or a bolo tie, and you’re good to go.

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 Statement minidress

Like Beyoncé, we love a minidress. Versatile and wearable through all four seasons, the western wear trend means it’s the perfect opportunity to pull out old minidresses you have tucked away in your closet and repurpose them. The only criteria? That you feel fabulous in it.

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Western shirt

For the days when you just want to throw on jeans and boots, a classic western shirt is a fab option. While this look may be less Beyoncé and more Bella Hadid off-duty, one thing that’s for sure is it’s cowboy as heck.

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Cowgirl-approved belt

We love the power of a well-placed accessory, and when it comes to the western aesthetic, a belt is the best way to go. Amazon has affordable and super cute options for those who want to dip their toes into the trend without breaking the bank. (We don’t *all* have Beyoncé money, unfortunately.)

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Cowboy boots

Arguably the most important part of any yeehaw-chic outfit: the boots. Cowboy boots have evolved within the world of fashion, and they can be as pared-down — or as chunky — as you want them to be. We’d recommend a sleek black pair with minimal silver hardware. Easy to wear and super versatile. Plus, they’ll stand the test of time *and* the yeehaw trend.

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Cowboy hat

As much as we’d love to don an Orville Peck-style fringed cowboy hat or one bedazzled to the heavens, realistically it’s probably not what we’re going to turn to for the day-to-day or when planning a ’fit for drinks with your besties. In that case, it’s probably best to go with a hat that’s a statement, but won’t wear you. Go for something well-made and versatile, so you can pair it with jeans or a statement mini.

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This article contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you. 

The post Beyoncé Is Keeping the Yeehaw Agenda Alive and Well appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

It’s Zendaya’s world and we’re all just living in it. And nowhere has that been more clear than on the red carpet. With the help of her longtime stylist Law Roach, Zendaya has become a fashion icon, often donning up-and-coming designers, and rocking silhouettes that few dare to try. But she always, always pulls them off. And the Zendaya Dune red carpet outfits we’re seeing on the press tour for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two that’s currently underway is no exception.

With a handful of looks under her belt already, it’s clear that the key is method dressing, with Z wearing outfits that could not only be straight out of Arrakis (the fictional desert planet on which the movie is set), but also emulate the look and feel of the post-apocalyptic planet itself. And to say we love it would be the understatement of the year.

Kicking off the tour in Mexico City on February 5, Zendaya stepped out in an asymmetrical look from emerging British designer Torishéju Dumi. A custom ensemble, based on the “Fire on the Mountain” look from the designer’s Spring 2024 collection, the two-piece set, in greys, black, navy and a vibrant red, seemed to be a direct nod to her character Chani and the Fremen she’s proudly a part of.

Fans of the film will know that the Fremen — the people indigenous to the planet of Arrakis — have a very specific aesthetic to them, wearing Stillsuits as a sort of armour that protects them from the elements. While Zendaya isn’t walking the Dune: Part Two red carpet in a literal recreation of the frankly very heavy looking Stillsuit, Dumi’s design gives the vibe of an updated Stillsuit, with the intricate wrapping, texture and padding mirroring that of a desert-friendly suit of armour. (It’s also low-key giving Sandworm vibes?! Sandworm, but make it fashion, that is.)

 

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Just a day later, Zendaya walked the red carpet once again, this time in a structured brown wool ensemble from Bottega Veneta. While not a direct nod to her character in the structure or texture (we have a feeling wool would do terribly in the heat of Arrakis), it’s the hue of this custom look, iterated in an deep brown, that feels like a callback to the earth and sand that the fictional planet is so well-known for.

The Euphoria star wore two striking looks back to back on February 12 while promoting the film in Paris, France. The first, a futuristic white dress from Alaïa that looked a single piece of lush white fabric wrapping around her like a snake for a daytime photo call (above) and the second, a custom two-piece Louis Vuitton set comprised of a 3D rose jacquard sleeveless cropped hoodie with a matching pleated full skirt for the film’s Paris premiere (below).

The star took Valentine’s Day by storm in a layered maroon suit by Roksanda to attend a London photo call on February 14. Paired with a super long braid, the overall look was giving Arrakis royalty.

 

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Then, most recently, Zendaya pulled out the mic drop of all Dune: Part Two outfits — an archival Mugler look from 1995 worn to the film’s world premiere in London on February that could be described as “robot chic.” Styled by Law Roach (who else?) in the silver cut-out catsuit, Zendaya looked like she travelled back from the future.

 

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This type of thematic dressing may not feel like a big deal, but it kind of is. At its core, method dressing is when actors take aspects of a film — say, the plot, scenery, or characters — and translate them onto the red carpet. As FASHION writer Natalie Michie wrote in a May 2023 article about method dressing: “Simply put, it’s sartorial storytelling at its finest.”

In many ways, this type of dressing acts as further promo for the project that actors are walking the carpet for, but as Michie notes, it also acts as a high fashion and non-cheesy way to mark distinct eras in a celebrity’s career; creating standout sartorial moments fans can easily recall.

Halle Bailey wearing Miss Sohee at the UK premiere of The Little Mermaid
Her stylist understands the assignment 🤍 pic.twitter.com/ASAfmBwrF4

— Eboni🤍 (@VersaceVenus_) May 15, 2023

We’ve seen this tactic before. From Elle Fanning and Angelina Jolie’s promotion for Maleficent and Jenna Ortega’s commitment to black after her role in Netflix’s Wednesday, to Halle Bailey’s frothy, sea-like confections on the 2023 press tour for The Little Mermaid. And, do we even have to mention Margot Robbie and Barbie?

But probably one of the most identifiable was 2018’s A Simple Favor press tour, when lead Blake Lively leaned into the idea of method dressing hard, not only wiping her entire Instagram feed in anticipation of the press tour, but by promoting the movie wearing a parade of tailored men’s suits — and staple of her character Emily in the film.

 

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The trend isn’t anything new for Zendaya and former FASHION cover star Roach, too, who have utilized the way of dressing many times throughout her career; most recently on the press tour for 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. Zendaya wore a custom Valentino gown with spiderweb embroidery and a superhero mask to the film’s premiere — to much acclaim.

Fashion has always been a way to have conversations beyond just clothes, and we love that Zendaya is using her time on the red carpet to have fun with her style and pay homage to her Dune character. Something tells us this is going to be an A+ press tour.

The post Zendaya’s <i>Dune</i> Press Tour Outfits Are Worth Talking About appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

But since the 1980s, the once seemingly fabulous textile, donned by 1950s bombshells, wealthy socialites, and our favourite pop culture icons, has slowly become persona non grata in the fashion world as consumers made an industry-wide push for more sustainable, ethical and humane practices from our favourite brands and celebrities. And it’s working — luxury brands like Balmain, Chanel, Prada, and Coach are no longer using real fur in their lines. In January 2023, the state of California banned the manufacturing and sale of luxury fur pelts, and even the late Queen Elizabeth II and Kim Kardashian dropped fur from their wardrobes.

However, fur is making a comeback — vintage fur, that is. The last year has seen the return of fur via Penny Lane coats, the ’70s aesthetic, and earlier this year, as a nod to The Sopranos’ beloved, if beleaguered, matriarch Carmela Soprano as part of the#MobWifeAesthetic and #MobWifeWinter. This had led to an influx of vintage mink, raccoon, sable and fox on the racks at our favourite thrift stores, and vintage fur hauls on our TikTok FYPs, with “It-Girl Fur coats” and “How to style” videos racking up hundreds of thousands of views and comments — most of them positive.

@maybe.zainab babes did u forget ur getting this stuff for free #thriftstore #thrifting #valuevillage #goodwill #salvationarmy #salvos #delulu #delusional #furcoats #vintagecoat #inflation ♬ BIZCOCHITO NEVER DULL REMIX – Never Dull

It’s a renaissance of sorts. But is that a bad thing? Is vintage the answer to finally making fur in fashion sustainable and ethical? It kind of depends who you ask.

The main concern against fur has always been around the farming of it, for both sustainability and ethics reasons. Animal rights orgs like PETA and Canada’s Animal Justice have long shared graphic images and details about the treatment that animals with coveted furs have faced in fur farming. And according to Collective Fashion Justice, fur farming can have a negative impact on the environment — often in unsuspecting ways. While scholarly research is still tough to come by, animal rights and anti-fur organizations posit that the amount of emissions it takes to contain, feed, and then kill animals is detrimental to the environment. And a 2012 report prepared for Nova Scotia Environment by Michael Byrlinsky of Acadia University found a link between extreme water degradation and phosphorus inputs from the province’s then 150 mink farms. A 2013 study from CE Delft found that producing 1 kg of mink fur has a higher negative environmental impact than producing the same amount of other textiles (in large part due to the amount of meat-based feed minks require).

Vintage fur is sustainable — if you have to wear it

For this reason, “Vintage is definitely the best way to go if you absolutely have to have fur,”says Kelly Drennan, the founder of Fashion Takes Action, a Canadian non-profit organization promoting sustainability in fashion. “Have to have” is, of course, pretty subjective but for Drennan, the meaning is clear: “Have to have fur means you live somewhere really cold where you need to have [fur] to keep yourself warm.” Of course, people always want what they can’t have and don’t need, which is why vintage is the best possible option for those outside of these environments, drawing on something that already exists in the world. “[With vintage], it’s already been made, it’s already out there, and really the best thing that we could be doing with our clothes is keeping them in use for as long as possible and out of landfill,” Drennan says.

Which seems to be the case, at least for now. With thrifting on the rise for millennials and Gen Z in recent years, the secondhand market is booming, predicted to double by 2027 globally and grow three times faster than the market apparel overall, per a 2023 report from ThredUp.

“You sort of have these ‘levels of badness,’” Drennan adds. “Faux fur is the worst, real fur would be after that, and vintage fur would be the best of them all.”

Wearing fur — even vintage — can send a certain message

So, that must mean secondhand is best, right? It’s not that simple. While vintage fur may be more sustainable in that they’re not adding new waste to the environment, secondhand fur can come with issues, too. While your mom’s mink coat may have years or maybe even decades of separation between the practices that went into having it made and the time it finally hangs in your closets, animal activists say that historical distance doesn’t really make much of a difference because of the message wearing fur can send in 2024 — that you’re comfortable with the specific practices that went into crafting your newest outerwear. “When you look at the extreme violence that goes into making a real fur coat, wearing one at all, whether it’s new or vintage, is sending a message that it’s acceptable to torture and kill a living being and to wear a part of their body,” says PETA director Ashley Byrne.

That ethos doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone. For Indigenous designer Taalrumiq, using fur isn’t an aesthetic whim, it’s integral to her culture and history. “Working with furs is like a second nature, it’s so natural to me,” the Inuvialuk designer tells FASHION. Growing up in her home community of Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories, Taalrumiq says her community relied on fur for survival as a natural resource, and part of Indigenous practices which include utilizing all parts of the animal. It’s also a way to carry on family traditions. “What I’m creating is so much more than just a product to sell,” Taalrumiq says, “there’s an educational component and there’s all the history and the story that’s intertwined.”

@taalrumiq #Fur #Inuit #Inuvialuit #IndigenousTiktok #Fashion ♬ please check out my obiwan edit – ob1wans ✧

The designer also uses vintage and recycled fur in her pieces, as a way to lean into her cultural tenet of reusing and repurposing materials.

Taalrumiq says her designs can be worn by those not from Indigenous communities, in order to open up conversations and learn about Indigenous culture. Outside of Indigenous designers and communities, however, the ethics can feel a little less-straightforward, even when it comes to vintage fur.

Even though you may know you’re donning a sentimental secondhand family heirloom or your new favourite find from painstakingly parsing the racks of Value Village, those on the street don’t, which can lead to not only potential harassment, but mixed messaging. “The more people who are out there wearing fur, does that send the wrong message that fur is OK again?,” Drennan asks. “It’s hard because you’ve got this balance between the environmental impact, but then there’s the ethics side of it, too. This trend is sort of icky just because what is it doing? Is it going to get people out buying [new] fur or is it going to get them buying plastic fur?”

It’s about deciding what aligns with your values

In short: It’s pretty complicated. At the end of the day, it really comes down to what you’re comfortable with. It can be difficult, not to mention expensive and inaccessible, to purchase a wardrobe of exclusively sustainably and ethically made clothing, especially since when we’re talking about ethical fashion, we’re also talking about more than just animal rights.

“Ethics can obviously apply to animal welfare, but also the human right side, like the people that make our clothes,” Drennan notes. “Sometimes you have to pick what aligns the most with your own values.” For some people, ethical fashion may not be about the material and how it’s made, but rather who made the garment and whether or not they were paid fairly; in which case, donning vintage fur might be OK with you. “[That’s] the beauty,” Drennan adds. “While the term sustainability and fashion is so broad and sometimes overwhelming and confusing because it means so many things, the beauty of it is that it means so many things. You can kind of pick and choose which way to go based on what aligns with your values.”

@haileyharttt #vintagefur #furcoat ♬ Grow A Pear – Ke$ha

Drennan — for her part — has two mink fur coats that have been passed down from her grandmother. She’s decided not to wear them (outside of a Mad Men costume party, of course), instead storing them in a garment bag in her closet.

For anyone who is looking to add secondhand fur to their wardrobe, be it via a fabulous coat, shrug, or fur-lined hat, Drennan advises making sure that what you’re purchasing is authentic, so you’re not contributing to landfill waste via synthetic faux fur, which Drennan says is akin to a plastic bag when it comes to breaking down in a landfill (i.e.: it won’t). And most importantly? “Make sure that it’s in good shape and then just continue to keep it in good shape,” she says. “Care for it well, like you should all of your clothes, and then if you don’t want it, sell it or donate it.” Chances are, like Carrie Bradshaw and her will-they-won’t-they lover Big, the trend will come back around.

The post Is It Ethical to Wear Vintage Fur? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Watching Cyrus, who’d taken home her first Grammy (!) earlier that night, rocking a silver 2002 vintage Bob Mackie dress from the designers “To Broadway With Love” collection with her hair teased to the gods, it was hard not to feel like we were witnessing the birth of a star — or in this case, a new certified diva.

 

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Cyrus’ latest looks, along with her musical evolution, have cemented the singer as a diva-in-training, following in the footsteps of legends like Tina Turner (a fellow Bob Mackie fan) and Cher. When it comes to her ability to reinvent herself, she is arguably this generation’s Madonna. And yes, Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga should be shaking in her boots.

To be clear, people didn’t always necessarily think “diva” when considering Cyrus. After all, she got her start on the Disney Channel at age 14, playing the role of a goofy incognito country singer on Hannah Montana. When it came to her style during this time, Cyrus dressed like most tweens in the mid-2000s, donning skirts over pants and cropped sweaters.

When the show ended in 2011, a then 19-year-old Cyrus was fresh off her first feature film, The Last Song, and in a relationship with future husband (now ex-husband) Liam Hemsworth. She was growing up, becoming a star outside of her teeny-bopper days, and her style reflected that. During this time, Cyrus leaned into old Hollywood cues on the red carpet, wearing designers like Jenny Packham. It was soft, it was sweet, it was safe — and it didn’t necessarily have a whole lot to say.

 

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A post shared by fanpage for mc ❤️🔥 d. a. (@mileyskiez)

Then came the #Bangerz years. Shortly before her split from Hemsworth in 2013, the singer chopped and bleached her hair and  took to the VMAs stage with Robin Thicke and a foam finger for a performance we *all* remember. Arguably Cyrus’ most problematic era, in that she was consistently appropriating and emulating Black culture, her style during this period was defined by the shock factor, something Cyrus has said was a means to separate herself from the Disney character she’d played as a teen.

Post-Bangerz, the actor bopped around style-wise, trying dreadlocked ponytails (*shudder*) and harnesses, before reuniting with fiancé Hemsworth in January 2016. Until their final break-up in 2019, Cyrus — then 27 — had leaned into a rocker-chic aesthetic, donning the wet-look hair and tons of black and leather, mixing it up with designers like Stella McCartney and Saint Laurent.

 

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In short, Cyrus’ style has been all over the place. But we shouldn’t be too surprised. Cyrus has spoken about the impact that being on a show like Hannah Montana at such a young age had on her identity and style. During a March 2021 interview on Spotify’s Rock This with Allison Hagendorf, Cyrus shared that Hannah “was a character almost as often as I was myself,” saying that — like her character — she felt that when she looked like herself, without the glitz and glam of being thee Miley Cyrus, that no one cared about her.

“That’s maybe why I almost created a characterized version of myself at times,” Cyrus said. “I never created a character where it wasn’t me, but I was aware of how people saw me and I maybe played into it a little bit.”

 

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But this new Miley Cyrus era feels different. Since her 2019 divorce from Hemsworth, and after a brief dip into a more ’80s punk rock aesthetic, the star has taken a step back from the public eye in many ways. She’s been dating relative normie drummer Maxx Morando since 2021, has focused on different acting roles (like starring in Season 5 of Black Mirror), and — after years of changing her sound — released some of the most acclaimed music of her career.

As Cyrus has entered her 30s, she’s seemingly settled into herself and is ready to embrace her power — and you can see that in her style. In a May 2023 interview with British Vogue, Bradley Kenneth (Cyrus’ stylist since 2015) said the singer typically references royals, goddesses, and divas with her looks, including Erykah Badu, Destiny’s Child, Grace Jones, Whitney Houston and Brandy.

“I’m also obsessed with ancient Egyptian queens like Nefertiti and Cleopatra, and greek goddesses like Aphrodite and Hera,” Kenneth also said of his references for styling Cyrus. That tracks. Cyrus’ Grammy looks specifically seemed to emulate 1970s-era divas of the singing world like Tina Turner and Cher in both their silhouettes and designers. And this is no coincidence. As WWD notes, Turner was a fan of Bob Mackie, calling on the designer during the 1970s and ’80s during her disco era. This was shortly after her divorce from her former musical partner Ike Turner, when the singer emerged from his shadow and reinvented herself.

Similarly, the 1970s is when Cher came into her own as a performer and TV personality, launching both the The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour as well as her own namesake show, Cher. Cyrus has worn Bob Mackie before, donning another archival dress from the same 2002 collection to perform at her 2022 NBC New Year’s Eve special. It’s clear that she turns to the designer in moments when she wants to feel strong and powerful.

 

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A post shared by Bob Mackie (@bobmackie)

Cyrus paying homage to these divas is no coincidence, signalling that, after years of being in the shadow — of the industry, men in her life, and constant criticism — Cyrus is similarly coming into her own. And we can probably expect a similar vibe fashion-wise moving forward, with Cyrus leaning into archival ’fits that honour the greats for her eardrum-shattering performances, and a more simple, streamlined look when she’s offstage.

 

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A post shared by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus)

One thing’s for sure: Whatever Cyrus wears next, it won’t be boring.

The post Miley Cyrus Is Officially in Her Diva Era appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

But maybe it’s time to pay a little more attention to Swift’s sartorial choices, especially what she’s been wearing on the sidelines of boyfriend Travis Kelce’s football games. The singer has been wearing a ton of small, female-owned brands lately, and the items she’s sporting have been selling out, proving that the Taylor Swift effect is very real.

Taylor Swift’s football fan style

In October of last year, Swift showed up to a Kansas City Chiefs game wearing a vintage Chiefs sweatshirt, paired with a pleated skirt and heeled loafers. She looked adorable, and even cuter was the fact that the top was sourced from Canadian, female-owned brand Ellie Mae.

Not only was Swift photographed cheering on her beau alongside sports bestie Brittany Mahomes, but she was later pictured leaving the stadium hand-in-hand with her BF — the vintage sweater front and centre. The internet went crazy for it, asking where they could find the same perfectly distressed sweater as Swift.

On January 13 of this year, Swift once again made another fashion statement when she showed up to a game in a custom, one-of-a-kind Chiefs jacket designed and created by Kristin Juszcyzk, the wife of San Francisco 49ers player Kyle Juszcyzk.

 

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And on January 26, Swift took to the field after the Chief’s AFC Championship win in a gaggle of female-founded brands, wearing a sweater from friend Gigi Hadid’s Guests in Residence, the Heirloom Ring from Canadian brand Mejuri and a small #87 jersey ring — Kelce’s number – on her pointer finger from Kansas City brand Eb and Co.

 

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The Taylor Swift effect

It may not seem like more than a cute outfit, but the reality is that, seeing stars like Taylor Swift don these brands does have a tangible impact. Weeks after Swift wore her jacket designed by Juszcyzk, the designer secured a licensing agreement with the NFL, obtaining permission to legally use NFL imagery on her apparel.

Basically, Swift’s exposure has made Juszcyzk’s designs so buzzy that the NFL — one of the most lucrative sports organizations in the world — knows that it pays off in advertising and promotion to align themselves with her. And there’s a monetary impact for these brands, too.

Much like the Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle effects — the phenomena in which whatever these two royals wear instantly sells out — the Taylor Swift effect is happening here, too. EB and Co., the makers of Swift’s #87 jersey ring, quickly sold out of the $14 USD ring, posting that they’re now taking pre-orders for the next batch.

Canadian designer Ellie Mae Waters was getting her nails done in October of last year, scrolling through TikTok, when she first realized the superstar was wearing one of the vintage Kansas City Chief sweaters sourced for her Toronto-based brand, Ellie Mae. Two weeks before, Waters had reached out via her PR to the singer’s stylist to see if Swift would  be interested in receiving some vintage pieces. She was. So Waters sent the package, not expecting much — if anything, that Swift would wear it casually around her house on a lazy day.

“I got a text that she liked [the sweater],” Waters tells FASHION, “and that was kind of where it was left; I was just so happy that she liked it, I thought that’s cool, it’ll be an inner-moment thing with me and [my team], no one else will ever know — but that was good, I loved that.”

 

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Realizing Swift not only wore the sweater, but wore it on the sidelines of a game? “It’s exciting,” Waters says. “I love vintage so much because they are one-offs, they’re one of a kind, and they have so much history in them. And so the thought of Taylor Swift wearing this — she’s giving this piece this whole other story and this whole other life.”

The response online was immediate. As Waters told Toronto Life in an interview shortly after the game, by the end of that Sunday the brand had gained almost 1,000 new social followers and 12,000 visitors to the site. “It felt like any piece of collegiate vintage that we had on the site, it was gone immediately,” Waters tells FASHION. “These women didn’t care that they didn’t have the same sweater, but if they could say that they bought their vintage at the same place that Taylor Swift got it, that was enough for them.”

The impact of Taylor Swift wearing smaller, female-owned brands

Taylor Swift knows she’s that girl right now. Her every move is watched, scrutinized, and obsessed over, so it’s no coincidence that Swift — not normally known for making grand statements with her sartorial style — is choosing to do so on a stage of this size while centering smaller, female-owned brands.

This is especially significant considering all of the flak she’s received from many football fans for simply showing up to support her boyfriend, with people telling the singer that she’s “ruining football” and blaming Swift for the team’s performance (which, considering they’re going to the Super Bowl, we’d have to say is pretty good). By spotlighting these female-owned brands, it’s like Swift is intentionally giving a big middle finger to the haters and leaning into the idea that no press is bad press.

And let’s be real, this is intentional, after all she’s the *queen* of easter eggs and hidden messaging. “I don’t think that Taylor Swift does anything by mistake,” Waters agrees, “and I mean that in a good way.” Waters points to Swift showing up for — and highlighting — Juszcyzk, the wife of an opposing team member. “You don’t have to do that,” Waters says. “I feel like with Taylor Swift, if there’s a way that she can help women, she will do it.”

And for small businesses, this type of exposure is a dream come true. “When it comes to small businesses, having anybody, whether it’s Taylor Swift [or] the woman that lives next door to you, out there sharing something that you created, it will always move the needle,” Waters says, “whether that’s with followers, sales, or simply just giving that small business that little bit more of a boost they need to get up the next day and do this all over again.”

The post The “Taylor Swift Effect” Is Real appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

On January 26, Meg released “Hiss” the third track off her upcoming album. It’s a certifiable banger from the H-town Hottie and while it has fans in a tizzy, Minaj apparently has other thoughts.

After the release of the song, Minaj took to social media to respond to the track, hinting at the release of a diss track of her own. And on Monday, the Minaj released a song clearly aimed at Meg. And it was personal. 

 

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But how did this all start? And what are the two rappers even feuding about? Below, everything you need to know about the biggest feud in rap right now.

Who are Nicki Minaj and Meg Thee Stallion?

For those who may be unfamiliar with the two women at the heart of this conflict, first of all: You’re missing out. Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion are two of the biggest names in rap right now, and have been for years.

One of the first big female rappers of the current generation, Minaj first came onto the scene in the 2000s when she started working on mixtapes with rapper Lil Wayne. In 2009, she signed with Wayne’s label, Young Money Entertainment and went on to release her first album under them in 2010. Pink Friday made it to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, with hits like “Moment 4 Life” and “Roman’s Revenge.”

Minaj is probably also well known for her working and personal relationships with Canadian rapper Drake (the reigning king of “will-they-won’t-they” romance speculation) and viral songs like “Anaconda.” And Minaj has the sales to back up her resume; as the best-selling female rapper of all time, she’s also been referred to as the Queen of Rap by industry insiders as well as her fans (affectionately known as “Barbz”).

Megan Thee Stallion has similarly had a rapid rise to the top of the rap world. After coming onto the scene in 2016, the Houston rapper really took off with the release of her 2019 hit “Hot Girl Summer.” Since then, she’s gone viral on TikTok, released two albums, been featured on songs alongside other rap royalty like Cardi B and Lil Nas X, and worked with artists like Maroon 5 and Ariana Grande. In 2021, she also took home her first Grammy for Best Rap Song, for 2021’s “Savage.” So, not too shabby.

How did the Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion feud start?

Rumblings of tension between the two stars started in December of last year when Minaj released her latest album, Pink Friday 2. According to Variety, many fans though Minaj was making  a veiled diss at Meg in her song “FTCU,” rapping: “Stay in your Tory Lanez, bitch, I’m not Iggy.” While it may seem random, it’s a pretty pointed lyric if you know Meg’s history with rapper Tory Lanez.

In July 2020, the former flames were in an altercation in a car that ended with Lanez shooting Meg in the foot. It was a traumatic experience for the rapper, especially given the discourse around it in the weeks and months following the incident, with many people in the rap community coming to Lanez’s defense. One of these people was Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, who reportedly wrote a letter in support of Lanez during his trial. Last year, Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the shooting.

Calling in to radio show The Breakfast Club on January 26, shortly before the release of her latest track, Meg said “Hiss” is about anyone who uses her name to get attention online. “When a snake feel like you’ve been playing and like doing a whole bunch of swaying, it’s basically telling you to back off. I hear you, I see you, get up off me now,” she said on air. “Basically, that’s what it means.”

“I’m saying, a hit dog gon’ holler. That’s it. Whoever feel it, feel it,” Meg added. Essentially: If her bars resonate with anyone, they’ll know it’s about them. *Eyes emoji*

 

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So, why’s everyone talking about that “Megan’s Law” line?

While Meg only outright names a few people in “Hiss” — Mariah Carey and Kris Jenner — it’s a line about someone unnamed that really has people in a state. Meg raps: “These hoes don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law.”

Megan’s Law is a federal law in the United States that requires police to let communities know when someone on the sex offender registry moves into their neighbourhood. And the reference isn’t actually all that happenstance. In October 2019, the same year Minaj and Meg collabed on “Hot Girl Summer,” Minaj married her now-husband Kenny Petty. In 1995, Petty was convicted of attempted first-degree rape when both he and the victim were 16. In 2022, Petty was put on probation and fined when he failed to register as a sex offender in California.

What was that about hit dogs, again? While Minaj and her husband weren’t named, many people — including Minaj herself — have taken Meg’s lyric as a direct dig at Petty.

Wait — I thought Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion were friends?

They were; or at least they were collaborators. In 2019, Minaj was featured on Meg’s hit song “Hot Girl Summer,” which at the time was a *moment.* The song — released in August of that year— became the anthem of the year and the mantra by which everyone lived by, with fans declaring their own “Hot Girl Summers” and living their life to the fullest with their girlfriends.

It’s also become Meg’s identifier of sorts, with the rapper known as “Hot Girl Meg” and her fans known as “Hotties.”

Tomorrow
3PM PST #BIGFOOT pic.twitter.com/vPa7yATEU3

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 28, 2024

How did Minaj respond to Megan’s song?

In short, she was pissed. Shortly after “Hiss” hit the airwaves, Minaj responded on social media, taking to X to share her displeasure, writing: “Megan’s law. For a free beat you could hit #MeganRAW.” 

Later, she announced the release of her song “Big Foot,” alongside a photo of Meg crying.

On January 29, she released the song. And Minaj had *a lot* to say. And it was far from subtle. The title alone, “Big Foot,” seems to be a reference to not only Meg’s height (she’s a statuesque 5’10”), but her assault by Lanez, both literally and figuratively. Bigfoot is an urban legend and Minaj hammers home the implication that Meg is lying about what went down with Lanez in her lyrics, rapping: “Big foot, but you still a small fry / Swearin’ on your dead mother when you lie,” a reference to Meg’s deceased mother.

Later in the song, she also says Meg lied about cheating allegations against ex boyfriend Pardison Fontaine and criticizes the Houston Hottie’s rap skills. Minaj ends the song with a warning, telling Meg — and listeners — “I don’t think you want the next installment of this song.”

What has happened since?

Since Minaj released her track there’s been no direct response from Meg, but on Friday Meg shared a photo of herself laughing on Instagram Stories. This came shortly after Minaj shared a snippet of “Big Foot” on social media.

For her part, Minaj shared on X that she has five songs (yes, five!) lined up for Megan Thee Stallion, to be released if she “[breathes] wrong.” So it looks like things could probably get a lot messier in the days to come.

So, what is this Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion feud really all about?

At the end of the day, feuds are part of the culture when it comes to rap music. They’re a way for artists to not only practice their craft, but also garner visibility and sales — which is exactly what this feud is doing. Within its first 24 hours, “Big Foot” (Audio)  received over 2.45 million views on YouTube, making it the biggest opening day debut for a solo female rap song this year (mind you, we are only a month into 2024). And on Tuesday morning, Meg announced her 2024 Hot Girl Summer Tour, coming this summer.

So the Stallion is doing just fine. Whether or not someone comes out on top or “loses” their feud, chances are people will be talking about them — and really, that’s all anyone can ask for.

The post What Is Going On Between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

On January 24, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for the 96th Academy Awards. The prestigious annual awards ceremony is the be-all and end-all of Hollywood awards shows, and a nomination for an actor, director, and film can often cement their place in the industry. And leading up to the announcement, folks had a clear idea of the films — and people — that would be nominated: Barbie, obviously.

Greta Gerwig’s box office sensation was *the* movie of summer 2023, and is a feminist take on the often-belittled doll that so many young people grew up playing with. At its core, the movie is about the strength of womanhood and pushing back against the patriarchy. Which is why it seems only fitting, if depressing, that star Margot Robbie and director Gerwig would ultimately be snubbed. Because, you know, the patriarchy.

Yep, you guessed it. Neither Robbie or Gerwig were nominated for Best Actress or Best Director, respectively. And the cherry on top of this rancid sundae is the irony that Ryan Gosling, who played Ken, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor while the literal Barbie to his Ken was shut out.

To be clear: We *love* Ryan Gosling. The Canadian treasure deserves a nomination for his campy take on the devoted doll; he was a standout in the film and the role showcased Gosling’s comedy chops. And the film did receive eight nominations, including one for Best Picture. But we can’t help but feel like this is a bit of a sick joke, considering women doing the most only to be overlooked for men doing the least is essentially the premise of Gerwig’s film. And it’s also just categorically unfair, especially considering how impactful the film has been culturally.

ICYMI, Barbie was history-making, drawing in $1.45 billion USD worldwide to become the highest grossing film of the year and the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman. The film gave way to the rise of the #Barbiecore trend that permeated our social media feeds, runways, and closets since its release, and Robbie’s red carpet style on the film’s press tour — a direct homage to Barbie dolls of the past — is going to go down as one of the best sartorial showings of all time. (Robbie and her stylist Andrew Mukamal are even releasing a book of her press tour looks on March 19.)

As Barbie, Robbie, also an executive producer on the film, brought complexity and depth to the plastic doll, and director Greta Gerwig, alongside the A+ cast, proved that women can do and be anything they want without fear or shame.

And the film has had an impact on society. According to an August 2023 survey conducted by Resume Builder, 53 per cent of the film’s viewers said that Barbie improved their opinion of women in the workplace, and two in three respondents said the film made them aware of patriarchy in the workplace. A whopping 62 per cent said the movie caused them to self-reflect on their own behaviour.

In response to the announcement, Gosling released a statement, thanking the academy for his nomination, but calling out the fact that Robbie and Gerwig — the two women behind the film’s creation — were overlooked. “To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement,” Gosling wrote. “There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie without Greta Gerwig and Margo Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film.”

“They made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees,” Gosling wrote. And we agree.

But there is a glimmer of hope in Oscarland (Barbieland? Not so much). Despite these glaring Barbie snubs, this year’s was one of the most diverse nomination pools in Oscars history.

While Robbie wasn’t nominated, her co-star America Ferrera, who played Gloria in the film to much acclaim, received her first nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Outside of Barbieland, there were a lot of exciting historic nominations, like Colman Domingo for Best Actor for his role in Rustin (the first Afro Latino nominated), alongside co-star Sterling K. Brown for Best Supporting Actor, marking the first time in history two Black actors from the same film have been nominated in these categories.

 

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In Best Supporting Actress, Danielle Brooks and Da’Vine Joy Randolph received nominations for their roles in The Color Purple and The Holdovers. Domingo and Jodie Foster made history as the first time two openly LGBTQ+ actors have been nominated for playing LGBTQ+ characters. And one of the most exciting nods has to be Lily Gladstone‘s Best Actress nomination for her turn as Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon. Gladstone is the first Native American woman to be nominated for the Best Actress award in the show’s history.

As Refinery29 Australia editor Alexandra Koster pointed out in an article after the announcement, seven of the 20 acting nominees across Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor are people of colour, many nominated for the first time. “It’s undoubtedly a phenomenal year for diversity,” Koster wrote, “so why are we so concerned that two cis white women, who carry an enormous amount of privilege as is, aren’t nominated for an award?”

Those are nominations that should be celebrated. But aside from Robbie and Gerwig, there are other talents notably absent from the Oscar ballots — and as many people on the internet have pointed out, the outrage for Robbie and Gerwig’s snubs hasn’t been equally applied to other women and films that were overlooked. Take Celine Song, the South Korean-Canadian director of Past Lives. Arguably one of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching films of 2023 (seriously, you have to see it and you *will* sob uncontrollably), Song was overlooked for Best Director alongside Gerwig, and the star of her film, Greta Lee, was also shut out. Meanwhile, both Barbie and Past Lives were nominated for Best Picture.

 

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There’s a lot that can be said about the reasoning behind this, from a difference in box office numbers and how the films were promoted, to the framing of Barbie as inherently feminist and thus its being overlooked as anti-feminist and misogynistic. Ultimately, this a situation familiar to many BIPOC and marginalized artists, but perhaps new and therefore shocking to people outside of those communities.

The lack of widespread outrage for snubs like Song’s, however frustrating, doesn’t diminish the fact that seeing the two women behind Barbie’s mega success go unrecognized on one of the biggest stages in Hollywood sucks. Gerwig’s snub as Best Director, feels especially misguided given her track record (this is the third Oscar-nominated film for Gerwig) and her ability to centre women and not only help them feel seen, but show that everyone can — and should — care about them, too.

It’s no coincidence, then, that Priscilla — another movie about the experience of a young woman in her own words helmed by director Sophia Coppola — received no Oscar nominations. Meanwhile, Elvis, the Baz Luhrmann spectacle starring Austin Butler and his accent, which revolved around Elvis Presley’s experience, was received eight Oscar noms in 2023.

Gerwig, Song and Coppola’s snubs feel like yet another reminder that women’s stories only matter to Hollywood execs insofar as they can make them money. It reiterates the fact that women’s stories, and the people who work so hard to put them on-screen, still have to fight for crumbs of recognition. And in a year that saw women take over the box office and the industry, that’s just not Kenough.

The post This Barbie Isn’t An Oscar Nominee — and We’re Perplexed appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

ICYMI, white tights aren’t just a stylish homage to Gossip Girl’s hosiery-wearing queen Blair Waldorf, but a direct nod to balletcore — clothing inspired by dance — and the prima ballerinas who don them. It may seem like a subtle wink at the aesthetic, but that’s exactly what makes it so fabulous.

Amongst the all-in trends that have been populating our TikTok feeds of late, like Barbiecore, white tights are an easy and accessible way to embrace balletcore by adding them to items you already have in your closet.

 

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Chanel may be doing it well in 2024, but the luxury house isn’t the first brand to share their elevated interpretation of balletcore. While many millennials’ first intro to the chicness that is ballet clothing may have been 2000’s Center Stage, there’s a long history of the ballet aesthetic influencing fashion offstage. This goes all the way back to the 1830s and ’40s when European ballerina Maria Taglioni became such a big star that fabrics, corsets, and candy were named after her. A hundred years later, in the 1930s, ballet officially made its entrance into the world of fashion.

As Patricia Mears, the deputy director of FIT and curator of the 2020 exhibition “Ballerina: Fashion’s Modern Muse”, told W Magazine in 2022: “From the 1930s to the present, the tutu-inspired evening dresses fabricated with materials such as silk tulle and chiffon had silhouettes inspired by her bell-shaped skirts and fitted bodices, and used colors long associated with ballet — mainly white and pink.”

 

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Just a decade later, in 1942, the ballet flat was introduced to the runway when designer Claire McCardell paired her designs with real ballet slippers. It was a happy accident, with McCardell turning to these slippers after she was unable to source shoes for a fashion presentation due to wartime restrictions. The dance wear company that supplied McCardell with slippers, Capezio, then began to make street-ready versions.

It was a fitting start, considering that, as WhoWhatWear writer Jasmin Fox-Suliaman noted in a recent article on the aesthetic, ballet has always existed on the cusp of change, often acting as a mirror to reflect wider societal ideas about gender, sexuality, and beauty.

 

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Since then, brands like Dior, Valentino, and Givenchy have tapped into the aesthetic on the runway, with celebrities like Natalie Portman (a long-time Dior darling) turning to the look on the red carpet. And ballet-inspired styles have trickled down into pop culture, popping up in shows like Sex and the City, in movies like Portman’s Black Swan, and even HBO’s Euphoria.

In 2019, Max Mara’s pre-fall collection featured models in soft, streamlined knits lined up at ballet bars, and 2020 saw Thom Browne dip into balletcore for men, with his Spring 2020 show featuring male models and ballet dancers in tutus and ballet shoes (paired with structured Thom Browne blazers, of course).

More recent versions of this aesthetic have been less literal, with an emphasis on almost everything ballet — except the tutu. In line with the rise of athleisure, brands and designers have been drawing inspo from ballet warm-up and practice gear (think leotards, soft wrap-like sweaters, and sweats). And recent interpretations have pulled from not only from the silhouettes associated with the dance form, but the colours and drapes of fabric.

This was on full display in the Fall 2022 collections, when Miu Miu inarguably ushered in a modern iteration of the balletcore aesthetic with their critically lauded Fall 2022 collection, which featured ready-to-wear satin ballet flats paired with ballet socks. The same year, brands like Rodarte get in on the trend by decking out starlets like Lana Condor in knits reminiscent of cozy ballet warm-up clothes and a floral headpiece like something straight out of Swan Lake. And in 2023, designers like Sandy Liang embraced girlhood via balletcore with leg warmers, ballet flats, and viral bow bags.

You may be pulling your faux fur coat out of storage to get you through the rest of winter, but Chanel’s white tights are proof positive that balletcore is officially here to stay. Below, find the best white tights to help you embrace your inner ballerina. Put us down for a pair… or twelve.

Wolford off-white merino tights

Sometimes, classic is best. And these off-white merino tights from Ssense are as classic as it gets.

Merino wool means you don’t have to prioritize style over comfort (although, we often do!), because you can have both. These babies look chic *and* will keep your legs toasty warm.

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Hue women’s opaque tight

A more affordable option for the same look as Chanel’s Margaret Qualley (above), these opaque tights from Amazon are perfect for year-round wear.

Pair them with a pleated kilt, some ballet flats, and you’re ready to hit the town — or at least a cozy bookstore with friends.

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Anthropologie high heel jungle heart knit tights

If you’re looking to lean into the balletcore trend but are a bit of a maximalist, a printed tight might be right up your alley.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day (or any day this year), these knit tights with a heart design will add the perfect je ne sais quoi to a monochromatic outfit.

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NODRESS white bow knit fishnet tights

Want to combine some of #balletcore’s biggest staples into one? Then this pair of tights is for you. We’re adding bows to our hair, our bags, and our jewellery, so why not our tights, too?

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Revolve LEJE Eddie Tights

The most avant-garde option in our round-up, these unique tights from Korean brand LEJE are sure to be the standout of any outfit.

Less function, more fashion, we’re envisioning this floral masterpiece as part of an early spring look with an OTT pastel dress — or maybe a chic bridal moment! Love.

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MeMoi Toronto cable sweater tights

For those days when you want to be as comfortable as you are cute, cable sweater tights are probably your best bet. Pair these cozy tights with a wide-collared dress to channel some Poor Things realness.

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Simons built-in support tights

For anyone looking for a bit of extra support with their accessories, this pair — from Simons — promises to deliver it. These tights are made from a recycled nylon-blend and recycled clothing, meaning their cute *and* sustainable, and feature a control panty.

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Danskin women’s ultrasoft microfiber footed tight

For those days when you do have to bundle up, a super-soft pair of tights is your go-to. These Danskin tights will have you — and your feet — covered on winter’s coldest days.

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The post Balletcore Lives On, and White Tights Are the Chicest Way to Wear It appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

king kylie is back..2024 is the new 2014 pic.twitter.com/6eLFIwycL9

— popcultureangel (@lohanisgod) January 16, 2024

For those not in the know, Jenner’s photos and caption were a tongue-in-cheek reference to the 2014 to 2015 period of time known as the “King Kylie” era. It’s mythic, marking an era of the internet when a 16-year-old Jenner seemingly first stepped out of her sisters’ shadows and into her own individuality. As Highsnobiety noted, in opposition to her sisters’ curated feeds at the time, the then-teen was sharing makeup tutorials and vines with friends, and giving fans a glimpse into her teenage life.

And people ate it up. Jenner’s every move — and interaction — was obsessed over and emulated by fans online. You’ll remember it well: Jenner was dating rapper Tyga (which is arguably perceived as even more controversial now than it was then), she leaned into an edgy aesthetic, rocking skulls, sky-high cage heels, leggings and heavy black eyeliner, and — most importantly — she changed her hair colour like it was her job. Rotating between teal-dyed tips, a lime-green blunt bob, and peach-coloured hair, to name only a few, King Kylie was a hair chameleon.

A decade later, King Kylie is back. While this is a big change for the makeup mogul, it’s also kind of a big deal for us, too. This is our sign that in 2024, after years of feeling isolated and sad, the year ahead is all about doing what serves you.

To refresh your memory: In 2014, there were *a lot* of big things happening in pop culture. Celebs — and by extension audiences — were truly living for themselves. After establishing herself as an industry icon, Taylor Swift had officially made her crossover from country music, releasing the OG version of 1989 and pushing back on her narrative as a man-eater in “Blank Space.”  Kim Kardashian broke the internet with her Paper cover unabashedly embracing her body and not caring what the haters said, Solange and Jay-Z’s infamous elevator scuffle went down, and Gone Girl, a film about a woman who punishes her  philandering husband by framing him for her murder, was released. Plus, this is the era that precedes Canadian rapper Drake’s Views album and the phenomena that would become the Summer of 2016 (an unarguably peak period of time).

It makes sense that we’d be lusting for a time when everything was simpler and more engaging. Research suggests that people feel nostalgic for the past during periods of time in which they have negative emotions or feel lonely.

The past several years have been rough, to put it lightly. Many people are still feeling the long-term effects of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, housing is out of reach for millennials, groceries cost about as much as a mortgage, and in our neighbouring country to the south, human rights are being rapidly stripped away from women, marginalized communities and trans folks. It’s bleak. In Hollywood, celebs and those who love entertainment, are coming off a months-long SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America Strike, meaning a dearth of stimulating creative content as they fought for fair pay. Many people just don’t feel like themselves right now.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that the 2014 to 2015 time period was all fun and games. The same year King Kylie started dying her hair on the reg was also when Jenner began her infamous and now storied relationship with lip filler (which would eventually lead to the launch of her Lip Kits and Jenner’s now billion-dollar Kylie Cosmetics empire). While we’re all for people making the decisions they want about their bodies (it is their bodies, after all), there’s no arguing that Jenner’s lip plumping-era was problematic. Jenner denied having any work done until 2015, causing fans to find fault in their own natural beauty, then launched a beauty empire off the back of these teens and tweens wanting to change their appearances. And this was arguably the start of the Kardashians now long history of creating unhealthy body ideals for the people that follow them.

@kyliejennerheard its 2014 vibes this year♬ Suga Suga – Instrumental – Baby Bash

And as FASHION’s Natalie Michie noted in a June 2023 article about the evolution of Jenner’s style, the adoration over Jenner’s lips — and the popularity of the ill-advised “Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge” — was a contrast to the stigma that women of colour have historically endured for having naturally fuller lips. So, it hasn’t all been great.

Chances are that this latest foray into Kylie Jenner of the past is nothing more than a marketing stunt. There are rumours that a “King Kylie” lip kit is coming, and it’s no coincidence that Jenner would have the internet alight just days before Kylie Cosmetics launched foundation for the first time — this is, after all, Kris Jenner’s daughter. Not to mention the fact that the reality star’s aesthetic has evolved, with Jenner even dabbling in cottage core (!), since she started dating actor Timothée Chalamet in 2023.

It’s safe to say the nostalgic pink hair likely isn’t here to stay. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t take what we want from this moment and apply it in our own way.

In this case, let’s embrace Jenner’s marketing ploy as a reminder to ourselves to embrace our own individuality — be it in fashion, beauty, or making a decision about where we want to go with our career this year — and do what serves us and what feels good. Meaning, if you’re looking to embrace the trending #eclecticgrandpa aesthetic, get a new job, or just finally get bangs — you should do it. Because in 2024, me, myself, and I are the people that truly matter.

The post King Kylie Is Back. What Does That Mean For Us In 2024? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Taking 2024 awards season by storm for her work as chef Sydney Adamu, Edebiri has been walking the red carpet in powerful monochromatic looks from fashion houses and brands like Louis Vuitton(below), Prada, Proenza Schouler, and The Row. A departure from her previous looks, Edebiri’s recent looks have been channeling more Jackie O (literally) than Alice in Wonderland, with many of her outfits seemingly referencing or paying homage to strong women in history, like Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Whoopi Goldberg.

And we should be paying attention. Edebiri’s style change is no mistake, with her shift to strong, tonal looks coinciding with — and indicative of — her rise in power in Hollywood and on the silver screen. That’s a big deal.

To be clear, Edebiri has been a sartorial standout since she first began gracing red carpets on the regular in 2022. She favoured designers and looks that were arguably more youthful and adventurous, like a schoolgirl chic Thom Browne ensemble and a Cinderella-esque Rosie Assoulin (those gloves!) at the 2023 Golden Globes.

In many ways, these fun, fantastical looks were in line with her public persona at the time; appropriate for a quirky, mid-twenties comedic ingenue who started in improv. Of course, she was having fun with fashion through volume and decorative bows (see: the Giambattista Valli gown below) which should be celebrated. Edebiri wore the heck out of these looks, and wearing attention-grabbing outfits as a way to help herself stand out as a new kid on the block made sense.

 

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Since then, Edebiri has shown that she’s here to stay, establishing herself as a coveted talent in the industry, breaking out in the second season of FX’s The Bear, popping up as a can’t-be-missed guest star on shows like Abbott Elementary and Black Mirror, and racking up a host of comedic roles in both big budget and indie films like Theatre Camp, Bottoms, and The Sweet East. She’s holding her own against fellow rising stars like Quinta Brunson and Jacob Elordi, and creating a name for herself outside the series — and identity — that first introduced her to the world.

In addition to her acting roles, Edebiri is also an accomplished writer, having worked on shows like Big Mouth, Dickinson, and What We Do In The Shadows. She’s a player in Hollywood, beloved by industry vets (not to mention the entire country of Ireland), and she’s clearly embracing it, as she should be — and that extends to how she portrays herself through her style.

Now, Edebiri has settled into her red carpet style, letting her work do the talking instead of her outfits, and looking to designers that are just as much of a household name as she is becoming. Since the Fall of 2023, Edebiri has been leaning on confident, sophisticated looks that compliment, but don’t overwhelm her, allowing the actress herself to truly shine in minimal strapless sheaths, solid (but fun!) colours, and structure.

For New York-based content creator and fashion analyst Tariro Makoni, after several breadcrumbs of fashion change, it was Edebiri’s buttercream Proenza Schouler dress (above) with accessories from Sophie Buhai at the 2024 Governors Awards that signalled an unmistakeable shift in the actor’s style. With both brands as fixtures of the “downtown NYC (minimalist) cool girl,” Makoni says, “I started anticipating that she was officially heading in a new direction. The look and glam just felt so intentional.”

And as people online, including Makoni, have pointed out, this shift in style aligns with Edebiri coming into her power in the industry.

“We get to see this simulation into power as this young Black woman ascending within Hollywood,” Makoni said in a January 15 TikTok video. Which is of course, worth noting, because as Makoni tells FASHION: “We are constantly signalling through our taste, which includes what we wear. The aggregation of your past experiences, your exposure, your interests, and your identity is subconsciously and consciously leveraged in constructing what we like and what we wear.” And often, dictates just how people will view and judge us and vice versa. “That makes fashion an invaluable currency in our ability to subliminally communicate our relationship to power and status,” Makoni says.

 

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TL;DR: What we choose to put on our bodies says a lot more about us than just what colour we like.

And she’s right. From the American suffragette movement in the 1920s, which utilized a colour scheme of white, purple, and green as symbols of dignity, loyalty, and hope and conservative fashion in the name of resistance, to the donning of pinky rings throughout history as a status symbol for men (an accessory that has recently been reclaimed by women and women of colour), fashion has been — and remained — an indicator of one’s access and proximity to social and political power.

In addition to more pared down silhouettes, some of Edebiri’s more recent looks have included subtle nods to iconic women of the past. In an early January appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Edebiri showed up to the set in a chic trench coat and patterned scarf, perhaps an homage to Jackie O. And walking the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards shortly after, Edebiri’s all-white The Row pantsuit gave First Wives Club realness and was reportedly an ode to none other than Whoopi Goldberg.

Whether or not Edebiri and her stylist Danielle Goldberg, who also styles fellow recent red carpet standout Greta Lee, are consciously thinking of this or just playing around with the star’s fashion as many It girls are prone to do, the impact of this sartorial shift can’t be overlooked. In essence, Edebiri is taking up space; both figuratively and literally, with her 3-D leather Louis Vuitton look at the recent Emmys Awards — with its structured and voluminous boning in the skirt – leaving a physical footprint. She’s asserting herself as a major player in Hollywood, and most importantly, someone who deserves to be there, and, like Jackie O, Whoopi and the ladies of The First Wives Club, she too has staying power.

This is an especially important message given the fact that Edebiri is a young Black woman in a still predominantly white industry, and one that has been historically non-inclusive of women generally, but especially women of colour, who are still underrepresented in Hollywood — and even less represented when it comes to awards season.

Which is exactly why we need more actresses like Edebiri unabashedly taking up space and asserting their talent and power, and what makes her fashion evolution all the more exciting — and worth rooting for.

The post Ayo Edebiri’s Awards Show Style Isn’t Just Chic — It’s A Message On Power appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

If you’re under the age of 30, chances are that you never *actually* knew much about Princess Diana (a.k.a Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales), or at least didn’t — like many people in our parents’ generation — watch in real time her meteoric rise to worldwide adoration and her untimely and tragic death. Regardless, you probably still heard a lot about her, because her legacy was both instant and enduring. The People’s Princess, as she was affectionately known, may have only been in the public eye for 16 years, but within that time she managed to firmly cement herself into the hearts of many — Royal obsessives and anti-monarchists alike — with her compassion and philanthropy, and into their closets with her eye-catching and influential style.

And now, with the November 15 release of the fourth season of The Crown — which will chronicle the Diana years in the Royal Family’s history — the Diana renaissance is in full swing. And, trust us, you’re going to want to tune if; if not for the drama (like that rumour that Prince Charles actually responded to a question about if he was in love with Diana with “whatever in love means” — ugh!), then for the pure confectionary that is peak 1980s princess fashion. It’s big, it’s bold and it’s totally fun to consume.

Someone who knows a thing or two about royal fashion? Journalist and author Elizabeth Holmes. The former Wall Street Journal reporter is the brains behind So Many Thoughts — the hilarious, thoughtful and wildly accurate royal fashion commentary account that has quickly become must-see Instagram Stories content, covering the sartorial styles of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle with wit, compassion and a ton of insight. And, she’s set to release her first book on her favourite topics: the Royals and fashion. HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style comes out on November 17. And no, the release date was not planned to coincide with the new Crown season. (“What a stars aligning moment,” Holmes laughs. “I’m so lucky.”) But we’re so glad it did, because it gave us the perfect excuse to chat with her from her home in California about her book, the importance of royal fashion, and just why the People’s Princess — and her style — has had such staying power even until today.

 

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Elizabeth Holmes’s book is an appreciation for the Royal family

Having followed the Royals since 2011, and starting her popular Instagram series in 2017 after having — you guessed it — so many thoughts about royal fashion and the messages it conveys, it seems the only natural next step for Holmes would be to take SMT offline and IRL, with a book. But that doesn’t mean that this next iteration of her popular commentary happened overnight. “I was actually approached a couple of different times in my So Many Thoughts journey about writing a book,” she says, “and what I felt really strongly about and why I waited a little bit until I found the right partner was [because] I wanted to take what I do on Instagram and expand it and elevate it.” While many people may have thought Holmes could just translate her quippy, short thoughts onto the page, she says that’s not what she wanted the book to be. “I wanted to break free of the confines of my phone screen,” she says. “As a reporter and journalist, I wanted to have a chance to dive a little bit deeper and explore the history of royal fashion and offer more context to the women that we watch today. With the Queen and with Diana, certainly, understanding their approach to fashion and the power that they have derived from it gives me such a greater appreciation for what Kate [Middleton] and Meghan Markle are doing today.”

Ultimately, that is what Holmes is doing, first with SMT and now with her book: appreciating and honouring these women and the careful consideration that goes into their looks. Because what they wear *is* meaningful. “What I do both on Instagram and in the book is try and parse the meaning of their fashion to honour the effort that they put into getting dressed,” she says. “I find it so incredibly admirable and savvy that the Royal Family recognizes the attention that their fashion receives and harnesses it as part of their duties.

“Understanding what they’re trying to do with their clothing and what they’re trying to say is a way of honouring that effort.”

Fashion is a way for Royals fans to connect to the family

Despite what some may say about the frivolity of fashion (and seriously, can they just not?), what royals like Princess Diana, Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and even the Queen herself choose to adorn themselves in *does* serve a purpose. Especially for the more contemporary royals like Kate and Meghan — it serves as an accessibility point to understanding the work they’re doing and the entirely inaccessible world of royalty as a whole.

For Holmes, watching Duchess Kate marry Wills in April 2011 was eye opening. Planning her own wedding simultaneously alongside the wedding of the century, getting wrapped up in the fairytale of it all — a non-Royal marrying her Prince Charming — made the author want to know more about the family. And then, when on her wedding day, Kate stepped out in a Sarah Burton by Alexander McQueen reception dress, sporting a glittery belt akin to one Holmes was also considering for her wedding look? She was hooked. Because she could relate.

 

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Kate’s commoner status helped real people see themselves within that fairy tale. And the Duchess has continued this relatability through the clothing she chooses — wearing a mixture of Mulberry and Zara, meaning Royals fans truly can dress like a princess. “There’s so much about the monarchy that can seem beyond our reach, but when you see Kate and her clothing choices within this royal fold, I think that you can see yourself as one of them. And in today’s ‘celebs are just like us’ culture, there’s real power in that.”

Their fashion allows us common people to make a connection with them and understand what they do. “More broadly, [royal fashion] is a way to open the door, to have a conversation about this family and the work that they’re doing,” Holmes says. “I don’t think a lot of people understand that these women don’t give interviews,” Holmes says, noting that it’s harder for the public to “get to know” the Queen, Kate and (to some degree, although it’s changing) Meghan than Hollywood celebs. “They don’t get these big revealing personal speeches; they appear places and we have photographs of them. And the first thing you see is what they’re wearing. And there’s a real power in that because it helps build the visual brand and helps determine our affection for them.”

Princess Diana put royal fashion on the map

And that power really started with the introduction of a then unmarried Princess Diana into the public eye in 1981. Holmes says throughout history royal fashion has always been visible to the public and interesting because of its display of their tremendous wealth and power. “But what Diana did when she came onto the scene in the early eighties [was] she made [royal fashion] exciting,” she says. “She wore fashion-forward and trending pieces that were bold and bright.” (It was the ’80s, after all). This was especially in comparison to Royals before her like the Queen, who — most likely due to her position — didn’t opt into trends in the same way, and has maintained a largely uniform wardrobe over the years.

 

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In addition, perhaps for the first time in the Royal Family, Princess Diana clearly had fun with fashion. “She understood not just how clothing looked, but how it felt to wear a fantastic dress, and how it made the viewer feel,” Holmes says. “So she sort of upped the excitement and primed us for caring about royal fashion in a new way.”

And while Diana would have been in the media at the time regardless as Prince Charles’s gorgeous, young new bride, “her fashion kept her in those magazines and it made her exciting to cover,” Holmes says.

Princess Diana’s fashion tells a story

And as viewers will see throughout season 4 of The Crown, just like IRL, the princess’s fashion choices on-screen are telling, with much of her style going through distinct phases that directly spoke to where she was in her personal life and her relationship with the Royal Family. (Hint: It wasn’t usually that great.) Starting with her introduction to the family — and the world — as a young, senior Royal looking to play the part (high necklines, modest hems and dressing above her age) through to difficulties in her marriage in the late ’80s (“when things with Charles were getting more difficult, her fashion got a lot more exciting,” Holmes says) all the way to post-divorce Diana who was hitting her fashion stride (think the now-iconic biker shorts and oversized college sweatshirts, contemporarily emulated by Hailey Bieber in the August 2019 issue of Vogue Paris and in WFH fits everywhere).

 

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But for Holmes, perhaps the most telling and poetic period of Diana’s wardrobe came just before her death (which isn’t featured on this upcoming season of The Crown), when she auctioned off her most famous gowns. “She literally shed the royal wardrobe,” Holmes says. “She was wanting to be seen very much as a workhorse not a clotheshorse, and she did not need clothing to get attention.” At that point, Holmes says, people cared about what she did and her humanitarian work spoke for itself, so in a way she could let go of using fashion as a communicator. “Some of the most iconic images of her are walking through a landmine in a white button down shirt and loafers,” Holmes says of this period. “They have nothing to do with fashion.”

There’s a reason we’re all still so obsessed with Princess Diana — and her style — in 2020

So why, over 20 years after her untimely death, are people *still* so enraptured by Princess Di and her iconic style? For one, with outfits like her off-duty styles perhaps the most emulated, these pictures have a timeless quality about them. (I, for one, will be channeling the princess via bike shorts for as long as humanly possible.) And, perhaps also, in this year that’s given us so much disarray and chaos, people are searching for meaning — and that includes in the clothing they choose to wear; a mentality that fits perfectly within Princess Di’s dressing.

“I think, especially in 2020, there’s a hunger for things to mean a little bit more,” Holmes says. “Seeing clothes as beautiful is really fun, but I think seeing clothes as meaningful is perhaps more powerful.”

And, whether or not they’re aware of it, the Royal Family and their fashion choices today have directly been impacted by Diana’s fashion legacy, too. First, with the Queen, who Holmes says definitely upped her own style game during Diana’s time in the family, honing in her look and going for the brighter colours we often see her in today. (Who could forget that lime-green outfit at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s May 2018 wedding?!)

 

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“When Diana hit the scene, the fashion conversation kind of came with her,” Holmes says, “And then when Kate came along, we were ready to talk about it all. And Kate’s choices and her relatable look drew in a new generation of people.” Add with the rise of e-commerce and the fact that first Kate and now Meghan often purchase off-the-rack clothing, “you can buy what [they] are wearing,” Holmes says.

We like to think it’d be a legacy that Princess Diana — with her love for adventurous dressing *and* connecting people — would be proud of.

The post A Royal Fashion Expert On Why Princess Diana’s Style Legacy Lives On appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

While the world has been in lockdown for the better part of a year, that doesn’t mean people haven’t been fantasizing about travel. Or if you’re tennis icon Serena Williams, who travelled almost nonstop during the before times, you’re probably not daydreaming of travel at all, you’re just straight up dreaming—because you’re catching up on some well-deserved sleep. The champion athlete, entrepreneur and mom has been using the time during quarantine to do something she rarely gets to actually do: stay home.

But just because Williams isn’t necessarily lusting after travel right now, that doesn’t mean it’s not still an integral part of her life. “Luggage and travel are a huge part of my lifestyle,” she tells FLARE. “When I was younger, one of my first travel experiences for tennis was going to Europe and that trip really inspired my love of travel.” This affinity for seeing the world makes her latest collection with luxury suitcase brand Away a natural fit. Ahead of the January 28 launch of her second collection with the brand, Away x Serena Williams, the athlete spoke to FLARE about the inspiration behind her collection, how travel has changed as she’s taken on new roles, and why she was happy to stay put during quarantine.

Serena Williams’s luggage collection was inspired by her favourite places—and her pro packing skills

While she launched her first collection with Away in January 2020, when the world was more open for travel, Williams’s latest collection was designed and created under much different circumstances. “I really wanted to create something that spoke to the consumer,” Williams says. “[With] the last collection, I brought something that was more designed on the inside, so I wanted to have the focus [for this collection] be on the outside.” And while it’s been awhile since many people have hopped on a plane for international travel, it’s faraway locales that inspired the exteriors of her Williams’s luggage. The pieces were influenced by some of her top travel destinations, and the nostalgia of the memories she has from visiting them.

“Rome is one of my absolute favourite places in the world,” she says. “I miss exploring the city and taking in the architecture. The intricate details of the buildings were a huge inspiration for me in this collection.” (She also loves Paris, a place Williams says feels almost like home. It helps that Williams speaks French!)

And not only is it her love of certain cities that influenced the collection, but her skills as an expert packer, something she honed over her many years of travel. “I’ve found that I have been able to create a system for packing that keeps me less stressed while traveling. I am really organized and typically start planning weeks in advance,” she says. The Away x Serena Williams collection features a set of four expandable packing cubes, something Williams swears by for staying organized and remembering essentials.

The role of travel has changed for her as she’s gotten older

As a professional athlete, entrepreneur and one of Fast Company‘s 42 most productive people, Williams is no stranger to taking on different, often high-stress roles, which is why when she travels, she prefers to keep it relatively low-key. The mom to three-year-old Alexis Olympia doesn’t have a ritual for when she travels to a new place, like running through the city to sightsee or going shopping. Mostly because she doesn’t usually have time to do those things. ”When I travel I’m always working,” she says, “so I’m always fine to rest [in her downtime].”

But as her life has evolved, so has the way she views travel—especially since becoming a mom. “I’ll always be a traveler at heart, but I often find myself so focused on work that I don’t get to explore all the cities I visit. As I’ve gotten older, I am also now traveling as a mother, which adds a whole new dimension of chaos and stress, but it makes visiting new places so much more rewarding and enjoyable,” she says.

And once it’s safe to travel for pleasure, Williams knows the first place on her list. “I love anywhere in the Caribbean, so that’s always on my list to go.”

Williams has used quarantine as a time to truly relax

While many people think of air travel as an activity that brings them joy, with that out of the question after an overall challenging year, it’s inevitable that they’d look for other activities and hobbies to fill the void. Whether it was baking sourdough or learning how to knit, quarantine activities were all the rage in 2020 as a way to pass the time at home. But for Williams, it wasn’t cooking or learning a new language that brought her joy, it was simply staying home in and of itself. ”For me, [what brought me joy in 2020] was staying home because I do travel so much,” she says. “So the most enjoyable moment for me was staying home. I’ve never been home this long since I was a teenager.”

And don’t worry, we will travel again

Despite how the world feels right now, it’s not frivolous to think about buying yourself or your loved ones some chic new luggage. Not only can it be a form of self-care for some, as a symbol of something to look forward to, but because “people are going to start traveling again,” Williams asserts. “And when you travel you want to travel with the best equipment and that’s Away.”

The post Serena Williams Wants You to Be An Efficient Packer appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Comedy isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when ones thinks of cancer. But it’s this combination of tragedy and humour that drew Dakota Johnson to her latest film, Our Friend. Based on a 2015 Esquire essay The Friend: Love Is Not a Big Enough Word by Matthew Teague, the film follows Johnson’s character Nicole as she battles terminal cancer. Joining her in the fight are her husband Matt (played by Casey Affleck) and their longtime friend Dane (Jason Segel), the latter of whom drops everything in his own life to support the couple and their family as they grapple with the rare highs and immense lows that come with the disease. Dying is not pretty and, as both the film and Teague’s original essay detail, it’s not meant to be. It’s meant to be real.

On the day of the 2021 U.S. presidential inauguration (“What a day,” Johnson says), FLARE spoke with the actor via Zoom about the scene that broke her heart, what brought her joy in 2020 and whether or not we’ll see her in a musical sometime soon. Planning on watching the film? We’d recommend some tissues.

Dakota Johnson was drawn to Our Friend for a specific reason

While it may be hard to imagine comedy existing in a film about cancer, Our Friend doesn’t skimp on the lighter moments in main characters Nicole and Matt’s lives. From Matt’s fainting spells (he passes out when he gets excited or nervous—relatable), to BFF Dane’s penchant for stand-up comedy, there are some great bursts of levity. This is what drew Johnson to the film and the role of Nicole. “I was really drawn to the humour that was specked throughout the script,” she says. “I thought it was extraordinarily genuine to pare such immense tragedy and suffering with levity like that. That’s what real life is like.”

Which makes sense, considering the film is based on the real-life story of the Teagues, an Alabama family who have to face the reality of cancer when matriarch Nicole, a vibrant theatre lover and performer, becomes ill in her mid-thirties. While Johnson says having Matt Teague on set and involved in the development of the script was helpful, as was filming in the Alabama town where the family actually lives, playing a real person like Nicole was daunting. “There’s kind of this added pressure of getting it right,” she says. “But we all sort of relinquished ourselves from that because it was more important to have the relationships and the journey be authentic.”

There’s one scene in particular that broke Johnson’s heart

One of the most poignant moments comes midway through the movie when Nicole and Matt share a moment of marital intimacy, with Matt helping Nicole put cream on her body. By this point in the film, Nicole has been sick for several years; her formerly long, luscious locks shorn to a pixie cut. Nicole looks at the mirror and says “I’m so ugly now” to her husband. *Cue the tears*

It’s a heartbreaking moment, but one that captures the feeling that many people—especially women—talk about when they’re sick: the loss of and dissociation from your body. For Johnson, the scene was as heartbreaking for her to film as it is for audiences to watch.

“I think the idea of a woman who was so vibrant and so sparkly and so talented and just genuinely full of love and colours, to have this really raw realization that she is physically not a person that she used to be is devastating,” Johnson says. “And not being able to do anything about it.” While Johnson says she thinks Nicole was still beautiful in that moment, “to have your beauty and your energy, your body and your vitality, and ultimately your life robbed is just horrible. And it’s such a common disease.”

Johnson had a surprising response to singing in the film

Another scene that was tough for Johnson to film, for an entirely different reason, comes near the end of the movie when Nicole is on a stage, singing to an audience. A quick scan of the final credits shows that it is, in fact, Johnson who’s actually singing. (FYI, her voice is gorgeous.)

But while we might assume that actors aren’t prone to stage fright—and may also assume that Johnson, who has bared *a lot* more physically in films like 50 Shades of Grey, would be comfortable in the limelight—we’d be wrong. During a January 19 interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Johnson opened up about filming that scene, revealing that she actually had a panic attack on-set. “Singing in front of people is actually so terrifying for me,” she told Fallon. And despite the fact that the camera isn’t on her for very long, “[when] they hit playback of my vocal recording and called ‘action,’ it was like I had a panic attack that manifested in all the ways that it does, that it can. So I just took off running.”

“It was kind of an afterthought for me,” Johnson told FLARE of having to sing. “I was focusing more on the story.” But, she says, singing and performing were a huge part of Nicole’s life, meaning Johnson realized, as she was prepping, that she herself would have to perform. “I was like, ‘Oh…that’s right. Okay.'” But, despite initial nerves and a sprint around the set, “it ended up being okay,” she says, “I got through [it].”

And now that she’s overcome her initial fears and sang in a film, could we potentially see Johnson singing again in future roles? Or starring in a musical perhaps? Don’t count on it. “I doubt it,” she says with a laugh. “But you never know.”

And ultimately, Johnson hopes Our Friend helps people focus on joy

It can be tough to search for messages of positivity in an emotional film like Our Friend, but ultimately, that’s what Johnson hopes audiences take away from it.”I hope that people feel a sense of unity and perhaps are more inclined to be more compassionate and more focused on little things that bring you joy,” she says.

So, in a year that brought many people loss and hard times, what did Johnson do in 2020 that brought her joy? On top of making a movie during 2020, “I’ve been working on things that I care about, like my production company [TeaTime Productions] and taking care of the people that are closest to me—my family and my loved ones,” she says.

Which is something Our Friend’s Dane could really get behind.

Our Friend is out in theatres and available on Amazon Prime January 22

The post Dakota Johnson’s New Movie Our Friend Will Make You Ugly Cry appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Hair comes in all different colours, lengths, textures and frizz levels, which means that—like the locks they style—one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to styling tools. That’s especially true of hair straighteners. Whether you’re trying to smooth über thick hair (lucky, but we understand the hardship!), attempting to tame a halo of ever-present frizz, or hoping to straighten your luscious curls for a switch-up to your regular hair routine, there’s *definitely* a flat iron out there for you. But how can you possibly know which one to choose? With the market for hair straighteners pretty saturated at the moment (though we’re not complaining), it can be difficult to discern your Babyliss from your Dyson. Luckily, we have you covered with this best hair straightener roundup.

Here, FLARE breaks down the best flat irons for every hair type and need, with editor reviews of some of our ultimate faves. Trust us, because we’ve tried them.

The Best Straighteners for Every Hair Type

1/14 Best straighteners for curly hair: CHI

Lava Ceramic Hairstyling Iron, $160, chi.com

I have 3B/3C type curly hair and look for straighteners that can help me achieve multiple looks: I have to be able to get it pin-straight, or with a little bounce, or even a subtle wave. The CHI Lava flat iron helps me achieve all these with the über useful feature of allowing me to adjust the specific temperature I’m looking for. I don’t always need the hottest setting to get my hair styled with a few passes of the iron, which helps minimize hair damage. The results are always smooth, and the auto-off feature helps in those moments when I’ve forgotten to turn off the iron—something I definitely don’t recommend doing! —Elham Numan, graphic designer

2/14 Best straighteners for curly hair: L’Oréal Professionnel

Steampod 3.0, $350, chatters.ca

My hair typically straddles the line between Victorian ringlets and shaggy dog, depending on the day and whether or not I’ve air-dried it, meaning that I’ve struggled for years to find the right tool that’ll take my hair from curly to sleek fairly effortlessly. While I’ve found flat irons that have helped make straightening my hair fairly simple, L’Oréal Professionnel’s latest Steampod 3.0 is legitimately a game changer. It’s size is a lot bigger than most if the straighteners I’ve used in the past, but it’s worth it. Not only does the steam mean less damage to my hair, but it seriously straightens with only one pass and leaves my hair sleek and frizz-free. Which, as any curly-haired person knows, are truly bonkers results. —Katherine Singh, assistant editor

3/14 Best straighteners for damaged hair: Babyliss PRO

Nano Titanium Ultra Thin Straightening Iron, $124, tradesecrets.ca

4/14 Best straighteners for damaged hair: T3

Lucea ID 1′ Smart Straightening & Styling Flat Iron with Touch Screen, $320, sephora.com

This flat iron is seriously high tech and promises less damage to your locks with its Lucea ID personalization tool. Upon first use, you simply input your hair type, including length, thickness and whether it’s colour-treated or not, into a small digital panel on the wand and the tool determines what heat setting out of nine is appropriate for your hair needs. (You can change this anytime, plus you have the option to manually choose the heat setting you want.) The result is sleek, shiny, frizz-free hair that doesn’t look like it was just torched at max heat with those telltale pin-straight flyaways. —Jennifer Berry, managing editor 

 

5/14 Best straighteners for frizzy hair: GHD

Platinum+ Professional Perfomance 1” Styler, $299, sephora.com

 

First of all, this straightener heats up faster than any hair tool I’ve tried in my lifetime of straightening and curling (only 20 seconds!)—definitely a plus for anyone who is as impatient with their morning routine as I am! But the true magic of this tool is how it transforms my fluffy hair to high-shine strands in just minutes. The predictive heat setting (it senses your hair texture and thickness) and precision-milled plates are to thank—and while I don’t fully understand this sorcery, I’m not here to question these incredible results! —Charlotte Herrold, editor-in-chief

 

6/14 Best straighteners for frizzy hair: Morrocanoil

Perfectly Polished Titanium Flat Iron, $170, chatters.ca

As a curly-haired human who deals with frizz on a daily basis, it’s not only essential that I find a straightener that’ll smooth hair, but also leave it with minimal static afterwards. I’m not a huge fan of Morrocanoil hair products as a whole (I find them too oily for my hair), but their hair tools are A+. The compact size of the flat iron is perfect for manoeuvring around my head (and in my tiny bathroom), without skimping on quality. Despite the size, I was delighted to find that it only took a few passes to straighten small sections of my hair, and left my locks feeling *super* silky. I also love the quick heat-up function (it takes less than 60 seconds to heat up) and the fact that the tool has a soft grip. —K.S. 

7/14 Best straighteners for creating curls and waves: Kristin Ess

3-In-One Flat Iron, $105, well.ca

8/14 Best straighteners for creating curls and waves: Hot Tools

Pro Revolutionary 1” Ionic Salon Flat Iron, $150, chatters.ca

I’m by no means a pro at using a flat iron for creating curls—as a righty, the left side of my head is always *chef’s kiss* but I haven’t quite mastered the right—but I’ve tried enough heat tools to know which ones work and which ones tear your hair off as you try to give it a cute wave. This straightener has rounded plate edges that allow you to create curls and waves without any unsightly sharp bends, plus its ergonomic, lightweight design makes it a breeze to handle while practicing your technique. Bonus: it heats up super quickly, which is always a plus for those of us who are punctuality-challenged. —J.B. 

9/14 Best bang for your buck: Conair

Unbound Cordless Flat Iron, $110, conaircanada.ca

10/14 Best bang for your buck: CHI

Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron, $80, chi.com

In my early days as a straightened-hair fiend, the CHI Original Flat Iron was my best friend. I could curl, straighten and wave my curly hair, and felt invincible afterwards since it was guaranteed that my hair looked bangin’. Over a decade (!) later, this straightener works just as well as it did back when I faithfully used it every few weeks in high school. The ceramic plates still heat up quickly and leave my hair super smooth with minimal passes. Not to mention that the incredibly long swivel cord ensures I can take my straightener with me to different parts of my house and never have to worry about whether or not the wall outlet is out of reach. The initial cost is definitely worth spending considering how reliably long it’ll last. —E.N.

11/14 Best bang for your buck: Remington

Anti-Static Flat Iron with Floating Ceramic Plates, $53, walmart.ca

12/14 Best straighteners for colour treated hair: Dyson

Corrale Straightener, $650, thebay.com 

It’s been almost a full year since I’ve had my hair lightened, but my ends are still crispy as heck. With fewer opportunities to get a fresh trim due to lockdowns in Ontario, I’m more careful than ever to avoid further damage. The Dyson Corrale, which launched last year, promises sleek results with 50% less damage than traditional flat irons, and it definitely delivers thanks to its intelligent flexing plates that require less heat and only one pass through your hair to achieve perfect results. —C.H.

13/14 Best straighteners for fine hair: Bio Ionic

10X Pro Straightening & Styling Iron, $186, amazon.ca

14/14 Best straighteners for fine hair: Aquage

Silk Smoothing Iron, $200, theskincaresupply.com

The post These Are the Best Straighteners for Every Hair Type and Need appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Ariana Grande said it best when she crooned “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it” in her hit 2019 song “7 Rings.” While Grande was talking about her own spending habits (and the fact that, as a millionaire, she can effectively buy whatever the heck she wants without a second thought), the mentality can similarly be applied to the spending habits—or at least shopping mentality—of even non-superstars. Because for many people, buying things is super fun! But not *as* fun? Budgeting or thinking about the money needed to save up and buy said things. Which is where Afterpay comes in. The popular online installment payment program—which launched in Australia in 2014 and has been running in the U.K., New Zealand and the U.S. for the last few years—officially launched in Canada in August 2020, allowing Canadian consumers to pay for purchases from brands like Aritzia, Mary Young and Roots in four installments. (Translation: You can receive those über coveted Aritzia Melina pants ASAP, without having to pay for them in full upfront.) It’s a payment program that leans *heavily* into the idea of instant gratification and seems almost too good to be true, but how *exactly* does it work? And also, seriously, what’s the catch?

Here, everything you need to know about Afterpay and installment programs like it including whether or not they are, in fact, too good to be true.

So, what exactly *is* Afterpay and how does it work?

If you’re a frequent online shopper, chances are that you’ve come across Afterpay in some capacity while perusing Reformation late at night. (The company *does* currently work with over 64,000 retailers globally, according to Afterpay, which is no small number.) Afterpay is an installment payment plan that breaks down the price of a product into multiple smaller, interest-free installments. So for example, if a product is $100, with Afterpay, a consumer would pay $25 right away, and then $25 every two weeks for the next six weeks (so four payments in total). The best part? Your item ships out immediately, meaning that you don’t have to wait until you’ve completed payments to rock your latest purchase.

With Afterpay (as well as a few other options like PayBright, QuadPay and Sezzle), consumers can choose to use either their debit or credit card to make purchases. Afterpay encourages using debit to ensure that payments come from your bank account as opposed to racking up on a credit card, which can potentially lead to debt. “Our model is really to avoid overspending and to avoid getting into debt,” says Melissa Davis, Afterpay’s head of North America. “So we never charge any interest or any additional fees above and beyond the price of the product, which is very different than some of our competitors that do have products that charge the customers significant financing charges.” With no need for credit checks or for consumers to provide their social security numbers, “it’s really making sure that the consumers are not getting into any kind of revolving debt and [are] able to just pay off their debit card [with] funds that they currently have available,” she continues. “Our model is very simple and unique, but it’s what makes the customer love and loyalty so strong because when you see Afterpay, you always know exactly what product you’re going to get.”

Why does it seem like payment plans like Afterpay are suddenly everywhere?

And it’s a product that’s seemingly in high demand. While Afterpay launched in Canada in August 2020, it’s far from the only installment payment plan available to Canadians, who can also shop using services like PayBright, Sezzle, QuadPay, Splitit and Affirm. And globally, there’s a demand for these types of services. According to Davis, Afterpay alone currently caters to more than 11 million consumers worldwide, many of which are millennials.

So, why are millennials drawn to these payment plans? One big reason appears to be that the generation is (rightfully) afraid of going into debt. “There is a big fear of getting into debt and a revolving line of debt,” Davis says of the younger generations. In fact, it’s something we’ve seen proven; a 2019 survey from Credible found that American millennials were more scared of credit card debt than dying.

In addition to this fear, Davis says that gen Z and millennial folks are just more financially responsible when it comes to debt. Perhaps influenced by the amount of credit card debt people faced after the 2008 financial crisis, “they aren’t opening credit cards, they aren’t paying for things beyond their means,” she says. “They are looking to things like Afterpay to be able to better budget out their purchases, and to understand where their money is going and have a better flow of funds.”

There’s a bonus for retailers, too. According to Davis, many retailers who partner with Afterpay have seen increases in average order value as well as new customer acquisition, meaning people are spending *more* money on these brands and that brands are gaining more new customers, thanks in part to Afterpay’s own site. “One of the many benefits that we provide is actually sending traffic to our retailers from the consumer base that we already have and the network that we already have,” she says. Current Afterpay customers—happy with the service and their ability to spread out payments without incurring interest—often use the company’s site directory to see what other brands they can shop in a similar way. “So it’s a huge source of new traffic and new referrals to our retail partners.”

In a November 2020 CBC article, Kyle Houseman, the president of Vancouver-based brand Native Shoes, said that while only 5% of the company’s customers used Afterpay at that time, those that did tended to spend more money. “Naturally, when you are going to spend a hundred dollars on an item today and you’ll only have to pay $25, [now] you can buy both the dress and the shoes,” Davis explains of this method. “And so people feel great about their purchase and they’re only spending $50 today.”

What happens if I don’t make a payment on time?

Now, for the big question: What happens if I miss a payment? Well, it depends on which service you’re going with. For service provider Klarna (which is only available outside of Canada and allows users to pay with both credit and debit cards), failing to meet your payment deadlines *could* affect your credit score, depending on which country you’re in, with the company admitting that U.K. accounts that aren’t paid within a few months can be passed along to debt collection agencies. In the United States, debit card users who fail to have sufficient funds available in their bank account—thus preventing Klarna from being able to withdraw the required amount—could incur late fees and the eventual dismissal of their account from the app. Yikes. But with others services, such as Afterpay Canada and PayBright, there’s no interest or additional charges if you miss a payment. “Everything is automatically debited from the user’s card,” Davis says. With 90% of Afterpay’s users using their debit cards, “if a user is late on a payment, they’re actually not allowed to use the platform until their repayment is made.” (The same goes for those who use credit cards as their form of payment.)

Davis says this incentivizes users *to* actually make their payments, by ensuring they have enough funds in their bank account to be withdrawn or enough credit available on their credit cards, because they want to continue using the service. (If you’re wondering what happens to retailers if you miss a payment, Afterpay assumes all responsibility, acting as an intermediary between the retailer and customer, and paying the retailer directly for the product on the assumption they’ll be paid back by the customer. But FYI, Afterpay charges its retailers between 4% to 6% on each purchase, which is a much steeper charge than credit card companies).

It *is* important to note that while Canadians using the service won’t have to contend with late fees, the company’s U.S. counterpart does list late fees in its terms of agreement. Per Chatelaine, American users are given a 10-day grace period, after which Afterpay U.S. can charge up to 25% of the original purchase price in late fees. (FYI, Clearpay is the company’s U.K. counterpart).

What do financial experts think of Afterpay?

Does this mean you should only shop Afterpay? Not so fast. While millennial money expert Jessica Moorhouse understands the convenience factor of services like Afterpay, she’s not entirely sold on the program. “It almost scares me because already as online consumers, we’re so unconscious of our spending,” Moorhouse says of the service. While some people may know exactly what’s in their digital shopping cart, pondering a purchase for days before making the decision to hit “Pay Now,” that’s not the case for many. “A lot of times when we buy things online or in person, we immediately forget how much actually we spent,” she says. And a “buy now, pay later” option may only increase that lack of awareness, prompting people who may not have the necessary funds to buy an item they want without really thinking it through. “If Afterpay didn’t exist, maybe you would take a step back and consider whether you should buy that or not,” Moorhouse says. “Maybe you can’t afford it right now, so maybe you should not buy this right now and wait until you actually have all the funds in your account… but with options like Afterpay, more people will think, ‘Oh, whatever, I’ll just do it.'”

And while paying off your purchase in a six-week time frame may sound great in theory, as Moorhouse points out, *a lot* can happen in that span of time (especially during a pandemic). “Six weeks is such a short window,” she says. “If you don’t have the money to buy whatever item it is now, are you sure you’re going to have the money in six weeks? Most likely not. A lot can happen in six weeks. You can lose your job.” Not to mention the fact that these installment programs put the onus on the consumer to decide whether or not to use credit or debit when purchasing, meaning there’s still the chance that they can rack up extra fees or debt with select payment programs should they be unable to re-pay the amount (for example, Sezzle charges fees if you fail to make a payment or move the payment date more than two times).

For Moorhouse, services like Afterpay feel like a justification to make purchases people know they should delay and save up for in advance. “It doesn’t make any sense to have a payment program set up with Sephora,” she says. (Paybright does, FYI.) “Those [products] aren’t essential. So just take a minute and wait, save up  with a few paycheques and then buy whatever you need to buy.”

What are some tips for saving if I don’t want to use Afterpay?

For those who are still looking to do some damage when it comes to shopping, but aren’t quite ready to try an installment payment plan, Moorhouse has some tips for saving up. “Try your best to practice conscious consumption [and] be more mindful with where your money’s going,” she advises. “Part of that is taking the time to make a budget.” Moorhouse recommends using spreadsheets to help (she has some available on her website, free of charge), outlining how much you’re earning and how much you’re actually spending. “Take a look at your spending for the past three months to see really, where is your money going,” she says. “That may be a good indicator to see ‘do I have a spending problem?’ or to figure out, ‘maybe I should kind of cool it down, because I’m realizing that I’m actually spending almost as much as I’m earning, which isn’t really helping me progress with saving and investing for my future.'”

In addition to this, Moorhouse recommends setting up a special savings account for expenses that aren’t monthly (like clothes shopping and haircuts, to name a few). “Consider it like a savings goal and you nickname your savings account ‘shopping,’ for when you do need to get new outfit or go to Sephora. And then every paycheque, make sure to put a percentage of that paycheque into that savings account.” Depending on your budget and what you earn, you can decide how much you’d like to put into your special fund every month. “And then you let that grow, grow, grow,” she says. This way, next time there *is* a sale at Sephora, you have the money saved up to spend.”There’s nothing wrong with spending, but [it’s important to] be mindful of where your money’s going and save that money up in advance so that you don’t get yourself into debt. So you can feel good about spending that money on yourself.”

The post What Is Afterpay Canada and Should I Use It? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Margaret Qualley, what are you doing?! That’s the question many people were asking themselves after photos emerged of the actor kissing Shia LaBeouf. The issue? ICYMI, LaBeouf is in the middle of a pretty major media scandal, after his ex-partner, singer FKA Twigs, filed a lawsuit against him on December 11. The suit alleges that LaBeouf—who has starred in films like Honey Boy and the much-anticipated Piece of a Woman—had been abusive towards her during their almost year-long relationship, choking her, endangering her life by driving recklessly and even knowingly giving her an STI. In addition to Twigs, another previous girlfriend of the actor’s, stylist Karolyn Pho, also alleged abusive behaviour from the star, including that he head-butted her and drunkenly pinned her to the bed.

The allegations, and the experiences these women have said they endured, are horrific. In response to the New York Times‘ reporting, LaBeouf said, in part, via email: ”Many of these allegations are not true;” adding that the two women deserved “the opportunity to air their statements publicly” and that he needed to “accept accountability for those things I have done.” In a later email to the paper, LaBeouf issued an apology, stating: ”I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalizations. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt. There is nothing else I can really say.”

Which brings us back to Qualley. On December 19, she was photographed kissing LaBeouf after the latter reportedly picked her up from LAX, and people were not happy. But shockingly, the target of their ire wasn’t LaBeouf, the person who has been accused of abusive behaviour, but rather Qualley, for being in a relationship with an abuser.

On social media, users tweeted about the actor being “dumb as fuck,” and a “rent-a-girlfriend for actors,” and accused Qualley of being “not an ally to other women,” among other things.

And while it’s understandable that people would be upset with the situation, and with Qualley for being in a relationship with someone accused of abusive behaviour, the way we’re talking about her is *not* OK. Because it can affect her decisions and feeling of support in the long run, and that’s the last thing we should want. Here’s how to engage with the conversations around Qualley and LaBeouf, both online and IRL.

Experts aren’t surprised by the reaction to Margaret Qualley dating Shia LaBeouf

While people may be initially shocked at the vitriol aimed towards Qualley, we really shouldn’t be; because like many things in life, women are once again blamed for the actions of the men around them. (Thanks, patriarchy!) For Toronto-based psychotherapist Briana Krushelnicki, who has been following the allegations by LaBeouf’s former partners, the response to Qualley is difficult to witness—but not super surprising. While Krushelnicki says her first response is to blame the patriarchy, (“which is also true,” she says), a bigger factor playing into the public response may actually be LaBeouf’s standing in Hollywood, viewers’ connection to a star who has been a fixture on our screens for many years, and thus their reluctance to reconcile that this person might be an abuser. “There’s a history in Hollywood of the truth about abusive men coming to light,” Krushelnicki, who works with individuals who’ve experienced intimate partner and gender-based violence, says. “When we talk about entitlement, who’s more entitled than someone who’s famous and is heralded as being incredibly creative and talented? We don’t want to lose these men that we’re attached to.”

The child actor who was beloved by many for his turn on Even Stevens is in the midst of a redemption arc both professionally, with the exploration of his own abuse and subsequent behaviour in the 2019 film Honey Boy, and personally. Since 2017, LaBeouf has been open about his road to recovery and sobriety, a fact that Krushelnicki says may also be factoring into people’s response (or lack thereof) to him. It’s a great narrative.

In addition to this, Krushelnicki points to a longstanding truth. “Women can’t really win. Abused women or women in abusive relationships can’t win. If they don’t leave, they’re shamed for not leaving. And then if they do leave, they’re shamed for sometimes separating their children from an abusive partner or not leaving sooner.

“We want to believe that if we were in that position, we would know better. We wouldn’t do what Margaret Qualley did,” Krushelnicki says.

But that doesn’t mean it’s right—and it can have a negative affect on Qualley

Which really isn’t a fair response, considering Qualley herself doesn’t have a history of abusive or problematic behaviour. “It feels to me like the discourse really focuses on her choices as, like, she should know better, she shouldn’t be supporting him or she should change her behaviour, and [it’s] less on his choices and his behaviours,” Krushelnicki says.

And this not only take the onus off of LaBeouf for his actions, but can actually have an extremely negative effect on Qualley and the way she may react down the line.

While it’s important to note that as of publication, Qualley hasn’t made any allegations of abuse against LaBeouf, and it’s entirely up to Qualley to decide what she tolerates and if she’s seen change in her partner, “the problem with that is that abusive relationships don’t start as abusive,” Krushelnicki says. “There’s a whole pattern of love bombing (the practice of showering a person with excessive affection to gain control of them) or of getting that partner to trust and pulling them in to an extent where the abuser can get away with their behaviour. So the concern is that maybe she’s not seeing that right now.” Meaning that, if in the future, Qualley does want to leave the relationship, our responses now may deter her from doing so, or at least feeling supported enough to do so.

“What’s  important to know about the dynamics of an abusive relationship is when you see someone who’s experiencing abuse or may be experiencing abuse, you  want to think about what is the abuser doing to that person and how can I do the opposite,” Krushelnicki advises. If abusers are pressuring their partners, everything in the relationship may become about the abuser and their needs. This means being patient and giving space for the person to come to their own conclusion about their partner and leaving. “Abusers thinks they know their partners lives and decisions better than their partners do,” Krushelnicki says, “so we don’t want to add to that.”

“The more online vitriol around Margaret Qualley there is, the more she’s going to feel like it’s her and him against the world. That he’s so misunderstood and she has to be there to support him.” Which the last thing people want, which is why we have to be careful about how we engage with this discourse around Qualley and LaBeouf.

People need to show Qualley support

In discussing this specific relationship, or just folks who date abusers, Krushelnicki says it’s important to keep conversations around women like Qualley very open. “If we know that abusive behaviour involves pressuring people, talking down to people, insulting people, no matter how frustrated we might be with Margaret Qualley’s choices, we need to be doing the opposite and try to show compassion and understanding. So if there does come a point where similar things happen to her and she does need to exit this relationship, there’s not an extra layer of shame or embarrassment that people are going to say, ‘Oh, I told you so.'”

And, we need to keep the focus on LaBeouf and on his choices and his actions. “This is a man who has [allegedly] choked previous partners. This is the man who has instilled these rules and kind of terror into his relationship. And that’s very tangible,” Krishelnicki says. “And so we need to keep the focus on that. We have to talk about how we can hold him accountable so that [Qualley] does stay safe, so that her choice to take this chance and to enter into this new and exciting relationship can be honoured.”

The same goes for approaching friends or loved ones close to you who may be in a similar situation to Qualley. “Whether it’s Margaret Qualley or whether it’s a friend, [it’s important to approach them] not as if we know what’s best for them, but [by] providing them with that support, so that they can start to see the difference between a supportive friendship, a supportive relationship and what they’re currently experiencing, and build up that trust connection. So if it does come to a point where they feel like they need to reach out and they want that help, whether it’s leaving or a place to talk freely, they know that that’s available,”Krishelnicki says. “But the more we lecture women to leave their abusive partners, the more we push them together.”

FYI, we’re justified in talking about LaBeouf

Should we even be talking about LaBeouf? As some of his supporters may point out, LaBeouf has publicly spoken out on getting sober since his previous relationships and is seemingly on the up-and-up. So are we justified to be worried for Qualley? In essence: yes. Because the fact remains that LaBeouf has a history of abusive behaviour in relationships.

“The core of abuse is entitlement,” Krishelnicki notes. Pointing to some of LaBeouf’s reported requirements from partners, such as rules that his partners couldn’t look at waitstaff and around how often they had to physically touch him as examples, Krishelnicki says, “it comes down to this real sense of entitlement; and getting sober is not enough because while it may exacerbate the abuse, alcohol doesn’t cause abuse. Attitudes of entitlement cause abuse. And so unless he’s getting support for that specific thing, it’s unlikely that his attitudes will change.”

And it’s important to continually be having these proactive conversations around abuse in case something does happen down the line. While Qualley hasn’t made any allegations of her own, “if we track the timeline of a classic abusive relationship, that tracks,” Krishelnicki says. “People aren’t entering relationships with people who start off by driving recklessly or choking them in anger. If that’s your first couple of weeks, you’re likely able to leave.” Instead, there’s a process of building up trust in which you isolate a partner and often shower them excessively with affection and love (the aforementioned love bombing). It’s important to keep this in mind.

These conversations are important to have for another important reason, too: as a way to reduce the stigma around women like Qualley while holding the men in question accountable. “[The question is:] how do we hold abusers accountable and let men, especially powerful men, know that this behaviour is not acceptable without shaming their partners?”

Margaret Qualley seems like a good place to start.

The post Here’s How We Should Be Talking About Margaret Qualley and Shia LaBeouf appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic in North America, it’s safe to say every industry across the board has been affected, with many pivoting to adapt their revenue streams to our new reality. We’ve seen retail stores go almost entirely contactless, small restaurants focus on take-out and delivery, and boutique gyms and fitness studios shift to online and virtual workouts. The media, and individuals on social media, have rallied around these businesses, with hashtags like #supportlocal blowing up, especially around the holiday season. But there are many other small businesses and sole proprietors that have been overlooked—likely because historically they’ve been ostracized.

If there’s one industry that’s *really* had to get creative with how it adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s arguably sex work. In 2020, with many sex workers unable to continue in-person business as usual for their own health and safety as well as their clients’, there’s been a massive shift to online streaming platforms that specifically host X-rated content, such as OnlyFans.

ICYMI, OnlyFans is a paid online streaming service that allows individuals to upload curated content, and patrons to follow and subscribe to their favourite creators. Content on the platform runs the gamut from exercise-related to intimate. And nine months into the rolling lockdowns in North America, these streaming services appear to be growing in popularity to the point that they’ve hit the mainstream, with several high-profile celebrities, like Bella Thorne and Tyler Posey *also* using OnlyFans to make an income with sexually-themed content. (In November, hunk Michael B. Jordan also announced he’d be joining OnlyFans, but with the money going towards charity.)

With lockdowns still in effect and vaccines only just starting to be administered, sex workers may very well be using these platforms for a while to come, and maybe even permanently to some degree. Here’s how sex workers have been using streaming services during the pandemic, and how it’s changing the sex work industry beyond 2020.

COVID has had a massive effect on the sex work industry

From the moment rumblings of the COVID-19 pandemic began back in March of 2020, those in the sex work industry were worrying about the effects it would have on them and their source of income. “There was a lack of understanding of what was going to happen, things were changing every day, but as we were heading toward more of a lockdown situation, it became clear that it was going to affect sex workers’ income very broadly and pretty much across the board,” says Lyra McKee, Community Co-Executive Director of PACE Society, a peer-driven organization for current and former sex workers in Vancouver. For sex workers who operate with clients in person, there was an understandable fear around staying safe from COVID, for all parties involved. Knowing whether to continue with their work wasn’t the easiest decision to make. “During the shutdown, people generally wanted to follow health directives and stay safe and healthy,” McKee says. “But for people whose only source of income is sex work, it’s really a decision of whether to stay healthy and follow health directives or to continue making any money by doing sex work.”

“For many [sex workers], the choice is to work during the pandemic or starve,” says Jelena Vermilion, Executive Director of Sex Workers Action Program (SWAP) Hamilton. The prospect of unemployment was especially daunting for those in the industry, considering the fact that it’s one that falls into the grey area of accessing government benefit programs.

In March 2020, the Canadian government introduced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), an assistance program meant to aide Canadians who lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While sex workers were *technically* able to access CERB and EI (Employment Insurance), there were several barriers in their way, including the fact that many did not meet the income requirement in the previous year. (This is especially applicable to those in the industry who use sex work as additional income or to supplement their social assistance or disability support, Vermilion says.) In addition, due to the fact that sex work in Canada is still criminalized, “any contact with government or other official bodies risks criminalization or in some cases, deportation,” Vermilion says. And that includes filing taxes. Meaning that, although sex workers can technically apply for these assistance programs, by failing to take these factors into account “the government emergency plans have explicitly excluded this group of workers,” Vermilion says. “It’s infuriating to have our work criminalized, to be pushed farther away from community and other social supports, to only be denied further help which is needed due to the imposed disadvantage,” she continues.

And that’s a big issue. In much the same way that a loss of employment would detrimentally affect someone in another industry, “without sex work these already vulnerable people will not have enough money to eat and pay rent,” Vermilion says. 

Streaming services have picked up the slack

Without any assistance to lean on, workers in the sex industry have had to think on their feet and adapt in some pretty creative ways. In places like Portland, Oregon, strip clubs have established drive-through services as a way to continue to bring in revenue while following social-distancing guidelines. But that’s not the only way the industry is pivoting, with sex workers of all varieties moving to the one place they know demand will always exist: the internet. “I definitely see people moving online,” says Kate Sinclaire, a feminist pornographer from Winnipeg, and the founder of Ciné Sinclaire. ”Especially any sex worker friends that normally see people face-to-face.” While Sinclaire herself has always worked online in some way over her 15-year career in the industry, starting out on what she calls a ”nudie photo website,” cherrystems.com, and evolving into her current career as a director of feminist porn, during the pandemic she’s seen colleagues and friends in the industry make the jump from IRL to virtual, including in some ways that may surprise people. “There’s one person I know in Maryland, and she did this virtual strip club,” Sinclaire says. “And so now it’s twice a week, and it’s a lot of queer [people] and various body types.”

Madison Winter, a Toronto-based sex worker, has also seen the effects of COVID-19 on her income. With many of her companionship clients coming from the United States, Winter says that the U.S.–Canada border restrictions mean she’s been unable to see them in person for several months. “Work is few and far between,” she says. While Winter describes how many individuals in the sex work industry have chosen a middle ground due to COVID—meaning they either work significantly less and/or quarantine between bookings—she’s turned to online platforms as another revenue stream. In April of this year, Winter made the decision to join OnlyFans, hoping to diversify her revenue stream with content for the monthly subscription service, creating a variety of diverse content for her subscribers and their needs. “My OnlyFans content typically ranges from wholesome, day-in-the-life snapshots to sensual, and sometimes erotic, imagery and videos,” she says. “I may post a video of me dancing around my kitchen—poorly—to Madonna, or share a vulnerable and intimate part of my personal sex life.”

And she’s not alone. Per data from the company, in the first few months of the pandemic, OnlyFans saw a massive increase in sign-ups for both users and creators, with the company reporting 3.5 million new accounts in March; 60,000 of which were reportedly creators. If that doesn’t sound like a lot, it should, because these numbers marked an increase of 75% from the previous month.

While OnlyFans isn’t explicitly for the sex work industry, it’s the ideal platform for sex workers to operate on, with the site featuring more lax rules around nudity, as well as providing creators with the ability to “lock” their messages, so subscribers have to pay to view their responses, and create custom content. This allows creators to charge for specific videos and desires.

And the sex workers who have moved online seem to love it, specifically for the safety that it provides individuals who may typically have to place themselves in more high-risk situations due to their line of work. “I think definitely one of the positives is that workers have control of their own channels,” Sinclaire says of these platforms. “They don’t have to wait for some producer to come along who might take advantage of them, they can just put up their own stuff online and do exactly what they want to do in the way that they want to.”

Mikaela Spielberg, daughter of director Steven Spielberg, who started out in the sex work industry in October of this year, was drawn to the platform ManyVids for this reason. Whereas OnlyFans is used by, but not explicitly geared towards sex workers, ManyVids is a female-founded adult entertainment platform, so safety concerns are prioritized even more. “ManyVids’ reputation for creating a safe haven that champions sex workers to become successful entrepreneurs is what attracted me to the platform from the beginning—they’ve made a major shift in making entertainers feel in control of what they put out and that’s important,” she says. 

But it’s not a perfect solution

Shortly after services like OnlyFans started gaining popularity during the pandemic, the streaming site and its patrons were thrust into the spotlight for negative reasons. In August, actor Bella Thorne announced that she was starting an OnlyFans account. In one day of having her account up-and-running, Thorne reportedly made $1 million. In two days, she claims to have made over $2 million in subscriptions. The issue? Thorne royally fucked up revenue for actual sex workers on the platform. After reportedly being charged $20 per subscription and allegedly charging $200 for “pay-per-view” nude photos, patrons of Thorne’s account were upset to find that the actor wasn’t in fact posting nude content, but rather suggestive photos and videos of the creator fully clothed. (It’s important to note that, of course, Thorne should be able to do what she wants with her body, including deciding how much of it she wants to share publicly; the issue is that fans felt they were sold one thing, and the account didn’t deliver.) Because of this, people requested refunds from OnlyFans in droves, which led to the streaming service placing restrictions on how much *other* creators could charge—limiting the earning potential for actual sex workers—as well as extending creators’ pay out windows. In some countries, creators now have to wait up to 30 days to receive payment, as opposed to the original seven. Thorne has since apologized.

“To me, it’s gross, ” Sinclaire says of celebs using sites like OnlyFans. “When people use this [to make] a living and this is their money and then some celebrity comes in and says, ‘Oh, I’m going to do this because it seems fun,’ and actually ruin thousands of lives?” Especially because, as Sinclaire points out, sex workers and the platforms that cater to them already have so many issues with payment. “Credit cards are 90% of the problems that we interact with in the porn world,” she says. For example, on her own site, Sinclaire says she has to use one of two credit card providers, because no others will work with them. And when they do find a credit card provider who’ll work with them, their rates are insanely high. “Every time that someone makes a purchase, the fee is 18% from that company,” she says, “whereas a regular store would be somewhere between 3 to 5%.” This is due to the rate of chargebacks credit card companies receive from websites that provide pornography and sex work. Meaning, people may purchase porn, and then when it comes through on their credit card statement, deny they bought it and have their company cancel the charge. “We make 80 cents on the dollar just to start,” Sinclaire says. “So when that Bella Thorne thing happens, it ends up ruining credit card processing on OnlyFans, which ruins people’s livelihoods.”

Since Thorne other celebrities (and influencers) like Teen Wolf‘s Tyler Posey and internet boyfriend Michael B. Jordan have started (or have said they are starting) OnlyFans accounts as another revenue stream, many people online have pointed out that they completely fail to recognize that IRL sex workers *need* OnlyFans as an income stream to live, not just diversify their million-dollar empires. After Beyoncé first shouted out OnlyFans in her April remix of “Savage,” the site has become a pop culture touchstone, synonymous with being sexy, which makes it easier to make light of, with influencers and celebs alike captioning photos and posts with tongue in cheek comments about creating an OnlyFans account.

 

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“It very much gets pitched in that way like, ‘Oh, maybe I’d do porn,’ Sinclaire agrees. “And maybe you would, but some people actually do. So let’s  think about how our actions are affecting them.”

And beyond the celebrity influence making streaming services inaccessible, the fact remains that online sex work—independent of these celebs—isn’t actually that accessible to everyone. “I know a lot of people have moved to online work,” McKee says, “[but] I know that some people had to keep working [in person], especially people who experience multiple levels of marginalization or face housing precarity or were already working entry-based sex work and didn’t have resources to move online. Some people didn’t really have much of a choice in that area.” Because while it may seem like an easy pivot, it can actually be a luxury to have the choice to move online and onto streaming platforms. “Online work requires an indoor space that’s private, and many of the sex workers we work with don’t have access to any of that, much less the supplies that you have to accumulate such as a camera and a computer,” McKee says. As well, making the move from in-person to online requires obtaining a different clientele in an already very saturated market, Vermilion adds. ”So that’s just not a possibility for a lot of people,” McKee concludes.

So, what does the future of sex work look like?

Despite the barriers to this line of work, Spielberg, Sinclaire and Winter all agree that the surge in familiarity around streaming services like OnlyFans and ManyVids is positive in regards to destigmatizing public perceptions of sex work. “No press is bad press, in a way,” Sinclaire says.

But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that these online platforms will be the *only* way of the future for sex work after the pandemic ends. (While it may not feel like it right now, yes the pandemic will at some point be over.) Because, things will go back to normal—whatever that may be. “We were supposed to get back on set in early October and then one of my performers contacted me a day before and said ‘I have a sore throat,” so we had to cancel,” Sinclaire says of getting back to in-person work. “But it will come back as the world will eventually go back to some state similar to what it was before.”

And until then, she’s embracing these platforms for what they’re doing. “I think they do better than porn, honestly,” Sinclair says. “You can be exactly who you are and people might pay you for that. That’s kind of great.”

For Winter, getting online has helped to diversify her revenue stream and create stability and security she may not find in face-to-face sex work—regardless of the pandemic. “As a sex worker, I have no vacation pay, sick pay, insurance or otherwise,” she says. “If I’m unwell for a month [as she was last September following an emergency surgery], I have no income.” While she says OnlyFans doesn’t fully cover her expenses, online sex work allows her to generate passive revenue flow and continue earning even if she’s not able to work right at that moment.

As for the sex work industry in Canada as a whole, there’s still a lot more work to be done when it comes to protecting those in the industry, both during the pandemic and afterwards. “If sex workers aren’t able to fully continue working, then we definitely need to see governmental relief that’s more accessible and low barrier in order for sex workers to be safe and to meet their daily needs and necessities,” McKee says.

“[And] sex workers definitely need to see decriminalization at the federal legal level,” she continues. “Decriminalization would go a long way toward making sex workers safer, happier, healthier people in their work and it would enable us to unionize, which would be really important for sharing information, sharing best practices and ensuring workplace rights.”

The post This Is How Sex Workers Are Using Streaming Services During the Pandemic appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Hey Upper East Siders, word is Gossip Girl is leaving Netflix Canada on December 31. Which can only mean one thing: there’s a GG marathon in your future. The hit CW show, which ran from 2007 to 2012, gave us so much; from *amazing* style and questionable underage partying to sweeping views of New York City and iconic Thanksgiving episodes, the world of Gossip Girl truly had it all. Not *entirely* prepared to hunker down and power through six seasons of wacky, titillating, completely out-of-touch TV in two short weeks? We don’t blame you. With some of the earlier seasons of the show boasting up to 25 (!!) episodes, trying to make it through the entire series, whether for the first or the fifth time, is a big time commitment. Luckily, we have you covered. Looking to dive into the Romeo and Juliet-esque world of Dan Humphrey, Serena van der Woodsen and NYC’s elite? Here are the episodes you need to watch. (Warning: some spoilers ahead.)

“The Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1)

Of course, in order to get a handle on any new series it’s imperative to watch the pilot episode, no matter how cringe-worthy the quality and acting may be in hindsight (looking at you, Scandal). And the same rule applies for GG’s inaugural episode. In the show’s first episode, viewers are introduced to all of the major players, most importantly the Humphrey and van der Woodsen families as well as queen Blair Waldorf (played by Leighton Meester) and her main men Chuck Bass (played by Ed Westwick) and Nate Archibald (played by the always hot Chace Crawford). Kicking off with socialite Serena van der Woodsen’s (played by Blake Lively) return to New York after leaving the year prior under mysterious circumstances (semi-spoiler: she thought she accidentally killed a man), this episode sets up many of the themes that the series will come to be known for, including: class conflict, rivalry, underage drinking and sex, and Dan Humphrey’s (played by Penn Badgley) obsession with Serena.

“Hi, Society” (Season 1, Episode 10)

Almost halfway into the first season of the show, the next must-watch episode serves a heavy dose of what GG does best—insanely un-relatable and unlikely displays of grandeur. In this episode, Gossip Girl takes us into debutante season, with Blair and Serena ready to make their debut into society. A lot goes on in this episode, but what makes it worth a watch are the advances in various romantic relationships. Blair and Nate *finally* have sex for the first time (albeit after Blair’s already slept with his BFF Chuck Bass, unbeknownst to Nate, of course), fans get a bit more of a backstory into Lily van der Woodsen and Rufus Humphrey’s past (as in Lily’s mom forbid them from being together), and after initially being thwarted by Serena’s grandma, who doesn’t approve of Dan and his standing in society, Serena and Dan cement their love for each other when Lonely Boy shows up at cotillion and literally sweeps Serena off her feet in a scene that made my 15-year-old self scream with glee.

Plus, Lily and Dan share a lot of tender moments in this episode, which is just really nice and a small insight into how kind and warm Mrs. van der Woodsen could actually be.

“Desperately Seeking Serena” (Season 1, Episode 15)

For fans of the show, this episode is the real first glance into what Serena was supposedly like before she returned to Manhattan as a reformed former party girl. In this episode, Serena’s old frenemy Georgina Sparks (played by Michelle Trachtenberg) returns to the UES as everyone is furiously studying for SATs and essentially derails S’s entire good girl schtick, coercing her into drinking and even drugging her the night before the big exam. This causes a rift between Serena and Dan, with Serena refusing to let Dan know what’s going on or why she’s so beholden to this old friend. (Again, it’s because she thought she killed someone which we learn was another Georgina set-up.) This episode introduces one of D and S’s major relationship problems: communication issues and a lack of understanding each other’s respective worlds.

“Never Been Marcused” (Season 2, Episode 2) 

It’s summer and everyone’s in the Hamptons! After being scorned by Chuck at the end of season 1, Blair is back from Europe with a fancy pants boyfriend and Nate is having an affair with an older, married woman (who we later find out is Blair’s boyfriend’s step-mom). This episode is bonkers, specifically because Nate and his older female friend are reported to have met in a book club. Because 17-year-old guys who summer in the Hamptons totally join bookclubs with middle-aged moms. This storyline serves as the first of many for Nate that involve an older woman, but it’s by far the most interesting. And it’s just so fun to see everyone tanned and sporting their best summer attire! This episode also marks the first of many relationship reunions between Dan and Serena. (It’s definitely their most tanned reunion on record.)

“Pret-A-Poor-J” (Season 2, Episode 8) 

Enter: Dark Jenny. As any Gossip Girl fan knows, the character of Jenny Humphrey (played by Taylor Momsen) goes from Brooklyn’s good girl to pretty much the worst character on the show in record time. There are *several* instances throughout the series when Jenny goes over to the dark side, falling victim to the allure of the Upper East Side and the power that comes with being on top. In season 1, we see Little J become a mean girl in her quest to get in with Blair and her popular crew on the steps of the Met gala. And after a summer of de-programming, she’s back to her old self and ready to devote herself to her passion for fashion design. But it’s not long before Jenny starts to go off course again, quitting her prestigious internship with Blair’s fashion designer mother (which was actually kind of justified—her designs were being ripped off), and going out on her own. While this iteration of J doesn’t start off bad, per se—Jenny just wants to start her design career!—leaving home and being rude AF to Rufus, moving in with a hectic model she barely knows and quitting school, all so she can start a fashion line at 15—is pretty bratty and chaotic.

By the way, you’ll know Jenny has gone to the dark side because of all the heavy eyeliner and mullet hair she’s sporting.

“The Goodbye Gossip Girl” (Season 2, Episode 25) 

In the second season’s finale episode, everyone is graduating. Serena takes this opportunity to not only wear a graduation cap tassel in her hair, but also to decide that Gossip Girl has to go down. The result? GG releases dirt on some of the biggest moments from that year, including Dan sleeping with a teacher and Blair sleeping with Chuck’s uncle (info that was released *just* as Blair and Chuck were about to get together). It’s essentially a recap on any scandal from the season that you need to know. The highlights of this episode include Lily and Rufus *finally* getting engaged, and Chuck *finally* telling Blair that he loves her. It’s a surprisingly sweet end to a season of discord between the two over those three little words.

“The Freshmen” (Season 3, Episode 2)

Serena and co. are off to university! The second episode of the third season sets up the new dynamics for the show–and our characters’ lives—because they aren’t at Constance anymore. In this episode, it becomes increasingly clear that while Blair may have been the top dog in high school, people at New York University could care less about sushi parties, limos to Butter and her incessant scheming. They just want a fun rooftop kegger thrown by Georgina Sparks and to watch Vanessa Abrams’s (played by Jessica Szohr) indie doc. This is a great episode because, for once, the roles are reversed, with Dan finally being the popular one. We get to see Blair try to weasel her way to the top (unsuccessfully), and realize that things in university won’t be the same as they were in high school (and they definitely shouldn’t be). This episode is also A+ for the very fact that it’s one of few in the series where we get to see Chuck and Blair together and actually happy (if only for a brief period of time), and it marks the demise of Blair’s penchant for headbands.

“They Shoot Humphreys, Don’t They?” (Season 3, Episode 9)

This episode is defined by two things: Jenny once again going over to the dark side and trying to be queen bee of the entire UES (only this time rocking really bad extensions) and a threesome between Dan, Vanessa and Dan’s new famous actor girlfriend Olivia (played by Hilary Duff). Yes, you read that correctly: Lizzie McGuire has a threesome in this episode!!! The fact that this occurs, as well as the musical build-up to the moment when the trio decide to take the plunge (featuring a confusing sensual cover of T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”), are 100% the only reason to watch this episode and only this episode in season 3. (Oh, and also, Dan and his BFF Vanessa’s ongoing sexual and romantic tension is *finally* addressed.)

In case you were wondering, at the time in 2009, this was a scandal with a capital S, with the Parents Television Council boycotting the episode and calling for it to be removed. That’s *so* Gossip Girl!

“The Treasure of Serene Madre” (Season 3, Episode 11)

If Gossip Girl is known for one thing besides headbands, it’s their Thanksgiving episodes. A staple of the series, it’s always a guarantee that Thanksgiving on the UES will be filled with pie and tons of drama. And the season 3 Thanksgiving episode is no exception. Set to Imogen Heap’s “What’cha Say,” this scene is peak GG, highlighting all the tension between different individuals in under three minutes. Blair thinks her mom is secretly pregnant, Jenny finds out her step-brother Eric sabotaged her cotillion, it’s revealed that Serena’s having an affair with Nate’s married congressman cousin, Vanessa and her absent mom get into it over who has the right to give parenting advice, and CeCe van der Woodsen—Lily’s mom—is just…there. Always stirring the pot.

Watching everyone hash out their ire and storm away from the table is like a dramatic game of musical chairs, and it’s GG at its best.

“The Debarted” (Season 3, Episode 12)

It’s the one year anniversary of the death of Bart Bass, Chuck’s father (although *spoiler alert* he faked his death), and everything is hectic in everyone’s world. After running away with her married BF, Tripp van der Bilt, Serena and said boyfriend get into a car crash, with Tripp calling 911 and leaving the scene. In other news, Rufus learns that Lily may have cheated on him with her ex, Dan confesses his love for Vanessa (it’s not reciprocated) and Chuck thinks he sees his dead mother at his father’s grave. Come for Nate punching his cousin out and the start of his relationship with Serena, and stay for one of a few very rare scenes of Blair and Chuck supporting each other.

“Double Identity” (Season 4, Episode 2)

After being mugged in Paris at the end of the last season, Chuck wakes up a new man, having been saved by a Parisian woman named Eva with whom he instantly falls in love. Elsewhere in Paris, Serena and Blair are trying to figure out their own romantic woes, with Serena set to head back to the U.S. and trying to decide between Dan and Nate, who’ve both shown interest in her. Oh, and Dan reportedly has a son Milo, after Georgina Sparks showed up pregnant later in the third season. (ICYMI, Dan and Georgina briefly hooked up at the beginning of season 3, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Milo isn’t *actually* Dan’s son, something Rufus Humphrey figures out towards the end of this episode.)

But the main reason to watch this episode is the main reason to watch this entire show, TBQH: Chuck and Blair. Having screwed Blair over for most of the series, finding himself in Paris with no ID, Chuck plans to reinvent himself as “a person someone could love.” Meeting Chuck at the train station in Paris, Blair urges him to come home, saying that although she doesn’t love him anymore, “it wouldn’t be my world without you in it.”

This scene is probably one of the most honest and frank discussions the couple has in the entirety of the series; and it’s SO clear that they still love each other but are trying to do what they think is best. This episode marks the start of more than an entire season of distance between the pair, but at least they’ll always have Paris (and that gorgeous red gown).

“Father and the Bride” (Season 5, Episode 12)

Blair’s wedding day is here! Yes, if you’re just catching up on season 5 now, during the front half of this season, Blair has been wined and dined, fallen in love (kind of ) and fallen pregnant by Prince Louis of Monaco. Long story short: Queen B knows she still loves Chuck and that he’s the love of her life (what’s frickin’ new?), but thinks she can be happy with Prince Louis.

That *is* until her wedding day when bad girl Georgina records Blair confessing her love for Chuck and then plays it for Blair’s future hubby. And how does he react? By going through with the marriage, only to tell Blair—while on the dance floor during their first dance as husband and wife—that their marriage will be entirely for show. Uh-oh B, what will you do? (TBH not much, aside from getting divorced and briefly dating Dan, a storyline no one needed.)

“New York, I Love You XOXO” (Season 6, Episode 10)

Potentially the most divisive episode of the show’s run is the series finale. After six seasons of ups and downs, the infamous Gossip Girl is *finally* revealed, and it’s not who anyone expected. Whether or not you’re happy with who the show ultimately chose is beside the point (plus, the cast themselves clearly hate the decision, which is honestly the best), because the final episode gives us tons of great closure for our favourite characters. This includes the marriage of *SPOILER ALERT* Blair and Chuck in Central Park (shortly before Chuck is arrested on suspicion of invasion of privacy and slander, because obviously). Trust me, by the end of this watch, somehow these two will have become the couple you’re *actually* rooting for throughout this series (sorry Serena and Dan), and if you don’t openly weep at Meester’s Blair saying her vows in that crisp ice blue Elie Saab gown, you’re a monster.

Plus, we get a flash forward to glimpse our favourite character’s lives down the road, and it’s pretty satisfying.

That’s it for now, UES. Now, we wait for the upcoming reboot.

The post A Streaming Guide To the Best of Gossip Girl appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

The end of a year is a time of reflection. It’s an opportunity to assess what behaviours, habits and hobbies we want to take into the new year, and which of those we want to leave behind. And one habit that we’d suggest leaving firmly in 2020? Idolizing celebrities. Because if anything, 2020 has proven that they’re a big frickin’ disappointment—especially when it comes to their behaviour during the pandemic.

On December 12, just hours before her much-anticipated Verzuz battle with Keyshia Cole, singer Ashanti announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19. “Hey y’all I can’t believe I’m saying this but I tested positive for COVID-19,” the singer shared in an Instagram post. “I’m ok and not in any pain. I’m actually down to do the verzuz from my house…we’re trying to figure it all out!!!”

 

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While this was no doubt scary news for the singer, as many people online pointed out, Ashanti shouldn’t have been in that much disbelief at her recent diagnosis, considering the singer has been travelling *extensively* during the pandemic, frequently posting photos of herself boarding private jets with groups of people and most recently posting photos from a trip to Antigua in late October.

 

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While it’s entirely her prerogative to travel internationally throughout the pandemic, it does go against guidelines across Canada and the United States urging people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary. So travelling for shits and giggles—not to mention posting about your vacations so publicly—is pretty irresponsible.

Ashanti’s positive test result came the same weekend that the Kardashian family shared some similarly disappointing content on *their* social media channels, with members of the famous family like Kylie, Kendall, Kim, Kourtney and Scott Disick sharing videos of what looked to be a small party at one of their homes. (It’s worth mentioning that Disick has been spotted out on the town with several models and at parties over the past few weeks, meaning his bubble is…not a bubble.) The videos–which featured the family drinking and playing around with friends like singer Rosalía and Addison Rae—came just days after Khloé Kardashian tweeted that they would not be holding their annual Christmas party for the first time since 1978. (Of course, this announcement came after the family has held *several* big parties during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Kendall Jenner’s Halloween birthday party, which had a “no social media” rule—i.e. she knew it was reckless.)

And seriously? Can celebrities just stop being irresponsible? Or actually, maybe the issue is that fans need to stop idolizing—and expecting anything from—them. Because they’re bound to disappoint us.

The pandemic has made it clearer than ever that celebs are *super* out of touch

As much as they may try to say otherwise, the pandemic has shown us that celebrities are really nothing like us. Since much of the world went into quarantine in March of this year, stars have proven that they actually have no idea what’s going on with regular people, repeatedly highlighting their privilege and ignorance with ill-timed and out-of-touch responses to the pandemic and its effects on people who aren’t a member of the Hollywood elite. In March, actor Vanessa Hudgens kicked off the “celebs just not getting it” trend when she took to Instagram Stories to comment on the virus and her mere *days* of social distancing at home, telling her fans on video of the lockdown potentially going on until July of 2020: “Um, yeah. Till July sounds like a bunch of bullshit, I’m sorry. It’s a virus, I get it, I respect it, but at the same time…even if everybody gets it, yeah…people are gonna die, which is terrible but inevitable.”

As many people online pointed out at the time, the comments were incredibly inconsiderate and flippant, considering the number of people who had—even by that point—been affected by COVID-19, financially, physically and mentally. Because you know, people were and have continued to die due to the virus, not to mention lose their jobs and struggle emotionally. Hudgens’s biggest qualm with the virus at the time? The fact that Coachella 2020 was cancelled.

And just days later, several other celebs hopped on the disconnected from reality train (driven by Wonder Woman’s Gal Gadot), when they decided that what the world really needed at that moment in time was a celebrity sing-along to John Lennon’s “Imagine.” As you can imagine, the video—which featured stars like Gadot, Mark Ruffalo, Kristin Wiig and Zoë Kravitz singing along to the iconic song—didn’t go over well. Because no, the last thing anyone needed was a video of Hollywood celebrities earnestly crooning from their McMansions in Beverly Hills. What was *actually* needed, as FLARE pointed out shortly after the video went viral, were more resources, access to testing and ways to help people with their mental health during social distancing.

And finally, on December 6, rapper Cardi B rounded out a year of tone-deaf moments by tweeting out—in a year that has led to millions of job losses—her inner struggle over whether or not to purchase an $88,000 purse. (Yep, you read that correctly.)

Oh, not to mention the fact that Madonna called COVID-19 “the great equalizer,” which is a rich comment from someone who has been able to sit out the pandemic in their palatial home without fear of job insecurity. And on top of that, we have the Kardashian family and celebs like Rita Ora, who broke London’s COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in November to celebrate her 30th birthday. Out of touch is an understatement.

Many celebrities have made it clear that they don’t even care

And what’s even worse than the fact that celebrities are so out of touch? The fact that, frankly, they don’t really seem to care. Despite the fact that the Kardashian-Jenner family has faced backlash every time they’ve posted something exemplifying their outrageous privilege and ability to flagrantly eschew safety protocols during this pandemic (see: Kim’s 40th birthday party on a private island, Kendall’s huge Halloween birthday party and Kylie’s continuous partying throughout the pandemic), they continue to ignore the rules and blatantly post about it. Which is not only inconsiderate, considering the state of the world right now, but also incredibly hypocritical.

Because advising your fans to social distance from their families under the guise of being a role model for your fans to follow and then blatantly disregarding the very advice you’re extolling? Hypocritical to the max. But then to not only be hypocritical in private, but post about it so everyone knows you’re not following your own rules? Yeah, that’s pretty much a slap in the face because you’re saying that these rules don’t apply to or affect you because of your status.

Which to be fair, isn’t surprising

Let’s be honest, the fact that celebs aren’t following through on the guidelines they’re telling us to follow shouldn’t be that surprising. Because it’s not like all celebrities really want to be role models to their fans. And they’ve said as much. Many celebs have had a tenuous relationship with being perceived as role models and idols, with some speaking openly about the precarious role they inhabit as someone who’s inherently placed on a pedestal and expected to act a certain way, whether or not that’s the role they want. Rihanna has talked openly about *not* wanting to be a role model for her young fans. In 2011, the singer told British Vogue: ”See, people… they want me to be a role model just because of the life I lead. The things I say in my songs, they expect it of me, and [being a role model] became more of my job than I wanted it to be. But no, I just want to make music. That’s it.”

And it’s true. It’s an unfair fact that if you’re a celebrity in the public eye, you’re probably going to be held to an impossible standard of perfection. And while debates over whether or not this is the price of fame rage on, the fact remains that we’re in the middle of a global health crisis unlike anything the world has endured since, oh, 1918. All bets are off.

Whether or not you signed on to become a role model during Normal Times, when you’re a public figure during a time of deep uncertainty and fear, there is an inherent responsibility to model good and *safe* behaviour. Because people’s lives are on the line and fans *are* looking up to you, for both comfort and as an indication that their favourite celebs actually care—about the world and people, their fans among them, around them.

When celebrities advise people to do one thing and then post about doing the opposite it makes clear that A) said celebrities don’t really care, and B) the belief we have in celebs, and the power of our support behind them, is too much. The reason Kim Kardashian West and co. continue to flout the rules and act like they don’t apply to them is because they know that no matter *what* they do, fans will inevitably continue to support them financially. If their own actions were an *actual* threat to their livelihood, they’d stop. Don’t you think? Something to consider next time you hit “add to cart” on another lip kit of Skims set.

But then, what’s even the point of following them?

It’s a frustrating realization because it’s almost impossible to expect that, after creating a celebrity industrial complex, we’ll be able to—or even want to—tear it all down. It’s not as easy as cutting off our support of celebrities in a way that’ll effectively impact their bottom line (look at the temporary downfall and resurrection of Canada’s own Jessica Mulroney as an example of the limitations of cancel culture). But the actions of our problematic faves this year has made it more apparent than ever that something we can do is shift our perception of these famous people, and the expectations that we put on them. It’s something we can and probably should do.

Something else we should definitely do? Reframe who we perceive as idols worthy of our admiration. Throughout the pandemic, many people also realized that while we may get a lot from these celebrities by way of aspiration and entertainment (and there’s nothing wrong with that!), there are other people who deserve to be lauded for actual, tangible work. Like frontline workers. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that celebrities and star politicians aren’t the essential workers we may have once thought they were. It’s the people on the ground, in jobs that are often overlooked, who are vital.

We’re not saying “Let them eat cake” to celebrities or calling for the rich and famous to be overthrown. But perhaps, going into 2021, now’s a great time to think about why we admire the Hollywood elite. And to the Kardashian clan specifically: 2021’s also a great time to consider wearing a mask—and to stop throwing parties.

The post One Habit Worth Leaving in 2020? Idolizing Celebrities appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Get ready to continue keeping up with the Kardashians. On December 10, the famous reality TV family announced that they’ve signed a multi-year partnership with Hulu and Star, in which the Kardashian women will “create global content” to be streamed on the platforms. “Excited to announce our new multi year partnership with Hulu and Star and what’s to come in 2021,” matriarch Kris Jenner tweeted, shortly after the news was announced.

ICYMI, in September of this year, the Kardashian-Jenner family announced that their show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, would be ending after 20 seasons, with the show’s final season airing at the start of 2021.

 

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And if you thought that this announcement meant that would be the last we saw of the Kardashians before they went gently into the night, then you were *sorely* mistaken. Because, despite speculation that the crew would be off TV for good, with FLARE positing that Kris might become a housewife and Kim Kardashian West could be taking this time to run for some sort of political office, in true Kardashian form Kris and co. said, “Surprise, bitch!” to that, announcing that once again we’ll be forced to keep up with them—just now on a streaming service.

(Photo: Giphy)

And honestly, we shouldn’t be *that* surprised by the family’s recent HULU announcement. Here’s why.

The Kardashians are the queens of pivoting

If there’s one thing that the Kardashian family (and the women specifically) are good at, it’s spinning gold out of straw. Or more specifically, turning scandals against them into multimillion-dollar empires. Just look at the origins of the famous fam and their celebrity, which launched in 2007 after Kim Kardashian West’s infamous sex tape was released. Kim managed to take herself from Paris Hilton’s sidekick to a global superstar in a matter of years by using a sex tape initially leaked to embarrass her; and it’s a tactic the famous fam has been using ever since. In 2015, when the world was glued to the status of Kylie Jenner and her over-lined lips (she later admitted she’d had lip fillers), Kylie turned the comments about her into a now-contested *billion* dollar empire with Kylie Cosmetics.

Did you think Kourtney and her avocado smoothies were weird AF? Well now she has an entire lifestyle empire behind said smoothies to back her up *and* sell them to people around the world. Remember when people used to make fun of Khloé for being the “biggest” Kardashian despite the fact that she had an entirely healthy and average-sized body? Well eff you, because now Khloé has a fitness and jean empire predicated on feeling and looking your best (whatever that may mean to you). So it’s only natural that they would take criticisms about their long-running show and pivot it to work in their favour; cancelling their show but with a tiny pivot into *another* way for audiences to engage with them on TV.

And let’s be honest, they go where the money is

More than anything, the KarJenners are first and foremost businesswomen. So it would make sense that they would go where they money is. Which right now just so happens to be streaming services. If you haven’t noticed, services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu are pretty freakin’ big at the moment. Do you *even* watch TV in 2020 if you’re not buying into *at least* three subscription services a month (or, like me, are still poaching your parents’ accounts)? The answer is no.

So of course the KarJenners would leave Ryan Seacrest and his E! empire behind in order to get the real dollar dollar bills—by creating a streaming service empire. And they’re not alone. While there’s still limited details on just what exactly this multi-year deal with the Kardashian family looks like (are we going to see a health and wellness show from Kourtney in conjunction with Goop? Will Kris revive her short-lived talk show? Will the famous women be in charge of producing content behind the scenes?), it sounds pretty similar to deals that other famous celebs have penned with streaming services. In March 2018, former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama signed a deal with Netflix to produce films and TV series for the streamer under their production company, Higher Ground. And in September of this year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed a similar deal with Netflix to produce content under their own unnamed production company.

So there’s *clearly* something in the water; and like sharks to blood, we shouldn’t be surprised that Kris and co. are circling.

Plus, the world is still fascinated by them

Whether the Kardashian crew ends up in front of or behind the cameras at Hulu, the fact remains that people are—as much as they try to deny it—still obsessed with the famous family and their antics. Whether it’s debating the status of Khloé  and Tristan Thompson’s relationship, griping about Kourtney’s kind of odd relationship with TikTok teen Addison Rae, following along with Kim’s criminal justice advocacy, or just debating whether or not Stormi Webster is the best Kardashian (for the record, she is), we just can’t quit them!!

Would we *really* have been happy if the Kardashians were off our screens forever? As in forever, ever? That’s a rhetorical question.

The post Are We Really Surprised By the Kardashians’ New Hulu Deal? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Let’s be honest: 2020 has truly been the epitome of a dumpster fire. If there was a CTL-ALT-DLT button on this year, we would have been pressing it nonstop since March. But there has been at least one silver lining to this hectic time. With many people isolating at home, inevitably spending more time on their phones and looking for *some* form of entertainment, this was truly the year for some of the most hilarious, side-splitting and mind-numbing comedy (because we obviously needed it), much of it originating on a little old app called Instagram.

If 2020 gave us anything, it was a plethora of internet comedians that helped us laugh, made us cry (mostly happy, sometimes sad tears) and generally just helped us get through this shit storm of a year. From eerily on-point impressions of Australia’s national treasure Nicole Kidman (and her many shawls) and Shawn Mendes’s love for anything cheesy, to comedic (if not entirely horrifying) Instagram Live shows about race, the internet’s comedy stars have continued to give throughout quarantine. And we couldn’t be more thankful.

Here, we’ve rounded up some of the iconic internet comedians that have made 2020 that much more bearable.

Jordan Firstman

 

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I’m sorry but if you don’t know who Jordan Firstman is, you’re as oblivious as U.S. Vice President Mike Pence with a fly on his head (an actual skit Firstman has done). Firstman, a writer, producer and comedian, has been hustling for *years.* But in 2020, he really went viral with the launch of his “impressions” video series on Instagram. Ranging from doing an impression of the literal (and now infamous) fly that landed on Pence’s head during the first 2020 Vice Presidential debate to mimicking that one friend we all have who is “doing the work“—whatever “the work” is—Firstman’s impressions are creative, hilarious and, above all, so damn accurate.

 

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Also, if you haven’t seen Firstman’s Los Angeles home—which was featured in the November issue of Architectural Digest—do it. It’s honestly a treat for the eyes.

 

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Elsa Majimbo

 

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Elsa Majimbo is the epitome of “WFH Mood.” The Kenya-based comedian, who rose to social media fame during the pandemic, has become a visual representation of how we’re *all* feeling by this point in 2020—i.e. over it. Her videos often feature Majimbo in a close-up shot, rocking Matrix-style (or Kim Kardashian West-esque) teeny, tiny sunglasses, snacking away on chips as she throws out one liners about working in the pandemic (work? who’s she?), before unleashing her now signature and infectious laugh.

Is anyone looking for an IRL visual of me on my morning Zoom calls? Look no further than Majimbo.

 

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Benito Skinner

 

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If the Oxford English Dictionary is looking for their official phrase of 2020, we have a suggestion. No, not dumpster fire. “Gorgeous garments.” It’s a phrase uttered by comedian Benito Skinner (a.k.a. Benny Drama) during his Thanksgiving-themed Shawn Mendes impression video, in which Skinner as Mendes is complimented for his cowl necked sweater. Skinner’s caricature of the wholesome, earnest pop singer is honestly so accurate that you won’t be able to watch Mendes’s new Netflix documentary In Wonder without legitimately wondering if it’s actually Benny Drama in disguise. But Skinner’s talent goes beyond just Mendes. Whether he’s Jenni, the chaotic AF hairstylist of your nightmares who talks about taking a dump in between hacking at your hair, cosplaying as your astrological sign (truly messy), or competing with his boyfriend’s mom for her son’s affection, Skinner is going to make you cackle aloud.

 

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Good thing we’re at home with no one else to disturb.

Chloe Fineman

 

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If you’re a fan of Saturday Night Live, you’re probably familiar with Chloe Fineman. The comedian has been a star on the show for the past two seasons. But TBQH, after quarantine’s over, Lorne Michaels should consider giving her her own show. Fineman—who was isolating in Los Angeles at the height of the pandemic lockdown—took off on her personal account during quarantine, posting beyond funny impressions of celebrities on FaceTime. From Normal People’s Connell and Marianne doing their version of dirty talk (think, “wet arse pussy”) to Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban keeping the flame (and Kidman’s shawl collection) thriving, to Fineman’s impression of actor Drew Barrymore (which garnered Fineman a spot on Barrymore’s own talkshow and a lifelong fan in Barrymore herself), Fineman’s impressions are one of the only things getting us through this year. Besides lots of Netflix, of course.

Ziwe Fumudoh

 

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Comedian Ziwe Fumudoh, who is a writer on Desus & Mero, made a name for herself in front of the camera during lockdown, interviewing controversial stars like Alison Roman about race, live on Instagram. Her questions are typically *quite* pointed, with Fumudoh asking the aforementioned Roman—who found herself facing backlash after some choice comments about Chrissy Teigen and Marie Kondo in May 2020—questions like: “Why do you hate Asian women?,” “Would you consider yourself the Christopher Columbus of food influencing?,” and “How do you describe the difference between curry and stew?”

The answers to these questions are usually not great, but it’s pretty fun to watch privileged, powerful people flounder a little.

Caitlin Reilly

@itscaitlinhello##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##weddingvows ##DontLeaveMe♬ original sound – Caitlin Reilly

Remember that popular girl who probably bullied you in school, made your life a living nightmare and now sells makeup for an MLM whilst posting photos of the handmade self-love quote boards around her house? Yeah, Caitlin Reilly remembers her too. And she’s imitating her to perfection.

TikTok is brimming with talent, but Reilly *really* stood out in 2020 with her impressions of pretty much every annoying person who has ever existed in your life and on the internet, like the privileged mom at the nail salon, or at Starbucks, or who’s trying to start a dance party with her kids at home.

@itscaitlinhelloCheryl needs ASSISTANCE. ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##waspmom ##Snapshot♬ original sound – Caitlin Reilly

Boman Martinez-Reid

@bomanizerBeing ghosted but it’s reality TV ##realitytv ##halloween ##spooky♬ original sound – Boman Martinez-Reid

Another TikTok star, Canada’s own Boman Martinez-Reid (a.k.a. Bomanizer) has helped meld our quarantine obsession with comedy and reality TV into one guilty pleasure: his TikTok account. Inspired by his love for reality shows like The Real Housewives franchise, Martinez-Reid takes everyday situations, like fighting with your sister or being ghosted, and amps up the *drama*. His videos feature Martinez-Reid often literally melting from the disrespect shown towards him by his friends and family. And it’s the best viewing you can get off cable.

Here’s hoping that 2021 is just as funny.

The post The Internet Comedians That Got Us Through 2020 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Hollywood is known for iconic pairings. It has given us Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Murphy and Sarah Paulson, and now Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. The actors are powerhouses on their own—with both stars racking up *numerous* Academy Award nominations and wins, and wowing audiences with their stunning performances in acclaimed films like Lady Bird, Little Women and Brooklyn, in Ronan’s case, and Little Children, The Reader and a wee indie film called Titanic, for Winslet. If a film has either Ronan or Winslet in it, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be gold, which is why the duo’s pairing in the recently released Ammonite, is so freakin’ exciting—because it’s pretty much the March Madness match-up of Tinseltown.

And fans eager to see the two actors together on screen won’t be disappointed. Ammonite follows the story of Mary Anning (played by Winslet), a 19-century palaeontologist in Lyme Regis, England who’s known for several groundbreaking palaeontology discoveries, and her romantic relationship with the upper-class Charlotte Murchison (played by Ronan).

While Anning and Murchison were real people, and friends IRL, there’s no documentation of a romance between them. And while this queer reading of their friendship was deemed controversial by some who say it’s a historically inaccurate attempt to sensationalize Anning’s personal life, British writer and director Francis Lee told FLARE in a press junket that it made sense for the movie—and for Anning’s life. Anning never married and had no documented relationships with men, and for much of her life, Anning’s work was co-opted and appropriated by men. “To me, that didn’t feel like it would be a good relationship for her, with a man,” Lee says. “It felt that it wouldn’t be equal [and] that she would still be owned by a man. And I wanted somebody that felt like an equal.” He added: “Charlotte felt like an equal and elevating person for Mary to have a relationship with.” It’s important to note that Lee does acknowledge the film is a fictionalized reading of Murchison and Anning’s relationship. There’s no historical indication that the pair were more than close friends, but Lee has simply done what many filmmakers have done, imagining an inner life for someone who didn’t have a very public one.

Which isn’t to say that Lee’s decision was met entirely with backlash. In a March 2019 interview with The Telegraph, Lorraine Anning, a relative of Mary Anning, said of the decision: “To be honest, it doesn’t matter. As long as [the story is] well presented and tastefully done and in the spirit of Mary Anning, then I think it’s brilliant.”

Similar to the characters they portray on-screen, Ronan and Winslet are equals in many ways. Or at least, Ronan is well on her way to being considered as an equal to Winslet, if not the Kate Winslet of the millennial generation. So, what is it actually like when two acting powerhouses work together? It sounds pretty lovely. Ahead of the December 4 video on-demand release of Ammonite, FLARE chatted with Winslet and Ronan about their time working together, filming sex scenes (on Ronan’s birthday!) and those pesky career comparisons.

Kate Winslet knew she and Saoirse Ronan would get along

Despite the fact that both actresses seem like delightful people, there’s always the chance that two individuals who seem alike in so many ways (beautiful, successful, talented, you know the drill) may not actually get along. But that wasn’t the case for these two actors. “Saoirse and I [are] very lucky in that we had met each other before,” Winslet says. “We’d never worked together, but we had met each other on press junkets or even doing photo shoots together in the past. And we interviewed each other for the actor an actor series a few years ago when she was nominated for Brooklyn. And so we had met and it was clear that we had a similar sense of humour, which I think is really important.” Which means that when it came to actually teaming up on a film, Winslet says the pair knew they would mesh well.

Winslet says that when it came to taking on their roles as Anning and Murchison, the actors worked together to craft the characters to perfection, ironing out their respective emotional arcs and even writing down the choreographed moments in which their characters would smile at and touch each other. “Whether that was their hands or faces, physically how close they might be at times, we had to be quite sparse in the expression of that affection, because we needed it to remain as electric as possible in those very few moments where their hands do touch,” Winslet says.

Those subtle but intense moments in the film couldn’t be pulled off by just anyone, and the synchronicity between the two characters was emulated off-screen as well. “I think working together and being on the same page and having the same approach to the work was a real blessing,” Winslet says of working with Ronan. “It definitely helped us in terms of just being in each other’s corner and wanting to look out for one another.”

But Winslet was surprised by one thing

While Winslet knew the pair would get on swimmingly (Ronan is pretty much Hollywood’s current sweetheart, after all), one aspect of their relationship *did* surprise the Oscar winner—just how protective she’d feel of her younger co-star. “One thing that I hadn’t anticipated feeling was quite so protective of Saoirse,” Winslet says. “I felt like I wanted to look after her and make sure that she felt secure and safe.” This was especially pertinent when it came to shooting a few *select* scenes, including the films climactic scene in which Anning and Murhcison are finally able to be physically intimate in Anning’s room. “Because I have more experience shooting scenes of that nature than she has, I wanted her to feel happy and relaxed,” she continues. What exactly did that kind of care look like to Winslet? Probably unlike what you may think…

“We filmed that scene on her 25th birthday,” Winslet says. “I actually asked them to reschedule the scene and they pulled it days forward so that it would fall on her 25th birthday,” she says. But, it was for a super sweet reason. “I thought, ‘Hey, it’s a memory,’ you know? I just knew that there’d be a sense of  fun and celebration around that day for her.” (Ronan, for her part, didn’t find out about this scheduling request until the pair were on the press junket for the film together. “It was the greatest birthday present I could have asked for,” she told FLARE. “I had a wonderful time and I think because it was my birthday, it also gave us the excuse to drink on the job and have a couple of glasses of Prosecco before we got into it.”) Which, TBQH, sounds like an *ideal* day.

Ronan doesn’t think she and Winslet can be compared—at least not entirely

As the younger ingenue compared to Winslet’s established greatness, Ronan is in a kind of precarious position. Ronan is a unique and talented actor in her own right, choosing nuanced and interesting films that have garnered her Academy Award nominations (and have given us iconic scenes like the Timothée Chalamet hair ruffle in Little Women), and playing characters we genuinely want to root for (even when they’re kind of bratty, CC Lady Bird). But because of her talent, Ronan is inevitably compared to other phenomenal actors like Winslet, who, similar to Ronan, started out acting young and has chosen acclaimed and diverse projects throughout her career. Essentially, they’re both great actors—so they’re compared because of it. (Also, there has to be *something* to the fact that we tend to typically compare only female actors to one another. There’s no mention of Adam Driver being the next Christopher Walken. There’s just Adam Driver. Hint: it’s the patriarchy). While Ronan understands the comparison, and says that the two are similar in the way they approach their work, “I’d like to think that every actor or actress is sort of different in their own way and brings something sort of specific to a role,” she says. “And that’s why you watch them.”

Talking about Winslet, Ronan says that as both a person and a performer, she’s “incredibly open and accessible.”

“And you see that in the characters that she plays; there’s nothing hidden,” she continues. “What I have always really loved about our work, [is] that she has this open vulnerability and real colour to what she does.” And Ronan says that she just doesn’t compare their work. “I’ll never watch my work in the same way as someone else would. I’m kind of too involved in it.”

Which isn’t to say that Ronan is unhappy with being perceived as similar to her co-star (this is Kate Winslet of Titanic fame, after all!). “In no way would I say, ‘Oh Kate and I are different,'” she explains. “I hope I’m similar to Kate and I really respect the road she’s taken in her own career and the kind of work that she’s done, so it’s lovely to be compared to her at all.”

But Ronan won’t scoff at the title of millennial Kate and Leo

Another reason the two actors are often compared is because of their close working relationships with two *very* popular leading men of their generations. Winslet with OG heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ronan with everyone’s favourite internet boyfriend, the aforementioned Timothée Chalamet. Were you even a child of the early 1990s if you *didn’t* believe, hope, wish and pray that Winslet and her BFF DiCaprio were somehow together, or at least madly in love with each other but keeping it on the down-low while simultaneously hoping DiCaprio was single so that he could date you? The answer is no.

And like Winslet and DiCaprio, who’ve starred in major films like Titanic and Revolutionary Road together, remaining friends as they rose from relative obscurity to infamy, Ronan and Chalamet have a similarly lovely creative and personal relationship. With both actors following the trajectory of Winslet and DiCaprio as they found fame together and now head into their own categories as superstar and heartthrob. (Plus, their chemistry is start-a-forest-fire-from-damp-kindling electric.) So, what does Ronan think of the comparison of she and Timmy as the millennial Kate and Leo?

“A few people have said this to Timmy and I,  that we’re the new Kate and Leo, and we will gladly take that torch and run with it for as long as we’re allowed,” she says with a laugh. “I think Kate and Leonardo obviously have an amazing work relationship and have played completely different characters with one another. And I hope that Timothée and I will continue to work together.”

In the same way that Ronan says she feels Winslet and DiCaprio probably push each other artistically, so do she and her own Leo. “We both really push each other,” she says of working with Chalamet. “So it’s great to be compared to them.”

That said, Ronan emphasizes that there’s one *major* difference between her and Winslet. Or at least between her and one of Winslet’s most infamous roles. “I would say if we were in the ocean and I was on a door, I would let Timothée come on to the door and I would not allow him to sink to the bottom of the ocean like Kate did,” Ronan says, referencing that famous Titanic scene. “The only difference I would say is that I’m less selfish than Rose was.” Consider the debate closed.

The post Saoirse Ronan Knows She’s Considered the Millennial Kate Winslet appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Across Canada, farmers have been gathering outside consulates in cities like Toronto and Vancouver in support of their counterparts in India, who have been protesting a series of agricultural laws implemented by the Indian government in September of this year. The marches in India, from the Punjab region of the country towards New Delhi, began in late November and have escalated into violent clashes between police and farmers, making international headlines that inspired peaceful protests here in Canada with calls for the Canadian government to step in. But what exactly are the Indian farmers protesting and how does it affect Canadians?

Here, everything you need to know about the ongoing protests in India, and why we should all be paying attention.

Why are farmers in India protesting?

On a micro level, these protests are about agricultural legislation. On September 20, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government passed two agriculture bills aimed at reforming the country’s stressed farming sector.

According to BBC, the two bills passed loosen rules around the sale, pricing and storage of farm produce. Specifically, farmers will be allowed to sell their produce at a market price directly to private buyers (for example: agricultural businesses, supermarket chains and online grocers). In turn, these private businesses can hoard essential commodities for future sales.

Typically, farmers have sold their wares to government-controlled wholesale markets; these markets are run by committees comprised of other farmers who act as middlemen for brokering sales and storage. The benefit of this system, also known as the “mandis system,” is it allows farmers to sell the majority of their produce at assured prices. But with the passing of this new legislation, “the Modi government is effectively getting rid of that system,” says Jaskaran Sandhu, director of administration at the World Sikh Organization. And it’s a problem for small, independent farmers, Sandhu says, which just so happens to be the *majority* of farmers in India. “The government is also going to be removing what’s known as MSP, so the minimum set price,” he says, “which would do away with a  kind of  guaranteed return on crop; for pretty much all farmers that allows them to have some predictability in their income stream so that they can plan for the next year.” According to BBC, many farmers are nervous that this is a step towards abolishing the Mandi system altogether, which would mean the end of wholesale markets and assured prices, leaving them with no back up option; for example, if they’re not happy with the price offered by a private buyer, they can’t use the Mandi as an alternative option or bargaining tool.

But these protests aren’t *just* about the new legislation itself, but rather, about the way the legislation was implemented. “First and foremost, [the farmers] weren’t consulted properly and the Indian government bypassed the normal hearings that would be done on something like this in order to pass it through quickly,” Sandhu says. Which is true. The bill was passed in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which may have contributed to its acceleration, but which meant that the typical processes of consulting with farmers wasn’t accessible. In September, when the bill was passed, Modi and his government were heavily criticized by even members of their own party for the speed with which the bills were passed.

The big issue, Sandhu explains, is that this isn’t the first time the current government has passed a bill without proper consultation. In November 2016, Prime Minister Modi decided overnight to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1000 as legal tender, leaving citizens in a lurch, and in August 2019, the government stripped the state of Kashmir of its autonomous status in a controversial and highly contested move.

“This was actually a pattern from the Modi government of a kind of authoritarian maneuvering,” Sandhu says of the latest agricultural legislation. “So there’s been a repeated pattern from the Modi government to take authoritarian measures and bypass democratic procedure that would be normal in a parliamentary democracy.”

Why would the government do that?

So, if it’s so controversial, why exactly would the government implement this new legislation? “In the government’s eyes, this is modernizing farming and bringing reform into the farming sector in India,” Sandhu says. In fact, Prime Minister Modi called the decision a “watershed moment,” with the government projecting that support plans in the agriculture sector will double farmers’ income by 2022. But that doesn’t mean that this is necessarily the way to go about it.

“I want to be clear, farmers have called for reform  for decades,” he emphasizes. “There’s [just] a stark disagreement on what that reform looks like.” As opposed to the corporate model Modi’s government has implemented, Sandhu says farmers want a more holistic approach to farming reform. It’s something farmers *have* been asking for, for awhile now. In fact, between December 2004 and October 2006, the Swaminathan Commission—a commission headed by agricultural scientists to address issues in farming—submitted five reports identifying causes of farm distress and suggesting ways in which the government could support farmers. According to India Today, since 2006, farmers have been calling for these suggestions to be implemented, among them the statement that “farmers [need] to have assured access and control over basic resources including land, water, bio-resources, credit and insurance, technology and knowledge management, and markets.”

The Swaminathan reports have gone largely unacknowledged by the government. ”It’s kind of  a re-imagining of how to support folks on the ground,” Sandhu says of what farmers need. “This corporate privatization model is not what they asked for.”

So why exactly does farming need reform? For a lot of reasons. ”There’s issues with water tables in India, especially within the Punjab region, depleting. There’s been environmental impacts as a result of the green revolution back in the sixties, when modern pesticides were introduced that have caused irreparable damage to ecosystems and lands,” Sandhu says. In addition, due in part to diminishing economic clout, farmers in India are currently facing a suicide epidemic. According to Al Jazeera, more than half of the country’s farmers are in debt, with India’s National Crime Records Bureau reporting at least 20,638  farmer deaths by suicide in 2018 and 2019.

How does this affect farmers?

The major issue farmers have with the new legislation is the fear that it’ll push out the Mandi system entirely, forcing them to only work with—and at a disadvantage to—private corporations. If these corporations deal with farmers directly—in what’s called contract farming, dictating produce prices—”a lot of farmers feel like it’s an asymmetrical negotiation with corporations who will then box them out or force them into more difficult situations where the corporation is going to turn around and take advantage of them,” Sandhu says, “whether it’s buying up land, whether it’s forcing up prices on things and making it unaffordable for farmers;  they’re going to be at the whims of private interest versus public interests.”

It’s also important to note that the agricultural sector employs 80% of working women in India; with 48% of that number engaged as self-employed farmers, per 2018 stats from Oxfam India. This means that women and their livelihoods are disproportionately impacted by these new bills.

What has the response been from the Indian government?

So far, the response has been not so great. When farmers initially started marching towards New Delhi on November 26, they were met with barricades along the route, with the government going as far destroying parts of the national highway and digging trenches at certain points to block their path. For Canadians: “That’s the equivalent of the federal government in Ottawa going to the 401 [highway] and essentially bulldozing sections of it,” Sandhu says. In addition, police have released tear gas and used water cannons, as well as physical brutality against protestors. “There’s images of police attacking and protesters with sticks, beating them up; and [just] indiscriminate violence from the state,” Sandhu says.

And what does Canada have to do with this?

While Sikh Canadians may make up just over 1% of Canada’s overall population, they have strong ties to their communities and have a visible presence in Canadian culture, society and business. And many Punjabi Canadians still have family back home, making their plight a personal one, and therefore making the protests in solidarity across Canada unsurprising. “Those are our family and friends; they’re our mothers, our fathers, our elder brothers and sisters,” Sandhu says. “So there’s a deep, personal connection that we’re marching in solidarity here with.”

“A lot of [Canadians] are connecting through India and even have land there,” says Suka Kahlon, a B.C. berry farmer whose family has been in the industry since the 1980s. “[These protests] are really important, as far as the political situation back home, and it’s important that the agriculture community in the Punjab and the rest of India does well and continues to do well.”

And having Canadians protest *is* helpful, because it puts pressure on the  Indian government and signals to Canadian politicians that this is an issue that requires international scrutiny. For his part, in early December Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke out about the protests and in support of the farmers, stating: ”We believe in the importance of dialogue and that’s why we’ve reached out through multiple means directly to the Indian authorities to highlight our concerns.”

“The protestors [in India] are literally risking their lives by doing this, and without international scrutiny, there is nothing stopping India from resorting to statewide violence,” Sandhu says. “By protesting at Indian consulates around the world, including in Canada and getting politicians and Prime Minister Trudeau to speak out on it, India has to ensure that the people protesting are respected and that a state security crackdown doesn’t happen.”

So, what happens next?

The government has to listen. “This specific issue can be solved,” Sandhu says. “I think that’s why they protest, because they think there’s a solution here.” And the solution is re-appealing the implemented legislation. “The farmer unions have been pretty steadfast in that there’s no compromise on this issue. So the only reality here is that the government, take these suggestions and it goes back to the drawing board on what reform looks like.”

Kahlon agrees. If the farmers do win this dispute, he says, it’ll be a symbolic win, but important, as hopefully indicative that the government can’t push *anyone* around, and has to listen to the country’s citizens and their needs. “If the government appeals those law, it’ll only go back to the status quo, and that wasn’t a perfect situation,” he says of farming reform. “What’s more significant would be the BJP [government party] having to pull back and sit back and say, ‘Oh, the people have come together and we’re willing to listen and we can’t just push our agenda forward.’ I think those are the real issues behind the headlines.”

And until then, the farmers will keep protesting. CTV News reports that some protestors have stocked up on six month’s worth of food supplies, should it come to that. “For the Sikh faith, you’re supposed to stand up against all forms of oppression, irrespective of whether it actually impacts your community or not,” Sandhu says. “So the Sikh psyche is one designed for fighting for rights, human rights, decency and respect.”

FLARE has reached out to the office of Prime Minister Modi. This story will be updated with any response.

The post What’s Going on With Indian Farmers and Why Should We Be Paying Attention? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

If you’re a patron of a little-known app called TikTok, then it’s inevitable that you’ve come across James Jones (AKA @notoriouscree), because the Indigenous Canadian content creator is pretty hard to miss. Since January of this year, Jones has built a large following on the social media video app for his educational and straight-up entertaining videos about Indigenous culture. Most often, the videos include Jones partaking in a popular TikTok trend—take, for instance, the “Blinding Lights” challenge—but with a twist.

@notoriouscreeTried this indigenous style. ##nativeamerican ##FashionEdit♬ #HotSeat – Mia Moore

Instead of the usual TikTok attire of sweatshirts, slides and athletic shorts, Jones is typically decked out in his traditional regalia; a mesmerizing swath of textures and colours that are impossible to take your eyes from. And when he’s not joining in on viral trends, the content creator is using the über popular app to educate his almost 2 million followers on Indigenous culture and customs, from how he stores his regalia to the reason that some people—like Jones himself—choose to wear their hair in braids.

@notoriouscreeBraid teachings ##hair ##indigenous ##nativetiktok ##braids ##hairstyle ##longhair ##nativepride @the_land♬ dear katara – L.Dre

In October, Jones joined TikTok Canada’s inaugural ad campaign, “It Starts on TikTok,” celebrating diversity, stories and trends that are born and celebrated on the viral app. FLARE chatted with the Edmonton-based star about his rise to fame, the tolls of educating people on social media, and whether or not there are limits to what he’ll share online. (Spoiler alert: There definitely are.)

His fame was kind of an accident

Like many now-famous content creators, Jones didn’t really log on to TikTok thinking that anything much would come of it. When he first created an account in January of this year, just before the beginning of the pandemic, the content creator and traditional hoop dance artist felt that at 34 years old, he might *actually* have been too old for the app. “I was kind of reluctant to get on TikTok for a while, because [the app] kind of had [the air of], ‘Oh, it’s for younger people,'” Jones tells FLARE. But, after seeing funny Indigenous humour videos on other social media sites, Jones was inspired to do the same on the burgeoning platform. “I like funny content and I think I’m kind of a funny guy,” he says with a laugh, “so I just wanted to make funny TikTok videos and use TikTok as my own comedy social platform.”

He started by posted a handful of comedic videos but, unfortunately, they didn’t do as well as he’d hoped. So, he tried another strategy—taking part in the “Blinding Lights” challenge in April; a viral dance to The Weeknd’s hit song.

“I filmed the challenge [after] seeing it everywhere,” Jones says. “It was so positive.” Initially, he filmed the video in his everyday street clothes; but something felt off. “I watched it and I was just about to post [the video],” he says, ” and I was like, ‘this is kind of boring, I should try this with my regalia.’ So I did it in my regalia. And then it just blew up and went viral.”

@notoriouscreeHad to try this with hoop ##native ##nativeamerican ##tigerking ##nativetiktok ##blindinglights ##blindinglightschallenge ##foryou ##foryoupage ##fyp ##dance♬ Blinding Lights – MACDADDYZ

The video, which has over 300,000 likes, put Jones on the map, and it encouraged him to create more content around his culture. Since then, he’s expanded his content, educating his ever-growing number of followers on Indigenous culture and traditions, from sharing Native American hoop dances to joking about what it’s like to meet his Indigenous partner’s father, as well as spreading awareness of important issues like the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

@notoriouscreesince this song is trending, I’m hoping it will bring more awareness to this issue. ##nativeamerican ##mmiw ##vibewithme ##foryoupage ##fyp♬ If The World Was Ending – JP Saxe ft. Julia Michaels

Jones’s real “pinch me” moment came a few months into his time on the popular app, when he hit 1 million followers, which to him still seems unreal. “When I passed the 1 million followers mark, it just really got me,” he says. “[I thought] ‘this is crazy that I’m now sharing my story with millions of people.'”

Now, working with TikTok Canada, Jones can only expect that number to grow. “It’s been so awesome,” he says of the collaboration on the campaign. “They’re so supportive and they’re just such a great team of really good people to work with; I feel like they really want all of their creators to succeed.”

But it can take a toll

While sharing his culture with his followers is important work, that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily always easy for Jones. Educating masses of people can—and inevitably does—take its toll. While he wouldn’t say that the experience is overwhelming, in may ways he says he can feel beholden to only posting a certain type of content on his account, which draws him further away from the lighter comedy videos he’d started out posting. And while Jones still does throw in some of his original comedic videos to the mix when he wants to, it isn’t without some serious forethought. “Sometimes I just want to make a funny video or I want to make chill, regalia-free, non-educational content,” he says. “But then you think, ‘I should do something more in tune with my page and my personality.’

“The part that’s hard sometimes is that everybody expects you to educate them,” he continues, “so it’s a lot of responsibility.” And it can be especially taxing when you’re facing negative comments and hate online, a reality that many content creators, especially those who are BIPOC, know all too well when living their lives out online. Because, you know, the internet can be total trash a lot of the time.

“[There’s] lots of negative [comments],” Jones says. “I think honestly it just kind of comes with the territory.” He describes how he’s personally faced racism on his account, but acknowledges that it’s still outweighed by positivity. And while he 100% shouldn’t have to look on the bright side (because racist, hateful trolls should just be kicked off the internet for good, thanks!), he does. “You’re always going to have some bad, even when you’re posting positive content,” he continues. “I try to focus on the positive people; the people who come and say nice things and ask really good questions. I focus on them instead of focusing on the one or two negative troll accounts.”

There’s a limit to what Jones will share online

Positive thinking aside, Jones is protective when it comes to sharing his entire life—or his culture–with his followers. While the creator is all for spreading knowledge about particular dances and the meaning and beauty of his regalia, there are some areas of Indigenous culture he won’t broach. “I don’t share anything too personal,” he says. “I don’t share spiritual stuff,  I keep [that] to myself.”

This means Jones refrains from any videos about smudging and ceremonies. “I think that stuff should be kept private,” he continues. “I try to share things that are kind of known already a little bit, things that other Natives would know but maybe not everybody else.”

Ultimately, he just hopes his followers learn something

Jones says that he doesn’t necessarily create his content for one particular audience, and he has varying demographics that include both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people—he hopes that his account has something for everyone. For non-Indigenous followers, he says, “I just hope that they learn something and it inspires them to want to learn more and inspires them to go and support more creators.”

Because, unfortunately, the sad truth is that a large portion of settler Canadians *don’t* know much about Indigenous culture and people; whether it’s due to the lack of Indigenous history taught in Canadian schools or a purposeful naïveté. And if the recent movements in Nova Scotia and on Wet’suwet’en Territory have shown anything, it’s that Canada has a long way to go when it comes to our treatment of Indigenous people in our country. “People just don’t know a lot about Indigenous peoples here in Canada, even on their own territory,” Jones says. Despite the fact that his hometown of Edmonton is the pow wow capital of the world, “[a lot of people in Edmonton] have never seen a pow wow before.”

“And then I think just, you know, there hasn’t been a very big Native American presence on social media platforms for a very long time. So I think people are finally getting exposed. It’s a beautiful culture, my culture’s a beautiful culture. And people are just very engaged because they just generally don’t know anything. They’re like, ‘Whoa, I didn’t know this.’ You know what I mean?”

And as for Indigenous people that follow him, he says: “I just hope to inspire some of the people who might not have grown up around their culture. Maybe that inspired them to go learn more and be proud of who they are.”

Looking to the future, Jones says he’d like to explore the business side of TikTok and content creation, looking at additions like merchandise (100% would buy); but mainly, he just wants to keep doing what he’s doing. “Honestly, I just want to keep doing my thing. I just want to keep sharing, keep raising the bar, keep expressing myself online,” he says. “That’s a good way for me to express myself. It’s a good way for me to also learn as well. I just want to keep on the path I’m going and I feel like it’s a fun one to be on.”

The post TikTok’s Notorious Cree Is Here to Teach You a Thing or Two appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

On December 1, Oscar-nominated actor Elliot Page announced that they are transgender. In a beautiful post to their social media accounts, the Canadian actor known for their star turns in Juno and The Umbrella Academy opened up to fans, writing: “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot. I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.” Page went on thank those in the trans community who came before them, sharing their joy but also fear over reactions to their news. “My joy is real but it is also fragile. The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared,” the actor wrote. “To be clear, I am not trying to dampen a moment that is joyous and one that I celebrate, but I want to address the full picture. The statistics are staggering. The discrimination towards trans people is rife, insidious and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences. In 2020 alone it has been reported that at least 40 transgender people have been murdered, the majority of which were Black and Latinx women.”

 

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Page concluded their post by calling out lawmakers who have denied and criminalized trans healthcare, before vowing that their work with and for the trans community is far from over. “To all the trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better,” they wrote.

It was a powerful statement and an even more powerful moment for both the actor and the LGBTQ community. And it was, obviously, also a newsworthy one. Within minutes of Page’s post appearing on Instagram, news outlets across the world began reporting on their announcement; and while many (thankfully) used the actor’s real name, Elliot, a few outlets and people on social media continued to refer to the actor by their former name (also known as their deadname), and that’s not OK. Here’s why.

What exactly *is* deadnaming?

For those who may be unfamiliar with the term, “deadnaming” refers to the use—either intentional or unintentional—of a transgender person’s name from before they transitioned. According to Healthline, deadnaming can also be referred to as using an individual’s “birth name” or “given name.”

“[Often] a trans individual drops a former name that doesn’t represent the ethos of who they are,” explains Jade Peek, director of advocacy and community care at Kind Space, an organization that offers programs and support to LGBTQ members in the Ottawa region. “Deadnaming is referencing, highlighting, focusing on or acknowledging a name that someone has clearly disregarded.”

Deadnaming can happen in many different ways and in many different instances, whether it’s someone referring to a trans person by their birth name in an in-person conversation, or even when individuals are confronted by their former name on outdated government documents like driver’s licenses and birth certificates, or bank accounts.

In some instances, as in Elliot Page’s case, the issue is complicated by the fact that they were in the public eye prior to their transition and became well known by their previous name. Following their transition, people may be tempted to refer to them by their former name in order to identify them in context of their previous work. But, as many have pointed out online, even saying “the actor formerly known as…” is a form of deadnaming, and there are other ways of identifying a person, such as referencing the titles of their former work, rather than using their deadname.

https://twitter.com/masondeaver/status/1333832485084536839

“There’s varying degrees of deadnaming, and there’s varying degrees of the effect of deadnaming, depending on the trans individual and their outlook,” Peek says. But regardless of how it is experienced, any instance of deadnaming has the same effect: It invalidates a trans person’s identity and their experience, and it can be incredibly triggering.

Why is deadnaming so harmful?

While some may feel inclined to write it off as just a slip of the tongue, the truth is that deadnaming a trans person—intentionally or not—can be incredibly harmful for many reasons, including its toll on an individual’s mental health and the fact that it completely discredits the work and challenges they’ve already faced to come out as their authentic selves. “The harm caused from [continuing to use a name someone has discarded] is that it already took that individual lots of courage, work and energy in order to navigate their social experiences, their professional experiences, all different avenues of their life, in order to make it safe enough so that they can come out,” Peek says. “And so when we deadname, we completely destroy the systems and mechanisms that those individuals who have come out have built in order to create an infrastructure of safety.”

For Jacq Hixson-Vulpe, senior consultant, special projects at The 519 in Toronto, using a deadname or incorrect pronoun isn’t only transphobic, but a form of violence. “It insists that trans people aren’t who we say we are. It is a way of policing trans communities and reminding us that we don’t even get the space to self-determine our own identities,” they say. “It is not just neutral information about a name that someone used to go by, it is a way of enacting violence on trans people and our identities.”

To their point, deadnaming an individual has the potential to out someone, which can ultimately lead to harassment, violence and even death. In both Canada and the United States, the number of hate crimes against transgender people increased in 2019. And this violence affects all trans people, including celebrities. On November 30, Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox took to Instagram to share that she and a friend had been physically attacked while walking in a park in Los Angeles.

 

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A post shared by laverne cox (@lavernecox)

This is a serious concern that Peek knows all too well. She says that, because of these fears, when she came out nine years ago she initially only did so to a certain, trusted group of people. “And then I only [really] came out when I started post-secondary education, because I didn’t know anyone at my university and institution,” she says. “If someone had deadnamed me while I was in school, that would have completely created a safety issue for me and opened up a can of worms that I was not willing to go through.”

And no one should discount the mental toll of having your identity constantly questioned and demeaned. “People should not be questioned and should not be prodded for being who they are,” Peek continues. “We should celebrate and normalize people’s chosen names as those dead names are no longer part of who they are.

“The dead name is dead,” she says matter of factly, “and there’s a reason why.”

Does deadnaming negatively affect all trans people? 

How someone is affected by the use of their deadname isn’t a blanket reaction, because (and it should go without saying) every trans person, their experiences and their social dynamics are unique. Importantly, we should let the individual dictate how they want their new and old names to be used, and by whom. “Some individuals may choose to allow their deadname to be used by family members or people that have been in their lives [and] that they may want to [facilitate] an easier transition with,” Peek explains.

These decisions about how and when, if ever, to allow the use of a deadname is dependant on a lot of factors, Peek explains. “The difference is in terms of [someone’s] patience and in terms of someone’s lived experience and where they’re at,” she says. “It also depends on the way in which names are viewed in gender, how that person views their gender, their former name or their relationship to it. ” There’s multiplicity and fluidity of gender identity with the trans community, so it follows that there are many different ways to approach names as they relate to gender. Again, this is a personal thing and should be respected as such.

While this may seem confusing to some, it doesn’t need to be, because the solution is quite easy: Unless you’re explicitly told otherwise by the person whose name you’re using: “ss a rule, deadnaming shouldn’t be a practice that anyone participates in,” Peek says.

What should you do if you accidentally deadname someone?

So what happens if you do find yourself having accidentally called someone by the wrong name? First of all: Take ownership and apologize. And then, importantly, don’t make it all about you. While how you respond largely depends on your relationship with the person, Hixon-Vulpe says the best practice is: “to correct yourself quickly, apologize and move on. Stopping and taking too much time apologizing at length and explaining yourself is often more about the you and how you feel, and not about the person who has been deadnamed. If you are corrected, say thank you, make the correction and move on.” In short: Don’t make it more painful for the person you’ve offended by dwelling on it and refocusing it on you.

And also, give yourself a little grace. Peek says that most people will understand that getting used to a new name takes a bit of time. The main thing to consider is intentionality and whether or not you’re messing up on purpose, even if it’s subconscious. “You may have known somebody for a long time, [so] you need to be patient with yourself,” Peek says—but, you also need to be patient with the fact that your friend, family member or acquaintance might get frustrated at you for messing up—and that’s totally within their right.

“Even if the intention is not to be harmful and you messed up, the impact of that may actually ruin that person’s day, or may make that person feel really anxious,” Peek says. Remember that it might not have even been the first time they were deadnamed that day—a frustrating and upsetting experience for sure. “If the person is upset, recognize that that’s probably a very natural response and don’t take it personally.”

And also acknowledge that not every trans person will have—and has to have—the same level of patience. “I was patient with my parents for five years,” Peek says. “I gave them five years and now they’re really good at it, but I decided to make that for them and give them the space, but not everybody has that time or is in a place in their lives where they can be that patient.”

And, ultimately, Hixson-Vulpe says the most important thing is to learn from your mistake and do better: ”Be intentional and practice. The best apology is changed behaviour.”

How do I talk to my family and friends about deadnaming?

When it comes to talking about deadnaming and its effects with your friends and family—whether it’s about your own name, or just in general—there’s one big tip: “[Be] a pain in the bum,” Peek advises about engaging with and correcting people who are deadnaming someone. Especially if they’re doing so repeatedly. “It’s one thing to be causing unintentional harm, but once someone recognizes they’re making a mistake, then after the third or fourth time [and if they’re] starting to get defensive, it might be very well that they’re transphobic,” Peek says. “And so you, as an individual need to be able to recognize that. If they’re arguing about the way in which trans people wish to be respected or treated or have their name, then that person is sending up some red flags.” By correcting people—both in public and in private—you’re helping to normalize that person’s name and pronouns.

Everything else aside, deadnaming is simply embarrassing. Why would anyone want to call someone by an incorrect name? We should be willing to learn and accept trans people’s real names the way we would anyone else we’ve just met, something Peek emphasizes. “We’re willing to meet people for the first time and learn people’s names for the first time in settings like meetings. Or when some people get married and their name gets changed. Just practice and get to know that person, because they’re being intimate with you, they’re telling you who they really are. And that’s a beautiful thing.”

The post What Is Deadnaming and Why Is It Harmful? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

When it comes to true crime, they say the first suspect is often the husband. And it turns out that in the case of Nicole Kidman’s character Grace Fraser in HBO’s popular thriller The Undoing, the cliché was right. The November 29 finale confirmed what the show was telling us all along (*Extreme Spoiler Alert*):

Grace’s husband Jonathan (played to creepy and cringe-inducing perfection by Hugh Grant) did in fact murder his mistress Elena Alves in cold blood.

The revelation came after a season of incredible acting, amazing coats and ample twists and turns in which not one character was safe from suspicion (and had everyone, including celebrities like Travis Scott, Hailey Bieber and Issa Rae, commenting and speculating about who the murderer was).

And, while the final question of who killed Elena Alves was cleared up in the breathtaking season finale, viewers were left with many burning questions. Like, where did Grace get her now-iconic coats? Will there be a second season of The Undoing? And what in the heck happened to sweet bébé angel Miguel?! Let’s dive in.

Where does Grace get her coats?

Nicole Kidman may have started out as the star of The Undoing, but by the end of the six-episode season it was crystal clear that the true star of the show was the wardrobe—specifically Grace’s majestic coat collection. The floor-sweeping, jewel-toned garments (always with a tie belt, obvi) are a staple in Grace’s Upper East Side wardrobe, making her stand out in a seas of grey and black-wearing New Yorkers as she runs around the city figuring out whether to exonerate or implicate her philandering hubby. How *anyone* who’s not Elton John can rock a peridot green, alligator-print coat with a Little Red Riding-style hood is beyond me, but for some reason it works on Kidman. And the decision to have Grace don these elaborate coats was an intentional one. In an October 22 interview with FLARE, Kidman said that the wardrobe direction was important to director Susanna Bier in the storytelling. “The coats are like a comfort,” Kidman told FLARE. “They’re like a protection and a shield; the green coat is a very particular choice by Susanna. She had the coat made and she wanted that almost fairytale quality to it. That then turns into a nightmare.”

And people on the internet are obsessed. Since the first moment Grace sashayed onto our screens, everyone wanted to know where said coats were from, and wanted to find their own dupes, especially when it came to the aforementioned green coat, a deep red belted topper and the embroidered cape that Grace wears to the charity auction in episode one.

And luckily, thanks to Town and Country magazine, we now know the answer. And sorry folks, but you won’t like it. “I made those three pieces for the character of Grace Fraser. They are now only available in the storage area of the HBO archive,” costume designer Signe Sejilund told the magazine. So while we may not be able to get our hands on the *exact* coats she rocked throughout the show, true fans can take some sartorial cues from the spurned wife—i.e. rich tones, supple fabrics and always a belted waist—and translate it into their own outerwear.

How do you clean a sledgehammer in a dishwasher?

One of our other big questions after the finale? How in the heck do you even wash a sledgehammer in a dishwasher? In the fifth episode of the season, viewers found out alongside Grace that her son Henry had the murder weapon stashed away in his violin case. In the finale, the show revealed just what had happened, detailing how Henry found the tool hiding in an outdoor fireplace at the family’s beach home, running it through the dishwasher twice to clean off any evidence in the hopes of helping his father before tucking it away.

And while it’s understandable that Henry would want to help his dad (he is just a young boy, after all), we just don’t buy that he could discreetly run it through the home dishwasher not once, but twice, unnoticed. First of all, it’s a *massive* hammer. How do you even fit that in the dishwasher rack? Second of all, does Henry even know how to work a dishwasher? He’s a privileged tween who only seems interested in practicing the violin and getting attention from his dad. And finally, when would Henry have even had time to run said sledgehammer through two hot washes without his mom knowing? Grace was out of it in the first few episodes, but are we to believe that she was *so* out of it that she didn’t hear the churning and high-pitched whirring of the dishwasher? We don’t buy it!

How did Grace keep her nails so chic while her life was crumbling? 

Another mystery? Just how Grace managed to find the time and privacy to keep her perfectly manicured digits so well-maintained during her husband’s murder trial. Throughout the season, Grace always had an on-point mani, typically in a crisp black or red dark hue; and we get it, self-care is important. But for a woman in a *very* high-stress situation with a lot of media scrutiny around her, it’s safe to assume that A) those nail beds would be nibbled down from anxiety biting, and B) Grace probably wouldn’t have the time or inclination to battle hoards of paparazzi outside her home to head to midtown for a quick mani/pedi. Perhaps, because she does live on the UES, after all, Grace had a bi-weekly at-home manicure appointment with a discreet and trusted nail tech (definitely arranged by her BFF Sylvia) to get her through. Or maybe she’s a fan of the DIY mani, that can be an actually therapeutic ritual. Either way, her tips remained in tip-top shape.

Whose helicopter was that in the finale of The Undoing?

Potentially one of the most hectic and inexplainable moments of the finale came after the realization that Jonathan was attempting to kidnap his son. When Grace realizes that Henry didn’t show up to school, at the same time that Jonathan’s lawyer reveals he hasn’t arrived at court, Grace and her father take off, jumping into an unmarked black helicopter, racing after Jonathan and landing, with Grace running through police barricades to reach her son. OK, but whose helicopter *was* that? Because if it was the NYPD’s…we have a lot of questions. For instance, why would the police department allow a civilian (who also happens to be a frantic, terrified mother) ride with them to apprehend a suspect? Isn’t there a ton of protocol?! Or maybe it was her father Franklin’s helicopter (if his apartment is anything to go off of, that man has *a lot* of money), in which case we have to ask: can private, civilian helicopters just take off willy-nilly to chase fugitives? Again, protocols!

Is a clutch *really* appropriate murder trial attire?

Again, we understand that Grace was going through a pretty tough time, what with trying to figure out if her adulterous husband is also a vicious killer. But we were aghast to see, in the final episode, Grace showing up in court toting around a clutch purse of all things. What would a clutch even hold besides your necessary amount of tissues and a stress ball?! But then again, what even is an appropriate purse for when your husband’s on trial for murder?

Do we think Kourtney Kardashian actually watched The Undoing?

 

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Is Kourtney Kardashian low-key on HBO’s marketing team, because if not, the show couldn’t pay for better press. Ahead of the finale on November 29, the reality TV star took to Instagram to share a carousel of photos of herself in a sassy matching set with the caption “Who killed Elena Alves?”. So, what does Kourt’s thirst trap have to do with The Undoing? Absolutely nothing. Which is what makes her caption so perplexing. Why not post a photo of herself lounging on her massive couch with her supersized TV? Or perhaps rocking a plush, jewel-toned coat as an homage to Grace? Kourtney, these photos would have *all* made much more sense!

Should Nicole Kidman’s eyes win an Emmy?

Kidman must have taken a cue from the Mariska Hargitay school of acting, because like Hargity’s Olivia Benson on Law & Order SVU, the actor is a pro at over-emoting intense emotions with her eyes.

And they were working overdrive in the finale of The Undoing. In one particular scene, in which Jonathan, Grace and lawyer Haley Fitzgerald are interrupted at the courthouse, when Elena’s husband Fernando bursts into the room to chastise Haley for putting his young son on the stand, I seriously thought Kidman’s Grace was going to burst a blood vessel for all the bewildered and frantic flicking her eyes were doing. It was intense. So, should Kidman win an Emmy for her peepers’ latest performance? 100%.

What the heck happened to Miguel in The Undoing?

While viewers may have been divided over who the murderer was, one thing most people can agree on is that Elena’s young son, Miguel, is an angel who must be protected at all costs. And, after first finding his mother dead and then being forced to testify during the trial, we want to know how our sweet boy is doing! TBQH, I would watch an entire episode about Miguel’s life after the trial, because we have so many questions. Did the Alves family remain in New York? Did Miguel go back to the same private school or switch to a school closer to home? Did Henry and Miguel actually become BFFs, bonding over their shared tragedy and starting a supportive life-long friendship? We have to know!

Was anyone else underwhelmed by the finale of The Undoing?

As entertaining of a show as The Undoing was, we have to ask: Was anyone else a little underwhelmed at the reveal? After five episodes of Grace vehemently defending her husband’s innocence, the switch to seeing him as guilty—after Jonathan tried to blame their son for Elena’s murder—seemed too subtle. And like another great HBO show that dropped the ball in the latter half of its final season, like Game of Thrones‘s Daenerys, Jonathan’s sharp pivot to revealing himself as a villain felt like it came out of nowhere. Yes, we knew he was an absolute asshole, cheater, liar, narcissist and maybe even sociopath—that was all gradually revealed throughout the season—but to go from that to him maniacally laughing as he flies down the interstate, screaming at his son about clams felt like too much, too fast.

Will there be a season 2 of The Undoing?

Unfortunately for fans of the show, it looks like episode six is likely the last we’ll see of the Fraser family and those around them. Because despite its immense popularity, it seems very unlikely that the series will come back for a second season. ”This is a tight story, which is why I think six hours is perfect,” the director told Entertainment Weekly of the concise season. “There’s something about six that has a natural arc.” As the publication points out, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the show won’t come back (although, again, it feels unlikely), but that the original series was planned to only have a six-episode arc, full stop.

So until we have more news, sit back, relax and remember:

The post 10 Questions We Have After the Finale of The Undoing appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City may have debuted in mid November, but everyone’s soon-to-be favourite reality TV star has actually been rapidly growing a following on TikTok—the video-sharing social media app—since April of this year. Boman Martinez-Reid—a.k.a @bomanizer—is the comedic salve you—and your lockdown 2.0 experience—need.

To be clear, the Toronto-based content creator won’t *actually* be popping up on any of our favourite reality TV shows (at least not yet), but don’t be surprised if he does in a few years’ time. Because Martinez-Reid is quickly becoming a household name thanks to his reality TV-inspired TikTok videos—which often feature his mom, his BFF Eden and his step-sister—going viral during the spring of 2020. And why wouldn’t they? Martinez-Reid is quippy, straight-up hilarious, always dramatic and 100% relatable. (Who hasn’t wanted to just absolutely melt from the absolute *disrespect* of their sister coughing in their direction??)

@bomanizerPART 2 of when you and your friend can’t agree on food but it’s Reality TV ##fyp ##foryou ##realitytv♬ original sound – Boman Martinez-Reid

In October, Martinez-Reid joined TikTok Canada’s inaugural ad campaign, “It Starts on TikTok,” celebrating diversity, stories and trends that are born and celebrated on the viral app. FLARE chatted with the up-and-coming star about his Hollywood aspirations, maintaining his personality offline and, of course, his fave reality TV.

Martinez-Reid’s TikTok account started out as an acting portfolio of sorts

There’s no denying that Martinez-Reid was meant to be a TikTok star. With his megawatt smile, knack for comedic timing and undeniable creativity—evident in the way he keeps followers in stitches through his A+ dialogue—it was only a matter of time before the content creator went viral. And, in a way, that was kind of the plan.

Starting his TikTok account during his final year at Ryerson University—where Martinez-Reid was studying radio and television arts—the now 22-year-old was inspired by the content he was creating for school and personal projects. In the same vein, Martinez-Reid says, a summer of soul searching in 2019 had led him to a realization: “I decided to myself that I wanted to become an actor,” he recalls, “but the only thing was: how do I make that happen?” Enter: TikTok. “Suddenly this app was cool,” Martinez-Reid says. ” It wasn’t as cool as what it [became later] in quarantine, but more and more of my friends started using it and you started seeing videos on Twitter; and it looked like a great way to just get my name out there, to also give me something to do, and to have something to show for myself as an actor.”

There’s actually *a lot* of thought that goes into his content

This drive to showcase his talent, as well as Martinez-Reid’s background in content creation, is perhaps one of the reasons why he’s so successful—and his videos are just straight-up great; because, for their light-hearted nature content-wise, Martinez-Reid puts *a lot* of thought into the storylines and flow of his videos. It’s maybe not what you would expect from the platform, which seems so effortless and ephemeral. But it takes talent to make it seem that way. Martinez-Reid says one of his favourite videos so far—a post from March in which his friend Eden “coughs in his mouth” (she actually coughs from across the room, but still—dramatic!)—is one he’s most proud of for a very technical reason. “It was the first time I had ever made a TikTok where there was a beginning, middle and end and it just flowed so well,” he says.

@bomanizerWhen one of your friends coughs except it’s reality TV ##fyp ##foryou ##realitytv♬ original sound – Boman Martinez-Reid

In fact, the production value of his videos is one of the main attributes commenters notice and appreciate. “I’ll post a video and people will comment that they have to watch it three times over, and every time they watch it, they see something new in it that they didn’t see the time before that,” he says. It’s a quality that comes with work—and a lot of effort on Martinez-Reid’s part. “It’s exciting to make [videos] that way, but it’s also very annoying because, for me, TikTok is so much work and so much energy,” he says. “[TikTok] is supposed to be fun, and it still is very fun for me, but  to think of some of these videos and to create them to a certain standard is a challenge for myself. But it’s so exciting.”

One of Martinez-Reid’s other favourite videos? The one where he, Eden and his sister Alyssa go driving. “We’re driving and then [Alyssa] starts yelling at me, but she didn’t actually yell at me and then we crashed, but we didn’t actually crash; and then I was so disrespected that the disrespect bakes me at 350 degrees into a cake,” he explains.

@bomanizerGoing for a drive but it’s reality TV ##realitytv ##disrespect (feat. @alyssanizer and @whatchaeden )♬ original sound – Boman Martinez-Reid

“I remember commenting on that video and being like, ‘imagine trying to explain this story to somebody.'”

Martinez-Reid always knew he’d be a star (but not in an obnoxious way)

Despite the fact that Martinez-Reid’s social media career really took off during the pandemic, it’s not super surprising that he’d find himself in this position right now. Because he’s pretty much exactly where he thought he’d be as a kid—wind machine and all. “When we did the [TikTok campaign] photo shoot, I haven’t had that much fun in so long,” he says. “There was a moment where there’s a photographer and there’s a fan blowing on me and they were playing the Spice Girls, and [I thought] ‘This is exactly how I pictured this would be as a child,'” he says with a laugh. “This is everything to me.” So pretty much, he’s living out every tween’s childhood fantasy.

But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t had some serious “pinch me” moments. Being a part of the “It Starts on TikTok” campaign has allowed the creator to take part in massive photo shoots and ad spots, plastering his face alongside celebs like Hailey Bieber and Drake on billboards and in commercials. “They really made me feel so cool,” Martinez-Reid says of the campaign. “When my family was over watching the basketball game, and now my face is in the commercials; or we’re watching SNL and there I am between sets on SNL. That’s so cool.”

But the biggest moment was seeing his face on a billboard at Toronto’s Yonge and Dundas Square. “That was life-changing,” he says. “TikTok has made me feel like a rock star.” As a Black, queer creator, that moment of seeing himself presented in such a positive way was extra meaningful, for both Martinez-Reid and, he hopes, for people who follow him online. “Standing [in front of the billboard] with my friends, I’ve never had such a feeling of just being proud of myself. TikTok really allowed me to feel that I’m the best version of myself that I’ll ever be.”

He feels the pressure to be funny offline

But, like all things in life, there are inevitably downsides to creating and living your life largely online—and trying to keep people smiling. While Martinez-Reid says that his personality IRL is similar to his over-the-top TikTok personality (he’s always goofing around to make his friends laugh), making a name for yourself as someone who brings everyone cheer online also brings with it a lot of pressure to do the same once you log off.  “One hundred percent, I feel that pressure,” Martinez-Reid says. “It’s a weird thing because on one hand TikTok has given me so much confidence and it’s so incredibly exciting to be doing what I love and to love doing it. But at the same time, of course, I feel that pressure.”

Martinez-Reid refers to the period back in March and April of this year when he really started blowing up. He was receiving messages from people watching his videos, telling him that, stuck in quarantine with nothing to laugh about, his videos were getting them through. “One person messaged me at one point and said, ‘my dad had COVID and your videos really got me and my family through,'” Martinez-Reid recalls. “And that meant everything to me.” But, it also brings along a sense of pressure to keep it up, especially considering the fact that Martinez-Reid himself was dealing with the pandemic just like everyone else. “I was kind of grieving over losing that freedom that we all had pre-quarantine. So it was hard because I didn’t necessarily feel that funny,” he says. “I didn’t feel that excited to think of ideas as I had previously when it was just me and my friends and we would say something funny and I’d be like, ‘Oh my God, I need to make a TikTok about that.’ It was a different thing and I had to kind of figure out how to find the excitement in it.

“I definitely feel that pressure because I’m a human just like everybody else.”

But ultimately, he just wants to make people laugh

Luckily, Martinez-Reid is a glass-half-full kind of person (or, more accurately, a glass-entirely-full type of person), and hopes that his followers can take his positivity into their own lives, embrace who they are, know they’re not alone and not take themselves too seriously. “I try to make content that pokes fun at these very small problems that we have,” he says. “The one thing that I would want them to take away is that even when you feel like you were ghosted by somebody and your world’s crashing down, or you have to stay inside and you feel like your world’s crashing down, or somebody ate your chips and your world is crashing down…it’s such a human experience that we all feel bothered by these little things, and I want my viewers to take away that it’s nice to laugh at ourselves.”

And as for what type of reality show he’d like to be on IRL? “I would love to be a housewife,” he says. “Obviously I’m not the most qualified to become a housewife; first of all, I’m not married. However, I think that I could bring something very exciting to the show.” (We’d have to agree).

“But I’d also love to try every reality TV show. I want to try Wipe Out. I know that I would never succeed in that lane, but I would love to try it.” So what about the idea of a reality show starring Martinez-Reid in which he takes part in other reality shows? (Very meta, TBQH). “Exactly, isn’t that genius? I need to call TLC.”

We have a feeling they’d 100% air it.

The post TikTok’s Bomanizer Is Going to Be Your Lockdown Saviour appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

If there’s one great equalizer, it’s probably heartbreak (sorry Madonna, it is in fact, not COVID). Everyone experiences it some form or the other throughout their lives. Whether it’s with a partner, a close friend or a family member, breaking up is always hard to do and often not easy to get over. We go through so much of the breaking up (and getting over it) process privately, but what if you could share your heartbreak with the world in an art gallery, via a memento from your failed relationship? Sounds scary, but also kind of exhilarating, right? Enter Lucy, the star of the Selena Gomez-produced romcom The Broken Hearts Gallery—portrayed by Australian actor and your new BFF Geraldine Viswanathan—who is a serious hanger-on. As in she *literally* can’t let go of her past romantic relationships, keeping numerous mementos that now litter her New York City apartment. A gallery curator by trade, Lucy starts her own Broken Hearts Gallery where people can share their heartbreak around the same time she meets a cynical dude during an Uber mishap named Nick, played by fellow Australian (and Stranger Things alum) Dacre Montgomery.

While the film, which was set in NYC but filmed primarily in Toronto—keep your eyes peeled for the tote Lucy carries throughout the film, from local plant shop Dynasty!—was initially released in theatres on September 11, the November 24 streaming release means that we can now all curl up and watch Lucy and Nick (SPOILER ALERT) fall in love.

In time for the digital release, FLARE chatted with Viswanathan from her childhood room in Australia about what drew her to Lucy, her time filming in Toronto and what she’d leave in an IRL Broken Hearts Gallery (it’s *very* fitting).

She was drawn to Lucy as a character—and was inspired by one Bridget Jones

When it came to Viswanathan’s portrayal of Lucy, she’s like a lot of romcom heroines we’ve seen before in that she’s unlucky in love, but she’s also entirely new. For one, you’ll probably want to be her BFF and you’ll *definitely* want her necklace layering game. And the former is what drew the actor to the role. “I thought it was such a fresh and fun romcom and I wanted to be friends with [Lucy], wanted to be her,” Viswanathan says. Not to mention the fact that, as a self-identified introvert, she thought it’d be fun to experience playing such an extroverted and bold character. “She’s such an open heart and she feels her feelings and she’s very expressive, so I really just wanted to know what that was like.”

 

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If the idea of a quirky, bold woman who often gets caught by her would-be paramour sans pants (as Lucy does) sounds familiar, that’s because it probably is. Viswanathan says she looked to Renee Zellweger’s Bridget Jones when creating Lucy, even if it was only subconsciously. “I love romcoms, so it’d be pretty hard for me to not even subconsciously pull inspiration from the romcoms that I love,” she says. “I really love Bridget Jones’s Diary and for Lucy I think the Bridget character is just so charming. Even with all her flaws and foils, you just love her.” And, like Lucy, Zellweger’s Bridget *also* has a disdain for pants (who could forget that iconic final scene in the snow?).

But Viswanathan is the opposite of Lucy in real life

Unlike her character in the film, Viswanathan’s style is more of an “out of sight, out of mind” when it comes to the end of relationships—at least at first. “I kind of get over it like a guy does, out of sight, out of mind, in the beginning,” she says. “And then, like a month later, I’ll be like, ‘Oh my God.’ It takes a while to settle in for me.”

But Viswanathan does have one thing in common with Lucy. “I love holding on to memories and reflecting on them whenever I can. I love being sentimental,” she says, adding that she keeps a lot of mementos from past relationships. “Every letter, anything ever written to me, I think I’ll hold onto forever.”

So, what would she leave in an IRL version of the gallery? “I’ve recently found a card; I went to a magic show with my ex and the magician did this trick and I had to write his name on the back of the card. So that feels very Broken Hearts Gallery.”

Broken Hearts Gallery is especially significant now

While the movie was shot over the summer of 2019, months before the COVID-19 pandemic changed life as we know it, looking back on the time spent filming now—where the actors could run around NYC and Toronto, getting pastries from Nadège and hanging out in Trinity Bellwoods Park, something Viswanathan says she loved—has made the film take on a special significance for her. “The current situation that we’re in really makes our film seem like such a fantasy,” she says. “Even for me watching it, I get so much out of it because you get to experience New York and going to restaurants and karaoke bars, and it just is truly a social, adventurous life that we’re all missing and craving right now.”

And ultimately, the actor says she hopes that the film helps viewers escape into that fantasy of the before times; a time when people could jump into a cab, run around Brooklyn and just…touch other people in general. “I hope that people reminisce on their heartbreaks and those friendships that have gotten them through,” Viswanathan says. “I think it’s a really powerful thing that Lucy does; she turns her pain and heartbreak into something beautiful and asks the world to share it with her. It’s easier said than done sometimes, but I think that’s really inspiring.”

And yes, this film could 100% have taken place in Australia

With both Viswanathan and Montgomery hailing from Australia, it’s hard not to imagine that this film could have easily been set somewhere in the southern hemisphere. Although Viswanathan agrees that it would be a *much* different movie if set somewhere like Sydney. ”There’d be more beaches. There’d be more tanned and blonde people, probably,” she muses. “You can really only go two ways in Australia: it’s like either a beach or the outback. An Outback Broken Hearts Gallery would be sick, you’d have dirt bikes and crocodiles.”

Like we said, a pretty different movie.

The Broken Hearts Gallery is now available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, Google Play and YouTube.

The post This New Selena Gomez-Produced Romcom Has a Canadian Connection appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

You win some, you lose some. Or in the case of The Weeknd, you don’t even get nominated. On November 24, the Recording Academy released the list of nominees for the 2021 Grammy Awards and notably missing from the list was Canadian artist, The Weeknd, which was a surprise to many. In a year marked by pain, loss and sadness, music has been one of the few things to get us through. And this was a pretty great year for music, with artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Justin Bieber, Phoebe Bridgers and others releasing the songs that have gotten us through a majority of quarantine (although it’s an absolute *travesty* that we haven’t been able to bop around to “WAP” in a club).

Chief among those artists who have helped us through this hard time with their work is The Weeknd (a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye), whose March 2020 album After Hours was a major success. Not only does it have 1.8 billion streams to date, per Rolling Stone, but it also gave us the amp-up song that is “Blinding Lights,” which started it’s own dance trend on TikTok and became legitimately the only song worth listening to while trying to do a cramped home workout in my tiny apartment. (As a February 2016 Vox article on the Grammy voting process points out, you pretty much have to be famous and have a pretty buzzy album and/or commercially successful songs to win a Grammy, making The Weeknd’s snub for a seriously buzzy album…weird.)

Not to mention the fact that the singer has been putting in *work* when it comes to promoting the album. Not only is the Canadian performer set to headline the  Super Bowl LIV halftime show in February 2021, but he’s been performing like a mad man lately, popping up at awards shows decked out in the beat-up aesthetic he’s embraced throughout this album. It takes *time* to look this haggard!

 

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Also kind of weird? According to sources, the singer was in talks to actually perform at the January 2021 Grammy Awards, making his snub beyond rude.

In response to being shut out of the nominations, The Weeknd was justifiably angry. In a November 24 Instagram post, he called out the awards show, writing: “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.”

 

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And while the singer and his fans are seriously pissed off about this latest snub, we actually shouldn’t be all that surprised. Because, as The Weeknd so aptly pointed out in his post, the awards show has had a long history of sketchy behaviour, especially when it comes to its messy voting process. Just days before the 2020 Grammy Awards in January, music executive Deborah Dugan—who had been appointed as president of the Recording Academy only five months prior and was the first woman in the role—was fired. Dugan stepped into the role after the Recording Academy had faced years of bad press (brought on by themselves, thanks very much), culminating in the 2018 Grammy Awards during which only 11 out of the total 84 winners were women and which concluded with then-Recording Academy President Neil Portnow telling female performers that they had to “step up” in order to win. *Eye roll*. And the 2019 ceremony wasn’t much better.

So, the 2020 awards were meant to be different than the years that had preceded them. Only they really weren’t. After her firing, Dugan filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, and alleged rampant corruption and secrecy in the organization. Dugan claimed that the Recording Academy fired her in order to cover up their “boys club” and corrupt voting process. In the filed documents, Dugan alleges that “secret committees” in the Academy that decide who’s chosen and win are incredibly biased. According to Esquire, she wrote of the process: “Board members, including those who represent or have relationships with nominated artists, sit on these secret committees.” Dugan continued: “the Board uses these committees as an opportunity to push forward artists with whom they have relationships.” So pretty much, Dugan is claiming that the board members push their own interests. And, according to a  2018 study by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, that interest rarely involved female performers. The study showed that between 2013 and 2018, only 9.3% of the nominees for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist and Producer of the Year were women.

During the 2020 awards ceremony, rapper Tyler the Creator also spoke to the treatment of Black artists by the Academy, accusing them of having “pigeonholed” Black artists into “urban” categories as opposed to the mainstream categories. A 2020 study by journalism, communications and Africana studies professor John Vilanova found that while Black artists haven’t historically been entirely shut out from winning Grammy Awards, the top honours have eluded them. Per The Philadelphia Inquirer, Black artists like Tyler the Creator and The Weeknd regularly win categories that are considered “Black music” (i.e. rap and R&B), but are less likely to be victorious in the more general—and often more high-profile—categories such as album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. 

It’s safe to say that the Recording Academy has a long way to go.

So, why does The Weeknd’s snub even matter? Isn’t the singer *still* a millionaire with a successful career and model girlfriends? 100%. But that doesn’t mean that he isn’t justified in his anger. While, let’s be honest, awards ceremonies in general are kind of unnecessary at this point (I mean, even Drake said it!), shows like the Grammy Awards are still a big deal for artists as recognition of their hard work and place in the industry. While the debate around whether or not the awards show is an actual indicator of *good* music endures, there’s no denying that a win, or even a nomination, is significant.

Sure, The Weeknd doesn’t need a Grammy nomination to know he’s successful or popular. But to be blatantly left out during an awards season that was so clearly a banner year for his career is justifiably infuriating, and it’s fair for The Weeknd and other artists to be upset about the lack of recognition. (Except Justin Bieber. Seriously sir, just take your nominations and leave.) 

The post The Weeknd Was Just *Majorly* Snubbed by the Grammy Awards appeared first on FASHION Magazine.