CoverGirl Ad Gets Disturbing Photoshop Treatment, Calls Out NFL On Domestic Violence

September 15, 2014, 3:18 pm

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A marketing campaign for CoverGirl's football-inspired collection of game day looks has taken on an entirely new pall in the wake of video footage showing former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice punching his then-fiancée in an elevator.

CoverGirl's slogan for the ad series -- "Get your game face on" -- was meant to encourage fans to make up their faces in the colors of their favorite team. But a version of the ad aimed at Ravens fans was unofficially edited and passed around on social media, tackling the issue of domestic violence and how the NFL has addressed it.

In CoverGirl's official ad, the model wears perfectly applied purple eye shadow, its raven feather edges outlined with black and gold. But the modified version that surfaced on Twitter shows the model's makeup marred by a dark bruise spreading out from her swollen, half-shut eye.

As journalist Sil Lai Abrams notes, the ad's re-imagining is doubly significant because "makeup is used to cover bruises from #domesticviolence."

Here's the Photoshopped version of the ad which has been making rounds on Twitter:

#GoodellMustGo #BoycottNFL #ViolenceIsViolence #NFL #RayRice #GregHardy #RayMcDonald #GAMEFACE #domesticviolence pic.twitter.com/fakIb8PeeF

— glick23 (@23Glick) September 13, 2014

And here's CoverGirl's official ad:


Journalist Adele Stan has been credited with creating the first version of the edited ad. The image has evolved since she posted it on Twitter over the weekend and has since gone viral.

Here's the image Stan shared:


Hashtagged #GoodellMustGo, the image spread as social media users called for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's removal and criticized the NFL's handling of Rice's domestic violence incident, which took place Feb. 15.

Rice was cut from the Ravens and suspended "indefinitely" from the league only after the Sept. 8 release of footage that showed him punching Janay Palmer. The running back was initially given a two-game suspension for the blow that knocked Palmer to the floor, apparently leaving her unconscious.

Although Goodell says the NFL did not have access to footage showing the blow, a law enforcement official claims to have sent an executive a copy back in April.

A representative for CoverGirl was not immediately available to comment.

h/t The Gloss

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5 Years Ago, Best Friend Fulfilled Soldier's Final Wish By Wearing Florescent Dress To His Funeral

September 15, 2014, 3:35 pm

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It should’ve been a somber affair, but that wasn’t Pvt. Kevin Elliott’s style.

While on a break from serving in Afghanistan, Elliott gave his best friend, Barry Delaney, specific instructions were he to die in action. The Dundee, Scotland, soldier made Delaney promise that he would wear a bright dress and socks to his funeral, the Guardian reported back in 2009.

When that day came in September 2009, Delaney made good on his vow. He squeezed into a tight green number and sported equally as stunning pink socks to match.

Five years after Elliott’s death, those unconventional, yet charming photos are making their way around the web again.



While patrolling on foot, Delaney died on Aug. 31, 2009 in an explosion caused by a rocket-propelled grenade in the Babaji district, Helmand province, according to the British government.

The 24-year-old, who had already served in Iraq and Northern Ireland, was actually on the verge of the leaving the Army earlier that year. But, Delaney was a "big team player" and always the first to volunteer to protect his colleagues, so he caught the last transport back to Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Stephen Cartwright, commanding officer, said in a statement.


The coffin of soldier Private Kevin Elliott, 24, of the Black Watch, leaves St Mary's Church in Dundee.

While Elliott was undeniably brave in the face of danger, he confided in Delaney about his combat concerns.

A month before he died, when he was home for a two-week hiatus, he told Delaney how he worried about the increasing number of booby traps and that if he returned to Helmand, he might not make it out alive, the Guardian reported.



When Elliott’s fear was realized, Delaney didn’t hesitate to keep his promise. While honoring Elliott at St. Mary's Church in Dundee, Delaney knelt down at his friend's grave.

"I was bending down to ask him if he liked the dress' color," he told the paper.


h/t Faithit

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Julianne Hough Dazzles At 'Dancing With The Stars' Premiere

September 16, 2014, 9:42 am

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Julianne Hough stole the show at the Season 19 premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" on Monday.

Hough glittered as she took her place at the judges' table in a floor-length gown, with her hair in retro curls reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe. The 26-year-old is the fourth judge on the ABC reality competition. As a professionally trained dancer and former "DWTS" champion -- she won the mirror ball trophy in Seasons 4 and 5 -- Hough certainly has the necessary credentials.

“What Julianne brings is she was youth champion at the Blackpool [Dance Festival],” the show's executive producer Rob Wade told TheWrap. “She's a beautiful dancer and an excellent teacher. She has also been a dancer on the show, so she really understands every aspect of this.”

Miss America Faces Heat From Conservatives For Planned Parenthood Internship

September 16, 2014, 10:12 am

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WASHINGTON -- Kira Kazantsev has been Miss America for only two days, but she's already taking a stand on issues that don't usually make their way into the pageant. Kazantsev, who is from New York, made domestic violence the focus of her platform, speaking out about how she was in an abusive relationship in college.

"I want people to stop asking, 'Why doesn't she just leave?'" Kazantsev said in an interview with NPR. "Every woman is an expert in her own case, and there are so many extenuating circumstances that lead to a woman staying with her abuser." She said she felt incredibly "alone" in the relationship and wanted people to start talking about domestic violence more openly.

Now, Kazantsev is getting attention for something else. Many conservatives are criticizing her for the fact that she once interned at Planned Parenthood.

Kazantsev's LinkedIn profile notes that for three months in 2013, she worked at Planned Parenthood in Hempstead, New York, assisting with education programs.



The pro-life site LifeNews.com wrote a piece Monday taking aim at Kazantsev's work with a company they say "snuffs out of the lives of young baby girls."

So the woman representing the nation as the new Miss America interned for the very organization that has killed millions of Americans in abortions.

Kazantsev worked for the abortion giant just outside New York City proper for three months, from February 2013-April 2013. One month later, one of the Planned Parenthood abortion clinics in New York City botched an abortion. The incident occurred at the Margaret Sanger Center Planned Parenthood in New York City, New York.

The criticism spread to Twitter:

Well how do you like that. Baby killer supporter is now Miss America! http://t.co/LOHYpY438d

— Isaac Moffett (@ed_struggle) September 16, 2014

She might be pretty but she doesn't VALUE LIFE...supports abortion...sad beauty queen! http://t.co/V2a7WkuvaZ

— Paula O.Benghazi (@doug69) September 16, 2014

This is your Miss America in bizzarro insane libtard land. No talent and worked at Planned Parenthood.

DISGRACEFUL! http://t.co/8b1D7ZkrpK

— Patriot (@Patriot7112010) September 16, 2014

This chick sure doesn't represent me. She should've been disqualified for Miss America. #tcot @michellemalkin http://t.co/Thwi2qv4iM

— MIDTERMMSSS!Patriott (@marypatriott) September 16, 2014

Ms. Abortion America. Just frigging great. Apparently her only talent besides beating on a cup is advocating... http://t.co/hHXOo4NRJt

— Ricky Herschel (@RickyHerschel) September 16, 2014

Planned Parenthood, of course, does more than just provide abortions. In fact, abortion services account for only 3 percent of what the group does. It also estimates that it prevents about 216,000 abortions each year through its contraceptive services.

In a statement to The Huffington Post, Eric Ferrero, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood, said the organization was proud of Kazantsev:

Miss America Kira Kazantsev interned last year at her local Planned Parenthood affiliate, where she supported staff members who provide sex education in the community and at local schools. Several past Miss Americas have supported Planned Parenthood's mission, and we're thrilled and proud that one of our former interns is the new Miss America.

Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading provider of sex education. Every year, we provide more than one million people with accurate, nonjudgmental information about relationships, sexuality, and healthy decision-making. An overwhelming majority of the American public supports access to comprehensive sex education in middle and high schools — the type of sex education programming that Planned Parenthood provides and which gives parents tools to have conversations with their families, and helps keep young people safe and healthy.

Kazantsev, 23, has also interned for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's (D-N.Y.) campaign and the political consulting firm Solidarity Strategies. In 2012, she helped set up the presidential debate at Hofstra University.

UPDATE: 6:21 p.m. -- Kazantsev's LinkedIn profile is no longer available.

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Millennials: Buy Your T-Shirts Somewhere Else

September 16, 2014, 10:22 am

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Urban Outfitters has a fashion problem, not to mention a major public relations issue. Maybe it's time for our generation to buy our overpriced T-shirts somewhere else.

The retail company came under fire again on Monday for selling what appeared to be a faux blood-stained Kent State sweatshirt. Many people on social media found that the sweatshirt trivialized the 1970 Kent State campus shooting, in which the Ohio National Guard killed four students and injured nine others during a protest against the Vietnam War.

Despite the company "sincerely" apologizing, recent criticism and outrage over Urban Outfitters doesn't come as a surprise.

Urban Outfitters explores the outer reaches of bad taste. http://t.co/gxQnWAvCuS pic.twitter.com/GX7l8NT251

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) September 15, 2014

Urban Outfitters: Overpriced Cultural Insensitivity Since 1970 pic.twitter.com/mnRtNQfneZ

— Ally Maynard (@missmayn) September 15, 2014

When is it going to be enough?

The company's controversial T-shirts continually offend, show a lack sensitivity and foster close-mindedness.

Earlier this year Urban Outfitters featured a "Depression T-shirt" on its site, while in 2010, the infamous "Eat Less" shirt sparked huge controversy after suggesting young women should -- you can guess -- eat less.

Again in 2012, the company publicized a $100 "Jewish Star" shirt, which many people argued recreated tragedy from the Holocaust. Not to mention the greatly offensive "Obama/Black" t-shirt color option in 2010.

Four out of five times, Urban Outfitters removed the clothing from its site after widespread condemnation and outrage online.

As a company that targets 18- to 24-year-olds, Urban Outfitters isn't fully recognizing the values its customers hold.

According to the 2014 Millennial Impact Report, people born in the '80s and '90s place high value on social change and participation in volunteer work.

Millennials want to see the difference their involvement made, not just log volunteer hours, according to the report. Significantly, 92 percent of millennials surveyed said they "felt they were working for a company that was making a positive impact on the world."

As a generation that supports change, social justice and healthy body image, Urban Outfitters continually tears away at what millennials value most, then promotes it in the form of overpriced T-shirts.

A note to Urban Outfitters: selling clothing that supports depression, anorexia, anti-semitism and racism, among other issues, doesn't fall under the category of making "a positive impact on the world." Instead, those messages set people back, prey on vulnerability and instill a culture of hate.

In other words, it's time to find another trend.

Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling Reportedly Welcome Baby Girl

September 16, 2014, 10:23 am

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Hey girl, Ryan Gosling is a dad.

The actor welcomed a baby girl with longtime girlfriend Eva Mendes on Sept. 12, multiple sources confirmed to Us Weekly. People also confirmed the news.

The Huffington Post has reached out to the couple's reps for a comment.

Gosling, 33, and Mendes, 40, kept mum about their pregnancy, although rumors have been circulating throughout the summer. OK! Magazine was the first to report the baby news, claiming the actress was seven months pregnant in July.

Earlier this year, Mendes addressed pregnancy rumors on "The Ellen Show," telling Ellen DeGeneres, "It's so ridiculous. It all started because I didn't want to go through the scanners at the airport, you know, those X-ray scanners, which are really creepy -- they basically see you naked, right? And there's a radiation aspect to it, so I always opt out."

"That was good enough reason to say, 'Hey [you're pregnant],'" she added. (Still, it's now clear she was pregnant, despite the denial.)

The pair has been dating since September 2011, after connecting on the set of "The Place Beyond the Pines," in which they play love interests.

Lupita Nyong'o's 'Sesame Street' Bit On Skin Is Truly Wonderful

September 16, 2014, 10:34 am

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Lupita Nyong'o made her debut on American "Sesame Street" and it was, well, perfect. Elmo and Nyong'o talk about skin -- apparently, Elmo has skin, too -- and, in charming fashion, Nyong'o explains that we all need skin to feel things and be ticklish. "Skin comes in lots of beautiful shades and colors," she tells Elmo. "You know what, Miss Lupita?" says Elmo. "Elmo loves the skin he's in."

Pink Is for Boys

September 16, 2014, 10:36 am

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"Mommy, can I have those sneakers when you're finished with them?"

I'm splayed on the basement floor after a workout. Nothing on my body is dry, and I'm 100 percent certain that these purple sneakers I wear without socks because they're more comfortable that way will have to be bagged as hazardous waste by the time I'm finished with them.

"They'll be too gross, buddy."

"I'll probably have to get sneakers from the girls' section next time," he adds.

"Oh, yeah. Why?"

"I really want pink sneakers."

"Maybe you can put them on your Christmas list," I answer, still out of breath and staring at the unfinished ceiling.

"Do you think elves make pink sneakers for boys?"

"We'll see."

That conversation happened in October. I anticipated two things happening between October and December 25th, when Santa would be expected to deliver on the pink sneaks: 1) My boy would abandon his penchant for all things pink, 2) He'd forget.

Neither of those things happened, of course. Instead, he declared pink his favorite color and asked for hot pink loom bands and a hot pink wall in his bedroom. He put pink laces in his hockey skates. He tried with all the persuasive skill he could muster to convince his friends that pink is for boys. To which his friends said, "Ewwww, no way," and other first grade equivalents of the same.

So this Christmas, pink sneakers were on the list.

They were not easy to find. I stood before many many sales associates with vacant expressions while I said things like, "I'm looking for pink sneakers for my son." And then, as though I had to explain, I'd add, "But not 'girly' sneakers. Just pink."

And to random shoppers, I'd hold up a pair of girls' sneakers and say, "Do these look like girls' shoes to you?" They would say, "Yeah." And I would keep looking.

Finally, a helpful sales person directed me to a display of sneakers in various shades of pink. I held up a pair and asked, "Are these for boys?"

"Sure."

"Really?"

"Yep. Boys or girls."

Suddenly I wanted to punch myself squarely in the jaw.

I grew up wearing baseball caps and jeans. I rode bikes and played basketball with the boys in my neighborhood. I preferred pants over dresses. I didn't like lace or bows, fanciness or frills. Tights and stockings made me itch.

In elementary school I hated that boys and girls were divided in gym class. I audaciously stood in line for the boys' activities. I wasn't going to be defined or limited by my body parts. Not then. Not ever.

Fast forward 25+ years. I lost my way.

For some reason I found myself protecting my son from judgment and ridicule he hadn't even received yet... and for what? Pink sneakers? Why? Because pink is for girls?

Because girls are this. And boys are that.

And here, kids, don't mind the pinch, but I need to squeeze you into this mold. Hold still now.

We don't have a genderless household. I wouldn't care to. But when I assure my kids they can be anything they want to be and do anything they want to do, I intend to mean it... not just for my girls, but for my boy, too. Why is it easier to encourage my girls to break through stereotypical walls that confine and define them than it is my son?

Shame on me.

Last summer, my girls were painting their toenails. Noah wanted to paint his, too. Why wouldn't he? Paint is fun. Chlo made quick work of painting his toenails blue. His nails stayed that way for several days. In and out of the pool, nails still blue. We forgot until a little girl in Subway pointed to Noah and asked her mom in a loud whisper, "Why does he have painted toes?"

I tousled my boy's hair and winked at him.

I listened while the mother explained that Noah was "a good big brother to his little sisters."

Noah is a good big brother. She was right. But the truth is, he just wanted to play with color. He was 6.

As a mom, I want to protect my kids from embarrassment. It feels like part of my job description -- but not always, not when they're defining themselves or embracing something that inspires them (or, in the case of sneakers, choosing something that looks fly with their jeans).



Noah got pink sneakers for Christmas. He loves them and was absolutely floored when he opened them on Christmas morning.

When school got back in session, his dad asked him how his friends liked his new kicks.

He answered with a shrug: "They laughed."

"How do you like your sneakers?" I asked.

"Me? I love them."

Pink is my boy's favorite color. While I draw the line at hot pink walls in his bedroom, I can identify him on the ice by the pink laces in his hockey skates. Ask Noah, and he'll do his best to convince you that pink is for boys.

And if you think like most of his buddies do: "Ewwww, no way"...

He won't care. At all.

So neither will I, because he's my boy, and he's teaching me a thing or two about raising a mom.

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11 Teens You Should Follow On Instagram Immediately

September 16, 2014, 11:57 am

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Instagram's the new shopping mall; it's where all the cool kids are hanging out. But in a sea of selfies and mediocre sunsets on the beach, how do you find the teens with the coolest Instagram pages? We've saved you the trouble and gathered some of the best teen Instagrammers the Internet has to offer.

1. Ryan Parrilla, @novess

This 15-year-old New York-based photographer has already caught the eye of nearly 48k followers with beautiful shots of nature and city life.





2. Jules Spector, @jules.spector

Fourteen-year-old Jules is already a feminist activist, working as a teen advisor for the @girlupcampaign and blogging at Teen Feminist. Her Instagram tracks her travels and activism.



3. Mark Otto, @markotto

Ohio teen Mark Otto shows high school life in bright pop colors. Everyday knick-knacks transform into instant art!




4. Alana Smith, @alanasmithskate

Fourteen-year-old Alana Smith is the world's most popular skater girl. Last year, Smith earned a Guinness World Record for being the youngest X Games medalist in history. She gives fans a peek into her world of skating, fashion and assorted badassness.




5. Prince Sarmah, @prince_sarmah

Prince's Instagram offers candid moments from his life in Assam, India.




6. The Sizoo brothers: Bob, Willem and Bastiaan Sizoo, @bob_sizoo, @willemsizoo, @bastiaansizoo

Okay, it's a 3-for-1, because we couldn't pick which Sizoo brother we liked best! An eye for photography runs in the family as can be seen in these gorgeous photographs.





7. Nic Tullis, @nic_tullis

Nic Tullis' Instagram page captures the sights of St. Louis, Missouri with a special focus on showing the face of St. Louis' homeless population.




8. Tina, @nourishandevolve

Sixteen-year-old Tina's a vegan who is cooking up some of the most beautiful refined sugar-free meals on Instagram for her nearly 57k followers. Tina's photos are influenced by her health conscious approach to eating.

“I think sometimes that people (me included) get so caught up on having what some might regard as the perfect and healthy diet, that they forget that it is also very important to have a healthy mentality towards food and not be obsessive," she told BuzzFeed.




9. Gigi Crouch, @scolerina

Ballerina Gig Crouch was diagnosed with scoliosis and was put in a back brace at age 13. On her Instagram page, beautiful photos of her dancing prove that a diagnosis doesn't have to limit your dreams.




10. Hailey Luntz, @haicat

Hailey Luntz is like the awesome doodler you love sitting next to in class, but darker and way more talented.




11. Luis Ruiz, @literaluis

Seventeen-year-old Mexican artist Luis Ruiz uses Instagram to showcase his cartoons, doodles and day-to-day sights.


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Susan Sarandon Quotes That Will Help You Live Your Best Life

September 16, 2014, 12:14 pm

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If anybody can dish out inspirational words of wisdom, it's Susan Sarandon. On top of her lengthy and impressive film career, the Academy Award-winning actress is equally accomplished for her outstanding social and political activism. In 2006, Sarandon received the Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award for her work in several humanitarian efforts, including her role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, a spokesperson for Heifer International and an advocate for victims of hunger and HIV/AIDS.

A source of motivation for us all, here are seven quotes from Susan Sarandon that will inspire everyone to live their best life:















All quotes found at BrainyQuote.com.

Beyoncé Forgets To Lip-Sync In Paris, Promptly Keeps Running The World

September 16, 2014, 12:20 pm

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We all have those days where we forget things -- hey, even Beyoncé does, too.

Or, well, she had one last weekend.

During a Paris performance of the sultry anthem "Partition" -- as part of her On The Run Tour with Jay-Z -- Queen Bey dropped it low onstage to greet some adoring fans, but dropped something else as well: the fact that she may not be singing live.

In the above Instagram video from flowpest, we see Beyoncé bend down and stop mouthing the words to the song -- however, the vocal track continues on in the background.

But hey, no matter. Post lip-sync fail, Bey snaps the microphone back to her lips, whips her hair, and keeps on running the world like it's no big deal.

We see you, Beyoncé.

[h/t Gawker]

'Curly Sue' Star Alisan Porter Reveals Struggle With Alcoholism

September 16, 2014, 12:21 pm

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Much has changed for Alisan Porter in the 23 years since she starred as an adorable con artist in "Curly Sue." These days, she's a married mother-of-two, and focused on her music career. She also revealed that she struggles with alcoholism.

In a blog post on her site, Lil Mamas, the former child actress opens up about her resolve to stay sober.

"Hi, I’m Ali, and I’m an alcoholic," Porter wrote on her blog. "Yup, bet you didn’t see that one coming. Or, because you know that I’m a former child star, you totally did. Anyway, it’s the truth. I’ve been sober since Oct 28th, 2007 and I haven’t touched a drink or a drug since."

Porter revealed she didn't hit a "crazy bottom" or "shoot heroin in an alley," but her story "was enough for me to know that enough was enough."

The 33-year-old wrote that she was living in New York city when she realized she needed to get sober.

"I was miserable and overwhelmed with life. I was heartbroken and realizing that what had always worked for me in the past was NOT working at all. Not even a little bit. I felt trapped, scared, and sad and I was ready to really go for broke or get better," she wrote, adding that she then called her mom, and days later she was off to treatment.

"For the next four years I went to meetings, worked the steps, got a sponsor, found a god of my own understanding, prayed, meditated and basically grew up," Porter explained. "Growing pains were inevitable, I felt them often but I continued on the path because unlike my old ways, this way was working."

And while Porter also admits that the stress of raising two children has tempted her to drink, she reminds herself that she doesn't drink "because I don’t want to miss one second of the responsibilities I get to have today."

"I don’t drink because I can’t. I want to, a lot of days, because I’m human and because life gets hard. But I don’t," Porter wrote. "Sobriety offered me everything I ever wanted and never got."

To read Alisan Porter's entire blog post, head over to Lil Mamas.

New York Fall Fashion Week 2014 Is Here and Fitness Activewear Is Front & Center

September 16, 2014, 1:07 pm

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New York Fall 2014 Fashion Week is upon us and there is an infusion of fitness apparel launches on the fashion landscape. With major fitness fashion brands like Athleta hosting fashion week events, Under Armour launching their Women's Fall 2014 Collection and I Will What I Want Campaign and fitness fashion designers showing at Intermezzo and Coterie (typically fashion focused trade shows), the trends for activewear on the fashion scene and style on the fitness scene are here to stay!

One year ago today, I wrote an article for Work & Workout, on the emergence of fashionable workout apparel and indie designers onto the marketplace. Now it is evident this trend has come full circle.

I decided to check in with one of my favorite fashion editors and friends, Anne Slowey, the Fashion News Director of ELLE magazine, and former competitive athlete and swimmer, now rower, to get her take on the current fashion and designers emerging onto the fitness scene. She has an eye for new talent, values the history of fashion and, at the same time, doesn't exude the same breathlessness over every new fad.

What began in 1998 with the launch of Lululemon, as a stylish yoga brand, has now, in 2014, evolved to over 100 designers emerging onto the fitness fashion scene including my favorites -- Alala, Prismsport, Splits59 and Vimmia; popular fitness studio's co-branding with designers for custom collections-SoulCycle, Barry's Bootcamp, Flywheel and Tracy Anderson to name a few; and high profile fashion designers with activewear collections such as Norma Kamali, Cynthia Rowley, Tori Burch and more.

"There is a huge trend right now towards chic athletic wear -- for people who work out and for people who want to look like they just worked out. All of the major departments stores are trying to figure out how to capitalize on this trend now, and the category is only going to get larger in the next few years," says Anne Slowey, Fashion News Director, ELLE magazine. "Lululemon was there first, but there is going to be a huge growth in this category, both by designers and brands."


We are seeing a huge shift in the fitness activewear category and an influx of creativity, design and innovation. There is a tremendous market for fashionable fitness apparel and a great opportunity for new designers, retailers and ecommerce. Some of Anne's favorite designers include Vicki Bartlett who designs VPL and Stella McCartney for Adidas.

Stella was the first designer to partner with an athletic brand and it just gets better each season, and Nike takes its inspiration from much of what they shop at VPL. I also love Net-A-Porter's new Net-A-Sporter. The Monreal London tennis dresses could easily work as strictly fashion. They also have Rick Owens cashmere sweats, which would be the penultimate purchase for the woman who has everything. I also like Athleta a lot -- I think they mix fashion and performance in a relatable way. Sweaty Betty, a brand from the UK, also offers great yoga and dance inspired workout wear.

While many of the aforementioned brands have their own retail stores, there are many new shopping options for consumers from ecommerce sites like Carbon 38, major department stores like Bloomingdales creating sections for workout apparel and multi-brand fitness fashion retailers like Bandier in Southampton popping up on the retail scene. When I asked Anne what she thought, she said:

This is happening now because even on the runway there is an interest in athletic gear, not only from a design standpoint, but also from an ongoing consumer demand for comfort, which is answered by all the technological fabric innovations that are out there. Add to that a resurgence of fascination for the 60s and 70s and the timing couldn't be more perfect for the acceptance of gym-to-the-street style clothing, making it easier for women to go from morning drop off to the yoga studio to lunch without having to lug around a giant bag full of clothes. I think we are seeing a revolution in fashion that started with normcore and has worked its way up the luxury market with what I have been identifying as "anonymous luxury" since fall 2013. Recently, everyone from Business of Fashion and the New York Times are writing about the trend. More fluid lifestyle choices are what are resonating with women all over the world today.

With more and more women spending time at the gym, an average of 3-4 times per week, there is a growing market for fashionable workout apparel. As these women look to establish their own style for their workouts, in the same way they do with their social and work wardrobe, they seek a variety of designers and places to shop. It is my prediction that by 2015, women will be shopping seasonally for activewear and workout apparel.

My own experience is not so different from Anne's. After 15 years of innovating marketing and public relations campaigns across fashion and fitness in their distinct categories, my clients within these industries have begun to converge as I forge strategic partnerships between new boutique fitness studios, influential instructors and major fitness fashion brands. This year at the Salup Group, we have launched campaigns for emerging fitness fashion designers as well as built event programs in popular fitness centers for fashion and lifestyle brands, including our most recent activation where Under Armour, for the launch of their women's fall fashion campaign, sponsored a series of classes with Andia Winslow at Chelsea Piers and Aqua Studio. At this moment, we are standing at the edge of where the fitness fashion market is heading, and the future for both is looking up.

Beyonce Celebrates Her Birthday In A Bikini With Blue Ivy And Jay Z

September 16, 2014, 1:13 pm

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Beyonce celebrated her birthday in style with her family by her side.

The superstar singer shared some snapshots from her family vacation in Italy for her 33rd birthday on Beyonce.com. In one snapshot, she poses lovingly with Jay Z on a yacht. In others, Blue Ivy can be seen playing in the sand.

Beyonce donned a printed bikini and gold foil tattoos while in the picturesque European locale. In one photo, she wears a crown on her head decorated with bees reading "Queen Bey."

Taylor Swift And Her Cat Are Officially Twinsies

September 16, 2014, 2:39 pm

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You know how people say that pets tend to look like their owners?

We're no experts (that's all you, "My Cat From Hell" guy), but it doesn't take a pro to see that Taylor Swift and her cat are totally riding the same waves. On the same page. Channeling the same vibes.





Okay, so maybe Olivia Benson (that's the cat's name, BTW) isn't rocking a school-girl chic outfit like T. Swift, but their matching facial expressions are enough for us. Those eyes that say, "I'm aware you're taking my photo, but I'm saving my energy for ModelFIT later, so this apathetic smirk is all you're gonna get."

And we're just gonna leave this here:

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The One Item Every Man Needs, According To Nick Jonas

September 16, 2014, 3:48 pm

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We're just going to come right out and say it: Nick Jonas is one of the most underrated style stars in Hollywood right now.

The "Jealous" singer blew up New York Fashion Week with his appearance at Richard Chai's runway show and since he's gone solo, we can finally see the youngest Jonas' outfits in their own, shining spotlight.

Jonas stopped by HuffPost Live on Tuesday to talk about his multifaceted career post-Jonas Brothers. While he reminisced on his past clothing mistakes (two words: Ed Hardy), Jonas told HPL about the one item all men should own.

"A black leather jacket -- because you can literally wear it with anything," he said, noting that he wears his quite often. "Even if it's summertime and it's hot, you can throw this on."

Watch Nick Jonas sound off on more fashion in the HuffPost Live clip above, and click here to learn how to rock a leather jacket like a pro.

How Etsy Changed the Rules & What It Means for Indie Designers

September 16, 2014, 6:40 pm

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I'm a conscious consumer. I shop second-hand, I limit my consumption of "stuff," and I try to keep my purchases local. I believe in voting with my dollars, and I've gone so far as to dedicate my career to figuring out what that means.

On occasion, though, when I'm hankering for a new piece of jewelry or a unique gift I can't find in my local thrift shop, I'll look to Etsy. If I'm going to dish out the cash on a new item, I know that my purchase has more impact if it goes to the local makers who are working on their craft.

As someone who is directly involved in the maker movement, I'm somewhat embarrassed to say I didn't pay much attention when Etsy changed its policies last fall. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, CEO Chad Dickerson announced that Etsy sellers could use outside manufacturers to produce their designs. In other words, items sold on Etsy no longer had to be handmade.

It wasn't until a few months ago, when looking on Etsy for a new watch that I realized the implications of this change.

I had a specific brown, repurposed leather, wrap-watch in mind. I knew the one I wanted was handmade by a seller in Ohio, but I didn't know his name. Typing in a simple search for "wrap watch" into Etsy, I proceeded to spend nearly an hour sifting through 50+ pages of three-dollar "wrap watches" from China.



My eyes scanned over page after page of items I would have expected to find in the kiosks of Daytona Beach, not on a website for handmade goods. I sat at my computer with my jaw on the keyboard, wondering what had just happened. When I eventually found what I was looking for I purchased the handmade watch, for significantly more than three dollars, and moved on. I didn't think much more about the experience after that.

A few months later, I met an Etsy seller through Factory45, the accelerator program I run for designers and makers. Among other reasons, she applied to my program looking for business guidance on restoring her Etsy shop sales.

She recently told me, "Last year my Etsy sales tripled in the spring and then again in the fall, so I figured things were still looking good. But in May, my views dropped off to about one-third of what they were in the previous months and as compared to last year. I thought they just dipped because of the holiday weekend and the nice weather, but in June they did not pick back up."

She went on to explain that several message boards had popped up about similar drops in traffic for other Etsy sellers. When I went on the site to see for myself I found threads with titles like, "Are most of you feeling the low traffic, views and sales?" "Can Etsy stop letting Chinese factories sell here?" and "Your Stuff: Made in China?" with diplomatic responses from Etsy administrators encouraging the sellers "to take advantage of the downtime." (Interesting advice when downtime could mean the difference between paying and not paying your rent.)



Aside from the issue that independent designers are now competing with full-scale production operations, there is the issue of sheer volume -- Etsy now has over 1 million shops. When a seller is competing in a sea of 999,999 other shops, the odds aren't good.

Now that Etsy shoppers have the option of buying from middlemen selling three dollar watches, finding that handmade wrap watch you're looking for will undoubtedly be more difficult. From the seller's perspective, no matter how many times they change their "tags," SEO or refresh their storefront, the traffic just isn't going to come like it used to.

So what actually happened?

In the fall of 2013, Etsy shifted their loyalty from the maker to the shareholder as it made plans to further scale its business model. How did this change things?

Because Etsy's policy changes happened at the maker's expense, many of the people who were once making a living off of their shops are now seeing a fraction of the sales. The difference between Etsy, and let's say, Wal-Mart just got a whole lot smaller. At the core, Etsy changed its mission. No longer is it a website for makers of one-of-a-kind, original goods. Instead, it has become yet another website for the mass-produced and cheaply made goods that satisfy our insatiable culture of mindless consumption.

So what's a seller to do?

If you're an independent designer or maker with an Etsy shop, there are a few ways to try and get your traffic back up.

• Create a small network of fellow sellers. Etsy offers the "team" feature but going beyond that, find five other sellers who have a similar target market and non-competing products. Work together to promote each other's shops using your individual social media outlets and outside networks.



• Narrow down your niche and create very specific tags. "Screen printed t-shirt" just isn't going to cut it anymore. The competition is too high. Use tags and keywords you know would appeal to your target market and get specific.



• Guest post on the Etsy blog. The blog run by Etsy is "consumer facing," meaning the content is written for shoppers. It's an entire platform where your potential customers could be hanging out. Come up with a few article ideas that would appeal to Etsy shoppers and pitch the editorial team.



• Move marketing efforts away from Etsy to Pinterest, Instagram and a personal blog. Etsy ads are not going to be as effective as they used to be, so save your money. Focus your marketing efforts on creating compelling content through your social media outlets. Host contests on Pinterest, run giveaways on Instagram and write about the "behind-the-scenes" of your business on your blog.

As someone who supports the manufacturing movement in the USA, I believe that Etsy sellers should be able to scale production when their sales numbers get too high to manage on their own. My issue with Etsy lies in the lack of a discerning gatekeeper.

It comes down to this: the world doesn't need another eBay. It needs the old Etsy.

Get more business strategy for your Etsy store or small business from Factory45 here.

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Photo credit: Etsy
This post was originally published on the BF+DA blog.

Here Are The GIFs Of Danny Stripping On 'The Mindy Project' That You Want To See Today

September 17, 2014, 7:12 am

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Whoa Nelly! "The Mindy Project" returned for its third season on Tuesday night, and it seems that Mindy Kaling heard fans' big wish: More Chris Messina dancing.

Turns out, Messina's Danny Castellano paid for medical school by working as a stripper named Diamond Dan. Cue office gossip, pink thongs and a whole lot of Messina moves. Here's what you really want to see from "The Mindy Project" Season 3 premiere.









And just for kicks ...

Kimye, Miley And Loads Of Sparkles Dominate The Ashish Runway At London Fashion Week

September 17, 2014, 8:28 am

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You already see photos of celebrities like Kim Kardashian West, Kanye West and Miley Cyrus everywhere you go. Now, thanks to Ashish Gupta, you can see them in a new place: your closet.

There was bling galore and familiar faces on the catwalk at the designer's Spring 2015 show at London Fashion Week on Tuesday. This marks the Kardashian-West's first Fashion Week "appearance." Cyrus, on the other hand, has certainly made her runway presence known this season.



But before you start imaginging all the selfie-oppportunities you might have in one of these shirts, you should know that it will cost you (around $1,550 to be exact.) Similar pieces -- which don't feature the "worlds most talked about couple" -- retail for around $1,200 , but of course adding Kimye to your sweatshirt costs an extra $300.



Celebrities didn't serve as the only adornments at the show. Another piece in the collection has the words "hi haters" emblazoned across the chest, and even Gupta himself donned a sparkly "FML" sweatshirt.

The designer clearly has an affection for pop culture, glitz, and not giving a you-know-what.



Check out the entire collection at Style.com.

Why The Ashish Runway Show Is Much More Than A Kimye Sweatshirt

September 17, 2014, 8:51 am

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I'm pretty sure I woke up my neighbors at 5am when I shouted "Hallelujah" after seeing photos from Ashish's Spring 2015 show. The designer shook up London Fashion Week by casting all black models to debut his super shiny collection -- something I never thought I'd see during my lifetime.

As one of the very few black women working in this field, it pains me to see how little we are represented on the catwalk, front row and backstage, even though there are individuals like Bethann Hardison, Naomi Campbell, Iman and Tyson Beckford who have campaigned against the industry's blatant racism.

Clearly, it's OK for some to misappropriate our likeness for a good show, but Ashish's runway full of all black models didn't come across as forced or foul.

However, it didn't take long for a certain Kimye sequin sweatshirt to steal the spotlight from this monumental moment in fashion.

So to bring it all back to what we all should be focusing on, here's why Ashish's spring show is much more than his clever designs:

1. Because catwalks tend to be ALL WHITE with a dash of the same black faces. You know Jourdan, Joan or Chanel.



2. Because it showed that when you do include black models, it doesn't take shine away from the collection... hell, it makes it better!



3. Because it proved that black women CAN wear bold makeup. (Sorry, ASAP Rocky!)



4. Because it reinforced our community's role in setting trends -- backwards pants (Kris Kross), "Reading Rainbow" (Levar Burton), "Hi Hater" (Maino).







5. Because, really, it's about damn time that I see more people who look just like ME on the runway.