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The Art of Creation: An Exclusive Interview With Jay Calderin

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Jimmy Choo once said that he, "loved the idea of couture and its emphasis on creation." At only 14 years old Calderin may not have known exactly what he wanted to become, but he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he wanted to create.

And create he did. Having trained as a fashion designer at the High School of Fashion Industries, Calderin learned the art of couture and later went on to begin his career working for luxury clothing licensors, then as a photographer, professor and talented fashion designer whose work has graced the pages of Vogue and Elle Magazine.

After moving to Boston in 1989 and finding himself enchanted by the emerging designer scene, Calderin founded and became the Executive Director of Boston Fashion Week.

Now, with Boston Fashion Week celebrating 20 years, the author and professor at the School of Fashion Design on Newbury Street sat down with Style by Zoey to talk about where it all began.

When did your love affair with couture begin?


"I have to give credit for that first experience with couture to Mrs. Garofalo, one of my teachers at the High School of Fashion Industries in New York. She ran her classroom like an haute couture atelier, demanding that we produced garments which were as beautiful on the inside as they were on the outside. They also had to be fitted with great precision. I never looked at clothing the same way after her class. And although our industry does produce great quantities of uninspired, disposable clothing, the promise of this level of excellence keeps my love affair with fashion alive."

Having been to New York Fashion Week several times myself, I couldn't help but notice the difference in pacing at the runway show of "The Launch," was this intentional?

"It was intentional. I don't believe that fashion is meant to be devoured, it's meant to be seen and enjoyed...slowly."

Like a good meal?

"Exactly. Much like a chef can appreciate what went into cooking a meal, I wanted the audience to admire the time and precision that went into crafting each designers collection. Bill Cunningham once said, "he who seeks beauty will find it," by pacing the show as I did, my hope was that the audience would be able to slow down and do just that."


You mentioned wanting to educate the fashion industry beyond the "small, medium, large mentality," how do you think this can be accomplished?

"I think it's a matter of exposure and encouragement. You now see more companies focusing on transparency regarding sustainable, organic, and fair trade products, but as an industry we need to expose the public to the ideas and processes behind fashion so that they understand and appreciate what goes into producing creative quality clothing. We also need to encourage consumers not to settle for generic fit or finish when it comes to the clothes they wear."


I couldn't agree with you more. With that in mind, I am a firm believer in consumers investing in wardrobe staples that stand the test of time both in quality and style. What is one investment item you think every man should have in their closet?

"Comfortable, well made shoes. Preferably classics like brown wingtips or black chelsea boots."


What was your favorite fashion show from Boston Fashion Week over the past 20 years?


"Over the years my favorite shows have usually been designer debuts because they're so full of hope and they give you a glimpse into the future. But if I'm honest, I have to admit that there is a special place in my heart for the first ten years of Boston Fashion Week when I was presenting a new exhibition collection of my own almost every year. There is no substitute for being in the heart of it or for the thrill of putting your own ideas on the line. I miss making. I think there is at least one big collection left in me."

One last collection that I have no doubt will allow new generations to see fashion for what it truly is, an art form. After all, at the heart of Calderin is a man who not only has an insatiable thirst to create, but also to inspire through teaching.
Williams Butler Yeats once wrote that, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." After speaking with Calderin, I think its safe to say he has several fires he has yet to light. Here's to hoping he finds that match.

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Written by: Zoey Gulmi
Photography by: Joel Benjamin and Tracy Aiguier.

Kerry Washington Rocks A Fresh-Faced Look For Allure Magazine

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In a world of over-Photoshopped magazine covers, Kerry Washington's stunning Allure cover is remarkably refreshing. Washington's "au naturel" makeup lets her features shine: her big brown eyes and perfectly pouty lips aren't hidden by any color.

So while the "Scandal" star probably didn't wake up like this, her barely-there makeup and slinky robe look convincing enough:

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Washington's fresh-faced look is a departure from her usual red carpet glamour, but it only confirms what we've already suspected: this woman looks gorgeous in everything.

Kerry Washington's Allure cover hits newsstands October 28.

A Conversation on Getting Dressed

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After reading a few pages of "Women in Clothes," I knew that I wanted to base my reviews on my ever-changing and inconsistent personal style woes which I am currently experiencing. Ever since I've turned 25, I realize that I have nothing to wear, and every day, I want to give all my clothes to the local Salvation Army and start over. However, I'm not sure if this current mentality coincides with the fact that the season has recently changed or the fact that nothing is really constant in my life right now (because as they say- I'm deep in the throes of my twenties.)

I came to this realization within the first few pages of reading "Women in Clothes," and since then, I've transformed a few of my opinions, buying patterns and changing my overall perspective on clothing, in a good way. The book commences with a Skype conversation between the three leading authors, Sheila Heti (How Should a Person Be), Heidi Julavits (founding editor of The Believer), and Leanne Shapton (Co-founder of J&L Books). Each author leisurely confessed that nothing changed since their last conversation, and it may have been due to where they are in their lives. I thought about how their "nothing new" mindset is probably related to their sense of personal style and why my changing lifestyle is a reflection of my non-existent (unidentifiable) personal style.

I'd also like to casually slip in that I managed to contribute some of my stylish thoughts to the book (just a few paragraphs about being black, and my love of gift-giving). Anyway, I started the book on a Friday evening and wasn't able to put it down until the last page on that Sunday night. It's a book full of insight on clothes, unique thoughts about why women wear what they wear, and the stories behind significant outfits. The book also incorporates the sad lifestyle of factory workers in third-world countries and the clothes they manufacture (but can't afford) for American retailers and the much-needed explanation of getting dressed as required by differing religions.

From the beginning of the book, each author broke down their connection to fashion and the jobs and projects that they have worked on in a conversational format. I was intrigued by how much the book aims to reject mainstream fashion, specifically calling out Vogue and the general "fake stuff", clogging advertisements aimed at females requiring them to look a certain way. Do we all need to follow whatever trends an editor is "obsessed with" even if we aren't so sure how to rock it?

Women in Clothes is a philosophical approach on fashion, as it sort of democratizes fashion with a lower case "f" and decreases how intimidating it can be to talk about it in a fun way and through a public forum. For example, the excerpts on compliments throughout the book are unique, and call to attention the dialogue of women complimenting each other. Personally, I love getting compliments by complete strangers on the street or in public bathrooms while primping in the mirror. It's my way of connecting with different people I wouldn't normally talk to.
The artwork is as equally quirky with photographs of one contributor's trench coat and stripe shirt collections to random lipstick blots and photocopied hands. There are stories about hereditary style passed down from grandmother to daughter and subsequently granddaughter, a transgender man's insight on clothing, how aging affects style, and even how wearing makeup or eyeglasses play into getting dressed. One ongoing question that the book addresses is the difference between getting dressed and getting dressed up. While some people may have a clear distinction of the two , it's really about the individual's unique lifestyle. In the book, there is a response to a survey question where a girl remembers when her boss gave her a Dior suit as a gift, and despite the fact that she quit the position, she never wanted to sell it. Meanwhile, my survey responses were about my love of gift-giving and recalling my favorite item which I gifted my sister. I also wrote about my hair (obviously) and the point when I started to feel comfortable with wearing my natural curls. It's funny to see how all these voices fit together in one book and I realized how much we all have in common, even if it's not apparent at first glance..

Here are a few ideas from the book that got me going...

Leanne''s STONER/GAY theory: I literally laughed for five minutes on the Uptown C-Train on my way back from from work, and a few people were staring at me holding this thick book in my hand, wondering what could possibly be so hilarious. The lead author Sheila Heti introduces this concept of how people dress based on her stoner- gay theories and it couldn't be more accurate. Today's style, especially street style, is mixed with this rebel, 80's punk mentality alongside an obsession with J Crew and Zara fashions. If wearing army fatigue with a wool black fedora isn't stoner-gay-ish, then I don't know how else I could possibly understand Sheila's theory...


"I do care about your party" : There are a few stories about how religion play a role in personal style that really bring clarity to why some women choose to wear a veil living in a world driven by pop culture. One woman spoke about her feelings wearing religious garments throughout grade school, and how a classmate's compliment gave her a lifetime of confidence. And there's another powerful, yet humorous essay about why one woman who wears a hijab doesn't think her body is any of the public space's business. I thought this woman's passionate and sassy argument about why she chooses to wear the jilbab and hijab was not only powerful, but also relatable in the sense of why some may get dressed to draw attention away from the physically sexual attributes that stir unwanted compliments. Not only was this writer truthful in her passionate argument about getting dressed for a party, she's allowing herself to be free from the street harassment that happens daily and is disgustingly plaguing America's urban cities. I really loved this essay.


The evolution of Clothes: A numerical manifesto of clothing and how we acquire them in society is presented in a futuristic point of view. The manifestos are so left-field, it alludes to rejecting retail and returning to trading and finding clothing. The excerpt describes the value of clothing in stores, and why the more luxurious items are guarded under spotlights, bringing meaning to how sacred types of clothing can appear to the buyer or the window shopper which furthers our collective identities of the role our clothes play in culture. Interestingly enough, it highlights the surplus of clothing and how there are so many methods to obtain clothing for us to act in the way that we do. That is to say, maybe we should change the way we look and the way we purchase clothing in the first place. Is it really necessary to spend so much money on one item? The Stella McCartney dress I've been lusting over since I tried it on at a Saks Pre-Sale last year is still the price of my rent. Yet, it keeps on resurfacing into my style mood, and it's even named in this book! It's haunting me guys - seriously. Should I buy it? Meanwhile, it's up for debate whether we should be placing more value on second-hand items or creating a way for other people to reap the benefits of clothing that no longer holds importance in our lives.

To read more about the book and survey responses, go here: women in clothes.

Here's The Flat Butt Anthem You Didn't Know You Were Missing

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Your anaconda don't want none? Hey, comedian Jessica McKenna gets it.

It's basically the best thing ever that artists like Nicki Minaj and Meghan Trainor are singing the praises of big butts, but if your booty doesn't merit a "-licious," don't be too bummed: McKenna's here with a hilarious flat butt anthem to make sure you don't feel too left out.

Bottom line? Whatever your behind looks like, we're sure you're totally rocking it.

The Inclusive Gap Ad That Has Everyone Cheering

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Earlier this month, Gap posted a photo on the brand's Facebook page to promote its autumn kids collection. The ad shows a group of children getting ready for a class photo while ... wearing Gap clothes of course. But what has caught many special needs parents' eyes is the girl in the wheelchair in the second row.


Post by Gap.



Seven-year-old Ines Mitsouras has cerebral palsy. As her mom Melinda excitedly wrote in the comments for the ad, "The girl in the wheel chair is my daughter and love the fact that the Gap promotes inclusion for everyone! She is just a regular girl who loves shopping, dolls and the gap, but has cerebral palsy!"

Other special needs parents are applauding the ad as well. Writing about it on Babble, mom Ellen Seidman, whose son also has cerebral palsy, highlighted the importance of images like Gap's photo. "The more people see kids with disabilities in ads and TV programs, the more they’ll come to see them as kids like any other."

"Awesome! Showing this to my girlie when she gets home from school. She's 14, loves movies and video games, loves fashion and happens to have Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair," wrote another mom.

While Gap's class photo ad is a step in the right direction, we still have a long way to go before inclusivity for kids with special needs becomes the norm. As mom Katie Driscoll wrote when she created her own back-to-school ads featured kids of different abilities, "All kids of all abilities share the same excitement and anxiety about returning to school. The imagery needed to reflect that."

H/T Babble



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'Return Of The Rudeboy' Remind Us What Cool Looks Like (PHOTOS)

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The term “Rudeboy” is so much more than just a Rihanna video. Remember when Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh looked like this?

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The Wailers in 1964. Photo credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Or when The Specials looked like this?

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The Specials perform on “Saturday Night Live” in April of 1980. Photo credit: NBC / Getty Images

You’re not alone. For all lovers of Rudeboy swagger, it's a comfort to know the days of super sharp style are far from over. The "Return of the Rudeboy" exhibition at Somerset House in Westminster, England made that quite clear.

Under the creative direction of Harris Elliott and co-curator Dean Chakley, the multi-media show -- which ended in August -- crafted a six-room window into the lives of modern London Rudeboys.

Dictionary definitions of a Rudeboy invariably describe some incarnation of a rebellious "urban" youth, with dark shades and a fierce adoration of reggae music. But menswear enthusiast and designer Kervin Marc explains the term as so much more than a stereotype or fashion trend.

“Rudeboy is an attitude -- once you have that attitude everything you do, say or wear is rudeboy!”

Check out photographs from the exhibit below.

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Photographer Bevan Agyemang and designer Macharia Brian Gathii. Photo credit: Dean Chalkley

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Tailor Sam Lambert. Photo credit: Dean Chalkley

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Fashion bloggers Martell Campbell and Donya Patrice. Photo credit: Dean Chalkley

Return of the Rudeboy exhibition posters are still available from the Rizzoli bookshop at Somerset House, priced at £12. Individual postcards are also available priced at £2. A selection of prints are available upon request.

[h/t The Guardian]

Men's Style: 3 Style Mistakes You're Making Everyday and How to Fix Them

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People often ask me -- usually at parties -- if I walk around every day critiquing peoples' outfits. While I can turn my critical eye on and off, and I certainly never go up to anyone and give them my opinion unsolicited, there are certain mistakes that I see consistently. If you're someone who cares about how he looks (and I assume if you're reading this article, you are), read on for three common men's style errors and how to easily nip them in the bud.

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1) Loafers with your suit - I get it. Traveling in lace-ups is no fun. Try a monkstrap instead, like the pair above. You can slip in and out of them, and they work with a suit.

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2) Wearing pants that are too big in the waist - If your belt loops are pulling up when you tighten your belt like in the picture above, it means the waist on your pants is too big, and you run the risk of having diaper butt. Go down a size and your pants and belt won't work against each other.

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3) Mismatching themes - I often see guys in preppy polo shirts or khakis wearing things that are edgy in feel (like a biker jacket or boots) elsewhere in their outfit. It doesn't work. If one piece in your outfit is preppy or conservative, the whole look should be such. Likewise, if one piece in your outfit has an edge to it, the rest of your outfit should too. For example, you wouldn't wear a rough and tumble boot like these with a pair of traditional khakis. A pair of dark jeans or dress pants would suit them much better.

Have you ever made any of these mistakes? Fess up! I'd love to hear where things have gone awry for you. Leave a comment below, and perhaps I can offer some additional solutions.

The Business of Giving

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Have you ever wondered what our world would be like if charitable giving was a part of every business model? I know I have. While it's a given that any philanthropist wants to have wealth trickle back to society in a way that has the most impact by tackling the world's biggest problems and funding the most likely solutions the question that remains is where to begin. For me, the answer is a rather obvious one. We must begin with the premise that every life is of equal value. There in lies the starting point.

A truth that is as simple as it is complicated as the needs are, seemingly endless.
One day, as I sipped on a Latté and perused my morning paper, I read that Americans spend over 250 billion dollars annually on Fashion. Yup, I said billion. Needless to say, it got me thinking about how I could help redirect some of that cash flow back into society's most desperate sectors by empowering and encouraging the consumer to give back, thus enabling our economy to feed itself. From the experience I had drawn over a decade of working in the fashion industry in merchandising, marketing, luxury publishing and styling, I was well aware of the impact that technology already had on products, services, and retailers and I knew I wanted to use that same technology as a catalyst to create positive and lasting change. This is when Style by Zoey was born.

At Style by Zoey I am always striving to achieve a balance between my business of high end consumerism and giving back through not only doing makeovers for deserving women, but also creating products with a purpose and introducing companies to charities to create what I call "style with heart" collaborations.

Recently, during a conversation with Cathy the owner of Cathy Cross, an upscale trendy boutique, I mentioned my idea of having a clothing drive for the women at Dress for Success, a charity I volunteer for that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools for women to thrive in work and in life by helping them to foster the self-confidence and resiliency needed to realize their greatest potential.

Luckily for me, Cathy has a heart as big as her closet and with a simple nod of her head, the Dress for Success "Style with Heart" night was born.

Each guest of the event brought in their new and used business attire and enjoyed an evening shopping Cathy Cross's latest Fall collections as they enjoyed sips and sweets and entered to win prices. The best part? That evening, the women who attended not only expanded their wardrobes but also those of the women at Dress for Success.
Now that's what I call style with heart.

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To learn more about how to get involved with "the business of giving" and my "style with heart" collaborations, please visit my website Style by Zoey Together, I'm certain we can transform the role of consumerism in our society and allow for wealth to trickle back into the system of production all while satisfying our need for the occasional covet-worthy indulgence.

By Zoey Gulmi

Why Mellie's Speech About Sex Tapes On 'Scandal' Was So Powerful

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This Friday's "Scandal" hangover cannot be cured with a big glass of red wine. Instead, we'd like to bask in it. Thursday's episode, "Like Father, Like Daughter," broke boundaries for a few reasons. (Spoilers ahead, but you know that by now.)

There was mention of a sex act called Eiffel Towering (we dare you to look up), a tape of said sex act and, more important, the most progressive sex-tape talk we've ever heard from a parent on network television.

To recap: Olivia was called in to pick up the first daughter, Karen, from a party and bring her home safely without any photos or videos of Karen's wasted actions leaking to the press. Olivia succeeded, of course, until a boy from the party sent Karen a video. "The dirtiest sex tape I have ever seen in my entire life," in Olivia's words.

When Fitz confronted Karen about the tape, he quickly changed his perspective and asked her if she was raped. "It wasn't your fault," he says, as if something being done to Karen was, in a twisted way, better than if she had decided to have sex with two men on her own.

Karen's response: "Dad, I cut class. I ran away from my secret service goons. I helped some girl I barely knew jack her father's private jet to go to a party. I got drunk. I smoked weed. I shot up something awesome and yet the only way you think I could have sex with two guys is if I were raped. How lame are you? What they did to me? What about what I did to them?"

Later on, Mellie, who had spent the previous three episodes depressed and dressed in a bathrobe and Uggs, grieving for her son, tried her hand at parenting for the first time all season. What resulted was an empowering, emotional monologue about grief and sexual agency with Shonda Rhimes' name written all over it. (Mark Fish was the episode's writer.) "If you can tell me you had sex with those two boys because it made you happy, because you wanted to and because you felt empowered and turned on ... I would try hard to be supportive and happy for you," she said. "But I don't think that's why you did it. I think that you were sad. I think that you were feeling numb. I think that you thought feeling something was better than feeling nothing." Watch the whole clip below.

John Legend, Chrissy Teigen's Home Is For Sale, And There's A Music Video To Go With It

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It was a little more than a year ago that we were gushing over the Thai-temple-inspired home of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen when it was featured in the pages of Architectural Digest magazine. Now, though, it's agents from Sotheby's International Realty who are doing the gushing as the Hollywood Hills property hits the market for $1.9 million.

And since most of us have seen the airy, 1,998-square-foot space (if you haven't, take a look below), Sotheby's has turned to another medium to help sweeten the home's appeal. Produced by a company called Interior Pixels, the listing includes a two-minute video tour of the "remodeled sanctuary" designed by Los Angeles firm Desiderata Design.

The tour isn't scored by Legend, but it still manages to sell potential buyers on the 3-bedroom, 2-bath house, which also features an outside bathing area, recording studio and stone and oak flooring that Teigen recently said you may find her husband scrubbing, in an interview with Hollywood Life.

Bonus: the duo could be sticking around. According to The Wall Street Journal, Legend and Teigen are looking to stay in the neighborhood, but expand their living space a bit.

Wish them luck, and then check out the gorgeous video of their for-sale house above.

Evan Rachel Wood 'Felt Like Meat' During Vanity Fair's 2003 Young Hollywood Shoot

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Back in July 2003, Evan Rachel Wood was one of nine young female stars chosen to appear on the now-infamous cover of Vanity Fair's Young Hollywood issue. That year, Wood rose to stardom with the teenage-rebellion film "Thirteen" and posed for Vanity Fair alongside the likes of Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan and the Olsen twins.

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The experience, however, was apparently not an enjoyable one.

A Twitter user posted a photo of the cover image, shot by Mark Seliger, with the message, "NEVER FORGET." Wood responded with a series of tweets about the shoot.

























In 2003, Wood had never heard of Juicy Couture and while the rest of the group was debating over Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera she chose Alanis Morissette. During her Vanity Fair interview she said her pet peeve was “people that do things because they think they should be doing them."

Last year, Wood -- who has been acting since she was 9 years old -- stood up for scrutinized young stars who've grown up in the public eye.

“When you’re a teenager in an adult career, people expect you to be perfect and expect you to never make mistakes or to be a reckless teenager," she told the Daily Beast. "And then when you are, they give you such a really hard time for it. You have to remind them that you’re still a kid ... I was never a Bieber or a Cyrus, but I think the judgment was there, sure.”

H/T Jezebel

10 Hacks for Stylish Air Travel

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At one time or another, we all fly. Weddings, funerals, or vacations all require a boarding pass and a high level of patience. Flying has come a long way, but unless you've got a little extra cash to go first or business class, coach still leaves much to be desired in terms of comfort and ease. Whether you're a frequent flyer or a once a year traveler, here are some easy tips for planning and executing a stress-free flying experience.
 
1.  If at all possible, take your bag with you.
Lost luggage can be a real deal breaker, not to mention having to tack at least half an hour into your airport experience waiting at the conveyor belt. There are some great options out there for lightweight, roomy bags that will fit a week's worth of outfit options without majorly wrinkling your stuff or risking a shampoo spill. Splurge on one with an aluminum shell for the durability and rest easy knowing you won't have to spend a day shopping for necessities upon arrival. 
 
2.  Once you've found the perfect bag, refine your packing.
Spend the extra organization time thinking about where you're going, how long you're going to be there, and what you will realistically be doing. Be logical and forget the fancy dress or suit you think you might wear at an upscale restaurant and pack practical items you know look good on you. If you need something you didn't pack, it should be a special piece that you can find at your destination. Your favorite jeans, a smart blazer, and comfortable t-shirts and shoes are great basic options that you can build upon. Jewelry (absolutely not anything expensive, especially if you have to check luggage) can always take an outfit to the next level. There's also no reason to pack excessive amounts of undergarments--hand washing in a hotel bathroom sink is perfectly acceptable and smart.
 
3.  Refine your carry-on.
There are so many wallets, bags, passport holders that claim to make traveling easy breezy. Personally, I have never encountered a passport holder that I did not have to constantly zip and unzip or open and reopen to retrieve my boarding pass, money, credit card, or ID. It's tedious and dangerous because the potential for things to fall out unnoticed is greater. Keep it simple: get a shoulder bag that can hold your computer, iPad, a few books, and a water bottle (and any other small item you deem essential). Inside that, keep a pouch that will hold your smartphone, passport, boarding pass, cash, and a credit card. You will always know where the important things are; the rest is tucked safely in your luggage.  
 
4.  Think about your health.
If you're taking a cross country or trans Atlantic flight, it helps to have some products on hand to ease the stress that flying puts on your body. A great moisturizing cream for your face and/or body to combat dryness, a rinse free hand wash to keep germs at bay, and a giant bottle of water will make you look and feel much better during and after the flight. Considering all of the germs that regularly circulate through planes, a highly concentrated dose of vitamin C taken once to sit down can ward off any viruses potentially coming your way.
 
5.  The plane outfit.
Comfort, comfort, comfort. That's the idea of any outfit for the plane, but we all know style must play a role. Key items are slip on shoes, leggings or wrinkle free pants (that don't require a belt), a soft t-shirt, a wrap around scarf, a blazer, and some extra socks for a chilly cabin. After that, it's just extra stuff that will take up space in your seat.  Keep in mind there is always a chance (albeit small) that you could have an upgrade randomly bestowed upon you. Common sense is that the nicer you look, the more chance you have of this happening. Dress smart and you just might get to board the plane and turn left.
 
6.  Choose your seat.
Window? Aisle? Middle? What do you prefer? A window gets bothered less, but if you do have to get up its much more of a pain. This is also where checking out the aircraft can make a difference. Is it rows of 2 or 3? How far front or back are you? Companies like JetBlue now offer extra legroom seats for $15 each way, or you can always opt to sit in the exit row.  
 
7.  In flight entertainment and relaxation.
A great pair of headphones that blocks outside noise and lets you drift off to sleep to the sounds of your own music and nothing else is a great investment for flying. Being able to forget about the screaming baby or signaling to the chatterbox siting next to you that you really don't want to talk are invaluable, especially on a long flight. If you don't have a personal TV and didn't think to download any movies onto your iPad, a book is a great standby. Catch up on some reading and indulge in something unrelated to your work--great literature has the power to rejuvenate. You can also try your best to catch some shuteye, in which case an eye mask and a sachet of lavender could really help. The medicinal route for sleep is always an option, but drooling on the person next to you isn't ideal, so be cautious.
 
8.  Food & Drink.
We all know alcohol is bloating, dehydrating, and generally not what our body needs, especially at 36,000 feet. That being said, a glass of wine is a great way to calm nerves and relax before a long flight. If you must drink, be sure to supplement with plenty of H20--your liver and face will thank you.

As far as plane food is concerned, the heavily salted options just add to the bloat and general unpleasant appearance upon landing. Pack or (buy in the terminal) fresh fruit, a protein bar, or some nuts and seeds. They will give you something to snack on mid flight without making you feel bad.
 
9.  Travel before travel.
Don't be late to check in, and if you can, check in ahead of time. Print your boarding pass and cruise through security with time to spare. Airports are notorious for randomly having long lines and delays, so don't leave it to chance. It's better to wait at the gate than have to deal with getting on another flight. If you're a frequent flyer, things like the Global Entry Program and TSA Pre check allow you to bypass immigration lines (dreadfully long) and go through security without having to remove any items of clothing.  
 
10.  Arrival.
If you're traveling to a different time zone, set your watch to the current time of your destination. Mentally prepare yourself for the change and use the air time to adjust. 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.

Sex, Violence, and Weight

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And I could add sickness to that list.

What a culture focuses on is what it gets more of. Now, I'm not a conservative person when it comes to sex, but I think the whole porn world is gross. It degrades women and even the women who think they're not being degraded are. It's not like joyful, conscious, balanced people choose that industry. I think of the women who fought for us to vote in America, who wanted to be able to go to school, who wanted to have jobs that only men had. We're still trying to get paid the same salary. I think of the women across the world who still don't have those rights and cannot even voice their desire for them. I think porn isn't harmless for a man to be watching either. If he loves his wife, he doesn't need to watch another woman naked and having sex. I know marriage is complicated and some men may think their needs are not met because their wives are burnt out with work, kids, life. Maybe if they helped more or wooed her a little, the whole bedroom routine could shift. Simulated sex in movies is way different, cause it's fake, but depicts sex more realistically than porn. C'mon, real woman are not anything like that. As for racy ads on billboards, who cares, it's harmless and sensual. But since we see larger-than-life boobs overflowing from bras in those ads, no one should worry about women breastfeeding in public. The whole boob obsession/aversion is so weird.

Violence is glorified in media and it sells. It sells fear and ratings. You can't even check your email without the home page showing you the worst possible stories they can find. Yes, it's horrible that something bad happened to someone, but if you only look at the news, you would think it's not even worth living. I haven't watched a horror movie since the '90s cause having kids is scary enough, but beyond that it's TV violence that has desensitized people. How many crime shows do they really need? Don't people get sick of it? What if what you watched on TV was what you wanted to see more of in the world? Video games have become so gory. My kids have some of them too. I know there is a connection between these simulated crimes and many teens' aggression. It creates a disassociation with reality, it numbs their creativity and stops them from realizing their full potential if they spend hours in VideoGameWorld. There has to be a balance.

Weight issues are what fuels a billion dollar industry, right up there with porn. There is obesity that doesn't just plague people's bodies, but their lives and their whole being. The yo-yo people go through with the numbers on the scale is more than just calories. It's labeling foods good and bad, creating cycles of shame, reward, achievement, restriction, binge, and different sizes and self-worths. I've been 200 pounds and 110. Anyone can lose weight temporarily. Lifestyles changes create physical, but also mental and spiritual changes if you focus on wellness. Who cares if celebs lose the baby weight in 2 1/2 days. Weight looks different on each person, numbers lie. Eating organic, whole foods, non-GMO and exercising are what loving yourself actually "looks" like versus a size 2,4,6.

Added to that, like I said in the beginning, sickness could be added to the list, because our country feeds off the idea of sickness. If I didn't know the power of mindset and wellness, I would be paranoid and live in fear every day for me and my kids. Anxiety is so prevalent and it's no wonder. Take a look at the industries that make money off of you being sick and needing medicine. Of course go to the doctor if you're truly sick, but preventative medicine would save you money and make your whole quality of living better. Seriously, can you imagine if everyone limited their fast food, drank their green smoothies, took a meditation break at their desk, did a yoga class as a family, and gratitude was how we started out the school day? What if the morning network shows started out with ten things they were grateful for and everyone tweeted in theirs? What if we became a country not of division of political parties, religions, races, sexes, socioeconomic classes, but of heart-centered living and community? I sound like a hippie, I know, but would peace and working together be such a bad thing? Wouldn't it be better? Why wait for tragedies to start movements and join together to create a better world? What if people looked for common ground and what they did have in common? You see, I believe people are good, and I find them wherever I go. I am a helper and I find the helpers. I focus on the good. Are you? Do you focus on the negatives I listed? You can choose to think more positive. Anyone can.

I live in a different world than many, in that I don't believe in doom and gloom, I believe in hope and that things are getting better. You can look at upheavels in all areas as creating anew. Change is the mode of life, it's a given. You can focus on what you want to see more of in your life with what you spend your time, energy, attention, and thinking on. What are you focused on? What could you tweak in your own life? What beliefs could you reexamine? What could you let go of? Who could you forgive? What could you forgive yourself for? What do you want to create in your life? Ask yourself... what isn't working in my life anymore? What isn't serving me? What could I add to my life that would make it even better? What brings me true joy? What is my life's purpose? What one change could I make today that could create a domino effect in my life, my family, my home, and the world?

I dare ya!

Think outside the box. Be different. Focus higher.

P.S. For those who clicked on it because they thought sex may help you lose weight... it could. Stress makes it harder to lose weight not just with our feelings, moods, and mind overload, but with the release of stress hormones, as in cortisol. Clean up the stress in your life, improve your love life and a healthy weight is easy to maintain. And if you think you will need to lose weight first, that is just a belief. If you own it, that's sexy. A woman who is confident in who she IS, not based on her age or weight, is the most attractive thing in the world. If he doesn't get that honey, he doesn't get you, nor does he deserve you. There are plenty of good men out there that would cherish you.

Why Brandy Melville Should Listen to Its Plus-Size Fans

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Brandy Melville offers fashion for "diverse California girls." And in Brandy Melville's opinion, this diversity is reflected in one size: small.

I don't think it causes a negative effect on the body image of any one of our shoppers because anyone can come in the store and find something. At other places, certain people can't find things at all.


Thus spoke Sairlight Saller, visual manager for Brandy Melville, the latest addition to the growing list of Lululemons, Abercrombies and American Apparels -- fashion brands who fail to understand that violating cultural sensibilities by propagating unrealistically thin and tall bodies can undermine their brand's value.

No doubt, Brandy Melville is one of the hottest teenage fashion brands at the moment. Teens love its uniquely Californian thin beach look.

However, branding arguments that reduce Brandy Melville to a symbolic resource for teenage beauty battles easily overlook that brands today are not only resources for conspicuous consumption. They also participate in much larger cultural conversations about fairness, inclusion, equality and health.

In the day and age, when a brand's image is no longer authored by the brand's owner but co-authored by a host of cultural brand architects including journalists, activists, bloggers, celebrities and consumers, Brandy Melville's extreme one-size-fits-all policy can easily turn into a full-fledged doppelgänger brand image crisis.

For a growing number of Brandy critics and fashion activists, Brandy Melville is an oppressive ideological force that supports social evils such as poor self-esteem, distorted perceptions of weight, social exclusion and eating disorders.

Like 18-year-old fashion lover Lani Renaldo, these critics also call for a culture of diversity but one which helps combat these evils through more choice -- choice in size that empowers young people to cultivate their own individuality as consumers.

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Made it to London!! #evanscollective #cutforevans

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Fashion blogger and Marie Claire columnist Nicolette Mason




Lani's passionate letter is also echoed in a growing movement of plus-size consumers who demand greater market inclusion and choice. In a recent study in the Journal of Consumer Research, my colleagues Daiane Scaraboto and Eileen Fischer have shown how frustrated consumers who are excluded by mainstream fashion markets combat entrenched fashion norms and institutions.




One such example highlighted by Scaraboto and Fischer is the so-called Fatosphere conglomerate of plus-size bloggers: "bloggers in the Fatosphere denounce the weight-loss industry, question the rhetoric of obesity as an epidemic and advocate the view that there can be 'health at every size.'"




Their battle against established patterns of power relationships involves using traditional and more recent fashion industry technologies such as photography, blogging and Instagram to appeal to institutional logics such as the logic of art and the logic of commerce. As such, these bloggers are not merely "frustrated fatshionistas." In blogs entitled "Big Fat Blog," "Fat Girls Like Nice Clothes Too," or " The Curvy Fashionista," they present alternative looks, they have a visible impact on the fashion industry and they drive field-level change.




Consumers today engage in efforts to change markets because they can. They feel empowered, knowledgeable, entitled, and they draw from a host of technologies to get their message across. They may not be able to make a difference as individuals. But Scaraboto and Fischer's findings, along with a host of other case studies from music, consumer tech, food and other industries remind us that consumer collectives -- often using well-institutionalized branding and promotional techniques -- can indeed change the status quo.




What Brandy Melville can learn from its plus-size fans is that its brand is meaningful to more stakeholders than its narrowly defined target. And these brand stakeholders are convinced that looking beautiful is not a matter of a thin physique.




When an 18-year-old fashion fan understands that real brand love knows no limit in size, why doesn't Brandy Melville?





Markus Giesler (@drgiesler) is a marketing professor at York University's Schulich School of Business specializing in the study of market creation, innovation management, technology consumption and customer experience design. He has been named one of the world's 40 best business professors under 40 by Poets & Quants, a young b-school star professor on the rise by Fortune, and one of the best recognized experts studying high-technology consumer behavior by Wired. He can be reached at shapingmarkets.org.

Ebola Swag Is Here, 'Because Fashion Is Infectious'

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As countries around the world send supplies to West Africa to aid thousands of people infected with Ebola, crafty entrepreneurs are sending Ebola-themed novelty items to people looking to incorporate the deadly virus into their clothing and decor.

A search for "Ebola" on Etsy turns up more than 100 items, including earrings, a cutting board and this Ebola handbag, "because fashion is infectious," according the the shop's description.

ebola bag

Reached for comment, the shop's owner, who calls himself "Shayne of the Dead," explained his inspiration. "It was a 'what will be hot' this season type of thing," he wrote. "Looks like I was right. Ebola has caught the imagination of America. I mean it's scary, comes from monkeys, and you bleed out of your eyes. Only a zombie apocalypse could [be] 'hotter.'"

He said that he has not yet sold any of the bags.

If you're in the market for an Ebola T-shirt, there are plenty of options, from a "got ebola?" muscle tank to a souvenir tee sold on Zazzle that reads, "I went to Nigeria, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt and Ebola."

The product description for the latter explains that a new "craze" has arrived: "Hop on the hip new Ebola craze! Tell everyone you're a world class traveler AND probably have a deadly communicable disease with this Nigerian souvenir tee!"

For those ready to curse the deadly virus without using profanity, there's a "Curse You Ebola" shirt. The shop's owner, James Granado, said the idea behind the shirt was to raise awareness. "We would love for even ourselves to be as much informed as possible so more lives can be saved. Spreading awareness," he wrote. "I believe everyone is cursing ebola as we speak."

ebola shirt

Some Ebola products take a thoughtful approach to raising awareness about the crisis in Africa and are raising money for relief. This prayer candle sold with symbolic gemstones (because "Bloodstone is good for blood ailments, including internal bleeding") may not be for everyone, but a portion of the sales go to the global ministry group SIM Ebola Crisis in Liberia.

ebola candle

And the seller says 100 percent of the proceeds from this red cotton wrap bracelet go to Doctors Without Borders for Ebola relief in West Africa.

There are Ebola toys for kids, too. A plush Ebola microbe is listed on Amazon, but it's currently sold out after a rush of demand over the summer. Maybe it will be back in time for the holidays. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive: 17 reviews give five stars, and two give four stars. One buyer wrote, under the heading, "My kids love to play with Ebola":

I got this for myself a while back but it has become a favorite of my kids (2.5 and 5) so much so that they take it to Church and out with us when we go shopping.


I admit it is fun when I get to tell people that my infant is chewing on Ebola or that my toddler is carrying Ebola. So far we haven't gone into what Ebola is but that will come.


Celebrities are also cashing in on Ebola swag. Thursday night, rapper Cam'ron posted a photo on Instagram of himself wearing a surgical mask -- with his face on it. He wrote that the masks will be on sale next week on Dipset's website.

"LMAO! I can't blame him for trying to make money off everyone's paranoia," one follower responded.

Could you?

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Health Goth Is More Than A Fashion Trend

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What the heck is Health Goth?

While the term may look strange at first glance, the idea behind the wearing of head-to-toe black sportswear is simple: it promotes a way to make the fitness world more accessible to people who don't fit the stereotype of the typical gym-goer.

Less about wearing any particular brand or even style of clothing, Health Goth is a a subcultural movement, a new point of entry for people who'd rather pump iron to Nine Inch Nails or Type O Negative than Maroon Five or Taylor Swift -- and who don't necessarily feel at home at the typical Top 40-blaring, Lululemon-dominated gym.

The origin of Health Goth is generally traced back to April 2013, when two Portland men launched the original Health Goth Facebook page.

Since then, others have taken up the Health Goth banner, including Chicago-based music producer and party promoter Johnny Love, the man behind HealthGoth.com. This summer, Love launched a line of t-shirts and sport bras that subvert -- with a sinister spin -- the look of fitness wear from corporate brands like Nike, Adidas and Under Armour.

health goth
One of Love's designs, the "Dead Worldwide" shirt, is worn by nightlife personality Jazzeppi.


Love hopes the trend will help encourage the dark-hearted among us to lead healthier lives.

"The evolution, or rather, byproduct of its existence will be a generation of gym-goers who realize that you don't have to be a jock to lift weights, and who do it listening to darker and/or more aggressive music," Love told HuffPost via e-mail.

The message appears to be resonating. What started as a social media meme now appears -- thanks in no small part to coverage from fashion and cultural publications including Marie Claire, PAPERMAG and Complex -- ready to hit the mainstream.

The style has been described by some as an outgrowth from black-heavy looks like street goth or goth ninja, but there's much more to it than the clothes. As the cliché goes, it's seen by its devotees as a lifestyle.

At its core, Love describes Health Goth as "about achieving an attractive level of physical fitness." In 2013, he created a "#HealthGoth Fitness Bible" that urged people to start eating more healthily -- refraining from eating anything that cannot be made in one's own home kitchen -- and to work out regularly, exercising one's entire body evenly by completing full exercises, not being afraid of lifting weights and, above all, "work[ing] out 'til you feel like death."

Love doesn't particularly see anything too contradictory about bridging the ideas of "health" and "goth" together, either. Many icons of the culture -- like Trent Reznor and Glenn Danzig -- have remained in excellent physical shape throughout their careers. There's even websites like MetalWorkout.com, geared toward the fitness-minded who prefer music fast and frightening.

"[Fashion designer] Rick Owens has sung the praises of working out and he has a good point," Love said. "Clothes fit and look best on a well maintained body, no one wants to see a Grover belly poking through your Under Armour compression shirt. After your body is right then you can swaddle it in all the semi-futuristic, minimal, monochrome sportswear you desire, and then it'll look good."

health goth
Love (right), with a friend, both wearing "Dead Worldwide" after a soccer match.


Love has had success as the movement's poster boy. The first run of his line sold out, and he now has his eye on putting out a wider range of gear, including shorts, leggings, a football jersey and a low-cut bodybuilder-style tank top.

But as Health Goth continues its evolution from a hashtag to well-known style and culture, could it be heading the way of preceding music-oriented microtrends -- like seapunk or "witch house" -- that lost their cachet when chart-topping pop stars co-opted the look?

Love understands that exposure is "a double-edged sword," but is hopeful for a lasting impact regardless if Katy Perry or Lady Gaga pop up in music videos wearing monochrome black above Nike Roshe running shoes.

"If only the superficial elements of Health Goth are what gains traction, then I see the same thing happening [to it]," he said, referring to discarded trends.

"There are still people who dress 'punk' because there is an actual culture that goes along with it, [but] if something is solely a clothing style, then it can be tossed away and picked up by a mom on the sale rack at T.J.Maxx."

Here's A First Look At Kim Kardashian On '2 Broke Girls'

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Kim Kardashian's long-awaited '2 Broke Girls' appearance is approaching, and we finally have a first look.

Actress Beth Behrs tweeted a Whosay pic of the reality TV icon posed with her and co-star Kat Dennings on set.



"Monday. October. 27th. We're baaaaack. With a new friend- @KimKardashian," she wrote.

According to the snap, Kardashian makes her sitcom appearance in a signature crop top and pencil skirt combo. She looks glam as everything, per usual. Check out Kardashian's acting prowess on the "2 Broke Girls" season premiere, Monday Oct. 27 on CBS.

Dog Halloween Costumes Are The Shih Tzu

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Did you promise yourself you would never become that person? You know, the person who takes their dog everywhere, carries him around in a little bag decked out in canine accessories and even - ugh - dresses him up for Halloween?

Too bad, because dog costumes are adorable. Thanks to our friends at PetSmart, we got to our dogs got to sample some of the season's best, and we returned with some truly fetching pictures. If you're looking to have the cutest dog on the block, let these pups show you how it's done.





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The Foolproof Way To A Good Day, According To Dita Von Teese

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Dita Von Teese feels better than ever, whether she's dressed to the nines or lounging around sans makeup.

The 42-year-old chatted with HuffPost Live on Friday, and while she reveals that she dresses down on occasion, there's one makeup item that she always wears.

"On a normal day I wear red lipstick every day without fail, sunglasses, my hair in a bun and a dressed down version of this. The thing is, it's just sort of how it makes me feel during the day. I feel like I have a better day if I'm a little bit more put together," she told HuffPost Live.

To be honest, we wouldn't expect anything less from the sexy star.

Check out the clip above, and to see the entire interview head to HuffPost Live.

5 Everyday Pieces to Inspire Your Halloween Costume

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The month of October is the kick-off before the holidays. Stores are already filled with holiday decorations, and the smell of Halloween candy three aisles down is looming in the air. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I love to go all-out. A lot of my friends love Halloween as well, so it becomes a several-night affair instead of a grand, one-night party. However, when I start reminding myself of all of the holiday gifts/travel/decorations costs, I have to pull back the reigns and find something reasonable. Luckily, with sites such as Etsy and Pinterest, I've learned to get creative not only artistically, but also financially.

If you're not into going big on Halloween, you'll love easy, transitional pieces. Surprisingly, the best place to look first is your own closet. You already know it fits, and you can spend money on the details rather than the basics. After looking in my closet and coming up with a few great options, I can guarantee you'll have at least one of these. Here are five great basic pieces in your wardrobe that you can transition into a variety of costumes.


1. Knee-High Socks
With fall comes boot season, and with boot season comes the need for knee-high socks. I can bet most of you have a pair or two lying around. Knee socks complement a variety of costumes; from the classic school girl/nurse/nerd outfits, to athletic and character costumes. For more knee-high sock costume inspirations, head here.

2. Black Leggings
Black leggings are not only comfortable, but you probably already own at least one pair in your closet. Pair with a black shirt and cat ears to dress up as a cat. Or, add a black leotard under your leggings and pair with black heels and volumized hair for a great DIY Sandy from Grease option.


3. White Button Up Shirt
Forget the office business appropriate attire and use your white button up shirt for something a little more creative. From Risky Business-inspired ensembles to Britney Spears in the "Hit Me Baby One More Time" video (you'll need the knee high socks for that one too), the white button down can be used for something a little more fun than just business professionals. For more inspiration ideas, go here.

4. Sunglasses
Your sunglasses can say a lot about your personality, and can also make your costume. An aviator-styled pair with fringe and tie dye can make you look like someone out of the 1970s, while Ray Bans and a floral high waist can make you look like you're heading to the sock hop. Pick out your favorite pair and search for ideas from it. You'll be surprised at how easy sunglasses make an outfit!

5. Jeans
We love a good pair of jeans. Coincidentally, so do many character-inspired outfits. From dressing up as a cowboy, a lumberjack, an undercover Ccp, or the fashionable Olivia Pope from Scandal, jeans are a great basic item in your closet. Splurge on the detail pieces such as a cowboy hat, sombrero, flannel or trench coat to really make your outfit transition from basic to costume attire. For more inspirations with your favorite pair of denim, click here.
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