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'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Isn't A Movie About BDSM, And That's A Problem

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Like its source material, the "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie is a phenomenon. Sam Taylor-Johnson's much-derided adaptation of E.L. James' more-derided novel broke all kinds of box-office records over the holiday weekend, with more than $94 million in ticket sales. In the wake of its release, some critics praised the film for its feminism and sex-positive depiction of an S&M relationship. Others, not so much: "'50 Shades' is domestic abuse" read one sign held by protestors during the film's London premiere.

Maybe the problem was all in the marketing of this material: As it turns out, "Fifty Shades of Grey" is less of a movie about BDSM and more like an average stalker-thriller. It's easy to get hung up on Christian Grey’s Red Room of Pain with all his floggers, crops, rope and cable ties. But the movie, which only features about 20 minute of sex scenes in total, is really about the obsessive lengths Christian (Jamie Dornan) goes to convince Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), a 21-year-old virgin, to sign a contract that enters her into a dominant-submissive relationship, not the relationship itself.

It's only Christian’s extreme wealth and the romanticized notion of his overarching dominant persona that barely mask what’s really just completely creepy behavior. In any other movie, a man or woman who tracks down another person at their job, local bar, home and, oh, their mother's home in Georgia, a plane ride away, would probably end up in back of a police car.

"Everyone wants to focus on the spanking, because that’s the sensational part -- that’s the part that everyone is going home and masturbating to anyways," Mistress Couple, the head mistress at La Domaine Esemar, the oldest BDSM training chateau in the world, told HuffPost Entertainment. "People aren’t masturbating to the part where they’re fighting and he’s stalking her at work."

Christian's self-admitted inability to leave Ana alone shouldn't be romanticized, nor should his controlling, domineering behavior be conflated with sexual dominance.

"He suffers from what I call 'Domitis,'" said Mistress Mona Rogers, a professional dominatrix in New York City. "He walks around acting dominant all the time and that's not realistic."

Christian says he always gets what he wants, which he does by lavishing Ana with extravagant gifts (first-edition set of "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," a new Macbook Pro, selling her busted powder blue Volkswagen Beetle in exchange for a shiny red Audi A3) and manipulating and controlling her into being with him on his terms.

"There is a very big difference between being true to yourself and ruling with an iron fist, and letting your desire for control, control you," Mistress Couple explained when asked the difference between being dominant and being controlling or abusive. "At La Domaine, we say that if your fetish is controlling you, then it’s a paraphilia. This is something that’s potentially harmful to you as a person and I feel that is what Christian Grey embodies."

For those who are blissfully unaware, Christian reveals he's "50 shades of fucked up" because he "had a rough start in life." [SPOILER ALERT] That's code for he was born to a woman who was "crack addict and a prostitute." In James' books, his birth mother died by suicide when he was 4 years old. In the second book, "Fifty Shades Darker," he tells Ana, "I'm a sadist, Ana. I like to whip little brown-haired girls like you because you all look like the crack whore -- my birth mother."

"BDSM is about creating vulnerability, opening yourself up to your partner in a way you can trust them to take you to some of these dark places that are considered taboo overall, but in a loving way," Mistress Couple explained. "That’s what’s missing from the 'Fifty Shades of Grey.' Christian continuously violates [Ana's] trust and her ability to feel safe, and that any person in their right mind would get out of a relationship that’s like that."

Beyond simply being a movie cliche, how Christian's own encounters with abuse formed his sexual desires is an inaccurate and problematic representation of what might motivate someone's interest in BDSM.

"There is such confusion about the whole abuse issue. That if you are into [BDSM] you were abused as a child, which is absurd," said Master R, the head master at La Domaine, who previously was a professional submissive in New York City for almost a decade, before exploring his own dominance and later opening the training chateau in 1993.

"The concept that if you are into it you are going to be abusive, is also absurd. Most psychological studies coming out now say that people in BDSM relationships are very healthy, and often far more balanced because we communicate so much, and we are trying so hard not to be abusive. That’s why this film is so objectionable and this character is so objectionable," he said. "I don’t think [author] E.L. James understands what domination and submission and mastery really is. She’s used caricatures that she’s encountered previously and prejudices that she’s encountered previously, so the whole character is going to be carrying not only a lot of falsehoods but false understandings."

In fact, while Christian Grey is all "fucked up" a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2013, found those involved in BDSM scored better on certain indicators of mental health than their counterparts. Other studies suggest bondage can induce altered mental states and reduce anxiety.

Mistress Mona also dismisses the notion of trauma inspiring someone's interest in sexual dominance, and is quick to point out something everyone who practices "safe, sane, consensual" BDSM knows: The submissive is really the one who has all the power and sets the limits. And while "Fifty Shades of Grey" spends a lot of time talking about consent, with tedious discussion and even negotiation of Christian and Ana's relationship contract, Ana never signs the consent form. Not that it would even matter, since Christian never adheres to his own rules anyway. At one point he even says, "Fuck the paper work."

Another reason "Fifty Shades" isn't really a BDSM movie is that, at its core, the film rejects [D]iscipline, [S]adism and [M]asochist. Anastasia is down for some light bondage, and even a little over-the-knee spanking, but she just can't understand why Christian wants to "punish" and inflict pain on her.

For those who haven't experienced it, the motivations behind these desires can also be difficult to understand. But as Mistress Couple emphasized, rarely do motivations stem from abuse. In her case, she sees herself as a "sexual or spiritual guide," or even as somewhat of a coach to an athlete.

"Athletes are revered in our society for their endurance and strength. Nobody ever stops to consider that the pain and endorphin rush a runner feels from getting a side cramp is comparable to the sting of a mistress' whip," she wrote in an email after our interview. "Engaging in intentional BDSM is like training for a long distance marathon. Some who engage in it are looking to be trained (the submissive and or masochist), others are drawn to coaching (the dominant and or sadist)."

Because those who practice BDSM are frequently portrayed in popular culture as broken people, we know why these misconceptions exist. But Mistress Couple breaks it down very simply for those, like Ana, struggling to understand why anyone would want to inflict pain on anyone else:

"It's about being able to control a person and guide them to a place that is exciting for them -- and also creating that intimacy by being the leader," she said. "It’s not necessarily about getting turned on by hitting someone as hard as you can. For someone people it is, and they just want to see just how hard they can push that person, but I think operating like that all the time can be really dangerous."

As for Christian's need to whip brunette women who remind him of his birth mother, Master R explained that in "real, loving, partnered BDSM, it is possible to use it to deal with emotional damage, if you are open and honest." But as anyone who has seen the film or read the book will agree, Christian is not truthful. "He’s as closed off to himself as he is to Ana. No matter what it’s going be, it’s going to remain an emotional crutch. It’s not going to do you any good to hit a woman who looks like your 'crack whore mother.' It will do you emotional good to get inside your own heart and see what happened and learn to be loving," he said.

For more on BDSM and the reality behind "Fifty Shades of Grey," check out HuffPost's Love and Sex Podcast:


Khloe Kardashian Would Like Amber Rose To Stop Talking About Her Family

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It seems that Amber Rose does not approve of Kylie Jenner's rumored relationship with 25-year-old rapper Tyga.

In an interview with Power 105 on Feb. 13, Rose claimed that the rapper left Blac Chyna to date Jenner.

"She's a baby, she needs to go to bed at 7 o'clock and relax," Rose said of Jenner. "That's ridiculous. [Tyga] should be ashamed of himself. For sure. He has a beautiful woman and a baby and left that for a 16-year-old who just turned 17."

As it turns out, Jenner's older sister, Khloe Kardashian, will have none of this. Kardashian took to Twitter on Monday to tell Rose to keep quiet on the subject of her family:

























Rose, in turn, shot back:










If you were't previously versed in Kardashian family versus Rose drama, you should know that Rose once dated Kim Kardashian's current husband, Kanye West. Back in 2012, she blamed the dissolution of her relationship with West on the reality star, calling her a "home-wrecker." She later apologized for the comment.

UPDATE: Khloe responded to Amber Rose.








You Are Going To Want To Curl Up In Ryan Roche's Entire Fall 2015 Collection

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Who's the next great fashion designer? We're on the lookout this New York Fashion Week for the lesser known or up-and-coming stars who are creating clothing and careers worthy of some praise and closet space. While they aren't household names yet, we're so impressed with their skills that we bet they will be soon. Check out “The Fresh Faces of Fashion” for the scoop on the designers we believe are the next big thing.


RYAN ROCHE

The queen of knitwear strikes again. If you aren't yet familiar with Ryan Roche, it's only a matter of time. Runner-up of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, Roche has become known within the industry for her cozy, beautiful sweaters and her perfectly draped cashmere capes. This season, the designer and mother of three did not disappoint, showing a collection full of beautiful garments.

We asked Roche about her latest designs and her plans post NYFW -- here's what we learned:

HuffPost Style: What was the inspiration behind your new collection?

Ryan Roche: I looked to late '90s minimalism as well as Annie Hall.

HPS: What one item from your Fall 2015 collection should every woman own?

RR: My ankle-length heavy buttery cashmere turtleneck poncho.

HPS: Which celebrity would you love to see in your clothes?

RR: Lou Doillon -- I love her music and she's such a beauty.

HPS: If you weren't a fashion designer, what would you be doing?

RR: I would be raising horses.

HPS: Who (alive or deceased) would you love to join on a shopping spree?

RR: My stylist and dear friend Clare Richardson.

HPS: If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

RR: The big oversized, high neck jersey and wool dress from my Fall collection with a white wool poncho over top. I would also love this combination in beige-pink.

HPS: What are you doing immediately after NYFW is over?

RR: Sleeping!

Here's a look at Roche's Fall 2015 collection. What do you think?

Lady Gaga Is Engaged To Taylor Kinney, Shares Photo Of Massive Heart-Shaped Diamond Ring

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Lady Gaga is officially engaged to long-time boyfriend Taylor Kinney.

The pop star revealed the exciting news on Monday when she shared a photo of her huge, heart-shaped diamond engagement ring with her followers on Instagram:

He gave me his heart on Valentine's Day, and I said YES!

A photo posted by @ladygaga on





The 28-year-old singer revealed that the 33-year-old actor asked her to marry him on Valentine's day, and she of course, accepted his proposal. According to Us Weekly, the pop star and her new fiance later celebrated at Gaga’s family's restaurant, Joanne Trattoria, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Gaga and Kinney first met on the set of her 2011 video for "You & I," in which Gaga wore her mother's own wedding dress. While the couple have had their ups and downs, briefly breaking up for a month back in May 2012, it seems they are in it for the long haul.

Congrats!

Naomi Campbell Graces Fashion Week With Her Presence, Internet Bows Down Accordingly

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Sorry, everyone at New York Fashion Week. Naomi Campbell just stole your thunder. With good reason, of course.

The gorgeous, ageless beauty closed out Zac Posen's show Monday night in a breathtaking, magenta, sparkly, perfectly Zac Posen gown with the designer himself in tow. Naturally, the Internet couldn't contain itself. Tweets, Instagrams and e-mails started circulating immediately, proving once again that this is truly Naomi's world and we're just living in it.

You may have gay men to thank for your life, Naomi, but you're giving us life in that dress. Take a look at some of our favorite reactions below.










Perfect moment: @zac_posen and THE @iamnaomicampbell taking the runway together at #ZacPosen #FW15 #NYFW.

A video posted by Who What Wear (@whowhatwear) on




"I would have PAID to see this. Glad I didn't have to..." - @elainewelteroth #NYFW #takeover @zac_posen

A photo posted by HuffPost Style (@huffpoststyle) on











Tyga Denies Dating Kylie Jenner After Amber Rose-Khloe Kardashian Twitter Feud

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If you missed it, Kylie Jenner's rumored relationship with Tyga sparked a Twitter fight of epic proportions on Monday between Khloe Kardashian and Amber Rose. In an interview last week, Rose expressed disapproval over the 25-year-old rapper allegedly leaving his former fiancee and mother of his two-year-old son, Blac Chyna, for 17-year-old Jenner.

On Tuesday, Tyga adamantly denied to Power 105's The Breakfast Club that he's in a relationship with the teenaged reality star.

“I’m not dating Kylie. I just want to get that out [of] the way," he told the show's hosts. "I want to be clear to everybody that I didn’t leave my family to be with Kylie. That’s ridiculous. Me and Chyna, we broke up almost close to a year now, because of the decision we made, and things in our relationship that weren’t going right, [we] decided to split to raise an emotionally stable kid."

Tyga went on to say that TMZ and the tabloids didn't even care about him until they figured out he lived next door to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, adding that he was friends with the whole family for years before he started dating Blac Chyna.

"People just want to make a story out of it," he said.



It's not the first time the rapper has denied dating Jenner. Back in October, he told Vibe magazine pretty much the same thing, and he's not the only person to deny the alleged relationship either. Around the same time, Kylie's mother, Kris Jenner, gave Ryan Seacrest a similar soundbite about everyone just being friends.

"Kylie isn’t dating anybody. This whole little group of kids who have been around forever, and I call them kids because, relatively speaking, they kind of all travel as a pack and they enjoy each other’s company," she said. "We all live in the same neighborhood. [Tyga] used to live across the street for a long time, and now he lives next door to Khloe."

Now You Really Can Wrap Your Baby Up Like A Burrito

Ariana Grande's 'One Last Time' Music Video Will Make Nickelodeon Fans Nostalgic

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For those "Victorious" fans out there who are still nostalgic for the days of Tori Vega and co., Ariana Grande's latest music video is the mini-reunion you definitely need in your life.

In Ariana's "One Last Time," the world starts to fall apart when a scary explosion appears in the sky. But after following Ari through the chaos, we see Matt Bennett, her former "Victorious" co-star, go comfort her -- and that he's been holding the camera the entire time.

All together now: Aww.

H/T Just Jared Jr.

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Michelle Obama Does Ridiculous Things For 'Billy On The Street' With Big Bird And Elena

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After her husband became the first U.S. President interviewed by Zach Galifianakis between two ferns, Michelle Obama is one-upping POTUS with her own appearance on Funny Or Die's "Billy On The Street."

In a special, D.C. supermarket edition of comedian Billy Eichner's frantic game show, FLOTUS competed alongside Big Bird and fan-favorite contestant Elena in a game called, "Ariana Grande Or Eating A Carrot?" as well as Eichner's classic challenge "For A Dollar." Mrs. Obama agreed to play along to promote her "Eat Brighter" healthy eating campaign, which uses "Sesame Street" characters to encourage kids and families to eat more fruits and vegetables (or, as Billy screamed, "We're bribing kids to eat fruit!!!").

The first hilarious moment comes with Elena's blindfold is removed and she thinks Obama is a FLOTUS impersonator, but that's just the beginning. Watch the video to see the First Lady dance with Big Bird to Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing," push Billy around in a shopping cart while he reads an Oscar acceptance speech by Gwyneth Paltrow and even do this:


How Football Taught These 12-Year-Olds What it Means to be a Girl

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"Give me your definition of what it means to be a girl?"

That is the question photographer Kate Parker asked 13-year-old Callen Swiegart between her football game and cotillion class. "Being tough enough to do things that boys can do but soft enough to do things they can't," was her insightful answer. Every weekend Callen and her friends live just that. The Roswell, Ga. seventh graders proudly take on boys the same age in an otherwise all male flag football league on Saturdays and then Sundays the girls head to cotillion class. They cover their scrapes in makeup, their eye black is replaced by eye liner, and the muddy cleats are swapped for pretty flats as they participate in a southern tradition very much the opposite of football.

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Parker set out to chronicle the contrast of the traditionally feminine and masculine roles she was seeing the girls live every weekend. "The girls seem to revel in the camaraderie and challenge of football and appreciate the directives of cotillion," says Parker.
"One emphasizes manners and being nice southern ladies and the other is completely the opposite. As a mother of young girls, it is my mission and goal to always encourage them to be themselves, to explore whatever interests them, regardless of gender roles or expectations."
Parker is passionate about her photography documenting and showcasing brave young women who challenge roles and are not afraid to be themselves regardless of what anyone thinks. "Being a football player one day and a southern lady in training the next is such an interesting dichotomy, I knew it would make for some fascinating photographic images."


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With her camera in hand, Parker went to the football games on Saturdays and watched how the girls fought hard for a 1-7 record. Their coach, Steven Sweigart, was impressed: "Coaching these girls was one of my favorite experiences with the game of football. It's a demanding sport and even though the girls didn't know football when they started and they got pushed around in the beginning, they kept fighting. These girls never gave up, they are beautiful warriors."

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On Sundays, it was time for cotillion preparation. The girls take out their ponytails, put on their fancy dresses and name tags and head to the local country club. "Cotillion is a series of classes popular in the South that offer instruction in manners, deportment, social graces and dancing. With the girls cleaned up and blown dry, scrapes and bruises can still be seen on legs and faces from the day before," said Parker. "But Sundays they aren't blocking and tackling the boys anymore; they are accepting a boy's hand to lead them to the dance floor and Cha-Cha." As Parker turned her camera on the beautiful duality of it all, she noticed that both experiences seems to be empowering for the girls. The fact the girls stepped out of their comfort zone to play football with the boys, despite feedback that they "would not be as good," changed their perceptions of what it means to be a girl. The other parents felt that too. "As the football season progressed, I saw my daughter's confidence soar after she realized that she could compete with boys her age who have played football for years." said parent Karen Ford.


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Mom, Felicia Teffeteller, agrees: "The girls wanted to see if they could do something without any knowledge or experience. They were the underdogs and came out on top. They didn't win the division but boy did they ever win in life! They discovered that stepping out, trying something new, and sticking with it until the end is a life skill they will have forever. I know this experience is going to transform them in other areas of their lives. They now have confidence and awareness that they can do things unimaginable. You never know who you really are or what you are capable of until you step outside your comfort zone. Just imagine what we could all accomplish by following the hearts and attitudes of these girls."


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Parker asked 12-year-old Abby Teffeteller how participating in both the football and cotillion made her feel. "It's kinda of funny that one day we are blocking and knocking boys down, then the very next day we are holding their hands and learning new dance moves. It's fun to get muddy, dirty and smelly then go home and get all cleaned up, dress up in something pretty, do our hair and get to be a "girl". We are lucky that we get to enjoy both sides. I love it!" 12-year-old Keely DeWit said that her weekends of football and cotillion gave her a new way to look at being a girl. "To be a girl means to be passionate and caring and strong. It doesn't mean you have to be a cheerleader or wear dresses or skirts to school all the time. You dont have to be the most popular person in the world. You have to learn to be yourself. I am a girl and I am very sporty and love to run around but also love to be beautiful and classy in my own way." Logan Speckhart now realizes she "can knock down a boy on the football field and they still look at me like I am pretty." But perhaps one of the more telling responses Parker got when asking 13-year-old Grace Ford if girls can be tough and feminine at the same time. Her answer? "Yeah... Duh!"

What Happened When Young People Were Asked To Confess Their Deepest Fears

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Last year, YouTuber Jack Harries asked his viewers what they feared. This week, those fears finally came to light.

After receiving more than 2,500 submissions from people in 20 countries, Jack compiled the submissions in a video. Common fears such as spiders and heights make up the beginning before the participants open up about more serious issues like depression, anxiety and loneliness.

This isn’t the first time Jack has chosen to use his YouTube fame as a platform to discuss important topics. In a video about mental health, he discusses how being vocal about mental illness can help end the stigma surrounding it.

Similarly, his new video ends with the participants explaining the importance of owning up to their fears. One young girl pointed out what the world would be like without them.

“If we didn’t have struggles, we’d all be pretty boring people.”

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Meet The Women Trying To Make The Internet A Safer Place For All Women

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Six months ago, Amber Gordon, Gabriela Barkho, Jeanette Fabre and Jacqueline Mirell were four Twitter friends living in New York City. When they finally decided to meet in real life last fall for dinner, they got to talking about what a safe space for women on the Internet would look like. A few months and a lot of hard work later, Femsplain was born.

Femsplain is a content publishing and shared experience platform that offers a space for women to tell their stories. Blog posts include topics such as art, music, health and personal anecdotes.

The Internet has proved to be a dangerous place for women, but Femsplain is trying to change that by offering a platform for women to share their personal feelings in a safe and supportive community.

"We all really wanted a place where we could just write openly and comfortably to each other," Amber Gordon told The Huffington Post.

Femsplain is a "diverse collective (sexuality, racial, economic, career, geographical, etc.) of doers who have made it our mission to change the dialogue of what it’s like to be a woman –– and in doing so, make our world a better place," its website reads. At the beginning of each month Amber presents a theme such as "Desire," "Change" and "Firsts," which give some general guidelines for blog submissions.

femsplain



Femsplain has been relatively successful since it launched in October 2014, receiving more than 200 blog submissions and even a mention from Lena Dunham on Twitter. Their Kickstarter has raised more than half of the funds necessary to back the project.

"We sought to elevate these conversations by curating content that challenged the way the world saw us, but we couldn’t find anything that resonated. So, we decided to build it ourselves," their Kickstarter page reads.

We spoke with Amber Gordon and Gabriela Barkho about how they started Femsplain and what they want to do with the platform.

How did you start this project?

Amber: I knew I wanted to build something for myself, and I used to be a community manager for Denny’s so I really love building communities. Femsplain just kind of happened. We weren’t going to do it for ourselves because we had a group chat between the four of us where we could be so open with each other, but we wanted to build a community where other people would feel comfortable telling their stories.

Once we had the name “Femsplain” picked out I was up the entire night getting ready. We bought the domain name on October 6, 2014 and launched the website on October 27 with about 20 pieces of content that we had gathered from our friends. I don’t think I slept at all, but I was so excited about the idea and happy to see the support it was getting -- it just kept pushing me to keep doing it.


Femsplain's Kickstarter video.



What kind of content will the website feature?

Amber: All four of us have talked a lot about what kind of content we’d want to showcase on the site. Before we launched we considered what categories we would have to put the content into. But we felt that categories would prevent people from creatively expressing themselves because they would be too worried into fitting their stories into certain content buckets.

We’ve received all types of content from art submissions to composed music and video content. Honestly, I would love to continue receiving all different types of media as long as they keep the personal and relatable tone that we’ve been getting up to this point.

Femsplain is a place for people to feel safe, to take the stories that they might not be able to put on any other publication to ours. People are throwing their voices out to the wild and they know they’re going to get feedback from people who are interested.

How do you hope to keep this space safe for women?

Gabriela: This is one of the major pillars of our mission. Everywhere you look online, you see female voices being silenced or dismissed. I think by being available to our contributors and providing them with resources to tell their stories without negativity is where we really stand out. Even if it means DMing a writer in the middle of the night to comfort and encourage her, (or talk about lipstick!). I'd like to keep that connection between our team and the contributors strong and open.

Amber: I feel that the reason why people are so comfortable writing a post and attaching their name to it is because they read everyone else’s posts who are also putting themselves out there. I try to instill that comfort every month when we announce a new theme. I relate myself and my experiences to theme as the first post for every monthly theme. In December our theme was “Secrets Of Secrecy” and I actually came out to my friends and family in that post. I’m putting myself out there in order to make others feel safe and comfortable enough to share their thoughts.

femsplain kickstarter

From left to right: Akilah Hughes (Contributor), Amber Gordon (Founder), Jeanette Fabre (Content Coordinator), Ryan Sartor (Friend), Treat Harpy (Contributor)



What are you hoping to accomplish with this project?

Gabriela: What I'm hoping to accomplish with Femsplain, personally, is to keep building this genuine collection of voices via our contributors. I'd like us to keep working toward maintaining a rich, diverse, yet cohesive platform via multiple mediums -- whether it be writing, video, art, etc.

Amber: What I’m most excited about is the events that Femsplain is hoping to put on in the near future which are offline. We had one in November and we have another one in February, a comedy show. I really want to take this community that we’re building, made up of super supportive women and men, and bring them offline where they can meet each other. The best things come from when good people come together to collaborate.

How have people reacted to Femsplain?

Gabriela: Most of the feedback I've gotten, editorially speaking, has been very positive, which of course makes me happy. It's great to hear readers as well as media members comment on how consistent and strong Femsplain's voice is. It's something we take pride in and are working hard to maintain as we grow.

Amber: Every time someone publishes an article we always try to follow up to see what positive feedback they’ve gotten but most of the time we don’t even have to, they just come to us. I get almost 50 emails a week telling me, “Thank you so much. I thought I was completely alone but this article has made me realize that I’m not.”

Weekly Roundup of eBay Vintage Clothing Finds

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No time to page through thousands of eBay listings? Then just sneak a peek at my Weekly eBay Roundup of top vintage clothing finds.

This eclectic mix of designer and non-designer vintage clothing and accessories caught my discerning eye because of its uniqueness, contemporary feel and highly collectible nature.

As always, buyer beware! Be sure to read the listings closely and contact the sellers with any questions.

This week's roundup includes items by Bill Tice, Helen Bond Carruthers, Philip Hulitar, Moschino and Christian Dior. Don't miss the Louis Vuitton shoe bag, the Moschino artists palette handbag, the 1930s French evening dress, the Pierre Cardin gloves, the 1984 Erte brooch necklace and the Oscar de la Renta silk set.

ebay roundup of vintage clothing finds



GET READY, GET SET, BID!!!
(Click on Pic for More Info and Auction Links)



Which item is your favorite? Leave me a comment below to let me know.

To receive the eBay Roundup of Vintage Clothing Finds via email, sign up for Zuburbia's mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.

DISCLOSURE: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia with no direct promotional consideration from the featured eBay sellers however Zuburbia may receive revenue as an affiliate member of the eBay Partner Network.

PLEASE NOTE that Zuburbia does not endorse the use of fur, feathers, leather or animal skins in fashion. Any of these selections are offered only as more thoughtful and eco-friendly alternatives for contemporary fashionistas who have not yet eliminated animal products from their wardrobes or for collectors who are seeking to preserve these items.

Model Makes History As First Male Amputee To Walk At New York Fashion Week

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A male amputee made history this week at one of the fashion industry's biggest events.

Jack Eyers, an amputee from the United Kingdom, walked down the runway at New York Fashion Week on Sunday as part of the FTL Moda show featuring designs by Antonio Urzi. The 25-year-old's appearance made him the first male amputee to walk in the prestigious showcase.

"To be the first male amputee model on a New York Fashion Week runway feels amazing -- it feels like such a big deal," Eyers told Caters News in a press release, after having been chosen for the show, which featured models with disabilities from around the world.

jack eyers antonio urzi

Eyers, who was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency, a condition which affected the growth of his right leg, chose to have that leg amputated at age 16, due to discomfort, according to the release from Caters News. The 25-year-old now works as a spokesperson for Models of Diversity, an agency that aims to promote diversity on the runway. Urzi chose Eyers for the show after teaming up the group.

ftl moda

The model, who was nominated for Men's Health magazine's Man of the Year, told Caters News that his appearance at NYFW shines a spotlight on the lack of people with disabilities walking the runway.

"I just want to show that having a disability doesn't need to hold you back," he said. "I want people to see me, and to realize that there needs to be more disabled models walking the runway."

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Calvin Harris Shows Off His Incredible Abs In Emporio Armani Underwear Ads

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Calvin Harris, famous DJ and the current face of Emporio Armani, debuted some looks from his shoot on Tuesday and wow -- does he look incredible.

Who knew DJing did the body so good?

#EmporioArmani

A photo posted by Calvin Harris (@calvinharris) on






Harris was chosen as the face of Emporio Armani's spring campaign, with photographer Boo George behind the camera. Previously, George photographed a nearly-naked Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham, when they were both the face of Armani.

We can't help but notice how much the chiseled abs, scruff and up close-and-personal crotch shots look exactly like Beckham's Armani ads, but we're not ones to complain -- we're just happy to see Calvin nearly naked.

In unrelated news, the woman in the outtake below has our new dream job:




We feel so close to you right now, Calvin.

Abigail Breslin Chops Her Hair Into A Stylish Bob

Marissa Webb NYFW 2015 Collection: An Ode to the Modern Woman

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One glance at Marissa Webb's 2015 New York Fashion Week collection and it was clear to me that her dedication to impeccable tailoring has not waned.

Presenting garments that embodied femininity with a hint of masculine edge, Webb's runway collection quite literally meant business by delivering new meaning to old classics.

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Mixing highly structured pieces, with whimsical softness and flow, Webb's minimalist 2015 ready-to-wear presentation took full advantage of the quintessential modern woman's predilection not to confine herself to a "9 to 5" uniform. With a design aesthetic that blends and juxtaposes elements of architecture and nature, Marissa's collections never fail to employ a playful feminine elegance that is nothing short of an ode to the modern day woman. From delicate separates that were draped in silky perfection, to a pink Italian crepe suit that was made for power players, Webb has successfully found the equilibrium between free flowing luxe texture, and tailored, masculinity.

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With "borrowed from the boys" pieces that only flirted with their masculine beginnings by working in subtle sensuality to her blazers and tailored trousers, Webb's collection seemed to be an ode to a more modern-day Annie Hall. With suits that had angular twists that were softened and -- dare I say -- sexy in a sort of I-just-pulled-this-off-the floor kind of way, Webb has undoubtedly mastered the structured, menswear silhouette perfectly by marrying it with whimsical feminine details.

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All in all? Webbs NYFW15 menswear inspired Collection once again proved that we can hang with the boys. The real question is, can the boys hang with us?

For more of my NYFW coverage, check me out on Style by Zoey!

Photo Credit:  Dan Lecca

J.Crew's Fall 2015 Collection Is For The Preppy Kids Who Are All Grown Up

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J.Crew presented its Fall 2015 collection on Tuesday and it was all kinds of perfect.

A brand known for its preppy and casual sensibilities, J.Crew is entering new territory with its latest collection featuring the same effortless approach to style, but with a little more luxury. For women, there were wide-leg trousers, yellow faux-fur trim coats and sequins galore. For the gents, there was a lot of texture -- think crisp wool sweaters, shearling coats and plush camel coats. Fall 2015 is all about the elevated prepster who wears more sophisticated staples.

How did this amazing show come together? We chatted with the three big creative minds behind J.Crew to learn about this season's inspiration and how the band continues to evolve. Here's what they had to say:

Jenna Lyons: Creative director and president

jenna

On how J.Crew has evolved in the past few decades:

"I think as much as the clothes have evolved, so has the customer. I think when I was younger, it was more of a college brand ... I love when I like something and my mom loves it and some cute young girl is wearing it -- but in a totally different way. I think that the breadth of product is so different. I mean, at the core there is always that undertone of casual and sort of a menswear spirit, but you know ... It's nice to look at a sequin jacket on the rack and there is a humor and sort of whimsy to it that still feels very J.Crew, but doesn't look like something we would have done 10 years ago."

On her favorite item from Fall 2015:

"That's like picking one of your children. I love them all. Today will be a different choice than it will be tomorrow. I love the wide-leg cashmere plaid pants."

cashmere wide leg

Tom Mora: Head of womenswear design

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On the one item every woman should own for Fall 2015 collection:

"I would say one of these amazing sleeveless coat vests."

sleevless

On a style tip he has picked up over the years:

"I think when you put a shirt on and you're tucking it in, it's always good to take a little of the fullness and take it to the back. I even see it on myself, when you tuck it in, you get this bulge all the way around, so pull it back just a little bit. Who cares if it's in the back, I don't care. That's what I do and it makes you look a little neater."

Frank Muytjens: Head of menswear design

frank

On the inspiration behind his latest collection:

"I went to visit a army-navy vintage show in the south of England -- I love those garments because they were designed with a purpose in mind. I love that every stitch and every inch is considered and I love functionality, so that's where it all started. And I had a picture with me of Montgomery Clift and he's wearing this nubby, tweedy black and white topcoat, so that became the starting point for Fall 2015."

On the one item every man should own for Fall 2015:

"The unconstructed topcoat. It's a little bit slouchy, the shoulders are a little bit more dropped. It's a subtle change, but for us, it's a totally new silhouette and I'm very excited."

topcoat

Here's a look at J.Crew's Fall 2015 collection. What do you think?



This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: 5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Blowout

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As any fellow beauty addict can attest too, nothing beats the body, style, and shine of a professional blowout. Try as I might, replicating that kind of volume at home always comes up flat.

Bottom line? There's nothing like a fresh blowout. While we'd all love to make our good hair high last, the truth is that after a day or two, we are left feening for another fix with nothing but fond memories of our short-lived "big hair don't care" glory to hold onto. Since looking anything less than gorgeous isn't an option, to help prolong your hair high, during my latest blowout session, I asked the stylists at Drybar how to make your blowout werk for you for days to come. After all, theres nothing quite like the high of a good hair day and Drybar gives the best head of hair around. Trust.

So whether you're flaunting big, bouncy waves, or shiny, pin-straight strands, follow these steps to keep your perfect "I woke up like this" blowout.

So Fresh and So Clean, Clean:
Starting with squeaky clean hair is the key to a great, long lasting blowout. If there is any oil, or product residue left in your hair, your blowout will come out lifeless no matter how good your stylists technique are. To give you the most bang for your buck, make sure you've got the right products and tools to create a lasting impression. Don't leave the salon without picking up clips, a curling iron (the drybar 3 day bender is life changing), volumizing mousse, and dry shampoo to help your hair go the distance.

The Morning After
After spending an hour achieving a gorgeous, high shine blowout at the salon, theres nothing more disappointing than waking up to a crinkled, limp mess. Try using a scrunchie (yes, a scrunchie) to pull your hair into a low pony or two loose buns and rest your head on a satin pillowcase before you hit the sheets. Better yet? Pick up some rollers and set your hair at the crown before bedtime.Follow these steps and I guarantee you'll wake up completely satisfied.

Pump Up The Volume
Perk up your roots and pump up the volume with a dry shampoo. Dry shampoo is a wonderful tool full of possibilities that gives you tons of sexy volume all while making your strands smell amazing. No matter where you are, you can easily give your hair volume and texture while not looking like you haven't washed your hair in days, which of course, you haven't. Don't worry though, your secrets safe with me. Apply Drybars detox dry shampoo to the crown of your head and then let it sit for a minute before brushing hair to remove any signs of the spray. Finally, tease your hair a little at the root area and section it out to apply more where needed. Rules to remember? Next time you want to spend a little more, ahem, time in bed, skip the suds and reach for a bottle of dry shampoo instead.

Go Hands-Free
When your hair looks amazing, it's hard to keep your fingers out of it-- but I'm here to tell you now is the time to show some restraint. Avoid touching your hair, as it will cause it to lose volume and stimulate your scalp to produce oil and no one wants that. After all, grease free is the way to be ladies. When its time to shower, always wear a thick shower cap when washing up-extra points if it's lined in terry cloth! No matter what, opt for caps with a sturdy elastic rim. Rules to remember? Institute a no-touching policy to keep your hair bouncy for days.

Go The Distance
To avoid frying your hair--which rids your gorgeous mane of movement and makes ends look ragged and lifeless--only tame your hair with a flat iron as a last resort. Again ladies, restraint is the name of the game. The better option? Dry on the fly by blasting the front and top sections of your locks with a blow dryer, which will smooth your hair without losing all that body you crave. Still lusting for curls? Apply more dry shampoo at your roots as well as a heat protectant ( I recommend the Drybar hot toddy heat protector) before curling hair with a curling iron. Bouncy waves will camouflage any dirtiness.

Looking for more beauty tips? Visit me at Style by Zoey
Salon: Drybar Boston
Photo Credit:The Boston Calender

Modern Emma Bovary

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Lately, we've all become "Emma Bovary." Like Gustave Flaubert's heroine, we crave beauty, wealth, passion, and a ticket into high society that are, for the most part, well above our means. We exhibit Bovarysme through Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, feeding our social circle radiant pictures of lives, in perfect color and exquisitely framed.

A quick scroll through our feed shows friends having a blast -- looking beautiful, decked out in the latest and trendiest, posing in amazing locales and global hotspots -- making the scroller feel as miserable as Emma must have felt before diving into her misadventures.

A study from Boston University has connected rising divorce rates to time spent on Facebook. Not surprising.

Selecting and storing memories in frames and photo albums for posterity is an exercise most parents lovingly did, holding on to, and exalting our childhoods. What's changed, with the ease of technology, is the amount of pictures we take, the immediacy in which its done, and the use and abuse of filters.

Street style and selfies are our new diaries. And they aren't going anywhere, anytime soon. Instead of wasting ink encouraging you to be 'in the moment,' and put away your cellphones, I'm going to, instead, give you a few tips to help you look your best for these impromptu photo shoots:

• Smile, relax your shoulders, and focus on how great you feel and look.
There's nothing more mesmerizing than a killer smile!
• Look into the camera as you would into the eyes of a loved one.
• Dress as extreme as you want, but never look disguised.
• Your best pose is one that shows how at ease you are with your look.
To achieve that, shift your weight to one leg and separate your feet slightly ; that will give dimension to your posture.
• Look natural.
• When someone is taking your picture, line up your body so you're not facing the camera straight on (you'll look slimmer) and make sure the light is in front of you, not over your head, which can create shadows under your eyes.
• Have fun! Dynamic photos are so much more interesting than posed ones.
• Shoot selfies at a low angle -- it gives you length
• If you're uncomfortable, close your eyes for a few seconds and then open them right before taking the photo. You'll exude an air of calm.
• Avoid the phone flash at all costs.

Go out into the world, whip out your phone and try these tips. I'll be waiting for your next posts. Let's keep Emma Bovary brewing black in her book. Life is so colorful and fun. Grasp it and share it!
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