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Why You'll No Longer Find The Word 'Skinny' On Lauren Conrad's Site

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Lauren Conrad is banning words from her site -- and it's all in the name of body positivity.

Conrad's lifestyle site covers a variety of topics including healthy eating and fitness. The fashion designer and her team have realized that the terminology they use in their posts about exercise and health isn't exactly positive when it comes to body image. A new post titled "Letter from Lauren: June Shake Up" revealed that the editorial team will soon say goodbye to terms focused on shapes and sizes:

When we’ve talked about getting in shape in the past, words like "skinny," "slim," and "thin" have often come up. Starting this month, we’ll be banning any body shaming terms from the site, and replacing them with words like "fit," "toned," and "healthy." We try do to [sic] this for the most part anyway, but now we’re making it official! The word skinny will now be reserved for skinny jeans. My editorial team and I had a long talk about it, and we want to make sure that the focus is on being fit as opposed to a number on the scale. Every body is created differently -- and healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes.


It's important to note that many women's bodies are naturally thin or slim, but moving the aspirational quality from the words is a positive step. If people are making an effort to make healthy decisions, being skinny, slim or any other shape or size shouldn't matter.

After hearing the news, women expressed their support on Twitter.
















For something as simple as replacing a few words, Conrad's move is definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to promoting positive body image.

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Goldie Hawn Says Aging Is All About Perspective

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Goldie Hawn is taking aging in stride, the actress said in a recent interview with Porter Magazine. The 69-year-old grandmother of five says aging successfully is all about your perspective.

"It's all about how you make it. It's all in your mind," Hawn said. "It's wonderful to know you're aging, because that means you're still on the planet, right?"

Hawn was at the center of a media maelstrom after last year's Academy Awards (along with Kim Novak), when her appearance left people speculating that she'd had some work done. Hawn remained mum on the topic, and has always insisted that regular exercise and mindfulness meditation are her keys to aging gracefully.

Perhaps it's meditation that gives her the right perspective on aging. "Getting older is a fact of life," she said. "By living mindfully you understand that there are many transitions in life. You just go through them."

It's that same attitude she attributes to the success of her 32-year-strong relationship with actor Kurt Russell. "Intention is the key," Hawn says, adding, "It's also about not losing yourself in each other. Being together, two pillars holding up the house and the roof, and being different, not having to agree on everything, learning how to deal with not agreeing."

Wise words.





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Applying Makeup Without A Mirror Is A Hilarious Struggle

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Putting on makeup without a mirror is something we never have to think about. Even when there isn't a mirror close by, our cell phone cameras are the perfect backup. However, the ladies over at Bustle decided they'd challenge themselves with the task of applying cosmetics without the oh-so-important reflection device.

The result is a hilarious video that demonstrates the obvious, like the potential of blinding yourself with an eyeliner pencil or eyelash curler. But luckily no eyeballs were injured during the filming, and in the end the ladies actually didn't look too bad -- a bit rough around the edges, but nothing too horrifying.

You be the judge. Check out the video above and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.



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Emily Ratajkowski Wows In A Lace Dress After Posting Bathtub Selfie

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Emily Ratajkowski stunned on the red carpet in a black lace gown at the premiere of "Entourage" Monday night.

Ratajkowski looked gorgeous in a lingerie-inspired, tiered dress by Zuhair Murad at the screening of the film held at the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, California. The 23-year-old model plays herself in the movie, due out Friday.

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On Saturday, Ratajkowski shared a nude bubble-bath selfie from London with her 2.5 million followers.

Bath time in London

A photo posted by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) on


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Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair Stylist Reveals Details Of The Secretive Cover Shoot

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Caitlyn Jenner's iconic Vanity Fair cover has been met with great support, praise, and dare we say, a bit of envy? Seriously, she looks so good.




One important aspect of the shoot, of course, was the clothes. The spread was styled by Jessica Diehl, Vanity Fair's fashion and style director. From the photos we've seen so far, as well as the behind-the-scenes video, Jenner rocks old Hollywood glamour with ease.

But how exactly did they achieve the look? In a new Vanity Fair interview with Diehl, she explained what the top-secret process was like as they kept the photo shoot -- Jenner's first public appearance as a woman since coming out as transgender -- under wraps.

"My poor office thought we were [going to photograph] Barbra Streisand! I just couldn’t think of anyone tall. [Laughs] And I don’t even know if Barbra Streisand is tall, but in my mind she was tall. And so that just seemed right. I should have said Rene Russo, who I think [Caitlyn] looks like more anyway. The secrecy, I have to say, had a lot to do with being discreet and shopping -- a lot of which we did online. We talked to no one. Literally, the people here at Vanity Fair did not know. Three people in the fashion department knew, including me," she said.

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As far as choosing the pieces Jenner wore in the magazine, DIehl revealed that while Jenner is still figuring out her own style, she already knows what looks good.

"She has certain ideas about what she feels great in. But those ideas are still forming and taking shape. There will be some experimentation and trying things. Welcome to the world of women’s fashion! It’s not always smooth sailing, but I think she has a pretty good idea of what makes her feel good, and those are classic silhouettes. She has a fantastic physique. It’s just a totally well-taken-care-of physique. She’s an athlete, so the muscle tone is incredible. She’s slim, and her proportions are very easy to dress," she said.

And if you were worried about Jenner finding clothes that work for her, don't be. As Diehl explained: "I have to say, out of that three- or four-hour fitting, there were only two things we did not like. Everything looks good on her. That just doesn’t happen."

To see more from the interview, head to Vanity Fair.

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Cannes-winning Director on What It Means to Be 'Ladylike'

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The moment you sit down with Tiffany Johnson, 27, you know you're dealing with a different kind of girl. Her larger than life smile, infectiously delightful personality, with an ever-eclectic and very-personal taste in clothing doesn't scream, but certainly approaches, taps you on the shoulder and let's you know, "I'm here."

She's spent years as an associate producer for some of the biggest award shows on television, and contributing here and there behind the scenes on film projects for friends, lending her sense of style, keen eye for artistic gold, and aura of comfortability to every set she sets foot on. But her fashion is what always makes you notice.

It's no surprise that her directorial debut, short-film Ladylike -- produced alongside Jenapher Forline Moguel and Lena Waithe, producer of Dear White People -- oozes with the charisma, drips with style, and depicts two women who are decided about their fashion; the film even chose to first promote the film with a look-book to show off the characters' style.

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"The image we wanted for these girls was a retro, vintage aesthetic," explains Johnson. "We wanted them to embody what it means to be a lady, all of the style and glamour of what it meant -- to them -- to be 'Ladylike.'"

The film exploded into Johnson's mind while perusing Pinterest (per usual) one day. She saw images she describes as: "no face, no perfectly coifed hair, just a torso from neck to crinoline-skirt hemline. And of course that ax, so properly poised in her dainty hands." That photo was part of a series of photos by an artist, depicting women in 50s dresses holding "particularly sinister tools." From an ax to a chainsaw, the juxtaposition of the women and the deadly items in their hands left her inspired, "I must give these ladies a story."

You ask Tiffany about how this story came to life with these two striking women, it all started with the imagery painted in her mind about how it looked, felt, sounded, and how these women addressed the world.

"We strived for it to not look 'costumey,' but realistic; the goal was for it to look natural, that these were women that just embrace this style daily," she recalls with a passionate smile. "It's their armor, their uniform for their [very different] line of work."

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In the Ladylike world, the ladies live a glitzy life of leisure by day, but by night, the sky isn't the only thing that takes a turn for the dark.

"They're mysterious. Anything you learn about the kind of people they are comes through their interaction." said Nick Williams, the film's co-writer and best friend of Johnson since they met in film-school. "We intentionally don't give the audience much more than that. What I love about the two of them, they remind me of the embodiment of what Viola Davis said in her SAG Award speech when she talked about just being a woman, multifaceted, complex, emotional, happy and sad, not having to fall into some stereotype of being women of color."

Johnson and Williams cast Nia Jervier & Courtney Sauls (both recently appearing in the critically acclaimed "Dear White People") to play the leading ladies, Vaughn & Harlan, respectively.

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"The inspiration for Vaughn (Jervier) was Bianca Jagger. She sort of pioneered menswear for women," said Johnson, "she was all about structure, being polished with clean lines, muted colors, always put together. For Harlan (Sauls) we went a little more to the opposite of that. She's all about color, fun, girly looks. She's in prints, a little bit louder."

Just last month Ladylike saw it's first-ever audience -- at the "Diversity In Cannes" showcase during the Cannes Film Festival. No one was more surprised to be in France than Johnson -- born, raised, and current resident of Compton -- so imagine her surprise when she won the Director's Choice Award.

"I was floored, ecstatic... beyond overjoyed... shocked and honored," Tiffany recalled. "This was the first time that anyone has even seen the film other than the people who worked on it. I was just excited to be a part of the showcase, it was nice to know that our film was chosen as one of their favorites."

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Ladylike is slated for more festival viewing this summer, currently as an official selection for both the San Francisco Black Film Festival, being screened on June 13th and The Lower East Side Film Festival with a screening on June 15th.

Johnson and Williams, better known as Youtube sensations Tiff & Nick, are already crowd-funding their next film, based on the idea of the single lady's plight: finding a man is hard when all the good ones are unavailable. The film's title: 'Dead. Gay. Fictional.' by Caty Zick.

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Urban Decay Is Releasing A New Naked Palette, So Prepare To Be Waitlisted

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It's time to empty out your piggy bank, because you're about to blow your cosmetic allowance on 2015's hottest makeup launch.

Cosmetic brand Urban Decay is adding the new Naked Smoky to its cult lineup of eyeshadow sets, which already includes Naked 1, Naked 2 and Naked 3. The superstar collection will go on sale July 8 on UrbanDecay.com.

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Unlike the other palettes that have particular themes, like matte and shimmer, Naked Smoky will have a range of finishes, along with a cool double-sided brush. In an exclusive interview with Refinery29, Urban Decay founder Wende Zomnir explains that the colors are grouped together in small sets to help customers perfect their smoky eye skills.

Read some of the reactions to the news below and make sure to get yourself on Naked Smoky's waiting list ... because yes, it exists.

(h/t: Refinery29)














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Karlie Kloss On Taylor Swift's Music Video And Ditching Heels On The Red Carpet

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It's hard for any woman who's over six feet tall to attend an event and go unnoticed -- especially if that someone is Karlie Kloss.

The glamazon attended the CFDA Awards on Monday night and stole the show in a plunging Diane Von Furstenberg dress. There's no doubt that the blonde beauty looked gorgeous, but we couldn't help but inquire as to how she was avoiding a wardrobe malfunction with that low neckline. "I'm not taped in," the model said. "I'm just keeping an eye on all angles." That's one brave woman.

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Kloss' hair and makeup were certainly on point, but it was her flat shoes that really caught our attention -- a real rarity on the red carpet these days.

"I love wearing heels, but I have to admit, it was the perfect opportunity to wear flats on the red carpet," she told The Huffington Post. "I think it actually takes extra confidence to get out on the red carpet in flats and rock it. And the dress was too short for me to wear heels, so I had to make it work."

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We couldn't let Kloss get away from us without asking her about her appearance in Taylor Swift's new music video, "Bad Blood." When asked what it was like to be on set, her answer was simple: "Any time you get to work with your best friends, it's a good day at work."

Word, Kloss.



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New Salon Bill Of Rights Helps Ensure Safety Of Salon Workers

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New York is now one step closer to a more ethical nail industry, thanks to a new salon bill of rights released by the state on Friday.

The document, which is translated into 10 languages and available for download from the website of the state's new Nail Salon Industry Enforcement Task Force, is mandated to be hung in a visible place in all New York salons. It lists the wages salon workers should be making, the questions consumers should ask upon entering a salon, and a phone number to call for help or information.

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The bill of rights and its accompanying website are yet another move by Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) to improve conditions in nail salons, following a recent exposé in the New York Times that shed light on major violations within the industry, including unlivable wages and unsafe working conditions.

It's the goal of the task force that all salons will follow the same protocol when it comes to treatment of workers, and all consumers will think twice about where they choose to do their business.

"If the owners of the illegal nail salons see that they are losing business, I think that is the most effective compliance mechanism we can use," Cuomo said at a press conference last Friday to launch a public awareness campaign to educate consumers about nail salons in New York.

To do your part as a consumer, be sure to ask the questions listed on the bill of rights, participate in the #HandleWithCare campaign, or visit one of these approved salons for your next mani/pedi.

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This Instagram Celebrates The Amazing Diversity Of Women's Legs

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Women's legs come in an incredible variety -- and one woman wants to showcase them on Instagram.

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Stacey Baker, an associate photo editor at The New York Times Magazine, started uploading photos of women's legs back in March 2015 using the hashtag #CitiLegs. Baker photographs women from the waist down, celebrating different body types and style choices.

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Baker, who has a book of photos coming out this fall, also said that working on the project has made her appreciate the beauty of all body types even further.

"I'd always wanted long, model thin legs, like Christy Turlington," she told HuffPost. "But my favorite photographs in this project are pictures of legs that have curves -- I think some of them look like sculptures. And that's been good for me to see."

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See more images from the #CitiLegs project below, and check out Baker's Instagram account here.

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h/t Slate

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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 lots of great items. Don't miss the 1960s Oscar de la Renta maxi gown, the rare Doc Martens, the Gucci tennis bag, the Chanel belt, the 1930s Matl sterling necklace and the unique Kramer eyes brooch.

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.

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6 Steps to Crossing Anything Off Your Bucket List

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Note: Ben, Jonnie, Duncan and Dave started "The Buried Life" in their parents' garage in 2006. They made a list of "100 things to do before you die" and for every list item they accomplished, they helped a stranger do something on their list. Since then, they've crossed off "Make a TV Show (MTV)," "Write a No.1 NYT Bestselling Book," "Play Ball with Obama and have encouraged millions to believe that anyone can do anything.

After nine years my friends and I have made a habit of accomplishing our dreams. I wish I could say that there's something special about the four of us, but the truth is, there's not. Along the way people started asking us for advice on how to cross things off their list and we chuckled at the thought of ever dolling out advice. Years later, when we took a closer look at our failures and successes, we noticed some patterns. There seemed to be a method to our madness, we were tackling each and every list item the same way. For us, crossing off any bucket list item comes down to these six steps:

1. Stop and Think About It

Think about what you really want. Forget what you think you should do or what others say you should do. What excites you? What feels impossible? Be honest with yourself. Your answers don't need to make an impression on anyone but you. If people think you're crazy, that's a good thing. If you're scared, even better.

2. Write It Down

Simply put, it's not real until you write it down. By that I mean, take your dream and turn it into a project. Dreams have a funny way of staying dreams. But a project is something that needs to be done. Approach it as you would any other item on your daily or weekly to-do list. When you have a deadline, you find a way to get it done. Treat your dreams the same way. Add it to your list. You need to buy toilet paper. You need to spend the weekend in Paris with someone you love. When you write it down, you've taken the first step.

3. Talk About It

If you don't talk about your list, no one can help you. Tell everyone you know. Tell your parents' friends. Tell new people you meet. Talk to your cab driver. Talk to your boss. You never know who's friend of a friend might be able to help you. And don't just talk about it, talk about it passionately. Enthusiasm is infectious and people want to help when given the chance. Help will show up in the most unexpected places.

4. Be Persistent

Most people give up just before they reach their goal. You're going to hear "no" much more than "yes," but we've come to realize that "no" sometimes means "not now." Be creative in your persistence. Don't piss people off by nagging them -- think of innovative and clever ways to grab their attention. Be different, and never say die. The simple truth is people fail because they stop trying.

5. Be Audacious

The majority of people don't go after their wildest dreams because they think they're unrealistic. Tim Ferriss says it well, "Ninety-nine percent of people believe they can't do great things so they aim for mediocrity." This means the level of competition is highest for realistic goals, therefore you have a better chance of achieving unrealistic goals because there is less competition ;)

In addition, big goals motivate you and draw other likeminded individuals to you. Once you feel the first high of accomplishing something major and seemingly unattainable, you want to go bigger because you begin to realize that you can.

6. Help Others

Not just because it fills you in a way that doing things for yourself does not but because it comes back to you. When people see you making a difference in the world they are more inclined to help you.

We've crossed off many list items over the years but the moments that stand out the most are the ones when we've been able to step into someone's life and share something with them. Be nice to the people around you because you never know when you might need their help. If you're feeling lost or depressed, you might find what you're looking for in someone else. The film Into the Wild says it best, "Happiness is only real when it's shared."

Your dreams are closer than they appear. There's nothing that makes us more able than anyone else to accomplish our goals, we just decided to go after them. George Elliot said, "It's never too late to be what you might have been."

Here's a recent TEDx talk where I give real world examples to reinforce each of these lessons. I hope it helps.



I'll leave you with the question that's changed the path of my life: What do you want to do before you die? Don't wait. Why not start now? Post your answers in the comments below.

More on HuffPost:

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Laverne Cox's Essay On Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair Cover Hits The Nail On The Head

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Like the rest of us, "Orange Is The New Black" star Laverne Cox thinks Caitlyn Jenner looked "Yasss Gawd! Werk Caitlyn! Get it!” on her Vanity Fair cover.

But in a Tumblr post the actress shared on Tuesday, she explained that it's about so much more than just what Jenner looked like -- however stunning that may be.

"Yes, Caitlyn looks amazing and is beautiful but what I think is most beautiful about her is her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities," Cox wrote. "The love and devotion she has for her family and that they have for her. Her courage to move past denial into her truth so publicly.These things are beyond beautiful to me."

She went on to reference her own Time magazine cover, which she wrote was met with criticism from others in the transgender community who claimed she didn't represent most trans people. "But what I think they meant is that in certain lighting, at certain angles I am able to embody certain cisnormative beauty standards," she wrote.

She pointed out that that it's important to have diverse media representations of transgender individuals, before going on to say that most transgender people "don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I have now have."

Cox concluded her post by writing, "I hope, as I know Caitlyn does, that the love she is receiving can translate into changing hearts and minds about who all trans people are as well as shifting public policies to fully support the lives and well being of all of us. The struggle continues…"

In a video for Vanity Fair, Jenner spoke of Cox and all "pioneers" that came before her.

"You look at some of the people, the pioneers who are trying to get the message out. Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Geena Rocero, people like that. Carmen Carrera," she said. "Back in the 80s I was alone and I'm kind of following in their footsteps. They made it easier for me. I hope, with my honesty, I can make it easier for somebody else down the line."

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Milo Ventimiglia Watches 'Gilmore Girls' In Web Series, Declares 'Rory Sucks'

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File this under weird, meta and something we probably could have done without.

In a clip from the CW Seed web series "The P.E.T. Squad Files," Milo Ventimiglia's character Cash watches Rory tell Jess that she really doesn't want to be with him on "Gilmore Girls." Ventimiglia, of course played Jess on the CW series, which aired from 2000 to 2007.

"You guys watching Gilly Girls? I fucking love that show! Hey, Cash, that guy kind of looks like you,” his friend says in the clip, adding, "I took one of those personality tests, I’m like a classic Rory."

"Rory sucks, bro," Ventimiglia replies, which might be funnier if he and Alexis Bledel didn't date in real life for three and a half years, or apparently have a tumultuous relationship of their own.

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These Newlyweds Refused To Let Bad Weather Rain On Their Parade

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Brooklyn couple Stephanie Pepin and Max Santiago's wedding day on Sunday, May 31 started out beautiful and sunny -- until 4 p.m. rolled around.

"The sky darkened and the clouds just opened up buckets of rain," wedding photographer Kamila Harris told The Huffington Post. "There was thunder, lightning, fog, zero visibility -- the works."

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Photo by Kamila Harris

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Photo by Kamila Harris

The bridal party and family were supposed to take pictures on the piers in Williamsburg before the ceremony. But after a few quick photos, they moved the location to a high-rise building balcony nearby.

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Photo by Kamila Harris

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Photo by Kamila Harris

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Photo by Kamila Harris

"The couple dealt with it better than anyone I have ever seen deal with inclement weather," Harris told HuffPost. "The bride kept saying, 'I love thunderstorms. Why is everyone freaking out, it's just rain.' And she kept a huge smile on her face throughout the mad dashes in torrential downpours. She is awesome."

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Photo by Kamila Harris

"The [couple] was soaking wet, but their clothes seemed to dry out," Harris added. "Or they just didn't have a care in the world and just wanted to be married. Nothing was going to stop them that day."

Unfortunately, part of Pepin and Santiago's wedding venue was flooded in the storm, so they couldn't have the ceremony in the atrium of the Scottadito Osteria Toscana in Park Slope as planned. The FDNY came to help pump out some of the water and the couple said their "I dos" in another part of the restaurant instead.

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Photo by Kamila Harris

Despite the setbacks, the newlyweds couldn't be happier with how things turned out.

"All we have ever wanted was to be together and married," the bride said. "Not only did we get what we wanted, but we also got a fantastic, hilarious, unexpected adventure and story to cherish with our friends and family."

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Photo by Kamila Harris

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Photo by Kamila Harris

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Uncovering The True Cost of Fast Fashion With Livia Firth in Cannes

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2015-06-03-1433328408-2036695-TheTrueCost_Poster_2764x4096.jpg Fashion is such an important part of our lives. Not just as consumers, which most of us certainly are, but also as human beings. What I wear, I've discovered and not a moment too soon, is directly related to how I interact with the world around me. If I'm comfortable, that interaction is cool and smooth, but catch me on an off-day, with shoes that are too high and too tight, or a scratchy item of clothing and those meetings are bound to be disastrous.

Yet this goes beyond how we feel in the fashions we wear. It turns out it should also be about how we make the world feel with the choices we make, voting with our wallets.

Thanks to the mind-blowingly great new documentary The True Cost by Andrew Morgan and executive produced by Livia Firth, I discovered in Cannes the impact that a new business model of fast fashion produces; this 52-seasons a year retail frenzy that affects the poorer parts of our world in such a horrific way. The culmination of this exploitation can be seen in the images of horror and destruction at Rana Plaza from 2013, where a whole factory in Bangladesh collapsed on top of its workers, mostly women, killing more than 1,100 and injuring more than 2,500.

We buy a five dollar t-shirt and think nothing of it, but that ridiculously low price tag carries a flesh-and-blood toll, a human cost that should be simply unacceptable to us.

And if there is one person on this earth that has been shouting this message from the rooftops, telling us that fast fashion is as unhealthy and unnatural as fast food, it is the wife of our favorite Mr. Darcy, Livia Firth. I caught up with the woman who makes me proud of my gender, but also super proud of being a fellow Italian, on the Majestic Beach in Cannes. Her beautiful voice, with just a hint of indescribable accent, as well as her class are unforgettable.

Catch The True Cost in theaters now in NYC and Los Angeles, and soon in other cities near you. For all details, check out their website.

As for me, I'd like to say, thank you Mrs. Firth! I will never look at clothing quite the same way again.

How did you first become involved in The True Cost?

Livia Firth: I think it was a couple of years ago, Andrew had the idea of the movie already shot for Kickstarter and he had put together a trailer. And then he sent me an email which said "I know about your Green Carpet Challenge and I'm coming to London, can I come and see you and interview you?" And I checked him out and thought it looked like a cool project and said "sure come over and we'll do the interview." This is how we started and then, because he was in London, I was like, you have to talk to so and so and we started brainstorming and seeing which channels I could open for him to explore.

And how did you become executive producer on the project?

Firth: Andrew went on his journey, in between we did another two or three interviews, we met in Copenhagen and in Los Angeles, and every time we had an opportunity, we would meet up and see where we were, what we had discovered and what else we could explore. And then at the end, when he finished the film, he showed me the cut, we talked about it and we started working on that, and that's how I found myself being an executive producer.

What are your feelings about the end result?

Firth: For me this movie is an incredible weapon.

2015-06-03-1433328441-4937674-LiviaFirthExecutiveProducer.jpg The work we do at Eco-Age, I can stop campaigning now because I don't need to explain anything, people just need to see this movie and understand. One of the big things we have always done in our business at Eco-Age is never ever to separate the social justice from the environmental justice. And you can talk about the environmental impact of the fashion industry and then the eco fashion thing and green, but sustainability is about people. And when you see Andrew's movie you really realize how many hands and human beings there are and how much one of the endemic and problematic issues that we face today is slavery. And how this fast fashion system has truly enslaved countries and people in a system that will never change unless they change the business model. So it's not about how do we make it better, it's how do you change your business model so that these entire volumes can be reduced.

How important is the power of one to change this?

Firth: That is beautifully explained in Andrew's movie because he's the power of one!

He saw some images on television that shocked him, and decided to know more. And he went on an entire journey to try and understand it. Not that everyone can make a movie but if each one of us -- and by seeing the film this will help -- really started shopping in a different way and consuming in a different way. Modern shopping is not consuming... Obviously this is fashion but it can touch on food too. We all know about fast food but no one talks about fast fashion. And it's the same. If each one of us started consuming differently and as consumers we are hugely powerful because each time we buy something it's our vote, so we are voting every single time we open our wallet and take the money or the credit card out.

How did we get here, to this impossible model of fast fashion?

Firth: Because we have been brainwashed. We have been, in the last fifteen, twenty years, to think that it's democratic to buy a t-shirt for five dollars.

What about people that have no money? OK, I'm forty-five, when I grew up there was no fast fashion. So how did I, a little kid from a family where my father had four kids, we had no money, and yet I went to parties, I went to work every day, when I was in my teens, and twenties, twenty-five, how did I buy and shop? Very, very differently. Back then, in fact, if any of us ever saw a t-shirt for five dollars in a shop we would have not touched it because we would have thought, my God, no matter who produced it, it must have been made in such a poor way to be costing only five dollars! Today, they flipped our perception so now we think it's a bargain we have to have it, it's so cool and the kids -- the fifteen year-olds, the twenty year-olds -- today think that it's completely normal.

So should I, as a consumer, never look at fast fashion again?

Firth: You can still buy your H&M clothes, if you buy one. The problem with -- now we're talking about H&M but it can be Zara or any other fast retailer -- is the way that they've been making us addicted to this cycle of buying fast, and immediately. Because we can all go into H&M one day and go "Oh, I'll buy this dress, it's so affordable, it's so nice and I just saw it in Vogue and this is so similar!" But you buy without thinking and you buy a lot. Most people go to H&M and Zara once a week, once every couple of weeks. But if each one of us went to those stores once a month, that would be the strongest message we as consumers could send to these retailers. Slow down.

Because unless you slow down the people that produce you clothes will never ever ever be treated properly and fairly. Ever.

All images courtesy of the filmmakers, used with permission.

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Seattle Artist Tom DesLongchamp Turns Markers And Ink Into Vibrant Portraits

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You’ll never look at the half-dried chubby markers from your school days the same way again.

Seattle artist Tom DesLongchamp certainly didn’t the day he decided to add some color to his portrait work beyond the traditional brush pen and black ink. “Since college, I've always kept a sketchbook which consisted mostly of life drawings with a simple black pen," DesLongchamp, who studied at RISD in Providence, Rhode Island, told The Huffington Post in an email. "I drew 95 percent by eye and was primarily concerned with practice rather than finished drawings."

And then: “Something shifted in my brain a few years ago, and I became very intrigued by texture and color values. I was working at my job at the time, and took a break to draw."

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“I snapped a photo of my work buddy, Mike, and did a pencil sketch," he continued. "I looked around the office for something to add color with, and I found a crappy, partially dried-up, red Crayola marker on the floor. I made a mark, but didn't like how marker-y it looked, so I put some on my fingertip and smudged it on instead. I just used that red marker for a while, but eventually branched out to other colors as I randomly acquired them.”

DesLongchamp’s arsenal also includes “lots of paper cutouts for masking my smudges.”

The faces peering out from DesLongchamp’s Instagram feed are vibrantly colored and almost alive, drawn in both broad marker smudges and specific details: tiny wisps of hair or the glint off a pair of glasses. His background in animation is fitting; you almost expect the subjects to begin moving of their own accord. “Using markers has never been an intentional constraint,” he said. “It's actually me branching out, since I used to only use a black pen. I'm still in the process of growing with mediums. I've recently been adding white tempera and gauche.”

What’s made the humble marker such a mainstay in his portraits today? "I enjoy the speed and simplicity of using markers. There's virtually no drying time, and they're non-toxic.” The medium does bring along its own quirks, though: “The most challenging part of the portraits is not screwing them up, because unlike paint, I can't just rework it. It's a one-shot deal. I think that's kind of a fun challenge, though. It's sort of a performance, and I'm at the mercy of my own focus.”

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DesLongchamp initially kept his focus on his friend Mike Wurn, with the portraits becoming numerous enough for the artist to start the hashtag #dailyMikedrawing. (According to DesLongchamp, there are now 50-plus portraits of this one friend’s face.) Eventually, he branched out to mostly featuring friends and family, along with a few choice famous faces -- even Abe Lincoln isn’t safe from the marker treatment. “I love the surprise of posting drawings people won’t expect,” he said.

DesLongchamp -- who got his start painting in oil and acrylic in college -- originally worked as an animator/designer for an e-card software company, which allowed him the flexibility to pursue non-job creative work during the day. “I was really lucky that my boss didn’t really care how I spent my time as long as I did good, on-time work for them.” Eventually, DesLongchamp reached a point where he was able to quit his job and work from his home studio, doing a mix of animation services and portraits.

Working with Crayolas, DesLongchamp feels like he's "getting closer and closer to outright painting again." Nowadays he's influenced by artists like Edward Hopper, Wayne Thiebaud, Chuck Close and his former RISD drawing teacher, the late Alfred De Credico, who taught DesLongchamp “how to confidently leap into the unknown with material experimentation.”

The result of that training is clear today, and DesLongchamp adopts that advice for artists looking to work with atypical mediums. “Don't settle for a style or medium too quickly. Keep making. Experiment with materials. Use them in a weird, new way. If you keep making the work, you will eventually settle into patterns of working, which could be called a ‘style,’ but is actually just a natural progression of discovery,” he said.

“Don't be afraid of what you always seem to gravitate toward. I had periods in college where I was ashamed that I only seemed to like drawing faces. I thought, ‘Shouldn't I like drawing everything?’ and would get really depressed trying to draw houses, cars and landscapes. Follow what you love, because you'll burn out otherwise. “

More of DesLongchamp's portraits can be found via his Instagram. All images courtesy of the artist.




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Kim Kardashian Gets 'Real,' And It's Hilarious

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Pregnant Kim K might be the best Kim K, because all those hormones are encouraging her to be her realest self.

On Tuesday, the 34-year-old was inspired to get in the DGAF frame of mind, and her 32.3 million followers on Twitter were like "huh, what?" The normally far more reserved reality star was suddenly tweeting about how she was going to "blast the fuck" out of anyone who was "talking shit," once her website was up and running, and frankly it's the kind of thing Kardashian needs to do more often:
















The tweets were so out of character for Kardashian that Twitter actually contacted her to see if she had been hacked, but that wasn't the case.




And she was less than impressed that the media picked up her tweets and labeled them as a "Twitter rant," because apparently the world has yet to feel the full wrath of Kim Kardashian.







And oh, at an event for the energy drink she was promoting in Nashville on Tuesday she wore a pink latex dress:

Thank you Nashville for all of the love! And @HypeEnergyUSA for bringing me out here!

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on




Kardashian really likes pink latex dresses:

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For Women, There's No Such Thing As A Perfect Online Dating Photo

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Academic studies can be fascinating... and totally confusing. So we decided to strip away all of the scientific jargon and break them down for you.

The Background
Studies -- as well as anecdotes from my social circle -- suggest that online daters consider profile pictures on dating sites the most important component for attraction, so selecting the right one can be an oddly daunting task. You want to pick a photo that's flattering, but not one that's so flattering and taken at just the right angle on the best hair day of your life that it deceptively looks more like Natalie Portman than you. If profile pictures are so important, it's easy to wonder what people assume about you from a single curated snapshot.

The Setup
In a recent study, researchers from the University of Connecticut decided to figure out how attractive profile pictures affect a dater's perceptions of a potential mate, so they crafted two versions of a male and female online dating profile. One version of each featured an "enhanced" profile picture, "one in which an individual has 'beautified' herself/himself by using make-up and/or styling their hair, and the picture uses a flattering light/filter and angle," as the researchers put it. In a second version of each profile, the same man and woman's images were not enhanced.

The researchers then brought in 153 male and 152 female heterosexual singles to simulate the online dating browsing experience in a lab. Each group of men and women were split in half. One half of each gender group was shown the opposite sex profile with an enhanced profile picture, and the other half was shown the same profiles with profile pictures that weren't enhanced. All of the groups were asked if they were attracted to the man or woman in the profile, how trustworthy they thought that person seemed and whether or not they'd like to date that person.

The Findings
The not-so-shocking finding: Both groups of men and women in the study overwhelmingly considered the enhanced profile pictures more attractive. However, the men considered the dolled-up, Instagram-filtered woman less trustworthy than her unenhanced counterpart. The enhanced woman was "too hot to trust," according to the researchers, who noted that the men might also think the woman in the photo was deceiving online daters and wasn't really that hot in person.

The women, on the other hand, felt that the man in the enhanced profile picture was more trustworthy than the unenhanced version of the same man. But no matter how participants felt about their potential date's trustworthiness, perceived attractiveness of the profile picture was the most important factor in determining whether or not they wanted to date the person in the photo.

The Takeaway
The pressure to be hot in your online dating profile picture is real. But for women, it can be a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't situation. Be hot and dateable, and you're not trustworthy. Be plain and trustworthy, and you're not dateable. There's really no wining. Restructure your life priorities accordingly.

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19 Style Lessons Every Grown-Up Knows To Be True

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Photo credit: Getty Images

In your teens and early 20s, your style is, erm, evolving. You often throw caution to the wind when it comes to "fashion rules," and ripped tights and excessive eyeliner can quickly become part of your daily life.

But once you've made it to adulthood, there are a few tips and tricks you pick up. Namely that you should have a dry cleaner on speed dial, a bottle of nail polish remover handy at all times, and sunscreen on your skin, no matter the season.

Behold, 19 style lessons all grown-ups know to be true:

1. When it comes to winter, warmth trumps style.

2. Chipped nails never look good.



3. Ditto to ripped tights.

4. There is such a thing as too much eyeliner.



5. Never leave the house without sunscreen.

6. Walking in heels will actually ruin your feet.



7. Bike shorts are your friend -- especially underneath dresses in the summer.

8. If you're going to splurge, let it be on LBDs, cashmere and neutral pumps.



9. Don't get hung up on sizes. Buy the size that fits you and looks good on you, even if it's bigger than what you think your "size" is.

10. It actually does look nice when your bag color matches your shoe color.

11. NEVER use a Groupon deal to get a bikini wax.



12. Jewelry is an investment. There is nothing chic about earrings that turn your lobes green.

13. Being uncomfortable is not worth it.



14. Buy in bulk. If something fits well and is a good price, get it in multiple colors.

15. Invest in a good umbrella. The amount you will spend on cheap ones that break after one use will far exceed how much you spend on one solid umbrella.



16. Dry cleaning should not be a bi-annual event. It should happen weekly.

17. Wrinkled clothing does not look good. Invest in an iron, or better yet, a steamer.



18. Always have a black tie dress in your closet -- you never know when you'll be invited to an event.

19. Diamonds aren't a girl's best friend. Spanx are.






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