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5 Things You Didn't Know About Jennifer Lopez

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You say you didn't choreograph a dance to a Jennifer Lopez song in the early '00s? We call BS.

 

In the almost two decades that the star has been a Hollywood icon, fans have enjoyed her amazing music (brb, playing "I'm Real" on repeat), films (now switching to "The Wedding Planner") and style (now Googling images of The Dress).

 

In honor of Lopez's birthday on July 24, 2015, The Huffington Post put together some things you might not know about the star. 

 

1. She was a successful actor before she was a pop star.


 

Most '90s babies first got to know Jennifer Lopez as the pop singer behind the mega 1999 hit "If You Had My Love." When she later transitioned to starring roles in films like "The Wedding Planner," it seemed like a classic singer-to-screen move. But, actually, Lopez first garnered fame as an actor in the '90s before ever launching her pop career. 

 

After roles in films including "Jack" and "Blood and Wine," Lopez catapulted to mainstream success in the titular role of the 1997 film "Selena." Todd McCarthy at Variety wrote at the time that the film "succeeds primarily because of the luminous lead performance of Jennifer Lopez."

 

Before the release of her first album, some in the entertainment industry even considered her foray into the musical world a career risk.  (Looks like it turned out okay.)

 

2. She was the first woman to have a No. 1 album and a No. 1 film in the same week.  

 


 

Jennifer Lopez established herself as a skilled actor and singer, but didn't settle for one or the other. According to MTV, J.Lo became the first woman to have a No. 1 movie and album in the same week back in 2001 with the simultaneous success of "The Wedding Planner" and her album "J.Lo."

 

In case you forgot, bomb tracks off J.Lo include "Love Don't Cost A Thing," "Play," and "Ain't It Funny." 

 



 

3. She was a star high school athlete.

 


 

If you weren't feeling inferior enough, Lopez was also a star athlete in high school.

 

“I was always in gymnastics and winning medals, or in track winning trophies, or softball, or in shows as one of the top five girls," she said of her youth, according to The Week.

 

According to a biography of the star, Lopez competed in track at a national level.  

 


4. She executive produces the ABC Family series "The Fosters."

 



 

Lopez executive produces "The Fosters," an ABC Family original series that premiered in 2013. The family drama chronicles a lesbian couple raising biological, adopted and foster children. 


 

The star opened up to Variety about her decision to get involved with the show:

 


When I was growing up, the families around me were not reflected in television or film. I wanted to be part of “The Fosters” because of the show’s depiction of a diverse society. While our family compositions might differ, ultimately the experiences of a family are universal, and I’m proud to be part of a show that reminds us that regardless of skin color or sexual orientation, we can all identify with one another.


 


5. She's about to star in a brand-new cop drama. 

 


 

We've gotten used to J.Lo on the small screen as a judge on "American Idol." But come next year, she'll be taking on a different kind of TV role as Detective Harlee Santos in NBC's new cop drama, "Shades of Blue." 

 

"Good people do questionable things all the time," Lopez says in a promo for the series."We know that certain things are wrong, but in certain situations, doing the wrong thing is the right thing. It's about that internal struggle that every single person has."


 

 

Happy birthday, J. Lo!  

 


 


Also on HuffPost: 



 




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On This Week's Best Dressed List, Gwyneth Paltrow Is Actually Relatable

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When Gwyneth Paltrow wears something we can easily copy, we're always thrilled. And this week, she stepped out in an outfit that we can replicate with ease. The Goop founder looked cool and comfortable in a white button-up -- an item most women probably own -- and a killer pair of culottes. 


But Paltrow wasn't the only one to steal the show. Jenna Dewan Tatum made an impossible color look amazing, Naomie Harris amped up an outfit with a bright lip color and Rachel McAdams modernized a tricky silhouette. 


Check out the best-dressed celebs of the week and let us know if you agree with our picks: 



Also on HuffPost:


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Naomi Campbell Will Face-Off With Lady Gaga In 'American Horror Story: Hotel'

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Get ready for Naomi Campbell vs. Lady Gaga.


According to TV Line, the actress and supermodel is joining "American Horror Story: Hotel." FX confirmed to The Huffington Post that Campbell will join Season 5 of the series for a multi-episode arc to play what TVLine describes as a "fashion editor who pays the ultimate price for her critiques." We already know that Gaga's character in the series will be involved with fashion in some capacity. 


Campbell will also have scenes with Angela Bassett, who returns to "AHS" this season as an evil character. "Hotel" will also star Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Kathy Bates, Lily Rabe, Matt Bomer, Emma Roberts, Chloe Sevigny, Wes Bentley, Finn Wittrock, Max Greenfield, Denis O'Hare and Cheyenne Jackson.


For more, head to TV Line.


"American Horror Story: Hotel" premieres in October on FX.



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Kylie Jenner Graduates High School With A Rolex And A Surprise Party

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Congrats to Kylie Jenner!  The 17-year-old bought a $2.7 million home earlier this year, and now she's graduated high school.


Her pal and the executive producer of her family's reality show, Ryan Seacrest, threw her and older sister Kendall Jenner (who graduated last year) a surprise party to celebrate. 



A photo posted by King Kylie (@kyliejenner) on



 


The party, which was largely documented on Kylie's Snapchat, came as a big surprise to the teen. "This is so crazy," she said.


 



And if you are wondering what you get the high school graduate who literally has everything, the answer to that is a diamond-encrusted Rolex:



But back to the party. Her friends were there:



Her sister Kim was there (with the party's host, Ryan Seacrest): 



Synchronized swimmers were there:



Kendall was partying:



Things got a little crazy:





Oh yeah, there's that diamond-encrusted Rolex again. Expect to see that in a bajillion upcoming Instagram photos:



How did you celebrate your high school graduation?


Also on HuffPost:



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How To 'Frame' Your Face In 3 Simple Steps

8 Must-Have Beauty Products From Around The World

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These days, it seems like there's a new beauty trend every week. With the millions of products on the market, it's hard to keep track of the best brands in the U.S., let alone abroad. But thanks to the site Travel Beauty, finding the best beauty brands from around the world is a breeze. 

 

Travel Beauty was started by Alyssa Weiss after she grew frustrated from falling in love with products abroad, but being unable to find them in the United States. Weiss' site brings the best products from other counties to the U.S. market and ensures they are all "TSA-friendly" (aka, there is no need to check your luggage, so you can travel with favorite moisturizers and cleansers). 

 

Weiss and her panel of industry experts (which includes makeup artists, dermatologists and hair stylists) scrutinize each product before it lands on her site, sourcing items from all corners of the earth and at all price points.  

 

Given her beauty knowledge, we asked Weiss to pick her top eight favorite products from Travel Beauty and tell us why she can't live without them. From a lady who travels the world and knows about thousands of beauty brands, we're going to take her word that these are some of the best products from around the globe. 


Also on HuffPost:


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What The Heck Is Acetone, And How Does It Affect Your Nails?

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"Beauty Glossary" is a HuffPost series that breaks down beauty product techniques, treatments and ingredients so you know exactly what you're putting onto and into your body. 



 


When we need to remove stubborn nail polish or a glitter top coat, acetone always gets the job done. The downside: our nails look and feel dry immediately after swiping away all that polish.


That's because acetone is essentially a paint stripper. "Super dry, damaged nails will get drier and more brittle with acetone exposure," says board-certified dermatologist and nail specialist Dana Stern.


"Many people don’t realize that the damage that we do to our nails is not from the polish but rather the remover," says Stern. "The polish can actually be protective to the nail. Taking a break from polish remover exposure allows the nail to recover."


According to Stern, nails that are lifted or separated from the nail bed (also known as onycholysis) should not be regularly exposed to acetone because the solvent will bathe the delicate, exposed nail bed causing irritation and further separation. "Polish remover significantly dries out the nail, leading to brittleness, splitting, peeling and breakage," she says.


Stern adds, "Acetone also dissolves the polish and makes the pigments migrate and leach. This process can cause post-polish yellowing."


Due to the dehydrating aspects of acetone, celebrity manicurist Gina Edwards for Kiss Products says it may also dry cuticles when used on a regular basis. "This will leave the skin open for hang nails and splits on the nail surface," she explains. "We don't realize it, but there are many skincare and hair products that have acetone in the ingredients just broken down in a diluted form."


If you are tolerating a weekly manicure and your nails don't look super dry, stripped and brittle when your polish is removed, Stern believes there is no reason to change your routine. However, she notes that gel manicures require a 10-minute pure acetone soak and that will usually cause extensive drying to the nails.


"I like to dab each nail with some remover and then go back to each one and individually swipe them clean," says Stern. "The first dab gets the polish dissolving. Theoretically, the faster you can remove it, the less exposure your nail has. Always remember to wash afterward with soap and water."


For at-home manicures, Edwards suggests using a non-acetone remover to take off your polish. If you wear gels or acrylics, she thinks it best to make your regular nail appointment to have a professional remove your enhancements with acetone


Edwards also has an easy trick to replenish nails with hydration: Add cuticle oil to your acetone and mix it with non-acetone so it's not too harsh on your skin.



 


Looking for non-acetone nail polish remover? Shop our editors' picks below.


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Converse Chuck Taylors Get Their First-Ever Redesign In 98 Years

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There are few shoes more iconic than the Chuck Taylor All Star. The simple yet stylish kicks from Converse first hit the scene (and streets) in 1917. Since then, they have been worn by professional athletes, rock stars and even the first lady. 


Now, 98 years since their inception, the legendary sneakers are getting their first-ever redesign with the debut of the Chuck Taylor All Star II. Converse calls it "a contemporary adaptation."



 


“We listened and took it to heart that people love their Chucks and want sneakers that are built to enable them to do more," said Richard Copcutt, vice president and general manager of Converse All Star, in a press release. "The Chuck II is the full expression of this consumer obsession, staying true to the DNA of the original.” 



At first glance it doesn't look like much has changed -- which is a good thing, since we would hate to see our beloved Chucks be completely reworked. The upgrades are primarily in the shoes' materials and construction. Fans can expect a more comfortable fit thanks to a Tencel canvas upper, foam-padded collar, non-slip padded tongue, perforated micro-suede liner, and a Nike Lunerlon sock liner that basically makes you feel like you're walking on air. 


So when can you get your feet into these beauties? Chuck Taylor All Star IIs will be released on July 28, retailing for $70 (low-tops) and $75 (high-tops). 


What do you think of the new design? Sound off in the comments section below. 


 Also on HuffPost: 


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Perfume Genius Embraces His Fears To Find A Bigger Sound

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It’s been almost a year since Seattle-based singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas, who performs under the stage name Perfume Genius, took perhaps the biggest risk of his career to date.


Following two critically-acclaimed albums of down-tempo, piano-centric confessional indie pop -- 2010’s “Learning” and 2012’s “Put Your Back N 2 It” -- Hadreas took a different approach with his latest release, “Too Bright.”


While the songs on “Too Bright” still explore deeply personal themes that often relate back to Hadreas’ gay identity, the production has been turned up several notches. With high-profile collaborators like Adrian Utley (Portishead) and John Parish (PJ Harvey) on board, elements like Suicide-esque synths and Goblin-flavored percussion entered the equation, all topped off with a heavy dose of Freddie Mercury flourish.


The end result is thrilling, particularly when presented in a live context. Hadreas played Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival last weekend was no exception. 


Hadreas took the stage and shared that someone had told him to remove his lipstick during his walk to the stage, to which he responded, "No, I could have told him 'no' forever." Then, he launched into the raw, bruising “My Body.” The song sees the singer channelling Harvey at her grittiest, delivering blunt declarations like “I wear my body like a rotted peach / You can have it if you handle the stink,” while strutting across the stage in a style that screams "deal with it.” 


While all that might come as a surprise to fans more familiar with Perfume Genius’ quieter, stripped-down songs from his early work, the progression feels natural to Hadreas, who wrote the newer songs with the intention of pushing him beyond what may have felt more comfortable.


It wasn’t immediately easy to translate the new songs onto the stage, Hadreas admitted in an interview backstage.


“I tried to sing notes I’m scared to try to reach and I tried to ‘act as if’ a little bit,” Hadreas told The Huffington Post. “The first couple shows were a little shaky as far as not knowing how to move or if sound was going to come out when I screamed, but now I feel like a lot of those things are second nature to me. But I’m not, like, the super 100-percent confident front man. I phase in and out of bravado.”


The more aggressive approach is also reflected in the videos released for “Too Bright” singles “Queen” and “Grid,” both of which present stirring and disturbing interpretations of the songs’ content. In “Grid,” Hadreas is surrounded by faceless, pulsating bodies wearing silver bodysuits while he admires himself in a hand mirror and opens his legs wide to the pulsating beat. It’s a video so strange Kate Bush would be proud.


He plans to aim higher with more visual projects in the future. 




“I love the videos I’ve made but it’d be nice to up it a little more and do something longer-form,” Hadreas explained. “One of my favorite movies of the last five or 10 years is called ‘Dogtooth’ by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos. If I made a movie I would want it to be something like that. Everything’s in there, really disturbing moments, really laugh-out-loud moments and there’s touching moments. I like things that have everything all at once.”


It is perhaps that feeling-all-the-feelings, work-in-progress vibe that makes Hadreas’ music both so unusual and so appealing, particularly to those who relate to feeling like an outsider.


Though Hadreas freely admits he doesn’t have it all figured out yet, he’s happy to be taking his fans along for the journey. 


“I keep making the music I do because I feel very purposeful about making things that would be helpful or quell some loneliness in people,” Hadreas said. “I really needed that when I listened to music growing up and even now so I don’t mind that sense of duty.”


Hadreas’ own journey began in the suburbs of Seattle, where he first came out as gay to himself around the age of 12, and to family and friends after that. One singer in particular played a big role as he came to terms with his sexual identity.


“Liz Phair I think was the first music I listened to that really hit that specific note,” Hadreas said. “I heard her music and she unashamedly singing about blow jobs and sexuality, things I hadn’t even had the confidence to Google yet. … I had never heard that word sung or said let alone by a woman and singing it such a powerful, strong way. That was the closest thing I had to hearing my kind of ‘shame’ being told shamelessly.”


He was the only out gay person in his high school and, sick of being tormented, ended up dropping out during his senior year. He eventually wound up in New York City, where he began drinking in excess and doing “a Chinese buffet” of drugs. It wasn’t until after he returned back home to the Seattle area and checked himself into rehab that he wrote his first song, “Learning.”




He posted that song and the others that followed to a Myspace page beginning in 2008 and eventually caught the eye of Matador Records, his musical home ever since. 


Though the life of a musician touring the world is not the most conducive to sobriety -- and the majority of  artists who end up in rehab do so after their big break, not before -- Hadreas says he “wouldn’t have it any other way.” 


“I’m glad I did it backwards because I wouldn’t have made it to my shows or made the second album I think if I was still drinking and doing drugs," he said. "Not everyone is like that, but, for me, personally, nothing came from me -- no music, no going to work on time -- out of doing that.”


Hadreas presses on with his music and, after a marathon of concerts and festival appearances, he’s ready to head home to get back to writing new music, spending time with his mom and his dog and -- one would hope -- maintaining his always-entertaining social media presence, including Twitter commentary on marriage equality, Internet trolls and pop culture.


In addition to having what he calls a Ben Affleck “obsession,” he’s also, it turns out, something of a dedicated Netflix reviewer:


“There was one time I flagged every ‘Brokeback Mountain’ review on Netflix that was negative, I was like ‘not helpful’ and I spent like an hour doing it and I wrote a really serious review about it,” Hadreas said. “It's hard for me not to get really sensitive. I don’t brush things off like that very easily. I think my music kind of gives that [defensiveness] a direction and a point to it, not just directionless anger at something.”

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Jennifer Lopez's Ageless Moments Through the Years

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Whether she's makeup-free or dolled up, Jennifer Lopez doesn't seem to age!

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Let's Give the Braided Beard it's Moment

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You can't blame the beard for wanting to be included in the fun of body hair color and adornment. Body hair is body hair, after all, and we live in an age of anything goes.

7U6A4324We have watched long bushy beards make their biggest comeback since the pioneer days of trappers and lumberjacks. They radiate from the bottom half of dudes faces, and we wonder why don't they do something with them. Something besides "groom" them with beard pomade and then get cheese stuck in them.

Beards, on the other hand, are wondering why ladies get to have all the fun of hairstyling. By god if women can dye their armpit hair, in this current social climate of dumping gender norms and leveling the playing field, surely a beard can have a little fun, without stooping to the level of decoration with Christmas balls or the messy impracticality of the floral beard (we wanted that one to work out so bad!)........Maybe, for the sake of both expression and practicality and neatness, it is time to rock a beard braid, with a little ombre, and maybe a flower stuck in it (if we are lucky.)

Beards, we agree with you on this. It IS your time. We believe that the hair that grows off of the bottom half of your mug is fair game for hair play, and we think that it is high time to help you take your moment in the limelight. Also, we are secretly jealous that you have the ability to grow hair off your face, and we would like to see you take full advantage of that wild hair by doing as many different kinds of braids to it as possible, also by curling it in various ways.

May we suggest you start your beard styling journey with a French braid? Don't worry.....If you need help, we can braid it for you. But pay attention to how we do it because we think that this trend might just stick around like that cheddar in your mustache.

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7 South African Fashion Brands That Will Make You Swoon

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Africa is beginning to become a hotbed for style stars and emerging fashion designers. And South Africa in particular is leading the way.


Johannesburg and Cape Town have been home to successful brands like David Tlale and Gavin Rajah, but there are also smaller labels churning out collections that are making us take notice.


We rounded up seven of those must-have South African brands, each with craftsmanship and eye-catching design at its core. Check them out below and let us know which ones you're loving. 


Thula Sindi


Launched in 2005, this Johannesburg-based designer is helming one of the most popular brands in South Africa. Sindi has won numerous awards for his modern and sophisticated designs. 



To buy: *Made to order, price upon request 


Selfi 


The designer behind this Cape Town-based brand, Celeste Lee Arendse, aims for her designs to "[manipulate] pattern to create accentuated, three dimensional shapes."



To buy: Flap Strap Pencil Dress, $55


Momo 


We'll take one of these suede bags in every color -- plus the super cute sandals that this Cape Town company creates, as well. Please and thank you. 



To buy: Bubblegum suede MomoBag of Paradise, $165


Pichulik


Owner Katherine-Mary was inspired to launch the brand after visiting India. However, each single piece of the bold, eye-catching jewelry and handbags is handcrafted in Cape Town. 



  To buy: Royal Blue Bell necklace, $98; and The Single Urchin necklace, $98 


Isabel de Villiers


This Cape Town label is all about stylish clothes for the curvier woman. With sizes ranging from 2 to 20, there's something for everyone.  



To buy: Scarf Dress, $62


Margot Molyneux


The team behind this Cape Town-based brand may be small, but its designs are definitely mighty. We especially love all the beautifully printed dresses and jackets. 



To buy: Papier Mini Dress, $58


Dear Rae


Every last piece of this stunning collection is handmade in a small Cape Town studio. Founder Karin Rae Matthee and her small group of local artisans are dedicated to crafting jewelry that will be come heirlooms. 



To buy: "Let's Get Tropsi" collection, from $23 to $478


 


Also on HuffPost: 


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Kim Kardashian Wants To Know What Happened To Sandra Bland

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On Thursday, Kim Kardashian took to Twitter where she made the unusual choice to use her position as a celebrity to shine a light on the troubling, unclear circumstances surrounding the death of Sandra Bland, a black woman whom authorities claim hanged herself in her jail cell on July 13.  The 28-year-old had been arrested three days prior to her death for allegedly assaulting a state trooper during a traffic stop


Many people want answers as to how the incident, which has made national news, occurred. Her friends and family are eager to know how a traffic violation could lead to her death. Many have taken to social media to express their feelings using hashtags such as #JusticeForSandy.


Kardashian, too, it turns out wants answers. She tweeted to her 33.8 million followers:









Read more on Sandra Bland at the links below:


The Transcript Of Sandra Bland's Arrest Is As Revealing As The Video


Sandra Bland's Arrest Wasn't Racism; It Was Something Even Worse


Sandra Bland Should Have Never Been In Jail In The First Place


Here's What Cops And Their Supporters Are Saying About The Sandra Bland Arrest Video



 


Also on HuffPost: 



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What It’s Really Like When You Don’t Love Your Body

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Whether it's your height, your thighs, your weight or your scars, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't have insecurities about the way she or he looks. 


In a new video called "What It's Like To Not Love Your Body," BuzzFeed Yellow follows four people -- three women and one man -- through the daily ups and downs of hating and learning to love their bodies. 


One of the women overhears two guys talking about how "girls with big arms like that kind of freak me out." She places her hands around her own strong arms and walks away, visibly upset.


In another scene, the man is struggling to reach for a box of Cheez-Its on a high shelf. Another dude comes up to him, grabs the box and says, "Here you go, little guy." Feeling dejected, he forces out a "Thank you" and walks away.  


All of the characters in the video -- similar to women and men in real life -- have insecurities that they deal with every day. But, ultimately, with a little encouragement from the people around them, they each come to realize that there are things they appreciate (even love) about their bodies.


Sometimes, it just takes a little time to drink the body love Kool-Aid.


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6 Style Lessons We Could ALL Learn From Caitlyn Jenner

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Caitlyn Jenner's style game has been on point over the past couple of weeks -- so much so that she is actually teaching other women some pretty valuable fashion lessons every time she steps out. 


We picked out six of Jenner's best outfits to date, and laid out the style tips we can all glean from her. It looks like she might be giving the Kardashians a run for their money.  


 


1. Ruching at the waist is universally flattering.



2. Heels don't need to be four inches to lengthen your legs and dress up an outfit. 



3. Break up a busy pattern by throwing on a solid-colored jacket.



4. If you don't normally wear a ton of prints, but want to invest in a pattern, go for an animal print -- it never goes out of style and you can treat it like a neutral, making matching much easier.



5. When in doubt, wear a black dress and pearl earrings -- they are a fool-proof combination. 



6. A good blowout can dress up a casual outfit. 



 Also on HuffPost:


 


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Fashion's Biological Future Is Now

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In an industry notorious for transience, flux and experimentation, it's counterintuitive to consider that the fashion system is stuck in a rut when it comes to materials and real sustainability. Year after year, season after season, there's this feeling of velocity, of working towards something better. Sure, there are a million ways a shirt can look, but if the way that shirt is made never changes, are things actually changing - or is it simply an illusion of progress?

Designers, press and editors alike continue to rationalize what happens to animals caught up in the fashion industrial complex as a necessary evil in achieving the highest quality, performance and most luxurious fibers, as if mother nature herself were meticulously positioning a leopard's spots or softening a goose's down for the sole purpose of human use. And more often than not, the more rare an animal or cruel a process - from fetal lamb (also known as astrakhan or karakul) and calfskin to angora and fur, the more heightened the perceived payoff will be. This is a strange psychological equation to say the least, but one that rules in the realm of luxury fashion. While animal agriculture is the single most environmentally problematic aspect of the fashion industrial complex, the need to actually breed, farm, trap, confine and kill animals in order to attain their fibers will soon be obsolete thanks to a burgeoning sector of biofabrication startup businesses.

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Image: boltthreads.com


Leather without cows? Shearling without sheep, silk without spiders and furs without foxes? At first glance, something sounds wrong about this. The word "unnatural" gets thrown around when criticizing the cellular farming, synthesizing or culturing of animal materials. We think of frightening laboratories, test tubes, and scientists crouched over bubbling chemicals who are 'playing god' or at least Dr. Frankenstein! Our food and clothing should be coming from those bucolic images we see in ads of the quintessential farm with a red barn and two or three happy sheep lazing in a field, right? We cling to the marketed myths of where animal products come from because the images of factory farms, fur farms, leather tanneries or commercial shearing operations are not likely to stir up nostalgia, legacy and heritage. Outrage would be a more accurate reaction, which is why the reality of these industries are kept hidden - and now with AgGag laws, its illegal in many states to even document what's happening inside these operations.

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Image: Joshua Katcher at IndieBio with the BioLoom team, holding cellulose used in production.

Enter Bolt Threads, BioLoom, Modern Meadow, Biocouture, Pembient, and BioFur. They are among the existing and emerging synthethic biology companies who are redefining agriculture, textile manufacturing and the fashion industry in general through innovation on a systems level. Bolt Threads has already developed an exact replica of spider silk without spiders, as Bloomberg recently reported. Modern Meadow is developing lab-grown leather and designer Ingvar Helgason is developling BioFur, which is lab-grown pelts. Pembient has grown Rhino Horn in the lab, and will soon take on elephant ivory, while Biocouture developed a leather-like cellulose and now is a biofabrication and design-application consultancy and BioLoom has made lab-grown cotton. The exciting thing about these companies is that this is just the beginning. This is a field of development and production that will be endlessly customizable, increasingly high-performance and efficient, and inherently more sustainable and less cruel than raising animals to kill them.

It seems that if you have an idea for creating sustainable animal products without actual animals, you'll be in luck because a huge trend in the field of synthetic biology is taking the greatest causes of the worst environmental problems, like animal agriculture, and finding visionary solutions. IndieBio, the San Francisco-based synthetic biology accelerator, recently announced that it's offering $250,000 in seed funding for people with ideas for these types of startups.

It's also happening with food. New Harvest, a nonprofit that describes itself as "advancing technologies to feed a growing global population", has helped launch companies like Clara Foods. Clara foods makes real eggs without hens. New Harvest also led Muufri, a company engineering yeast to produce cows milk without cows, to a similar accelerator. Modern Meadow, in addition to leather, has developed cultured meat. The there's Soylent and Impossible Foods, among others.

The Biofabricate conference, heading into its second year, is a fantastic way to place your finger on the pulse of this movement.

We are on the brink of an industrial revolution and cellular agriculture is at the center of it. Companies like Ouro Botics are figuring out ways to take these developments into our homes and places of work by combining 3D printing technology with Bioprinting, so we'll soon be able to print three-dimensional objects with organic and biological materials. Electroloom is mastering the technology of spray-on clothing, so clothing could be made of healthy, organic substances that are recyclable or biodegradable and always fit. We have only scratched the surface of what is possible.

This is why the fashion community must stop kowtowing to the most sluggish and démodé symbols of luxury: fur, leather and wool that are still grown on an animals' back.

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How to Stop Hating Sunday Nights

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Got that sinking "Sunday Night" feeling in your stomach? Here's how to fix that.

If you spend Sunday nights with your stomach in knots and your mind racing about all the possible, terrible things that might happen to you in the week ahead, chances are that there's an area of your life that you're unhappy with. The hardest part about changing your life for the better is acknowledging where things aren't working, and then facing the possibility of having to make some changes. Sometimes, this might include taking on some risk and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

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This is a meme generated by Marie Forleo that I posted to Social Media not long after I decided to take a foray into the fashion world. It's true that dreams take time to manifest. In my case, it was over 15 years. Read more about my journey in my post, "Why Not You?".

The struggle to change one's life is one that I'm intimately familiar with. A year ago, I was working at a breakneck pace, spending many weeknights away from my husband on business travel, and feeling like a fraud in a professional environment that felt very constricting. Today, I'm living my dream of pursuing a career as a Plus Size Model, my home life and my relationship are better than ever, and I'm pursuing all kinds of creative endeavors that make me feel switched on and vibrant!

Maybe your life doesn't need an overhaul, the way that the career sector of my life did, but don't kid yourself into thinking that those Sunday night feelings aren't eating away at you, or that they're magically going to dissolve on their own, without you taking any kind of action.

Deciding to break from my trajectory as a consultant to Military / Government clients in D.C. to pursue a career in Fashion in New York City was a very daunting, frightening prospect. Making a change required lots of time, energy, emotional fortitude, and an amazing support system--without the help of my agency, friends, family, and husband, I don't think I would have made it through the past year! But having a life that I'm excited to wake up to each and every morning makes it all worth it.

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This photo was shot by Lily Cummings -- she asked me to embody a D.C. Socialite. To me, that meant a woman who wasn't afraid to let people know exactly what she wanted, and to go after it. I love this photo because Lily was able to draw out an inner strength in me that extended far beyond a single frame, and it helped propel me through the early months of my modeling career.

If you spend your Sundays dreading the week ahead, it might be time for you to embark on your own journey of transformation. It's time to start examining your life, asking tough questions, and leaning on your loved ones to support and guide you through the process. You may also need to look at your checkbook and start shoring up a slush fund, if your transformation involves a career change, as mine did. While changing your life is often a scary and messy process, it's also really exciting once you finally declare your intention and start the journey!

Going after what you really want might be the scariest thing that you ever do. But the alternative is suffering through a life of Sunday nights spent dreading what lies ahead. Do you have the courage to change course?

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.











On This Week's Cheap Celeb Finds List, Ashley Benson Hits Up Zara

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Celebrities may be nothing like us plebeians, but sometimes they shock us and wear something that we can actually afford. 


This week, actress Ashley Benson stepped out in a cute shirt from Zara (Zara!), Kendall Jenner wore a $55 necklace and Gigi Hadid rocked sneakers in the double digits. 


Check out the best cheap celebrity finds of the week and let us know which items you're lusting after. 


Ashley Benson's top




Zara Long Printed Shirt, $49


Gigi Hadid's sneakers




Vans Premium Leather Old Skool Zip, $75


Alessandra Ambrosio's tank top




Pitusa Inca Tank, $56


Kendall Jenner's necklace




Capwell + Co. Karina Y Necklace, $55 


Taylor Swift's top and skirt


 






Lucy Paris Top, $48 & Lucy Paris Skirt, $58


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Supermodel Iman Turns 60 And These Photos Prove She Is More Fierce And Flawless Than Ever

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A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on



 


Supermodel Iman turns 60 years old on Saturday!


Over the years, Iman has consistently served fierceness down the runway, in your favorite magazines and in life in general. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Somalian supermodel was one of the most sought-after models as she broke barriers and redefined beauty standards. 


Today, the global fashion icon/businesswoman has a line of cosmetics for ethnic women and an HSN clothing collection. Oh, and she's still flawless as ever.  On Instagram, she's using the hashtag #IMAN60 -- and it proves that her wisdom and beauty only get better with age:



60 is the new 60! Beat by @porschefabulous #IMAN:60

A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on




A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on




A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on




A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on




A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on




A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on




A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on




A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on




A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on



 


And if these powerful posts weren't enough, check out 60 more amazing photos of the icon through the years to celebrate her momentous day. Happy birthday, Iman! 



 


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7 Reasons To Love Helen Mirren On Her 70th Birthday

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Actress Helen Mirren turns 70 on Sunday, July 26. Is it possible that she just keeps getting better and better each year? Here are some of the reasons we love her.


1. She clearly isn't above having fun or being silly.


 




 


2. She's a Triple Crown winner.


Mirren has won all three of acting's top awards. She won an Academy Award in 2007 for her role as Elizabeth II in "The Queen," a Tony this year for "The Audience," and several Emmys for her TV portrayal of Detective Jane Tennison on "Prime Suspect." 


3. She's a Triple Crown winner at an age when many other horses get put out to pasture.


Mirren is entertainment's version of the watch that keeps on ticking. Despite the scarcity of roles for older actors, Mirren continues to be a top box-office draw. Perhaps it's because she is comfortable in her own skin and isn't afraid to put herself out there. And of course she has that regal thing going for her.


 




4. She's known as the "sex queen of Stratford."


She went from being a young hottie to an older hottie. With class, dignity and a beauty that comes from within, Mirren is a textbook case of how to age gracefully. The nickname "sex queen of Stratford" came from her days at the Royal Shakespeare Company and is an acknowledgement of her willingness to strip when the role called for it.


 5. She's not on Twitter or Facebook, and boasts about it.


You want to know what this Grand Dame is up to? Then you'll just have to go to her official fan page. How retro, right?


6.  She once lived with Liam Neeson, an item on many a bucket list.


Mirren lived with actor Liam Neeson during the early 1980s. They had met while working on the set of "Excalibur." When he was interviewed for Inside the Actors Studio, Neeson credited her for helping him get an agent.


7. She is the epitome of cool under pressure.


 




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