The Best Yoga Clothes And Beauty, According To An Instructor

September 10, 2015, 8:30 am

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If you've been wanting to perfect your downward-facing dog, now is the perfect time -- September is National Yoga Month.

Thanks to their zen disposition and laid back style, we consider yogis a source of awesome inspiration. So in celebration of this month we decided to profile a few of our favorite yogis and get the rundown on their must-have fashion and beauty picks. Today we're profiling the amazing Melissa French.

Name: Melissa French

Age: 36

Location: Harlem, New York

Yoga practice: French has been practicing yoga since 1999 and started teaching five years ago. The mother of one is an instructor at Katonah Yoga -- a method based on the idea that through changing one’s physiology, the psychology follows.

Favorite yoga pants?

"Black leggings by David Lerner, which serve me in both my downward dog and a night out on the town. I especially love the high-waisted style after having a baby. The cotton is forgiving and comfortable without being translucent. David Lerner also makes awesome maternity leggings to wear to yoga or on date night."

Favorite yoga top?

"I lean toward the non-traditional tops. My current favorite is a racer back tank by Alexander Wang."

Favorite sports bra?

"My favorite bra -- post baby -- is by LuluLemon."

Best yoga accessories?

"I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to accessories, but my favorite mat to practice on these days is the Manduka mat created by Nevine Michaan."

Favorite body moisturizer?

"I use a Chinese Serum developed by Master Hou. It can be used on the face and body. Within seconds you are moisturized and glowing and it won't affect your yoga practice by making you slippery."

Best haircare products?

"A black hair tie."

What makeup do you wear during yoga?

"BCKYRD Lip Service lip balm."

What about nail polish?

"Clear clear clear. My biggest pet peeve is chipped polish."

Post-yoga muscle fatigue remedy?

"Castor oil heat packs! Plus essential oils in a diffuser, in the bath, or in a carrier."

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You'll Never Guess The Most Instagrammed Fashion Brand

September 10, 2015, 8:42 am

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Instagram isn't only just a tool to show our friends -- and sometimes complete strangers -- all the fabulous things we're doing. It's also a big business. Companies are leveraging the social media platform to increase brand recognition and ultimately sales. So who's doing it best when it comes to fashion?

Well, the folks over at m by Macy's had the same question and decided to pull together some data. The result is an interactive chart depicting the most popular fashion brands on Instagram, based on who has the most hashtag mentions and the most followers. The numbers were compiled on July 21, so there have been a few slight changes to the rankings -- but what hasn't changed is the fashion company in the No. 1 spot. Behold ...

Click image to open interactive version (via m by macys).

Nike is by far the most popular brand in terms of both mentions and followers (currently 21.9 million). Fellow mega athletic brands Vans, Adidas and Converse are nowhere close to Nike's number of mentions, but still round out the top four spots. Even still, one look at this data and it's clear that we definitely like shouting out the gear we're wearing when we share those ubiquitous workout selfies.

A photo posted by nike (@nike) on Dec 29, 2014 at 4:04pm PST

When it comes to luxury fashion brands, the chart shows that Christian Louboutin with its 5.2 million followers is the crowd favorite. However, that has changed since the date this data was gathered. As of today, Louis Vuitton has stolen the crown with its now 6.7 million followers.

A photo posted by Louis Vuitton Official (@louisvuitton) on Mar 15, 2015 at 11:38am PDT

Check out the chart and let us know if any of your favorite brands made the list in the comments section below.

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21 Vintage Photos Of Black Models Who Paved The Runway

September 10, 2015, 8:54 am

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This post is part of a weekly series celebrating #ThrowbackThursday with reflections of our favorite childhood memories, past pop culture moments and more!

New York Fashion Week is official upon us and here at HuffPost, we're taking the initiative to make the fashion industry more inclusive through our campaign #NYFW4All.

As Iman stated earlier this week, there are still leaps and bounds the industry needs to make in terms of equal representation. That said, we'd be completely remiss to not pay homage to the black models who broke barriers and catwalked their way to diversifying the industry, paving the way for a younger generation of models like Chanel Iman and Joan Smalls to thrive today.

Let's not forget: Beverly Johnson made history as Vogue's first black cover model, Mounia was Yves Saint Laurent's first black muse and Tyra Banks was the first black model to land the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Take a look at some of the black models who've sashayed and slayed throughout the years:

This season, HuffPost Lifestyle will disrupt New York Fashion Week to ensure that it is an inclusive event for people of all skin tones, genders, sizes, shapes and personalities. Over the next week, we'll be highlighting designers, models and runway shows that are working to democratize NYFW. Help us make fashion week an event for EVERYONE by spreading our hashtag #NYFW4ALL and be sure to check out all of our coverage.

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What's in Your Lipstick? Women Shouldn't Have to Play Detective in the Makeup Aisle

September 10, 2015, 8:59 am

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By Laura Meyer, SWHR Policy Department Intern

Whip out your magnifying glasses and trench coats, ladies -- it's time to play detective. Not in any dark alleys or smoke-filled offices, but in the cosmetics aisle at the drug store, at the salon, and online.

You'll need your magnifying glass to examine the ingredients lists on cosmetics and haircare products, which too often include chemicals tied to negative health effects, from rashes and burns to hormone disruption and even some cancers. Though most people assume that cosmetics on the shelf must be tested before they go on the market, the chemicals in these products are not reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and companies do not have to report ingredients or the concentration of chemicals in their products. If something goes wrong, the FDA doesn't have mandatory recall authority for dangerous products.

One unsafe chemical that is far too common in the makeup aisle is the preservative formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer in humans [1]. According to the FDA, one in five cosmetic products contain a substance that generates formaldehyde [2]. Chemicals in this category include:

• DMDM hydantoin

• Imidazolidinyl urea

• Diazolidinyl urea

• Quaternium-15

• Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)

• 5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane

• Hydroxymethylglycinate3

Think you can keep an eye out for every one of those every time you buy a new product, detective? Even though most concerning chemicals are used in tiny amounts that are not acutely unsafe, without more research, no one can know what the long-term effects of these chemicals, combined with everyday environmental exposures, are on the human body. Without FDA oversight, women have to rely on their own vigilance to keep themselves and their families healthy.

On average, American women use 12 personal care products every day [4]. Girls going through puberty and pregnant women are particularly at risk from ingredients associated with cancer, endocrine disruption, and birth defects. Men, who use an average of six personal care products daily [4], are affected as well, because nearly the entire personal care products industry -- from shaving cream to shampoo -- is out of the FDA's control.

The current safety oversight of the cosmetics industry is a patchwork of weak federal, state, and industry regulations. The last time cosmetics safety regulations were updated was 1938, the same year the modern nylon bristle toothbrush was invented [5]. Today, the U.S. industry is made up of about 850 companies with more than $40 billion in revenue annually [6], but it is regulated with the same level of oversight as 77 years ago. As the industry has expanded, the FDA has remained chronically underfunded, today spending only about $8 per American each year to oversee the safety of all of their food, drugs, and personal care products [7].

It is clear that changes are in order to modernize this current system and make it more reflective of consumer expectations. In April, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Personal Care Product Safety Act. This bill, which enjoys bipartisan support and support from both patient groups and the cosmetics industry, would advance the FDA's ability to protect public health by instituting common sense reforms. Specifically, the bill would:

• Clarify safe use guidelines of ingredients that haven't been reviewed in decades by requiring the FDA to assess at least five chemical ingredients per year;

• Require companies to register their facilities, products, and ingredients with the FDA;

• Close labeling loopholes by requiring full ingredient disclosure for salon products and online sales; and

• Require the reporting of serious adverse events and give the FDA mandatory recall authority to get dangerous products out of the market.

Much of the proposed policies in the bill are already recommended by the FDA and most companies already comply, albeit at a voluntary basis. The PCPSA would standardize regulations across the country, making the industry more stable.

The PCPSA is a vital step toward better protections for the health of women and families, a move that the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) is proud to support. All consumers deserve to be assured of the safety of the products they use every day in order to live healthy, full lives.

Click here to learn more about how you can help support the PSPSA and here to learn more about SWHR.

References:
1:http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/formaldehyde.pdf
2:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20236159
3: http://www.ewg.org/research/exposing-cosmetics-cover/formaldehyde-releasers
4:http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2004/06/15/exposures-add-up-survey-results/
5:http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patient-education/articles/history-of-toothbrushes-and-toothpastes
6:http://www.firstresearch.com/Industry-Research/Personal-Care-Products-Manufacturing.html
7:http://strengthenfda.org/

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So They Rejected You

September 10, 2015, 10:09 am

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It seems like, whenever you've just experienced some form of rejection, there's always someone there saying something like "rejection is protection" or a similar platitude. Generally, this makes you want to punch them in the face, if we're being completely honest.

I think most of the decisions I have made in the past decade were governed by a deep-seated desire to avoid failure or rejection of any kind. I turned down scholarships, courses of study, jobs, relationships and experiences if I thought there was even an outside chance that I might fail. And it made me miserable (read more about how I've begun to transform my life in my post, "How to Stop Hating Sunday Nights").

When I first began the process of transitioning into modeling from my consulting career, I didn't want to tell many people. I figured, if this doesn't work out and no one hires me and I've spent all this time and money on test shoots, I could quietly go back to my job and make a calendar for my husband out of the photos and move on with my life without having to endure the humiliation of everyone knowing that I'd taken a risk and failed.

That hasn't happened. I'm super fortunate to call myself a working model, thanks in large part to the hustle of my agency, TRUE Model Management.

2015-09-10-1441853171-561263-ScreenShot20150909at7.45.42PM.png

Here is a recent shot from my work with Fleet Street for Kohl's for Fall 2015. One of many great gigs of late! But that doesn't mean that I haven't faced rejection. Not by a long shot.

"You're too old."
"You're not quite the look we're going for."
"You're super pretty, but just not right for us."
"We're really looking for a fresher face."
"Our customer has a shorter inseam."

I hear all of these things and more said TO MY FACE on a regular basis. Most of the time, I let it roll off and the next thing comes along before I've had much of a chance to obsess over one piece of negative feedback. But occasionally, it catches up with me and I have a momentary crisis of confidence.

The best advice I've received on dealing with rejection has come from the Director of the TRUE Curves Board, and veteran Plus Size Supermodel, Alexandra Boos:

There will be bumps along the way. And rejection. Cindy Crawford used to lose jobs to Naomi Campbell and vice versa. No one escapes rejection. It's part of this walk. So anchor in your worth on more: the amazing package of a human being that you are. -- Alexandra Boos

So, when I start to feel a little worn down, I try to take this advice by focusing on the positives. It's not always easy, but like Alexandra says, rejection is an inevitable byproduct of taking risks and trying to lead an extraordinary life. You've got to find a way to push through it.

And then a funny thing happens after you've actually weathered the storm of rejection and come out the other side of it. You feel bold, and empowered, in a way that you didn't before. It's like once you've actually tasted the failure, the worst is over, and you're free.

After a while, you realize that succeeding in any endeavor isn't about having a perfect track record and getting it right every single time. It's about evolving, leaving behind what doesn't work and holding on to the bits that do (or as I like to call it, the "Worst Dressed List" phenomenon). Never again with the leopard, that breakfast left me feeling super energized for the whole shoot, it always takes longer than Waze says it will to get to Queens, holding my chin at that angle makes for really great face, too much foundation under my eyes gives me creases. You live and you learn, and it makes you better at whatever it is you're trying to succeed at.

I love this shot by legendary Plus Size Fashion photographer Lily Cummings. I did this shoot very early in my career, and it's one where I learned a lot about myself as a model and my craft. I think that Lily captured a moment where I was really feeling like the total package, as Alexandra encourages us to think about ourselves. I wasn't worried about being perfect in this moment, or whether or not my agency would reject the shot -- I was taking risks, grounded in my worth as a human being, and it made for a great photo.

You've got to push the boundaries and take some risks in order to figure out what's going to take you to the next level. Each time you do, you learn a little bit. Success is a volume game, in that way. A game of aggregated remainders that all add up to your unique legacy.

There is nothing wrong with failing; in fact, it's part of the process of doing incredible things. Destroy, create, destroy, and begin again. Tear it off, wear it down, rip it open, smash it up, layer it on. It will give you a nice patina. So they rejected you? Now the worst is over, and you're free. What will you be capable of once your greatest fear is behind you?

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Beauty Boxes Are Given Honest Reviews, Winner Will Surprise You

September 10, 2015, 10:24 am

≫ Next: What's New Pussy Cat? How Labiaplasty Surgery Helped Me Love My Vagina

≪ Previous: So They Rejected You

A few weeks ago, the fashion site The Coveteur asked me to review some of the most popular subscription beauty boxes to see how they stack up (I know, my job is really hard). And given the number of products that come across my desk on any random day, I'm somewhat of a tough critic.

So over Labor Day weekend, while you were out sunning yourself, I was stuck in my bathroom trying dozens of new beauty products (this is the part where no one should feel bad for me). Herein, the good, the bad and the best box of all.

Birchbox: Of all the beauty boxes I tried, I was most excited about Birchbox because I had heard so many great things. But when it arrived in the mail, it was a little lackluster. The packaging was minimal (the five items came in a small brown cardboard box) and the contents looked like they had just been dumped inside. When it came to the products, my favorite was the Benefit They're Real! Mascara -- it wasn't new to me, but it was nice to get a mini version to stick in my purse. But it got worse from there: the other products included a Tocca Grapefruit and Cucumber Hand Cream (which smelled like a perfume store exploded on my hands), a magenta Laqa & Co. lip tube (way too bright), a Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (which felt like a fancy Clean & Clear scrub) and an Amika Nourishing Hair Mask (which I enjoyed, but if I'm being honest, I'm never going to sit down and do a hair mask).

Cost: $10/month

Number of products: Five

Overall rating: 2 out of 5. I loved the mini tube of mascara, but the box didn't introduce me to any new items that I'll buy again. Also, Birchbox needs to up their packaging game -- they should include a tiny makeup bag or something to give their boxes a little somethin’ somethin’.

Ipsy: Ipsy, which is the brainchild of the ultimate Youtube guru, Michelle Phan, gets major points for presentation. Their items came in a cute, patterned makeup case that I will definitely use when I go on my next vacation. As far as the products go, there were two that I absolutely loved. My favorite was the Eva NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo, which came in a mini aerosol bottle (and is going to save my life during fashion week) and the other was the Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths, which are perfect to use when your face needs a little pick-me-up in the middle of the day (another product that will probably save my life during NYFW). The other three products weren't as great -- there was a pink lipstick that looked awful with my skin tone, a bronzer with too much shimmer and an aquamarine nail polish I'll probably never wear.

Cost: $10/month

Number of products: Five

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5. The best product from all the beauty boxes I tried was in the Ipsy box (the mini dry shampoo), but most of the other products fell flat.

Head over to The Coveteur to see the rest of the beauty box reviews.

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What's New Pussy Cat? How Labiaplasty Surgery Helped Me Love My Vagina

September 10, 2015, 5:01 pm

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I was 14 when I discovered I had an asymmetrical vagina. It hadn't always been this way, but seemingly overnight, my dainty slit had transformed into a dark, brooding Georgia O'Keeffe painting. I remember pulling down my tankini bottom, congratulating myself for not peeing in the pool, when I noticed what I thought to be a strange growth or tumor. One lip hung down just a tad further than the other, its hue more purplish-grey than peachy pink. I knew what had happened. Despite my lack of medical degree, I'd made my diagnosis: Years of masturbatory friction had worn the poor thing out.

I couldn't let my doctor see my angry (quarter-or-so-of-an) inch -- surely she'd tell me I was hopelessly deformed. And as for sex, I decided then and there that I would never have it.

As I stared at myself in the mirror, the pesky sliver looked like a sinister slice of deli meat, tainting an adolescent body I had otherwise grown relatively pleased with.

In the years that followed, I was surprised and relieved that no guy ever mentioned the little flap. As long as I gave them access, they really did not care what it looked like. My gynecologist never commented on it either, and I was too embarrassed to ask for her professional opinion.

At 23, I moved from Boston to LA and was living on my own for the first time. With no company but my own reflection, I developed a nightly ritual of naked self-talk sessions with the sliding closet mirror doors. Stripping down like a modern-day Lady Godiva, I engaged in inspirational pep talks with my mirror self and came to love the creature gazing back at me. During these moments of autoerotic intimacy, I grew well-acquainted with my body's quirks and intricacies -- at times, obsessively so.

Some folks who choose the solitary lifestyle get a cat. I got a new pussy.

Labiaplasty, the medical term for "new pussy," is a surgical procedure to alter folds of skin around the vulva. Conveniently, I was mere driving distance from Beverly Hills, where this casual snip is pretty much status quo. Despite being the one procedure the late great Joan Rivers never underwent (I peeked . . . just kidding, she mentioned it in an interview), "vaginal rejuvenation" is the equivalent of getting one's hair trimmed in some parts of Southern California.

"So, you moved to LA and decided to get a labiaplasty?" asked the plastic surgeon, as he inspected my natural God-given vagina. Having experienced the mean, cold duck lips of gynaecologist visits past, this gentle look-see struck me as far less invasive -- more like an artist examining his clay.

"Yeah, you know, I figured my vag could use an upgrade," I answered. My flippant tone downplayed the fact that I'd been envisioning this moment for nearly 10 years -- ever since I first started agonizing over my vagina's appearance. Was I really that superficial? I didn't think so -- I attributed my fixation more to my being nit-picky and slightly OCD. For whatever reason, my body's tiny, innocent imperfection had become a point of irrational concern. I was annoyed with myself for caring so much, but it felt satisfying to finally embark upon this surprisingly simple and accessible solution.

"It doesn't have to be perfect," I told the surgeon. "I just want the lips evened out."

"We always strive for perfection," he replied.

I made a down payment of $1,000 and enrolled in a plan to pay off the remaining $2,000 over the next 18 months.

When the big day arrived, I woke up early for a clean shave (which seemed like the considerate thing to do) and took a taxi to the surgery center. I hadn't told anyone I was going under the knife -- besides my friend Steve, who had kindly agreed to pick me up afterwards, since I was instructed not to drive.

I emerged from my anesthetized slumber in a blissful state of euphoria, amazed the whole thing was already over. "Enjoy your new vagina!" said the doctor, handing me a lollipop and sending me on my way.

High on Percocet, I spent the afternoon watching Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? with a bag of frozen peas on my crotch, and felt chipper enough to attend improv class the next morning.

As I've Googled female anatomy, I've realized that vaginas come in a diverse array of configurations, vastly deviating from the unrealistic standards Barbies and porn stars present. My original was completely normal -- chances are, had I kept it the way it was, I would have gone through life without ever encountering the disgusted reactions I'd feared. But would I have ever truly made peace with it?

In a way, it can feel comforting to pin emotional discontent onto specific body parts; however, when corrective procedures exist to obliterate physical pet peeves, it's difficult to tell whether the deeper issue remains. The shame I once felt represented a larger insecurity, which, in my teenage years, had manifested as sexual promiscuity and recklessness. I was grateful when guys I slept with didn't say anything about my vagina, as though it were something I should apologize for. Worrying that they cared what it looked like distracted me from the reality that they probably didn't care about me, nor did I give them much reason to. I repeatedly put out, desperate for the validation I couldn't find within myself.

As I've matured, I've become more confident in who I am as a person, which has helped me learn to respect all of my body, especially in sexual situations. My vagina's outer transformation was the cherry on top, a gift to myself that reflected my inner state of being. Honoring and committing to my personal, autonomous decision to get a labiaplasty felt bold and empowering.

As the swelling decreased in the weeks after my surgery, I grew more and more infatuated with my new pussy, whom I named Gypsy Rose Lee. Since I had no significant other in the picture, it seemed greedy to keep her for my own naked mirror-talk pleasure, as though I was holding her back from attaining her true potential. It was time to show her to the world, to make her a star. She was finally ready for her close-up.

***

This story by Sara-Kate Astrove first appeared at ravishly.com, an alternative news+culture women's website.

More from Ravishly:

What's New Pussy Cat?, Part 2: Why I Became A Nude Model Post-Plasty
5 Things To Know About Vaginas
On Internalized Misogyny And Female Grooming

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A No-Fail Trick to Make Your Perfume Last All Day

September 11, 2015, 3:56 am

≫ Next: Tilda Swinton Is Just Doing The Damn Thing On The Best-Dressed List

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So you forgot to put on deodorant. NBD, you can use hand sanitizer instead.

But more than just not smelling bad, you'd also, ya know, like to smell good. We've got a super-easy trick for that, too--guaranteed to keep your perfume in check from the moment you breeze into the office all the way through happy-hour drinks. Check it out.

Related: 31 Life-Changing Beauty Hacks

What you need: Your favorite perfume and fragrance-free Vaseline

What you do: Take the Vaseline and massage a tiny amount into the pulse points on your wrists and neck (pretty much anywhere you typically spritz your signature scent). Then spritz said scent onto said Vaseline-coated spots.

Why it's brilliant: Just like makeup, perfume needs a primer to help it stick to your skin. Vaseline just so happens to be ultra-rich and hydrating--a winning combo that holds the scent in place. (Perfumes barely stand a chance on dry skin.)

More from PureWow

31 Life-Changing Beauty Hacks
The Right Lipstick For Your Skintone
28 Hairstyling Tricks Every Woman Should Know
22 Tips For Really Pretty Nails
How To Get Summer Radiant Skin
Easy Ways To Fake A Flawless Tan

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Tilda Swinton Is Just Doing The Damn Thing On The Best-Dressed List

September 11, 2015, 4:02 am

≫ Next: Madeline Stuart at Fashion Week: the Right to Dream

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It looks like some of our favorite celebrities have stepped up their style game this week. Maybe it has something to do with the start of New York Fashion Week? Or perhaps they're just excited that the seasons are changing? Either way, we learned tons of tricks from the stars that made our best-dressed list.

Tilda Swinton and Elizabeth Olsen showed us the power of the long white dress, Kate Bosworth and Hailee Steinfeld taught us some tips and Emily Blunt schooled us on color-blocking.

Check out the best looks of the week below:

Also on HuffPost:

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Madeline Stuart at Fashion Week: the Right to Dream

September 11, 2015, 5:38 am

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New York Fashion Week isn't the kind of event that usually draws my attention, but this year, a very special person is going to be walking the runway. For several months, Madeline Stuart, a young Australian girl with Down syndrome and more than 400,000 fans on Facebook, has been on track to making her dream come true: becoming a professional model. I have been following her journey on social media for the past few months.

Last July, my husband and I wrote a post about her. It is even more topical today. Here it is:

Madeline isn't our daughter. Madeline is blond, Louise is brunette. Madeline is 20-years-old, Louise is 7 months, Madeline is Australian, Louise is French. They don't have a lot in common, except for a 47th chromosome in every cell of their bodies.

She isn't our daughter, but we're proud of Madeline. Because, as a little girl, Madeline didn't have a lot of friends, and today she has 400,000 of them on Facebook. Because she has opened the eyes of thousands of "normal" people and has "changed what is considered "beautiful." And because she has accomplished her dream, regardless of what people think and what they told her in the past.

Like Chris who learned to drive, Emmanuel Joseph, a violinist, Madison who sang at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in Los Angeles, and like thousands of others.

Perhaps Louise will dream someday of breeding horses in the American mid-west (or at least that's what her mom would like!). Or of becoming an elementary school teacher. Or President of the Republic. Maybe she won't be any of that, and it doesn't really matter.

When a baby who is different is born, the very first thing that is taken away from his parents is the dream, the essential need that they feel to imagine this future being, a sum of all their expectations.

After that, it's this same drive that people try to take away from the child as he is growing up. Madeline, Chris, Joseph, remind us as parents, as children, and as everyone else who is "different," that people are so quick to put in a box, that dreaming is a right. Dreams are the driving force of change.

This post originally appeared on HuffPost France and has been translated from the original French.

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'Bridget Jones's Baby' Is Happening, With Renée Zellweger Reprising Her Beloved Role

September 11, 2015, 6:08 am

≫ Next: The Only Hotel Guide You Need for Fashion Week

≪ Previous: Madeline Stuart at Fashion Week: the Right to Dream

Get ready! Bridget Jones is back for round three, and she's diving into motherhood.

Reps for Universal Pictures confirmed to People that "Bridget Jones's Baby" is set to begin filming on Oct. 2 in the U.K., with Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth reprising their roles as Jones and Mark Dancy. Sharon Maguire, who directed the original "Bridget Jones's Diary" in 2001, will return, as well.

But wait, there's even better news.

McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey, is set to star alongside Zellweger and Firth in the third installment of the film series, based on the novels by Helen Fielding -- Bridget Jones's Diary (1996), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (1999) and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2013). According to Deadline, the new movie won't necessarily follow the third book's plot -- where Jones has two small children to raise on her own after Darcy dies -- but is rumored to be based on columns by Fielding.

So, who is the father of Jones' baby? And will Dempsey and Firth duke it out like Firth did with Hugh Grant in the previous films? We'll have to wait and see.

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The Only Hotel Guide You Need for Fashion Week

September 11, 2015, 6:09 am

≫ Next: 29 Honest Cards To Give Pregnant Mamas-To-Be

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2015-09-10-1441883506-7188667-TheNoMadGuestRoom3BenoitLinero.jpg

©The NoMad

Fashionistas, designers, and style icons will travel across the world this fall to see and be seen at Fashion Week. To give you some idea of where to stay in style, trivago.com has the inside scoop on five trend-setting design hotels that are making waves in the world's most fashionable cities.

BONUS: Looking for more New York Fashion Week inspiration? Head to trivago Checkin for a full look at where to stay in the ever-fashionable Big Apple.

The NoMad Hotel- New York
Fashion Week: Sept. 10-17

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©The NoMad

Jacques Garcia used lush bohemian materials and unique French accents to restore the 20th century Beaux-Arts building to epicurean heights with The NoMad Hotel. After the runway, walk next door to splurge on an exquisite $198 reserve cocktail at the hotel's The NoMad Bar.

Knightsbridge Hotel - London
Fashion Week: Sept. 18-22

©Knightsbridge Hotel

Kit Kemp's bold fabrics and mix-matched patterns are a colorful and homey homage to modern English style with African accents thrown in for contrast. Original British art can be found throughout the Knightsbridge, and art lovers will swoon over the Carol Sinclair sculpture rising from the floor.

STRAF - Milan
Fashion Week: Sept. 23-29

©STRAF Hotel

Milan minimalism and Italian glass artistry are an integral combination in the STRAF, which was conceived as a large scale art installation. Stay in the 6th floor Executive Room for a private terrace overlooking the Duomo Cathedral.

The Establishment - Sydney
Fashion Week: Sept. 24-26

©The Establishment

An urban sanctuary for partying locals and Fashion Week devotees alike, this former warehouse is the perfect way to experience the casually beachy (and absolutely sexy) vibe of Sydney Fashion Week. With minimalistic Japanese accents and muted earth tones, rooms at the Establishment follow either a "light" or "dark" color palette, but all include drenching rain showers and Bulgari toiletries.

Hôtel Fabric - Paris
Fashion Week: Sept. 30-Oct. 7

©Hôtel Fabric

A former textiles factory, the Hôtel Fabric was redesigned by Agnès Louboutin and Patrice Henry and the 19th century decorations were sourced at nearby Popincourt Flea Market.

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29 Honest Cards To Give Pregnant Mamas-To-Be

September 11, 2015, 6:40 am

≫ Next: Pyer Moss Addresses Police Brutality During Powerful NYFW Show

≪ Previous: The Only Hotel Guide You Need for Fashion Week

When you learn that a friend, relative, coworker or even acquaintance is pregnant, you may want to give her a special card to help celebrate the news. But sometimes the overly gushy, saccharine messages found in the greeting card aisle don't quite express what you want to say to the expectant mama.

Never fear! Here are 29 honest, creative and hilarious cards that tell moms-to-be what you're really thinking.

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Pyer Moss Addresses Police Brutality During Powerful NYFW Show

September 11, 2015, 7:28 am

≫ Next: Jessica Simpson Calls Marriage To Nick Lachey Her Biggest Financial Mistake

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It’s the second day of New York Fashion Week and we've already seen the most powerful show of the season. Thursday night Kerby Jean-Raymond, the founder and head designer of Pyer Moss, executed a presentation that few will ever forget.

Before a stitch of clothing went down the runway, the audience was presented with a short film about the horrific cases of police brutality on black men and women that have filled headlines -- and several that flew under the radar.

The fifteen-minute video (see clip below) was a barrage to the senses. Several gasps were heard as we watched footage from no less than 16 cases of police brutality, including Eric Garner's fatal chokehold and Marlan Brown being run over by a police car, resulting in his death.

"For as long as I have this platform and for as long as people are going to listen to me -- I'm going to take a stand on something and this is something that is important to me," Jean-Raymond told The Huffington Post, who also made waves after creating the "They Have Names" t-shirt in January.

The jarring images in the video were accompanied by interviews with those closely effected by these senseless acts. Emerald Garner, the daughter of the late Eric Garner, and Nicole Bell, the fiance of the late Sean Bell were among some of the family members interviewed. Commentary from fashion luminaries like Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan and Joel Towers, the dean of the Parsons School were also included.

This subject hits close to home for Jean-Raymond, who between the ages of 12 and 18 was stopped-and-frisked 12 times. The New York City native believes that social media has made it impossible for society to ignore these injustices. And while there might be other issues he addresses in the future via his position as a fashion designer, right now this is the most important cause in his eyes.

In fact, Jean-Raymond said that he almost didn't present any clothes. "I wasn't even going to show the collection. I wasn't 100% sold on showing the collection. I wanted to just show the video, open the doors and let everyone out."

Good thing he didn't, his spring 2016 collection was an impressive showing of sleek, yet edgy, sportswear that was anchored by crisp white, perforated leather jackets and shorts, as well as refined tracksuits accessorized with white worker boots emblazoned with the names of black women that were killed by police and red paint to look like splattered blood.

And for an extra dose of drama -- as if the film wasn't dramatic enough -- Jean-Raymond commissioned contemporary artist Gregory Siff to tag various outfits being modeled. For example, on one pair of pants he wrote the word "love" backwards and on an olive green jacket he inscribed "Breath, Breath, Breath."

"If one person walks out of here today and is just nicer, or gives an opportunity... there are so many influential people in that room upstairs. If one person decides that I'm going to give a black kid a job now because the narrative I've been seeing on TV of him being a thug may or may not be true, I did my job. I changed one life and one life might change another life -- and that's how the world changes. Little by little."

Here's a closer look at the Pyer Moss spring 2016 collection.

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Jessica Simpson Calls Marriage To Nick Lachey Her Biggest Financial Mistake

September 11, 2015, 7:40 am

≫ Next: Dove Confidence Expert Reveals What It's Like Be A New York Fashion Week Model

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A decade after her divorce from Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson isn't holding back -- since she had to pay up.

If you weren't aware, Simpson is a major success story in the fashion world. Her retail empire is valued at more than a $1 billion, which is why she appeared on CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Thursday.

When asked her biggest money mistakes, without missing a beat, the 35-year-old replied, "For some reason, I thought of my first marriage."

The couple, who appeared together on the on the MTV reality show "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" from 2003 to 2005, called it quits a few months after the show ended.

Over the course of their marriage, Simpson's star power grew well beyond any level of fame Lachey achieved as a boy band member, and his later attempt at a solo career also flopped; alas, the couple didn't sign a prenup, according to People magazine. Simpson reportedly offered Lachey a settlement of $2 million. According to Forbes, the former 98 Degrees singer is said to have walked away with just less than half of their estate when their divorce was finalized in 2006, in an effort to avoid a drawn-out court battle. Ouch.

Luckily for Simpson, she went on to make the majority of her millions after her divorce from Lachey.

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Dove Confidence Expert Reveals What It's Like Be A New York Fashion Week Model

September 11, 2015, 8:08 am

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By: Marie Elizabeth Oliver, Managing Editor, PowerToFly

The it-girls of fashion week may answer to Karlie, Cara, and Kendall, but New York designer Carrie Hammer has just put a new crop of models on the radar. Her collection of black and white graphic pieces paraded down the Mercedes-Benz runway Thursday worn by role models ranging from media powerhouses to Olympic gold medalists.

Social entrepreneur Jess Weiner -- the woman behind Dove's women empowerment campaigns -- is one of Hammer's models this fall. "What is so amazing about Jess is that when she has a dream she goes after it with total resolve and lets no obstacles stand in her way," says Carrie. "She has a vision that is so much larger than just her -- she truly wants to change the world for the better and for women."

Jess talked to PowerToFly about what it was like to be chosen to walk the NYFW runway, how she instills confidence in others, and what role she thinks fashion should play in women's lives.

How did it feel to be chosen to walk in Carrie Hammer's show?
It was equal parts dreamy and powerful. I've spent 20 years as a social entrepreneur and a confidence expert talking to women and girls about the need for expanding our canon of role models. Carrie Hammer had the vision to co-opt the traditional fashion show. She opened it up and democratized it to include women who should be celebrated for a variety of reasons - not just for their looks. I feel honored to be celebrated for the full package.

What was the design process like?
It was a very empowering design process because I was able to share the kinds of clothes that feel right on my body in my professional life. Carrie's design implemented all of those preferences. And the fun part is that no matter what I physically looked like when I walked the runway, I know that the emphasis of the show is on more than just how I look. It's about what I have accomplished and what I plan to do going forward.

What role does fashion play in your life? What role do you think it should play in women's lives?
I've been a closet fashionista since I was five when I was obsessed with being a cowgirl. I knew what I liked, what felt good on me, and what I wanted to wear. To me that's what fashion is all about -- self expression. Culturally the fashion industry has had an incredible impact on the way women see their own beauty and worthiness, which can have a damaging impact because the images can be myopic, and not representative of women everywhere. However, something like Carrie's show creates an opportunity to use fashion to honor what's special about you. I like putting outfits together -- I love the way I can express a vibe I want to give off for the day. It's a costume, and I love the freedom and the flexibility of being able to do that. I'm not forcing myself to fit somebody else's mold. I gave that up a long time ago.

What's the most embarrassing fashion disaster you've ever experienced?
When I moved to LA about 15 years ago I was brand new to the Hollywood scene, and I was invited to a big party at a hotel for someone in the music industry. I felt like I could go pretty casual because it was California and people say, "Yeah, everyone wears jeans to everything." So I showed up wearing jeans and a sparkly top, and it was a much fancier event than I had anticipated. I was really conscious of how underdressed I was -- I think I'd even worn flipflops!

How did women's self esteem become your passion and your life's work?
I've been interested in confidence since I was a young girl. I suffered with body image issues and self doubt, and it inspired me to start a conversation and a community where we could make some changes. I became a global ambassador for the Dove self esteem project 10 years ago. My role with them has been nothing short of amazing. I have been able to travel the world and give workshops to women about self confidence. I helped write the curriculum that's used in our school programs. Now my consulting business works with brands and businesses, most of them Fortune 500 companies, to help them understand the things that are impacting women and girls. We help them translate those trends into better products, better campaigns, better marketing outreach, so that they are helping to empower women instead of repeating damaging stereotypes. We create change from the inside out.

What advice do you give those brands?
Anytime we can bring humanity back into the conversation, and we can be less like robots and more like people, we can help them see that the girls and women who are seeing their products want the same thing. They want the connection. They want to feel seen and recognized and celebrated.

Did you know as you were beginning to work with Dove that the campaigns were going to be such a success?
I knew when they approached me that what they were doing was nothing short of revolutionary. At the time I got involved it was 2006, and we were not talking about Photoshop or airbrushed images. Our perceptions about beauty were really distorted. They [Dove] were interested in starting this conversation: "What is beauty?" and "Where are we were looking for beauty in our life?" It's now becoming more regular for businesses to look at these pro-social messaging, but we have to remember at the time this started, brands were not talking to women like this. They were not showing anyone above a size 2 and certainly not women with visible stretch marks or large breasts or a wrinkly tummy.

What is your favorite Dove campaign so far?
I really love a campaign that we did called "Girls Unstoppable." We unearthed some research showing that 6 out of 10 girls will stop doing something they love based on how they feel about their looks. I really woke up to the fact that 60 percent of these amazing young women that I work with will stop doing something they love because they think they're too fat to wear a swimsuit or they aren't pretty enough to speak up in class, or they have anxiety about their looks so they aren't going to run for student government. This campaign verified a rallying cry for myself and a lot of other people out there to say, "This is not OK, and we can do something to change it." Because if we can convert that 60 percent to a much smaller number, we can change the world. Those girls will be unstoppable.

How do you get girls to overcome that and not to care about how they look and go pursue that thing they love anyway?
I think we will always worry about how we look to some degree, so it's almost unrealistic to give advice like, "Just don't worry" and "Only focus on the inside." Of course I can love myself on the inside and still love fashion. My advice would be, let's not pretend it's that easy just to stop worrying [about how you look], but let's change the amount of worry and substitute it for something else. You could put your energy toward something you really love to do that excites you. And when you think about it like that, that's really manageable. Look at the energy we spend on obsessing and worrying about how we look and assign to something else in our lives.

How can women help younger women, no matter their shape and size, whether they're being teased or whether they just need more confidence?
Mentoring isn't only from older women to younger women. I believe in reverse mentoring. I think that women can mentor each other at various stages in their life. In order to be a mentor, embrace your imperfections. People think, "I can't mentor. I don't have all my shit together." And I don't think that's true. I don't think anybody has their stuff together, even the most notable CEO and the most badass women you know don't have all their stuff together. It's a farce. We've got to get rid of that. The second thing is, when I mentor I have a commitment to help these girls the best that I can, but I'm not going to fix them. I can't solve their problems. I can only be a good listener and open doors when I can. Sometimes my best mentoring is being on the other end of a phone call where they need to cry or vent or scream.

What have you learned about yourself while focusing on women's confidence over the past 20 years?
Confidence is a journey and not a destination. It wasn't something that I could have a finite amount of or that I could only share with certain people. It's a way I can live my life. I can care about it, but what that really means is I care about my journey and the journey of others. It's going to be messy, and I guess stepping into the mess is the greatest piece of advice I've ever given. That vulnerability is a bonding agent. It lets people know you're human, and it lets them share with you. That's created more healthy relationships and self esteem and confidence in my life than when I was trying to pretend I had it all together.

Do you have any go-to confidence boosters for women who are about to face something like a job interview, or a high stakes meeting, or public speaking?
I have a new practice in my life around mindfulness. If you're going out for a job interview or another high pressure situation, take five or six really deep breaths. I roll my shoulders back. I close my eyes for a minute. I make sure I can feel my toes, feel my fingers, feel my body, make sure I'm in my body and not just out in outer space with my mind. That way when I show up in the room, I'm really present in that moment. I want to do that on the runway. I want to be as present as possible and enjoy that moment. Partly it's making peace with the fact that there's only so much you can control. Usually, the outcome is better than I expected when I can pull my brain back in my body and just feel connected. That's the greatest gift we can give ourselves.

Lauren de Mahy contributed to this report.

READ MORE FROM POWERTOFLY
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Oprah Channels Audrey Hepburn In One Of 3 October O Magazine Covers

September 11, 2015, 8:15 am

≫ Next: Madness, Infertility and Murder: a History of Blush

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This month Oprah tried iconic looks from three different eras, resulting in three gorgeous covers for the October issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. For Simply ‘70s, the free and easy, hippie-go-lucky vibe called for loose, flowing hair and big, soft lashes. Mod ‘60s style blended innocence with smooth sophistication – the dress code was snappy, the hair was pert and the lipstick was pink. For the Fabulous ‘50s, no one emphasizes classic chic quite like Audrey Hepburn. It’s go-for-broke beauty with dramatically upswept hair, matching lips and nails in candy apple red and heavy-duty eyeliner.

Oprah on the ‘70s-inspired hat she’s wearing on the cover:

“I have a big head! The only hats that fit me are custom made.”

On her Audrey ‘Oprah’ Hepburn look:

“Trends come and go, but a classic look always feels right.”

On how her personal style has evolved over the years:

“My taste has changed so much over the years and I have found that as I get older, I just like things to be simpler.”

On how to pull yourself out of a rut:

“More than taking risks or stepping out of your zone, I think people get stuck and they get comfortable with the same things being the same way they’ve always been. I always say you need to take little baby steps. It’s the little things that allow you to not get yourself stuck in a rut.”

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Madness, Infertility and Murder: a History of Blush

September 11, 2015, 8:52 am

≫ Next: Leah Still Hits The NYFW Runway And Melts Our Hearts

≪ Previous: Oprah Channels Audrey Hepburn In One Of 3 October O Magazine Covers

"Remember taking child's pose is okay," the yoga teacher says with a gentle pat on my back as she glides serenely around the room. While it's shared with the whole room, I know the message was delivered especially for me. A yogi way of saying "hey, your face doesn't look serene so sit your ass down."

This is not the first time my crimson countenance has garnered worrisome attention. In high school a referee called a time-out during a soccer match to make me sub-out. During a job interview my would-be future boss asked if I was feeling ill. Another time on a run, a stranger stopped me and warned me about the perils of heatstroke.

Oh yes, the joys of humanities odd ability to blush! Or in my case violently erupt during times of physical exertion, embarrassment, anger or sorrow. Scientists believe that people prone to redness have more capillaries close to their skin, or that they have the same number as everyone else, only theirs dilate more. Either way, it brings more blood to the surface of the skin resulting in a youthful glow -- or in my case, a blazing inferno.

Biological reasons aside, there are interesting theories as to why humans have this peculiar ability. Charles Darwin himself exclaimed that blushing is "the most peculiar and most human of all expressions." Humans are the only animals who have this ability and it's believe this display evolved over time as a way for us, as hyper-social creatures, to resolve conflict non-verbally by evoking empathy. A blushing face, it seems, is the human equivalent of a dog with its tail between its legs -- a silent way of saying "Officer, I am ashamed to have stashed my marijuana in such an easily seen location."

Enter science and its never ending rotation of potions designed to alleviate this infinitesimal problem.

I woke up like this.

"Try this green color correcting primer!" the glossy Sephora women tells me while I am perusing their goods. "The green color neutralizes redness," she explains. I pass, recalling the naïveté of my youth when I coated my face in green primer before a day spent at sea with my Marine Biology classmates. The ocean was rough and most of the group was feeding the fishes with their regurgitated bile. I was holding it in like a pro when a boy across the way exclaimed "Whoa your face is green! I thought that was just in cartoons that people turn green when seasick." Rather than fess up I just went along with it, but soon the embarrassment had me retching over starboard too.

Of course, I am not the first person to become sick over my skin's complexion. Throughout history people's infatuation with rosy cheeks or pale skin have compelled them to make some questionable decisions. Ancient societies looked to natural occurring minerals and vegetable dyes to attain their desired hue. Ground red ochre mixed with fat was used by the ancient Egyptians as a blush. The Greeks relied on crushed mulberries, while the Romans found that red vermillion did the trick.

In the middle ages a pale parlor was de rigueur -- indicative of one's wealth as a ruddy-colored completion sold you out for being a field worker. In The Trotula(oft cited as one of most influential medieval medicine books) the author celebrates the use of leeches to remove redness from skin for cosmetic purposes. (Unrelated bonus: it also suggests their use on the vagina prior to consummating a marriage to appear virginal.)

While bloodletting for beauty sounds terrible the Italian Renaissance hyped that shit up by discovering that makeup can conceal blemishes and murder. Enter: Acqua Toffana. The CC cream of its time, it evened skin tone and had the added benefit of being really, really deadly. Made with arsenic, its creator Signora Toffana sold the ointment as a "facial powder" to wealthy women in unhappy marriages. Six hundred dead husbands later, Signora Toffana was executed. However, this did little to quell the use of lethal beauty aids and soon "dead white" would be all too common.

Going into the 17th century pale skin remained très chic. Fashionable individuals removed freckles with lead sulfate and plastered their faces with white lead, vinegar and arsenic for that nice corpse look. Use of lead had known consequences including madness and infertility, but it remained well embraced, even after it began eating away at the wearer's skin. The simple fix? Apply more arsenic and lead powder! It wasn't until 1869, when the American Medical Association published a paper entitled "Three Cases of Lead Palsy from the Use of a Cosmetic Called 'Laird's Bloom of Youth'" that the general public wised up to the deadly consequences of their morning regimen. In 1906 the Pure Food and Drug Act and later formation of the FDA would restrict some of the poisons heralded as wonder drugs, but bogus cosmetology continues and, to this day, the FDA has not set limits for lead in cosmetics.

Your face is to die for!

One would think the insanity is over. But beauty trends, much like Matthew McConaughey's oeuvre, have a way of surprising you. In Tokyo me no shita chiiku (or under-eye blush) is all the rage - giving users a look reminiscent of a doll suffering from pink-eye. Earlier this year on London's High Street an illegal haul of skin lightening products was seized and found to contain the bleaching agent hydroquinone which is basically the biological equivalent of paint stripper. If you didn't catch that news story perhaps its because you were too distracted by the horrifying photos of Kim Kardashian's "Vampire Facial."

Back at Sephora I mull over my limitless choices of balms, serums, lotions and creams but, in the end, leave empty handed. If nothing else my foray into the how and why we blush and humanity's odd obsession with controlling it, has left me feeling strangely enamored with this irksome trait. Yes, I may not be able to watch the beginning of Pixar's Up without being rendered a splotchy-faced mess, but in the end, at least I felt something. And it's nice to sometimes unintentionally remind strangers that other people have feelings too.

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Leah Still Hits The NYFW Runway And Melts Our Hearts

September 11, 2015, 8:58 am

≫ Next: The Ode To 'Thunderous' Thighs All Women Needs To Hear

≪ Previous: Madness, Infertility and Murder: a History of Blush

Just when you thought Leah Still couldn't get any cuter, the 5-year-old daughter of Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Devon Still hit the New York Fashion Week runway and completely melted our hearts.

Still, who has been bravely battling cancer over the past year, participated in the Nike/Levi's Kids Rock Fashion Show on Thursday night along with other celebrity kids, such as fashion photographer Nigel Barker's daughter, Jasmine Barker, rapper Fabolous' son, Johan, and reality television stars Melissa and Joe Gorga's children, Antonia and Joey.

Before Little Miss Still hit the runway, we asked the little fashionista: If you had the chance to dress your mom up in anything, would it be?

"A red dress," Still told The Huffngton Post. Oooo la la!

We had to know more, so we asked her for some details about this red hot dress and she told us that it would be "long with pink flowers on it." Last but not least, she said the look would be finished off with a pair of "brown -- light brown -- just like my skin" heels.

Sounds stunning!

Here's a look at all the other cuties who strutted their stuff.

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The Ode To 'Thunderous' Thighs All Women Needs To Hear

September 11, 2015, 9:06 am

≫ Next: Chrissy Teigen On How She Deals With Twitter Haters: 'Not Well'

≪ Previous: Leah Still Hits The NYFW Runway And Melts Our Hearts

“My thighs say thunderous.”

"My thighs say too fat for skinny jeans."

"My thighs say cellulite."

Desireé Dallagiacomo is here to tell you about her powerful, beautiful and all-around awe-inspiring thighs.

The spoken word artist and feminist performed her poem "Thighs Say" at the Individual World Poetry Slam Finals in Phoenix, Arizona last October. Although the poem is almost a year old, it still packs a powerful feminist punch.

"My thighs are always the elephant in the dressing room," Dallagiacomo says to the crowd. "My thighs say 'Feminism, bitch.'"

She describes the unwanted attention her thighs often bring: "My thighs say we don’t want your praise man on the street corner, man in the parking garage, man in Walgreen’s while we’re buying tampons."

"My thighs say we are every man’s wet dream, even when we beg not to be," Dallagiacomo says.

But that won't stop her from loving them. "We don’t know small. Our everything is too big," she says. "My thighs say leave the lights on, we've spent a lifetime hiding. Shake out of this shame. We are the ruthless twins."

"My thighs say come into this, when we say," Dallagiacomo says at the end. "This is ours, all of this: Ours."

Preach lady.

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