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What Your Bumps, Rashes And Itchy Spots Are Trying To Tell You

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The symptom: There’s a rash developing around your waist


What your skin is saying: You rash could be due to a nickel allergy, courtesy of the rivets on the inside of your jeans. Nickel allergy is one of the most common causes of allergic skin reactions, and something Marie Jhin, MD, a board certified dermatologist in San Francisco, sees frequently. (One study in Contact Dermatitis estimated that roughly 8.6 percent of people worldwide are allergic to it.) Other spots you might notice it: anywhere you wear jewelry, which could mean that the new necklace or bracelet you thought was real gold is, sorry to say, not-so-real gold.
What to do: Nickel rashes usually develop within 12 to 48 hours of exposure and it can take 2 to 3 weeks for it to resolve, says Whitney Bowe, MD, board certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York. An over-the-counter cortisone cream can help speed up the healing process.

The symptom: Your armpit looks a little rash-y


What your skin is saying: Underarms are a likely spot for textile or dye allergies to pop up, since the fabric makes contact with the skin there every time you move your arm. Blue dyes known as “disperse” blue are common culprits, says Bowe.
What to do: First, you need to do some detective work to make sure your clothes are really the cause. Make a list of anything new that’s come into contact with your skin within the last two weeks, because reactions from textiles and dyes aren’t immediate—they take time to develop. If a particular item of clothing is the obvious offender, cut off the label, toss the garment, show the label to your dermatologist and ask about doing a patch test to figure out what exactly you were allergic to in the garment so you know what to avoid next time you go shopping.

The symptom: You’re noticing some yellowish bumps popping up


What your skin is saying: These fatty buildups under the skin, which appear yellow or orange (the size can vary a lot, from a few millimeters to a few inches) and are soft to the touch, are called xanthomas, and they can signal too-high lipid or cholesterol levels in your blood, says Jhin. They can develop anywhere on the body, but the most common spots are joints, tendons, hands, feet, and bottom. Xanthomas on the eyelid however, aren’t necessarily linked to lipid or cholesterol status. 


What to do: A blood test can confirm or rule out high lipids or cholesterol as a cause. If your levels are in the unhealthy range, getting them under control can reduce the xanthomas. A dermatologist can also remove them for you, though there’s no guarantee they won’t come back.

The symptom: You’ve got serious itching, burning sensations, and blisters


What your skin is saying: You could have celiac disease, which affects up to 1 in 141 Americans, according to a 2012 study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. This particular symptom, called dermatitis herpetiformis, affects 15 to 25 percent of people with celiac and typically comes without the hallmark digestive troubles of the autoimmune disorder. You’d get intensely itchy rashes on both sides of the body, usually on the elbows, knees, behind, back, and back of the neck. It typically starts up between the ages of 30 and 40, affects slightly more men than women, and is more common among people of Northern European ancestry.
What to do: DH can be confused with eczema; the recommended way to diagnose it is with a skin biopsy and a test for the antibody that triggers the rash. If it turns out to be DH, your doctor will advise you to follow a gluten-free diet and give you a prescription for a topical cream.

The symptom: Your scalp is a scaly, flaky mess


What your skin is saying: If the skin also looks red and irritated, or seems to be swollen and greasy, don’t dismiss this as run-of-the-mill dandruff. It could be seborrheic dermatitis, a condition that mainly affects your scalp, causing red skin, scaly patches, and dandruff (it can also appear on the face, upper chest, and back). It could mean that you’re under major stress, suggests a 2007 study. And there’s research linking it to serious conditions like depression. (A 2012 study in Neurology even linked it to a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s.) 


What to do: Seborrheic dermatitis can be look similar to psoriasis, eczema or a skin allergy, so to diagnose the cause, your dermatologist will need to take a thorough history and proceed from there. There are a variety of treatments (starting with dandruff shampoos that just target the flakes and progressing to Rx-strength ointments and antifungal medications -- sometimes a combination of treatments is needed) they can recommend.

The symptom: There’s a strange rash across your face, and your skin has been really sensitive to sunlight lately


What your skin is saying: A butterfly rash (which spreads from one cheek to the other across the nose) is a telltale sign of lupus, which affects 1.5 million Americans and is far more common in women than in men (90 percent of cases happen in women between the ages of 15 and 45). About half of all lupus patients get the rash, either spontaneously or after they’ve spent time in the sun. (Lupus patients are also more sun-sensitive than the average person, and it can make symptoms worse or trigger their appearance in the first place.)
What to do: Lupus is often mistaken for rosacea, but if your dermatologist suspects lupus, they’ll order a blood test (called an ANA test) to confirm.

The symptom: You moisturize like crazy but your dry, red, itchy skin won’t go away


What your skin is saying: Time to rethink your products, especially if the warm weather is long gone and you’re still scraping the bottom of your summer moisturizer bottle. Humidity in winter is lower than in hot months, and because there’s less moisture in the air for your skin to come in contact with, you need heavier duty products, says Bowe.
What to do: Swap out lightweight lotions or gels for creams and oils, as they tend be more hydrating.

The symptom: You’re really itchy, but your skin looks totally fine


What your skin is saying: It’s rare, but itch without redness can be a sign of neurological problem like Multiple Sclerosis—"[It's] uncommon but not impossible," says Mike Bowley, MD, a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. The itch comes on in brief but intense periods, and according to the National MS Society, topical corticosteroids don’t help. But it’s important to remember that if this kind of itching is due to MS, then it is unlikely to be your only symptom, so if you’re also experiencing numbness or a change in sensitivity (which could go either way—either non-painful stimuli can make you shriek or you don’t even notice a pinprick), then it’s something your doctor might consider.
What to do: If antihistamines don’t fix the itch, your doctor will go through a thorough history to check for other signs that something is neurologically amiss.


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Jessica Simpson's HSN Appearance Has Some Scratching Their Heads

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Jessica Simpson appeared on the Home Shopping Network Thursday night to promote her latest clothing line, but some were more interested in her behavior than what she was selling. 


Viewers reacted on Twitter during the two-hour show with HSN host Colleen Lopez, saying Simpson seemed out of it. The 35-year-old, who was there to promote her Jessica Simpson Collection, was criticized for slurring her speech, giggling and teetering back and forth while on camera.


Despite the criticism, Simpson sold out the night, according to a Facebook post from Lopez. 




 


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Illustrator Richard Haines Wants To Draw All The Beautiful Men Of New York

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Warning: This post contains (illustrated) nudity and may not be suitable for work.



Ladies. Gentlemen. People with eyes. Prepare to feast them. On these very pretty boys.


Illustrator Richard Haines spent most of his career in fashion. He designed for brands like Calvin Klein and Sean Combs, in the process familiarizing himself with the particular way fabric hangs on a person's frame. But long before his life as a designer took off, Haines was obsessed with drawing. Since the age of 5, he covered notebooks with flowers, wedding dresses and elaborate gardens. 


Now, Haines is returning to his original passion, showing his style-centric illustrations as fine art. The images, flimsy yet sharp, resemble what might have arisen if Egon Schiele maintained a fashion blog, with sinuous men striking a pose in various states of stylish dress and undress.



"These guys are doing interesting things, and that all shows in their appearance," Haines explained to Out Magazine. "They also happen to be beautiful in a lot of different ways. It’s about being around artists who want to be in a community of artists. I mean, most guys I draw are very tall and very thin. They’re almost like these narrow lines. I see them on the street, and it’s almost like they're walking drawings."


In a world where nude drawing almost always references a female subject, it's refreshing to ogle the lines and curves that make up a man. The occasional beard and man bun ain't bad either. 


"Richard Haines: A Room of One's Own" runs until October 24 at Daniel Cooney Fine Art in New York. 



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If You Think Tom Hardy Shouldn't Have Been Asked About His Sexuality, You're Dead Wrong. Here's Why.

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Earlier this week a reporter from a queer Canadian publication caused controversy -- and outrage -- when he asked Tom Hardy about his sexuality during a Toronto International Film Festival press conference for the actor's new film "Legend."

Hardy, who in 2008 candidly stated that he experimented with other guys when he was younger but found gay sex "did nothing for him," quickly shut down the interview after refusing to answer the "disrespectful" question. However, on Thursday the "Mad Max" star had quite a bit more to say about the incident while speaking with The Daily Beast.

"I think everybody is entitled to the right to privacy," Hardy said. "...Some things are private. I'm under no obligation to share anything to do with my family, my children, my sexuality -- that's nobody's business but my own. And I don't see how that can have anything to do with what I do as an actor, and it's my own business. "

Hardy, who plays a queer character in "Legend," (which means the question about his sexuality actually could have something to do with what he does and/or draws on as an actor) explained that he'd be fine with a friend asking about his sexuality but noted, "to put a man on the spot in a room full of people designed purely for a salacious reaction? To be quite frank, it's rude."

Hardy conceded that what the reporter "had to talk about was actually interesting, but how he did it was so inelegant," and noted that what the reporter "and his publication stands for, none of that is offensive, and on the contrary, it's very admirable, and an important issue." However, he also emphasized that "I'm not a role model for anyone, and you're asking me something about my private life in a room full of people. I don't want to discuss my private life with you. I don't know you! Why would I share that with a billion people?"

As if Hardy's hypocritically self-righteous stance (more on that in a minute) wasn't disappointing enough in and of itself, when I saw how quickly my social media feeds were filling up with giddy praise for his comments -- in many cases giddy praise from queer people -- I grew even queasier.

While watching variations of "Tom's right! It's nobody's business!" and "That's private!" flood comment fields, tweets and Facebook statuses, I sighed and thought to myself, Really? Are we really still defending -- and celebrating! -- the idea that sexual orientation is akin to some deep dark secret to be discussed after dark behind closed doors in hushed tones with only our most trusted confidantes?

Apparently we are. But this has to change, folks. Why? Because even though, sure, everyone should be "entitled to the right to privacy" regarding certain aspects of their lives, sexual orientation shouldn't be considered private. Let me type that again and put it in boldface so that you don't miss it: Sexual orientation should not be considered private.

Our sexuality is merely a part of who we are -- like the color of our eyes or our height. What we do with our sexuality may be private (and even then, if I had my way, we'd all be a lot more open and honest about how and when we have sex too, but let's save that for another blog), but our sexual orientation shouldn't be. By claiming otherwise, you're saying that there is something about how a person identifies -- and who they choose to love and/or sleep with -- that should remain secret.

But why would that be? If there's nothing wrong with being anything other that heterosexual -- as most people and I'm sure Hardy himself would claim -- what exactly are we keeping private? And, again, why?

Perhaps the homophobia that historically had people -- especially celebrities -- employing statements like "no comment" and "that's private" hasn't disappeared as nearly or as neatly as we'd like to think or hope. Maybe -- just maybe -- even though marriage equality has finally come to every state in our fair nation and beloved sitcoms are being boldly rebooted with gay characters, we haven't really come as far as we think we have and queerness is still seen as shameful -- and therefore damaging -- especially to a male action star like Hardy whose masculinity serves as his mealticket.

And I get it. Despite the fact that we've seen more and more stars come out in the last 10 years, Hollywood's closets remain uncomfortably crowded due to the not-so-irrational fear of losing jobs, disloyal fans and plummeting relevance. But I refuse to accept the "sexuality is private" lie any longer, and I refuse to accept Hardy's outrage at being asked about his sexuality, especially under the guise of privacy. This is the same man who, though he claims he doesn't want to share his personal life with "a billion people," gave an interview to Details magazine earlier this year in which he discussed his father, his spirituality and his sobriety. That all sounds pretty personal to me. What's more, Hardy has opened up about his harrowing experiences with drugs and alcohol on numerous occasions, offering intimate soundbites like "I didn't want anyone to know I was out of control, but I couldn't hide it... I was lucky I didn't get hepatitis or AIDS" and "I would have sold my mother for a rock of crack."

So, apparently, it's not his personal life that he doesn't want to talk about -- it's just his sexuality.

And before anyone gets the wrong idea, I want to be clear that I'm not questioning Hardy's heterosexuality. This is not about that. As much as I'd like to have my way with him, I'm fine with him living a straight life. By all means! But I do want to point out that heterosexual people who are completely at ease with themselves have the luxury of not pulling the "my sexuality is private" card because being heterosexual isn't seen as shameful -- it's our society's default (and privileged) setting. It's "natural." It's "normal." It just... exists, much as I'm arguing all other orientations should just exist.

We can't keep saying that being queer isn't a big deal out of one side of our mouths and then turn around and cry "How dare you!" and "Privacy!" out of the other side. For those of you who are championing Hardy's little hissy fit, I'd love to know why and what you think is so precious about his -- or your -- sexual orientation that it should remain off the record. I wish Hardy had responded, "My sexuality? I'm straight" or "I'm only interested in being with women but I fooled around a bit when I was a kid and it wasn't a big deal." I don't need him to be a role model or a poster boy for me or anyone else -- but saying something like that alone! Imagine how amazing it would be to hear that come out of his mouth.

But maybe Hardy isn't quite as comfortable with that candid 2008 conversation he had about his youthful daillances with other guys as we (and he) thought he was. Maybe seven years and a slew of really successful action films have changed the way he thinks about who he was and what he did -- or at least how he's perceived and what that means for his career. Who knows?

What I do know is that queer people have to answer "inelegant" questions about who they are and what they do all the time. But the more we are asked and the more we answer honestly and with deep, daring introspection -- not just of ourselves but of the world we live in and how and why it views us the way it does -- the further we push the needle until one day the needle snaps off and these kinds of questions are no longer necessary.

But we aren't there yet. And we won't get there by campaigning for people -- queer or not -- to shy away from being honest about who they are, especially about something we've all agreed shouldn't be a secret and shouldn't be shameful.

Instead, we should tell and we should teach. Instead we should say "I'm gay." Or "I'm straight." Or "I'm bisexual." Or "I once had a dick in my mouth but that was a long time ago and to be honest it didn't do a whole lot for me, but I'm not embarrassed about it and I'm not ashamed of it and yeah I guess maybe it did help me approach this character in a way I wouldn't have otherwise." Or it didn't. I don't know. I don't want to put words in Tom Hardy's mouth (or anyone else's). But I do want him -- and everyone else who is yammering on about privacy -- to rethink exactly what they're trying to protect, exactly why it's so threatening to answer a question about sexuality and what it says about them -- and all of us -- when they refuse to do it.

Also on The Huffington Post:

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Why New York Fashion Week Still Needs Harlem's Fashion Row

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Another New York Fashion Week has come to an end, and while we're now hip to the trends we'll be wearing come spring, we can't help but notice how few black designers there are each year. And while the fashion industry keeps asking the question "where is the diversity?" thankfully, there is one organization that is shouting the answer.


For the past eight years Harlem’s Fashion Row has dedicated itself to shining the light on talented black designers who are often overlooked and grossly underrepresented in the fashion world -- especially in the retail space. 


Brandice Daniel, founder and CEO of HFR, is relentless in her pursuit to turn fashion designers of color into viable, money-making businesses. 



Over the course of nearly a decade, HFR has championed a number of designers, and Daniel counts several of them as success stories for her organization. New York-based designers Kimberly Goldson, as well as Omar Salam of the label Sukeina, are two of them. In fact, Salam is currently signed with a management agency and is now selling his high-end designs at several boutiques. Goldson, who starred on "Project Runway," is still working on getting her designs into stores, but has had great success in garnering brand recognition. 


While African-American designers will always be a priority for Daniel, she's now also open to working with other minority groups, such as Latinos, Asians and beyond. Daniel explained the shift was inevitable. “With the way the world is we really wanted to expand and make it multi-cultural designers.”


Even so, Daniel has not abandoned her initial mission. “We will always be a huge resource for designers of color. That never, ever changes. We’re just expanding.”


This past Fashion Week she started that expansion by including Thulare Monareng, who is from Africa, but owns the  retail platform and showroom The Fashion Deli, which represents designers -- including white ones  -- who hail from the continent of Africa.



(A model wears a design from The Fashion Deli)


The other two selected designers for the 2015 HFR show were Meagan S.E. Wellman of M-SEW, a Bermuda-born designer is based in London, and Fe Noel, who produces her eponymous collection in Brooklyn at her own factory. 



(A model wears a Fe Noel design)


"The reason why I joined Harlem's Fashion Row is that they are a group and they're family," Noel told The Huffington Post. "And maybe if we had more of that -- more groups like that --trying to get us up, we are creating our own roadway and trying to create the same access that everyone else has access to." 



(A model wears an M-SEW design)


In addition to presenting the creations of the selected designers, Daniel also uses the event to honor people who she calls "fashion industry power players." This is the second year she has incorporated the awards into the fashion show. Here's a look at this year's recipients.


The Icon 360 Award: Tracee Ellis Ross, "Blackish" actress


Designer of the Year: Azede Jean-Pierre


The Editor of the Year Award: Kahlana Barfield, Instyle's fashion and beauty editor at large


The Trailblazer Award: Bevy Smith, host of Bravo's "Fashion Queens"


The Maverick Award: Misa Hylton and Groovey Lew


Stylist of the Year Award: Rachel Johnson


The Vanguard Award: Shawn R. Outler, fashion retailer at Macy's



In her acceptance speech for the Trailblazer award, Smith remarked on the importance of diversity throughout all sectors of fashion. "In fashion it's a fickle business, especially for people of color," she said. "And I am a true advocate for making sure we diversify this business. And not just from a modeling standpoint, not just from styling, but also from the business side."



And speaking of business, that's exactly what Daniel has in mind for the future of HFR. She hopes to launch an HFR clothing label, which will be designed by various designers of color that she handpicks. 


"We've been a really great platform for exposure in terms of press and media, but I think the way that we round that out is telling people how they can support HFR. The natural next step is to buy into the label," Daniel expained to HuffPost. 


The line will launch in the next two years and work as a revenue share model with the designers that are picked. 


"After that I really feel like my purpose will be fulfilled," Daniel said with a chuckle that acknowledged the movement will never really be over. 



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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Art, Fashion, & the Selfie - G Gurl Selfie

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Art is all around us, fashion forever changing and the selfie transcending the way we view the self. By eliminating the self in the photo series I present you, I explore the idea what is or isn't art, fashion, and the selfie by disconnecting the viewer from the model by eliminating the self with the gorilla mask. This act of elimination has been done by the Guerrilla Girls, a feminist art group formed in the summer of 1985 in New York City. By eliminating the self, the Guerrilla Girls were able to take the attention off the self and concentrate on the discrimination in art and the struggles the other are presented in society.

I have done a similar approach with art, fashion and the selfie. What makes fashion, what is art? What constitutes a selfie? By exploring these ideas and adapting them in a new manner, I in effect by using the mask disqualify the fundamentals of what is art, fashion, and the selfie. By opposing these elements, juxtaposes questions on the idea of art, fashion, and the selfie. I present you G Gurl Selfie photography series where the project explores elements from art, fashion and the selfie, intermixed, to give a new perspective on the way these elements can be interpreted.

Images: Shawn Reinoehl
Styling: StylebyJorge.com


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7 Tips To Wearing Makeup Every Man Who Wears Makeup Should Know

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Despite what modern cosmetics ads may want us to believe, men are wearing makeup and are damn proud of it. The following seven makeup tips, tricks and hacks go out to all the guys who know their liner from their stick, and to all those who are just starting out.




1. How to contour properly.


Contouring and highlighting are two crafty techniques that can enhance your best features. They can define your cheekbones, even out your skin, give you a natural glow and even create the illusion of a slimmer nose. Fair warning: when done wrong, the results can be downright disastrous. Luckily, makeup expert Wayne Goss, best known for his useful makeup tutorials on looking "flawless, not fake," has created this helpful how-to video on mastering the art of contouring and highlighting.




2. How to conceal under-eye circles and redness.


Numerous late nights, hard liquor and genetics catching up to you? Reducing dark circles and "bags" is as easy as 1-2-3. The quick fix is to apply concealer and blend away. YouTuber Runjacerun goes through the specifics in this step-by-step video. 




3. How to fake a thicker beard.


In less than three minutes, fashion vlogger Colin Jay explains how to turn a thin, patchy beard into a fuller, darker one. The trick? NYX eyebrow cake powder. The technique is ideal for covering up shaving mistakes or areas that are sparse on your face.




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4. How to trim, shape and groom eyebrows.


To help your brows look their best, you'll need three things: a good pair of tweezers, brow pencil and brow gel. Vlogger Jake-Jamie Ward, a.k.a the Beauty Boy, explains how to achieve the perfect brow shape and how to correctly use brow pencils and brow gels. Pro tip: pluck with discretion. 




5. How to apply guyliner.


From Johnny Depp to Jared Leto, we've seen several male celebs rockin' guyliner. To recreate, you'll need black eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara. In a few simple steps, English makeup artist Wayne Goss discusses how to perfect the look.




6. How to get soft lips.


Lip care can often be overlooked. Ross Callahan, self proclaimed "YouTube's number one male skin care and grooming guru," recommends using a lip balm with SPF daily. Learn how to pick the right lip balm and how to exfoliate your lips in the tutorial below. 




7. Commit to a daily skin care routine.


It's important for makeup wearers to stay committed to their skin care regimen. Any guy who wears makeup should be aware of the benefits of using cleanser, toner and moisturizer on a daily basis. Learn the essentials with this instructional video by James Welsh, a men's grooming, style and hair vlogger.




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What Will It Take For Fashion To Include More Body Diversity?

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Body diversity is a hot topic within the fashion industry, and the conversation is starting to shift more than ever. Curvy models are landing fashion spreads and magazine covers, and the push to drop labels and simply just exist in different shapes and sizes is strong. And yet, as far as real change within the elite world of New York Fashion Week, there are major strides to be made. 


Fern Mallis, creator of New York Fashion Week and international fashion consultant, told The Huffington Post that the event itself is not the only thing to blame. "It's not Fashion Week's fault. Fashion Week is a business event, trying to organize an industry to help sell and publicize their collections." She's right -- designers, publications, even society in general are conditioned to think a certain way, to advertise a certain way -- and that way, for the most part, excludes curvy women. 



That is not to say that all designers shy away from dressing curvy women. Christian Siriano has designed for and dressed women of all shapes and sizes -- Christina Hendricks is known for loving his gowns, and he designed an unbelievably gorgeous wedding dress for friend and curvy fashion blogger Nicolette Mason. Siriano argues that even if designers did want to dress curvy models, there aren't many to choose from when it comes to runway. "There's quite a limited amount of girls in this business that can walk, that would want to do a show," he said.


Now, however, the industry is seeing an influx of curvy models who can and do want to walk. Take the five models who co-founded ALDA, Ashley Graham, Julie Henderson, Danielle Redman, Inga Eiriksdottir and Marquita Pring, for example.


Feeling frustrated with the standards and lack of diversity in the industry, they created the ALDA collective to shift perceptions of beauty in the industry and beyond. To them, the real challenge is getting to a place where models -- and women -- are treated as equals. "We are just like everybody else. We are models, that is our profession, and there's no difference between us and a skinnier girl or an in-between girl or a bigger girl. We are all here, representing diverse bodies," Pring said. 


It's happening, albeit in small ways. Chromat once again featured plus-size models in its show and Graham, who designed a lingerie line with Addition Elle, had a show of her own this season, which, as seen at the end of this video, features an entire roster of curvy girls.



The challenges are real, but so is the desire to overcome them. Check out the video above to hear what experts on all sides of the industry have to say about becoming more inclusive. 


Help HuffPost Lifestyle make Fashion Week an event for EVERYONE by spreading our hashtag #NYFW4ALL and be sure to check out all of our coverage.


Produced by Irina Dvalidze
Associate production by Marielle Olentine and Audrey Horowitz 


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We Asked For More Diversity At NYFW, And Here's What Happened

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This season, HuffPost Lifestyle asked for more diversity at New York Fashion Week. We wanted NYFW to be an inclusive event for people of all skin tones, genders, sizes, shapes and personalities. To help in our effort, we launched the hashtag #NYFW4ALL to earmark any moment over the course of the week that helped to democratize the event. 


Over the past eight days, we have worked to highlight runway shows that feature more body diversity, the unique struggles that face models of color models and many other initiatives that worked to make fashion week more inclusive. 


Although the industry has a long way to go, we were pleasantly surprised by many of the positive changes we saw. Check out some of the best moments below. 


1. Not only did Ashley Graham partner with Canadian retailer Addition Elle to launch her own line of lingerie this summer, but during NYFW she modeled the collection alongside a number of other beautiful plus-size models. 



2.Two plus-size models walked in the Chromat show. And this wasn't the first time designer Becca McCharen featured more diversity on her runway. Here's hoping this becomes a trend that lasts. 



3. Madeline Stuart, an 18-year-old Australian model who has Down syndrome, opened the Hendrik Vermeulen show. Stuart became the second person with Down syndrome to walk in NYFW



4.Carrie Hammer featured role models instead of runway models in her Spring 2016 show. The designer featured Olympic athletes, CEOs and speechwriters on her catwalk. 



5.  Many natural hairstyles made appearances at Spring 2016 shows. Black and biracial models with different hair types and textures, including curly, wavy and kinky, radiated as they stormed the runways.


 



6. Kerby Jean-Raymond, the founder and head designer of Pyer Moss, started his runway show by showing a short film about the horrific police brutality on black men and women that have filled headlines -- and several that flew under the radar. 




7. Renowned fashion activist Bethann Hardison continued to be relentless in pushing the issue of diversity in the industry by speaking out in forums like this NYFW-sponsored talk.



8. Plus-size model Candice Huffine made her NYFW runway debut at Sophie Theallet



9. Josh Ostrovsky aka The Fat Jew held his very first runway show focused on dad bods. The comedian found his models on Craigslist and sent them down the runway in items from Kmart and Walgreens. If that's not #NYFW4ALL, we're not sure what is. 



10. Harlem’s Fashion Row, an organization that helps mentor emerging designers of color, continued to champion black designers and featured African designer Thulare Monareng, Bermuda-born designer Meagan S.E. Wellman and Brooklyn-based Fe Noel, in its bi-annual show. 



11. Marc Jacobs, arguably the biggest designer to show during NYFW, cast plus-size singer Beth Ditto in his show on Thursday evening. Ditto famously made her first fashion week debut back in 2010 on the Jean Paul Gaultier runway. 



12. Trans designer Gogo Graham held her runway show at the Ace Hotel on Thursday night and only used transgender models on her catwalk. 



A photo posted by Coco Layne (@lolitabandita) on



13. For the second year in a row, dapperQ, the "leading style website for masculine women and trans identified individuals," spearheaded a massive queer fashion show at The Brooklyn Museum.








Watch our original #NYFW4ALL videos:


How The Fashion Industry Is Failing Black Models


What Will It Take For Fashion To Include More Body Diversity?


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Gabrielle Union's Modern Cat Eye Tops This Week's Beauty Looks

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If you think there's only one way to do cat eye makeup (read: drawn on with jet-black liquid liner), then maybe you should take a few cues from Gabrielle Union on revamping your routine.


While sitting pretty in the front rows at New York Fashion Week, the "Being Mary Jane" actress sported a series of stunning beauty looks. But the one that made us do a double-take was a modern cat eye created by celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, aka Kim Kardashian's contouring genius. 


Dedivanovic applied highly pigmented charcoal shadow close to Union's lash line and gently winged it out. And we love how he used a bronze eyeshadow on the top of her lids, helping to make her brown eyes appear even larger. 


See Union's modern cat eye makeup, and find out which other celebrities made this week's best beauty list.  



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Carly Rae Jepsen Posts Chic Instagram To Celebrate UK Album Release

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Like Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen, we just have a lot of "Emotion," OK?


The "Call Me Maybe" singer's second full-length album dropped in the U.S. in August, but now our friends across the pond can finally join us in reveling to the jazzy sax of "Run Away with Me," the slowed down realness of "All That," and the Sia-influenced "Boy Problems." In other words, if you haven't given CRJ's album a listen yet, now is the time. 



UK/EU release day. Lunch celebration at the Balthazar in London. #Emotion is now available everywhere!

A photo posted by Carly Rae Jepsen (@carlyraejepsen) on



Jepsen commemorated the fact that "Emotion" is now available for all to legally download with an Instagram photo showing the singer in a blush-colored top and skirt with an exposed zipper down the middle, paired with a clutch and nude heels. Not the most practical for running away with someone, but probably good enough to tell them you really, really, really, really, really like them.


While the insane success of her first 2012 hit, and "Kiss," the full-length album that followed in just eight short weeks, may have made Jepsen seem like a pop flash in the pan, "Emotion" tells a different story. Jepsen told NPR she wrote "over 200 songs" while figuring out how she wanted the album to sound. "I think there'd been a bit of a tug-of-war going on in my own mind of really having that desire to rebel away from what I'd done before, but also not wanting to stray too far," she continued. 


The sophomore effort has been received by critics as "one of the most pristine pop albums of the year," "adventurously diverse," and "nary a skippable track."  If it's unclear by now, we also agree.


Take us out, Lisa Simpson:





 


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Sexualizing Women In Ads May Hurt Men's Self-Esteem, Too

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


The Background


It's estimated that people see up to 5,000 ads a day, many of which depict women in sexually objectifying ways. There are egregious examples, like those infamous Carl's Jr. commercials, as well as subtler examples, like the American Apparel ads that sexualized a female model in a unisex shirt while a male model wore the same shirt fully buttoned up. Some ads make light of rape and domestic violence; some reduce women to a pair of breasts; and some arbitrarily throw a nearly naked woman into the mix because hey, why not?  Studies have suggested that when women are exposed to these types of ads en masse, they may internalize the value placed on their appearances, which can lead to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, eating disorders and depression. But what about men? Are they also affected by these reductive portrayals of women?


In a new study, researchers from The College of Saint Rose and the University of South Florida examined the complicated relationship between ads that sexually objectify women's bodies and the effect they have on both women and men who are bombarded with them each day.


The Setup


Researchers gathered 437 men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 to react to ads in a lab (though participants were told that they were simply examining the "efficacy of various types of advertisements"). Participants first reported how many hours a week they spent watching television, surfing the Internet, social networking, reading magazines or newspapers, viewing pornography and playing video games. They were then asked to rate how much they agreed with statements like "I would like my body to look like the models who appear in magazines," meant to gauge how much they internalize cultural appearance ideals, and asked to complete a word association task that measured how dissatisfied they were with their bodies.


After that, participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one that would view six ads which sexually objectified women and another that would look at six ads which did not (according to pre-tests performed by the researchers). The researchers then had all participants answer a few questions about the women in the ads and report their body satisfaction again.


The Findings


The researchers found that both men and women who internalized cultural appearance ideals had higher levels of body dissatisfaction after viewing ads that sexually objectified women. This effect was greater for women, but it held true for men, too. No such trend was found for the group who viewed the neutral ads. 


According to the researchers, these findings "may be difficult to generalize beyond the young adult population," since they only included participants between the ages of 18 and 25. They also only reflect a short-term dip in body satisfaction, so more research is needed to see how long these detrimental effects last.


The Takeaway


These findings suggest that, when people talk about sexual objectification in the media, it's important to understand that sexualized ads may not only be harming women -- they could very well be hurting men, too.


Recognizing that men's self-esteem can be affected by degrading depictions of women could help move the conversation forward and lead to progress (a.k.a. fewer ads that make light of rape and domestic abuse or reduce women to pairs of breasts or feature them unclothed just because). Not to mention, the men whose body images are negatively affected by these ads may be able to seek out help if they need it.


At the end of the day, everybody suffers when women are reduced to their sex appeal.  


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PUMA X Sneaker Freaker x Packer Shoes 'Bloodbath' NYC launch event

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Hailing from Australia, Simon "Woody" Wood, Editor and Founder of Sneaker Freaker Magazine is certainly quite familiar with shark attacks. Surely, a "Bloodbath" collaboration with PUMA and Packer Shoes was not too far-fetched.



Ahead of New York Fashion week, the trio unleashed The Blaze Of Glory 'Bloodbath' sneaker September 2 at The Refinery Hotel. As a branding professional, I definitely appreciate consistency: red walls, velvet curtains and of course shoes, the venue perfectly conveyed the sanguine shark-theme.

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"Kicking it" with Simon "Woody" Wood, Sneaker Freaker Magazine Founder and Editor (left) and Mike Packer of Packer Shoes (right) before our interview.


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The Blaze Of Glory 'Bloodbath' kicks were showcased in a shark cage against a backdrop of bloody crashing ocean waves.


Co-branding is all the rage these days but rarely do three major players of the sneaker world collaborate. So how did this come about ?
'The process took about a year and a half and was Sneaker Freaker third collaboration with Puma.'- Woody said. Legendary sneaker retailer Mike Packer of Packer Shoes added: 'It was pretty organic: Woody and I have been friends for over ten years and are sneaker fanatics.'

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Mike Packer of Packer Shoes (left) and Simon "Woody" Wood, Sneaker Freaker Magazine Founder and Editor (right)


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Industry insiders and celebrities such as rapper Fabulous pictured above with Mike Packer attended the exclusive preview.

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Guests mingle at the PUMA 'Bloodbath' capsule launch in New York City.



Michael "Mikey" Cole brought flavor to the event with custom "Bloodbath" ice cream: a yummy blend of red velvet cake, chocolate swirl and mint mirroring the colors of the shoe sole.



We constantly keep our eyes on what pop culture is doing to channel inspiration for our products. Whether with looks, drinks or ice cream, the sneaker nation is all about being fresh. - Cole said.


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Note to self: With all the fashion week running around, a girl may want to trade red soled stilettos for comfy red sneakers in between shows...

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Retailing for $170, the shoe is unisex and available worldwide in limited edition. Can't get your hands on it ? Do not see red!

Head over to Mikey Likes It in the East Village for a taste of PUMA's "Bloodbath" custom ice cream.


Very special thanks to Tamas Szabev photography.

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Rachel Zoe Talks Iconic Fashion Moment: 'I Could've Ended There'

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Rachel Zoe might be busy helming her own eponymous fashion line these days, but the "Fashionably Late" TV host is still taking the time to enjoy the catwalks of others, she told HuffPost Live in a conversation on Thursday.


"A lot of them are my friends and we support each other ... I'm always gonna love going to the shows. That's something I started off doing in my career and I think I'll always love it," she said.


Givenchy's legendary 9/11 fashion show "was a highlight" of this past New York Fashion Week, affirmed Zoe, adding that she "could've ended [it] right there."


"That was really fun and just kind of sitting there, having that New York moment under the Freedom Tower -- it was amazing," she said. 


Other high points included Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung and Oscar De La Renta shows, the former stylist listed, mentioning that she wouldn't be opposed to collaborating with any of these esteemed designers in the future 


"I think that'd be so much fun," she declared. "I've known so many of them for so many years, so we always kind of talk about that."


Watch more from Rachel Zoe's conversation with HuffPost Live here.


Want more HuffPost Live? Listen on the go with free downloads of our best interviews on iTunes here, and subscribe here for our morning email to guarantee you won't miss our buzziest conversations. 


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Photo Series Exposes The Joy And Heartache Of Raising Kids With Special Needs

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Photographer Natalie McCain has made headlines for her "Honest Body Project" -- an empowering collection of photo series that feature moms in a stripped-down state, discussing parenthood and body image. The latest photo series in the project focuses on a particular group of parents: moms of children with special needs. 


Titled "Defined by Our Hearts," the new series shows six mothers posing with their children and sharing their stories and thoughts on parenting kids with disabilities.



The photographer told The Huffington Post that she also hopes "Defined by Our Hearts" resonates with other moms of kids with special needs and inspires all parents -- regardless of their child's level of ability. "I hope that it helps mothers whose children are typically developing to start conversations with their children on how amazing these kids are and to be more understanding," she said.


"Don't hush your child when they have questions about another child's special needs," the photographer continued, adding that her 3-year-old son attends a special needs school for sensory issues and speech delays. "I've had so many children ask me, or my son, why he sounds like a baby," she said. "I hope by me modeling a healthy response and reaction to these questions, it will give him the confidence to not be embarrassed as he grows. I never want him to feel that he is less than others just because he has a hard time with his speech."


As with her previous photo series, McCain photographed the moms having open and honest conversations in their underwear -- to empower them, "help normalize the natural body" and "paint a better picture of motherhood," she said.


"While the mothers may be speaking about their children, the series still focuses on the mothers' lives, feelings, bodies, and general motherhood," she added. "When you feel more confident and have a healthy body image, this positively affects all areas of your life."


The series title, "Defined by Our Hearts" comes from one of the moms' quotes about her son, which stuck with McCain. The photographer told HuffPost, "We should all be defined by who we are, how we love, how we live our lives, rather than the disabilities we may have."


These captions have been edited and condensed. Visit the Honest Body Project website to read more about these moms and their families.



 


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These Aren't Your Mom's French Manicures

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We never thought the day would come when we'd walk into the nail salon and request a French manicure. But we're reconsidering what many refer to as the "ugly" '90s trend, thanks to the all the cool designs we saw at New York Fashion Week


Backstage at Tibi, Cushnie et Ochs, Monique Lhuillier and Nicholas K, manicurists painted fancy and funky tips onto models' nails. Morgan Taylor lead artist Gina Edwards best described this modern twist as "Not Your Mother's French Mani," as the new look involves bold polish colors, foils and brushes to remix the classic thick, white tip. 


From V-shaped nails in rich burgundy hues to monochromatic manis with a blank center strip, there are plenty of ways to rock a French manicure. Not to mention, we learned a finger-rolling trick from celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann that makes recreating these contemporary designs super easy. 



Scroll down to see all the amazing French manicures we spotted at New York Fashion Week. Plus, find out the exact polish colors the professionals used to nail these looks.



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Celeb Secrets For Getting Red Carpet Ready (And They’re Affordable!)

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Have you ever wondered how your favorite celebs get ready for the red carpet? From the perfect pout to glowing skin and bouncy hair, getting dolled up like the stars is within your reach with tips from lifestyle expert Elycia Rubin.


Hottest Instagram Beauty Trends


In the video above, Rubin shares some of Hollywood’s favorite beauty products on The Doctors that you can buy at your local beauty or drug store.


Check out more beauty tips and trends from The Doctors.



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The Most Outrageous Styles We Saw At New York Fashion Week

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Fashion week featured plenty of stunning looks this week, but for every beautiful outfit, there's usually something completely outrageous that comes down the runway. 


Now, we could spend all day trying to dissect the weird masks at Givenchy or the gold wings at The Blonds, but we're just going to let these photos speak for themselves. Behold, the craziest things we saw at NYFW:




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Kristin Cavallari And Audrina Patridge Had A Mini 'Hills' Reunion At NYFW

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The cast of "The Hills" may have gone their separate ways, but since most of them are part of the same Hollywood bubble, reunions are bound to happen. 


Such was the case on Thursday night when Kristin Cavallari presented her collaboration with Chinese Laundry. The 28-year-old bumped into former "The Hills" star Audrina Patridge, and lucky for us, the two posed for a bunch of photos together. Our high school selves are, like, so totally into it. 


Kristin, who was also promoting her new book, Balancing in Heels, looked chic in a navy blue tunic, white jeans and suede fringe booties. The reality star, who's pregnant with her third child with husband Jay Cutler, kept her hair and makeup simple. Audrina, 30, went for a more boho look with a floral maxi dress and wore her hair in long, loose waves. 





 


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15 Questions For Women On The Red Carpet That Are Better Than 'What Are You Wearing?'

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On  the red carpet, women celebrities often get the "rabbit food" questions, which means that essentially they're only asked about what they eat and what they wear. Amy Poehler's "Smart Girls" is trying to change that.


On Sept. 10, Poehler's organization "Smart Girls" launched a campaign called #SmartGirlsAsk to generate more meaningful and intellectual conversations on the red carpet. With the Emmy Awards taking place on Sept. 20, Smart Girls hopes some of these questions could even be used this Sunday. 


In partnership with the Television Academy, Smart Girls asked people on Twitter: "What compelling questions would you ask on the red carpet?" 








The campaign, which follows in the footsteps of The Representation Project's #AskHerMore, generated hundreds of responses from people of all genders on Twitter -- and even got a shout out from Hillary Clinton and "Scandal" star Katie Lowes. The questions ranged from "what advice would you give your younger self?" to "what's your favorite sports team?" 


The overwhelming response to #SmartGirlsAsk proves that more meaningful conversations can and should be happening on the red carpet. Hearing about a woman's beautiful gown is great, but it would be equally great to hear about her career trajectory and the accomplishments that led her to be on the red carpet in the first place.  


Here are 15 questions we would love to hear the answers to on the red carpet: 















































We look forward to (hopefully) hearing a few of these questions at the Emmys!


Head over to Twitter to read more awesome questions from #SmartGirlsAsk. 


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