New York FashionWeek seems glamourous. The clothes! The celebrities! The clothes! But as anyone who has ever attended the bi-annual event (and isn't Anna Wintour) can tell you, there's typically a lot of waiting in line and navigating crowds.

This season, Nanette Lepore turned that notion on its head by instead hosting what looks like the sexiest tea party of all time. On Thursday the designer showed off her collection at a presentation that was "inspired by a tea time journey with a mix of alluring prints, plush tweeds and delicate boudoir inspired lace," according to the brand. 

Hosted in conjunction with the swanky Baccarat Hotel in New York City, guests sipped on tea and Champagne while models, including Lepore's daughter Violet, wore her Fall/Winter 2016 collection.

The designer has always added a bit of fun and flair to her shows, so the decision to host a tea party is not so surprising. 

Fashion, fun and fizzy drinks? Sounds like a Fashion Week dream to us.

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You may not know Herschel Supply Co. by name, but you've certainly seen its bags on the backs of stylish, preppy hipsters standing in line at Starbucks scrolling through High Snobiety's tumblr feed on their phones.

When Lyndon and Jamie Cormack, the company's founding brothers, launched Herschel Supply in 2009, "heritage" (stuff made to look like it's been around forever, which is another way of saying it has a safe, clean and classical aesthetic) was just beginning to take off. When you saw a Herschel bag, you thought it had been around for decades. This was intentional and successful.

Almost immediately, GQ found them, and so did Urban Outfitters -- Herschel Supply's sales rose 900 percent from 2010 to 2011 and 350 percent the next year. Before long, Herschel Supply -- named after a tiny Saskatchewan village -- was literally everywhere.

It's easy to see why. Just look at the classic Herschel Heritage Backpack as a solid example:

Who wouldn't like it? It's pretty. Clean. Basic.

But now, Herschel Supply has gone full Yeezy with the launch on Feb. 15 of its newest collection, a limited edition run called ApexKnit that's made with forged rubber, dual-density EVA infused padding and premium seatbelt webbing that gives it flexibility without changing the bag's shape. It’s clear Herschel Supply is growing up and wants to shed its hipster reputation.

"In the beginning, we definitely were inspired by the heritage movement," Jamie Cormack, the brother who handles most of the bags' designs, told HuffPost. "Some of that DNA is still in our line. But even then we were already thinking of moving into other categories, hitting the athletic side, the travel side. We wanted to work more with streetwear and market toward the utility guy."

The Apex Lawson, one of the new bags designed to give a "virtually seamless silhouette," sold out within the first week (as did the other two bags in the line).

See, this is why we think the days of hipster style as we know it are in its final hours. That guy changes -- either he grew up, or got bored with heritage, or wants to wear sweats more often (it's safe to say that athleisure is menswear's next frontier) -- and the brands like Herschel Supply and Abercrombie and Fitch, who have designed for and marketed the heritage aesthetic for years, have to change with him.

Herschel Supply's heritage collection will still be available for the foreseeable future -- it's one of the brand's best selling collections. Cormick said the brand is following trends.

"Everyone changes. We talk about it all the time in here," he said, adding that people want a certain bag for the gym, versus one for the office. Herschel Supply wants to make a range of bags to outfit every type of person.

As for that hipster, maybe he's just growing up. By its very name, the heritage aesthetic will never really go out of style. It's timeless. But Herschel Supply is a brand that knows how to simultaneously follow this trend to its next logical step while experimenting to advance it further.

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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Beverly Kopper is facing a backlash for sending a campus-wide note this week condemning an image on social media as a "disturbing racist post," though the students in the photograph deny the characterization.

"Last night a disturbing racist post that was made to social media was brought to my attention," Kopper wrote in a message circulated Thursday morning. "This post was hurtful and destructive to our campus community. While social media can certainly bring about positive change, it can also be a place that deeply hurts and harms others."

The image she was referring to was posted on Snapchat and showed two students standing in a dorm wearing dark facial skincare treatments, which she interpreted as blackface. The students, however, say the post wasn't meant to be racist, it was just a picture of them wearing exfoliation masks.

State Sen. Stephen Nass (R-Whitewater) put out a statement Thursday condemning Kopper's reaction: "The [chancellor's] official statement misled students, parents, and the public by confirming that a racist event had occurred, even though it really hadn't."

"The racial over-reaction of Chancellor Beverly Kopper and other UW-Whitewater administrators without first checking the facts of the situation is a stark example of how political correctness has warped the mindset of highly educated university administrators," Nass continued. "Frankly, these are the people responsible for educating our sons and daughters, but they seem incapable of applying reason or common sense."

The UW-Whitewater chancellor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment or clarification on the statement about the Snapchat photo.

Kopper told local media that she spoke with the students in the photo after issuing her statement.

"They indicated they had no negative intention, that this was a facial,” Kopper told NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV. “They expressed remorse, not realizing the reaction that would come from this post."

Mike Mikalsen, an aide for Nass, told The Huffington Post the state senator was upset that the chancellor issued a statement without first speaking with the students to fact-check whether or not there was any racist intent.

"Senator Nass is very upset about that because they should not have to apologize for doing nothing," Mikalsen said.

Kopper conceded to Nass' office that upon re-evaluation, she found that the students did nothing wrong and will face no punishment.

In Kopper's Thursday morning message she said she'd held an open forum Tuesday evening where dozens of students attended and "shared with me some truly upsetting stories about their experiences on campus including the use of racial slurs and microaggressions."

Black students reported finding a racial slur written on their doors this semester, according to the Associated Press. Kopper promised more forums so that school administrators will continue to hear from students, and said that a working group is in place to search for solutions to address racism on campus. 

______

Tyler Kingkade is a national reporter covering higher education among other issues. You can contact him at tyler.kingkade@huffingtonpost.com, or find him on Twitter: @tylerkingkade.

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Happy birthday, Cindy Crawford! We can't believe the supermodel is turning the big 5-0 today. Judging by how amazing she looks, we'd guess she was still doing Pepsi commercials and ruling the runway with her killer figure and that trademark beauty mark.

Though Crawford has hinted that her modeling days are behind her, the 50-year-old still has plenty on her plate. She has her own skincare line, Meaningful Beauty, and a new book, titled "Becoming," to mark her milestone birthday. If that wasn't enough, she's helping her lookalike daughter, Kaia Gerber, navigate the world of modeling.

Coming from a world where looks are everything, the supermodel has gained a lot of wisdom on how to be beautiful at every age -- and we love her down-to-earth approach. She's famously said, "Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford." Here are some other morsels of wisdom that only make us love her more.

1. "There are things I'd wish weren't part of aging. But what you gain is much more than you're giving up. I don't think you come into your own until you're 35 or so."

2. "I don't look the same as I did 20 years ago, nor should I."

 3. "Beauty changes as I get older. I’ve always found that beauty and confidence are synonymous. If you feel confident, that’s what people see."

4. “I'm actually happier with my body now than I was then, because the body I have now is the body I've worked for. I have a better relationship with it. From a purely aesthetic point of view, my body was better when I was 22, 23. But I didn't enjoy it. I was too busy comparing it to everyone else's.”

 5. "Getting older does keep your vanity in check, let’s put it that way. You have to rise to your higher self. It’s very easy in your 20s, when your skin and hair are beautiful, to say that beauty is on the inside. But when you start seeing the signs of aging, you really have to put your money where your mouth is and be kind to yourself, just like you would be to a girlfriend."

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The model featured in a photo that launched hundreds of racist comments
has made it clear she’s not letting idiots getting her down.

Aamito Lagum is the model whose lips appear in this beautiful image posted by MAC Cosmetics on Thursday.

Unsurprisingly, she’s gorgeous.

Though most people seemed to appreciate the stunning photo, an alarming number of trolls responded with cruel and racist attacks on her lips.

Lagum took to Instagram Friday sending out a post showing she was unfazed by the haters.

"My lips giving you sleepless nights,” she wrote in reference to a headline about the response the photo received. She added, “Thankyou @maccosmetics for this killer color and to that makeup artist.”

Gorgeous and classy.

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Watching celebrities at a basketball game is the closest we're ever going to get to actually enjoying sports, so when one of our faves brings star power to the court, we've got our foam finger in one hand and iPhone in the other. You never know what might happen

How quickly we've all forgotten this golden moment from a Rangers game last year: 

Beyoncé, Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar were spotted sitting courtside at the Staples Center on Saturday night to catch the Golden State Warriors narrowly best the Los Angeles Clippers. 

The real winner of the night, however, was, of course, Bey. More specifically, the out  of  this  world  stilettos she rocked on the court. No seriously, the sky-high ankle-strapped pink heels paired with a leather jacket and black fedora are giving us renegade cowboy on the top and Elle Woods on the bottom. 

A match made in heaven, no? 

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Genderless clothing made a splash at New York Fashion Week this year, thanks to designer Andre Landeros Michel. 

His Fall 2016 collection, entitled STRANGE, comes from his label, LANDEROS NEW YORK, which he founded in 2013. It's inspired by Steve Strange, the beloved doorman at the legendary 1980s London club, The Blitz. Over the past three years, LANDEROS NEW YORK has offered clothing for men, women and everybody outside and in between the gender binary. This latest collection is no different.

"Genderless/agender/unisex clothing is a direct response to the feminist and LGBT rights movements," Landeros Michel recently told The Huffington Post. "I believe genderless fashion can help to usher in gender equality and cater to those who do not conform to normative gender roles. Unisex fashion has always had a negative image due to sizing and fit issues, therefore bespoke tailoring and custom pieces are essential for any genderless brand that works with high quality tailoring."

The Huffington Post chatted with Landeros Michel this week about STRANGE and his vision for this collection. Check out the short interview, as well as more photos, below. 

The Huffington Post: Why did you want to do a genderless collection?

Andre Landeros Michel: STRANGE is inspired by the New Romantic movement in London in the late 1970s/early '80s. This progressive era encouraged and celebrated the playing with and experimentation of gender roles and norms.  This movement subsequently influenced the New York "club kid" era, where I found myself in the '90s, so breaking gender norms and experimenting with unconventional tailoring has always been at the core of my aesthetic from the start.

We are also living in a new era. Millennials feel that heteronormative culture, conservative values and traditional men's and women's wear is outdated and irrelevant. By creating a genderless label, I hope to celebrate the destruction of antiquated traditions and celebrate equality.

How will genderless fashion change the future of the industry?

Genderless/agender/unisex clothing is a direct response to the feminist and LGBT rights movements. I believe genderless fashion can help to usher in gender equality and cater to those who do not conform to normative gender roles. Unisex fashion has always had a negative image due to sizing and fit issues, therefore bespoke tailoring and custom pieces are essential for any genderless brand that works with high quality tailoring.  

LANDEROS NEW YORK focuses on quality, local, NYC production and sophisticated tailoring. The genderless aspect adds an element of complexity that is not as obvious in traditional men's and women's wear. Fortunately, our label believes in "slow fashion" and strives to cater to the misfits of the world -- regardless of gender. I see more labels incorporating this bespoke/atelier model into their genderless collections in the future.

For more from LANDEROS NEW YORK, head here or check out the label's official Facebook page here. To see more photos from the collection, click on the slideshow below.

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What's one way to remind everyone that it's still all about you, even on your best friend's birthday? Why, wear a jacket with your face on it, of course. 

Kim Kardashian celebrated pal Jonathan Cheban's 42nd birthday Sunday night by wearing an attention-grabbing coat with photos of her face painted all over it. Of course, it was also adorned with the word "slay" down one arm and "chill" down the other. 

The mom-of-two paired the jacket, which appears to feature four different images of her, including a blonde look on the back, with a tight black dress and fishnet stockings. 

For his part, Cheban didn't seem to mind his bestie stealing the show, sharing a photo of the two of them that simply read "SLAY."

Kardashian did give Cheban some less selfish love for his big day with -- what else? -- an Instagram post that revealed she "couldn't imagine life" without him.

Sigh. The trials and tribulations of being Kim Kardashian's biggest cheerleader are so real. 

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People are looking at their self-criticisms in a completely different way, thanks to one student's poignant project.

Abbe Dembowitz’s initiative, the Turn It Around Project, features photographs of people with their biggest insecurity written on one side of their bodies, alongside pictures of positive affirmations written on the other. The Pace University senior, whose team has shot about 50 photos since launching the project last November, says it’s all about changing perception.

"It's about really encouraging people to look past whatever negative thoughts or insecurities or hangups ... and showing them that that negative first thought doesn't have to be where it stops," she told HuffPost. "You have the power to turn around your thinking."

The statements in the photographs range in topics from body image to achievement. 

"I am afraid of disappointing others," reads the words on one participant's back. The positive affirmation on his chest continues with, "but that's my motivation."

Another message tackles vulnerability. 

"I take things to heart," reads the words on the participant. "But my heart is open." 

Dembowitz told HuffPost that the student and her team organize volunteers, who are primarily from the New York City area, for her project through either word of mouth or social media. When the volunteers come together for a photo shoot, they all discuss their insecurities as a group. They also brainstorm ways to turn those criticisms into uplifting thoughts, creating the corresponding empowering statements to be featured in the photos. 

The participants not only have a safe space to discuss their thoughts, they're also able to see that they're not the only ones who have self-doubts and fears. 

"It's solidifying this idea that they're not alone," Dembowitz said. "And people make bonds that way." 

The 22-year-old, who told HuffPost she had been extremely self-critical of herself in the past, said the project sprouted from her own experiences. The student explained that she had attended the University of Maryland before transferring to Pace. While there, Dembowitz battled her own insecurities. 

"I had a really hard time with this intense, crippling fear of imperfection," she explained. "If I couldn't do anything perfectly, then I just wouldn't do anything at all."

Prior to her transfer, Dembowitz took some time off from school and attended counseling where she discovered that she had to power to uplift herself. She also felt comforted that many others were struggling with own self-doubts and fears.

Through the project, she told HuffPost, many of the participants start to not only feel more comfortable with themselves, but also feel supported by others who have been involved with Turn It Around as well as those who have seen their work on social media. 

Dembowitz said that while the project has ambassadors in different cities, who are interested in recreating the project, her team will be going on a tour, where they will visit schools and help others bring the concept to their area. They are currently fundraising through a GoFundMe page for the trip.

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Gigi Hadid may have only been a toddler when The Backstreet Boys were in their heyday, but even she appreciates a little nostalgia. 

For her performance on "Lip Sync Battle," which airs this coming Thursday, the supermodel and it-girl brought surprise guests Nick Carter and A.J. McLean on stage with her to perform BSB's hit, "Larger Than Life." 

Channeling a superhero vixen in a shiny black catsuit (which, fittingly, gives off major Britney Spearsvibes), the 20-year-old clearly got into the performance. The three of them even had matching headset microphones, giving their set the perfect dash of late '90s flair. 

Watch a sneak peek of the performance above and tune into "Lip Sync Battle" Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on Spike. 

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To help address the lack of hair diversity on the runway at New York Fashion Week, Patrice Yursik of Afrobella.com and TextureMedia president Michelle Breyer hosted a show of their own that put hair front and center. In the video above, watch the two explain how their fashion show exceeded all expectations and why it's so important to embrace the beauty of all different types of hair. 

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Taking a shower seems pretty straightforward, no? You turn on the water, step into the stall, wash your body, rinse off the soap and then towel-dry. But it turns out, we're all probably making careless showering mistakes that are harmful to our skin.

After struggling with serious bouts of dry and scaly skin this winter, we asked Heather Woolery-Lloyd, the co-founder of Specific Beauty skincare, and Heidi Waldorf, the director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, to break down the five most common showering mistakes.

1. You're taking long, hot showers.

Sure, a steamy shower is one way to warm up on cold mornings or unwind after a stressful workday, but it just isn't good for your skin. Period.

According to Woolery-Lloyd, long, hot showers strip the skin of its natural oils and can make common problems like eczema worse. "They can also increase generalized itching even in people who do not have eczema," she says. For healthier skin, Woolery-Lloyd recommends keeping the shower short and the temperature warm or tepid (not hot).

But if you think turning the shower dial to full-on cold is better, think again. "The only benefit to a cold rinse is for the person who flushes [skin turns red] from warm water," says Waldorf. "The cold will help to close the vessels that become dilated with heat. Otherwise, there is no benefit to the skin barrier with a cool or cold rinse."

2. You're using shower gels and body washes with excessive lather.

The more bubbles or lather a cleanser has, the more it strips your skin of its natural oils, Woolery-Lloyd tells us. "The ingredient in soap that does this is called a surfactant. Surfactants are chemicals that attract both oil and water," she explains. "When combined with water, surfactants are able to bind oil and remove these natural oils from our skin." So consistently showering with cleansers that contain strong surfactants can result in dry, rough skin.

When patients visit Woolery-Lloyd's office and complain about dry, itchy skin, one of the first things she asks about is their soap. "Often times, just switching to a more gentle cleanser dramatically improves their symptoms," she says.

Waldorf believes that Dove and Olay make excellent body wash products that strip fewer lipids and proteins from the skin and leave the skin better hydrated than most others. "However, the Dove bar -- which is a syndet, not a soap -- is better than standard commercial liquid washes. Unless you have a specific dermatologic need, there is no reason to use an antibacterial wash in bar or liquid form for your skin on a daily basis," she adds.

3. You're not rinsing soap completely off of your body.

Stepping out of the shower and seeing a strand of soap bubbles along the nape of our necks happens just about all the time. And if you're like us, you probably wipe it away as you dry off. However, both dermatologists warn that not properly rinsing soap off can cause skin irritation and dryness. But it really depends on what type of soap you're using, according to Woolery-Lloyd.

"Harsh cleansers, if left on the skin, can be irritating because of the chemicals and fragrance contained in these soaps. In contrast, there are many gentle cleansers that are actually designed to not be rinsed completely because they contain additional moisturizers to help restore the skin barrier after cleansing," she says.

4. You're applying deep pore facial masks after showering.

Many people choose to fully cleanse their faces in the shower and then apply a face mask afterwards. But it's time we set the record straight on timing. Woolery-Lloyd tell us "masks should be applied before washing the face. Washing before and after a mask may be too drying for many skin types."

And Waldorf co-signs this, saying, "Anything you apply after a shower will be more rapidly absorbed, so you may get more irritation. The most important after-shower product is something hydrating and occlusive to add back and seal in moisture."

5. You're rough towel-drying instead of doing a gentle pat-dry.

We're usually intensely shivering after taking a shower, especially during the cold weather months. And even though we all want to wipe down fast and get dressed ASAP, how you dry off is just as important as how you bathe. To prevent dry skin from getting worse, pat down your skin with a towel.

Since water evaporates off the skin quickly after a shower or bath, leaving the skin dry, Waldorf stresses the importance of moisturizing after bathing. "Immediately applying a lotion or cream moisturizer to arms, legs and any other body parts that tend toward dryness," she says.

Are you ready to start taking better care of yourself? Sign up for our newsletter and join our LookGood, Feel Good challenge to supercharge your beauty and grooming routine and develop healthy habits. We’ll deliver tips, challenges and advice to your inbox every day. 

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You, or your mustachioed idol, can now join the likes of Magnum P.I., Yosemite Sam, Mark Twain and other distinguished gentlemen in the International Mustache Hall of Fame.

In a promotional campaign with Wahl Trimmers, the IMHF (which is a real thing, by the way, from the American Mustache Institute, which is also a real thing that apparently has 800 chapters around the world) opened nominations on its site and will announce the chosen faces on March 9 in "a glorious ceremony befit of a sexually dynamic person of mustache" (a press conference in Pittsburgh).

Nominations close on March 4, and any man who sports a "lower nose forest" and perseveres through the world's "discriminatory culture against people of Mustached American heritage" deserves recognition, the institute says.

The institute describes itself as:

The bravest organization in the history of mankind behind only the U.S. Military and the post-Jim Henson Muppets is the world's only facial hair advocacy and research organization... The organization battles negative stereotypes and discrimination against the Mustached American community and is committed to recapturing the 1970s-era glory years of Mustached American culture when there existed a climate of acceptance, understanding, and flavor saving for people of Mustached American heritage. 

Being inducted is "a nod to the legacy left behind [by] inaugural member and the last sitting POTUS of Mustached-American descent, President William Taft," American Mustache Institute chief executive Adam Paul Causgrove said in a statement.

"Enshrinement into the Hall is perhaps the most arduous yet ruggedly attractive achievement among its peer organizations, and the institution will continue to set the tone for handsomeness moving forward."

To tickle your whiskers, here are a few of the members in the Hall's first class of inductees:

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Johnny Depp could teach a master class in "fighting the hot."

What is "fighting the hot," you ask? It's when a traditionally attractive person covers up their hotness with some fugly beard, weird hairstyle or by wearing 18 damn scarves at the same time.

See Brad Pitt circa 2010 and Jared Leto in his post-Jordan Catalano, pre-"Dallas Buyers Club" years. It's a Hollywood crisis in need of some sort of telethon. 

At the Hollywood Beauty Awards on Sunday, Depp finally acknowledged that he looks like a wayward hippy street performer desperate for a hot meal, revealing that he's very aware of the public's opinion of his "vagabond" style.

"When I met people they said, 'You do look like a hobo, but you smell really good.' And goddamn it, I smell really good!" Depp, the ambassador for the cologne Dior Sauvage, told the audience. 

He also mentioned the time he was named best and worst dressed by the same magazine, an impressive fashion feat no doubt. 

So he knows what he looks like and still insists on obscuring that "21 Jump Street" face with bandanas, beaded necklaces, feathered cowboy hats and other unfortunate accessories he's accumulated from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" set? #Unforgivable.

"It is an honor to be here -- and I never thought I'd say this -- to present the 2016 fragrance of the year award for Dior Sauvage," the 52-year-old actor continued. "I had a really great time working with them, to collaborate with them on their first fragrance for fellas since the launch of Dior Homme in 2008."

Watch his unnecessarily dramatic promo for the fragrance below. 

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STEP 1: PRIME YOUR LASHES

STEP 2: PAINT YOUR LASHES

STEP 3: APPLY BLACK MASCARA TO THE TIPS

WOULD WE ACTUALLY DO THIS IRL?

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Acrylic nails have been around for ages. Whether you sat down for the lengthy process to look picture perfect for your prom or to flaunt the perfect mani in a wedding party, these artificial nail enhancements are a rite of passage for so many women. 

"Good-looking" nails aside, nail artist and industry expert Jessica Washick believes a lot of individuals still wear acrylics because they provide "a quick fix to achieve a temporary nail goal." This may include increasing strength, adding length or repairing splits or gaps. But at what cost to the overall health and condition of your nails?

We asked Washick and board-certified dermatologist/nail specialist Dana Stern to break down the potential hazards of acrylic nails. Read on to find out what we learned, and why you should probably reconsider getting acrylics the next time you're at the nail salon.

What exactly are acrylic nails?

According to Stern, acrylic nails are a combination of a liquid monomer and a powder polymer that creates a hard protective layer over your natural nails. She adds, "The acrylics harden from exposure to hair. The material is transparent and a nail polish is applied after."

The acrylics will gradually grow out with your nails, and you will need to return to the salon or a nail professional in order to "fill" in the space. Keep in mind, this usually requires soaking your nails in acetone for 10-15 minutes in order to fully remove. 

Are acrylics bad?

Dr. Stern told The Huffington Post that she generally isn't a fan of nail enhancements such as acrylics for several reasons:

Allergies to chemicals(resins and formaldehydes) in the product can cause nail separation, burning, pain or swelling. Not to mention, you may inhale significant and potentially harmful fumes if the salon isn't well-ventilated.

Acrylic nails are traditionally stiff, without any give. Nails are meant to have flexibility. Stern adds, "If the nail hits a hard object, it can more easily separate from the nail bed (onycholysis)."

Artificial nails may heighten risk of infection. "Bacteria that is not completely removed from a nail plate prior to the application of an enhancement can lead to Pseudomonas (bacteria that produces a green pigment, hence the term 'greenies') to grow in the space between the nail plate and the enhancement," says Stern. "Also, damaged nails that have areas of separation can predispose a salon-goer to this issue."

Are there healthier or safer alternatives to acrylic nails?

Stern believes there really are no healthy alternatives to adding a false "coat of armor" to your nails. Instead, she suggests taking a break from polish and acrylics in order to achieve strong, youthful nails.

When shopping for nail polishes that aren't loaded with harmful chemicals, Washick recommends those that are are free of resins and formaldehydes. "You'll usually be able to spot them because the product will boast something along the lines of "3-Free" or "5-Free." That means that those polishes are free from known harmful chemicals," she says.

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