Ask your husband to describe what you wore to work yesterday, and he’s bound to get some details wrong. But your wedding dress ― he’s likely to nail that, right? Nope.

In the Cosmopolitan video above, men are asked to recall their wives’ wedding attire three weeks after the big day. 

“It was like they poured melted white chocolate on her,” one guy offers up. “Meshy, white thing coming off the back,” says another.

Watch the video above to see how it all goes down. 

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Jose, 19, is a college student in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines.

On a regular school day, after he wakes up, he takes a shower, scrubbing his body using soap made of papaya (Carica papaya), a fruit that's said to have skin-whitening properties. Afterwards, he applies a facial whitening lotion, and before finally going to school he uses SPF 30 sunscreen, again with whitening properties, on his face and arms.

Jose was one of many young people I met in my ethnographic work as part of the Chemical Youth Project, a research programme that sought to document and make sense of the different chemicals that young people use in their everyday lives, from cosmetics to cigarettes.

Skin whitening among women has long been commonplace in the Philippines and other parts of Asia and the world but, while working on this project, I was struck by the fact that young men too, are using a plethora of whitening products. And that these products have proliferated in various retail outlets, from shopping malls to small sari-sari, or neighbourhood, stores.

But this development is not unique to the Philippines either. A 2015 study found that the prevalence of skin-whitening product use among male university students in 26 low and middle-income countries was 16.7%. The figure was higher in many Asian countries: 17.4% in India, 25.4% in the Philippines, and 69.5% in Thailand.

In the Asia-Pacific region alone, the male cosmetics industry was estimated at $2.1 billion in 2016. Whiteners are likely to be a significant component of this figure; a 2010 study reported that 61% of all cosmetics in India had a whitening effect.

Views of whiteness

How do we make sense of this phenomenon? First, it must be pointed that the preference for white skin, even among men, has existed in many parts of Asia since ancient times.

In Heian Japan (794 to 1185 AD) and Ming China (1368-1644), handsome men were described as having white or pale skin. In one undated Philippine epic, the hero covers his face with a shield so that the sun's rays will not "lessen his handsome looks".

Researchers have suggested that, in many societies, fair skin was a mark of class distinction. In her 2012 book Living Color, American anthropologist Nina Jablonski explains:

Untanned skin was a symbol of the privileged class that was spared from outdoor labor ... Dark-skinned people were deprecated because they were of the labouring class that worked out in the sun.

Others have suggested that the association of whiteness with purity became conflated with the idea that white skin signifies spiritual and physical superiority.

Arguably, the colonial encounter lent another meaning to white skin, making it a marker of racial - not just class - distinction. Filipinos, for instance, were commonly referred to by the Americans as their "little brown brothers", signifying an unequal fraternity based on height and skin colour.

But some scholars have also pointed out that many Asian people don't necessarily aspire for a "Caucasian whiteness", but a "cosmopolitan whiteness" that transcends race and signifies mobility across national borders.

Like the emergence of the "metrosexual" (urban men who enjoy interests traditionally associated with women and homosexual men), the rise of male-specific whitening products may be explained by the demographic and social changes that have given rise to the view of the body as, in the words of UK sociologist Chris Shilling, "a project that should be worked at and accomplished as part of an individual's self-identity."

It can also be attributed to changing notions of masculinity that are no longer incompatible with the use of cosmetics or beauty products.

Promises with side effects

Today, cosmetics companies, through mass-mediated, star-studded advertising, build on these conditions. In India, Bollywood superstar Sharukh Khan made headlines by endorsing "Fair and Handsome" skin whitening cream in 2008.

In South Korea, K-pop superstars promote homegrown brands such as The Face Shop and Etude House, and serve as ambassadors of a Korean male aesthetic: slim, youthful-looking, and fair-skinned.

While it is insightful to look at these historical and global trends, it's also important to look at the individual users themselves, and the role whitening products play in their lives.

In my fieldwork, I met many young men who were motivated by perceived social and economic gain: 20-year-old call centre agent Edwin wanted to be more attractive to girls.

Jose, for his part, wanted to someday be a flight attendant. He told me, "If you're fair-skinned, you're noticeable, and that gives you a advantage."

Their assumptions find empirical support in studies that suggest men with lighter skin are more likely to get higher paying jobs. In environments where young people only have their bodies as "capital", resorting to modification is understandable.

But from a public health perspective, the proliferation of whitening products raises questions of efficacy and safety, particularly in Asian countries without strong regulation.

For all their promised effects, there's actually no proof that many products actually work, and many of them have potentially grave side effects. Mercury, for instance, is a known toxin but it's still found in skin whitening products in India, even when it has long been banned in many other countries.

Is it right?

Alongside these health concerns, the moral debate continues. By shaping the way people people view their skin - and that of others - will its colour, which is determined by genes, occupation and lifestyle, become another layer of inequality?

And as with any other social issue, there has been dissent. Across Asia, a growing number of voices challenging the "colourism" they have to live with. Blogger Aswasthi Thomas, for instance, recently declared:

I'm Indian, I'm dark, and I don't care.

But what these campaigns sometimes forget is that the quest for distinction through physical appearance is probably as old as humanity itself. And it's unlikely to go away, especially when it is useful for people in their everyday lives.

Even so, as desires for dermatological perfection become increasingly commodified - and as skin becomes subjected to a host of chemicals - the point about restraint and reflection is well taken.

Indeed, as more and more men and women embrace the idea that "fair is handsome", we need a deeper conversation about the motivations that underwrite the phenomenon of skin whitening, and the meaning of (un)fair skin.

Gideon Lasco, PhD candidate in Medical Anthropology, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), University of Amsterdam

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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Catherine Zeta-Jones took a page from the Selena Gomez playbook and hit back at paparazzi who crashed her vacation and snapped some unflattering pics of her. 

On Wednesday, the “Chicago” star posted a photo collage on Instagram featuring two pics of her in a black bikini. She looks great, of course. (And that scenery is making us extremely jealous.)

“Pissed the paparazzi photographed my ass, thus sharing the photographs my husband took of my ass. Always a better option for viewing,” wrote Zeta-Jones, 47, in her caption. 

The actress and her husband, Michael Douglas, are currently on vacation in Mexico for the Thanksgiving holiday. When he wasn’t snapping photos of his gorgeous wife, the “Wall Street” actor shared a couple pics of his own on Facebook. 

“Spending turkey day and giving thanks with the family in beautiful Mexico. Happy Thanksgiving!!!” he wrote.  

We’d say they’re having a happy Thanksgiving, indeed. 

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It’s that time of year again!

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is a time for us to be thankful for all the things we hold near and dear to us. It’s also a time for us to stuff our faces with as much turkey and stuffing as we can eat while sitting through inevitable conversations about politics. (But hey, we say it’s time to Make Thanksgiving Awkward Again.) 

Of course, the holidays aren’t just for us regular folk. Hollywood’s biggest stars also get in on the festive action. 

From Gwyneth Paltrow to Eva Longoria, here’s a look at how some of our favorite stars spent their Turkey Day:

Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin and their kids have a sweet reunion. 

Lucy Hale prepared to eat herself “into oblivion.”

Eva Longoria broke out her Thanksgiving pants. 

Priyanka Chopra sent a message from the “Baywatch” crew.

Catherine Zeta-Jones got back at the paparazzi. 

And her husband, Michael Douglas, took a sunset selfie. 

Reese Witherspoon got cooking. 

Taylor Swift was surrounded by her squad.

Emmy Rossum baked a picture perfect pie. 

Caitlyn Jenner spent some quality time with her girls. 

Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon and their twins had a Hawaiian Thanksgiving.  

Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello wore matching turkey hats. 

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Throwback to London Fashion Week in @PenmayneLondon @OrwellAustenCashmere @Gyunel_Official @PublicDesire _______________________________________________________ #JeNeRegretteRien #NoRegrets #OrwellAustin #NepalCashmere

A photo posted by Ｌｉｆｅ & Ｓｔｙｌｅ ｏｆ ＳＡＭＡＴＡ (@iam_samata) on Oct 12, 2016 at 12:14pm PDT

Sunday and chill? Not really! Shooting a #MadeInBritain story earlier today for @HuffingtonPost in Burberry and my favourite hat brand, Penmayne of London. Focusing on well made British fashion.

A photo posted by Ｌｉｆｅ & Ｓｔｙｌｅ ｏｆ ＳＡＭＡＴＡ (@iam_samata) on Nov 20, 2016 at 11:22am PST

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When customers have to wade through open boxes on the floor as if they were caught in a flood, you know a Black Friday sale has gone on tilt.

Images from a Seattle-area Nike factory store in Tulalip, Washington, went viral for the total mess left by shoppers.

Larry Downer told Q13 News that the scene was “like an earthquake leveled the place.”

“It’s a huge store and it seems like every inch of the floor was covered in merchandise,” he said.

Video Downer posted on Facebook shows the extent of the disarray, featuring a few customers having to climb over the goods just to move about. 

Others shared images of what PIX 11 News called “the aftermath of a shoe and shoebox hurricane.”

A store employee told BuzzFeed that approximately 20,000 shoppers passed through the doors between 8 p.m. Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday.

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Anyone who’s ever stepped into a Lush Cosmetics store understands the sensory overload synonymous with its wide range of products.

Take that, multiply it times one trillion, add a heaping dose of glitter and you have the inside look at one of its downright dreamy factories. Buzzfeed Style shared a peek behind the walls of this magical cosmetics kingdom to get a better look at how its soaps, lotions and, of course, famous bath bombs are made. 

The bombs are known for turning bathtubs into mini slices of heaven, but the slice that happens while the bomb is in production is more satisfying than even the most luxurious bath could ever be. Seriously.  

Pick up your jaw off the floor and check out the video above.

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It’s just like “The Darjeeling Limited,” but with H&M clothing.

Wes Anderson, everyone’s favorite purveyor of precious cult films, tried his hand at commercials again for H&M’s new holiday campaign. Let’s just say this video is more classic Anderson than a Margot Tenenbaum Halloween costume.

“Come Together” is equipped with many an Anderson film staple ― a gathering of supplies, a train, a cute little kid and, naturally, Adrien Brody. The short film centers on a group of solo passengers aboard a train that experiences an absurdly long delay on Christmas. 

The passengers, all wearing what the brand calls the “relaxed, wearable elegance” of H&M’s holiday collection, come together for a holiday celebration that Brody and his crew magically whip up in a mere (time-lapsed) 19 minutes.  

It’s charming and fun and, as Brody himself said in a press release, pretty timely. “This story may resonate more than ever at a time in the world where we could all do with giving a stranger a hug,” he said. 

Watch the whole video above. 

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The name “Kevin” has never been quite the same since 1990, when Macaulay Culkin, playing a character of the same name, spilled Pepsi all over some fresh pizzas, got stuck sleeping in the hide-a-bed with Fuller, and made his family disappear — all in one movie.

While you can’t throw a rock on Etsy without hitting 700 objects bearing the words “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal” — which, ahem, wasn’t spoken until the sequel, FYI — we’ve unearthed some true “Home Alone” gems for the superfan in your life.

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For Glamour, by Deanna Pai.

Last month, I spent a weekend at my best friend's apartment in Chicago. I unpacked what was basically the entirety of my bathroom cabinet while the shower heated up, and then I stepped in. It was only then that I realized that she only stocked bar soap. I glared at it, white and shriveled and weird. Then, I made the executive decision to suds up with shampoo. If it's good enough for your hair, it should be fine for skin in a pinch, right? Desperate times!

I have nothing against bar soaps. Wait—yes, I do. Bar soaps suck. They're slimy, they're slippery, and you risk losing a toe if you're not careful. Then, once they shrivel up, you can't even get a decent lather out of them. If you have the option of using a shower gel, why would you ever use bar soap? It's like having the chance to drive a car but choosing to use a horse and carriage.

I relayed this to another friend and and bar soap lover, Pei. "Yeah, but I can test the scent before I buy, I like all the pretty shit they mix in—like the herbs and all the little flecks—and they come in pretty packaging," she replied. "They're cute in an I-go-shopping-with-a-wicker-basket kind of way." (She lives in San Francisco, if you couldn't tell.) Pei's not alone, though. "Many of my patients prefer using a bar soap over a liquid body wash," says NYC dermatologist Dendy Engelman, M.D. "It feels more normal to them in their cleansing 'ritual.'"

The differences go far beyond personal preference. Depending on what kind of bar soap you use, it could actually be bad for your skin. "Traditional bar soaps can cause dry, dehydrated skin due to their high pH," says Al-Nisa Ward, cosmetic chemist and founder of Cosmetic Science Innovations. Skin is naturally acidic, and its pH tends to hover around 5 on a scale of 1 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline). These traditional soaps usually include the adorable, handcrafted kind that Pei so loves.

To be fair, there are newer formulations that offer a neutral pH. "Combo bars are a combination of surfactants, which suspend oil and dirt particles so they're easier to wash away, and saponified oils, like olive oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil," explains Ward. Those oils, as well as any other organic extracts and minerals (think activated charcoal), help nourish your skin as they cleanse it, says Engelman, who's a fan of Moroccanoil Cleansing Bar ($12, nordstrom.com).

Just as good are syndet bars. Syndet (a combination of the words "synthetic" and "detergent") bars are composed of synthetic surfactants, such as sodium cocyl isethionate. That's why Dove's Beauty Bar—probably the best-known syndet bar out there—qualifies as a bar, but not a bar soap. And some bars have those massaging nubs on one side, which aren't there just for show. "They help promote circulation and can temporarily smooth the appearance of cellulite," says Engelman.

It's not like body wash is all rainbows and butterflies and gentle ingredients, either. "Body washes are primarily composed of water and surfactants, like sodium laureate sulfate, sodium laurel sulfate, and cocamidopropyl betaine," says Ward. Those sulfates can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling dry and tight. On top of that, "liquid formulas allow for more fragrance, which can also irritate skin," says Engelman. But there are a ton of sulfate- and fragrance-free body washes out there, like Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash ($9 for two, amazon.com), so it's not like you're doomed to dry, ashy skin forever.

Bar soap also brings up the question of bacteria. While it's not an issue for liquid washes, bar soaps can and do harbor bacteria on their surface and in the sludge they leave behind, says Ward. But unless you have a compromised immune system—which, as a transplant recipient, I actually do—it shouldn't pose a problem if you're cautious.

Like your razor, "soap should be left in a well-ventilated area or in its own box," says Engelman. "And rinse the soap before you use it." Remember that argument between Joey and Chandler on Friends, in which Chandler claims soap is okay to share because "soap is soap; it's self-cleaning"? That's not really true. Ward recommends borrowing or lending it only if you have zero other options.

If you're into something with a citrusy scent and foamy lather that can wake you up in the A.M., you might want to opt for body wash. But if you're looking for no-frills cleansing, a bar soap may be your best bet. I'll never soap up with one myself, but I guess I understand a little bit better why you (and Pei) might. A little.

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What's That Salad the Kardashians Are Always Eating on Their Show?

Ryan Reynolds Reveals He Fell in Love With Blake Lively While on a Double Date With Someone Else

34 Times Kate Middleton and Prince William Gave Us Major Relationship Goals

13 Celebrities Who Have Hot Siblings

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For Glamour, by Amy Schlinger.

Real talk: if you’re a regular contact wearer, chances are you’ve fallen asleep in your contacts at some point in time (or maybe even a few times). We all know it’s not recommended by eye doctors, but why, exactly? What’s actually happening in your eyes when you sleep with your contacts in?

To find out, we had to get a little familiar with how daily contact wearing actually affects your body. As with any foreign object or substance that you introduce to your body, whether it be a food or a drug, contacts take some time to get used to. “The FDA actually describes contacts as a drug,” says Russell Wohl, OD, from Farmingdale, New York. “No you’re not ingesting a contact, it’s just sitting on your eye, but your body has to get acclimated to it.” Contacts can also sometimes burn or cause dryness in the eye, too. Each individual’s tears are made up of a certain pH acidity, explains Wohl, and when you put a contact into your eye, the contact solution—not the actual lens— actually has a different pH, so your eye may tear to help wash that solution out. And if you have dry eyes to begin with, lenses may only exacerbate that. “When we blink, we’re wiping tears across the cornea to help keep things uniform and clear, because when the cornea is exposed to air, it can become irritating,” explains Wohl. “Contacts need moisture once they’re removed from the solution they come packaged in, and if you already don’t have enough tears or suffer from dry eyes, lenses might only make that worse.”

When we sleep, we lose ambient oxygen exposure to the cornea, which is needed to keep the cornea healthy. We are still able to get it in other ways—like through blood vessels—but we are getting less than we do when we’re awake. “What a contact lens does is limit the oxygen even more because it creates a barrier between the oxygen and the cornea,” explains Wohl. “Some lenses—extended wear ones—allow the oxygen through though,” says Wohl, but if not enough oxygen gets through, you can experience what is called hypoxia (oxygen deprivation in a region of the body).

You also increase your chances of developing an infection, because bacteria can get onto the cornea and when your eyes are closed, there’s nothing to flush it away. “The bacteria can then become opportunistic and literally start to eat away at your cornea,” says Wohl. “Worst case scenario from that is loss of vision.” Yikes!

If you fall asleep accidentally with your lenses in for just one night, you’re unlikely to experience any serious issues. But if it becomes a more frequent habit or you’re purposefully wearing lenses overnight that aren’t mean to be, you’re upping your chance of a serious health risk. If you start to notice that your eyes are extremely red (we’re talking very bloodshot), you feel like there’s something in your eye and it’s irritated all the time, your eye lid is looking inflamed, you aren’t seeing as well as you used to, or if when you look at an indoor lamp it feels like you’re looking directly at the sun, these are signs that you could have an infection and you should see your eye doctor right away. “The good news is that most of the time it’s an acute episode that can usually be corrected by not wearing the contact lens and allowing the body to heal itself,” says Wohl. “If it’s worse, your doctor may need to give you a prescription.”

So why even take a chance? Make it a routine to take your contact lenses out every night before you go to sleep. “I’m more on the conservative side of things,” says Wohl, “so even with my extended wear patients, if it isn’t too much hassle, I recommend that everyone try to take them out every single day. If you ask me, that’s the healthiest option.”

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What's That Salad the Kardashians Are Always Eating on Their Show?

Ryan Reynolds Reveals He Fell in Love With Blake Lively While on a Double Date With Someone Else

34 Times Kate Middleton and Prince William Gave Us Major Relationship Goals

13 Celebrities Who Have Hot Siblings

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For Allure, by Jessica Chia.

Standing in front of a crowd is anxiety-inducing. Standing in front of a crowd in your underwear is a nightmare (I've woken up in cold sweats thanks to dreams like this). Walking down a catwalk in that underwear, in front of millions of viewers, on a nationally televised program, and having some semblance of fun while doing it—that’s panic attack material. Unless you’re a Victoria’s Secret Angel. Then it’s another day at work. But even the pros get preshow jitters. These are the nail-biters the Angels actually sweat before the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show:

The wings:

“I’m closing a section for the first time this year, and I’m wearing these huge wings. I’m so excited to do it, but I’m really nervous because I cannot mess it up. I just want to make the moment perfect!” —Sara Sampaio

The shoes:

“I have really high-heeled shoes in one of my looks—and the song playing during that segment is pretty upbeat, so I’m nervous about those. They’re platform heels, but there’s a strap around the ankle that’s not supertight. I think about it every day: How am I going to walk in those shoes?” —Jasmine Tookes

The poses:

“I’ve been going through in my head what I’m going to do. We try to practice, but my experience from past years is that you get to the runway and do nothing you planned.” —Sara Sampaio

The show itself:

“The whole show in general makes you get nervous and get the tingles in your toes. I have wings in this show now. They’re tall but lightweight, not heavy, so I wouldn’t know if they’re hard to walk with. You should ask Adriana Lima!” —Taylor Hill

“I get nervous every year during the fashion show. It’s a very intense and high-energy time, but once I hit the stage, all my nerves disappear.” —Adriana Lima

We all can't wait to watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show December 5 on CBS.

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For Allure, by Kari Molvar.

The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology offered a number of must-see exhibitions over the years on topics ranging from gothic glamour to body-contorting corsets. The next to put on your radar: Black Fashion Designers, which opens on December 6, and explores the creative and cultural impact that designers of African descent have had in fashion.

Spanning six decades—from the 1950s to the present—the show is organized into eight themes such as “Breaking Into the Industry,” which includes pieces by New York City-based designers Arthur McGee and Wesley Tann, who faced discrimination in the '50s and '60s, and “The African Influence,” which highlights the work of modern designers like Aisha Ayensu, who spins traditional Ghanaian wax-print textiles into ready-to-wear pieces. “The Rise of the Black Fashion Designer” section, pays a disco-focused homage to the '70s, highlighting Stephen Burrows’s gold evening pajamas and Scott Barrie’s body-conscious, silk wrap dresses. “Experimentation” presents Andre Walker’s of-the-moment, deconstructed cape-jacket and Shayne Oliver of Hood by Air’s gender-fluid elongated shirtdresses.

Models also take center stage. There’s a flashback to the Ebony Fashion Fair, which started in 1958 and created opportunities for black models in an era of segregation, and an original short film that features a conversation about diversity led by The Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan with runway stars Bethann Hardison, Veronica Webb, and Riley Montana.

To mount the exhibition, Ariele Elia, FIT’s assistant curator of costumes and textiles, and Elizabeth Way, curatorial assistant, spent two years deeply researching the topic. “We really wanted to revise fashion history to include designers that have been overlooked,” says Elia of the inspiration behind the show. Of the approximately 75 garments in the exhibition, Elia and Way are particularly excited to showcase those by Ann Lowe—best known for designing Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding gown. “She had her own dress shop and specialized in society clients,” says Way. “She was a really influential designer but, for a lot of people, she’s completely unknown.”

Another favorite is Olivier Rousteing, the 31-year-old creative director of Balmain. “If you look at the history of black fashion designers, they often worked under manufacturers and didn’t get the credit,” says Elia, pointing out that Rousteing was able to make a name for himself with his super-glam designs and #BalmainArmy of models, celebrities, and pop-culture icons.

Although it’s not officially open yet, the exhibition is already sparking some debate. “On the one hand it’s nice to be included, because I think our voices are often overlooked but there’s the question of, should we separate black designers from designers in general?” says Tracy Reese, who contributed two dresses to the exhibition and also filmed a Q&A with André Leon Talley for the museum, as well. “A lot of us feel that we shouldn’t, but you have to start somewhere.” Reese adds, “I’m a designer who wants to appeal to all races and as many sizes as I can cover. And I’m a designer who happens to be black.”

Still, Reese and many of her counterparts would welcome more multicultural designers at the helm of major labels and filling the upper ranks of fashion. “We’re underrepresented in mainstream and executive positions in retail and throughout this industry in positions of power,” she says. “It helps to have champions to help open doors because I think discrimination still exists and we have to push for change.”

For a new generation of emerging talent, Brandice Daniel is that champion. As the CEO and founder of Harlem Fashion Row (HFR), Daniel produces annual fashion shows that have become a platform for designers, stylists, models, and hair and makeup artists of color. Since its inception in 2007, HFR has launched the careers of more than 35 designers, including Kimberly Goldson and Meagan Wellman of M-Sew. “A lot of a designer’s success comes from having the right relationships and support,” she says. “I love that FIT is doing this, and fashion institutions are engaging in this type of conversation, even if it can be seen as controversial.”

To keep the conversation going, FIT is hosting a Black Fashion Designers Symposium on February 6, 2017 with talks by stylist June Ambrose, designers Grace Wales Bonner, Dapper Dan, and Mimi Plange, among other influencers in the industry. The ultimate goal of the exhibition, says Elia, is to inspire creativity among up-and-comers across all ethnicities. “It’s hard to become something if you can’t identify and see others who have been successful in history,” she says. “It’s about going out and pursuing anything—not just in fashion but anything.”

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While many shoppers use Cyber Monday to score deals on gadgets and big-ticket tech items, fashionistas can also save big on clothing and jewelry. Take a look at the designers and retailers below for the best Cyber Monday fashion deals.  

Aritzia

Aritzia’s Cyber Monday sale is taking up to 50 percent off online orders. 

Ann Taylor

Get 50 percent off everything at Ann Taylor in stores and online using the code CYBER50.

Anthropologie

Anthropologie’s 24-hour online exclusive sale takes 20 percent off full-price items and offers free shipping on orders over $150. 

Athleta

Enjoy 20 percent off your Athleta purchase when you use the code RECHARGE. 

Banana Republic

Banana Republic is offering 50 percent off sitewide on Cyber Monday ― no code required.

Bloomingdale’s

Take 25 percent off a large selection of regular and sale-price items at Bloomingdale’s. Total savings can range up to 60 percent. Online shoppers can also get free shipping and free returns. 

Coach

Get up to 50 percent off select styles and shop over 125 online exclusive sales.

Cole Haan

Enjoy 40 percent off everything when you shop Cole Haan in stores or online on Cyber Monday.

Express

Express is offering 50 percent off plus free shipping on items sitewide. This deal excludes gift cards and featured brands.

Forever21

Get 21 percent off your order and free shipping when you shop Forever21 online this Cyber Monday.

Gap

Score a whopping 50 percent off everything at Gap.com when you use the code CYBMON.

H&M

H&M has several offers this Cyber Monday. If your purchase exceeds $30, take 20 percent off with the code 5144. You’ll also receive free shipping. If your purchase totals over $50, use the code 0275 to receive 25 percent off your order, plus free shipping. For orders over $100, insert the code 8284 to receive 30 percent off and free shipping.  

Intermix

Take 30 percent off select full price items and 40 percent off designer sale items on Cyber Monday. Shipping is free.

J.Crew

J.Crew will take 40 percent off your order in stores and online when you use the code MONDAY. They are also offering free shipping.

J.Crew Factory

J.Crew Factory is offering 60 percent off everything except Crewcuts styles and men’s suiting, which are 50 percent off. Get an extra 40 percent off clearance, as well as free shipping.

JC Penney

For orders of $100 or more, enjoy 33 percent off at JC Penney this Cyber Monday. For orders under $100, you’ll receive 25 percent off. Use the code TOSAVE23 at checkout. 

L.K. Bennett

Enjoy 40 percent off select L.K. Bennett lines on Cyber Monday. There is no code required.

Madewell

Madewell is taking 25 percent off your entire purchase when you use the code CYBERMONDAY at checkout.

Moda Operandi

Moda Operandi’s Designer Sale is taking up to 65 percent off their sale items. Shoppers can also get an extra 30 percent off when they use the code EXTRA30 at checkout. 

Net-A-Porter

Get up to 50 percent off sale styles when you shop Net-A-Porter on Cyber Monday. 

Old Navy

Score 50 percent off sitewide and receive a pair of free cozy socks when you use the code COZY on any online purchase.

Sperry

Save 50 percent on select styles when you use the code CYBER50.

Swarovski

Add some bling to your wardrobe with Swarovski’s Cyber Monday deal. The company is offering 50 percent off site-wide.

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters will take $15 off your order of $75+ and $50 off your order of $150+ on Cyber Monday.

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As if your newsfeed and Netflix account haven’t been inundated with enough “Gilmore Girls,” prepare yourself for Round 2.

Warning: Major spoilers for “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” below!

On the heels of those four little words Rory utters at the ends of the series (which basically leaves a black-hole-sized opening for the actors to return), the stars of “Gilmore Girls” have all essentially hinted they would be coming back to your TV and computer screens at some point.

“You know the final four words, what do you think?!” Lauren Graham said to E! at the “Gilmore Girls” premiere, alluding to Rory’s pregnancy and all the storylines that could come from that.

Kelly Bishop, who plays Emily Gilmore, also envisioned a trip back to Stars Hollow for her own character, whom she assumed won’t be totally fulfilled living out her years in Nantucket. 

And even though Alexis Bledel said there were “no plans” to return to the series for a third time, she suggested the right story (hint: the birth of her child?!) could bring the cast back together.

“It really is about telling a good story for us,” the actress said. “Just to keep doing more for the sake of it probably just wouldn’t feel satisfying for anybody. We just want to make sure we’re doing it for a really great reason.” 

Let Netflix know that a six-to-seven figure salary would probably be a “really great reason” for all parties to return.

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Patagonia saw an astounding $10 million in Black Friday sales  ― five times its own expectations ― and, as promised, will donate every cent toward helping save the environment.

The high-end outdoor apparel and gear retailer announced the record-breaking haul Monday, saying the “enormous love” its customers showed to the planet will benefit hundreds of grassroots environmental organizations around the world.

Company spokeswoman Corley Kenna told The Huffington Post that the idea ― which customers reportedly took to calling a “fundraiser for the earth” ― surfaced during an internal brainstorming meeting following the U.S. presidential election. Patagonia, she said, was looking for something to showcase the importance of the environment and climate change.

“We felt that these were issues that united us and I think this is a demonstration that people agree,” Kenna told HuffPost. “Our customers agree.”

Patagonia gear will no doubt be a common sight this winter season. But it’s possible we won’t see President-elect Donald Trump sporting one of the company’s fleece jackets anytime soon. 

Trump has repeatedly called climate change a “hoax” and is surrounding himself with like-minded deniers. He has promised to pull the U.S. out of the historic Paris climate deal, cut all federal spending on the issue, increase America’s production of coal, oil and natural gas, and do away with Obama administration regulations aimed at cutting emissions.

The Republican, who prides himself on his business savvy, has received backlash from hundreds of big businesses, including Patagonia, which say failure to keep the U.S. in the Paris pact “puts American prosperity at risk.”

Patagonia said in a release that the money generated from its Black Friday initiative will go to grassroots environmental groups ― many of which are small, underfunded and under the radar ― that are “working on the front lines to protect our air, water and soil for future generations.”

“The science is telling us loud and clear: We have a problem,” the company said. “By getting active in communities, we can raise our voices to defend policies and regulations that will protect wild places and wildlife, reduce carbon emissions, build a modern energy economy based on investment in renewables, and, most crucially, ensure the United States remains fully committed to the vital goals set forth in the Paris Agreement on climate change.”

Patagonia has been a longtime steward of protecting the environment, donating 1 percent of its daily global sales to green causes and urging its customers to buy fewer jackets to combat the fashion industry’s wasteful culture. Earlier this month, it announced its re\\\collection line of jackets and other gear, which are made of “as many recycled materials as possible.”

Kenna told HuffPost the company’s Black Friday initiative didn’t include discounted items, but still drew thousands of first-time Patagonia customers.

“We’re just really humbled and grateful to our customers for coming out,” Kenna said. 

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