Singer-actress Selena Gomez has had quite a year. She's fresh off a kidney transplant, which is kind of major, and just split with The Weeknd, her boyfriend of 10 months. And, she just shot a movie with Woody Allen. In a recent sit-down with Billboard she talked about why she chose to work with the director.
Gomez was asked – very delicately – if Allen's past (he's accused of sexual abuse by his adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow) was a consideration before taking the role, and her response is what some might consider a non-answer.
"To be honest, I’m not sure how to answer – not because I’m trying to back away from it," Gomez explained. "[The Harvey Weinstein allegations] actually happened right after I had started [on the movie]. They popped up in the midst of it. And that’s something, yes, I had to face and discuss. I stepped back and thought, 'Wow, the universe works in interesting ways.'"
Gomez is definitely giving thought and consideration to all of the other sexual harassment and assault allegations and charges that are hitting Hollywood, however.
"I feel all those things. I’ve cried. But I definitely feel hopeful," she said. "As people speak out, I hope that feels powerful to them, because they deserve to feel that. I’m fortunate enough not to have experienced some of the traumatic things that other women have had to go through. I’ve known people in my family who’ve gone through those things. I try to let people come to me and open up, to make a safe environment for them to do so."
Gomez is not the first actress to give an evasive answer about working with Allen. When speaking to the New York Times about her part in an Allen film, Kate Winslet also dodged the question. "Of course one thinks about it," Winslet replied. "But at the same time, I didn’t know Woody and I don’t know anything about that family. As the actor in the film, you just have to step away and say, I don’t know anything, really, and whether any of it is true or false. Having thought it all through, you put it to one side and just work with the person."
And, at a roundtable in Cannes, Blake Lively stated that she thinks Allen writes "amazing" parts for women. She claimed she had not read Ronan Farrow's essay in the Hollywood Reporter.
"My experience with Woody Allen is that he's empowering to women," she told reporters during a lunchtime press event.
The careful tap dance that surrounds working with Allen continues — and in the current climate, feels more problematic than ever before.
If you have experienced sexual violence of any kind, please visit Rape Crisis or call 0808 802 9999.
Ride-or-die friendship is taken to the literal level in the upcoming film Thoroughbreds.
Bates Motel actress Olivia Cooke and newly minted scream queen Anya Taylor-Joy, of The Witch and Split, have teamed up for a new movie that basically asks, "What if Dexter Morgan was a teenage girl?"
The black comedy, which recently dropped a new trailer, stars Taylor-Joy as Lily, a girl under the thumb of her awful stepfather Mark (Paul Sparks). In the trailer, Lily is described as overly emotional. Her friend Amanda (Cooke), however, is entirely apathetic — and, very possibly, a sociopath.
"I don't have any feelings, ever," Amanda says in the clip. "That doesn't necessarily make me a bad person. It just means I have to work a little harder...to be good."
But "be good" these two do not. When Mark threatens to send Lily off to boarding school, Amanda suggests a twisted plan — why not just kill Mark and be done with it?
Soon, the two are teaming up with local drug dealer Tim (the late Anton Yelchin, in one of his final roles), whom they bring aboard to off Lily's stepdad. Naturally, hijinks ensue — but that's not even the most exciting part of the movie.
Murder plots aren't pretty, and I'm kind of thrilled by the prospect of a film that allows two teenage girls to explore such vile messiness. It's not that women-perpetuated violence doesn't exist in pop culture, it's just stories of it are quite rare. Most iconic psychopaths within pop culture — such as American Psycho 's Patrick Bateman or Silence of the Lambs ' Hannibal Lecter — are men. Yet there's something intriguing about a teenage girl being utterly devoid of emotions when, so often, the media depicts them as characters who feel everything, all at once. (See: Lady Bird.)
Let Thoroughbreds serve as a casual reminder that teen girls have a lot going on these days. And yes: They can plot murder just as good as the boys.
This week, the impeccable Tom Rasmussen has his say on Angela Lansbury, Justin Timberlake's rabbit-thieving past and some wedding that people seem really, really into.
It’s time we all came clean about one thing. And that one thing is this: everyone hates weddings. I’m sorry to anyone who’s had one, and maybe I’ll feel different if I ever choose to waste a day of people’s time forcing them to watch me put on a ring, but they are just so dull. And instead of collections of memories which you look back on with fondness, everyone — and I mean everyone — just picks apart every wedding they’ve ever been to like vultures grazing a tulle-covered carcass, chucking about phrases like “Ooh I wouldn’t have had fish for the main course” or “Hmmm dusky pink bridesmaids' dresses? I’d have navy, pastels are so passive!”
Meghan Markle
...That’s why this week has been utterly bamboozling with the announcement of Meghan Markle and the better-looking prince’s wedding. It’s a wedding. And we, the taxpayer, are fronting the bill. Nothing about that is good. And what’s worse, in fact, is that there’s now literally no opportunities for me to marry royal unless Princess Beatrice gets wicked for gay guys. Even worse than that is that the dull white coat Meghan was wearing for the announcement sold out in 22 minutes. Come on folks.
But while the world buzzed with countless column inches about what she might wear, while email inboxes were flooded with ‘get the look’ spam from jewellery chains selling budget versions of the royal ring, the real point here is that the right-wing press had a field day adding their racist trash slant to the epidemic of press surrounding this royal engagement. If this wedding is good for anything it’s that perhaps Meghan — who is, admittedly, a vision of brilliance — will bring some much-needed diversity, engagement and representation into a system that is both born from and continues to perpetuate nationally justified white supremacy. As Arianna Davis wrote earlier this week, “many folks — like myself — are focusing on her race because we're simply proud that someone like Markle has finally made their way inside the historically white British monarchy.” That’s what we should be celebrating, not yet another dull-ass wedding.
Justin Timberlake
Speaking of outdated systems, Justin Timberlake revealed this week where ‘sexy wen t’ before he brought it back so humbly some 11 years ago. Apparently, he revealed, "Sexy Back" was actually about a friend’s rabbit called Sexy (really) and they were worried Justin was gonna steal it (the rabbit). And so he wrote "Sexy Back" to let them know he was going to bring Sexy, the rabbit, Back. The more you know.
Victoria's Secret
...And while J-Timbz brought "Sexy Back" back into the limelight, Victoria’s Secret once again brought Sexy backwards with their mind-numbingly pre-woke show. But, really, is anyone that surprised? Year on year it’s the same array of thin bodies, the same tone-deaf smattering of cultural appropriation, the same hollow odes to sisterhood and strength, all while churning out glitzy content on the glaringly obvious wheel of capitalism disguised as beauty, power and strength. In a world where people are, albeit slowly, catching up to the idea that beauty isn’t always white and thin, perhaps it’s time to ask Vicky what her secret really is. I always thought it was that she’d killed her cat when she was 11 by putting a rubber band on its mouth and accidentally suffocating it, but it’s actually that she’s a company built on cheap labour with eyes for cash over creating a space to celebrate all beauty.
Angela Lansbury
Another celeb who landed themselves in hot water this week for erring on the side of pre-politically engaged dustiness was our old fave Angela Lansbury. Murder, indeed, she wrote: but this time it was the murder of her public profile. In an interview with the Radio Times, Lansbury said of post-Weinstein era Hollywood: "We must sometimes take blame, women. I really do think that. Although it’s awful to say we can’t make ourselves look as attractive as possible without being knocked down and raped.” Twitter, rightfully, went into critical meltdown — this isn’t about a generational gap, this is about victim blaming, which someone as smart as Lansbury certainly has the critical faculties to get on board with. It’s so disappointing, but here’s hoping somewhere out there Angie’s ready to listen, and learn about what her statements mean — we all need that sometimes.
JK Rowling
...And while Angela hopefully gets the message from her fans, J.K. Rowling spent the week ignoring hers. Fans on Twitter reported that Rowling has been blocking them for bringing up the casting of alleged domestic abuser Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts movie. Instead of engaging, J.K. simply blocked. But we want answers. What’s odd is that she’s usually happy to get back to her critics — “there were no gays in Harry Potter” say us, “ummm Dumbledeezy was clearly into dudes guys, srsly u homophobes” she responded. It’s hard when your heroes let you down (she’s not mine btw, I’ve never read Harry Potter), but if the world is teaching us anything right now, it’s that plenty of our heroes are, really, far from it.
The Grammys
But to end on a positive note: The Grammys are finally starting to make up for their decades of looking over artists of colour, which was crystallised in their totally misplaced choice of best album last year, choosing Adele over Bey. Like, genuinely I talk about this most days and it’s a j-o-k-e that Lemonade didn’t win. Every other song on Adele’s album was good, yes, but Lemonade? Grammys, u ok hun? Turns out they are: This year, the Grammy nominations are the most diverse in history, with the most artists of colour ever receiving nominations across the board. My eyes are on you SZA, Cardi B, Jay-Z, Childish Gambino. My eyes are on you Kendrick, and you Lil Uzi Vert. While the Recording Academy got away with their years of outright racism with barely more than a few memes, it’s astonishing and wonderful to see them finally listen up to music that’s actually good. Good for you, Grammys, good for you!
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Across five London GUM clinics there has been a recent, startling drop of around 40% in the number of new cases of HIV infection; this has been described as remarkable, with Public Health England rightly stating that this is the first major downturn in the HIV epidemic among gay men in England.
And it is remarkable – it has taken around 30 years but finally, we have an effective method of reducing the numbers of people contracting HIV. The multi-pronged approach works; frequent testing, good adherence to medication, being undetectable, PEP and PrEP.
The only jarring thing about this drop is that, principally, it is being seen in young (25 to 34-year-old), white, gay men. Not jarring because young, white, gay men shouldn't get all the support that they are, and that they need – we know from all the data available that HIV has disproportionately impacted the gay community more than any other in this country – but jarring because rates of infection have remained static in all other groups, including women and heterosexual men.
On many levels it feels sacrilegious not to focus simply on celebrating the lives being saved. I do celebrate those saved lives, but the success doesn't feel connected to the intersectional space in which I, and many others, exist. I took my risks in many different spaces, including casual sex and the foolish innocence of love. Twenty-five years on I understand my risk-taking and feel confident enough not to be ashamed of it or shamed by it.
We live in a society that is structurally and systemically sexist and racist, so young white men are without doubt at the front of every queue that exists, be that in FTSE companies, wages, political structures...the list goes on. Thus reading that young white men have been the first to benefit from our improved HIV strategy won't surprise anyone. Privilege works by birth so it isn't anything that this group of young white men are actively doing, and it's really tough to highlight because there is no privilege that comes with an HIV diagnosis. Young, white, gay men are certainly not to blame – I doubt anyone is – but we cannot ignore the lack of improvement in the rates of women being diagnosed with HIV.
Why and how are women being so ignored in this fight? Look at the number of places reserved for all others (including women) on the PrEP Impact Trial: 2,000 out of 10,000. If 25% of all new HIV infections last year were women, why would there not be 2,500 places reserved on the trial specifically for women? Why has there been very little promotion of the PrEP trial among women, to increase identification of PrEP as a really effective way of preventing HIV transmission? Women, we are starting to find, have seldom even heard of PrEP; they have no concept that it exists.
I recently gave a talk at Oxford University's Wadham College around risk and historically marginalised groups, and we started to talk about prevention and then PrEP. I asked the room for a show of hands as to who knew about PrEP – the only hands that went up were those of the gay men present. It's great that they knew, but no woman put her hand up and when questioned, not a single woman had heard about PrEP, or PEP. Only sexism can explain why women who say they know they take risks – which is their right – do not know that there is a simple way to protect themselves from HIV.
Why does the notion still swirl around that women don't take risks when it comes to sex and love? Love, the space in which we all throw caution to the wind and say yes, I trust you.
Why do we still act as if this 'risk space' only houses men, specifically young gay men? How dare we still label gay men as inherent risk-takers and label women as only victims of sex if they test positive for HIV?
I asked Dr. Shema Tariq why she felt the numbers of women still contracting HIV had remained almost static for years.
"Poor research and an assumption that women don't know about their risks or how to protect themselves, sexism and misogyny still drives so much of what we do. Women have seldom been the principal targets of prevention campaigns. Women have really only been focused on in relation to HIV through pregnancy and then they are not the focus, the wellbeing of the baby is. We understand how that happens but the mother is often placed outside of the equation with hardly any time to come to terms with their own diagnosis. Historically most women find out they are positive through pregnancy screening."
This is backed up when I have the opportunity to speak with a young British-born Muslim woman who is of Caribbean parentage, who told me in almost hushed tones that whenever people talk about 'at-risk groups' they talk only of Africans. She feels silenced by her absence from the debate. She has been isolated and often alone since being diagnosed through her pregnancy screening.
"They told me the baby was the only thing to worry about, they treated me terribly throughout my pregnancy, made me feel guilty and because I was British born made me feel that somehow I should have known better. I felt blamed and shamed and it's taken me years to build up my confidence around my HIV status."
Jacqui Stevenson, who is currently researching ageing women living with HIV, agreed with Shema that poor research is often the gateway to women being left out of new interventions, and the myths surrounding women as poor research subjects have become structural and systemic through the years and this has resulted in an invisibility. Stevenson is one of the co-leads on the Invisible No Longer study, which looks at the experiences of women living with and at risk of HIV, and seeks to provide qualitative information about the lives and experiences of these frequently ignored groups.
Stevenson feels that often women in the sexual care setting have to prove their risk and entitlement and that this is purely misogynistic and an outcome of the ludicrous notion that only men have pleasure and therefore deserve protection, and only 'at risk' women (sex workers are frequently mentioned here despite seemingly showing little interest in PrEP) need prevention.
Dr. Andy Williams and Dr. Rageshri Dhairyawan, both sexual health and HIV specialists based at the London Hospital, expressed real worries that some groups are already being left behind and that as the cuts really sink in, perhaps driven by the effectiveness of our new interventions (PrEP etc), these groups will get left further and further behind.
"I had a patient who was so scared to continue with HIV care because of the punitive immigration atmosphere that they stopped treatment; a few months later they died." Dr. Rageshri is visibly upset recounting this story.
I asked them both what it was like working in an environment where you know the 'hard to reach' are becoming more isolated.
"Sometimes,” said Andy, “young clinicians starting out on their careers come here and meet patients, often from the south Asian community with a completely different view of sex and risk, already in a catastrophic situation, and the young doctors after a short time cannot cope; finding easy success here is tough. We know we have many more community links to build through the mosques etc and we know while we are doing this, real lives are suffering. Women, often women who may not speak the language, are often most at risk."
I got the sense talking to them that although they absolutely celebrated the brilliant work being done in reducing the number of new HIV infections, those improvements felt a million miles away from the bleak corridors of the old London Hospital.
On this World AIDS Day, let's try and remember that women have and enjoy sex, which means they sometimes encounter risk. And, secondly, that not all transmission is through sex; some people – admittedly few, but some – are born with HIV. Let's think about their beautiful bravery this year: those living with HIV, those at risk of HIV, and those working in some of the toughest environments, right here in our big sprawling city.
Note:A few days after the Wadham talk I was contacted by the Women's SU lead to say how appalled they were at the lack of sexual health promotion directed at women, so they have decided to 'skill up' so that they can effectively campaign and lobby for inclusion in the story of PrEP.
For most of us, the idea that it's possible to communicate with people who are no longer with us is more than a little farfetched.
Enter Fleur. The 27-year-old, who hails from the Netherlands and now lives in Los Angeles, is fast on her way to becoming one of the city's most popular mediums. As in, yeah, her business is communicating with dead people.
Whether you believe in this sort of thing or not is entirely down to you. Fleur, however, is entirely sold, despite coming from a scientific background (she was pre-med at UCLA). According to Fleur, her ability to speak to those who have passed on is something that's been with her since she was a very young child, around 5 years old. Her parents, an engineer and a journalist (she describes them as "fairly normal"), first noticed there was something different about Fleur when she was able to correctly identify her grandparents' nicknames; grandparents she had never met. After that, she says, "the things I was coming out with...were so bizarre and random but also so accurate that my parents weren't able to say 'she's making it up'."
Nowadays, she works with clients to do "readings" and help them communicate with people they have lost. And she's got an army of people backing her. Not only is her waiting list 18 months long, but some of her high-profile clients include Lana Del Rey and Emma Roberts.
So how does Fleur manage to communicate with people from beyond the grave? What does it feel like to actually do it? Does she mind that people don't believe her? And, more importantly, who's the most famous dead person she's ever spoken to? We sat down with her ahead of her first London show to find this out and more.
Hi Fleur, if someone’s not sure what a medium is, what do you tell them?
So a medium translates between the physical world and the spiritual world. It’s a translator between people who are living here in the physical world and those who are deceased.
You say you first realised your powers when you were young – what happened?
My parents first took notice – the information and the people and the names I was describing weren’t anyone I would have known in my living world. But it wasn’t until I was maybe seven when I realised I was different. Once I started comparing my reality to other people's it became very clear that everybody else didn’t see what I saw.
And no one likes to be different, right? Was there ever a time when you wished you didn’t have these abilities?
Oh, very much so. It took over my childhood. I wasn’t very happy and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. It wasn’t until I was 18 when I realised I just had to figure it out. Regardless of if I wanted something to do with it, I just needed to figure out how it worked for me.
So what does this communication feel like?
I’m very present in my body. I feel a lot actually. A lot of the feeling comes in how someone passes, regardless of whether it was a natural passing such as cancer, or unnatural, such as a car accident – I feel it in my body. If it’s cancer, I feel the location of it. One example that is quite funny is that if I’m working with a man who had a beard I feel like I’ve got a beard on my face!
It must be pretty tough to deal with if you’re communicating with someone who has died in a car crash or something...
Yes. It is very important that you work on self-care as well because it can get overwhelming. You have to find a way where the grief doesn’t overburden the good. Often those readings can be quite difficult but the joy and the relief and the closure that it’s brought at the end make it completely worth it. You don’t leave a reading feeling sad because you’re seeing a transformation happen.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions about mediums?
It’s a changing world, which is wonderful, so the misconceptions that used to exist don't as much anymore. It’s not all bangles and incense and things; we’re more people like myself who look surprisingly normal. Another one is that when people come to see me they want me to find their spirit people for them when, in reality, they’re bringing them with them in the room. I’m not like, dialling up the phone number like, “Hey we’d like to talk to these three can you send them down please”. It doesn’t work like that. You have them with you all the time, I’m just acting as the translator.
Who’s the most interesting person you’ve ever communicated with?
One of my favourites just in terms of celebrity standing was Mama Cass and Papa John of The Mamas and the Papas. I got them through one of the children, they were such personalities. It was literally SO fun. I had no idea who I was connecting with initially but you could tell that they were people who had lived very interesting lives in the spotlight. They were not shy people. It really filled the room with the sense of “OK we’re talking to some personalities here!” It was a really cool experience.
Can you give me an example of how you’ve really blown someone’s mind?
I did a reading for a lady a few weeks ago who had lost her husband and she could not find his wedding ring and he showed me that it was going to be next to a passport and next to legal documents. So she looked and sadly, she still couldn’t find them – but then she emailed me later because she was cleaning the house and she had found some old passports and paperwork and for some reason the ring was there! She was like, “Oh my god it was exactly like what you said.” And it’s so fascinating to me because it means there’s an intelligence beyond the static survival of energy. An intelligence with the ability to communicate. It’s not just static and we’re not just reading an imprint or a memory. There’s something moving.
Does your ability ever waver due to stress or whatever?
It totally affects me. I feel like one of my biggest struggles in life is just constantly trying to gain equilibrium so I can do productive work. I’ve definitely had to take days off because it’s that time of the month, so it’s totally dependant on many different factors and that’s frustrating. You can never account for the perfect day where it will run perfectly.
So you’ve worked with the children of Mama Cass and Papa John but you also work with other celebrities; how do you stay cool and do your thing when Lana Del Rey’s sat in front of you?
In the beginning it really shook me up. But it’s very interesting work because it really cuts through the outer layers of anything else that’s going on in the world. When I’m with a person, that bond of loving someone and losing them is the worst thing about life. It doesn’t matter how much money you have; at the end of the day, you are a soul. I could be a little nervous before the reading but then I get into it.
Do you get people who tell you they don’t believe you?
I’d say that 85% of the people that I read for are sceptical, but open. They have this idea that “I don’t really believe this but if I’m given proof I could change my mind” or “I would like to change my mind” or “I’ve never seen any evidence for it but I’m intrigued.” Most people I read for have never seen someone like me before and it’s their first time.
How do you marry up that medical, science-based background and what you do now?
In the beginning it was horribly hard for me to try and balance those two perspectives. But I think I’ve got to a place where I don’t see science, faith and spirituality as separate. The two can very much coexist. All I will say is that many scientific advances prior to their discovery were just not believed, because they seemed absurd. When it comes to my work, the limitation is that we have not found or created or been able to create scientific experiments that can measure it. I don’t think that means it doesn’t exist.
There must be exploitation of grieving relatives in your industry, though?
I think like any job, you’re going to have people doing it with good intentions and a good moral base, and then you’re going to have people who will not. I think it’s upsetting but you can only focus on the things that you’re doing and hope that people don’t lump you into one giant category.
Do you think speaking to people a lot older has left you with a certain level of maturity?
Absolutely. Although there really isn’t a specific age group. I work for a lot of people across all ages, in their 20s, kids, people in their 90s. But that being said, working for the last eight years, I’ve got so many snapshots of so many lives and in those lessons learned, mistakes made, I've definitely had the privilege of absorbing that and feeling like I’ve had a glimpse of so many life experiences, has helped me to define my own.
Fleur is performing at London's Islington Assembly Hall on Dec 5th. Get tickets here.
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I refuse to do a Daily Mail -style “my body hair hell” photoshoot for this piece so instead let’s try a visualisation. Let's imagine we're going to the beach. I've already got us a spot, set out the towels and the drinks cooler and you're coming to meet me. But when you arrive the sand is full of 6ft men in very stylish swimwear and you don't know if you'll be able to pick me from the pack.
But then you see me, first the body, then this almost halo-like contour, a translucent outline, kind of like that glitter pen you can use on Instagram, or the way the air above the tarmac starts to billow on a hot day.
Hi. I’m Sam, and that angelic aura is my body hair. Thick and wild and covering every inch of me from the top of my shoulders to the hillock of my big toe, when the sun shines through it becomes almost transcendental, not quite man, not quite matter. I know you think you’ve seen hairy men before, but do they have hair on their shoulders? The inside of their forearms? Inside their belly button? When I shower, droplets criss-cross down the maze of follicles like my chest is a charming water feature.
Obviously, being a hairy man is rather different from being a hairy woman – the standards of beauty men are held up to are leagues lower than those of women. Yes I might have wondered why I looked so different from Ryan from The OC when he took his top off, but it’s not like buff hairless men lean down at me from every magazine cover and billboard. If anything, there are quite a few hairy men icons out there to aspire to: Sean Connery, Simon Cowell, Richard from Friends. A hairy back is a bit of banter on a man really, whereas on a woman it's so taboo it's basically never spoken about. Lots of women seem to be up for no-makeup selfies these days but no women are up for a big moustache selfie.
As it goes I don’t mind the hair. If anything I find it weirdly honest, about my heritage and my family. When I was a teenager you could say that I was “goyishe-passing”, I could have been a normal British lad. But the body hair is like a pound shop 23andMe; it shows I am Ashkenazi through and through, and there’s no escaping that. Some people have a Star of David pendant, I wear a necklace of straggly black locks. Again, men get it easier here. Female body hair is often linked to ethnicity, and it’s no surprise that WASPy beauty ideals are held up to be supreme. Even now, when there is an increasing number of non-white female role models, it’s rarely discussed that they often have to go to further lengths to maintain Anglo-Saxon standards of beauty. When someone wears a backless dress to the Oscars and it has a snail trail running all the way down it, then we’ll have progress.
Really the only way that my body hair has ever affected me is that I have felt duty-bound to warn women, if I’m going to get undressed in front of them for the first time, what to expect. “Just to let you know,” I might say while fiddling with my shirt buttons, “I’m very hirsute.” I think it’s sort of like an anchovy: nothing wrong with it if you know what’s coming, but if you were blindfolded and told to expect a Rolo, you might spit it out. Thankfully I have been with my girlfriend for a couple of years, so she is well briefed.
And yet, I cannot say I’m happy about my hair. Because while I do not find it aesthetically offensive, I do find it cruel. It’s the way it taunts my bald scalp. Like a lot of my tribe, I have the ability to grow copious amounts of hair everywhere except my head, where I would actually quite like some. “Haha!” says my back. “Look what I can do, I’m basically Abby from Broad City down here and you can barely manage a George from Seinfeld ”. It’s a daily torment, my body mocking itself.
I have occasionally thought about getting it removed, just once, just to see if that balances out the baldness in some new way I can’t visualise, but honestly I don’t know where they’d start? I couldn’t just show up at a waxer, not unless they had some hedge trimmers in the back.
So I’ll be keeping my hairy back, thanks. I don’t think I have much choice about the matter and if nothing else, you’ll never miss me on a busy beach.
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Christmas is coming up fast, which tends to put people into one of two camps. The first are the conscientious shoppers who meticulously plan their loved ones' gifts way before Saint Nick climbs down the chimney. The second camp likes to take risks, lives life on the edge – and ends up having to trawl Oxford Street on 23rd December in a last-ditch attempt to find something suitable.
If you land in camp one, congratulations; you're so very organised. If you're in camp two, however, relax. We've compiled the best products for every beauty junkie in your life. Whether it's the friend who always has perfectly polished nails, the sister who battles dry skin every winter, or the person who just loves an Instagrammable product; we've got something for everyone.
Now you can feel smug and enjoy the festivities without the stress of overheated shops and Christmas songs on a loop. Ahhh. Anyone for mulled wine?
For the one who went to Somerset House's Perfume exhibition multiple times
For those who like heavy, rich scents, Atelier Cologne's Café Tuberosa is divine. With notes of tuberose from India, bergamot from Calabria, and a coffee espresso accord, its fragrance is deep and one spritz lasts all day. For those searching for something a little more feminine, the latest addition to Marc Jacobs' Decadence range is perfect – fruity and floral, but not too sweet. Another earthy scent comes from cult fragrance makers Byredo. Velvet Haze is inspired by the music and movements of the '60s, so expect a heady mix of patchouli, cacao, ambrette and musk.
Atelier Cologne Café Tuberosa Cologne Absolue, £110, available at Selfridges
Marc Jacobs Decadence Eau So Decadent Eau de Toilette, £57, available at Debenhams
Byredo Velvet Haze Eau de Parfum, £95, available at Byredo
Elizabeth and James' Nirvana Amethyst carries tobacco and honeysuckle for a decadent scent, By Terry's vanilla, tonka bean and patchouli is equally as sumptuous, while The One by Dolce & Gabbana is a spritz of femininity while orange blossom and lily.
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Amethyst, £69, available at Harrods.
By Terry Delectation Splendide Eau de Parfum, £175, available at Liberty.
Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau De Toilette, £67.50, available at The Fragrance Shop.
For the one who battles dehydrated skin every winter
Give the gift of a hydration hit this Christmas. Tackle the plummeting temperature and office central heating with Pestle & Mortar's duo hyaluronic serum and moisturiser, packaged up in in bathroom shelf-worthy bottles. The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid is a cult hit for a reason, and makes for a stellar stocking filler, while Alpha-H's Liquid Gold Luxe rose-enhanced gift set will buff away dead skin, leaving complexions glowing.
Pestle & Mortar The Hydrating Duo Gift Set, £69, available at Pestle & Mortar
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, £5.90, available at The Ordinary
Alpha-H Liquid Gold Luxe Collection, £49.95, available at Cult Beauty
Prep parched party skin with Skimono's sheet mask, with its formula inspired by Korean beauty trends. Mario Badescu's refreshing facial spray is a permanent feature on our office desk, and looks cute on bathroom shelves to boot. This stocking filler from REN looks just as good hanging on the tree. The rose bath oil brings hydration to dry limbs.
Skimono Beauty Face Mask for Advanced Moisturisation, £14.99, available at Look Fantastic.
REN Moroccan Rose Stocking Filler, £10, available at Space.NK
For the one who values her beauty sleep
For the woman who won't get out of bed for less than £10,000, Slip's 100% silk eye mask is gentle on lashes and brows, and promises some good shut-eye. Tropic's pillow mist is heavenly to spritz on freshly washed sheets, with lavender, rosemary, frankincense and rosewood to send you to sleep. If you're going to get a full eight hours, you might as well give your skin some overnight TLC; Kiehl's' Midnight Recovery Concentrate is a divine blend of primrose oil and squalane that works hard while you rest.
Slip Pure Silk Sleep Mask, £45, available at Cult Beauty
Tropic Skincare So Sleepy Pillow Mist, £20, available at Tropic Skincare
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, £44.10, available at John Lewis
Skin Laundry's smart pillowcase is treated with charged silver ion tech, which reduces harmful bacteria while you sleep. You'll be asleep within minutes with This Works' tranquil lavender and chamomile candle, and Lush's rich Sleepy Body Lotion is perfect post-bath, pre-bedtime.
Skin Laundry SleepCycle Clean Skin Pillowcase, £26.00, available at Feel Unique.
This Works Deep Sleep Heavenly Candle, £85, available at Space.NK.
Lush Sleepy Body Lotion, £13.95, available at Lush
For the one who has every eyeshadow palette under the sun
If your friend has their calendar marked for Urban Decay's next eyeshadow drop, gift them some equally versatile and pigmented palettes. Huda's Rose Gold set has all the sparkle to see you through party season, while Zoeva's Queens Guard palette comes with an oxblood makeup bag and a hefty collection of high quality brushes. We love SUQQU's fit-in-your-handbag compact, perfect for mid-evening touch-ups.
Huda Beauty Textured Shadows Palette – Rose Gold Edition, £56, available at Cult Beauty
Zoeva Queens Guard Collection, £165, available at Selfridges
SUQQU Designing Color Eyes Palette, £46, available at Selfridges
Violet Voss' palette is a punchy box of poster paint shades - perfect for the dance floor. Too Faced's shimmery shades smell a good as they look, and Urban Decay's metallic set is ideal for the '80s trend sweeping fashion and beauty right now.
Violet Voss The Rainbow Palette, £28, available at Cult Beauty
Too Faced White Chocolate Chip Eyeshadow Palette, £22, available at Selfridges
Urban Decay Heavy Metals Metallic Eyeshadow Palette, £43, available at Selfridges
For the one who likes their beauty to be Instagrammable
If your friend is just waiting for Into The Gloss to request their Top Shelf, treat them to some more Instagrammable goodness that'll sit as pretty on their face as in their bathroom. If Glossier's UK shipping wasn't exciting enough, grab some Cloud Paint from the brand's London pop-up, open from tomorrow. Lixir is the new kid on the scene and already at the top of every busy-but-beauty-obsessed woman's wish list, while Aesop's luscious gift set looks handsome in even the tiniest rented flat.
Lixir Skin Electrogel Cleanser, £25, available at Lixir Skin
Aesop Affiliation Gift Kit, £95, available at Aesop
How gorgeous are Briard Kami's soap sheets? Just add water and wash your hands - ideal for on-the-go situations. Shu Uemura's signature Cleansing Oil Shampoo gets the Super Mario treatment and looks cute in any shower, while Marvis' mint toothpaste is replacing our Colgate, stat.
Briard Kami Soap Sheets, £10, available at Net-A-Porter.
Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo Limited Edition Super Mario, £23.50, available at Feel Unique.
Luminescent skin isn't going anywhere fast, with SS18's beauty offering encouraging glowing cheek and brow bones. RMS' Luminizer Quad is our go-to all year round, with four shades matching your skin no matter the weather. Fenty sent social media wild with their Match Stix Shimmer Sticks – this gold number is beautiful on dark skin. NARS' recent homage to Man Ray gave us the prettiest highlighting powder, complete with abstract lips.
RMS Beauty Luminizer X Quad, £46, available at Cult Beauty
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Stick in Blonde, £21, available at Harvey Nichols
NARS Overexposed Glow Highlighter Man Ray Holiday Edition, £28, available at Space.NK
Rituel De Fille's eye shoot brings an iridescence to eyelids with the subtlest hint of teal, Topshop's Glow Pot has a party season refresh, and Bobbi Brown's Moon Glow will give cheekbones the shimmer and shine NYE calls for.
Rituel De Fille Celestial Sphere Eye Soot, £30, available at Cult Beauty.
Topshop Limited Edition Glow Pot in Gleam, £10.50, available at Topshop.
Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Moon Glow Highlighting Powder, £36, available at Selfridges.
For the one who lights candles to unwind
If your friend's idea of a relaxing evening involves a glass of red, a steaming hot bath, and a few hundred lit candles, three new drops will satisfy their senses. Bella Freud's Starry Nights scent is bursting with rich frankincense, agarwood and tobacco flower, plus looks great as a makeup brush holder once you've burned it to the bottom. Diptyque's holiday candle will get you in the festive spirit, with soul-warming blood orange, smoky wood and cloves. Urban Apothecary's romantic floral notes are the ideal accompaniment to an end-of-a-long-week bath.
Bella Freud Starry Starry Nights, £48, available at Cult Beauty
Diptyque Dragon Candle, £48, available at Selfridges
Urban Apothecary Velvet Peony Luxury Candle, £30, available at Urban Apothecary
With saffron, anis, and ginger, &Other Stories have created the Christmas candle of our dreams. Espa's restorative candle has notes of lavender, palmarosa and geranium for a sweet-smelling bedroom, and indie brand Ohros' cinnamon and orange offering is good enough to eat.
&Other Stories Juste Mythique Scented Candle, £19, available at &Other Stories.
Espa All Is Bright Restorative Candle, £15, available at Look Fantastic.
Ohros Cinnamon and Orange Candle, £12, available at Ohros.
For the one whose New Year's resolution is to go vegetarian
It's never been easier to get hold of quality vegan beauty products, and now your green-loving friend can have the prettiest products in her bag. Sister & Co.'s Body Melt combines cold-pressed raw apricot oil with shea butter for a lightweight moisture hit, while Dr. Bronner's lavender and coconut concoction is a hydrating post-shower staple. Clean Beauty Co.'s Supercharge Serum is perfect for lacklustre winter skin, thanks to its potent blend of squalane, prickly pear, jasmine and watermelon seed oils.
Sister & Co. Apricot, Lemon & Vanilla Body Melt, £26, available at Sister & Co.
Dr. Bronner's Organic Lavender Coconut Lotion, £9.49, available at Dr. Bronner's
Clean Beauty Co. Supercharge Serum, £32, available at Clean Beauty Co.
We love The Soap Co.'s exfoliating soap pebble, which comes with matching body lotion and cold processed soap bar. Bleach is our stocking-filler go-to for a new season hair switch up, and you can try the best of Liha's line with this cute vegan gift set.
The Soap Co. Wild Nettle & Sage Body Gift Trio, £39, available at The Soap Co.
Liha Sample & Gift Set, £25, available at Liha Beauty.
Bleach London Awkward Peach Super Cool Colour, £6, available at Bleach.
For the self-proclaimed skincare pro
Cult hits for those who know their salicylic acid from their hyaluronic acid, their vitamin C from their vitamin E, their retinols from their retinoids. Emma Hardie's glow-giving set includes her renowned Moringa Cleansing Balm, nourishing Age Support Face Cream, lightweight Brilliance Facial Oil, an essential Protect & Prime SPF 30, plus a face cloth for perfectly prepping makeup. Any skincare fanatic worth their salt will want to get their paws on La Mer, so treat them to one of the most hyped youth-bestowing products out there. 111Skin's edit of classic products repairs, restores and brightens dull skin, with serums, eye gel, day and night creams to turn winter skin around.
Emma Hardie Lift & Glow Skin Essentials, £55, available at Space.NK
La Mer Moisturising Soft Cream, £120, available at Harvey Nichols
111Skin The Classic Edit, £190, available at 111Skin
Sure, it's extravagant, but we love Sisley's millennial pink Ridoki box, with the brand's anti-ageing face and eye creams and Ridoki massage tool. We've been hooked on Omorovicza since first trying the brand - this set contains a mist, cleansing balm, cleansing foam, moisturiser, and mask. If Dr Frances Prenna Jones advises it, we're doing it. Her Three Wise Cleansers set is perfect for any skincare obsessive.
Sisley Limited Edition Sisleya L’Integral Anti-Age Prestige Ridoki Box, £436, available at Harrods.
Omorovicza Discovery Kit, £59, available at Omorovicza.
Dr Frances Prenna Jones The Three Wise Cleansers, £68, available at Dr Frances Prenna Jones.
For the one who loves their beauty tools
Got a gadget-obsessed pal? Foreo's cleansing and detoxifying LUNA offering is wide-ranging but we love the Play edition as it's perfect for travelling and sleepovers, meaning there's no excuse for not taking off your makeup. Won't leave the house without your 30-minute GHD ritual? DAFNI's Go Straightening Brush is a compact and time-efficient tool for those seeking smooth locks in no time. For those at the opposite end of the tresses spectrum, T3's Interchangeable Styling Wand gives you everything from '70s curls to beachy waves.
Dafni Go Straightening Brush, £100, available at Harvey Nichols
T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand, £199, available at T3
We've waxed lyrical about the benefits of microneedling before, but we may just have to add this rose gold number to our collection. BaByliss' new hair styler is pretty genius - it sucks in sections of hair to either curl or straighten, depending on the side you use. Party hair sorted. Ghd's Air Nocturn hairdryer gives salon-quality blow dries at home, drying it 2x faster than most tools.
GloPRO Limited Edition Rose Gold Microneedling Regeneration Tool, £249, available at BeautyBio Science.
BaByliss Smooth & Wave Hair Styler, £130, available at Debenhams.
Ghd Air Nocturne Hairdryer, £99, available at ghd.
For the one who cherishes bathtime
Whether your friend is stressed or just loves some bubble-filled alone time, these bath treats are perfect. Jo Malone's skin-hydrating Bath Oil will fill the room with amber, lavender and bergamot, while Herbivore Botanicals' Bath Salts infuse the water with minerals to detoxify skin. For something sweet, Laura Mercier's Sweet Temptations Crème Brûlée Duet brings warm caramel, sugar and vanilla bean to bathtime.
Jo Malone London Amber & Lavender Bath Oil, £44, available at John Lewis
Laura Mercier Sweet Temptations Crème Brûlée Duet, £35, available at Harvey Nichols
Herbivore Botanicals Calm Dead Sea Bath Salts, £22, available at Wood/Grey
Feel Unique has loads of great gift sets for stockings, but we love the Bath & Body number, with four products facilitating an at-home paper evening. Cowshed's Bath & Body Oil is divine for those who put as much care into their skin post-bath as the bath itself. Rose geranium and linden blossom help relax. Haeckles bath salts not only ease muscle tension, but look oh so pretty in our bathroom.
Bath & Body Pamper Set by Feelunique, £15, available at Feelunique.
Cowshed Moody Cow Balancing Bath & Body Oil, £23, available at Cowshed.
Haeckels Seaweed Bath Salts, £30, available at Cult Beauty.
For the one who wants a little of everything
Gift sets are perfect for those on-the-go or wanting to test a new brand before committing. Charlotte Tilbury's given us an edit of her bestselling pieces, from Charlotte's Magic Cream Moisturiser to Lip Cheat Lip Liner. Benefit's collection sets you up for party season with cult They're Real! Mascara and Dandelion Twinkle Blush. There's no introduction needed for MAC's super collection of classic lip shades, including Ruby Woo, Velvet Teddy and Flat Out Fab.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Beauty Icons, £55, available at Selfridges
Benefit City Lights, Party Nights Gift Set, £24.50, available at Boots
MAC Snow Ball Mini Lipsticks – MAC Classics, 12 Minis, £85, available at Look Fantastic
Beauty Pie's retinol set is for sensitive skin that regular retinol treatments irritate. Including a serum, moisturiser, eye cream, and hand treatment, it's your one-stop-buy for anti-ageing purposes. We fell for NARS' Powermatte offering when we discovered the durability and shade range. This vault is every beauty lover's dream. Head down to Carnaby Street to create a customised box for your secret santa, choosing anything from their extensive brand range.
Beauty Pie Super Retinol Set, £35.75 for members, £275 otherwise, available at Beauty Pie.
NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment Vault, £195, available at Selfridges.
Birchbox Build Your Own Birchbox, £15, available at Birchbox Carnaby Street.
For the one who has weekly manicures
Is there a better time of year to go all-out with sparkle and shine? Yves Saint Laurent's red and gold-flecked Dazzling Lights polish is perfect for the friend who has Muji boxes full of nail lacquer. Alternatively, Nails Inc.'s holographic duo bring a more understated shine to New Year's Eve nails. For those who experiment with textures and finishes, Sally Hansen's Chrome Kits give a salon effect at home – with no UV light needed.
Yves Saint Laurent La Laque Couture Dazzling Lights Edition in 91, £19.50, available at Selfridges
Nails Inc. Holler-Graphic Trend Effects, £15, available at Cult Beauty
Sally Hansen Salon Chrome Kit, £17, available at Superdrug
Deborah Lippman's glitter dolly mixture paint is a sweet addition to any polish collection. Add a subtle glow to your talons with Dolce & Gabbana's fuchsia formula, or get in the festive spirit with essie's brilliant red shade.
Deborah Lippmann Glitter Nail Colour in Across the Universe, £18, available at Harrods
Dolce & Gabbana Nail Lacquer in Royal Pink, £21, available at Harrods
essie Gel Couture 471 Style Stunner Bright Red Nail Polish, £9.99, available at Boots
For the one who wants to treat their tresses
It's party season, which means morning-after-the-night-before hair will certainly need a little TLC. Ouai's trio offers Rose Hair Oil (which can also be used on the body), Dry Shampoo Foam for partied-out tresses, and a smoothing Finishing Creme. Kevin Murphy's haircare is a treat at any time of year, but this gift set is ideal for those with coloured locks in need of some care – plus, the bottles look cute on our bathroom shelves. Davines' gift set is rich in Amazonian roucou, giving hair a frizz-fighting, just-left-the-salon finish.
Ouai Haircare Morning After Kit, £19.50, available at Cult Beauty
Kevin Murphy Anti.Gravity & Staying.Alive Combo, £28.99, available at Kevin Murphy
Davines Wishing You A Beautiful Experience, £56, available at Cult Beauty
We love a good scalp cleanser, and The Body Shop's green tea scrub is the kick start you need on dark mornings. Emulate Kate Moss with Sam McKnight's Cool Girl texturising spritz - it smells divine too. Preserve coloured hair with Aveda's gentle and protective ColourConserve gift set.
The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Refreshingly Purifying Cleansing Hair Scrub, £15, available at The Body Shop.
Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Texturising Spray, £25, available at Liberty.
Aveda Vibrant Hair Gift Set, £42.30, available at Look Fantastic
For the one who likes their skin as healthy as their body
For the friend who is as conscientious about their skin as their healthy lifestyle, Farmacy's farm-to-face set, packed with delicious natural ingredients, is a four-step routine for glowing skin. Gallinée's Happy Bacteria Set includes a trio of products that work with your skin's natural bacteria, plus a recipe book of healthy and lit-from-within meals. If your health-conscious friend hasn't got their hands on Tata Harper's wonderful products yet, then bestow the gift of this all-natural, restorative Daily Essentials kit.
Farmacy Perennial Picks Skincare Discovery Kit, £38, available at Cult Beauty
Gallinée The Happy Bacteria Set, £49.90, available at Gallinée
Tata Harper Tata's Daily Essentials, £64, available at Cult Beauty
100% of sales from the Beauty Kitchen's handwash and lotion duo go to Rainbows Hospice for Children & Young People, so it's just another good reason to buy from the organic brand. Dr Hauschka's entire makeup range is green and organic. Keep lips glossy and hydrated with this sheer lipstick. Anything from Neal's Yard transports us to a treatment room - get the feeling at home with this festive set of Refining Cleanser, Toner, and Hydrating Cream.
Beauty Kitchen Rainbows Hand Duo, £10, available at Holland & Barrett
Dr Hauschka Sheer Lipstick, £17.25, available at Dr Hauschka.
Neal’s Yard Remedies The Rejuvinating Frankincense Collection, £60, available at Neal’s Yard.
As party season kicks off, we can always expect a little extra sparkle in the lead-up to the end of year festivities, but over the past few months you may have noticed that glitter and glamour have seriously swept fashion into a flurry of excess.
We're referring to the inescapable return to the '80s as a source of inspiration for designers, art curators and TV producers alike. “With the resurgence of '70s and '90s eras in recent years, it was only a matter of time before the '80s took its turn,” Katie Smith, Retail Analysis and Insights Director at EDITED, a fashion and retail technology company, explains. “Partially, this is simply the natural cycle of trends and fashion’s relationship with nostalgia.”
Of course, this nostalgia has been felt throughout culture for some time. Just look at the popularity of Stranger Things and the collective obsession with Barb’s frill-necked pussybow blouse and oversized specs, or more recently Netflix's GLOW, all pastel power suits, branded bombers, statement belts and thigh-high leotards.
Then, just two months ago, a major Basquiat retrospective opened at the Barbican, celebrating the artist's punk, political, graphic and graffiti-esque work. Basquiat, an important fixture on New York's underground art scene, gained attention from the wider art world after an '81 Artforum feature. Alongside his artistic legacy, Basquiat, his collaborator Andy Warhol, and then-girlfriend Madonna were regulars at the legendary Studio 54, the hedonistic and glamorous playground of musicians, models, artists and socialites. It's impossible to extract his work from the context in which it was made. Similarly, last month, an homage to Grace Jones – as adored for her eccentric, powerful style as for her '80s new wave music – came in the form of Bloodlight and Bami, a compelling documentary about the icon.
In August, the world focused on Princess Diana, as 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of her death. Along with the countless shopping stories celebrating her personal style, Off-White’s Virgil Abloh showed a collection at Paris Fashion Week directly inspired by the Princess of Wales, with Naomi Campbell leading 36 models donning pearls and polka dots, cycling shorts and ruffles. On the subject of cycling shorts, global fashion search platform Lyst reports that searches for the '80s item rose 79% this year, in part thanks to Abloh.
It may be true that trends are recycled every 20 years, but it’s the grunge attitude and high-end minimalism of the '90s that has dominated fashion for so long. So why has the colour, camp and extroversion of the '80s come back around now? Perhaps it’s a result of the current socio-political situation. “At a time when the global political climate is fractious, there’s comfort in a certain kind of nostalgia. The '80s were a time of economic boom, when fashion and lifestyles were fast and frivolous,” Smith says. “With millennials delaying home purchases and starting families, they have disposable income which revisits some of that '80s hedonism. The '80s is somewhat akin to pure escapism from the harsher realities of life.”
And who embodies the maximalism of the decade more than Elton John? Since the '70s, the singer has taken stage costumes to new heights, with legendary costume designer Bob Mackie (a.k.a. The Sultan of Sequins) behind many of his most memorable pieces. Whether it’s the fringed rhinestone jacket and pink geometric sunglasses he wore when performing at Madison Square Garden in 1986, the star-spangled velvet jacket (with matching earrings) when on stage in Sydney the same year, or the wide-lapelled brocade duster coat he wore around Hollywood in ‘87, Elton championed outlandish and extraordinary dressing throughout the era.
How does the musician’s vivacity translate today? One look through Gucci’s SS18 offering and you’ll see how creative director Alessandro Michele has made the decade’s euphoric aesthetic at once nostalgic and contemporary. The brand’s iridescent jumpsuit emblazoned with colour-pop musical notes? It’s Elton on stage 30 years ago. Its equally '80s silk polka dot one-piece with billowing sleeves and ruffles around the neck? We’ll be wearing that to the office tomorrow. According to Vogue, Michele drew direct inspiration from his friend Elton’s costume archives, with more than one look a reference to recognisable pieces worn by the icon. The designer even embroidered Elton's initials onto the back of jackets and tees. Sequins dominated the 108-look-strong collection, with a kaleidoscope of colour glistening down the catwalk – ‘80s hedonism indeed.
Another designer bringing the exuberance of the ‘80s sequin into 2017 is Michael Halpern. The London-based Central Saint Martins graduate has been championed by everyone from Donatella Versace to Sarah Mower, celebrated for his dazzling glamour and sequin-showered pieces. Sure, he may draw inspiration from Studio 54’s ‘70s heyday, but styled, as it is in his AW17 lookbook, with a pink satin jacket, complete with razor-sharp shoulders? It’s the ‘80s through and through. From Saint Laurent ’s sharp, structured shoulders, ruffled cocktail dresses and glittering gowns, to Haider Ackermann’s purple reign and Isabel Marant's ruched lamé dresses, through to Mugler and Jil Sander’s shoulder pads, sartorial signifiers of the decade of decadence permeated the shows of AW17.
“We have seen a real return to glamour with a revival of sequins and sparkle from brands such as Halpern, Attico, Osman and DVF,” Natalie Kingham, Buying Director at Matches Fashion notes. “There has also been an emergence of luxurious fabrics such as jacquard and brocade in metallic, or with lustrous accents from designers such as Gucci, Peter Pilotto, Carl Kapp and Rochas.” Reiterating Smith’s point about escapism, Kingham advises buying into the fantasy and frivolity of the decade: “Investing in luxurious clothing doesn’t always need to be about simple timeless pieces, there is something decadent and glamorous about investing in a strong sequin look from Michael Halpern to cheer yourself up and add some flamboyance to your wardrobe.”
High street favourites are tapping into the decade of decadence, too. By analysing retail trends, Smith can measure the growth in demand for ‘80s pieces. “Ruffled items are up a stunning 181% this fall compared to last, whether it’s down the sleeves of a sweater or blouse, across the hem of a skirt, or on the neckline of a jumpsuit. One-sleeved and asymmetric ruffled styles pack the most '80s punch,” she states. “Exaggerated sleeves were popular through the summer and returned during autumn on statement jumpers in bold poster paint palettes. We’re seeing dolman, batwing and lantern sleeves, which, when paired with an oversized silhouette or a dramatic roll-neck, look like they stepped straight out of the '80s.”
High street favourites like ASOS have embraced the return of the decade, going all-out for party season with glitz, glamour and extravagance. “Chandelier earrings, power shoulders and cocktail dresses are the perfect way to celebrate the Christmas season,” ASOS Womenswear Head of Design, Sian Ryan, tells Refinery29. “The '80s oozes glamour and decadence...exaggerated shoulders and sleeves, metallic fabrications, dramatic embellishments and silhouettes – all of these elements encompass the party.” Her advice on styling the trend? “Mix it up, don’t be too literal, have fun with luxe fabrics and elaborate silhouettes. Enjoy the opulence, it’s Christmas after all!”
Photo: Courtesy of ASOS
Their sparkly suitability for the party season doesn’t mean the '80s are going anywhere fast, though. Topshop’s SS18 press preview revealed white dresses with red polka dots, puffball skirts, batwing sleeves and, you guessed it, more sequins. Is the decade here to stay? “While the '80s trend has had a strong impact over the last couple of years, it’s too strong an aesthetic to have an enduring influence on fashion,” Smith notes. “However, next season will certainly still be influenced by the '80s, as the SS18 designs have attested.” Whether you go for Princess Di-inspired sports casual, with bumbag, pearls and cycling shorts at the ready, or all-out Elton with glitzy and glamorous hedonism, it’s time to flash back to the '80s.
Want to watch Alexa Chung talk transatlantic style, getting fired from a DJ job, and stereotypes within the fashion industry? Us too! Hot Wings, a YouTube show where celebrities answer interview questions while eating increasingly spicy chicken wings, has featured everyone from Terry Crews to Liam Payne, via Cara Delevingne and Seth Rogan. In the latest episode, and one we'd anticipated for some time, Alexa Chung came into the hot seat.
In fact, the show's host Sean Evans, honoured Chung with the title Patron Saint of Hot Ones. "Without Alexa Chung there would be no Hot Ones," he explained, stating that the show's premise was inspired by a Popworld skit the former presenter worked on earlier in her career. Wearing a cornflower yellow ruched, square-neck dress by Molly Goddard ("a casual smock dress from the 1800s" - her words, not ours), she answered 'hot questions with even hotter wings.' Being a vegetarian, the wings were vegan.
She talks about her transatlantic lifestyle since moving to New York in 2009, and how the 'Alexa Chung effect' is just as strong in the UK as the US. Answering a series of 'either or' questions on London and New York, she admitted she thought London 'had better style'. "There's room for reverence and quirkiness. It's expected and celebrated for people to be eccentric, whereas in America there's safety in uniformity. You get fewer looks for dressing like a freak when you're in London."
She also cleared up an awkward press moment that took place in 2011 when she was the red carpet host of the Golden Globes. "I said 'Olivia Wilde, another person who looks really beautiful tonight, there she was in a gorgeous gown, huge skirt, so large in fact, you could probably smuggle three humans under that thing'. I said humans, they heard 'Cubans'..." The team de-mic'd her, turned their backs, and she had to hitch a lift home with a friend...
Having been in the fashion industry since she was 16 years old, Evans quizzed Chung on aspects of the fashion industry that don't get talked about as much. "What's one thing that really is as bad as people say?" "Photographers being creepy," she says. "There's always just a little bit of a transaction - it can't not be. Because you're being observed and captured as a purely visual asset, and then they're the ones doing it, so that power dynamic is always going to be weird."
As the sauce got progressively hotter ("my mouth's in a spice prison!"), Chung shed light on some of her career's funniest moments, from mistakenly thinking Emma Stone was her best friend to being fired from a DJing gig by Kate Moss. You can watch all 24-spice-filled minutes of the show below.
There have been a few antidotes (#BigThighTwitter, mermaid thighs, hip dips), but you can't deny there's a cultural tendency to shame women for their bodies. Enter a new culprit: the concept of the "arm vagina" or "armpit vagina". This is the natural bit of skin that exists where a woman's arm joins her torso. We all have them, regardless of our size, so it's a pretty confusing thing for people to be fixating over.
And nowhere is this insecurity more prevalent than on the red carpet, according to Hollywood stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray, who revealed this week that her A-list clients worry about their perfectly human bodily crease. “Sometimes it’s the weirdest part of their body [they're concerned about]," she told the Times. "They say, ‘I’ve got this horrible blah-blah’, and you think, ‘What are they even talking about?’ The one that comes up all the time is arm vagina.”
Corbin-Murray, whose clients include Emma Watson, Lily James and, formerly Sophie Turner, wasn't claiming ordinary women should develop a complex about their own arms, but emphasising the showbiz industry's ridiculous beauty standard.
So apparently there's now a name for that bit of chub I always complain about every time I wear a strappy dress? An armpit vagina? AN ARMPIT VAGINA?
Hinsliff also cleverly made the argument that such body shaming is emblematic of an industry that exerts power over women by belittling and "treating [them] like lumps of meat" who should be grateful for any attention – professional or otherwise – they can get from their male colleagues.
The "armpit vagina" first shot to prominence back in 2014 when Jennifer Lawrence pointed out her own "armpit fat" on the SAG Awards red carpet. “I know I have armpit fat, it’s OK … armpit vaginas, it’s awful!” To which reporter Giuliana Rancic responded self critically, as women are wont to in such situations, that she was now worried about her own. Sadly, as any girl or woman who's spent time around other girls and women will know, such bodily insecurities can spread like wildfire – and in the social media age the danger is even more severe.
Unattainable beauty standards in Hollywood are one thing, but it's quite another when ordinary women and girls are becoming obsessed with particular body parts and sacrificing their lives in in a bid to look as "red carpet ready" as celebrities at all times. Let's hope no one kickstarts an armpit Instagram craze – or, if they do, that it highlights the beauty of our very normal "armpit vaginas".
He's known for sage advice, so it's perhaps not surprising that Albus Dumbledore found his wise words quoted on BBC Question Time last night – by a member of the government, no less.
Tory MP Sam Gyimah, parliamentary under-secretary of state for prisons, probation, rehabilitation and sentencing, was defending Theresa May's chastisement of Donald Trump's recent Islamaphobic tweets.
"It takes great bravery to stand up to your enemies, it takes even more bravery to stand up to your friends," he said. But it wasn't long before eagle-eyed viewers pointed out that we've heard a very similar sentiment before – from the beloved fount of wisdom that is Dumbledore.
The wizard famously said almost the exact same thing in JK Rowling's series, praising Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for bravely trying to stop his friends Harry, Hermione and Ron from “sneaking out” of the Gryffindor dorms and losing them house points.
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends," Dumbledore reassured Longbottom.
After the show, Gyimah retweeted a BBC Politics video of himself making the statement, but has yet to clarify whether or not he intended to quote the wizard. Let's hope Trump claps back with his own JK Rowling-inspired insight – but given the number of times the outspoken author has slammed the US President, it's probably unlikely.
Countdown to 2018! After a year of major upheaval and worldwide insanity, we won't be heartbroken to see 2017 in our rearview mirrors. Although astrologers and mystics never know exactly how events will play out, some of this chaos was to be expected. For one thing, 2017 was a 1 Year in numerology, a time where everything feels like the Wild West — uncivilised and OOC. It's also been the Chinese Year of the Fire Rooster — and male egos have certainly been strutting around on full display. But the Rooster also wakes us up! Activism and political engagement haven't been this strong for decades. This has also been a year of unprecedented takedowns of some of the most powerful, predatory perpetrators against women.
Since December is always a month for reflection, give your life a review. How did you grow through 2017's tumult? Where have you become stronger and more confident? Break out your journal (and your pussy hat...remember that?) and reflect. With Mercury retrograde pointing us to the past from December 3 to 22, this could be a deeply nostalgic month. Just heed the warning flags: Triple-confirm all your travel reservations and no rage-tweeting!
On December 19, drill sergeant Saturn switches signs for the first time in three years, leaving global Sagittarius and moving on to Capricorn, an earth sign that rules business, government economics, and, yes, the patriarchy. Saturn pulls no punches! This new, three-year cycle could force businesses to comply with environmentally sound policies. Our interest in government will expand and there may be emerging markets (wind and solar) that work with natural resources. Men may have another reckoning as Saturn clamps down on the toxic side of masculinity. While there might be more "law and order" in the land, by the time this cycle ends on December 17, 2020, here's hoping those rules are rewritten to benefit all people, not just a tiny percent.
P.S. Are you between the ages of 27 and 31? This might be the start or end of your Saturn return. Those born with Saturn in Sagittarius (16-11-88 to 12-2-88 and 10-6-88 to 11-11-88) will celebrate the end of their Saturn Return. People born with Saturn in Capricorn (13-2-88 to 9-6-88 and 12-11-88 to 6-2-91) your Saturn return is on! Over the coming three years you'll tackle some epic challenges that are meant to make you stronger, wiser, and a pro at adulting.
Sagittarius November 22 to December 21
Can we get an amen, halle-fucking-lujah? Yes, December's starmap is that big of a deal — and you are going to love the news you hear. For one thing, it's Sagittarius season as the sun beams in your sign until the 21st. This is the time each year when the cosmos hit the reset button on your life, serving up fresh starts and exciting opportunities at every turn. Venus, the planet of radiant beauty and love, is on tour through Sagittarius until the 25th, making you hotter than fire. (So many hookups, so little time?) Love could get ring-shopping real for some Archers with the full moon on the 3rd!
On the 18th, the annual new moon in Sagittarius will be like a bonus New Year for you, so get your wish list ready. And while Mercury will be retrograde in your sign from December 3 to 22, you might not be able to fire off unfiltered commentary, but you will have a chance to reprise some of your greatest hits and reconnect with beloved people from your past. Mars in Scorpio and your nostalgic 12th house from December 9 to January 26 helps you make amends before 2017 ends — or clear frenemies out of your field for good!
But honestly, Archer, what is really thrilling about December is this: On the 19th, you are graduating from three, long, ass-kicking years in astrological boot camp. Saturn, the cosmic drill sergeant, is exiting Sagittarius and moving on to Capricorn, freeing you from his gruelling grasp. Since December 23, 2014, Saturn's been putting you through the paces, throwing down intense lessons that forced you to "adult." And fun — uh, what's that? You've been so busy working toward goals that you've had little time to play. But as you prepare to throw your cosmic cap and gown to the skies, you have to admit that you are fiercer, wiser, and more bulletproof than you've ever been. You won't host Saturn again for 29.5 years. Deep. Sigh. Of. Relief. On the 19th, Saturn marches on to his home sign of Capricorn, teaching you the basics of financial stability. You've never met a sale rack you didn't like, Sagittarius, but delayed gratification could become your new M.O. as your nest egg starts to grow! Sweet security. You could get used to that!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Capricorn December 22 to January 19
Toss a Yule log on the fire and kick back for a short-ish winter's disco nap. By day, you'll be a sleepy critter this December — at night, a roaring party animal. With the Sagittarius sun nestled in your dreamy, nocturnal 12th house until the 21st, you're at the end of your annual Zodiac cycle. Surrender to the holiday spirit, Q4 goals be damned. This is a time for recharging your batteries (but dancing 'til the world ends), giving away the stuff you've outgrown, and basically wiping clean the slate before Capricorn season begins on December 21. And this birthday is going to be a big one for you, wow. On December 19, your ruling planet — Saturn, the astrological architect — comes home to Capricorn for the first time since February 1991. Some signs quake in their combat boots at the thought of a visit from Saturn, but not you. This three-year cycle of growth, which lasts until December 17, 2020, will challenge you to level up in ways you never have before! (Music to your ambitious ears.) Check your ego at the door and let the masters take you under their tutelage. You may have to revamp some essential structures in your life so that you're working in smarter, more efficient ways. And, yes, Saturn in your sign can feel like cosmic boot camp at moments, but do the drills anyway. You'll be straight-up bulletproof when Saturn is done with you!
Do you need to make any amends before the year is through? Let's face it, Capricorn, 2017 wasn't the easiest time for you. There were moments where you were fully on and then lapses where you just needed to go inward and be with your feelings. From December 3 to 22, expressive Mercury will be retrograde in your 12th house of forgiveness, which provides an ideal window to extend the olive branch. But, as you gear up for Saturn in Capricorn, you might realise that rolling with a leaner, meaner squad is in your best interest. Say au revoir to the energy vampires and make more time for the unsung heroes in the Capricorn choir.
Love planet Venus spends most of the month in Sagittarius and your fantasy-fuelled 12th house before heading into Capricorn on the 25th. Don't get hung up on labels and rules until then — you'll only make make yourself feel claustrophobic. With lusty Mars in your tech-savvy 11th house from December 9 to January 26, you're total "click bait" on the dating apps. Repost your profile and take a chance with a Super Like or two. This experimental cycle could heat things up for coupled Caps. Could Santa have a new toy for your private gift exchange? (That's the, er, buzz, we're hearing.) With festive Venus wrapping the year in your sign, ring in 2018 in adventurous style, sequins required!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Aquarius January 20 to February 18
Who will be the Brooklyn Beckham to your Chloë Grace Moretz? Like the Aquarian screen queen, you may have your own romantic renaissance to celebrate before 2017 wraps. On December 3, the full moon in Gemini beams into your fifth house of true love. Keep swiping, single Water Bearers, because you could find your person within two weeks of this full moon. Coupled Aquarians could make things Instagram official or, since the fifth house rules fertility, have reason to start thinking up baby names...or band names! If you're enjoying your solo status, you could find a no-strings playmate to warm your bed when you're in the mood for company. The moon returns to Gemini on New Year's Eve, bringing another firework display to your love life. Don't even think about skipping the festivities, even if earlier in December, pyjama dressing has become a little too real for your life. A sparkly night on the town is what the love doctor ordered — and this year's midnight kiss will be a memorable one!
Your social calendar is going to be packed all month as the sun, Saturn, Mercury, and charming Venus dance through Sagittarius and your 11th house of popularity. And with motivator Mars in your career house from December 9 to January 26 you'll have to make appearances at company events, influencer parties, and other professionally elevating events. In your personal life, everyone wants a piece of your time, which means 'tis the season for the group hang. And with serious Saturn in the mix until the 19th, you could start a powerful tradition with your squad. Lean in to your humanitarian-slash-activist nature and rally everyone for a volunteer mission, throw a party to raise funds for a charity, or knock on doors for a female candidate running for office in 2018. People from your past could make a cameo as Mercury turns retrograde from December 3 to 22. Warning: This backspin could cause mixups with scheduling and technology! Triple-confirm all reservations — from the restaurant to the runway — and make sure to plug every commitment into your calendar the minute you accept the invitation. The new moon on the 18th could sound the call for some gadget updates. Try to hang on 'til the 23rd, when Mercury is back on track, before you pick your new devices. (Cracked screen, be damned!)
On the 19th, a major shift is afoot as your co-ruler, serious Saturn, changes signs. For the past three years, the tough teacher planet has been touring Sagittarius. You've learned who your real friends are and probably reclaimed some of the wackier (and most incredible) parts of yourself. Now, Saturn floats on to Capricorn and your soulful, transitional 12th house until December 17, 2020. This three-year cycle is here raise your emotional IQ and help you set better boundaries with everyone in your life. You'll need more chill time to create, meditate, and develop your inner world. Buy a journal and maybe a guitar. It's time to unleash the artist within.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Pisces February 19 to March 20
Don ye now that power-dresser's apparel! The holiday party circuit is not only your playground this December; it's also a giant professional networking opportunity. With a celestial squad making moves in Sagittarius and your ambitious 10th house, you could take a huge leap up the ladder of success before 2017 is through. Deck the halls with LinkedIn invites, pitches, proposals, and power lunches. Even if you don't hear back from people until early 2018, your initiatives will have an impact. Reach out to colleagues from your past too! From December 3 to 22, Mercury will be retrograde, which could bring a successful second act with someone you worked with before. But this signal-jamming backspin can also ratchet up tension around the office. Keep those "authority issues" in check and make sure you're clear about all your deliverables at the office before you slip off for the holidays. You don't want to leave the team in limbo because you forgot to hit "Send" on that email with the proposal you worked on all quarter! The new moon on the 18th could bring word of an enticing opportunity. Score!
Holiday travel could take you further from home than expected this year. On December 9, adventurous Mars sails into Scorpio and your worldly ninth house until January 26. Don't turn down any offers to celebrate with friends in other cities, even if you do have to sleep on an air mattress for a few nights. But on New Year's Eve, the moon will hover in Gemini and your intimate fourth house. No matter where you're ringing in 2018, you'll want to be surrounded by a cozy crew of people who love and accept you unconditionally. Romantically, this Mars phase could rev up an attraction with someone from a totally different background than your own. Traveling can draw coupled Pisces closer during this seven-week cycle, especially if you're discovering a place together for the first time.
On the 19th, serious Saturn makes a move into Capricorn and your 11th house of technology and community until December 2020. After three long years of hustling, you may be feeling accomplished, but also a little lonely at the top. Teamwork can make the Pisces dream work now — provided you align yourself with people of integrity. Saturn demands strict criteria so take your time and test those waters slowly. If you're looking to make more bank, a technical skill could help you profit. Time to learn a little coding, Pisces? The geeks shall inherit the Earth!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Aries March 21 to April 19
Reclaim your time, Ram! With planets pulsing through Sagittarius all month, your indie-spirited ninth house is on fire. On an average day, no one tells an Aries where to go or who to see. But this month, you're exceptionally strong-willed in that department. We can't blame you! Creatrix Venus and the inspiring Sun are flowing through this enterprising part of your chart until Christmas. You have places to see and passion projects to launch! And with industrious Saturn wrapping up a three-year tour through Sagittarius on the 19th, your focus will get you to the finish line. You might need to take one big, bold risk, too, Aries — thankfully, that's something your daring sign lives for.
Are you in the traveling way? The new moon on the 18th whets your wanderlust. Being a spontaneous Aries, you could very well reroute your holiday celebrations in the last minute. Who says you can't get into the festive spirit under swaying palms?! But spring for the travel insurance and read all the reviews before you make your reservations. Mercury will be in a signal-jamming retrograde from December 3 to 22, which could create some blips with your planning. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And do pack a date night outfit, no matter your relationship status. Vacation romances could heat up with Venus in Sagittarius until the 25th and coupled Rams should try to squeeze in a sexy little getaway before the year's end. Of course, your GPS coordinates don't really matter this month. From December 9 to January 26, lusty Mars will simmer in Scorpio and your erotic eighth house. What happens behind closed doors is sure to be spicy.
Career goals will top your 2018 resolutions. On December 19, wise teacher Saturn settles into Capricorn and enrols you in a three-year master class in being Da Boss. You're kind of a punk rock ladder climber, Aries. No, you don't buy into the whole corporatist thing. But hey, if you could strike it rich just being your original self like Aries Ilana Glazer, say, why wouldn't you? A leadership role or independent venture has your name written all over it. Ready, set, ascend, Queen! But patience, please. With Saturn, good things come to those who wait and hustle relentlessly.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Enchanté, Taurus! Your seductive powers shift into overdrive from December 1 to 25, as your ruling planet Venus joins the sun, Mercury, and Saturn in Sagittarius and your erotic eighth house. You'll have them before hello, with your magnetic allure and simmering mystique. But beam those charms selectively, Bull. Passion-planet Mars slinks through Scorpio and your committed relationship zone from December 9 to January 26 and makes you want to play for keeps. The trouble is, you could jump the gun. As a result, you may confuse a hookup for a happily-ever-after situation — especially while Mercury is in a signal-scrambling retrograde from December 3 to 22. To stay in Cupid's good graces, let your love interest(s) earn their loyalty points — ideally before any sequinned party clothes wind up in an impassioned heap beside the bed. A promising LTR prospect could appear near the new moon on the 18th. Partnerships of all manner, for that matter, could get real-deal serious around that time. You may be signing on a dotted line for financial purposes, too. But try to stall a few days so you can seal those deals at the most auspicious time — when Mercury turns direct after the 22nd.
Happily attached? Plunge in deeper! But first, make sure you talk through any sticking points. Mercury's backspin could churn up some old feelings of frustration or a bout of jealousy. While you shouldn't let the green-eyed monster hijack your prefrontal cortex, you might need your S.O. to give you a little more reassurance. Timing is everything for talks like these! Avoid texting during work hours and create a conducive atmosphere for a heart to heart — over a lovely dinner or while cuddling on the couch. Focus on the outcome you want to create instead of harping on what's missing. You and bae could have a big announcement to share over the holidays.
And now for some news you'll be happy to hear. One planet is leaving Sagittarius this month: taskmaster Saturn. For the past three years, the stoic planet has been bearing down on your eighth house of sex, intimacy, and investments. You've no doubt learned some crucial lessons in these areas, even if they came the hard way. Some Bulls weathered big breakups while others took serious steps like getting engaged or buying property. Maybe you discovered your sexual power in a more adult way than ever before. But this hasn't exactly been a light and fluffy phase. So much internal processing! Get ready to be a front-facing Bull again on the 19th, as Saturn soldiers on to Capricorn and your global, entrepreneurial ninth house until December 2020. This should be a much easier phase for you — and a lot more fun! Growth is the keyword now. Over the next few years, you will come into your own as a traveler, entrepreneur, even a teacher. If you've thought about going back to school, this Saturn cycle is an excellent time for study. Cross-cultural connections strengthen. Hello woman of the world!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
How lucky are you, Gemini?! December is bookended with two glowing moments for your sign, so break out your sparkliest everything and get ready to shine. On the 3rd, the year's only full moon in Gemini will light up the skies. All your hard work of the past six months could culminate in an amazing victory. Quick: Google yourself! Is there anything nefarious you need to take down? Influential people will be searching your name and this is your month to represent. The second Gemini moon of the month arrives on New Year's Eve, making you the darling of champagne rooms everywhere. Although this isn't a full moon, you'll still be in your indie-spirited element. Plan ahead and make this a special NYE by designing it around your desires. From a VIP penthouse party to a spiritual retreat in the jungle, if you could be anywhere this December 31, Gemini, where would it be?
Or maybe it's more about who you're ringing in 2018 with than your GPS coordinates. December's starmap is heavy on the relationship vibes as five planets hover in Sagittarius and your seventh house of partnerships. Among the pack are love planet Venus from December 1 to 25, and serious Saturn, who is wrapping up a three-year tour through this realm on the 19th. Twins could take a huge step with your other half, be it your bae, business associate, or bandmate. Have you known for a while that it was time to move on? There's a "make it or break it" energy afoot and this might be the moment where you spring free from a discordant duet. Your ruling planet, frenetic Mercury, will be retrograde from December 3 to 22, which could herald the return of an ex. Does this one deserve a second chance? You've been known to write people off a little too quickly at times. If that was the case, test the waters with a little reunion. But do keep the door bolted on past loves whose persistent (and unhealed!) troubles just drag you down.
You'll have your mind on your money after the 9th as motivator Mars cruises into Scorpio and your sixth house of work until January 26. With a little extra elbow grease, you can finish the year with a feather in your cap. But this Mars phase can be stressful, so don't let holiday celebrations derail your Pilates practice. Exercise will keep you sane as the year turns over! On the 19th, serious Saturn heads into Capricorn for a three-year tour through your eighth house of wealth. Between now and 2020, you could create some profitable income streams through royalties, commissions, even the purchase (or sale) of property! Or start establishing your credit with your first card. The key to avoiding debt is to pay everything you charge back within a month's time, though, Gemini! The eighth house is the erotic zone, too — in a playing-for-keeps kind of way. Relationships could deepen big time and you may entwine romance with finance by co-signing a lease (or mortgage) or otherwise pooling funds for a shared investment.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Who says you have to choose between naughty and nice? This month, you're feeling both. With a posse of planets in Sagittarius and your sixth house of service, your nurturing nature is front and centre, as per usual. Organise holiday gifting at the office or a pooled donation for Planned Parenthood or a hurricane relief charity like Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel's B Strong. Work will be busy and a little more demanding that you'd like this month. Aim to finish strong! Alas, that means you can't shift into a holiday headspace before you've dotted every "i." Persnickety Mercury will be retrograde from December 3 to 22, making it all too easy to overlook important details if you let go of the wheel. Make a task list and check it twice. Follow up to be certain that clients got your proposal and that your emails didn't land in anyone's junk folder.
Now for the "naughty" part. Frisky, adventurous Mars sails into Scorpio and your flamboyant fifth house from December 9 to January 26 and serves you a giant cup of courage. Like Cancerian style whiz Solange, you could rewrite the rules of fashion (hair sculpture, anyone?) in a fiercely, self-authorised way. (Just stick to temporary updates until Mercury retrograde ends on the 22nd.) If you're spotlight shy, let your work speak for itself. Be more forthright about promoting your efforts and make sure the boss is aware of your contributions. You could be pegged for a leadership role (and a salary boost) as a result of your proactivity.
Mars in Scorpio can make you fearless in the game of love. When you feel something, say something (because you can be kind of hard to read, Cancer). With romantic Venus hovering in Sagittarius from December 1 to 25, you might even find true love on a volunteer shift. Your sensitive sign isn't huge on casual dating, so this could be the idea scenarios for finding someone with the character and heart you need. Coupled Crabs, make a point of dressing up and going out together, and often. But the biggest relationship developments are likely to happen after the 19th. On that day, serious Saturn embarks on a three-year tour through Capricorn and your seventh house of relationships. You find your "person" during this time — or, if you already have, the two of you could make a milestone move together. If your duo isn't feeling dynamic, Saturn helps you go to work on it. After the honeymoon phase, even the greatest relationships don't run on auto-pilot. Give yours some care and feeding, Cancer, and watch it thrive again. If it's legit time to move on, Saturn can help you make the tough, but ultimately liberating, decision to set yourself free.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Leo July 23 to August 22
Don ye now that velvet apparel! Five planets visit Sagittarius and your festive, flamboyant, and flirtations fifth house this December. You'll be swinging from chandeliers, making cameos under mistletoe — and snapping selfies every step of the way (please!). Amorous Venus is among the pack. Before the 25th, she could set a cross-cultural attraction in motion or invoke an epic vacation romance. Coupled Leos, try to slip off for a pre-holiday getaway, even if it's just a sultry night in a boutique hotel. A change of scenery is the ultimate aphrodisiac this month. New love or a major milestone like an engagement or pregnancy could arrive with the new moon on the 18th.
There's one catch, though: From December 3 to 22, messenger Mercury will be retrograde in Sagittarius, which could scramble Cupid's signals and your stylist's, too! Hold off on the tattoo or crazy undercut until January when you're 100% sure you want it. With Mercury in reverse until the 22nd, mixed messages could throw you off bae's trail or an ex could return, begging for a second chance. If it was just bad timing that kept you apart, cool. But don't invite a toxic lover back into your bed — even if it was the best sex you ever had.
If you need a distraction to avoid drunk-texting aforementioned ex, throw yourself into a home decor mission. From December 9 until January 26, motivator Mars crackles in Scorpio and your domestic zone. Host a holiday soiree at Chateau Leo and keep the spare bedding out for all the guests who could roll through. Or, if it's time to pull up the stakes, you could be paying rent in a new zip code come January. You could also get an early start on those work and wellness resolutions. On the 19th, a major shift is happening as taskmaster Saturn changes signs, leaving your romance house after three years and settling into a much more helpful position — your industrious sixth house — until December 17, 2020. This new cycle is all about establishing yourself in the work force and giving your body the nourishing love it needs. How to thrive? Humble thyself, pay your dues at the office, and let the gym be your chapel.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Virgo August 23 to September 22
Settle back and enjoy the cozy vibes, Virgo. You're going to need that rest by the month's end! But, until the 21st, the sun is simmering in Sagittarius and your home and family zone. All you'll want to do is hunker down with your nearest and dearest. Warmhearted Venus is also in your nesting sector until the 25th, so you're more about decorating and entertaining than that long winter's nap. "Club Virgo" could be the lively hub of fun for your squad — and you'll happily step it up with your vintage ornaments, signature cocktails, living room dance parties, and home karaoke nights. Ready to relocate or find a new roommate? The new moon on the 18th could lead you in the right direction. But there's a catch: From December 3 to 22, your ruling planet, Mercury, is retrograde in Sagittarius, which could make it hard to get the clearest read. Visit prospective neighbourhoods during the day and after dark to see how safe you feel. And ask that applicant for references! The Mercury mayhem could also cause some friction with a relative. Yes, Virgo, it is probably still "too soon" to talk politics with the extended fam.
Don't log off your work email too soon! On the 3rd, the full moon in Gemini could bring an end-of-year career victory — one you've worked hard to earn. The moon returns to Gemini on New Year's Eve, so you might want to spring for some "strategic socialising." Sure, those VIP tickets are expensive, but if it means rubbing shoulders with the influencers, it's more of an investment than a splurge. After all, Virgo, it's all about who you know. And with Mars buzzing through your friendship house from December 9 to January 26, you will make connections at lightning speed. So many people, so little time! The Sun will be in your festive fifth house from the 21st on, so no matter where you're celebrating, you're going to be the life of the party. (Hence those disco naps we mentioned earlier.)
Now for the biggest news of the month: On December 19, mature Saturn moves into fellow earth sign Capricorn and your fifth house of love, creative expression, and fame. This three-year cycle will ripen your romantic potential, but you're likely to step into a more "adult" relationship instead of something that's wild and crazy fun. The heart wants what it wants, Virgo, and you should never act like chemistry doesn't count! But with Saturn here, make sure your head has an equal say. This Saturn cycle will groom you for a leadership role — one that's challenging, but also exhilarating. What do you want to be the queen of by December 17, 2020? Put your focus there and slowly begin your ascent.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Libra September 23 to October 22
Wanderlust: activated! Sitting still is so not your jam for most of December. On the 3rd, the annual full moon in Gemini lights up your nomadic ninth house and sounds the call for a pre-holiday holiday. Why not hop on a plane and do your gift-shopping in a totally different zip code, Libra? (A road trip works, too.) You'll score points for originality and get a chance to check out an area that might one day become your new home — or home away from home. Then again, you might want to save your miles for New Year's Eve when the moon will be in Gemini again. Ringing in 2018 in Barcelona, Bali, or the Bay Area could be the perfect start to the year. But don't be hasty with any travel planning. From December 3 to 22, mobile Mercury will be retrograde, a pesky, thrice-annual cycle that has a rep for messing with scheduling, itineraries, and booking details. Read all those user reviews before choosing a hotel and spring for the travel insurance just to be on the safe side!
Don't sleep on the local scene! You'll be in perpetual motion even when you are at home base. Your ruling planet, enchanting Venus, is fluttering through your ultra-social third house until the 25th, accompanied by the sun for most of that journey. So many people, so little time! Reserve one-on-ones for your innermost circle and loop everyone else into group hangs. People will appreciate the semi-randomness of your gatherings and you could wind up playing matchmaker for a couple of your pals. (Hello, good karma points.) Mercury retrograde could reunite you with an important old friend, especially near the new moon on the 18th. When it comes to love, you aren't exactly in the mood to settle down. Swipe away on the dating apps and enjoy some playful messaging and coffee dates. Cupid's sampler platter awaits! Even coupled Libras should allow yourselves some harmless flirting — all good if you're up front about your status.
No slacking on those end-of-year work goals! Motivator Mars leaves Libra on the 9th and embarks on a seven-week tour through Scorpio and your income house. Over the past couple months, you may have dreamed up some savvy schemes for making money and making a name for yourself. Now, you can put those plans into a practical structure and even start profiting in early 2018. Who knows? Saving up to purchase your starter apartment could be on deck after the 19th as mature Saturn hunkers down in Capricorn and your domestic fourth house until December 17, 2020. On the 21st, the Capricorn sun will put you in a family-friendly groove. Just in time for the holidays, Libra, kick back and enjoy some sentimental moments with your nearest and dearest. Ahhh.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Scorpio October 23 to November 21
Thought you'd kick back for a long winter's nap? Guess again, Scorpio! Sleep will be the last thing on your mind as thrillseeker Mars joins jovial Jupiter in your sign from December 9 until January 26. Mars visits your sign every 18 months (and Jupiter every 12.5 years), so take advantage of this ultra-rare cosmic combo, which is like Tesla rocket booster for your dreams. A passion project could take flight or you could finally get the courage to make a huge leap like applying to school, moving from New York to L.A. (or vice versa), or quitting your soul-sucking job to start your own company. Whatever it is, you're ready to leap, which is a big deal for your security-loving sign. Get ready: This cosmic combo will make you more visible — and people will be watching (and imitating) your every move. As the Zodiac's most mysterious sign, you're not always comfortable being in the spotlight, but hiding out behind the scenes could mean missing out on a major opportunity this month. Think of yourself as a role model and inspiration. Doing Scorpio means empowering other people to shine their lights!
Make a budget for upgrades — and check that list twice. The sun and decadent Venus spend most of the month in Sagittarius and your sensible-yet-sensual second house. The finer things are calling your name, but with Mercury retrograde from December 3 to 22, put them on a Pinterest board and shop around. Something better (or better priced) could pop up as you research. Hunting for more gainful employment? With festive Venus here, you could charm your way into a power lunch and interview after a great party conversation. Polish up all your profile pages, because people will be googling your name. The new moon on the 18th could bring word of a gig worth applying for, perhaps within the company at which you already work.
In love, you'll crave excitement one minute and stability the next, thanks to the somewhat awkward dance of Mars in your electrifying first house and Venus in your slow and steady second. Save your final rose for a cutie who has range! Dressing up and breaking dawn is great, but so is staying in all weekend. Mars in Scorpio could start a sexual revolution this December and you might actually prefer single status. Coupled Scorpios, break out of your stale routines. The adrenaline rush of a shared adventure will be an aphrodisiac! Partnerships of the platonic variety could get serious after the 19th when master-builder Saturn hunkers down in Capricorn and your third house of dynamic duos until December 2020. If you're willing to hustle, this three-year cycle could bring a tag team effort to new heights of success. Some Scorpios may be compelled to take on more leadership locally. Get involved! Like signmate Hillary Clinton, a political office may even call your name.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
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If you think the Refinery29 UK culture and entertainment picks for December are heavy on film, that's simply because it's Oscar season, when all the film companies finally release their best work, hoping that it will create enough buzz to ensure a gold statue come February. Fortunately it's too cold to go out anyhow. Click though to see what we're excited about watching and listening to this month.
Natalie Gil, News Writer
Human Flow, in cinemas 8th December This documentary from the Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has received stellar reviews since it was shown at the Venice film festival this summer – and rightly so. While many films about refugees have understandably focused on Syria, this is a more expansive look at the crisis. I saw it at an advance cinema screening and am so glad I didn't settle for the small screen. Shot in 20 countries, the mind-blowing cinematography and drone shots deserve only the best viewing treatment.
N.E.R.D.No One Ever Really Dies, 15th December When "Lemon" with Rihanna dropped earlier this month, I became hooked on watching people's choreography to the song on Youtube and the release of N.E.R.D's first album for seven years is bound to spawn more hypnotic videos. Not only that, but it features collaborations with some of my favourites: Future, Gucci Mane, Kendrick Lamar and (ahem) Ed Sheeran.
Gillian Orr, Content Director
Stronger, in cinemas 8th December Come on Jake, you can get that Oscar. Gyllenhaal is quickly becoming the next DiCaprio in that he increasingly goes for big roles to showcase his acting chops but never gets recognised by the Academy. Will this film in which he stars as Jeff Bauman, who lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing, change their mind?
Liam Gallagher UK tour, from 3rd December Watching Liam was the highlight of my Glastonbury; if you squint, it's basically just an Oasis gig. Noel might be my favourite bro but Liam's vocals will make you think you're actually watching the Britpop legends. Feel free to heckle when he plays his new solo stuff – everyone at Glastonbury was.
Georgia Murray, Fashion & News Writer
Star Wars: The Last Jedi, in cinemas 14th December Sure, I may have only watched the Star Wars franchise last year - after much persuasion from a desperate boyfriend - but it’s fair to say I’m hooked. What’s not to love? With Carrie Fisher’s sassy no-nonsense attitude, John Boyega’s quips, Adam Driver being extremely brooding and sexy, and cute beepy robots, it’s the blockbuster we all need to switch off right now. Dun, dun, dun dun dun duuuuuuuun dun!
WORK IT, Omeara As a South London resident who resents travelling north of the river at weekends, the news that WORK IT were now spinning their 90s R&B bangers in the better half of London was fantastic. Reviving the scene with their energy- and sweat-filled club nights since 2008, their new home will be Omeara, a club built to fight the cuts to London’s music scene. Long live London’s night life!
Jess Commons, Health & Living Editor
The Disaster Artist, in cinemas 1st December I am THE biggest fan of the film The Room; widely regarded to be the worst best film ever made. I even went to a fan screening with it's seminal creator Tommy Wiseau, people throw plastic spoons, it's a whole thing. The Disaster Artist is about the making of The Room and stars James Franco as Tommy. Definitely watch the original beforehand so you get all the inside jokes. OH HI MARK.
The Dinner, in cinemas 8th December I loved the Herman Koch book that this film is based on so I'm really hoping that the film does it justice. It's follows two brothers, (one pretty ordinary, one on track to be the next prime minister of Holland) and their wives as they meet up in a swanky restaurant to discuss the horrific crime their two teenage sons have committed. It stars Laura Linney, Richard Gere, Steve Coogan and Rebecca Hall.
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It's December, and we've got a lot on the brain. Gift-giving. Party dressing. Holiday hosting. And, of course, building out our winter wardrobe. There's the essentials that consistently get you through the season: a chunky knit, a layerable turtleneck, a wool pea coat. But there's also those trend-driven items that pop up each year that, frankly, we have to have — and that's what the slideshow ahead is dedicated to.
If you've found yourself lusting over a pair of white boots, a patent trench, or an oversized cardigan, now's the time to, well, just go for it. And if you already have said pieces in your closet, now's the time to experiment with how you style them. While it may not officially be winter just yet, when the temperatures drop and you're trying to get dressed each morning, you'll be glad you added a few less-expected pieces into that whole jeans-and-a-sweater routine. Trust us.
Dress up a casual sweatsuit with a patent coat. Extra points if you pick one that isn't black!
Update (1st December 2017): Today, Nike has made its long-awaited Hijab Pro collection available for Muslim women worldwide. The brand has been developing it with help from top athletes for over a year and has officially made it available online and at select retailers in more than 20 countries across Europe, North Africa, North America and across the Middle East. It currently only comes in black and obsidian but will be available in other colours, including white and grey, in January.
This story was originally published on 7th March, 2017.
Nike met with UAE weightlifter Amna Al Haddad, who expressed frustrations that her hijab shifts while she lifts, and lacks breathability. After the meeting, Nike worked to develop the Pro Hijab, which will be available next spring.
Nike test-drove the prototype on several hijabi athletes from various countries. "As each country has its own particular hijab style, the ideal design would need to accommodate variances,” the brand described in an official press release. Nike also solicited the impressions of local Muslim communities to ensure the design met cultural requirements.
The final result is made of single-layer Nike Pro mesh, Nike’s most breathable fabric. It features “strategically-placed” non-visible holes for optimal breathability. The fabric is also stretchy, meaning the hijab is essentially one-size-fits-all, and will adapt to both the wearer’s head and any headgear or uniform their sport may require. The back is also elongated so it doesn’t come untucked.
Photo: Courtesy of Nike.
This story was originally published on February 23rd, 2017.
"By providing Muslim athletes with the most groundbreaking products, like the Nike Pro Hijab, Nike aims to serve today’s pioneers as well as inspire even more women and girls in the region who still face barriers and limited access to sport: Fewer than one in seven girls participate in locally recommended sport activities for 60 minutes or more."
A feminist Nike ad has managed to tick off a lot of people with bad opinions about women.
The ad opens with a woman running in a hijab and a Nike-branded tunic. Another woman in a hijab stares daggers at her. Then, a hijab-wearing woman skateboards past frame. A man is clearly pissed about her rebellion.
"What will they say about you?" a woman's voice narrates in the Saudi dialect. "Maybe they'll say you exceeded all expectations."
Nike filmed the ad in the more run-down suburbs of Dubai. It's meant to reflect both the judgement faced by average women trying to lead an active lifestyle as well as some of its stars. After all, they both have to run on the same streets.
One of the stars is Emirati parkour runner Amal Mourad. She's the one jumping between rooftops. She tells Reuters that she struggled to convince her dad to let her train in a gym also used by men. She did so, and now teaches class in a gym that allows gender mixing.
"Convincing my father was the toughest part...if you want something bad enough you stick to it, and you can get it done," Mourad tells Reuters.
You get the idea. The ad features young Middle Eastern women doing things like boxing, swimming, running parkour, and essentially living normal active lives. Naturally, the ad elicits some strong opinions.
Before we tell you what they are, take a look yourself.
Pretty empowering stuff. And the online reaction has indeed been mostly positive. Here's a brief sampling.
When an ad touches on the insecurities of women in a society, digs deeper & becomes an empowerment tool rather than just a product #JustDoIthttps://t.co/3Qh79aPigd
We expected to find a deluge of negative or hateful comments. Those were refreshingly absent from the online discourse around this advertisement. Does that mean something good for humanity? Probably, but let's not fall head over heels. After all, this is a company that's selling a product. It's nice that they're advancing a feminist message, but it's not like they're suddenly going to make men and women equal worldwide. Saudi Arabia, for example, still forbids physical education in girls' schools.
But the ad is a good start, to say the least.
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Considering the sheernumberofretailers that have faced public opprobrium for selling offensive, irresponsible and just downright misguided items, it's a wonder that companies are still selling such rubbish. The latest culprit? Online fashion retailer Pretty Little Thing, which has been forced to remove a top from its site after a fierce backlash – and rightfully so.
It may sound horrendous, but Pretty Little Thing really did sell a £4 gym vest with "Am I skinny yet?" emblazoned across the front before it was forced to take it down. Not only that, but the top was only available in an extra small size, reported The Sun. It's hard to think of a more blatant promotion of disordered eating and negative body image, and it's mind-boggling that the company didn't foresee the response it received.
I find pretty little thing appalling for making a vest saying "am I skinny yet?" No wonder eating disorders are a problem!? #sharethis#helppic.twitter.com/5WksI0U29O
As if body dysmorphia / hatred aren’t common enough amongst women you want to sell them sports wear literally telling them they’re not “skinny” yet and potentially promote unhealthy weight loss?
I find pretty little thing appalling for making a vest saying "am I skinny yet?" No wonder eating disorders are a problem!? #sharethis#helppic.twitter.com/5WksI0U29O
A former anorexia sufferer said she was disgusted when she saw the top online. "It really promotes negative thoughts," said Jess Mell, a nutrition and public health student from Howden, Yorkshire. "By using a question like this on the front of a piece of clothing it prompts people to ask if they are skinny. For such a big clothing brand to be promoting a slogan like that is terrible. It scares me to think how many people might have seen it and started to question themselves."
She continued: “When people think of losing weight they focus on the waist. By placing 'skinny' on the waist it draws attention to that area. I don't know why anyone would really buy it," adding that retailers should take more responsibility for the slogans they place on clothing and recognise the impact they could have.
Beat, the country's foremost eating disorder charity, seemed to agree. "Sadly, this vest top is not the first example of how eating disorders can be trivialised or glamourised," a spokesperson told The Sun. "We know clothing such as this vest top can trigger negative behaviours in people who are affected by these complex mental health issues, which can cause serious harm." It called on Pretty Little Thing to pull the vest, which it did, however people have been publicly complaining about it since January.
The retailer apologised "to Jess and any of our customers who felt any offence by this". In a statement, the company continued: "We take these allegations extremely seriously and encourage young girls to be happy and healthy whatever their weight, shape or size. The t-shirt in question has been removed from our website and we will be working with our teams to ensure this does not happen again."
Pretty Little Thing was at the centre of another, less consequential, PR blunder late last month when photos of the company's bizarre sizing emerged on social media. One woman tweeted a hilarious photo of a pair of size 6 trousers that made her look like she was wearing "flippers", while another woman couldn't believe the size of the brand's oversized wide leg jumpsuit when it arrived in the post.
Brace yourself for a pre-Christmas treat: makeup brand Too Faced is opening its first bricks and mortar store in London's Carnaby Street today. From Glossier shipping to the UK and the launch of Fenty, to Gigi's collaboration with Maybelline, Too Faced's opening is the cherry on top of a year packed with beauty excitement. The brand's flagship will house all your favourite products, from the newest to the most-loved, with in-store exclusives to boot.
The 'serious brand that knows how to have fun' is known for its sensory products, such as its chocolate-scented collections, and is launching another olfactory sensation at the store's opening. Its much-anticipated peaches and cream collection, along with the Clover Eyeshadow Palette, will make its UK debut tomorrow. We'll be first in line for these, plus stocking up on some of our favourites: lash-fanning Better Than Sex Mascara, sin-concealing Hangover Primer, and glow-giving Born This Way Foundation.
“Opening a Too Faced store is a dream come true and just in time for our 20th birthday next year! I couldn’t think of a better location than London for our first global flagship, as it’s my favourite city," cofounder and chief creative officer, Jerrod Blandino, explained. "And it really doesn’t get any better than Carnaby Street – fun, fashionable, and festive, just like Too Faced!”
The store itself will be an Instagrammable delight, too. With décor that brings the brand's aesthetic to life, there will be peach and chocolate features throughout, plus a Union Jack wall complete with the brand's signature pink and gold hues. The store won't just house Too Faced's products, either. You'll also be able to pick up some of Blandino's cult beauty heroes, from Rodin's Luxury Face Oil to Le Labo candles. With stock changing every season, there's even more reason to make the flagship a regular stop on your shopping trips.
To celebrate the move-in date, the brand is hosting an in-store launch party today, where the first 100 customers will enjoy makeovers, special treats and exclusive offers. See you in the queue.
The Too Faced flagship store opens today at 46 Carnaby Street, London.
On Thursday, a 41-year-old man in Sweden was convicted of rape, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The Associated Press reports that while he never met any of the people he assaulted in person, he had coerced young teenagers in the US, Britain, and Canada to perform sexual acts in front of webcams.
His sentencing is a huge step in persecuting a sexual violence crime that we don't often discuss — assault that happens online.
According to the AP, Bjorn Samstrom assaulted 27 survivors — 26 girls and one boy — and threatened to kill their relatives or to post their photos on pornography sites unless they performed sex acts in front of a webcam while he watched in Sweden. The assaults all happened between 2015 and 2017.
The court said that even though he never met any of the survivors, he was guilty of rape, sexual coercion, and other charges. The case is the first time in Sweden that a person was convicted of rape for offences that occurred online. The AP reports that Sweden's laws dictate that rape doesn't have to involve actual intercourse, but can involve an act that is equally violating.
Online rape, otherwise known as "sextortion," is blackmailing that involves sex acts or sexual images, and it's not federally outlawed in the U.S. However, five states (CA, UT, TX, AL, and AR) currently consider it a crime.
Samstrom admitted to coercing the teens, but didn't think that his actions constituted as rape, and intends to appeal the sentence.
Annika Wennerström, one of the prosecutors involved in the case, told the Canadian National Post that the case is unprecedented, and could set standards for sexual assault that involves technology.
"The technology knows no limits," Wennerström told the Post. "So we have to adapt our mindset to, ‘What can a rape be?’ We say a rape can be different things. You don’t always have to have the textbook case of a physical attack or physical coercion."
If you have experienced sexual violence of any kind, please visit Rape Crisis or call 0808 802 9999.
The 60th annual Grammy Awards nominations came out earlier this week, and while you were discussing how Childish Gambino got so many awards or why Ed Sheeran got snubbed, the various categories that are never in the televised awards show are hiding some absolutely golden tracks that you need in your life.
Ahead, a look at some of the nominated songs outside of the main categories that are especially impressive, lovable, and playlist worthy.
ODESZA feat. WYNNE & Mansionair "Line Of Sight," nominated for Best Dance Recording
This Seattle electronic duo stands out in their category for having one of the softest entries — not in a bad way, but the melody on this track, provided by WYNNE, is what makes it catchy. It's not typical for them to release such a vocal-heavy song, but the combination of all the elements at play here makes for a joyful track that is easily revisited time and again. The group told Billboard they created this track Postal Service-style, by trading files back and forth between Seattle, Los Angeles, and Sydney, Australia.
Billy Childs "Dance of Shiva," nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo
This is not the jazz they play while you eat French toast at brunch. This is not that soft, fuzzy jazz that's been neutered for lazy audiences. This is the hot jazz you might have heard in the speakeasy during Prohibition, the kind that kids would really swing to. This is the real deal, and pianist Billy Childs will have you doing the Charleston before you know what hit you. This is music that is waiting for the midnight hour.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit "If We Were Vampires," nominated for Best American Roots Song
If you don't know about him already, Jason Isbell got what The Tennessean called an "unlikely" nomination for Album of the Year at the CMA Awards this year but didn't show up because he was on tour in Germany. Most artists would reroute it, or make a hole so they could attend country's most prestigious night, but not Isbell. The country establishment is trying to claim him, and he keeps resisting. That's probably why this song and his other works were submitted to the Grammys under the American Roots category and not Country proper. He cuts an interesting figure, and this haunting love song is a nice taste of his outsider inside Nashville aesthetic.
Alison Krauss "Losing You," nominated for Best Country Solo Performance
But in the Country category properly, we find a voice that Grammy voters love and country music fans are frequently apathetic about with Alison Krauss. This lovely, longing ballad is another solid piece of work from Krauss, who the Grammys can't get enough of lauding. I know you've seen her win a ton of statues on TV during the show, but how many of those albums have you gone and listened to? This one isn't a bad place to start if the answer is zero.
Nate Smith "Home Free (for Peter Joe)," nominated for Best Instrumental Composition
This gorgeous, lethargic song feels haunted for a reason: Smith wrote it in memory of his grandfather. Composed on piano, Smith, who is best known as a drummer, does a truly remarkable job with this soft composition — I played piano and drums for years so I know how they work hand-in-hand, but percussionists aren't often known for their thoughtful composition. I love how he lets the piano melody be the lead, accompanied by sax, rather than letting a driving rhythm line do the primary work. Grammy voters who nominated this track can hear that it's no simple melody either, though it's easy on the ears. An emotional composition is the cornerstone of all music, and not an easy thing to put together well.
After my first job MTV working as a music programmer, I can't stop trying to matchmake people with music they might like. So, I wrote a book calledRecord Collecting for Girlsand started interviewing musicians. The Music Concierge is a column where I share music I'm listening to that you might enjoy, with a little context. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook, or leave me a comment below and tell me what you're listening to this week.
Whether it's the office secret Santa or presents for the family, it's easy for Christmas gifting to spiral out of control. The stumpy tree poking out from a mound of patterned paper; unwrapping ceremonies that last longer than your average turkey roasting time; four copies of Nigel Slater's Eat (true story, 2013).
This year, sack off tradition and opt for a grown-up stocking – thoughtfully chosen mini gifts heaped at the foot of the bed, to be opened before breakfast (Bucks Fizz optional). Would you buy yourself a pair of luxe black scissors? Or that expensive hand cream you've been pilfering from your colleague whenever their back's turned? Probably not, and we'd hazard a guess that your S.O. wouldn't, either. Alternatively, these gifts would be ideal for a secret Santa when you want something a little more thoughtful than a novelty mug.
Our list of souped-up, extra-special everyday finds is guaranteed to please come Christmas morning. So if, like us, you think kids shouldn't have all the fun, click on through...
For all those trips you have on your bucket list, these chic little guides make perfect pint-sized gifts.
Wallpaper* Tokyo City Guide, £8.95 available at Amazon
This little guy puts paid to those wasted seconds detangling your headphones each morning. Available in eight colours, from black patent through to rose gold and this silver, there's plenty of choice.
Kate Sheridan Silver Headphone Holder, £6.50, available at Kate Sheridan
Been watching Blue Planet this autumn? Now's the time to put plastic water bottles firmly out of the picture.
Klean Kanteen Classic Water Bottle, £17, available at Amazon
Is your loved one a poor sleeper? This is just the thing for jotting down those 3am flashes of inspiration.
School Of Life Night Thoughts Notebook, £15, available at The School Of Life
Dinner parties made prettier with this set of marble coasters.
& Klevering Marble Cork Coasters Set, £9.95, available at Trouva
That unmistakable espresso tang creeping through the wrapping paper might give the game away. Warning: Once you go Monmouth, you never go back.
Muji's tin candles smell divine and cost less than your almond milk flat white. This festive version has aromas of gold and myrhh; you'll have to source your own frankincense.
Muji Tin Candle Gold & Myrhh, £4.95, available at Muji
Stop them from borrowing yours.
The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector, £5, available at The Body Shop
This deck of regulation playing cards is perfect for design enthusiasts. With stripped-down suits and a simple diagonal line on the reverse, it might be time to dig out that poker set from Christmases gone by.
The title says it all. Indulge in some interiors escapism, courtesy of the Tumblr site, Cabin Porn – with breathtaking photography and landscapes, this printed edition tells the stories of people who've created their dream home.
Cabin Porn:Inspiration for Your Quiet Place Somewhere, £13.60 (hardcover), £7.69 (paperback), available at Amazon
Nothing makes a desk look more chic than a pair of sleek all-black scissors. NOT to be borrowed.
