Hairstylist to the stars Jen Atkin has become a celebrity in her own right thanks to her It Girl favorite haircare line OUAI. A must for every chic #shelfie, the high-end brand has a product for every type of mane – including your pet’s!
Set to launch July 12th, OUAI’s ultra-gentle Pet Shampoo is a spa day necessity for fabulous fur-babies. It’s infused with “odor-fighting cleansers and nourishing conditioners to increase shine and reduce knotty-ness,” using only the finest ingredients for your main b*tch, as the site claims.
Purr-fect for all of our four-legged friends (including kitties!), the shampoo is free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates, and features Apple Cider Vinegar, Aloe Leaf Juice, and Tamarind Seed Extract.
Pamper your pet and participate in some philanthropy! 15% of all proceeds will support the Vanderpump Dog Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit charity that is working on both a domestic and international scale to help create a better world for dogs!
This is paws-sibly the best way to treat your furry bestie.
As any self-proclaimed skincare obsessive will tell you, Korean skincare (or K-Beauty) has completely changed the cosmetic landscape. When you’re living across the world, however, it can be hard to keep up. That’s why, for years, Peach & Lily has been the go-to resource for American beauty buffs to not only stay up-to-date on the latest Korean innovations, but to purchase the best products from overseas. (Think of it as the chicer version of Sephora.)
Founded by Alicia Yoon, a Korean skincare expert and Harvard Business School grad, Peach & Lily garnered a worldwide cult following. Now, the curator has become the creator.
This week, the retail site launched its very own line of must-have products, from Glass Skin Refining Serum to sheet masks and facial oil.
In just minutes, their Super Reboot Resurfacing Mask, a deep cleansing and purifying formula, sold out completely. Clearly, people already have a lot of faith in Alicia and her brand.
If you’ve yet to get down with the K-Beauty trend (or are already obsessed), shop Peach & Lily’s debut line HERE!
A few years ago, a makeup beginner could go on YouTube to figure out how to blend eyeshadow, where on the cheek to start applying blush, and how to pick a foundation shade. Now, we have hundreds of tutorials that feature cut creases, contouring, non-touring, baking, and two hundred ways to sculpt your brows. On top of that, we, the YouTube viewer, must sift through sponsored videos and determine whether the YouTuber in question believes everything they’re saying. Am I watching a review, you may wonder, or a glorified ad?
After diving deep down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos, I’m here to tell you who to follow, why they’re awesome, and what they’ve recommended that I can’t stop using.
An Emily Noel video is like a big hug full of beauty wisdom. Although not a professional makeup artist, Emily’s been running her YouTube channel for over ten years, and she knows what she’s talking about.Go for the reviews, eyeshadow tutorials, and year-end Emily Awards series.Stay for the unusually high number of happy and positive comments left by her followers.
Renee, a skin-thusiast, is your go-to for skincare routines, education (which facial oils should I use?), and pretty much anything else.She introduced me to the 7 Skin method, a K-Beauty trend that involves patting in seven layers of toner or essence as part of your daily skincare routine.You might say it’s excessive, but my skin has never felt so hydrated and fabulous.
Jessica Braun knows that you want to know which products are worth the hype, and it’s hard to disagree with her choices.She’ll tell you how to misuse products properly, whether the Sephora Play! Box is worth it, and how she films her YouTube beauty videos.For those overwhelmed with their own makeup collections, she has one of the best makeup declutterseries I’ve seen on YouTube.Oh, and she’s been vlogging her pregnancy.
Caroline Hirons is your British best friend who will tell you which products will take care of your skin, and which products are utter rubbish.Her brand reviews and interviews with brand founders are worth sitting down with a cup of tea for (especially her interviews with Kate Somerville and Drunk Elephant’s Tiffany Masterson).Her empties videos are also a must watch.Follow her to see which skincare products she’s using regularly, and follow her blog for her skincare cheat sheets.
The “Caroline Hirons Effect” is when Caroline recommends a product and it sells out.No joke.She may have fewer than 200K followers on YouTube at the moment, but her followers are loyal, and they buy.Kate Somerville’s Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream ($65), which has appeared in at least two of her empties videos, is a skincare staple.
Jackie Aina
Those who follow Jackie Aina, or “La Bronze James,” can break into her intro song at the drop of a hat. She’s one of the few YouTubers worth watching even if you have minimal interest in beauty. Her personality is that magnetic. Watch the video she did with Harper’s BAZAAR if you don’t believe me (or watch it if you do). Jackie Aina’s videos are all the glam and humor you never knew you needed, but she’s also a boss in the way she calls out companies like Tarte for their unimpressive and non-inclusive foundation shade range. She recently partnered with Too Faced to curate nine new shades for their Born This Way foundation.
Jackie has also partnered with Artist Couture to create two Diamond Glow Powder Highlighters, La Bronze and La Peach ($28). There’s more than enough product in these highlighters to keep you glowing all summer.
Stephanie Nicole
If you want detailed reviews, tutorials, and a series of step-by-step skincare routines, look no further than Stephanie Nicole.She works as a consultant in the beauty industry, and isn’t afraid to criticize companies for having less than stellar products.Her Sephora VIB buying guides are required viewing before the November and April VIB/Rouge sales.And if there weren’t already enough reasons to follow her, her collabvideos with Caroline Hirons are basically #friendshipgoals.
Are you obsessed with foundation?Maybe you want to watch videos from someone who basically has tried them all.Taylor has an ongoing series, Foundation Friday, where she uploads a new foundation review every Friday, and another series called “15 Days of Foundation.”Last “15 Days,” Taylor ran a donation campaign for Project Beauty Share and raised $21,802.92with the help of her #baerrito fam.She also documented her journey on Accutane, and is a great resource for anyone who is struggling with acne.
How could this list not include Tati Westbrook?Tati, who used to work at a Bare Minerals counter in Nordstrom before achieving YouTube superstardom, now runs one of the few YouTube beauty channels that updates every weekday at 1pm EST/10am PST.I have to mention the time, because her channel runs like clockwork.Her recent video with Drew Barrymore will give you all of the makeup feels, especially when they talk about makeup and confidence.
She may be known for her booty, but we’ve gotta give it to Kim – her skin is amazing. And it’s mostly thanks to facialist Joanna Czech, esthetician to the stars.
The Dallas-based beauty buff left New York six years ago, but Hamptonites are in luck: next month only, she’s taking her practice to a pop-up in Sag Harbor. Move over, Goop – there’s new wellness hot spot in town.
Czech will fill the space with her favorite gadgets—micro-currents for toning, diamond peels for exfoliation, and a few other innovative pieces of skincare technology. Stop in to experience cryotherapy, LED lights, and mists of ionized air to keep you looking taut and glowy on the beach.
In need of a skincare extraordinaire? Joanna will be in town from August 3rd to 30th. To book an appointment call 214.812.9488 or email info@joannaczech.com.
… so what are you waiting for? Now is the time to #Czech this off your summer/life-long bucket list.
Though fight it we might, the seasons come and go in a New York minute. But whether you’re in shorts and sandals or a puffer and boots, there’s one classic, versatile wardrobe staple that never stops working. Tagging along with four of our favorite girls-about-town, we’ve the inside scoop on how they work their cashmere from morning to night.
But not all cashmere is created equal, of course. The highest quality around, Naadam is the softest, most durable cashmere on the market (not to mention totally eco-friendly and completely fair trade).
Click through for all the sartorial inspiration you need for moving from the gym to work to a night out!
Stephanie Nass – AKA Chefanie – is hands down one of the busiest girls we know. “I wake up early (usually 5:30am) to exercise and do emails before the craziness of business hours – and then catering hours – begins.” At the helm of an ever expanding entertaining empire, the millennial Martha caters some of the chicest events in the city, runs her own members-only dinner club, and has her own line of customizable cake sheets. Clearly, she’s a no-detail-too-small type of girl. And most annoyingly of all, she makes it all look impeccably easy.
Whether she’s baking up a storm, sending out cakes or painting menus for an upcoming soiree at her gilded birdcage of an Upper West Side apartment – decorated, of course, to perfection – comfort and style are key. “Day-to-day I go from the kitchen to client meetings to formal events, so I choose outfits that minimize the number of costume changes and maximize my confidence.”
Opting on the day of our visit for a soft, feminine ruffled dress, her look is a just-right, Goldie Locks recipe of equal parts charm and comfort.
When the workday is done, and all the cake boxes have been sent out, and all emails have been read and responded to, what more glamorous way to spend an evening than all done up at Lincoln Center?
“I choose to live near Lincoln Center because I love classical music. I’d have to say my ideal night is going to the philharmonic followed by dinner at Fiorello’s.”
Add in an après-performance stop at a gelato cart for a sweet fix, and you’re living the dream.
To elevate even an already formal look, a luxe silk-cashmere wrap slung elegantly around the arms will always do the trick. Even on a warm summer night! After all, one should never underestimate the air conditioning indoors, especially at a theatre. Trust, bare armed, goose bumped girls will be jealously eyeing you up and down wishing they had something as perfect to wrap up in.
Not to mention it’s the classiest way to add a chic pop of color to any ensemble.
If you follow Dria Murphyon Instagram (which you obviously totally should!), you know full well that not a day goes by she’s not kickstarting her morning with an impressively healthy (in-your-non-lazy-dreams) regimen.
“I always begin my day by taking some organic supplements from Well Told Health and getting in a good workout. The Bari Studio in Tribeca has sculpt and bounce classes that are my favorites – the perfect combination of cardio and toning.”
Rolling out of bed and into the nearest cafe for a matcha latte before working up a sweat need not be a style-less endeavor. Throwing on an easy, wardrobe essential such as an open v-neck sweater over your sporty spice attire will make you feel worlds better about yourself, and far more photo ready for any #fitspo snaps.
In true New York style, Dria Murphy’s work days make even her most supercharged workout look like a walk in the park. Since founding her PR and branding company Alise Collectiveback in July of 2015, she’s been the go-to girl behind some of the coolest projects and experiences in New York, the Hamptons and beyond.
Working for yourself, while admittedly the dream, is quite the hustle. But all work and no play? Not the storyline here. Don’t let her high wellness score fool you!
“For happy hour, I’m normally super casual. Since I’m pretty much always coming from work meetings, I’ll just throw on a pair of heels and statement earrings and I’m ready to go!”
An easily dressed up style staple that goes from an early morning workout, to mid-afternoon meetings, to a fun round of cocktails with friends at The Happiest Hour. Can’t ask for better mileage, no?
As far as sister-duos go, you’ll be hard pressed to find as stylish and cool a pair as Sophie and Charlotte Bickley. The brunette/blonde team is all about celebrating their individuality, sharing their unique and original styles with their gaggle of followers on their popular blog, Yin 2My Yang.
Street style experts forever documenting their adventures in fashion, these two know more than just a thing or two about pulling together an outfit and striking a pose. Some stop and smell the roses, others stop to snap a selfie. Between meetings and emails, they always find time to fit in one or two impromptu photoshoots highlighting their enviable looks du jour.
A silk cashmere camisole and short set proves every bit the summer win for Charlotte when accessorized with a pair of trendy cat eye sunglasses, and a cheeky clear handbag. And for Sophie, it’s all about a soft hoodie styled with an edge.
After a busy evening of pinballing between fashion events – never doubt that somehow all the best parties always happen on the same night – it’s hard to settle home so easy. Old Rose at the ever-hip Jane Hotel is a late night favorite that never disappoints.
When the sun sets but your schedule doesn’t stop, a quick, strategic outfit change is in order. Swapping her boyfriend jeans and gold top for funky statement pants, and a particularly fun sequin strappy situation, Sophie’s cool girl off-duty standard – a black, uber soft cashmere hoodie – still fits the fashionable bill.
For Charlotte, it’s a denim skirt and mules that completely change the look of her chic lightweight cami.
There’s much to be said for being the most fashionable woman in a room. But if you’re also not the most comfortable, what’s the point?
Everyone has a summer list. Things to do, places to go, an insane body makeover to work on. And, most importantly, the things you’ll be wearing as you accomplish it all.
There’s that perfect pair of PG13 shorts – you know, the kind where you can bend over and things are still cool, but when you’re standing you don’t look like a suburban mom. There’s the casual sundress, the trendy pair of shades du jour, the sandals that will only give you horrible blisters once, and not every time that wear them. And, the perfect basket bag.
First, it’s the Goldie Locks of handbags. Not so big that it looks like you’re literally going on a picnic, and not so small that you’re walking around with bulging pockets.
Second, it’s got that perfect metropolitan, boxed shape and chic leather handles that do everything from work lunch to date night to summer Friday.
And lastly, it doesn’t fall prey to the common basket bag seal of death – the Birkin complex. You are not Jane Birkin. Sorry to say it, but it’s true. You are not rambling around the French countryside with your messy, perfect bangs. And so you have no business toting a round, lidded wicker number that at this point is more of a novelty item than a real accessory.
Thanks to the Kardashians, Jenners, and Hadids of the world, thighbrows are the most tantalizing part of your bod to show off on the beach. Ditch the bikini and rock this trendy one piece silhouette instead.
Upscale Brooklyn hotel, The William Vale, home to one of our favorite rooftop bars in the city and a pretty cushy summertime pool situation, has recently acquired an impressive new amenity: a vending machine that dispenses fine jewelry instead of Snickers bars.
Equipped with an interactive touchscreen, the machine is full of gorgeous pieces by New York based designer Marla Aaron. Guests in need of an emergency accessory can choose between 12 different items, from sterling silver to 14k gold (white, rose, or yellow), with prices ranging from $165 to $1,500. Purchases are retrieved from a suede-lined inner pocket, natch.
The chic new offering can be found in Williamsburg’s Vale Park, the hotel’s elevated, public greenspace. Take a peek at some of Aaron’s pieces below!
Every afternoon, at around 2 pm, while you’re most likely sipping your second iced coffee of the day, you probably scroll upon some variation of a meme that reads “bet you really wish you could get back all those naps you refused to take as a kid.” You weakly double-tap, wondering why, exactly, you hated nap time in kindergarten. At this point in your energy lag you can only manage to think Tweet-like thoughts: “Nap breaks should replace lunch breaks.” “Why don’t adults get mandatory nap time?” “Could I pull a George Costanza and get away with napping under my desk right now?”
The bad news, of course, is that not even George Costanza was able to pull off the secret desk-napping scheme for long. The good news, however, is that you are not alone. Everyone wants naps these days – and whether it’s due to the humidity or the inevitable aging of millennials’ bodies, they’ve officially become this summer’s hottest (and most thought-provoking) trend.
It certainly plays into the whole “self-care” thing. The idea of Wellness, once marked by a frenetic desire to sweat and move constantly, has mellowed out. Rest is good for you! Naps are health! But, just like all those pricey fitness classes and colonics (glam!), rest is a privilege. Laziness, as we all know, is a luxury.
In Ottessa Moshfegh’s buzzed-about new novel, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, a tall, blonde, thin, and moneyed Upper East Side twentysomething embraces this concept to the point of dark hyperbole. She quits the cushy gallery girl job she didn’t need for any financial reason in the first place, and self medicates herself into oblivion in an attempt to sleep for a year and return to life renewed. Purified. A sleep cleanse, if you will. An inheritance and the ability to put bills on autopay allows the unnamed narrator to do this without the burden of, oh, you know, getting up and going to work.
Not only is the book strangely addictive (much like the narrator’s pills), it’s also strangely aspirational. Who wouldn’t want an endless series of naps at their disposal?
“I went straight into black emptiness, an infinite space of nothingness. I was neither scared nor elated in that space. I had no visions. I had no ideas. If I had a distinct thought, I would hear it, and the sound of it would echo and echo until it got absorbed by the darkness and disappeared. There was no response necessary. No inane conversation with myself. It was peaceful,” says Moshfegh’s character, describing one of her pre-unemployed workplace naps in the gallery’s supply closet. “I was awake in the sleep, somehow. I felt good. Almost happy.”
Weirdly enough, in the middle of a recent summertime weekday, I had the same exact feeling during an on-the-clock nap. If you’re my boss and you’re reading this, let me explain.
Casper, the social media savvy mattress brand whose subway ads you’ve most definitely been amused by, has expanded its NoHo Sleep Shop to include The Dreamery. It is exactly what it sounds like – a whimsical, Instagrammable space to indulge in a bespoke nap. It is also, quite frankly, genius. And while it’s not the first New York destination to provide middle-of-the-day R&R, it is certainly the chicest.
Like most “experiences” in New York in the year 2018, it is heavily branded and practically made to be hashtagged. But it is so magical, you hardly even care. When I left the office and arrived at The Dreamery for a mid-afternoon sleep sesh, I was greeted by a starry entryway. I was given designer, celestial pajamas by Sleepy Jones. I was escorted into a spa-like locker room with private changing areas and skincare products by the coveted beauty brand, Sunday Riley. I took so many selfies. My sleep mask had adorable little eyelashes on it.
When it was time to tuck in for my 45-minute slot, I was led into a dim, quiet room full of very roomy sleep pods. They each boasted a full size Casper mattress, clean, white bedding, heavy curtain doors, adjustable lighting, and a built-in nightstand complete with power outlets. They’ve really thought of every way to recharge.
I put my phone on airplane mode and concentrated on falling asleep. What Moshfegh wrote was true – my nap mentality differs from my “nighttime sleep” one. I wasn’t wired on the day’s events, rehashing awkward things I said to people or stressing out about tomorrow. There was “no inane conversation with myself.” Before I realized I’d drifted off, I was already being gently roused by the soundless brightening of my pod light – a task that discreetly belongs to one of The Dreamery’s staff members. Unlike most mornings, I felt awake. It was… empowering? I felt like I could get shit done. Feminism, bitches!
Well… the “self care” movement has been generally embraced by the feminist community, though not without some controversy. After all, the spectrum of wellness could range from an expensive treatment approved by Goop, to an hour of much-needed alone time for a working mother. The advertised version of “treat yo self” is excessive, but the crucial version is necessary: manicures versus mental healthcare. It’s understandable that many people find the concept elitist and exclusionary, because, in many ways, it is. Time is money, and an extra hour of sleep in the day can cost you – quite literally. An appointment at The Dreamery? $25. Skipping a shift at the restaurant because of physical and mental exhaustion? That could cost somebody their entire income. See, it’s complicated.
Now, when “self care” is operating at it’s best, it’s obvious that it should fall into the feminine realm. Anyone who’s heard Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” or is somewhat familiar with the history of humankind, would know why: women have always carried not only their own weight, but the weight of their families, their communities. The burden is both existential and biological – women physically carry the children, and there’s never been a time card for punching in and out of motherhood. That’s why “taking some me time,” in the most mommy blog of terms, can feel like a revolutionary act. One could even consider the amplified self-involvement of the narrator of My Year of Rest and Relaxation to be a feminist rejection of the things society expects of her: beauty, empathy, kindness. She’s really just like, I don’t owe anybody anything, I just want to sleep.
Nevertheless, napping is pretty gender-neutral. There was a surprising number of men padding around in their PJs at Casper’s Dreamery, and just last week both my best friend and I were respectively stood up by dates who actually said they couldn’t hang out because they needed to nap. There, indeed, is the blazing difference: dudes have always been privileged enough to be unapologetic when it comes to their needs (ahem, George Costanza). It’s about time women acted the same way.
So go ahead, take a nap. You don’t have to Instagram it, but I won’t judge you if you do.
If you suffer from a guilty conscience, reframing is a valuable technique. No one wants to admit that she is willfully doing something bad for her mind or body (‘social smoking’ is a construct). The idea of a cheat meal is handy because it allows you to think of truffle fries as a one-off indulgence and it removes the need to do penance at The Dogpound. We all have to square our choices with our images of ourselves and what we know is actually good/bad for us. Jim Gaffigan does a whole bit on how pancakes are a way to reconcile our desire to eat cake in the morning with the truth that we should not eat cake in the morning. Assembled here is a way to feel better about your self destructive impulses. Read and follow with three Hail Marys for a spiritual refresh.
Asking Your Dad for Money
Dads need attention, too. Straight out of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, “Make the other person feel important–and do it sincerely.” Your father will feel loved and appreciated when you ask him for a little velvet to supplement your laughably inadequate salary. He doesn’t want you to starve – how else are you supposed to afford oat milk and a spiralizer? Asking dad for money will make him nostalgic for a simpler time when all you requested were his credit card to order Uggs and hinted that a Range Rover would be just fine for your 16th.
As long as you’re patronizing independent bookstores*
Buying books you’re never going to read is the modern day version of Gatsby’s uncut library. Continue amassing those volumes, though, because everyone knows: the more hardcovers you own, the purer your soul. Who cares if your copy of The Beautiful and Damned is gathering dust and Look Homeward, Angel is sun faded–they bring together the look of your gilded bar cart just so. If you’re shopping at Book Culture, Bluestockings, Shakespeare & Co., or Greenlight, you’re giving print publications a reason to exist. Without local bookstore patrons, how could a journal dedicated solely to celebrating the art, ideas, style, and culture of tennis exist? The world is richer for all of the insanely niche magazines that are only available at independent bookstores.
If under eye bags were directly correlated to pajama spend, my dark circles would be nonexistent. It doesn’t *quite* work out that way – but they’re not entirely unrelated. This vice is basically self-care because if you have amazing pajamas you’ll spend more time in them, and it follows that you’ll sleep more.
You know when you convince yourself that you’re going to eat clean? Like Miranda Kerr clean? Treat yourself to some maca powder and goji berries. Chickpea flour and grapeseed oil. Why not also get some nutritional yeast and coconut sugar? Go full Miranda and get noni juice. The lifestyle change never ends up sticking, but keep doing it because it’s basically a psychological cleanse.
NB: This muesli recipefrom Huckleberry chef Zoe Nathan is my favorite thing to eat in the world. The recipe is ridiculously involved and the grocery shopping will take you forever. It’s the perfect start to a sure to fail diet.
Save a harpist, go to tea. Besides weddings, who else is hiring harpists? Channel your inner Eloise and go to the Plaza to eat finger sandwiches and petit fours. Sleep well knowing your clotted cream/lemon curd consumption has done something good for humanity.
Gossip facilitates a collective consciousness! Gossiping bonds you with others! Gossip makes you feel good about yourself! These are real things that The Atlantic printed in an article called “Gossip is Good“. What a boon – reading it is as life changing as learning about ‘good fats’. Now I eat prosciutto for long life. Likewise, you can circulate rumors under the pretense that it’s good for you.
Instagram models and bloggers rejoice: the surely distinguished computer scientists at the University of California reported that taking selfies is a beneficial and healthy activity. Selfies lead to “an increase in body confidence and an overall improvement in mood.” It’s not hard to imagine what a study from the same scientists on thirst traps would look like: Thirst Traps Linked to Increase in Metabolism and Earning Power. Let’s hope their study wasn’t state funded.
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