While summer 2020 is certainly set to be different to years past, that does not mean there is no use for swimwear this year. Although we may not be jetting off to sun-drenched locations or lounging by Mediterranean beaches, swimwear will still be practical for the likes of balcony sunbathing, days spent in the park or if you’re lucky enough a backyard pool. So let’s talk trends. As far as swimwear and bikini trends are concerned, many of the most popular styles of the season reflect the same trends which have gained traction elsewhere. Tie-dye, for example, was all over the S/S20 runways from Versace to Isabel Marant to Dior and more and evidently, has maintained its prominence across beachwear, as surf-inspired, colourful tie-dye bikinis are available across hig...
But what if you’re an individual? You can put pressure on these major retailers by contacting the company or commenting on their social posts. You can also consider dedicating 15% or more of your personal fashion spending to Black-owned brands. It’s also important to note that the financial impact of COVID-19 has generally hit Black-owned brands harder than others, as illustrated in the graphic below by Mona Chalabi. This New York Times opinion article “How We Spend Tells Us Whose Lives Matter” delves into one of the reasons, inequality around stimulus packages. Thinking longer-term about positive economic change for the Black community, it’s crucial to support these businesses now so that we don’t lose them due to financial hardships...
I have never suffered from acne. My skin is oily and prone to the occasional whopper of a spot, but I’ve never really experienced full-blown acne. Really, if we’re going to get pernickety, we’ve all experienced acne in some form, as all spots are just acne in varying degrees. But if we’re talking about acne in the cystic form that we all envisage it as when we hear the word uttered, then no, I’ve never had acne. Something that I have experienced though, is really severe breakouts on my chest. However, these breakouts aren’t made up on just any normal spots, and I think a whole bunch of you will know what I mean. You see, when I took to my Instagram stories a couple of weeks ago asking for help about the red bumps and congestion that plagued my chest, I was swamped with...
They used to rule the road, these nimble, compact rear-drive sedans, ready to shred Angeles Crest upon request and zip across states with swift composure. But with SUVs now the first choice of the majority of Americans, a shrinking number of these performance-minded sedans reside in showrooms in hopes that someone might be smitten with a design that is more sleek than chunky. Comparing similar mainstream and luxury cars can’t get much closer than this. Kia and Genesis are both part of the Hyundai Motor Group. The two cars are built on the same platform. They share the same engines and transmissions and countless other bits and bobbles. In the industry’s distant past, lazy, cynical product planning would mean they’d be literally the same car with different badges. Today, t...
You’ll be forgiven for having forgotten about the Volkswagen Arteon. The sleek-looking sports sedan ended up being less dynamic and more expensive than we were expecting, and we were left unimpressed with said dynamics and pricing (given its humble VW roots). However, just over a year after it went on sale in the U.S., the Arteon is getting a makeover we’ll see fully unveiled on June 24. Volkswagen teased us with artwork that previews some of the design changes to the Arteon yesterday, and we like what we’re seeing. The handsome sportback looks like it’s getting a brand-new front end with a LED light bar that stretches the full width of the front bumper. We assume there will also be changes to the rest of the exterior, as well, albeit limited to the usual mid-cycle ...
Celine bags have been firmly in the crook of the arm or dangling from the hand of fashion aficionados for as long as we can remember and have always been considered a clever investment amongst those in the know. While the brand has given us many arm candy options to pine over since the ’60s, we think it’s fair to say that it was the fashion house’s former creative director, Phoebe Philo, who helped make its bags so covetable. And since Hedi Slimane took his seat in the director’s chair in 2018, he too has bestowed us with covetable Celine bag designs. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Ea...
While we’ve spent the last few months swapping between T-shirts and woolly jumpers, the first signs of summer have sparked a wardrobe shift. Now, it seems everyone is wearing dresses again, even if it’s just to chill on the sofa, and there are certain styles that are proving particularly popular in fashion circles. Below, you’ll find 13 beautiful dresses, all of which we’ve have been given the seal of approval by multiple stylish women. The best part is even though they’re incredibly sought-after, they’re largely still in stock. And if you’re watching your budget right now, then perhaps these dresses will remind you of the already fabulous ones you own that you need to re-wear this season. From the latest offeri...
I’m really trying hard to not live in my pyjamas right now. But the lockdown world dictates that sometimes, even when you have the best intentions, you end up wearing your PJ’s well into weekend afternoons. As for during the weekdays, while I 100% get dressed for work in “normal clothes” (and no one can make me say otherwise), the transition into my sleepwear in the evening happens the moment I finish up at my desk. What I’m saying is, I live for the hours in my PJ’s. They’re the comfiest and most comforting of all clothes to wear, but that’s a lot of time spent in one outfit. And with warmer weather incoming (just ignore that rain outside your window), you need a decent summer set. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Da...
I am, for lack of a better phrase, a total sun-worshipper. It’s not that I’m addicted to tanning or anything (trust me, sun-induced premature ageing means I am slathered in factor 50 all summer long)—it’s just that I really love the heat. As someone who lives in London where we spend the majority of the year wrapped up in waterproof jackets, fighting broken brollies and wearing down the soles of heavy-duty boots, the laid-back, carefree nature of summer gets me excited. And I think it might have finally arrived. With the mercury finally hitting 20+, I have flung open the windows, pulled out the fan, packed away my knits and pulled out my dresses and shorts. However, my wardrobe is not the only area where I have been making substitutes. As the heat from the sun get...
Behind this desire for more classic, timeless pieces was a topic that’s high on the agenda of every fashion office in the world: sustainability. From Extinction Rebellion stationed outside of Victoria Beckham’s show to carbon-neutral fashion shows, the fashion industry’s impact on the planet was something that couldn’t be ignored during fashion month. There’s no doubt sustainability will have a significant impact on how trends are shaped over the next decade. Heather Gramston, BrownsFashion’s Buying Manager, said what is particularly notable for 2020 is how new talent is responding to these challenges, finding new ways to produce and create clothes: “I think the innovation coming out of the new wave of talent look to creating sustain...
Despite our increased amount of time spent indoors, our appetite for pretty dresses certainly hasn’t settled down. Many are now retiring their loungewear and leggings in favour for throw-on dresses, as they are the easiest way to get dressed but still feel relaxed at home. Enter the brand of choice, Sleeper. This brand was founded as a pyjama label, and so naturally, it creates the comfiest nightie-style dresses around. Sleeper’s most popular dresses have puffy short sleeves and loos like something straight out of a Victorian nursery tale. The brand has updated the traditional white nightdress with bold colours and pretty prints, such as florals and pretty polka dots. We’re especially taken aback by the dusty-pink version. The Instagram crowd proves t...
When writing our spring/summer 2020 trend report, we never could have anticipated the way life as we know it would change. While many of the buyers’ predictions about holiday clothes and wedding guest outfits are now irrelevant in the current climate, there are several items that are proving to be just as popular, despite not being able to be worn outside. “The large majority of the runway collections have been incredibly wearable, the brands have showcased the ultimate wardrobing heroes in a new and interesting way: the suit, the Bermuda short, the white shirt, the tank top,” said Elizabeth von der Goltz, global buying director at Net-a-Porter, back in December. There has been a shift toward simplicity rather than anything too attention-se...