Prepare yourself: the latest trailer for And Just Like That… season 2 is out and it’s displaying its whimsical costuming chaos for all to see.

Written and directed by Michael Patrick King, HBO’s buzzy Sex and the City reboot follows main characters Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) alongside new friends as they navigate life in their 50s. To much fan surprise, it turns out Samantha Jones will also be making a cameo in the upcoming season. On May 31, Variety reported that Kim Cattrall will reprise the role yet again for one scene in the finale, in which she’ll have a phone conversation with Carrie. (When filming, she reportedly didn’t see or speak with her co-workers.) A win nonetheless!

Despite some significant changes (like the absence of Samantha), the revival stays true to the aesthetic essentials of the original series. A hyper-romanticized portrayal of New York City? Check. Regular Sunday morning brunch dates? Check. Unapologetically off-kilter fashion? Check, check, check. And the wacky wardrobe is all thanks to costume designer duo Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago.

Season 2 will premiere on June 22, and in it, the famous trio will be reunited with season 1 newcomers, reportedly including Che (Sara Ramirez) Seema (Sarita Choudhury), Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker) and Nya (Karen Pittman). If the street style photos are any indication, the new iteration is still honouring its nonsensical sartorial roots — and nodding to SATC’s most dramatic plot points. Enter: Aidan.

 

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That’s right, Carrie’s on-again-off-again beau, played by John Corbett, is coming back to insight even more internet debate and bewilderment. And from the looks of things, it’s more than just a brief cameo. On January 13 (a.k.a Friday the 13th), the series’ official Instagram account released a photo of the pair walking hand-in-hand (in the middle of the street!) so as to make a theatrical announcement of their romantic reunion. Since then, Corbett has been spotted on set at a restaurant with the ladies and window shopping with Parker. Cozied-up strolls and brunching together… are Carrie and Aidan end game?!

Along with puzzling storyline twists, ample behind-the-scenes pictures show Parker traipsing around in signature Carrie Bradshaw style. Most recently, on January 31, she was spotted wearing a micro-mini Fendi baguette bag as a necklace (practical!). Before that, back in October, there were viral photos of Parker clutching an all-too-realistic pigeon bag by JW Anderson while shooting. (This is a shocking pivot from Carrie’s hatred for the Judith Leiber swan bag that Mr. Big gave her in Sex and the City season 2, but no matter.) To make up for the outfit’s lack of on-the-go storage, her jumpsuit was complemented by yet another teeny Fendi bag, this time as an ankle accessory. All in all, each new costume sneak peek has been a little amuse-bouche for a season undoubtedly filled with loveably questionable fashion.

 

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On January 9, Parker was pictured in a brightly coordinated turquoise and fuchsia get-up (below). Choudhury, whose confident character has become a fan-favourite addition to the group, was spotted wearing a hooded golden gown with painted pin-up bangs and shimmery eyeshadow. The opulent look can only suggest season 2 will be filled with drama, and as it turns out, the show has been foreshadowing this type of theatricality for months.

The tail end of 2022 was filled with chaotic sneak peeks from the upcoming season of And Just Like That…. We saw Charlotte wearing a top hat, a hot pink blazer, and a bustle skirt adorned with bold stripes. We saw Lisa (Charlotte’s mom friend) donning a custom Valentino frock with a towering feathered headpiece. We saw Carrie sporting a reflective polka-dot dress with an oversized bow, fuchsia jacket and two gold hair bows sitting atop her heavily teased hair.

For those who are watching purely for nostalgia, it appears season 2 will offer some sentimental sartorial moments, too. In November, on-set photos showed Carrie in a reimagined version of the Vivienne Westwood wedding dress she wore in the first Sex and the City movie. Other behind-the-scenes shots imply that there will be another sidewalk burglary reminiscent of Carrie’s stolen Fendi baguette bag. The victim this time? Seema and her Birkin.

As these photographic tidbits make their way onto social media, they’ve been met with mixed reactions and skepticism. Is the fashion so over-the-top it’s become bad? Are the showrunners trying too hard? Has And Just Like That… become a lacklustre version of its iconic predecessor? To all of the above, we argue this: The best thing about this franchise is its campy costuming.

With a tendency to wear birds on her head and belts around her bare midriff, Carrie and her clothing choices were never rooted in practicality. Whether she’s stopping the show or just stopping traffic, her enduring reverence for her wardrobe is refreshing. With And Just Like That… season 2, we’re once again gifted that type of street-style nonsense from every angle.

 

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As the characters experiment with their looks — Carrie finds new ways to incorporate birds into her outfits, Miranda’s androgynous wardrobe is more feminine as she explores her queerness, Charlotte is now coordinating with her dog — And Just Like That… champions the message that women can have fun with their styles at any age. Above all, the series knows it looks ridiculous, and, like the show that came before it, it happily leans into that reputation.

The post The Latest Trailer for <em>And Just Like That…</em> Season 2 Is Here appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

RELATED: What to Wear to Pride

We’ll be updating this list all summer long. But in the meantime, peruse our calendar of must-see Pride events happening in Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Vancouver and Montreal.

Toronto, Ont.

Lavender Wild

New this year, Lavender Wild is a one-day festival celebrating queerness. Musical performances include queer pop sensation Hayley Kioko and Juno nominee Shawnee Kish, plus drag from The Virgo Queen and Gay Jesus.

When: June 4, 2 p.m.
Where: Echo Beach

Blockorama 25: Legacies

Blockorama has officially been around the block. Organized by Blackness, Yes! Blockorama is Pride Toronto’s longest-running stage and this year it turns 25. Born from the lack of representation for African, Black and Caribbean LGBTQ community members, Blockorama has put Black excellence on stage for more than two decades. This year’s stage is headlined by Trinidadian singer Nadia Batson.

When: June 25, 2 p.m.
Where: 15 Wellesley St East

Pride Prom 2023: Outcast Paradise

Queer folks experience high school differently from their heterosexual peers. In recent years, queer proms have become a phenomenon, creating safer spaces for queer youth to celebrate the end of school — and themselves! — with other queer youth. This alcohol-free event is for 2SLGBTQ youth aged 21 and under.

When: June 20, 7 p.m.
Where: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Drag Ball

Hosted by local staples Sofonda and Ivory Towers, this annual outdoor drag extravaganza includes a who’s-who of Drag Race talent, from Sasha Colby to Miss Fiercalicous, Kimmy Couture, plus Dragula winner Landon Cider and Call Me Mother’s HercuSleaze.

When: June 24, 6 p.m.
Where: TD Main Stage (Nathan Phillips Square)

Alternaqueer: FLUID

The queerdos will be out in full force for Alternaqueer, an annual Pride staple that celebrates bizarre, outside the box drag and queer performance. Dragula’s Yovska is headlining along with performances from Craven Blood, Mx. Quest and Allysin Chaynes. This year’s theme is FLUID, so bring a raincoat.

When: June 23, 7 p.m.
Where: Bud Light Wellesley Stage

Shut Up Flag!

West End performance collective Kunst Kids is celebrating flags, from hanky codes to the community’s ever-evolving set of Pride flags. Performances by Full Blown Father, Angell Morana, MS. G and Delirios.

When: June 23, 10:30 p.m.
Where: The Baby G

Chaotica

Hosted by drag queen and supermodel Bombae from Canada’s Drag Race, Chaotica is a performance art cabaret that pulls together drag, burlesque and queer messiness. Featuring Miami Dolls star Fantasia Royale Gaga, Feather Talia, Gay Jesus, Cyril Cinder and more. [Ed note: I’m stage managing and if you come, you’ll see me sweeping up feathers.]

When: June 24, 7 p.m.
Where: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

 

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Lady 5 In The Hole

Lady 5 is a night all about taking a chance. It’s a drag competition, but the organizers encourage the audience to dress up too. Hosted by Molly Farton with music by Toronto icon DJ Regina Gently and the whole night is in support of Rainbow Railroad.

When: June 8, 8 p.m.
Where: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Cherry Bomb

Despite being the largest city in Canada, Toronto does not have a single bar that caters specifically to queer women. Cherry Bomb helps fill that void. It’s also an absolutely legendary party with a sweaty dance floor full of queer women, trans and non-binary people, plus their friends and allies. This year’s Pride edition features Cherry Bomb resident DJs Cozmic Cat and Denise Benson, plus DJ Sam from Montreal and more.

When: The Axis Club
Where: June 24, 9 p.m.

Sober Oasis

Pride’s not all about partying: The Sober Oasis was created as a safe space for sober folks at Pride. The tent will host meetings, from 12-Step Groups to SMART Recovery, throughout Pride weekend.

When: June 23-25
Where: Paul Kane Parkette

Edmonton, Alta.

The Edmonton Pride Festival takes place August 18 to 26 but the city has a cascade of queer programming taking place during June for Pride month.

Edmonton Drag Festival

The Edmonton Drag Festival is like Coachella, but for drag in Alberta. It will feature a bunch of Canada’s Drag Race faves  ncludingJada Shada Hudson, Anaquway and Chelazon Leroux are performing, along with rising Call Me Mother star Makayla Couture and loads of local talent.

When: June 17, 11 a.m.
Where: Louise McKinney Riverfront Park

 

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Edmonton Queer History Project Walking Tours

Edmonton Queer History’s summer walking tour series has three tours during Pride Month, including a tour aimed at creating a welcoming city, a tour of the city’s queer night life history and a tour geared at the history of queer politics and protest in Edmonton. Visit the group’s Eventbrite for details about its full suite of summer walks.
When: June 1, 5 p.m.
Where: Churchill Square

Pride Corner on Whyte

The corner of 104 Street and Whyte Avenue, in the heart of Old Strathcona, has been dominated by homophobic street preachers for years. For the past two years, a group of queers and allies have been meeting to drown out the hate with music, dancing, education and love. This Pride, the group is asking queer folks and allies to join them every Friday night.

When: Every Friday in June (and ongoing)
Where: 104 St and Whyte Avenue intersection

Pride Church Service

McDougall United Church has been providing same-gender unions since before they were recognized by Canada. For Pride, the church is offering a special sermon on Sunday, June 4, for the LGBTQ+ community complete with a musical performance.

When: June 4, 10:30 a.m.
Where: McDougall United Church

2S Powwow

On August 24, the Edmonton Pride Festival is set to co-host Alberta’s first ever 2-Spirit Powow in collaboration with the Indigi-Queer performance collective Indigi-Hauz Of Beaver Hills — a group of drag artists that features “kings, queens and everything in between.”

When: August 24
Where: Churchill Square

Y2K

Edmonton queers are dialling the clock all the way back to a time when Electric Circus ruled MuchMusic with a nostalgia-dipped ‘90s dance party, Y2K. The turn-of-the-century-style celebration is being headlined by Canada’s premiere eurodance group, Love Inc., and its most famous cartoon duo, Prozzäk. Get ready to scream “You’re a Superstar” and “Strange Disease” at the top of your lungs.

When: August 25
Where: Churchill Square

Pride @ Churchill Square

Pride Edmonton’s big Saturday night outdoor party features drag by Call Me Mother’s Pepper, plus a performance by Filipino-Canadian producer and performer Ronald Morrera (a certified snack, check their Instagram). The night will be rounded out with Ria Mae, fresh off the release of her new single ‘Please Don’t Go,’ and hometown heroes Stereos.

When: August 26
Where: Churchill Square

 

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St. Albert, Alta.

The city of St. Albert has Pride programming scheduled throughout June.

Queer Prom

Out Loud St. Albert is putting on a queer prom for students in the Albertan city. The early evening dance party is aimed at students grades seven to 12 and will run until 11 p.m. The group is even providing hair and makeup help for anyone who needs it or can’t get ready at home.

When: June 23, 7 p.m.
Where: TBA

Pancake Breakfast

The St. Albert Community Hall is hosting a pride-themed pancake breakfast for early risers at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday June 18. Rainbow pancakes promise to be the star of the show.

When: June 18, 9 a.m.
Where: 17 Perron St. St Albert, AB

Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.

Fort Saskatchewan Pride Week is June 9 to 16. Fort Sask Pride includes an All Bodies Swim, drag bingo and a HIV health care providers workshop. Get the full calendar of events here.

Halifax, N.S.

Last year’s Pride festivities in Halifax included a charming mix of events from friendship speed dating to a BBQ for queer refugees, comedy and drag shows and even a walk for queer dog owners. Then in late 2022, Halifax Pride posted and then deleted an announcement that Pride 2023 wouldn’t be happening. According to reporting in The Coast, what followed included claims of workplace abuse, changes to the board of directors followed and a “smoulder of gossip” that “became wildfire.”

Last month Halifax Pride issued a press release that Pride will, in fact, take place this summer from July 20 to 30, but didn’t provide any event details. The organization is, however, hosting a community meeting on June 2 to answer questions about the festival.

Vancouver. B.C.

The west coast’s biggest Pride celebration, Vancouver Pride, takes place August 5 to 6. The full programming lineup is TBA, but the Vancouver Pride Society just announced a new parade route and a week of wellness events in June.

Queering Sex Education

The quality of sex education Canadians receive as students varies wildly and research has shown queer youth find it difficult to access sexual health information that is relevant to them and their sexual lives and futures. To spread community knowledge, the Pride Society and The Allura Centre are hosting a workshopwith a counsellor, Daniel Oommen, on topics ranging from the spectrum of types of consent, self-pleasure, desire and pleasure-focused sex.

When: June 4, 1 p.m.
Where: cmmngrnd.ca

QTBIPOC Meditation

Cmm Grnd, a fitness and social wellness collective, is also hosting an evening of guided meditation with Eman Salem, an empowerment coach who’s also a documentary producer (one of their films was just at the Seattle Black Film Festival). The event’s aim is to provide QTBIPOC folks a space to rest, heal and be in community.

When: June 8, 8 p.m.
Where: cmmngrnd.ca

 

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Pride Parade

Vancouver’s annual Pride parade is the festival’s signature event and typically pulls in more than 100,000 attendees. This year the Vancouver Pride Society is hoping to pull even more from all over British Columbia and beyond with a new, more accessible parade route, 12 hosts, three accessible viewing zones and a special VIP area.

When: August 6
Where: Davie Street and Denman Street

Montreal, Que.

Fierté Montréal, easily one of the country’s biggest Pride festivals with attendance in the millions, takes place August 3 to 13.

A Family Affair Kiki Ball

This Kiki Ball is a celebration of all kinds of family, from birth to chosen – and even famous families from pop culture. Trophies and cash prizes are both up for grabs.

When: August 5
Where: Le Club Soda

The Aesthetic Activism of ACT UP MONTRÉAL

Montreal was a hub of HIV/AIDS activism in the early 1990s and the site of a monumental protest in the movement in 1989. Gay rights activism and photographer René LeBoeuf, who was also a major player in the fight for marriage equality in Quebec, documented the height of HIV/AIDS activism in Montreal and his photographs from those years will be on display along with banners and signs from protests throughout Pride at Québec’s Gay Archives.

When: Opening August 4
Where: Archives Gaies du Québec

The High Heels Obstacle Race

Ready, set, strut! A flock of drag queens are getting dolled up to compete in a sure-to-be hilarious obstacle race in support of RÉZO, a longstanding local non-profit community organization that supports LGBTQ+ men.

When: August 7
Where: Sainte Catherine Street East, between Alexandre DeSève and de Champlain streets

Drag Superstars

Headlined by Quebecois drag icon Rita Baga, this event features laundry list of fan favourites from Drag Race like Aquaria, Kerri Colby and Heidi N Closet, two Canada’s Drag Race winners – Icesis Couture and Gisèle Lullaby – and top tier drag king talent like Quebec’s own Will Charmer and Dragula winner Landon Cider.
When: August 10, 6 p.m.
Where: Esplanade du Parc Olympique, Scène TD

 

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Pride Parade

Fierté’s parade runs a nearly three kilometre stretch from the city’s former 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbourhood in the west end downtown Montreal to the heart of the current village in the east.

When: August 13 1 p.m.
Where: Boulevard René-Lévesque

Afro Pride

This year’s Afro Pride, which takes the form of a section of the parade, is a special tribute edition honouring Carifiesta, the city’s annual Caribbean Carnival. The queer honouring of the Carifiesta comes after the carnival announced it would not take place in 2023 due to funding issues.

When: August 13 1 p.m.
Where: Boulevard René-Lévesque

Whitehorse, Yukon

Yukon Pride is split across three cities over the course of a month, kick off in Dawson City from July 27 to 30, then Whitehorse from August 5 to 13 and, finally, Watson Lake on August 26. The full schedule is TBA, but Queer Yukon is promising parades and picnics in all three cities, a pop-up Queer Café, musical performances and more. There’s even a Pride Parade Bike Float Making Workshop in Whitehorse on August 1.

Pride Dance Party

Canada’s Drag Race star Ilona Verley is headlining this dance party, which also features performers from the IndigiHauz of Beaver Hillz, DJ SNAXX and Josephine. If you’re not an early riser, Verley’s also performing the next morning at an all ages brunch at The Legion.

When: August 12 9 p.m.
Where: The Local Bar

Queers & Beers

Winterlong Brewing Co. is hosting a Pride patio party for queers and their allies with a special limited edition Rainbow Bright craft brew.

When: August 10, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Winterlong Brewing Co.

Saskatoon, Sask.

Pride Saskatoon takes place throughout all of June, with events ranging from a queer art exhibit to drag shows, dance parties and mini lawn bowling.

What Is Love?

Dance Mix ’95 was a near-perfect collection of songs. The MuchMusic compilation album opens with Whigfield’s “Saturday Night” and closes with Haddaway’s “What Is Love,” taking the listener on a journey through a capsule of mid-90s dance history. The album is the inspiration for this party, which is serving up city views and an open bar.

When: June 1, 6 p.m.
Where: The Winter Garden at Nutrien Tower

Fabulous Feathers

There’s plenty of peacocking at any Pride festival, but only Pride Saskatoon would have an actual bird walk. Hosted by a pair of queer birders, Ryan Bradshaw and Ryan Dudragne (yes, they are adorably both named Ryan). It’s BYOB — bring your own binoculars.

When: June 11, 8:30 a.m.
Where: Donna Birkmaier Park

Victoria. B.C.

Victoria Pride hosts events from June 29 to July 9.

Memorial Drag Ball Game

This annual event has become one of Victoria Pride’s signatures over the years, with its roots dating back to 1993 when a group of friends got together to distract themselves from the community mourning of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The event now draws up to 1,000 attendees and a whole new generation of fans and drag performers.

When: July 1, 11 a.m.
Where: Victoria West Park off Wilson Street

Big Gay Dog Walk

The perfect event for any queer with a four-legged friend. The Big Gay Dog Walk is exactly that – a chance to stroll with your pup and meet other dog owners in the community. Prizes for best costume and best trick are up for grabs.

When: July 8, 4:30
Where: Clover Point

 

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Ottawa, Ont.

Capital Pride / Fierté dans la Capitale takes place from August 19 to 27. The organization has yet to announce its Pride lineup, but it’s hosting a Pride drag show in June.

Celebrate Pride with Marcia Marcia Marcia

Drag Race star Marcia Marcia Marcia is headlining Ottawa’s pre-Pride bash along with Call Me Mother’s Kiki Coe, Mx. Capital Pride 2020 Jelly and TikTok sensation Saltina Shaker.

When: June 17
Where: The Bronson Centre Music Theatre

Winnipeg, Man.

Winnipeg helps kick off Canada’s Pride season. The festival has already begun and runs through June 4.

Pride Hike

Backcountry Women are putting the “out” in outdoors with their Pride Hike. The group has arranged a beginner-friendly 1.5 hour hike open to all corners of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Snacks and a fire to follow!

When: June 1, 6:15 p.m.
Where: Birds Hill Provincial Park

Miss Club 200 Alumni Pride Spectacular

Club 200 has been the heart of Winnipeg’s queer community since 1988 and along the way has crowned many local rising stars as Miss Club 200. On the Friday of Pride weekend, alumni from the pageant dazzle the always-packed crowd.

When: June 2, 10 p.m.
Where: Club 200

The Sunset Pride Lounge

Gorge Festival and Cluster Festival have teamed up once again for 20213 Pride programming that features musician Zaki Ibrahim alongside local legends like Purple Haze and Zoleil Midowne.

When: June 2 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Forks Room 201

Gimli, Man.

This small, lake-side town in Manitoba hosts a one-day Pride festival every year. This year festivities throughout town take place June 10.

Pride Gimli Drag Show & Dance Party

Headlined by Breyanna Burlesque and Poison I.V., Cyan Hyde, and Miss Club 200 2022/23 Zova, this party promises drag, dancing and bar games.

When: June 10, 9 p.m.
Where: Ship and Plough Tavern

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RELATED: The Best Looks From the 2023 Cannes Film Festival

As the festivities took place over the last ten days on the French Riviera, countless A-listers graced the red carpet in their best black-tie attire and most glamorous, jaw-dropping gowns. Some even sported the recently revived exposed bra trend while others opted for uniquely puffy and playful silhouettes. The excitement didn’t just stay on the carpet, though, as many behind-the-scenes moments made waves on social media too. After all, would it even be Cannes without a little drama?

Check out our wrap-up of some of the top moments from the 2023 Cannes Film Festival below.

Rawdah Mohamed stole the show in Robert Wun’s “The Scorched Bride” couture dress

We can’t begin to talk about fashion at this year’s festival without mentioning the stunning Robert Wun gown that Somali model Rawdah Mohamed wore to the premiere of La Passion De Dodin Bouffant. The couture look is known as “The Scorched Bride” dress from Wun’s Spring 2023 horror-themed collection and with the dramatic burn marks on the beautiful silk fabric, it certainly lives up to its name. Stunning details such as its distressed veil and detailed train also make the outfit a red carpet standout. The dress also proves that modesty has a place on red carpets, which is a principle that Mohamed has long been an advocate for.

Brie Larson shuts down a journalist who asked her about Johnny Depp

During a press conference for the jurors at this year’s event, Brie Larson had a tense exchange with a reporter when she was asked about her opinion on about Johnny Depp’s new film, Jeanne du Barry, opening the festival. This comes after months of Depp being in the news for his controversial abuse case with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Larson was visibly confused by the question and told the reporter, “You’re asking me that? I’m sorry, I don’t understand the correlation or why me specifically.” The reporter explained that since Larson has been a vocal supporter of the Time’s Up movement (and was a member of the cause’s celebrity advisory council), he was curious about her thoughts on Depp’s involvement in this year’s festival and if she’d watch his film. In response, Larson ended the awkward exchange by saying, “Well, you’ll see, I guess, if I see it and I don’t know how I’ll feel about it if I do.”

Helen Mirren sported a bold blue hairdo

There were tons of exciting beauty moments (we’re really tempted to get bangs now) on this year’s Cannes red carpet but a standout has to be Helen Mirren‘s colourful hairstyle that perfectly matched her gown. As she attended the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, audiences were blessed with the surprise of seeing Mirren in a beautiful blue dress with a matching azure updo. Fun fact: Lady Gaga sported a similar look back at the 2019 Golden Globes. Who said “feeling blue” is always a bad thing?

Jennifer Lawrence wears flip-flops and Cate Blanchett ditches her high heels 

The “no flat shoes” ban for women at Cannes has been a topic of conversation yet again this year as both Jennifer Lawrence and Cate Blanchett seemingly took a stand against the alleged “rule.” While she didn’t speak out directly on the ban, Lawrence caught lots of media attention when she changed from her red high heels into a pair of black flip-flops before descending the famous Cannes red carpet steps. Blanchett made a more direct statement by telling her audience exactly why she was taking off her heels while presenting the Breakthrough Artist Award to Iranian-French star Zahra Amir Ebrahimi. We’ll certainly be paying attention to the footwear choices at Cannes next year!

An influencer doused herself in artificial blood on the red carpet to raise awareness for the Ukraine war

In one of the more shocking moments from this year’s festivities, a Ukrainian blogger named Ilona Chernobai made a daring political statement ahead of the premiere of the sci-f horror film Acide. As she posed in a blue and yellow dress, which represents the colours of Ukraine’s flag, Chernobai suddenly grabbed two small packets of artificial blood from her dress and poured them on herself before being quickly ushered off the carpet. In an unverified English translation of a statement Chernobai posted on her Instagram account after the protest, the influencer allegedly said, “I took my chance and with this act, I reminded what is happening in Ukraine!!!…People should not forget about us!”

Sam Levinson’s The Idol premiered — and social media had a lot of thoughts

The award for the most controversial screening at this year’s festival has to go to The Idol, a new HBO show from the minds of Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) and producer Reza Fahim starring Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp. The buzzy series focuses on the life of an up-and-coming pop star (played by Depp) and acts as a cautionary tale for the dark side of Hollywood. But why’s it so controversial? In March 2023, Rolling Stone exposed the drama that was going down on the show’s set while explaining how its plot romanticizes abuse and even called it a tale of twisted “torture porn.” Users on social media chimed in to critique the show as well, with many connecting Levinson’s troubling directorial choices to similar Euphoria plotlines while celebrating the bad reviews for the series as they came out. Despite the controversy, Levinson still claims that the series will be “the show of the summer”  — will you be watching?

The post The Buzziest Moments From the 2023 Cannes Film Festival appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

What is The Idol about?

Created by Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd), his producing partner Reza Fahim, and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, The Idol is positioned as a cautionary tale about showbiz and the seedy underbelly of Hollywood. It centres on Jocelyn, a troubled pop star played by Lily-Rose Depp, who gets entangled with Tesfaye’s predatory cult leader character, Tedros. Also starring in the show are Dan Levy, Troye Sivan, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Blackpink’s Jennie Ruby Jane and Hari Nef. Starting June 4, the six-episode series will be available on HBO. New episodes will drop every Sunday, meaning The Idol is following in the footsteps of HBO’s previous internet-dominating hits like Succession, The White Lotus, and Euphoria, which all had the coveted Sunday night streaming spot. In other words, it’s going to be big.

What’s the controversy around The Idol?

It all started in April 2022, when it was revealed that director Amy Seimetz was dropping out of the project after roughly 80 per cent of it was finished and a rumoured $54 to 75 million had been spent. Following the announcement of a creative overhaul, HBO appointed Levinson as The Idol’s new director — and he reportedly scrapped the entire thing. There was no one clear reason given for this change, but reports claim that Tesfaye felt the show was leaning too much into a “female perspective.”

The underlying air of uncertainty surrounding its production came to a fever pitch in March 2023 when Rolling Stone released an exposé about the troubling on-set culture and the script’s descent into chaos, at the hands of Levinson. After interviewing 13 members of the cast and crew, the publication reported that the director watered down the show’s message by “dialling up the disturbing sexual content and nudity.” As a result, sources claimed that the show romanticizes abuse, with some describing it as a “rape fantasy” and “torture porn.”

Essentially, what was originally a story about the trappings of fame and the exploitation of women was weakened to “a show about a man who gets to abuse this woman and she loves it,” as one source told Rolling Stone. Notably, HBO and the stars of the show have since pushed back on these claims. Depp released a statement to Rolling Stone praising Levinson as a director, while Tesfaye took a more public approach, tweeting a clip from the show in which his character calls the publication “irrelevant.” Cut to nearly three months in the future: incoming reviews of The Idol seem to align with Rolling Stone’s claims (but more on that later).

What’s Sam Levinson’s deal?

For starters, being provocative is kind of his whole shtick. After a meteoric rise to fame following Euphoria’s trendsetting success, the director’s work has been increasingly scrutinized. Even loyal Euphoria fans tend to have a fraught relationship with Levinson, as his storytelling style on the show has been criticized for exploiting trauma, over-sexualizing women (who are playing teenagers), and pushing triggering mental health content. Along with its beloved trance-inducing cinematography and escapist energy, Euphoria has also garnered a reputation for blurring the boundaries of what is ethical. And now, The Idol is being called a more extreme version of that.

What are critics saying about The Idol?

Ahead of its release, reviews are doubling down on murmurs of The Idol’s on-screen messiness. Vulture, for instance, cites “porn-adjacent” sex scenes, reductive writing and nearly constant nudity or partial nudity from Depp’s Jocelyn, while the male characters remain fully clothed. As the backlash ramps up, so too does the buzz — and perhaps that’s the point. At a press conference in Cannes, when asked about how he avoided taking sex scenes too far, Levinson reportedly replied, “Sometimes, things that might be revolutionary are taken too far.” Later, he revealed that after reading the scathing Rolling Stone feature, he felt assured that The Idol would be “the biggest show of the summer.”

So, what can viewers expect from The Idol?

Hyper-aestheticized storytelling is Sam Levinson’s calling card…so lots of that. After all, Euphoria’s undeniable influence is first and foremost rooted in kaleidoscopic visuals and a hypnotic soundtrack. Regardless of the show’s writing letdowns, it has always delivered irresistibly watchable vibes. Already brimming with tantalizing fashion and hazy imagery, it seems The Idol and its plot-point extremities are set to follow the same winning formula. Will it be successful? Should it be? Only time will tell.

The post Why Is <Em>The Idol</Em> So Controversial? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

RELATED: What Is Mermaidcore?

When we hear a celeb is going “method,” we can have an unsavoury impression of what that means. The controversial technique is known for seeing an actor throw themselves fully into a role, on and off camera. Think Jared Leto reportedly sending his castmates unwelcome gifts in the name of playing the Joker, or Lady Gaga adopting an Italian accent and living in character for 18 months while filming House of Gucci. Method dressing, on the other hand, is innocuous (and impressive), because it involves submerging oneself into a role using only clothes and accessories. At its core, method dressing is when actors take aspects of a film — like the plot, the scenery, and the characters — and apply them to their red-carpet or street-style ensembles. Simply put, it’s sartorial storytelling at its finest.

Case in point: Ahead of The Little Mermaid‘s premiere on May 26, Bailey has stuck to an array of Ariel-approved ensembles. When performing on American Idol, she donned a custom Michael Fausto mermaid silhouette, inspired by the Disney princess herself. At the UK premiere, her Miss Sohee look had a subtle tail shape and an ornate beaded headpiece. A week earlier, she went viral in a metallic number from Valdrin Sahiti, featuring a shell-like bra and corseted bodice resembling splashing water. When attending the premiere in Mexico City, she emerged in a Georges Chakvra pearl-embellished dress, her billowing skirt made with netted detailing.

This under-the-sea oeuvre is nothing if not intentional. It’s a narrative that Bailey’s stylist, Nicky Good, has been crafting for months. At the Oscars, Bailey sported a gauzy blue Dolce & Gabbana princess ballgown before slipping into a sculptural Maison Yeya after-party dress reminiscent of flowing water. At the Met Gala, her white Gucci cape garnered comparisons to sea foam, coral, and jellyfish tendrils. Of course, with each new look, hype for the film has only grown. Herein lies the tried-and-true power of method dressing.

Zendaya and image architect Law Roach have long been masters of this pr strategy. Over the years, Roach has weaved references into Zendaya’s red-carpet looks when promoting a new project. Take Spider-Man: No Way Home. To the premiere in 2021, Zendaya wore a custom Valentino gown with spider web embroidery and a superhero eye mask. At another screening, she sported an Alexander McQueen suit jacket dripping with crystal web detailing and statement spider-web earrings.

In advance of 2017’s The Greatest Showman, Zendaya wore exuberant colour blocking that referenced the circus setting, while her suited ensembles channelled a ringmaster. For 2021’s Dune, each of her showstopping get-ups paid homage to the sci-fi universe, from her character’s uniform to the desert of the fictional planet Arrakis.

The beauty of this technique? It allows the actor to establish a defining career era in line with each respective project. Exhibit A: Jenna Ortega has been faithful to goth aesthetics since starring in Netflix’s Wednesday, making her basically synonymous with the character. Then there’s Zoë Kravitz, who reliably stunned in sleek leather trenches as well as bat and cat motifs to mark her role as the elusive Catwoman in 2022’s The Batman.

Unlike method acting — which can cause stars to get stuck in the fictional mind of the person they’re playing — method dressing flourishes on the premise of reinvention. When promoting 2015’s Cinderella, Lily James embraced a princess-style alter ego with voluminous ballgowns and glass slippers. Cut to 2022: She had a decidedly sexier look to promote her role as Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy, even cosplaying the ’90s icon in a Baywatch swimsuit-inspired dress.

But perhaps some of the best method dressing of all time took place surrounding the Maleficent series. Starring Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora and Angelina Jolie as the titular witch, the leading duo consistently mirrored their starkly contrasting aesthetics. At the 2019 premiere, Fanning wore a Gucci fairytale-like design emblazoned with droplets of blood — a reference to the tale of Sleeping Beauty pricking her finger. The same night, Jolie opted for a severe Versace gown with a scorpion brooch, evoking unmistakable sorceress imagery. In dressing as polar opposites, they brought the film to life.

Ultimately, method dressing sees stars skillfully play up their roles without assuming the entire personality of the character, making it all the more interesting. As for whether Halle Bailey really is an undercover mermaid? It’s still up for debate. She certainly looks the part, though. And that’s the whole point.

The post Halle Bailey, <Em>The Little Mermaid</Em>, and the Art of Method Dressing appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

TikTok beauty influencer. CBD gummy entrepreneur. Low-key party animal, first-time restaurateur and, now, Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover star. Media mogul Martha Stewart is feeling herself, living it up and still making serious bank—at age 81.

From her coastal grandmother aesthetic (which she rebukes for the record), to her genuinely close friendship with Snoop Dogg, the model-turned-stockbroker-turned-caterer-turned-DIY-icon continues to delight and surprise us.

Here are just a few of the reasons why Stewart is having the last laugh.

 

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Her social media posts are an exercise in self-love

Ever since the famously reserved Stewart stunned fans by posting her first smouldering thirst-trap from her East Hamptons pool last July, she’s been leaning into the pure joy that is her selfie game. Just a few weeks ago, for her 81st birthday, she shared a shot of her gravity-defying face—revealing a little bit of tipsiness and a whole lot of confidence.

In true DIY fashion, Martha Stewart also generously shares her hot tips which anyone can use at any age: “Just look good and pose with a provocative look on your face,” she tells Insider. Her smize would make Tyra Banks proud.

She’s still checking off her life goals

Stewart is a savvy businesswoman. She modeled—for Chanel among others—from her teens to her early twenties to supplement her Barnard College scholarship. She’s published 97 cookbooks to date. At one time, she was worth a billion dollars. She’s never needed her own restaurant, but she’s always wanted one, so why not now? At the media luncheon for her first ever full-service eatery, The Bedford by Martha Stewart at Paris Las Vegas,  the doyenne of domesticity recreated a larger-than-life replica of her upstate New York farmhouse. (Unfortunately, sans roaming peacocks and donkey baths.) It’s an ode to the home Stewart has lived in for more than 20 years, where she spent the early part of the pandemic concocting Martha-ritas, and where, 17 years ago, she served the five-month home confinement part of her sentence for insider trading. (Her prison nickname was M. Diddy). If Martha Stewart has taught us anything, it’s that it’s never too late to rebrand, no matter your age.

 

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She’s having more fun with fashion

The dame of good taste has always had iconic style, but in her golden years, she’s taking on more risks—and glitter. At The Bedford opening party, Stewart wowed on the red carpet in a yellow, feathered Valentino gown. She knows high fashion, but she can also go low. The next morning, her Instagram outfit of the day was a sparkly and inexpensive sweatsuit by Fashion Nova paired with matchy Simon Miller clogs. The OG influencer cleverly used this playful fashion moment on TikTok too, with a montage of her younger years to the track of the 2000s hit single “Teenage Dirtbag.”

 

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Her youthfulness is also a state of mind 

Stewart is a knockout who clearly takes her looks seriously (her very expensive face looks a few decades younger than it really should), but she has no trouble poking fun at herself, which makes her even more appealing.In a series of chic-yet-hammy TikTok beauty videos she starred in for Clé de Peau earlier this year, she plays along with her famous “it’s a good thing” meme and  “parodies not only herself but the whole idea of hard-sell beauty ads,” writes the New York Times. From her “thirst trap 101” explainer to her viral “recipe for hydrated skin,” Martha Stewart is pumping out the beauty content, and we can’t get enough. The latter has been viewed more than 48 million times.

 

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She hasn’t given up on love (and odd friendships)

It might still surprise people that the octogenarian queen of crafting is friends with Snoop (not to mention Drake and Justin Bieber), but the pair have been consistently showing up to support each other for years. They hit it off when he came on her show to make “green”  brownies for Christmas and they’ve since collaborated on many fun business projects together, including her eponymously named wine on his 19 Crimes label: Martha’s Chard.

And even though Stewart laughed off rumours she was dating her longtime friend, Pete Davidson, 28,  after he and Kim Kardashian split up,  she’s been open about wanting a romance in her life, joking that she’s waiting for her friends to “just die” so she can date their husbands.

For Martha Stewart, aging can also be “a good thing” and it’s never too late to try something new.

The post No One Is Having More Fun Than Martha Stewart in Her 80s appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

November 16, 2010 is a day that will go down in history. After seven years of dating, Prince William and Kate Middleton announced they were engaged. Finally! And for the fashion world, it was the day the “Kate effect” was born. Within minutes of appearing at the photocall, Catherine’s blue Issa London wrap dress sold out in the UK — and it went on to sell out in 43 countries including the United States. Such has been the case for so many Kate Middleton outfits since.

RELATED: Colour, Tailoring and Hats Reigned Supreme at King Charles III’s Coronation

Kate gave her first press interview that day, sitting down for the traditional engagement interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby, and she didn’t give another one for nine years. But like Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and countless people in politics (hey, Michelle Obama), Kate’s clothes tell us her story. Her engagement dress established who the Duchess of Cambridge would be as a royal: perfectly appropriate, full of symbolic gestures — the sapphire blue colour of the Issa dress was a subtle nod to Princess Diana’s own engagement outfit — and always flying the fashion flag for Britain. “I think she’s acutely aware of the power she wields which is why we see her choose the labels she wears so carefully,” Bethan Holt, author of The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style, tells FASHION.

There is a message behind every blouse, necklace, handbag and pair of shoes Kate wears. And as the duchess reaches a decade of marriage (and royal duty) on April 29, her power is becoming clearer than ever. Here, we dive a little deeper into those fashion choices and the story they tell.

Soft diplomacy at its finest

“Kate is a future queen and wife and mother to two future kings so she chooses outfits which encompass that,” says Holt. “They’re elegant, regal and epitomize how seriously she takes her role by supporting British designers and symbolizing the royal family’s soft power.” Shortly after her engagement, Kate had her first day on the job at a royal engagement in North Wales. She somehow had to show the world that this commoner was ready to one day be queen consort. A fascinator was obviously the solution. Designed by British designer Vivien Sheriff, the fascinator featured military badges, including the Royal Welch Fusiliers, of which Prince Charles is Colonel-in-Chief. It was a subtle nod to the family she was joining and its role supporting the Armed Forces.

But Catherine’s most symbolic fashion moment was undoubtedly her Alexander McQueen wedding dress. The royal family’s job is to “strengthen national unity” and Kate weaved that duty into her gown’s bodice and skirt. Beautifully intertwined in the lace were roses, thistles and shamrocks representing England, Scotland and Ireland respectively, as well as daffodils for Wales. This might be the most stunning example of soft diplomacy.

The Duchess of the high street

When the Duchess of Cambridge left Buckingham Palace after her wedding, she walked across the palace lawn in a $90 Zara dress. “She knows that people love to see her as ‘normal,’” Holt says. The duchess joined the royal family at a unique time, explains Holt. The Queen and Diana didn’t have to contend with the internet, and fans being able to identify what they’re wearing (and where to buy it) within minutes. Fashion sleuths have quickly found Kate’s $65 Topshop maternity dress, $30 Gap pants and $8 Zeen earrings (among many other items).“There was also this growing expectation for the royal family to be more ‘relatable’ when Kate came onto the scene so it made sense for her to make wearing [the] high street her ‘thing.’”

A new work uniform

In 2018, we saw a new Duchess of Cambridge. Fresh from her third maternity leave, she sashayed into the Victoria & Albert Museum in a tweed Erdem dress with an edgy neckline, zippy hemline, bold earrings and velvet shoes. Holt says there was definitely an “I’m back and better than ever” feel to Catherine’s look that we never saw after her previous mat leaves. “It felt like a signal that she was ready and willing to take on more royal responsibilities, to step into her future and to use fashion very cleverly to do that,” Holt explains.

Over the following months we saw small tweaks to Kate’s wardrobe — there were still coat dresses, clutches and her beloved nude pumps, but she added wide-legged trousers, handbags and block heels. It was a spin on the uniform she frequently wore to royal engagements for her early years’ work, showing how seriously she took her duties (and how seriously she wanted to be taken). “The duchess is astute enough to understand that glamour is a huge part of her appeal and that she can harness that to make even more impact in her work,” Holt explains. Say, the glamour of a duchess arriving at an event in a Gucci blouse, purposely worn backwards. The media went wild and her picture (and her work supporting children) was on front pages everywhere. “She was reluctant to embrace this too much in the early years of her marriage but now she’s learnt to use it for good,” Holt says.

Flying the flag for Britain (and shopping local)

From her very first day as a royal-to-be, Kate has supported British fashion (remember the Issa dress?). And she’s done a damn good job of it, boosting the British fashion economy by $1 billion a year. But like the rest of us, she’s changed her shopping habits over the last year. “She’s joining the huge movement towards shopping small and local which has been fuelled by lockdowns,” Holt says. In September 2020, Kate stepped out wearing a new necklace with each of her kids’ initials. The piece was made by Irish brand All the Falling Stars, who had orders from around the world for the necklace Kate wore. The designer has had to enlist help from her family and friends to help with shipping orders! Later in 2020, the duchess debuted a new leather bag by Grace Han and the Kate effect struck again. Sales doubled for the London-based designer. “It’s a combination of her ever-growing confidence and her consciousness that she can really elevate the brands that she wears,” Holt says.

Our future Princess of Wales

The next decade poses a new duty for Catherine — becoming the Princess of Wales when her husband becomes King of England. Does that mean a new style? “I don’t think there will be radical changes but we might see the duchess adopt more and more of a uniform, like the Queen,” says Holt. And truly, who better to emulate in fashion and duty than Her Majesty?

The post Kate Middleton’s Style and the Soft Power in Her Fashion Choices appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Every year at the start of May, red dresses can be seen hanging from trees, statues and front doors across Canada. These hollow vermilion silhouettes make a sartorial statement on the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.

The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) is widely recognized as Red Dress Day, and Canadians are encouraged to hang and wear red as a means of drawing attention to gendered and racialized crimes against Indigenous peoples.

@resilientinuk May 5th – Show Your Support #may5 #reddressday #wearred #showsupport ♬ original sound – Resilient Inuk

“The red dress itself is a visual reminder of the staggering number of Indigenous women who are no longer with us,” explains Cory Hunlin, a two-spirit Tsilhqot’in artist. “I have been raised by powerful Indigenous women: my mom, grandma, aunties and relatives. [They] have all been affected by the residential school system. So for me, to see what’s still going on today is heart-wrenching and hits close to home.”

The annual observation of Red Dress Day came from The REDress Project, an art installation created by Métis artist Jamie Black in 2010. The exhibit of empty hanging red dresses has since traveled to different cities across North America. Over a decade later, Red Dress Day remains a means of recognizing those that have been lost while raising awareness around ongoing calls for justice.

In 2019, the Canadian government released the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S. ​​The report gathered the stories of nearly 2,400 people, including experts, survivors and family members of those who have been lost. It stated that systemic violence towards Indigenous women has resulted in a lack of safety and security, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable.

The report outlined 231 individual Calls for Justice, which include addressing intergenerational trauma, marginalization and the disregard for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Indigenous women make up only 4.3 per cent of the population in Canada, but comprise 16 per cent of all female homicide victims and 11 per cent of missing women. Despite growing awareness of these alarming statistics and national calls to action, systemic barriers have continued to worsen for Indigenous women, who, as of April 2022, make up half of the female population in federal prisons.

This is why understanding the significance behind occasions like Red Dress Day is so important. “Red Dress Day means that we’re closer to finding justice and peace for these families affected,” says Michelle Chubb, a Swampy Cree artist and content creator located in Winnipeg. “It means a better future for my daughter so she doesn’t have to live in fear, like most of us.”

Red has become a symbol for MMIWG2S across Canada. It represents blood, earth and strength, but it also holds sacred symbolism. “It is said that red is the only colour spirits can see,” explains Vanessa Brousseau, an Inuk and Ojibwe artist, in a TikTok video. “The red dress represents a calling back to the spirits of these women; allowing them a chance to be among us and have their voices heard through family members and community.”

@indigenous_baddie National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls. Please educate yourself & be aware of what Indigenous Women & Girls have to face everyday. I want to have a better future for Pîsim & acknowledging about this crisis is a step forward to finding justice & peace. #MMIWG #awareness #may5th ♬ Eyabay – Jingle Dress

Violence against Indigenous peoples remains urgent and under-discussed. “I encourage everyone to wear red, hang a red dress, and donate to organizations [working] directly with [victims’] families,” says Hunlin. But that’s just the beginning. “Read the report from National Inquiry into MMIWG2S+. Attend virtual discussions, vigils, walks and any space where families and advocates are taking the time to organize and educate.”

Learning about these issues, donating to organizations and supporting Indigenous artists, creators and small businesses are vital steps non-Indigenous Canadians can take towards reconciliation. “Education is violence prevention,” Hunlin concludes.

Below, find some resources and small businesses to support on Red Dress Day and beyond.

Resources:

Kairos Canada: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Information Hub

National Inquiry Into Missing Indigenous Women and Girls

The Native Women’s Association of Canada: MMIWG & Violence Prevention

What Their Stories Tell Us: Research Findings From The Sisters In Spirit Initiative

Indigenous small businesses:

This Claw

Inuk360

Assinewe Jewelry

Resilient Inuk Creations

Cheekbone Beauty

Renee Bell Designs

The post Here’s What You Should Know About Red Dress Day appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

RELATED: We Just Got Another Look At the Barbie Movie

The cast of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming movie descended upon CinemaCon on April 25, and Gosling was in fine Ken form. Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie, wore a preppy pink gingham two-piece set, which could have come straight from Mattel’s design book. Next to her, a spray-tanned Gosling appeared in a pair of dark wash jeans, a hot pink bomber jacket, and a white T-shirt with Gerwig’s name in Barbie bubble letters. With this, we can further understand a fundamental truth about the world: Gosling was made for this role.

In any given sneak peek of the viral film, Ryan Gosling can be seen wearing a chest-exposing top — his oiled-up abs contoured to cartoonish perfection — looking off into the distance at presumably nothing at all. Armed with bleach-blonde hair and a taste for eye-assaulting colours, Gosling looks at home as Ken. His on-screen trailer moments comprise a groan here, a wink there, and a general sense of befuddlement delivered with each line. Personality-wise, he gives nothing. And it’s sublime.

The thing is, Barbie is everything. She’s had over 200 careers, 20-plus dreamhouses, and a revolving door of wardrobe options that only gets more iconic with time. How does her boyfriend compete with that? Hint: he doesn’t. As the movie marketing states, he’s literally “just Ken.” He was created to be Barbie’s boyfriend; his raison d’être is to make her happy. Refreshingly, Ryan Gosling gets this. “Nobody plays with Ken [dolls],” Gosling said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon back in July. He outlined Ken’s lack of prospects: no job, no money, no house. “He’s an accessory, and not even one of the cool ones.”

Even still, to be “just Ken,” one cannot be just good-looking. You must also understand the essence of Barbie’s beau, and Gosling does. He waxed his entire body for the role. He’s crafted a demeanour that is both hilarious and void of intentional humour. For months in interviews, he can’t stop bringing up an elusive “Kenergy.” Can it be taught? How is it measured? He never really says. But if the below video of him dancing circa 1992 is any indication, Gosling’s Kenergy is innate.

“This has been coming my whole life,” he told Variety. “I felt like I was seeing myself. I felt seen. I think a lot of Kens will feel seen when they see this.” Ken may be undeniably insignificant, but his big screen debut fills a void. Cinema doesn’t need another villain-fighting action hero or world-saving detective. Hollywood needs something much, much more important: Himbo representation. Defined as “an attractive but vacuous man,” the Himbo’s objective beauty may be initially intimidating, but his simple heart of gold always shines through. This archetype, in all his benign glory, has become an unlikely hero in recent years. Nobody fits that bill more than Ken, and Gosling embodies the side character with gravitas.

When he was first announced for the role, there was some online backlash. Critics said he wasn’t young enough to play the plastic boyfriend, lamenting that he lacked the Ken look. But with each new sneak peek, the 42-year-old has been proving that he not only understands the assignment, he was born for it.

“Up until this point, I only knew Ken from afar,” Gosling reportedly told the crowd at CinemaCon, discussing his approach to filming. “I didn’t know Ken from within. I doubted my Kenergy.” Lucky for us, he seems to have found it.

His CinemaCon get-up was not the first sign of his metamorphosis into the Mattel doll. Last summer, he donned an array of pastel suits when promoting his movie The Gray Man. More recently, on April 20, he sported highlighted grown-out hair and a pink dress shirt to an event in London, inevitably garnering Malibu Ken comparisons.

And, like Ken, Gosling’s Barbie reverence spills into each conversation. When asked about Margot Robbie’s cryptic clue that the movie is not what viewers expect, Gosling responded, “I would never correct Barbie…I would say whatever Barbie says is exactly right,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “Wait, what are we talking about?” he said moments later. Give this man an Oscar, stat!

We may still be months out from Barbie‘s anticipated release on July 21, 2023. But with Ryan Gosling as Ken, all is good in the world.

The post Ryan Gosling Was Born To Play Ken appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

RELATED: Gen Z Revives Y2K Fashion and Its Obsession with Thinness

Grande’s appearance, like that of every other person in Hollywood, has long been a topic of conversation. But over the last few weeks, celebrity-watchers-turned-health-watchdogs have picked up on something new. In a since-deleted video that’s now been endlessly stitched, duetted and quoted, a TikTokker says they’re concerned about Grande “wasting away over the years.” The kicker? They compare a photo of her when she was 15 to a current photo of her at age 29 to illustrate this perceived Ariana Grande body change.

“I don’t do this often,” Grande begins in her three-minute video statement that’s garnered a whopping 60-million views. “I don’t like it. I’m not good at it. But I just wanted to address your concerns about my body, and talk a little bit about what it means to be a person with a body and to be seen and to be paid such close attention to.” OK, you have my attention.

@arianagrande♡♬ original sound – arianagrande

“There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful. And personally, for me, the body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body,” she continues. “I was on a lot of antidepressants and drinking on them and eating poorly and at the lowest point of my life when I looked the way you consider my healthy, but that, in fact, wasn’t my healthy.”

Her confessional continues in the same vein, stressing that “healthy can look different,” that you never know what someone is going through and that everyone is beautiful, “no matter what weight, no matter how you like to do your makeup these days, no matter what cosmetic procedures you’ve had — or not — or anything,” she says.

It is, by all accounts, a desperate grasping for humanity, something often elusive to celebrities (and, mind you, to anyone who doesn’t fit the mold of the Western standard of beauty). It’s a desperation that I can’t, as a normie, understand on Grande’s level, but can as a woman with a body that’s very much on the internet, never to be erased, and as a fat person who deeply empathizes with the fervent need to address the “but” in these conversations, as Grande does in her statement. But I’m healthier now. But I’m happier now. But look at me now. But I was sad then. But.

Here’s the bigger picture: As a society, we fail to agree on the fact that no one — no celebrity or regular ass human being — owes anyone anything as it relates to their bodies. No explanations about weight loss or gain, about plastic surgery or procedures, about genitalia or gender representation.The list goes on. We fail at this perhaps because we love to, for lack of a better word, consume them. We eagerly scroll through paparazzi photos. We look at before-and-after pictures to make us feel better about ourselves; to remind ourselves that celebrities aren’t, in fact, infallible. I’m not immune to this. I want to feel less alone, too. I want to know that it isn’t just me; that even the richest, most famous people in the world share my struggles, too.

 

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But there is a delusion around celebrity, the delusion being that we (the public) have the right to comment on their bodies; a right justified by these people choosing to be in the limelight and therefore choosing to be critiqued and picked apart relentlessly. What we really mean to say is we feel badly about our own bodies, and prefer to be critical of others — the ones who deserve it. The ones who asked for it. What we don’t see is how doing this means we’re doing it to ourselves and to each other, too.

And when we don’t feel comfortable doing that — commenting on celebrity weight gain and loss because we allegedly know right from wrong — we pivot to “health.” Because caring about someone’s health is legitimate, despite not being their doctor (or any kind of healthcare professional, period), right? What happens now is not the fault of Grande’s, but the conditioning of a world and a wellness pedagogy that says true beauty is health, that if you’re healthy then you must be beautiful, too, and that we owe health to ourselves and to the world. This kind of health can be seen and performed (read: gorgeous skin, a lean body, drinking green juice, going to the gym). At least, we think we can see and do it.

We can’t. And unfortunately, Grande assuring that “healthy can look different” and that hers looks like what she implies — getting off antidepressants, drinking less, eating healthier and getting smaller as a perhaps unintended result — feeds the idea that we have to be healthy to be respected at all. Because that’s what she’s asking for; an understanding and respect from the millions of people who “know” her that this is her version of healthy.

RELATED: I Identify as Body Positive, But I Still Think About Losing Weight *A Lot*

On a smaller scale, I know what it’s like to be held under a microscope. As someone who has been an athlete, who likes to move their body, I feel the pressure to justify why I’m “still fat,” to address those aforementioned “buts.” As a person who’s been sober for five years, I feel the pressure to explain my own weight gain and to reckon with the fact that people definitely thought I looked healthier when I was keeping myself small using drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, and by over-exercising and monitoring everything that went into my body. Do you want me to be healthy, or do you just want me to be smaller? is a question that used to torture me. Now the answer to this rhetorical question is a sad truth I hold with compassion and a gentle knowing that it doesn’t f-cking matter.

There’s a reason why celebrities escape the spotlight when something is wrong. They go to rehab, they stop touring, they hide. This is why. We’re so preoccupied with other people’s bodies and by proxy our own that we, Grande included, can’t see the bigger picture. The picture being that healthy doesn’t look like anything at all. It’s not a number on a scale or a pant size or clear skin or long, glossy hair. It’s not a diet or an absence of needing medication to get by. It’s not a lack of mental illness, of chronic conditions, of needing substances to cope with the pain of *gestures vaguely* this.

Yes, we should, as Grande says, be less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies and health. But we should also feel less pressured to justify our own, and instead reframe how we think about health entirely — and the things we absolutely owe no one but ourselves.

The post Celebrities Like Ariana Grande Don’t Need To Justify Their Bodies appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

RELATED: Barbiecore and Western Wear Are a Perfect Match

With each new crop of behind-the-scenes pictures or viral teasers, there is no discernible storyline — just a hit of dopamine and a Pepto Bismol-dipped dose of childhood nostalgia. On these vibes alone, Barbie has managed to captivate the world.

The latest trailer, released April 4, is an intoxicatingly chaotic viewing experience. It starts with a shot of Barbie (Margot Robbie) slipping off her feather mules, only for her bare feet to be permanently gelled in a pointed position. Right away, this flagrant disregard for foot health pokes fun at the unrealistic body standards that have come to define Barbie’s It girl image. And it serves as a harbinger of many delightful oddities to come.

Throughout the nearly two-minute sequence, everything looks sticky and bright (as it should). We have pink sand, cartoon buildings and plastic convertibles. The casting spans from Dua Lipa to Issa Rae to Canadian actor Michael Cera. We have a sea of saturated preppy styles and resort wear, including sugary tweed separates, retro menswear hotpants and lots of gingham. The costumes, conceived by Jacqueline Durran, are seemingly void of designer labels to further capture the make-believe nature of Barbie Land. But this extensive world-building doesn’t stop at the film’s marketing. Barbie is not just a movie, it’s a pop culture movement that is traversing industries. Look no further than the posters.

Everyone knows the most important step in achieving world domination is becoming a meme. Enter the now-ubiquitous Barbie banners. The minds behind the project have created an AI selfie generator, using science for good by allowing anyone to insert themselves into the Mattel world. As a result, in a few short days, Barbie has usurped nearly every other cinematic universe. The Devil Wears Prada may as well have been shot in Barbie Land. The Succession cast is suspiciously believable as respective plastic dolls. Pearl, the budding horror character du jour (played by Mia Goth), somehow seamlessly fits into the peppy branding. Even inflatable rats are getting a sparkly main character moment. And if they haven’t been made into Barbie, beloved pop culture figures have been brought into the Barbie multiverse as fans, from The Hunger Games characters to Scream’s murderous villain Ghostface. It’s a meme with a clear message: everyone is currently enthralled with Barbie.

The Barbie-fication of pop culture pushes back on the unattainable exclusivity that has historically overshadowed the doll’s legacy. By embracing its over-the-top essence and doubling down on its unrealistic campiness, the Barbie film has concocted an interactive lore that compels us all to get involved. Barbie is for everyone because Barbie is for no one. By reclaiming all its tired tropes, the Barbie movie is democratizing the ultimate symbol of aspiration. And for a franchise that has long been viewed as “girly” and therefore less important, Barbie’s 2023 ubiquity is pretty radical. The sheer excitement has even inspired a cultural revisiting of decades-old animated doll-centred movies — nay, “ancient texts.”

It’s not hard to see why we’re all glomming onto Barbie Land now. Yes, the Barbie movie offers a “look, pretty!” reprieve from the slog of every day. But with self-aware jokes and over-embellished artificial visuals, it also promises deeper commentary. The marketing of the film is intentionally vague and void of plot points. Margot Robbie has been notoriously tight-lipped about the project, apart from the occasional “expect the unexpected.” As such, each sneak peek is a fever dream of candy-coated nothingness, in which characters bask in blissful ignorance. And I think that’s the point. Barbie is a genetically modified carrot being dangled in front of us all, only to sneakily deliver a real message when we least expect it.

Social media profiles everywhere have been replaced with make-shift movie posters, the franchise’s hot pink is still a trending colour, and there are ample sleuthing series dedicated to decoding hints from the film’s marketing. Gerwig’s refreshed version of Barbie is heading for global domination, and there’s no end in sight. One day, perhaps nothing else will exist — the world will be only Barbie. And you know what? I’m OK with that.

The post It’s <Em>Barbie</Em>’s World, We’re Just Living in It appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Do you think we’ll all be a little sick of singing “come on Barbie, let’s go party?” by the time Barbie actually comes out in July 2023? Considering how long the film has been teased already, it’s not an entirely unfair question. Despite the fact that the first official Barbie teaser just dropped, the film has been in its hype era for way longer.

RELATED: Barbiecore and Western Wear Are a Perfect Match

In July of this year, the internet couldn’t stop obsessing over images of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, spray tanned to golden California deliciousness, rollerblading at Venice Beach in blinding neon ’fits. News of Robbie’s casting as the iconic Mattel doll was confirmed in April but rumoured for far longer. But the film itself, a live action adaptation of Barbie world, has been in the works since 2014 (!), according to Entertainment Weekly. Here’s the scoop on that, plus everything else to know about the buzzy Barbie movie.

When is Barbie going to be released?

The film is slated to be released on July 21, 2023.

margot robbie’s outfits in greta gerwig’s barbie so far, costume design by jacquelien durran ༺☆༻ pic.twitter.com/5ZeKyPUWci

— ❦ (@saintdoII) December 16, 2022

 

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A post shared by BARBIE (@barbiethemovie)

Who is starring in the live-action Barbie movie?

The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, stars Margot Robbie as the titular doll and Ryan Gosling as (who else?) Ken. And alongside the plastic power couple is a seriously star-studded cast, some of who appear in the teaser trailer. This includes Issa Rae, Canadian Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, America Ferrera, Hari Nef and Will Ferrell. When the studio released brand-new character posters for the film on April 4, it was also revealed that singer Dua Lipa will star as a mermaid in the film.

 

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Wasn’t Amy Schumer originally going to play Barbie?

That is correct. Schumer was initially tapped to star as the blonde doll in 2016 when the film, billed as a new feminist take on the famous 1950s doll, was in development by Sony. The comedian left the project in 2017 due to “creative differences,” with Sony rumoured to have been wooing Anne Hathaway for the role. More delays sidelined the film and in 2019, it moved over to Warner Bros. and Gerwig, famous for directing Lady Bird and Little Women, took over.

barbie (2023) is going to change cinema pic.twitter.com/mGMZ2EPACw

— sasha (@pridenprcjudice) December 16, 2022

What happens in the Barbie teaser trailers?

Well, you can see for yourself below, but basically nothing…and everything. The first peek audiences got at the live-action film in December 2022 included Margot Robbie’s Barbie emerging in a dusty desert at the dawn of time, clad in a classic striped bather and open-toe mules, naturally. There are super-tight curled bangs. We’ve got flashes of Ryan Gosling in a fringed leather vest with a 10-pack of bronzed abs peeking out underneath. There are brief snippets of dance numbers featuring Issa Rae and Simu Liu. Oh, and an image of Barbie looking out into a very pink Barbie world (Barbieland? Barbieverse?). I don’t think we get to see the Barbie RV but then again, most of it flashes so quickly, it feels more like a fever dream than a Barbie teaser.

Lucky for us, fans got a deeper look at the forthcoming film on April 4 when Warner Bros. released a second longer teaser trailer. We get a hint at the plot, which shows Barbie and Ken travelling from Barbie Land to the real world, along with tons of iconic Barbie fashion — think pink gingham and marabou mules for the gals and denim vests and neon rollerblades for the guys.

Stay tuned as more is inevitably revealed about Barbie in the coming months. After all, life in plastic, it’s fantastic.

The post We Just Got Another Look At the <em>Barbie</em> Movie appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Warning: The White Lotusseason 2 finale spoilers ahead!

Arrivederci, Sicily! It’s been…tense. But also funny, sad, delightful and without a doubt, a fully sensorial experience thanks to that wildly catchy The White Lotus season 2 theme song. I’ve been showering, unloading the dishwasher and scrolling Instagram with the electronic dinger acting as my life soundtrack, and may I just say it’s made the most mundane tasks just a little more fun? Anyway, the great news is that The White Lotus is officially coming back for a third season, so one can safely assume there’ll be a third iteration of the show’s theme song to enjoy. The bad news? No Tanya McQuoid to utter perfect lines like “did you knit your little cap?” Here’s what we know about The White Lotus season 3.

Where will The White Lotus season 3 take place?

The fancy locale of the third season’s fictional White Lotus resort hasn’t been confirmed by HBO, but that hasn’t stopped people from speculating.

Mike White teases ideas for #TheWhiteLotus Season 3 pic.twitter.com/6qPZz9pqPj

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) October 21, 2022

Series creator Mike White hinted at some possible locations in an interview with Deadline back in October, before season 3 was even official, suggesting that it would be interesting to go to a whole new continent, like Asia. “I think it’d be fun to maybe go to a whole different continent. You know, we did Europe… maybe Asia, something crazy like that, that would be fun.”

A thread on Reddit suggests that The White Lotus season 3 could unfold in Japan or India, both popular suggestions on social media that track with White’s comments.

On March 27, Variety reported that the show’s third season will take place at a lush resort in Thailand. “As the first two seasons of Mike White’s The White Lotus were shot at Four Seasons resorts in Hawaii and Italy, respectively, it’s possible that Season 3 will take place at one of the luxury hotel giant’s four properties in Thailand, which are located in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and the Golden Triangle,” the article states, noting that despite having received this info from multiple sources, HBO had declined to comment.

Will any of the characters from The White Lotus season 2 be back for season 3?

That remains to be seen, but given White’s record of having just two characters from season 1 return for season 2 (Tanya McQuiod, played masterfully by the iconic Jennifer Coolidge, and her new husband Greg, played by Jon Gries), it suggests he could do something similar in season 3. Now (SPOILER!) fans know from watching the season 2 finale that (seriously, spoiler!) our beloved Tanya can’t return, but it does leave some loose ends when it comes to her story. As writer Paul Tassi theorizes for Forbes, this isn’t the last we’ve seen of sinister Greg, who Tassi suggests is a “super villain” in The White Lotus universe.

“While we knew that at least one storyline would carry over from season 1 when we saw that Tanya was returning for season 2, in the wake of the finale which ends with Tanya’s death as she tries to escape an elaborate scheme to murder her and take her fortune, what’s been revealed is that The White Lotus universe may have a larger, over-arching, sinister plot, one that we may see continue when season 3 arrives next time,” writes Tassi.

By extension, this supports the idea that we also haven’t seen the last of Portia, who is the only living person (aside from the dude that jumped off Quentin’s yacht) who can connect the dots between Greg and Tanya’s death, with Tassi also theorizing that Quentin’s “nephew” Jack was meant to kill Portia, but instead let her go at the last second. “In the closing moments of the show, Jack warns Portia not to mess with the ‘powerful people’ he works for,” write Tassi, “including his uncle, but by proxy, that includes Greg, Tanya’s husband who now apparently inherits all of her vast fortune in the wake of her death.”

Have any new cast members been confirmed for season 3?

If the people of the internet have their way, both Pamela Anderson and Lindsay Lohan will be joining The White Lotus season 3. A fan-led campaign (including a petition) to cast Anderson as Tanya’s grieving sister got tons of attention back in February, while buzz around Lohan joining the all-star cast has recently been ramping up. According to Marie Claire, there are hundreds of tweets trying to manifest this iconic casting. No word yet on whether either of these famous women will appear in season 3.

Lindsay Lohan for WHITE LOTUS Season 3, obviously.

— Ξvan Ross Katz (@evanrosskatz) November 11, 2022

When will The White Lotus season 3 be released?

While a premiere date for the show’s third season hasn’t been announced, the short amount of time between seasons 1 and 2 suggests viewers could be watching guests could be checking into The White Lotus as soon as fall 2023.

What are some theories about the plot of The White Lotus season 3?

In addition to the continuation of the evil Greg plot mentioned above, there have been lots of theories thrown around about season 3. One popular one is that we’ll see Daphne Sullivan, the more-than-meets-the-eye wife of certified douchebag finance bro Cameron, head off on a luxurious girls’ trip. Immediately, yes! While we’re here, let’s take a moment to appreciate the excellent acting skills of Meghann Fahy, the anti-long-suffering wife:

Meghann Fahy is SUCH a good actor. these 30 seconds of Daphne processing her husband’s affair (and then calculating how she’s gonna get back at him) are perfection#TheWhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/razdMtDu5G

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) December 12, 2022

Naturally, if The White Lotus season 3 sees Daphne and her suitcase full of cropped corset tops host a lush girls’ vacay, Harper has to be on the guest list and then, if we’re lucky, they both divorce their husbands when they get home.

On the topic of Daphne, Forbes writer Tassi points out that the aforementioned evil Greg plot also suggests a potential link between awful Greg et al and… d-bag Cameron. “If we’re on the subject of ‘powerful, shady people,’ I also recall what Daphne said about Cameron’s partners, that they were real ‘psychopaths,’ and also some of the most powerful people in finance,” writes Tassi.“ While we have no direct link between them and Greg, I do wonder if there is literally some sort of evil Legion of Doom being built behind the scenes of The White Lotus with Greg at the apex, which does not seem like such a wild theory after last night.” Whoa.

The post Everything To Know About <em>The White Lotus</em> Season 3 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

RELATED: Fashion Week Still Has an Ableism Problem

“When you watch a runway show, it’s made for people who are walking,” she says. “And when you’re forced to sit down 24 hours a day, you don’t feel as good in that clothing because it’s not built for that.” She sometimes gets overwhelmed not knowing if a style will flatter her body, and common adornments like studs can cause pain or pressure sores, she explains. “It’s not just about throwing on an outfit. It’s, ‘Will this outfit work for my body and be…safe for my body, since I’m sitting all day?’”

“For a really long time, I’ve had fashion kind of control me,” she continues. That’s why, on March 21, she welcomed stylist Shayelle Smith into her closet to help overhaul her wardrobe and revive her confidence. That same day, she went viral for her response to ableist comments made by Candace Owens.

On a recent episode of her podcast, the right-wing political commentator criticized Kim Kardashian’s shapewear label Skims for featuring disabled models to advertise its Adaptive Collection. “I don’t really understand how far we’re gonna take this inclusivity thing,” she says in the video, referring to an image of a model in a wheelchair, before adding, “It seems ridiculous.”

Lindsay-Noel says her “jaw dropped” after seeing the clip, which has been making its rounds on social media this week. “Disabled people are here to stay, whether you want them to be here or not,” she said in a TikTok directed to Owens. “And we deserve to be seen in all forms of media, including lingerie and shapewear.”

@accessbytay Candace Owens your ableist views are BEYOND unnecessary and out of pocket. Accessible & Adaptive fashion is NECESSARY and inclusivity is imperative. What @SKIMS has done with this line is NEEDED and your ableist nonsense is exhausting 😒 – #skims #skimsadaptive #ableism #ableist #disability #disabled #disabilitytiktok #candaceowens ♬ original sound – Taylor LN | Creator ♿️

Unlike most clothing, adaptive fashion is designed specifically for people with disabilities and health conditions for which getting dressed can be challenging. Nearly 22 per cent of the Canadian population has a disability, but adaptive clothing is still not the norm among mainstream brands. “Seeing people with disabilities in clothing campaigns and media outlets is the difference between a good day and a hard day for me,” says Gabby, a student at the University of Pennsylvania. After becoming an amputee at the age of 18, shopping for clothes became exhausting.

​​“I had to worry about things that I had never worried about before,” she explains to FASHION. “‘Is this dress too long for a wheelchair?’ ‘Will my prosthetic rip this fabric?’ ‘Will my artificial foot fit into these shoes?’ are all questions I had to ask myself.” Gabby, too, made a video in response to Candace Owens, explaining the importance of Skims’ adaptive design elements, like underwear with snaps that can be seamlessly slipped on and frontal bra hooks that can be done up by those with lower hand function.

@habibtitime Sending you love & light bc you need it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #disabilitytiktok #selenagomez #candanceowens ♬ original sound – Gabby🌸

“Those little things go so far and help with people’s independence,” says Lindsay-Noel. “We fight so hard in our everyday lives to get back independence, and dressing is a huge part of that. Finding something that is not only easy to put on but is comfortable and stylish is a triple win.”

That’s what 33-year-old designer Jillian Maddocks is working to do. At 19, Maddocks was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, an autoimmune disease that affects the bones, joints, and muscles. After landing her first job as a designer, her health wouldn’t allow her to keep up with the physical demands of the role. So, she started her own label, 323, in 2015.

When making clothes, Maddocks considers those who are hypersensitive to the touch of clothing. She tries to avoid tags, tight waistbands, and zippers, and many of her pieces can be easily pulled on. With a colourful palette and breezy, soft fabrics, 323 conveys a decidedly joyful aesthetic while also being functional. “It didn’t even occur to me that I was making a disability-inclusive line until recently, long after starting 323,” she says. “As a disabled designer, I was really just making clothes for me.”

Maddocks is among a growing minority of disability-inclusive designers, but navigating an industry rife with ableism has not been easy. “You need to have the energy to put in an enormous amount of hours just to hold your job. You need to be able to lift heavy rolls of fabric. You have to be able to sit hunched at a sewing machine all day. Then you also need to have the energy to network constantly,” she says. And while representation is important, she wants to see more disabled people working in creative roles behind the scenes, too.

“Everyone is just an accident or illness away from becoming chronically ill or disabled,” Maddocks says. “If [Candace Owens’s] behaviour wasn’t so harmful and dangerous, I would feel sad for this person. Then again, she is reflecting the ableism rooted deeply in our culture.”

As for Taylor Lindsay-Noel, she finds it ironic that this social media conversation is taking place now — at a time when she’s working to reframe her relationship with clothes. Going forward, she plans to document her personal style discovery, she says, so that she can offer more representation of fashion on a seated body.

“[Owens] says, ‘How far are we going to take it?’” Lindsay-Noel notes, referring to Owens’ comments about inclusivity. “And to that, I say, all the way. Until every single person feels represented. Then our work is done. Obviously, that’s not the case, so we have a far way to go.”

The post We Will Always Need More Disability Inclusion in Fashion appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Succession wants you to believe it’s not a show about fashion.

The HBO drama (its third season just ended) follows the dysfunctional Roy family, owners of the billion-dollar media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo, led by aging patriarch Logan Roy. A darkly comedic series about the fight for power in a fraught media empire, Succession poignantly portrays the pitfalls of inherited wealth.

RELATED: Is Fashion Going Through a Minimalist Vibe Shift?

But between curse-laden sibling squabbles and heated investor calls, you may have wondered why these riches aren’t so obvious in the Roy family’s fashion choices.

Fan interest in the show’s wardrobe is undeniable, with an Instagram account dedicated to the characters’ outfits accumulating nearly 20,000 followers. This is not to say the Roys are particularly fashion-forward (how many plain black baseball caps does one family need?), but rather, the series’ style secret is about an affinity for quiet luxury.

When you’re as rich as the Roys, getting excited about anything — let alone clothing— is so passé. The media moguls don’t associate with flashy, logo-mania fashion, but instead wear luxury pieces that fly under the radar.

The price of a bag printed with a luxury fashion house logo like Louis Vuitton’s monogram print or Gucci’s double “G” stamp can be easily estimated. This is luxury, but not the luxury that fits the aesthetic (or tax bracket) of the Roy family.

Quiet luxury rejects the desire to show off. Items in the Roy realm of fashion are still extremely expensive, but only recognizable to certain people in certain circles that emit an aura of wealth by looking anonymously chic.

The fashion in Succession has been described by The New Yorker as “expensive but inconspicuous.” Often sporting neutral, subdued tones that are logo-less, the Roy family intentionally exudes extreme wealth and power. To this fictional family, wealth is not about what you have, but about what you don’t.

Characters who don a more flashy wardrobe — like Tom Wambsgans, husband to Shiv Roy — are ridiculed for being nouveau riche. Though Roy family members have their own personal style — take Shiv’s transformation from a traditionally feminine look to Ivanka Trump-esque business wardrobe — they choose not to opt for self-expression through fashion.

The show’s lack of obvious fashion moments is part of the costume direction. You’re not supposed to think about the clothes or where they’re from because if you know, you know. Succession costume designer Michelle Matland explained to The Ringer that the Roy family’s understated fashion is intentional and symbolic.

“They don’t need to have the bling to them, because anyone who would know would recognize them immediately,” she said. “They are the anti-Kardashians.”

The post <em>Succession</em> Has Mastered the Art of Quiet Luxury appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

As many questionable decisions do, it all started with a TikTok — nay, a short film. From the gate, it is delightfully unhinged. “Make a vodka sauce pasta with me because I’m grounded,” she says at full tilt. Why the stay-at-home punishment? She goes on to casually explain that it’s because she tried to charter a helicopter on her dad’s credit card to go have dinner with a friend from camp (as one does). “Okay, let’s get started.”

Maybe it’s the fact that the video shows all her movements at 2x speed. Perhaps it’s her confession that she doesn’t know the difference between garlic and onion — before preceding to cut a shallot. It’s hard to place, but there’s something utterly cinematic about the whole thing.

Our narrator goes on to explain why she’s making the video, with no decipherable punctuation in earshot. “I thought I would do this since I’m already grounded because my parents’ biggest rule is that I’m not allowed to have any public social media accounts, because they don’t want me to be a nepotism kid,” she says. “But TikTok is not gonna make me famous so it doesn’t really matter.” (Famous last words.)

There are other cameo appearances, too, like her father’s Grammy Award, her dog, and most importantly, her babysitter’s boyfriend, Ari. “My parents are never home so these are my replacement parents,” she says. Next, babysitter boyfriend Ari goes on to change filmmaking — and the English language — forever, by proposing that the term “fiasco” be rephrased to “fiascA,” because, in his words, “It’s women’s history month.” Gender equality, at long last.

Unlike other nepo-baby-self-referential content, this post has been overwhelmingly celebrated. Why? She’s not trying to be relatable. She’s not hiding her parents’ Hollywood success (see below). Her candid spiel doesn’t come off as unlikeable, or even mildly annoying. In fact, in the grand scheme of wildly privileged teens, wanting to visit her friends at camp seems like a totally reasonable request, actually.

If anything, it’s poetry. Think about it: Sofia Coppola’s signature subject matter (Bling Ring; Virgin Suicides; Marie Antoinette) focuses on the distant melancholy of white, thin, affluent teenage girls. Now, her daughter has debuted on the world stage with an undoubtedly similar oeuvre of ennui. Life really does imitate art!

Is it irony? We may never know. And it doesn’t really matter, because regardless, it’s pure entertainment. It has drama. It has intrigue. It has vegetable-related befuddlement! The video has since been deleted, but there’s an element of expectation still lingering in the air. As Romy Croquet Mars said herself at the end, “I will see you in part two, where I actually make the pasta.” Talk about a cliffhanger.

The post Is Sofia Coppola’s Daughter the Nepo Baby We Deserve? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

A graduate of Toronto’s College of Sports Media, award-winning broadcaster Kayla Grey started out as an intern for the Toronto Argonauts before venturing to Winnipeg as a beat news reporter and later Prince Rupert, British Columbia to cover local sports. Today, the 30-year-old mother of one is an anchor for SportsCentre on TSN (her 2018 debut on the network made her the first Black woman to host a flagship sports highlight show in Canada), a sideline reporter for the Toronto Raptors, and co-producer and host of The Shift, a game-changing show she launched on TSN.ca in 2021 that covers topics at the intersection of sports, life and culture. Here, Grey talks to FASHION about her show, her personal style and the importance of being your true self.

RELATED: How My Jamaican Culture Has Helped Me To Not Fear Aging

On how The Shift came to be:

“The Shift came out of frustration [with] what I was not seeing in media. I felt like there wasn’t a place that was allowing certain viewers and audiences to feel seen and heard and I was done just talking about it. So I started putting in the work by thinking about, if I were to have a show in sports that made me feel seen or heard, and that didn’t require me having to stream American ESPN to see myself represented on television, what would it look like? Once I came up with the show idea and how I wanted it to look, I eventually went into a brand partnership at TSN who helped me pitch it to Dell at the time.

 

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“I created The Shift during a time when there was a lot of trauma within marginalized communities being highlighted. I wanted the show to be a place where that was spoken about and where we could hold space for the really rough and tough conversations that needed to be had. But, I also high key wanted it to be a place where it also really highlighted joy — Black joy. I thought that, as media, we weren’t doing a good job in terms of balance — talking about a community’s lack but also highlighting what a community has. The Black community already knows what it doesn’t have. I feel like there needs to be reminders of what we do — of what we have done and what we can create. Reminders of the groundwork that we have already laid and where we’re headed next. I wanted a show that really embodied all of that.”

On pushback and difficulties she faced along the way:

“There were naysayers who would comment like, ‘Oh, she’s just getting a show because she’s Black and because of the climate right now. This is the trend right now.’ There was definitely that element to it. But at some point you have to turn off the noise and do your thing and understand that I’ve put in years and years into my craft and my place in this industry. I would expect good things to happen to someone who works incredibly hard to position themselves.

“There was also [pressure of feeling] like the show had to make sense to everybody — even to people it probably would never make sense to in the first place. I faced comments like, ‘It’s not going work. It’s not going resonate.’ I think when you push something on the mainstream, you always have these thoughts in the back of your head like, how is this content digestible? How is it going to be monetized? But often, you’re gearing those types of questions towards a white audience only. I had to let go of all of that to prove that it could be done — and not only done well but received well, too.”

On overcoming biases and microagressions throughout her career:

“I remember someone had the audacity during my very first on-air experience to tell me that ‘Someone who looks like you should be lucky that you even have a job.’ And with me being a woman — a Black woman — around professional athletes, there have been people over the years (never the players themselves) who have objectified me. To them it’s like, ‘God forbid this ‘object’ actually has something to say about sports. She must be here for other reasons.’ It sometimes feels like, as a woman in this industry, you are hyper-sexualized in that sense. Also, when you start to advocate for yourself as a Black woman, some people can often take that as ‘she’s angry’ or ‘she’s defiant.’ That’s how you’re automatically described when you set boundaries for yourself. So for the longest time, as a result, I would dress a certain way and talk a certain way — hide my true light so that I could fly under the radar and not be seen as ‘other,’ because I just wanted to feel safe at work and safe in this industry. Eventually, I had to check myself because it was taking so much energy trying to be who I’m not and I knew I wouldn’t get far playing that game. I’ve discovered that the more authentic I am, the more things flow my way.”

 

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More on being a woman in the sports space:

“It’s still a very male-dominated industry, but there are a bunch of women that have entered the game. I’m seeing sideline reporting done by predominantly women. I’m seeing more women in front office positions, in tech and also in the sports science space, which is great! But it’s been this old boys club for a very, very long time, so certain conversations have been slow moving — there are certain rules that haven’t been made, boundaries that haven’t been established. It’s one thing to have women in this space, it’s another to make us feel safe, supported and like we are allowed to have a sense of balance. Like when I got pregnant with my son, I remember not wanting to tell anyone for months, and trying to figure out how my professional and personal goals could coexist — because it felt like the groundwork had been laid for them not to be able to coexist. It’s not like anyone had told me that flat out, but it felt like there was this unwritten rule or suggestion that once you have a baby your career is done. That it’s time to find something else. That’s the assumption I had and I know it didn’t just come out of nowhere. It wasn’t a story that I was simply telling myself. So I rushed back six weeks after I gave birth because I felt like I was going to be forgotten about.”

 

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How fashion and personal style play a critical role:

“I know I have a great personality — I love who I am — and I’m really learning to enjoy it by expressing myself more, especially through the clothes I wear. I like to play in both the masculine and feminine worlds with my style; I adore my sneakers but can easily go into a heel, and I feel good in a nice dress moment or even a tech fleece. To me, fashion gives my personality permission to show up. It helps me get into the mindset that I can be whoever I want to be on any day. I’m not saying that I adapt my personality to my clothes. It’s more that clothes allow me to adopt the concept of, ‘Kayla, you are many things and you are allowed to be many things — and those many things look pretty dope, too.’ I feel like I do my job that much better coming at it with a certain confidence because, for me, my outfits help set the tone.”

 

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On her relationship with beauty:

“I love to play with my hair and I love a good nighttime routine: heavy face cream, eye cream — all of those things. I really believe in the practice of settling down and ‘taking off’ the day. And I love to play with makeup. I think because for so long I wasn’t getting makeup artists who knew how to properly work with my skin tone — today I work with a really good artist — I found fun in watching YouTube and Instagram videos (these days I’m all about TikTok) and learning how to do things on my own. They made me fall in love with the process of getting ready and knowing that I have the tools myself to make myself look my best.”

 

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On the future of The Shift:

“I see The Shift becoming a completely different show, owned by a completely different network and produced by a completely different person. What I’ve created is just a starting point. I want someone else to eventually go out there and create the next Shift, but like ten times better with ten times more resources. I want The Shift to be a testament to what you can do when you put pen down to paper from your ideas and actually see them through. I hope that the show sparks others to go for it in their own ways, and not limit or cap things. I want abundance for what the show has already brought and the team and staff behind it that I’m so lucky to work alongside. Bigger, greater things ahead are what I see.”

The post Sports Reporter Kayla Grey on Style, Authenticity and Highlighting Black Joy appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

RELATED: Four Canadians On What Their Signature Locs Mean to Them

If you pay attention to TikTok and social media, you know that age isn’t just a number, it’s a sometimes painful marker of identity. Whether it’s Gen Z-beloved straight jeans vs. millennial-favoured skinny jeans, there’s a huge pressure to both look like the group you belong to but — if you’re older than, say, 25 — never look your age. In the past year, almost every member of my late-twenties girl gang has freaked about fine lines, grey hairs, or the nebulous sensation of “feeling old.” For me, even though getting older has its scary moments, my Jamaican background helps keep things in perspective.

Jamaica is a small island with a big impact, especially in Toronto. You can smell Jamaican patties from Islington to Warden Station and hear the echo of Jamaican Patois in Toronto slang. Every summer, you can even see Jamaicans and other West Indians celebrating our communities in bright costumes at Caribana. But Jamaican culture is more than the food we eat and the way we talk: it’s who we are and who we choose to be at any age.

For as long as I can remember, my family members have expressed themselves through appearance. From my cousin Marsha’s blonde buzzcut to my brother’s tattoos, many Jamaicans enjoy being seen, period. While visiting my dad in New York last summer, we decided to take in a Mets game, each donning outfits that were quintessentially us. Even though I was feeling cute and summery in shorts and a crop top, I was 27 at the time and worried that a bare midriff was slowly becoming unbecoming. My dad’s outfit, however — a green mesh marina and baggy jeans with a green bandana tucked into his pocket — reminded me that my only job was to be myself.

“I don’t feel different or dress differently than I did in my thirties or forties” my dad says. Even though he’s approaching 60, you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. That’s because Jamaicans care about proudly being themselves than “respectably” being themselves. My dad’s commitment to this is a constant reminder that hiding your sense of style to gain acceptance is self-betrayal. So, instead of trying to look my age, I try to look like myself at whatever age I am, which means leaning into my imperfect aesthetic, my hyper-fixation on crop tops, and my collection of candy-shaped earrings.

Jamaicans are also known for taking their self-expression to the dance floor, no matter their age. Whether it’s the length of a skirt, a night at the club, or both, Jamaicans never feel “too old” to do something. My sisters and cousins are mothers and fathers in their thirties, and yet they still make time to show up and show out at their favourite clubs. This puts things into perspective for me and other over-25s who wrongfully dub “clubbing” as an undergrad thing that we’ve grown out of doing.

“In Jamaica, women still flaunt themselves and describe themselves as sexy regardless of their age,” my sister tells me. “They wear what they want, date who they want, and have fun how they want.” That’s because music, motion, and sex appeal are such important parts of Jamaican culture, which only get more important with age. It shouldn’t matter if you’re 25, 35, or 45, a night of music and dancing is always good for the soul. So rather than suppressing the part of me that misses dressing up, taking selfies, and going out to dance for hours, I’m going to honour it more and more with each year that comes.

Even though my pre-30 crew (and many others) might sometimes worry that the upcoming chapters of our lives will be more about “surviving” rather than “thriving,” I’m relying on my Jamaican sensibilities to guide me. It’s taken me so long to get to a place of pride and self-acceptance, and I’m not at all interested in losing it just because the TikTok police say 30 is too old to have fun. Instead of letting the internet tell you what to do, take advice from Jamaicans, and me in particular: Don’t wind down with age — turn up!

The post How My Jamaican Culture Has Helped Me To Not Fear Aging appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

The 49-year-old American multi-hyphenate is an established titan in the music world, with accolades including 13 Grammy awards and two Oscar nominations. The “Happy” singer has a prolific resumé that spans industries, including work with non-profits, music festivals, film and fashion. In 2003, he co-founded the streetwear label Billionaire Boys Club with designer Nigo. And in the decades since, he has become a fixture of fashion show front rows, known for his experimental and influential personal style.

“Pharrell Williams is a visionary whose creative universes expand from music, to art, and to fashion — establishing himself as a cultural, global icon over the past twenty years,” the fashion house said in a press release. “The way in which he breaks boundaries across the various worlds he explores aligns with Louis Vuitton’s status as a Cultural Mason, reinforcing its values of innovation, pioneer spirit and entrepreneurship.”

In this role, Williams will be succeeding Virgil Abloh, who passed away in November 2021 at only 41 years old after battling a rare form of cancer. Abloh made history as the first Black artistic director of the French retail company. He was widely credited for revolutionizing the fashion industry by bringing streetwear aesthetics to the forefront of luxury and attracting a younger clientele to Louis Vuitton. With a fanbase that transcends industries, Williams is expected to continue that legacy.

In 2004, the artist co-designed a line of eyewear for Louis Vuitton — called the “Millionaire” collection — which was later recreated by Abloh in 2018. In 2008, Williams teamed up with the fashion house yet again to design a jewellery line. Throughout his career, the producer has worked with fashion brands such as Chanel, Adidas and Uniqlo, and he was presented the Fashion Icon Award at the 2015 CFDAs.

“I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director,” said Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter.”

What exactly that chapter will entail is yet to be revealed. But with Williams’s extensive experience and creative prowess, it’s sure to be exciting.

The post Pharrell Williams Is Louis Vuitton’s New Men’s Creative Director appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

But why is fashion so willing to forgive and forget?

After rising to prominence in the late 2000s with his eponymous label, the designer established a New York City party-goer aesthetic, both through his work and personal brand. In 2019, this captivating image came into question when Alexander Wang faced allegations of sexual assault. After model Owen Mooney alleged that he was groped by Wang in 2017, other accounts began to surface on social media accusing the designer of drugging, non-consensually touching and exposing the genitals of victims, many of whom were trans women.

Though he initially denied these claims, Wang later met with his accusers in March 2021. He then issued a statement on Instagram expressing remorse. “A number of individuals have come forward recently to raise claims against me regarding my past personal behaviour,” it read. “I support their right to come forward, and I’ve listened carefully to what they had to say. It was not easy for them to share their stories, and I regret acting in a way that caused them pain.”

He added that he and his accusers “disagree on some of the details of these personal interactions,” but that he will “set a better example” and use his influence to “encourage others to recognize harmful behaviours.” Since then, he’s been mostly laying low. That is, until now.

After marking his initial comeback with a Los Angeles runway show in April 2022, Wang’s return to the New York fashion scene has been met with a questionable amount of industry backing. Take Julia Fox, who closed the February 8 show. When confronted about her decision to support the contentious designer, she defended Wang on TikTok. “We do need to leave room for rehabilitation and for those who put in the work and heal and learn from their mistakes,” she wrote in part. But what “work” has Alexander Wang done?

Even in the thick of being “cancelled,” the designer’s label hasn’t exactly suffered. Since the allegations, Alexander Wang has been building his brand presence in China with new stores and investors. He has maintained an exclusive celebrity client roster from Rihanna to Kylie Jenner. He’s even outfitted A-listers for high-profile red carpets, including the 2023 Critics Choice Awards. Through it all, his company reportedly makes more than $200 million in sales annually. This momentum, paired with his return to the New York City fashion landscape, points to the skewed power dynamics between Wang and his alleged victims. But really, his comeback should come as no surprise.

After all, Alexander Wang is not the first authoritative fashion figure to evade controversy. For years, Kanye West spewed hate toward minority groups without facing real repercussions. Despite his racist remarks and fatphobic rhetoric, Karl Lagerfeld is being honoured at the 2023 Met Gala. And even with a track record of racism and homophobia, Dolce & Gabbana continuously proves to be infallible thanks to endorsements by celebrities like the Kardashians. Instead of taking victims seriously, the fashion industry has a habit of repackaging unethical actions into subversive aesthetics.

As such, Alexander Wang’s refreshed brand presence is leaning into the trendy counterculture du jour. A recent promotional video shows fraudster-turned-fashion-icon Anna Delvey flashing her ankle monitor. The label’s new standout runway stars, Fox and Bechtel, are best known for their viral rebellious beauty choices. And thanks to his collection of low-slung pants, faux fur jackets and animal print motifs, Vogue proclaimed that the designer “still has a handle on what the kids want.” In other words, Alexander Wang is cool now.

With a stronger global audience and new financial backing, Alexander Wang is arguably more influential than ever, allegations and all. Somehow, this means a reputation fraught with sexual assault accusations can be repackaged as new and on-trend. Unfortunately, his return to fashion’s good graces is indicative of a system that prioritizes those who have power and ignores (or exploits) those who don’t.

By propping up provocative figures to garner flashy moments of shock factor, the fashion industry reliably views controversy as its most valuable currency. But when will it embrace accountability?

The post Why Is the Fashion Industry Supporting Alexander Wang? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Want to make a lipstick statement? Look no further than Estée Lauder’s new Pure Color Lipstick launch. Formulated with a Moisture Lock Complex and naturally derived ingredients, these lipsticks are the brand’s most conditioning and long-wearing lippies yet. And they’ll also be the most luxe-looking on your vanity with their newly designed fluted bullet lipstick housed in a chic golden metallic case. Available in 55 shades from nude to berry with matte, crème, and lustre finishes, these Estée Lauder lipsticks are made to flatter all skin tones and deliver a blast of captivating colour with just one swipe. Talk about range.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is the new face of Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk

Charlotte Tilbury has announced that actress Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is the first American beauty to join the brand’s iconic Pillow Talk family alongside Brits Kate Moss, Twiggy and Jourdan Dunn. After scoring a Best Actress in a TV Drama Series win at the 2022 Golden Globes for her breakout role as Blanca Evangelista in <Pose, Rodriguez became the first transgender actress to take home the award. Now, she continues to be both an inspiration and advocate for the LGBTQIA community through her powerful work. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Pillow Talk franchise, Rodriguez stars in Charlotte Tilbury’s new Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wands campaign — and introduces a new line of lightweight liquid blush in the brand’s signature beauty light wand packaging.

Yves Rocher drops two new French skincare products

We all know the French have major stakes in the beauty game, so the announcement of two new skincare launches from French beauty brand Yves Rocher is très exciting. First up, The Illuminating Cure, a groundbreaking product that seeks to regenerate the appearance of skin and revive its natural glow with anti-aging Precious Botanical Nectars. And with a focus on skin smoothing and soothing comes the newly released Rose Oleo Infusion, a rose petal-infused oil that reduces the appearance of wrinkles with each use.

Laline’s Shea Glam Collection is fit for a spa

Valentine’s Day may be fast approaching, but Laline has made gifting easy this season with the release of their Shea Glam Collection. Elegantly curated to channel the ultimate spa experience, this collection combines luxurious product packaging with the brand’s Shea & Kukui line made to moisturize your skin with shea butter while filling your bathroom with the aroma of sweet kukui nut. Add to the experience with the collection’s baby pink satin robe and glass candle for maximum spa vibes.

CoverGirl drops clean beauty-approved eyeshadow palettes

If you’re looking to convert to clean beauty products, start with CoverGirl’s new highly-pigmented Clean Fresh Color Quads, eyeshadow palettes that are free of talc, mineral oil, paraben and fragrance. Universally gorgeous, each of the colour combinations include matte, shimmer and metallic finishes across three bold burgundy, smokey brown and nude-based palettes.

Omy Laboratories believes in personalized and travel-sized skincare

A person’s skincare regimen is entirely personal. This Quebec-based brand upholds a personalized skincare philosophy while eliminating the hassle of shopping around to customize your routine. In 2018, a chemist and a cosmetician collaborated to create Omy Laboratories, the first Canadian beauty company that offers fully customized facial creams and serums. Through their online Skin AI tool, consumers can analyze their complexion and order custom skincare formulas directly from their website. Want to test the brand? Shop their latest drop — a travel version of their best-selling BHA Active Foam Cleanser made to deep cleanse the skin while leaving behind a refreshed and radiant glow.

e.l.f. Cosmetics’ viral Power Grip Primer just got even better

Makeup junkies, are you listening? e.l.f Cosmetics’ viral Power Grip Primer just got a bright new upgrade. Behold, the Power Grip Primer + Niacinamide. Infused with skin-adoring four percent niacinamide to even out your complexion and add brightness before you go in with glam, this gel-based formula is designed to grip makeup and make it last *all* day. Plus, it’s translucent so it’s ideal for all skin tones.

The post Estée Lauder Launches New Long-Wear Lipsticks + More Beauty News appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Ah, winter: the perfect time to stay inside, all horny and with nowhere to go. Why not live vicariously through cinema’s lovers? We rounded up some of the sexiest movies on Netflix for you. Happy watching!

The Age of Innocence

Hot people present: Michelle Pfeiffer, Daniel Day-Lewis

What is it about? Uptight Newland is engaged to sweet May — but he’s thirstin’ for her cousin, the scandalous divorcee Countess Olenska.

Horny highlights: Martin Scorsese called this movie “the most violent film I’ve made.” What’s hotter than watching people have sex? Watching people who are desperate to have sex and absolutely cannot have sex. In the age of innocence, a stolen kiss on the wrist is far, far hornier than the most graphic smashfest.

Get a li’l taste:

Crazy Stupid Love

Hot people present: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Steve Carrell, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei

What is it about? A separated sadsack gets dating lessons from a dead-inside PUA — who is obscenely good-looking.

Horny highlights: Emma Stone initially rebuffs Ryan Gosling, only to change her mind when faced with the grotesque fate of being wed to Josh Groban forever. She does the patented journey-through-the-rainstorm to get to Gosling, culminating in a passionate clinch and one of cinema’s cutest hookups, complete with Dirty Dancing lift and Stone’s goggle-eyed delight at his Photoshop-level abs.

Get a li’l taste:

Dirty Dancing

Hot people present: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey

What is it about? Sheltered feminist teen Baby crushes on sentient beefsteak/dance instructor Johnny Castle during one fateful summer at a Catskills resort.

Horny highlights: SLOWDANCING TO SOLOMON BURKE’S “CRY TO ME.”

Get a li’l taste: 

Duck Butter

Hot people present: Laia Costa, Alia Shawkat

What is it about? A pair of queer gals spend 24 hours together to see if they really actually like each other.

Horny highlights: Well, they like each other enough to bang. Like, a lot. A lot a lot. The sex in this movie is genuinely horny-inducing: it feels authentic, raw and real, complete with mutual masturbation, and tons of vigorous hand stuff. Hot. Very hot.

Get a li’l taste:

Need more horny movie recos? Try these!

She’s Gotta Have It: Horny — and extremely stylish — Brooklynite Nola Darling prioritizes pleasure and juggles three (annoyingly useless) dudes in Spike Lee’s first feature film, inspiring non-monogamous folks everywhere.

The Incredible Jessica James: 2 Dope Queens co-host Jessica Williams spars with Chris O’Dowd…and the banter is even hotter than the sex. (Although the sex is also pretty hot.)

Friends with Benefits: Mila Kunis is peak babe here in a rom-com about two amigos who sate their horniness with each other, no strings attached (not to be confused with the Ashton Kutcher/Natalie Portman movie No Strings Attached, which is about the exact-same thing). Even Justin Timberlake is tolerable!

Bugsy: Warren Beatty and Annette Bening got horny for each other IRL on this movie (and are still going strong three decades later) — and it’s all on-screen, baby.

Amar: You know who’s really horny? Teens. Especially Euro teens. Like, this Spanish film opens with a casual pegging!

The post These Are the Sexiest Movies on Netflix appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

When it comes to makeup, Doja Cat is a woman of the world. She had her E-girl phase. She long embraced an alien aesthetic. Now, after shaving her head and eyebrows, she has entered an “I’ll try anything” era. And we’re all better for it.

To mark the start of Paris haute couture fashion week on January 23, the pop star further cemented herself as a boundary-breaking beauty icon — no catwalk necessary. Sitting front row at the Schiaparelli Spring 2023 show, Doja Cat was adorned head to toe in ruby-red Swarovski crystals. The look — which reportedly took nearly five hours to complete and involved 30,000 hand-applied gems — was created by famed makeup artist Pat McGrath, and speaks to the Planet Her singer’s multidimensional beauty prowess.

Just two days later, Doja Cat attended Viktor & Rolf show in Paris on January 25, wearing an androgynous look with false eyelashes as facial hair. Later the same day, she arrived at the Valentino show with a completely new aesthetic.

This is not the first time Doja Cat has made the front row of fashion week her creative playground. If history is any indication, it also certainly won’t be the last.

Recall, back in September 2022, when Doja Cat (quite literally) went out shining to commemorate the end of Fashion Month. At the Awake Mode show on October 4, the 27-year-old stepped out with her skin covered in a glimmering layer of gold thanks to makeup artist Laurel Charleston.

In fact, while attending events across the city, Doja Cat sported variations of sculptural eyebrows, body paint and intergalactic illustrations. To attend the Mônot show on October 1, her face was coated in white, with dark blue contouring and bright red lipstick. On her forearms, black designs mimicked the look of opera gloves.

Earlier that same day, she attended the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood show with a completely different ensemble — because, of course. Thin spikes sat in place of eyebrows and dark lightning-bolt eyeliner crept onto her nose.

As the week went on, her looks got more shocking — hence the aforementioned gold finale. For the Givenchy show, makeup artist Sophia Sinot gave her smudged black checkerboard-design lips with studs for eyebrows. To attend a party hosted by Beyoncé, the singer’s whole face became an optical illusion thanks to an expertly-placed swirling line. “After I was finished she asked me if I could sign her neck like an artist signs their work when they’re finished,” Charleston wrote on Twitter. Herein lies the genius of Doja Cat’s maquillage mantra.

Think about it: for the Grammy-winning singer, makeup is yet another way to perform. And lately, she’s been leaning heavily into this aspect of her artistry. After shaving her head and eyebrows on Instagram Live over the summer, Doja Cat has used her face as an unrestricted canvas. More and more, the singer goes against the beauty grain — from painting her own detailed facial designs to sporting a cow pattern on her head. With each new wonderfully weird look, she advocates for beauty as a means of art instead of a boring background feature.

 

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These days, show-stopping style statements are hard to come by. With minimalist makeup routines reigning supreme and red-carpet looks often blandly replicating the runway, there’s a lack of risk-taking among celebrity beauty. Doja Cat, on the other hand, uses makeup as an accessory that’s up for interpretation and meant to garner a reaction.

Case in point: for the Balenciaga show back in October, she sported an eyeshadow look that resembled a black eye and split lip. “I think people are going to love it,” she told Vogue. “And I think that, as they do, people are also not going to love it.” But either way, Doja Cat doesn’t seem to care. The thing is, this subversive style isn’t supposed to appeal to everyone. Who can forget when Lady Gaga wore her meat dress to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards? She was ridiculed at the time, but it’s since gone down as one of the biggest moments in recent fashion history.

Of course, an important element of any memorable ensemble is the personality behind it. Doja Cat stands out not only because of the masterful creations on her skin, but the passionate energy that she carries with each design.

As we head into a new Fashion Month, we can surely expect even more surprising surrealist Doja Cat statements. By pushing against beauty boundaries and sporting thought-provoking paintings on her face, the star’s makeup aesthetic continues to be unapologetically unique. And isn’t that what art is all about? In the immortal words of TikTok: I don’t want to be pretty, I want to be iconic. If that’s Doja Cat’s mission, consider it accomplished.

The post Doja Cat Dons More Artful Beauty Looks at Couture Week appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Born in Russia, Anna Delvey (née Sorokin) moved to New York City in 2014 and infamously posed as a German heiress. Living in luxury, despite having virtually no money of her own, Delvey worked her way into exclusive circles and effectively scammed the elite, until of course, she got caught. After being released from immigration detention in October 2022, Delvey has transformed from a faux socialite fraudster to a real-life influencer. And, like with all things surrounding her, this aggressive ascension is both hard to ignore and almost too easy to applaud.

For starters, Anna Delvey is nothing if not consistent. Though on strict house arrest, the ex-con is making herself relentlessly visible. She’s secured lengthy features with The Cut, Vogue and The New York Times. She’s been snapped by the paparazzi. Her social media following has sky-rocketed. On TikTok, she’s been aestheticized into an elusive, glamorous style legend with a bejewelled ankle monitor. And if recent coverage is any indication, her career is going better than ever. She’s selling original art. She’s venturing into the NFT business. She’s starting a podcast, writing a book, and perhaps even soon doing a law apprenticeship.

From the books she’s reading, to a tour of her apartment to the outfit she’s wearing to meet her parole officer, it seems like Delvey is everywhere. As fashion publications jump at the chance to secure exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes shots of her life, there’s an air of inflated importance surrounding her. The overarching message is that this is someone we should be talking about. But why?

Perhaps it’s because her story — and by extension, her personhood — has been hyper-glamourized from the start. In 2018, New York Magazine introduced the world to Delvey via a salacious exposé printed alongside a striking image of the con artist with messy hair and smudged eye makeup; the portrait of a beguiling party girl. And ever since, there’s been a cultural desire to figure out who the real Anna Delvey is.

Netflix’s adaptation of the New York Magazine feature, Inventing Anna, further positioned her as an mysterious, kooky protagonist to a global audience. With this scale of sensationalization, Delvey’s image has been packaged into a consumable product. To some, she embodies a crafty socialite aesthetic. To others, she’s an emblem of the anti-establishment. Across the board, no one can seem to deny her impressive audacity in scamming people so out in the open. By wearing expensive clothes and simply lying about her background, Delvey swindled banks, hotels and actual rich people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. And that’s kinda remarkable.

The thing is, we all grow up (hopefully) learning right from wrong. Lying, cheating and stealing? Bad. And yet, the ethical lines of Delvey’s scenario have been blurred by the notion that her white-collar crimes — which largely preyed on multi-million dollar companies — were victimless. But in reality, people got hurt, too, like her former best friend Rachel DeLoache Williams, who has spoken out against Netflix’s sympathetic portrayal of the fraudster. Not to mention, Delvey’s inherent privilege as a white woman permits her to glamourize going to prison, while people of colour are disproportionately criminalized without ever being propped up on a public pedestal. Even still, her enduring determination to be front and centre of the zeitgeist has made her something of a pop culture legend.

Ultimately, it’s not that hard to figure out why fashion is obsessed with Anna Delvey. For one, she’s a provocative icon. Time and time again, contentious figureheads are revered not in spite of their polarizing actions, but because of them. On top of that, Delvey dresses like a winner: she wears chic designer outfits, walks around in high heels, and adorns her ankle monitor with bedazzled initials. The act of showing little to no remorse for doing something objectively wrong — all the while looking fabulous — is the type of scandal the fashion industry devours, for better or worse.

Sure, there’s been something undeniably alluring about her brand of blatant criminality. But as her widespread glorification continues, Anna Delvey is being positioned as an icon, or at the very least, someone worth talking about. So I ask: should that really be the case?

The post The Icon-ification of Anna Delvey appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

It was Lunar New Year — better known as Tet in my Vietnamese household — and a typical frosty Canadian morning. I was sent off to school, bundled in layers and wearing my qipao, a celebratory Chinese dress, underneath. Once I got to class and unzipped my coat to reveal my red silk dress, I turned around and met the eyes of three classmates glaring at me.

“What are you wearing?” they laughed. My eyes began to water, matching the puddle of slush from my winter boots, my face turning as red as my dress. I might not be seven years old anymore, but the sting of the embarrassment of not fitting in with my white peers has stayed with me until this day.

I was raised by my Vietnamese father and Filipino mother who wanted to blend in with Canadian culture, which resulted in much of my upbringing spent trying to appease the white standard. Every exclamation of our Asian pride was calculated through a westernized lens, hence why my parents sent me to school in a qipao, the more well-known Lunar New Year garment, instead of an ao dai, the Vietnamese version. Growing up, my fractured connection to my identity — and Lunar New Year — stemmed from being told I was “too Asian” at school, attending Tet celebrations in the wrong garment, and then ironically being told I wasn’t Asian enough by that community.

While my past experiences have negatively shaped my outlook on identity, I’m slowly working towards improvement. Representation in the media has helped. From watching Michelle Yeoh win a Golden Globe to Canada Goose collaborating with Angel Chen, I’ve relished finally seeing myself reflected in (and accepted by) the media surrounding me. But with that realization has come another thought. I don’t want my self-worth to only be measured on how accepting society is of my identity — I want to be accepting of it myself. With the painful awareness of how disconnected I’ve long felt from feeling at peace with my identity, I’m on a journey of acceptance on my own terms.

My first step was to rewrite my past and embrace what I thought at the time was a fashion faux pas, and what better way to do so than with the upcoming Lunar New Year. For those unfamiliar, rule number one for dressing for Lunar New Year is you must wear something new (to welcome a fresh start), something red (to promote good luck) and an additional lucky colour based on you the year of your birth. (This year, my lucky colour is white, which I’ll wear the week before while getting a haircut or cleaning my house, as it’s encouraged to do this before festivities begin so you don’t sweep away or cut your luck off.)

That red qipao symbolized so much confusion in my youth, but I’m taking power from it instead of letting it hinder me in 2023. This year, I’ve chosen a dress from Reformation as an homage to the garment that caused me so much pain as a child. The red silk and high neckline are reminiscent of what I wore when I was seven, but stay true to my western upbringing. While it may not be the most “traditional,” I’m empowered by owning what’s familiar to me while honouring my heritage.

To top this outfit off is a ring I purchased during 2021’s Year of the Ox. It’s said that the year of your sign requires more protection, and it’s now one of the most sentimental pieces I own. This ring represents the start of no longer giving a damn. All my life, I’ve been told in different circles that I was too Asian or wasn’t Asian enough, and that conflict prevented me from embracing either part of my identity. The reality is that I’m a part of the Asian diaspora, and my identity is fragmented. Instead of seeing it as broken pieces that I’m trying to force together, I now see my identity like the garnet that adorns my finger — a reminder that there are multiple sides to me and all of them are equally significant.

When I look into the mirror, the red in my cheeks from embarrassment when I was younger is replaced by a bright scarlet hue proudly worn on my lips. I no longer shy away from the question, “What are you wearing?” and instead take it as an opportunity to share my multicultural outlook on the holiday. And while Lunar New Year is about encouraging luck to flow to you, I’ve found power in making my own luck and rules.

The post How Fashion Broke, and Then Repaired, My Relationship with Lunar New Year appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

“I blocked that stolen tape out of my life in order to survive, and now that it’s all coming up again, I feel sick,” Canadian-born Anderson says in the trailer, referring to her ex-husband Tommy Lee’s personal sex tape that was stolen from their home in the 1990s and uploaded to the internet as a pornographic film. 2022’s wildly popular Pam & Tommy recreated this ordeal, detailing not only how it led to the end of their tumultuous marriage, but the victim-blaming and trauma that Anderson endured because of it.

Here’s everything to know about Pamela, A Love Story.

What is the Pamela Anderson documentary about?

According to Netflix, it’s an “intimate and humanizing portrait of one of the world’s most famous blonde bombshells” that “follows the trajectory of Pamela Anderson’s life and career from small town girl to international sex symbol, actress, activist and doting mother.” After decades of living a relatively quiet life, and having to relive the trauma associated with her stolen sex tape all over again through Hulu’s Pam & Tommy, it’s clear that Anderson is finally ready to tell her story, her way.

How can I watch the Pamela Anderson documentary?

Pamela, A Love Story is a Netflix original documentary, so you’ll need a Netflix subscription to watch it on the streamer.

When will Pamela, A Love Story be released?

The Pamela Anderson Netflix documentary about Anderson’s life after surviving the leaked sex tape is set for release on January 31, 2023.

Watch the first trailer for the Pamela Anderson Netflix documentary here:

The post Pamela Anderson Is Reclaiming Her Narrative in the First <em>Pamela</em> Trailer appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Update: Netflix confirmed on January 6 that the popular original series Wednesday had been renewed for season 2. “Thrilled to continue Wednesday’s tortuous journey into season two,” said showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar in an official statement. “We can’t wait to dive head first into another season and explore the kooky spooky world of Nevermore. Just need to make sure Wednesday hasn’t emptied the pool first.” According to the Hollywood Reporter, the debut season of Wednesday, starring goth-glam queen Jenna Ortega, has become Netflix’s third most-popular series of all time, behind the fourth season of Stranger Things and Squid Game. No word yet on when the second season will drop, but the streamer marked the announcement with the below video. And until we can enjoy more Wednesday on-screen, we can at least emulate her gloomy singular style. Keep reading for how.

Is there anything scarier than being a teenage girl? Amidst intimidating cliques and awkward growing pains, sometimes high school can feel like a horror film. But to Wednesday Addams, that’s a good thing.

The eldest daughter of the infamous Addams family loves to flip the script on young adolescence by embracing her outsider persona. In her eyes, teenhood may be terrifying, but she’s the one you should be afraid of.

But it’s not just her blazing individuality (not to mention quippy one-liners and malevolent charm) that have long solidified her as main character material. It’s also her iconic look. In Netflix’s upcoming spin-off, Wednesday, she steps into the spotlight as a style icon for the moody teen in all of us.

Directed by Tim Burton, the eight-episode series puts a new twist on the classic Addams Family tale by focusing on the franchise’s devious daughter, played by Jenna Ortega. After a streak of bad luck in public high schools, Wednesday’s parents, Gomez (Luis Guzman) and Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) send her to Nevermore Academy, the academic institution where they first met. There, she embarks on a journey filled with “mystery, mayhem, and murder.” Not exactly the makings of an enriching school experience — unless, of course, you’re Wednesday Addams.

In this coming-of-age dark comedy, Burton adds his signature grim touch to the series’ spooky imagery. From the moment Ortega’s Wednesday appears in the newly released trailer, it’s obvious that she’s an outcast — and that’s the point. Unlike most teens, she doesn’t want to fit in. In fact, rejecting social norms is her whole shtick. And this rebellious attitude translates to her uniform, designed by costumer and longtime Burton collaborator, Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.)

With long braids, a black collared dress and a dejected demeanour, Wednesday Addams’s outfit is simple yet intense. Her style compiles a myriad of moods including gothic visuals, babydoll silhouettes and edgy schoolgirl influences. And with such a recognizable oeuvre, she’s the inspiration behind endless fashion homages, from Halloween costumes to runway shows. Case in point: she’s arguably the blueprint for Dark Academia, the gloomy viral TikTok aesthetic comprised of Peter Pan collars, pleated kilts and dark, long blouses.

Thanks to her taste for forlorn fashion, Wednesday has become an apropos pandemic style idol. And amid the rise in edgy dressing, the terrifying teen has never been more on-trend. (Though she couldn’t care less about that.)

With interests that include torturing her brother, hanging out with her pet spider and generally appearing miserable, Wednesday is not exactly the ideal It Girl. So, the fact that her look is highly coveted is a refreshing reminder that anyone can be a style icon, not just the cool kids.

As her fashion sense indicates, Wednesday Addams has mastered agency at a young age. She’ll smile when she wants to, but not to please others. She unapologetically leans into her dreary ensemble. She’s weird, and she likes it that way. Ultimately, through her creepy quirks, she subverts the trope that girls should be sweet and agreeable.

All this to say, Wednesday Addams is a style figurehead. And in Netflix’s Wednesday, premiering at the end of 2022, viewers will finally see the emotional arc of a character known for her apathy. She’s kooky, spooky and loves a capsule wardrobe. And that’s what makes Wednesday Addams a true icon.

Looking to add the gift of gloom to your own wardrobe? Find your perfect Wednesday Addams outfit and channel The Addams Family’s infamous daughter.

1/10

Scheana dress

($310, Reformation)

Buy Now

2/10

Lovey ruffle socks

( $49, Free People)

Buy Now

3/10

Lily shoulder bag

($89, JW Pei)

Buy Now

4/10

Velvet hair bow

($19, Kristin Ess)

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5/10

Lace-collar mini dress

($416, b+ab)

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6/10

Approach black loafers

($90, Steve Madden)

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7/10

Black formal midi dress

($353 , Julia Allert)

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8/10

Black viscose jacket

($915, Mach & Mach)

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9/10

Black mesh tights

($290, Marine Serre)

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10/10

Monolith leather and nylon fabric boots

($2,150, Prada)

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The post Subversive Style Icon Wednesday Addams Is Returning for Season 2 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Vivienne Westwood, who died December 29 in London at age 81, is widely credited for being the “high priestess of punk.” But she was so much more than that. Westwood was a visionary whose designs always led, never followed. She was a wit who could skewer aristocratic snobbery with a shrewdly mangled plaid. She was irreverent and provocative, receiving her Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace panty-less and putting the Queen with a safety pin through her lip on a T-shirt. But beyond being fashion’s foremost provocateur, Vivienne Westwood is the reason corsets, crinolines, rubber, leather and latex are accepted aspects of modern dress.

“She was revolutionary in so many ways,” says George Antonopoulos, FASHION’s creative and fashion director. “She took historical elements like corsets and coquette silhouettes and made them supercool and exciting.” S&M gear and fetish wear became “normalized” in her hands. “And back in the ‘80s, she was the very first gender bending designer,” he says. “She created unisex clothing and showed men’s and women’s together on the runway and it all made sense.” She was also one of the first designers to use her platform to raise awareness for political and social issues including nuclear disarmament and climate change.

Ever the non-conformist, Westwood seemed to get particular pleasure from sending up British culture. “She took traditional elements like tailoring and tartans and Harris tweed and turned them upside down,” Antonopoulos says, adding that Westwood was the first designer he ever spent money on as a teenager. “I loved how disruptive she was. She was the designer that made me fall in love with fashion.”

In the ‘70s, Westwood met Malcolm McLaren, manager of the Sex Pistols, and together the pair shaped the punk movement — he with the music and she with the clothes. They were romantic partners too, though Westwood later married her current husband Andreas Kronthaler, a designer who has worked alongside her since they married in 1992. In typical Westwood fashion, the union raised some eyebrows — he was 25, she was 50. But she could hardly care what others thought — a theme that ran throughout her career.

Perhaps that is why Westwood is also one of the most respected creatives of our age and one whose ideas have been referenced by so many who followed her. “She was a designer’s designer,” Antonopoulos says.

Below, a look at some of Dame Vivienne Westwood’s signature designs, from tartan to corsets, on the runway.

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

Photography by Getty Images

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A model in the first show Westwood presented outside of London

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Kate Moss, 1993

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Naomi Campbell, 1994

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Eva Herzigova, 1995

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Kate Moss, 1994

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Linda Evangelista, 1995

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Kate Moss, 1996

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Pamela Anderson, 2009

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Two models, 2017

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Bella Hadid, 2020

The post Vivienne Westwood Was “a Designer’s Designer” appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney and Maude Apatow all gathered at The Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles for an awards season event. Following a screening of the fifth episode of season 2, the actors participated in a panel discussion where they revealed future hopes for their fictional teen counterparts, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

We couldn’t help but notice how the celebs’ ensembles majorly strayed from their respective on-screen styles. After all, fashion in Euphoria is nothing if not strategic. Throughout the series, costume designer Heidi Bivens has famously used clothing to illustrate each character’s personal arc. Thus, their real-life fashion choices may just tell us something about season 3.

Look no further than Zendaya. As an executive producer and star of the series, the 26-year-old has high hopes for the development of her character, Rue Bennett, who struggles with drug addiction. Wearing oversized hoodies, no makeup and long hair that is perpetually in her face, Rue’s style shows how she doesn’t exactly have it all together. She is the antithesis of preppy fashion, but Zendaya delivered this exact aesthetic to promote the show, wearing a checkered Schiaparelli skirt paired with a button-up collared top. She finished the put-together ensemble with a brand-new sleek bob.

Was this a nod to her optimism about Rue’s trajectory? It’s not that far-fetched to argue yes. “I want people to know that there is something beautiful inside of her, whether she can see it at that time or not,” Zendaya said at the event. She went on to share that her biggest wish for Rue is to find happiness. “I just hope for a little bit of joy and for her just to be able to breathe and love without the fear of losing.”

On the other hand, Hunter Schafer, whose character Jules Vaughn goes from hyper-feminine in season 1 to edgy and androgynous in season 2, marked the occasion in an understated Rick Owens ensemble. Sporting a one-shoulder top and asymmetrical skirt with light makeup and chunky black boots, Schafer’s elegant ensemble emitted self-assured energy — something Jules is missing. Notably, during the Q&A, she said, “I think the product of Jules’ vice that she’s looking for is closeness with other people,” adding that she’s seeking safety and non-judgemental connections, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

Or take Cassie Howard (played by Sydney Sweeney) who has an often risqué, brightly coloured, shapeshifting wardrobe that represents how she doesn’t really know who she is. Sweeney, conversely, channelled down-to-earth schoolgirl subtly in an oversized Thom Brown get-up. Naturally, she noted how Cassie is always searching for a sense of family in everyone else. Interesting.

Then we have Cassie’s younger sister Lexi Howard (played by Maude Apatow), whose conservative style signifies her tendency to underestimate herself. In a delightful turn of events, Apatow sported the most risk-taking look of all in an asymmetrical cut-out velvet dress by Rodarte. At the event, she said she hopes that going forward, Lexi can free herself from “negative self-talk.” Step one: wear a dress like this.

While the premiere date for the third season has yet to be confirmed, it is speculated that it could arrive as soon as early 2023. Along with Zendaya, Schafer, Sweeney and Apatow, fan favourites Alexa Demie (who plays Maddy), Jacob Elordi (Nate) and Dominic Fike (Elliot) are reportedly set to return. Unfortunately, season 3 will notably be missing Barbie Ferreira’s character, Kat, who announced her shocking departure from the series in August 2022.

Today, Euphoria can be described as a show where everyone makes really bad decisions — except when it comes to their outfit choices. With award season around the corner, the cast is clearly using their chic style to generate buzz for a new instalment of the teen drama. And if these looks are any indication, Euphoria season 3 will yet again be a very fashionable affair.

The post The <em>Euphoria</em> Women Are Back appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Update: On December 19, Amber Heard took to Instagram to announce that the defamation case brought against her by Johnny Depp had come to a close after the parties had reached a settlement. “After a great deal of deliberation I have made a very difficult decision to settle the defamation case brought against me by my ex-husband in Virginia,” Heard wrote.

“It’s important for me to say that I never chose this,” she continued. “I defended my truth and in doing so my life as I knew it was destroyed. The vilification I have faced on social media is an amplified version of the ways in which women are re-victimised [sic] when they come forward. Now I finally have an opportunity to emancipate myself from something I attempted to leave over six years ago and on terms I can agree to. I have made no admission. This is not an act of concession. There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward.”

Heard also wrote that the trial, which allowed “popularity and power” to reign over reason, had eaten up most her financial resources. “I was exposed to a type of humiliation that I simply cannot re-live,” she wrote, explaining her decision to settle the case. “Even if my U.S. appeal is successful, the best outcome would be a re-trial where a new jury would have to consider the evidence again. I simply cannot go through that for a third time.”

According to an unconfirmed report by TMZ, the settlement stipulates that Heard must pay Depp $1 million.

 

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A post shared by Amber Heard (@amberheard)

More than three million people tuned into the Law&Crime Network’s live stream to hear the verdict for the high-profile defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. And it swung in Depp’s favour to the tune of $15 million (all figures USD).

But both Depp and Heard were found to be guilty of defamation. The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million dollars in punitive damages, and Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages.

Depp’s lawyers, Camille Vasquez and Benjamin Chew (who have become something of celebrities on social media), spoke to reporters outside where Depp’s fans could be hearing cheering.

“We were truly honoured to assist Mr. Depp in ensuring that his case was fairly considered throughout the trial. We were also most pleased that the trial has resonated for so many people in the public who value truth and justice. Now that the jury has reached its conclusive verdict, it’s time to turn the page and look to the future,” Chew said.

Heard, meanwhile, shared a statement to Instagram. “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words,” she wrote. “I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband. I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women…It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”

 

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A post shared by Amber Heard (@amberheard)

Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for $50 million for defamation over an essay she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, where she discussed being a victim of abuse, without mentioning Depp’s name. Prior to this, Heard received a restraining order against Depp after accusing him of domestic violence when she filed for divorce in 2016 (they were married in 2015).

The court case, part of a longstanding legal battle between the ex-spouses, has morphed into a cesspit of internet chaos in recent weeks. And while the announcement of the verdict for Depp v Heard will hopefully bring the mayhem to a close, questions around the ramifications for MeToo and the influence of social media on the case remain.

Depp, who is in the UK currently, was not present at the reading of the verdict.

With files from Natalie Michie

The post Amber Heard Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Johnny Depp appeared first on FASHION Magazine.