Saturday, December 6

FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

Dangerous Lengths Women Have Gone To Look Beautiful
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

Dangerous Lengths Women Have Gone To Look Beautiful

The ‘morning shed’: a brief history of the sometimes dangerous lengths women have gone to look beautiful. In TikTok’s latest viral beauty trend “the morning shed,” beauty influencers “shed” hair and skin products that have been worn overnight. These include hair styling items, skin masks and creams, and physical products such as chin straps and mouth tape, which are intended to help with breathing through the night and keep away the drooping of the jaw that happens with age. While this trend has come under fire for alleged unsustainability and over-consumerism, it is only the latest beauty fad in a long line of time and money consuming “hacks” that women have been undertaking for centuries. From tapeworms to tuberculosis, women have taken part in a laundry list of beauty hacks in order...
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The Showstopping Hats Of Mae Reeves, Fueled Voter Engagement And Black Entrepreneurship
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

The Showstopping Hats Of Mae Reeves, Fueled Voter Engagement And Black Entrepreneurship

Mae Reeves used showstopping hats to fuel voter engagement and Black entrepreneurship. Mae Reeves and her husband, Joel, pose with her hats at Mae’s Millinery in Philadelphia, circa 1953. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and her children Donna Limerick and William Mincey Jr. Lula “Mae” Reeves, one of the first Black women in Philly to own her own business, created one-of-a-kind and custom hats for celebrities, socialites, professionals and churchgoing women in downtown Philadelphia for over 50 years. She made hats for everyday wear, hats for special occasions, and magnificent “showstoppers,” as she called them. Her celebrity clients included Eartha Kitt, Marian Anderson, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and mem...
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The Stylish Sapeur Movement – 5 Deeper Insights
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

The Stylish Sapeur Movement – 5 Deeper Insights

Congo’s stylish sapeur movement goes beyond fashion – 5 deeper insights.   In the two Congos, there’s a cultural movement by the Society of Ambience-Makers and Elegant People (Sape), known as “sapeurs”, who blend fashion, culture and social resistance. Though it was rooted primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo, the movement is now spreading worldwide, through Congolese migration. As a researcher, I have studied Sape in its cultural, social and symbolic dimensions. Sape is far more than a fashion trend. Here are five key things to know about this movement. 1. The history of Sape Sape emerged during the colonial era, first in Brazzaville and later in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), when young Congolese began adopting and reinterpreting ...
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Victoria’s Secret Semi-Annual Sale Dates
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

Victoria’s Secret Semi-Annual Sale Dates

If you’re a fan of  Victoria’s Secret, you’re likely familiar with their much-anticipated Semi-Annual Sales. These events are prime opportunities to snag your favorite  lingerie, lounge wear, and beauty products at significant discounts. Let’s delve into the details of these sales, including their typical timing, what to expect, and how to make the most of them. What is the Victoria’s Secret Semi-Annual Sale? The Victoria’s Secret Semi-Annual Sale is a bi-annual event where the retailer offers substantial discounts on a wide range of products. Shoppers can find deals on bras, panties, sleepwear, active wear, beauty products, and more. It’s an excellent opportunity to stock up on essentials or indulge in new styles at reduced prices. When Does the Semi-Annual Sale Occur? Victoria’s Sec...
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Black Women Prefer Hair Products Marketed With Them In Mind
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

Black Women Prefer Hair Products Marketed With Them In Mind

Marketing reports indicate that black consumers long to feel authentically represented in advertising campaigns, especially black women. Black female consumers outpace other consumer groups in a number of spending categories, notably personal care and hair products, but feel unappreciated by top brands. This line of thinking raised several questions for me: With the fairly recent launch of an ethnic corporate product line, Pantene’s Gold Series Collection, are black women feeling the love? When faced with choosing between this new corporate option and Shea Moisture, a brand perceived to be black-owned, where does their allegiance lie? And if what people buy is an expression of their identity, then which brand best reflects black female consumers’ truest sense of self? Our study builds on ...
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The Walmart Handbag That Mimics The Look Of Hermès’ Iconic, Exclusive Birkin Bag
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

The Walmart Handbag That Mimics The Look Of Hermès’ Iconic, Exclusive Birkin Bag

Birkin handbags, Walmart’s ‘Wirkin’ and the meme-ification of class warfare In previous eras of internet culture, mockery of the rich and famous was usually relegated to far-left forums. But as 2025 begins, ridiculing the rich appears to have gone mainstream. Look no further than the Walmart handbag that mimics the look of Hermès’ iconic, exclusive and uber-expensive Birkin bag. The cost of the Birkin bag can exceed six figures. But its exorbitant price tag is only part of its allure. You cannot simply walk into a Hermès store and purchase a Birkin bag. Shoppers are expected to spend thousands of dollars on other Hermès products over a long period of time before they’re even offered the opportunity to buy the Birkin, which is also known as a “quota bag.” Historically, the Birkin and...
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Massaging The Skin’s Fascia — The Latest Anti-Aging Trend
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

Massaging The Skin’s Fascia — The Latest Anti-Aging Trend

The latest anti-aging trend is massaging the skin’s fascia – here’s what you need to know. One of the few certainties in life is the wrinkling of our skin. The “anti-aging” industry was worth almost £56 billion globally in 2023 – and is forecast to grow. But, although we can attempt to disguise the visible signs of aging through tweakments such as reducing exposure to sun and cosmetics, biological aging cannot be reversed. One of the latest social media trends is fascial massage of the face to combat wrinkles and other signs of aging. Fascia is thin connective tissue made of collagen, that envelops muscles, bone and organs of the body. Influencers promoting fascial massage claim that massaging the face’s fascia can produces some astonishing results, including significant changes to ...
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Why Are ‘Pretty Privilege’ People Considered More Trustworthy
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY

Why Are ‘Pretty Privilege’ People Considered More Trustworthy

‘Pretty privilege’: attractive people considered more trustworthy, research confirms. What makes a person beautiful has fascinated artists and scientists for centuries. Beauty is not, as it is often assumed to be, “in the eye of the beholder” – but follows certain predictable rules. Symmetry and proportions play a role, and though culture and norms shape our perception of beauty, researchers observe a consistently striking agreement among people on whom they regard as beautiful. Not surprisingly the beauty market has been on a steady rise (besides a minor 2020 Covid slump), reaching $430 billion in revenue in 2023, according to a recent McKinsey report. The fascination for the perfect makeup or skincare is fired up by the impact of perfect faces displayed on social media and enhanced b...
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Dove’s Anti-AI Stance
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY, VIDEO REELS

Dove’s Anti-AI Stance

Dove’s latest ‘Real Beauty’ drive – and why AI will be harder to ditch than it thinks. Beauty brand Dove recently announced it would not use models generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in its advertising campaigns. But is this really an anti-AI stance or merely the marketing of “inclusive” and “realistic” AI-generated images? In other words, is Dove attempting to shape the beauty ideals AI shows consumers, rather than ditching its use entirely? Dove’s owner Unilever is one of the world’s largest multinational, fast-moving consumer goods companies. But the values of the brands it owns vary dramatically, as highlighted by legal action that Ben & Jerry’s brought against Unilever to object to its ice cream being “sold in the occupied Palestinian Territory”. The lawsuit was settled...
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A Black Dandy In Paris
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FASHION STYLE & BEAUTY, VIDEO REELS

A Black Dandy In Paris

Meet Paris’ black dandies, the Sapeurs. You can spot them in the streets of Paris or at fashion events in London, Milan, Brussels or Dubai. Most are black African men with sharp outfits designed and chosen to get them noticed. Known as “Sapeurs” – the name comes from the Society for Ambience and Elegance (Sape) and from French slang “se saper”, “to dress up” – these figures stand out with their offbeat and baroque sartorial style. Genesis and evolution Research by ethnologists and historians indicates that the movement was born in Central Africa, likely at the port of Bacongo, the river that separates the two Congos, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo Republic, North of the river) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo, South side). The subculture got its star...
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