As the lazy days of summer finally roll around, the last thing we want to think about are rules and restrictions. This season, it’s time to kick back and break free from these 12 sartorial shackles—your wardrobe will thank you.
Rule to Break #1: Horizontal Stripes Aren’t Flattering. When dresses, tops, and bottoms fit well, it doesn’t matter whether they come in stripes or solids—find a great cut (like Girl With Curves did) that fits you and any pattern can be a fun, flattering summer go-to.
Rule to Break #2: You Can’t Wear Shorts to Work.Take a tip from Hema Persad—a pair of long tailored shorts with a boxy blazer can be a fantastic choice when you crave a break from skirts and dresses.
Rule to Break #3: Navy and Black Do Not Go Together. Combining shades of blue with black—just like Luella & June does here—adds dimension to an otherwise understated outfit.
Rule to Break #4: You Can’t Wear Leather in Summer. Try pairing leather shorts with a printed silk blouse for a chic date-night look—Lovely Pepa’s will take her seamlessly from day to night.
Rule to Break #5: Ankle Straps Aren’t Flattering. If you’ve always wanted to wear strappy sandals but feel like they make your legs look shorter, skip the mini and try styling them with cropped pants or a midi skirt instead. Kayture’s outfit proportions here are spot-on.
Rule to Break #6: Bikinis Are Sexier Than One-Pieces. You don’t need to wear a two-piece to drop jaws on the beach—there are so many one-piece swimsuits styles available today that would make the cast ofBaywatch blush. Look for a diagonal placement print for an extra dose of curve flattery—just like this one from We Wore What.
Rule to Break #7: Store Your Boots Until Fall. If you can’t resist wearing your favorite fall ankle boots, throw them on in the sunshine with a minidress or A-line skirt. It works like a charm on Nette Nestea.
>>Keep reading to find out five more fashion rules you should break this summer.
Lena Dunham, Jaime King, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Lorde at a Golden Globes after party in January. Photo: Getty Images
There are probably a dozen reasons that Entourage bombed at the box office. But the most obvious? Everyone’s obsessed with girl squads right now.
Taylor Swift’s gang is endlessly documented. Not even the drawn out “Bad Blood” video promo extravaganza exhausted the speculation around Swift, Karlie Kloss, Lena Dunham, Lorde, etc. Then there was Madonna’s new squad. The icon invited Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, and Rita Ora to appear in her new video for “Bitch I’m Madonna.”
But how real are these boldface BFFs? On the one hand, these women could be pointing the way, hopefully, to a new age where female celebrities no longer fly solo. Their friendships could be real bonds that inspire other women who want to roll with their own girl gangs (to Zumba class instead of dancing on the top floor of the Standard Hotel, but it’s a start!). Or, more cynically, they could be clever ways to catapult these women’s careers (in Madonna’s case, interest in Tidal, the streaming music service that released her first video—she’s part owner).
Irene S. Levine, Ph.D., a psychologist and friendship expert, and author of Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend, says that these celebrities’ relationships are genuine, and have been formed out of necessity. Simply put, successful women need other successful women. “When a woman is at the top of her profession, life can be pretty stressful and lonely, even though it looks near-perfect from the outside,” she says. “Whether she’s a celebrity or a CEO, a star never knows whom she can trust. She’s usually surrounded by people whose livelihood depends on hers.”
In fact, instead of the widely held stereotype that accomplished women should be sequestered on high and compete with all other female comers, the fact that these women have similar lives offers a chance for real bonding. “When a celebrity becomes part of a gang or group of powerful A-listers, she is surrounding herself with peers,” Levine says. “These women are equals, which offers the possibility for true friendships. Moreover, when there is mutual respect and admiration, women can be informal mentors and role models to one another.”
Male celebrities have often done this, leaning on—and learning from—other boldface names. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin were so tight they often made surprise appearances at each other gigs. In the 90s, Leonardo Dicaprio, Tobey McGwire, Lukas Haas, and Kevin Connolly gave themselves the nickname the “P*ssy Posse,” and recently, the group went to the Mayweather-Pacquiao fighttogether. Male rappers clump together all of the time too: Biggie, Ma$e, and Craig Mack all appeared on each other’s tracks for Bad Boy Records (owned by their other friend Sean Combs, who went by Puffy at the time). And male duos abound: Jimmy has Justin, Ben has Matt, and George has Brad.
But, because female gangs are rare, they can feel fake (and Madonna, in particular, is well known for doing just about anything to get attention). Actress Jamie King—and friend of Swift’s—wrote on Elle.com about how many people don’t understand her friendships with other female celebrities. “The experiences I’ve learned by having very strong women around me—women like Lena Dunham, Taylor Swift, and Jessica Alba—is that there can be a group of strong, creative women without competition between us,“ she wrote. "The thing that solidifies us is this idea that, no matter what, we will always support each other. People find that fascinating about our friendships, like it’s some sort of odd thing. And it really shouldn’t be.”
Levine agrees that what makes these friendships work is that these women are openly stepping up to back each other. “These relationships are volitional,” she says. “They’re all choosing to be together. It feels like being among a group of sisters, without any of the family hangups. Everyone has come together with a shared background of sorts, the world of celebrity. When you’re part of any group, your posse has your back and you are no longer alone. These ties may not last forever, but they are real.”
And, they may last longer than any of these women’s ties with dudes. As the always-sage Amy Poelher told Ladies Home Journal when shewas talking about her own girl gang of Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, and Tina Fey, “Most of the women in your life will outlast the men in your life.”
For anyone who cares about not looking the age they really are—or, god forbid, even older—there’s an area you may want to pay a little more attention to protecting from the sun, year-round. “The decolletage is one of the most neglected areas of the body,” says skincare guru Sonya Dakar. “We spend years pampering our complexions only to let our chests give us away.” Indeed, “The neck and decollete area is even more delicate than skin on the face, so it can show the evidence of sun damage and aging even faster,” says Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, codirector of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery. “It’s more prone to sun damage than the face.”
The moral of this story? SPF is a must, daily, all the way down to your breasts. “Your skincare regimen shouldn’t stop at your jawline,” says Dakar. “Too much sun combined with the natural thinning of the fat under the skin can result in all sorts of problems, from crepey or leathery skin to cleavage wrinkles and age spots.” None of those are attractive, perhaps least of all cleavage wrinkles, and all can make someone young appear much older prematurely. Damage here is also difficult to reverse.
“The area on the décolletage is usually exposed on a daily basis to the sun and environmental factors,” says Dakar, whose Beverly Hills spa sees the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Drew Barrymore. “It shows lines, gets discolored and can get into a constant red state from too much sun or too many sunburns.” Her point is that taking care of the area from the get-go pays off in the long run by staving off these many unattractive signs of aging.
When selecting an SPF, opt for moisturizing formulas since the skin on one’s chest has fewer oil glands and thus is more prone to dehydration. It is also a thin area that can burn quicker, leaving behind extensive and severe damage. A high SPF is important: a minimum of 30 should be used daily, reapplied every two hours when in direct sun. Tanzi prefers physical sunscreen formulas with zinc or titanium for the chest and neck, such Skyn Iceland Icelandic Moisture SPF 30, Sonya Dakar Daily Body Shield or SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense 50. But the best plan of attack is really to avoid sun on the area altogether, says Tanzi, who prefers patients use self-tanner.
Don’t forget the power of other products to work in tandem with SPF and after sun exposure. For repair, retinols can be used on the area, says Dakar, who suggests beginning with a product once or twice a week to see how it’s handled; she also likes an anti-aging mask every other night to address damage. Tanzi recommends using glycolic acid pads or Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads overnight, every other night. “If trying to combat hyperpigmentation on the decolletage, use products that contain daisy extract, lactic acid or licorice extract—never glycol acid or hydroquinone. The results will be slower but not as irritating,” says Dakar.
Also, because of the more predisposition to dryness, a heavy moisturizer is appropriate. Antioxidant serums (try iS Clinical Reparative Moisture Emulsion in tandem with Extreme Protect SPF 30) can be used on the décolleté to boost the skin’s immune system against toxins and environmental damage. “My favorites are marabou and buddeleja plant stem cells,” says Dakar, “It’s been clinically shown they protect skin from UVA damage—the key UV radiation linked to photo aging. They also boost the skin’s own natural antioxidant system and inhibits collagen degradation.” During the day also try moisturizers with SPF, like Erno Laszlo’s Luminous Intensive Decollete Treatment SPF 20, but be aware of the amount used for it takes a lot to provide adequate coverage. This, and not continuing products beyond the jaw, says Tanzi, “is a reason why most women have a chest that looks worse than their face.”
One more way to keep a younger, prettier décolleté: “Do not apply perfume to the neck or chest [as it] can cause pigmentation issues, spotty skin and irritation, especially when exposed to sunlight,” says Dakar. “Instead, apply to hair and inside the wrists.”
Celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose gives us his professional opinion on glitter. (Photo: Getty)
The Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is not for the faint of heart — it spans three (restless) days, it’s in Vegas, and it’s impossible to avoid glitter while you’re there. At America’s biggest music festival of the year, the more sparkle and more body paint, the better. If you’re a proponent of the no makeup-makeup look, we’re warning you: you’ll be out of place.
Celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose, who recently did disco glitter eye makeup for actress Vicky Jeudy at the premiere of Orange is the New Black Season 3, shares his professional tips for getting glitter right. “Wearing glitter can be sexy and fun—think ‘70s disco era when people just went all out,” says Barose. Even if you’re not going to EDC this weekend, consider adding some sparkle to your beauty arsenal for the future.
Go for unusual colors. Avoid looking like an arts and crafts school project by picking unusual colors. Stay away from your typical art supply store gold and silver glitters. Barose recommends MAC Glitter($21) for unique shades that you can dust on eyes or over lipstick. He also suggests Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner ($20), which can be layered on top of eyeshadow or heavier brown or black eyeliner.
Size matters. “It depends on how much of a statement you want to make. Usually small, fine sugar-sized glitters are more manageable, though for more drama, you can go with ones with bigger chunks,” Barose explains. “Make sure that you only use glitters that specifically made for make up and not the art supply kind—those can be sharp and irritating if they cut the area around your eyes.” For big dramatic chunks of glitter, he recommends Make Up Forever Graphic Glitters($16).
Don’t put glitter on your eyelashes. Wear fake eyelashes that already come with glitter instead. “I’d rather use those than try to glue them yourself. It’ll be hard to make them look good and the worst is when the glitter crumbles and falls in your eyes while dancing,” he says. You can also wear glitter on your brows or brush some loose glitter into your hairline à la mode Kesha. Remember, you’re at EDC — not tea with your grandma.
Beware of the heat. “For eyes, glitter liquid liner will be yourBEST BET because it stays more,” says Barose. “If you’re using loose glitter, the particles are going to move around, but the key is to have something to stick them to without becoming sticky in the summer heat.” Leave the heavy eye cream at home; it will melt right off. Instead, go for a light eye gel.
Use glitter spray for hair and body. Barose recommends costume shop staple Mehron Glitter Spray ($4). For body, our senior editor Joanna Douglas loves the ‘90s must have Michael Kors Leg Shine($32), which is heavily fragranced and perfect for adding an all over glitzy shine.
Skip the nail art. You don’t want to spend too much money on repairing chipped polish, and you want one polish to do the job so opt for a coat of chunky glitter polish instead. Barose loves the dramatic, chunky polishes from Deborah Lippman. We recommend the classic multi-colored Happy Birthday confetti lacquer ($20) if you’re having trouble choosing a shade.
Starting June 19th, Yahoo Live is streaming the biggest music festival in North America — the Electric Daisy Carnival. EDC is going down in Las Vegas, but you can check it out from home here.
Tavi Gevinson, the 19-year-old style wunderkind, actress, and now beauty pro, reveals her unconventional hair and makeup wisdom.
By Givola
She’s always been a career trail-blazer: Starting a subversive style blog at age 11 and turning it into a full-blown website (rookiemag.com) by 15, transitioning into acting and starring in a Broadway play (This Is Our Youth) at 17, then setting her sights on the beauty industry and inking a deal with Clinique 3 Step Skincare by her 19th birthday. Gevinson’s secret to making it all happen? Doing things her way. She explains:
Her beauty motto: “Do and wear whatever you want. When I was younger, I felt like my features were sort of irrelevant. But now I see beauty as a tool that helps you become the person you want to be.”
Her favorite beauty look on a woman: “A strong brow, natural everywhere else.”
Her borrowed-from-the-boys hairstyle: “Slicking it back like David Bowie from his Low album era makes me feel like I’m not susceptible to dumb sh-t.”
Her favorite feature: “My eyes have the coolest options for makeup—they fluctuate between blue, green, and gray.”
Her skin care strategy: “I wish I’d taken better care of my skin in high school. I’ve gotten more serious about everyday maintenance.”
Her style epiphany: “I learned in high school that it felt worse to second-guess my wardrobe choices than it did to be made fun of. When I’d change my outfit to something more “normal,” I’d come home to the stuff I’d really wanted to wear and think, I should have worn that!”
Her cat-eye trick: “The key is to think of it as a triangle. Do dots at the inner corner, outer corner, and outer crease of your eyelid, then connect them.”
The last beauty thing she googled: “Organic deodorant from Soapwalla ($14, soapwalla kitchen.com). It works great, but it’s not an antiperspirant, so when I’m like, I can’t sweat today, I’ll use the regular stuff.”
Clinique 3 Step Skincare System ($64, clinique.com)
Her sleek styler: “I’m a busy woman, so I let my hair air-dry, then run this essential oil (Sparrow for Everyone True Essential Oil, $88, sparrowforeveryone.com) through with my fingers to make it less fluffy.”
Her beauty icon: “Willow Smith is amazingly confident in her work and makes me feel like I can do anything.”
Her favorite hair hue: “I had gray hair when I was 13, because I dyed it blue and didn’t bother to color it again once it faded. I think it looked kind of dope.”
