Spotted at the former Upper East Side residence of Blair Waldorf: a glamorous fashion shoot. But the occasion wasn’t for B’s designer line. Rather, it was a showcase of Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet’s new collection, which debuted during (digital) New York Fashion Week. And while the Gossip Girl location would’ve been enough to get us queuing up an episode on HBO Max, Bendet took our obsession with the fashion-filled show a step further — with the entire collection inspired by it. All the way down to the pearl and crystal hair accessories à la Queen B.
For her fall ‘21 collection, Bendet wanted to pay homage to New York City, the city that built Alice + Olivia as a brand and features prominently on the show. To capture its essence, she sought out the stylist behind Gossip Girl’s costumes, both from the original show and the forthcoming reboot, Eric Daman.
As a result, the collection features houndstooth print, faux fur, and ultra low-rise trousers, as well as Harry Styles-esque pearl necklaces and prairie dresses. Regencycore, too, made its way into the collection, though, given the cast’s close proximity to the Met — not to mention the growing demand for Bridgerton fashion — are we even surprised? But no Gossip Girl-inspired collection would be complete without a touch of Jenny Humphrey. To capture Little J, Bendet added a fair share of punk styling, using dark plaids and leather to add an edge to the collection.
If the rumors are true, we’ll be meeting the 2.0 versions of Jenny, Blair, and Serena, as well as the rest of the cast, very soon. While we wait, let Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet’s latest collection fill the void. Between the tweed, the crystals, and a 2021 replica of Serena’s gold Pamela Dennis couture gown from Season 1, it’s a worthy stand-in.
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“This has been the biggest year of style development for me ever,” says Emma Chamberlain. “I’ve always loved clothes, but my life before [the pandemic] was so on the move that I didn’t have time to put together thoughtful outfits.” Now, like many of us, she has nothing but time.
Since 2017, the Gen Z star — who boasts 12.2 million followers on Instagram, 9.9 million on TikTok, and 9.9 million subscribers on YouTube — has been known for her unfiltered, authentic approach to social media and fashion, whether she’s sharing a vintage haul or taking her followers on a trip to Target. It was that authenticity that soon caught the eye of the fashion industry, leading to fashion partnerships with brands ranging from Calvin Klein to Louis Vuitton, which saw her in editorial campaigns and at runway shows during Paris Fashion Week. On Tuesday, Chamberlain debuted a new campaign, with Pacsun, a brand she calls her “go-to spot” growing up.
Despite the fact that fashion shows in Paris have been put on the back burner because of travel restrictions, and lockdown has made it harder to shop in stores in L.A., where she has been living alone during the pandemic, Chamberlain says that it was during this time that she started to discover her style. “I ended up having a lot more fun putting together outfits for Instagram, just even to look in the mirror,” she says, adding that for a lot of the first quarantine, she “played with outfits that nobody would ever see.” Along the way, it became a mode of self-discovery: “I think I’ve not only found more of my own personal style but also learned more about it.”
This experimentation resulted in Instagram posts that display an amalgamation of vintage sportswear, denim, and loafers from the ‘90s and early ‘00s, head-to-toe Louis Vuitton, and looks from popular IG brands like Dyspnea and House of Sunny. “These days, there’s nowhere to go when you’re dressed up. So I’ve definitely been dressing up on Instagram,” she says. These looks are elevated, yet still relatable — a combination that helped Chamberlain’s find such success on the internet. “I will buy anything that speaks to me no matter where it’s from, I don’t care. I can literally see something in a gift store on Hollywood Boulevard, and be like, I like that, and I’ll buy it. It doesn’t matter.” All to say: Chamberlain being Chamberlain, she’ll still show up on the feed wearing pajamas — “if the post feels right.”
Her day-to-day style lives primarily on YouTube and TikTok. “I’m a lot more lazy [there],” she says. “Probably four to five days a week, I’m wearing the same Pacsun sweat shorts and my random red fleece jacket,” she says, adding that, once she finds pieces that she feels comfortable in, she’ll wear them to death — which, a year into the pandemic, I can absolutely relate to. “I just feel casual there,” she says. “Whatever form I’m in at that moment, that’s what you’re getting.”
According to Chamberlain, she shopped a lot over the pandemic, with jeans being her most frequently bought item: “I wear jeans probably 75% of the time, so that’s always what I’m looking for.” Given that many are swearing off denim for good, it might seem unexpected. “I’m somebody that won’t wear jeans unless they’re comfortable jeans,” she says. (I am guessing skinny jeans are out then.) As such, vintage jeans are her favorite because “it feels like you’re wearing sweatpants because they’re soft and loose.”
Also among her recent purchases are maximalist accessories, from retro sunglasses to “crazy, colorful, and chunky jewelry, like charm necklaces and big earrings.” Those, and all things knit — specifically pants, vests, and tops. “I love anything knit, as long as it’s not itchy, which is hard [to know] when you’re ordering online.”
While shopping during the pandemic, her closet has grown “out of control”: “I just want to start over, but I can’t start over because I love everything,” she says. “I need to fly my mom down here once it’s a little bit safer and be like, ‘You need to help me right now.’”
When that time does arrive, and Chamberlain is forced to finally confront her lockdown purchases, there are a few things she won’t be adding to the donation pile. In addition to the aforementioned Pacsun sweat shorts and red fleece jacket, she says she depends on cropped, graphic tees and soft cardigans. And of course, there are yoga pants, the ‘00s trend that Chamberlain is known for spearheading on TikTok and isn’t ready to give up. Her defense? “It’s almost like a corny mom going to play tennis with her friends [look], but make it a little hot,” she explains, adding that they remind her of Princess Diana’s signature crewneck-bike shorts ensemble. “I saw those photos and was like, I kind of want to do that, but with yoga pants, because, why not? I like yoga pants.”
*Adds yoga pants to shopping cart.*
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It’s mid-February and the mercury levels are still dropping — but look on the bright side; so are the prices in Nordstrom’s freshly stocked sale section. From now until February 21, we can score deep deals on Madewell, Everlane, Adidas, The North Face, and more at this cult-favorite retailer’s winter sale.
Whether you're in need of some cozy loungewear, durable-chic outerwear, or sweat-wicking activewear, this sale probably has something for you. We clicked through everything from the sites’ bestselling 40%-off waterproof slippers to 60%-off sweater dresses and found what’s really worth our dollars. Click ahead to cash in — the weather outside may be frightful, but online, prices are falling like snowflakes during a blizzard.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team, but if you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Charles Henry Long Sleeve Mock Neck Sweater Dress, $, available at Nordstrom
Adidas Believe This High Waist 3-Stripes 7/8 Tights, $, available at Nordstrom
BP. Classic Cozy Lounge Pants, $, available at Nordstrom
Wayf Culver Turtleneck Long Sleeve Sweater Dress, $, available at Nordstrom
While clogs, specifically Birkenstock’s Boston and Dansko’s Professional clogs, have long been a mainstay among Brooklyn creatives and gardening types everywhere, they have rarely been considered a fashion-forward shoe. But, after several Birkenstock collaborations with the likes of Valentino and Proenza Schouler, and luxury house Hermés giving the “ugly” shoe its stamp of approval in October during spring ‘21 Paris Fashion Week, suddenly, clogs were on-trend (again). It didn’t hurt that last month, New York-based womenswear brand Area included two pairs of bedazzled clogs in its first-ever “couture” collection, further making a case for the style’s runway appeal.
Now, as the second day of fall ‘21 New York Fashion Week is coming to an end, we can say with certainty that not only are clogs still in power but, by the looks of the new collections, the clunky silhouette’s reign isn’t ending anytime soon.
On Monday, Victor Glemaud, the king of knitwear, used fall ‘21 to introduce the brand’s first footwear styles. For the occasion, he designed a shearling-lined, wood-sole clog in partnership with made-in-Lagos footwear and accessories brand Shekudo. For the lookbook, the designer’s signature knit dresses and skirts were paired with navy blue and rust-colored, suede clogs, which, according to Vogue, were part of Glemaud’s goal of “mixing comfort with a renewed focus on craft.”
Shortly after Glemaud’s footwear debut, clogs — from bulbous styles to more understated ones — showed in other collections. At Veronica Beard, sisters-in-law and co-founders Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard styled their signature wools, plaids, and florals with high-heeled suede clogs. New York-based indie label PH5’s take on the style was a bit more unexpected, with white, platformed clogs appearing throughout the 25-look collection, paired with asymmetric dresses and geometric leg warmers.
Instagram darling Sandy Liang joined in on day two, adding patent leather, shearling-lined clogs to her fall ‘21 collection alongside Mary-Jane flats and kitten heels reminiscent of tap shoes.
But if you’re still on the lookout for a just-right pair of clogs — not too classic, but not too fashion-y either — don’t fret. Given the selection we’ve witnessed thus far, there will be plenty more where these came from.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with Birkenstocks, either.
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Refinery29 is proud to partner withAthleta, an activewear brand that empowers women with its inclusive workout wear that includes extended sizing. Here, 33-year-oldJessie Diaz-Herrera, plus-size dancer and founder of her Bronx-based body-positivity classCurves With Moves, shares her story of learning to love her body again after finding activewear that fits. This story was told to Andrea Cheng and edited for length and clarity.
Most children are naturally very active, but growing up, I was operating on a different level. I had So. Much. Energy. I was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age, and my parents, wanting to temper my energy without resorting to medication, never missed an opportunity to throw me into any activity they could: basketball, softball, karate, dance. But it was the latter — dance, and in all its forms — that I absolutely fell in love with at the age of five.
I took ballet, tap, and jazz classes at a dance academy in Brooklyn. On weekends, I learned to dance salsa and the merengue with my family. Unlike sports, which required thinking, were more competitive, and involved a team, dance was an individual experience — one that was unique to me, one that had the power to transport me to another world. And when combined with music, it was like twice the amount of stimulation. I performed in recitals, I loved being onstage, and I had a knack for choreography (I was the one who taught all the cousins in the family the choreography to pop girl group songs).
But it all stopped at the age of 12, when puberty hit. I was training to audition for the teen program at the New York Academy of Ballet, and my teacher remarked: “If you really want to be in the program, you might want to consider what you’re eating, now that your body is growing.” In other words, she was telling me to lose weight. I was 12, so what do you do at 12? You skip meals, you don’t eat properly, and it got to a point where I fainted. My mom was worried and wanted to take me to the hospital, and I ended up telling her everything. In true Nuyorican fashion, she dragged me by the arm to the dance studio and cursed the teacher out: “Nobody tells my daughter what to eat, F you, F you, F you.” Now, I retell that story with pride, but back then, I was so embarrassed. I thought she ruined my life, because dance was my life. I gave up ballet then and there.
A year later, a different teacher asked me if I was still doing ballet. When I said no, she replied, “Yeah, you don’t have a ballet body anymore, so it’s probably for the best.” I know she wasn’t trying to hurt my feelings, but it still affected the way I perceived myself, and I stopped taking dance classes altogether, spending my teen years investing all my energy into softball.
It wasn’t until freshman year of college, at Babson in Boston, when I found my love for dance again. At a dance circle event during the first week, a junior told me I should join the school’s dance crew — something I didn’t know existed outside of movies. I skipped the second day of softball tryouts to join the Babson Dance Ensemble, and from there, I ended up becoming a choreographer. By the time I graduated, I was vice president.
In the beginning, the thought of dancing with people in a group scared me because it brought me back to those times in ballet (to this day, I say I’m going to take a ballet class, but I never do, because I know there’s still trauma there). But we did hip-hop, which is one of the most inclusive genres of dance, with the most diverse group of dancers — people of all ages, colors, and shapes. It was a space where I felt most comfortable, especially as a woman of color coming from New York and suddenly feeling so displaced in a city like Boston. Having that sense of community helped me feel more at home, but there were still moments in which I felt self-conscious, namely with costumes. If a choreographer chose a costume that stopped at a size large, and I was an extra-large, I didn’t speak up — I didn’t want to cause trouble and force a costume change. I ended up finding a woman in the Midwest who made all my costumes; I paid extra for her to sew my outfits, and I didn’t tell anyone about it. When I became the choreographer, I was set on making sure our costumes were size-inclusive, so that everyone could wear them.
It wasn’t just the costumes, though. It was all activewear. Until as recently as 2015, I was wearing sweatpants and a big, baggy T-shirt to dance class. Or really cheap leggings that would rip after a month — as far as I was concerned, no other kind of leggings existed. It didn’t affect my dancing because I was confident in my abilities, but I definitely felt self-conscious at the gym when I wanted to lift weights or do strength-training. I felt bulky. I felt like a fat girl going to the gym, and I was so envious of cool workout outfits; I desperately wished that brands made them for me.
The first time I wore workout clothes in extended sizing I couldn’t believe it: A sports bra that fit? Leggings that weren’t black? This was only five years ago, too, so plus-size activewear was still a new category. I think, for the longest time, brands had this notion that fat girls don’t work out, but who wants to go to the gym in super-baggy sweats? Clothing is so powerful in its ability to boost your mood and alter the way you present yourself. When you feel good — and everyone instinctively knows when they look good — it changes how you perform at the gym. Or in life.
For so long, I was stuck with wearing black and navy sweats, so now that there’s plus-size activewear available in these really bright colors and super-bold patterns, I cannot wait to stunt at the gym or at dance class. It made me fall in love with my body all over again. Athleta's collection of activewear — neutral shades with neon thrown into the mix, along with highly wearable prints — never fails to make me feel cute. And if there's anything I've learned about activewear, it's that quality is everything — and I can definitively tell you Athleta is all about quality. Leggings absolutely must have a thick, substantial band, and my favorites are the 7/8 crop ones from Athleta because they’re the perfect length for my petite 5-foot-1-inch frame.
I like to base my outfits on choreography, so if it’s hip-hop, I’ll wear a looser-fit pant with a crop top; if it’s a dance workout, I’ll opt for something sleeveless, so you can see my arm movements. The beautiful thing here — and I can't stress this enough — is that I have variety. I have options. I finally have the ability to choose from an arsenal of workout clothes by my favorite brands, like Athleta.
Pursuing a career in dance didn’t happen right away — probably because I didn’t conform to traditional dancer body norms. I was going to auditions and not getting anything, but that didn’t stop me from dancing socially and choreographing for companies. In a lot of these situations, I would be the only plus-size person in the room — and the only person of color — and I wanted to create a safe space for those out there who are like me. So I started posting dance videos on Instagram in 2015 and two years later, I launched Curves With Moves, a body-positivity dance class and a judgment-free zone regardless of ethnicity, dance level, age, or body composition.
I used to get comments online like: “If you dance every day, how come you’re still fat?” I’ve been dancing my whole life, so that’s not going to change my body. I know I can dance despite what people may think a dancer’s body should look like. For me, it’s less about fitness and more about joy. Plain and simple, dancing makes me feel good.
We still have a long way to go when it comes to plus-size representation, especially for women of color, but I know I’m making a difference when women come up to me and tell me that I’m the reason they’re able to wear a sports bra and leggings to class. My mom, who has been my biggest cheerleader, said, in front of one of my classes last year, that she’s learned to be more confident because of me. I started crying. This is the woman who stood up for me for my whole life, but to see her become a body-positivity advocate has been amazing.
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I try to instill that in my daughter, who’s five years old, also has ADHD, and loves to dance. We recite daily affirmations — I am strong, I am loving, I am smart, I can do anything — and it’s something I’ve brought to my classes as well, because I truly believe if you do something great for your body, you should thank yourself. I want people to feel good in movement, but more than that, I want people to feel joy in whatever they do: If it brings you joy, do it on a daily basis and do it with pride.
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'किसी चीज को अगर चाहो तो पूरी कायनात उसे मिलाने की कोशिश करती है।' वैसे तो ये एक फिल्मी डायलॉग है, लेकिन एक साधारण सी लड़की ने इसे अपनी जिंदगी में सच कर दिखाया है। चॉल में रहकर, अंधेरी गलियों से आगे बढ़कर आज उसने सितारों की दुनिया में कदम रख लिया है।
सोनल चौहान को ऐयरपोर्ट पर स्पॉट किया गया, तो इस बाला की फिटनेस ने जबरदस्त तरीके से इम्प्रेस किया। ऐक्ट्रेस ने कपड़े भी ऐसे पहने थे, जिसमें वह अपनी टोन्ड बॉडी फ्लॉन्ट कर सकें।
