FASHION WORLD: 07/22/22

RITU KUMAR	PAYAL SINGHAL	SANGEETA BOOCHRA	ASHIMA LEENA	AHILYA	SATYA PAUL	SHAZE	AZA	RINA DHAKA	GLOBAL DESI	ZARIIN
Dresses	Dresses	Designer Piece	Kurtas & Kurtis	Kadda	Sarees	Jewellery	Ethnic Wear	Designer	Women's Shoes	Sportswear
Kurtas	Western Wear	Jewellery	Salwar Suits	BangleSet	Printed Sarees	Earnings	Sarees	Dress Material	Jewellery	Sports & Shoes
Jackets	Tops	Bangles	Tops	Pendants	EmbellishSarees	Bangles & Bracelets	Kurtas & Kurtis	DesignerSaree	Fashion Jewellery	Gold jewellery
Tops	Ethnic Wear	Coin & Bars	Leh Cholis	Kadda	Handbags & Clut	Rings	Salwar Suits	Blouses	Bridal Set	Pumps & Pee
Skirts	Salwar Suits	Earings	Western Wear	Acessories	Bags & Luggage	Jewellery Sets	Chunnis & Dupattas	Gowns	Jeans	Spectacle
Jumpsuits	Sarees	Chains	Dresses	Earings	Top-Handle Bags	Sunglasses	Bottom Wear	T-Shirts & Shirts	Jeans & Jeggings	Nightwear

Friday, July 22, 2022

This Stainless Steel Jewelry Brand Vows To Never Turn Your Skin Green

Kryptonite is to Superman as oxidation is to affordable jewelry. The chemical reaction takes place when copper — a budget-friendly and often gold or silver-plated material commonly used for inexpensive baubles — comes in contact with water or chemicals in things like lotion. This then leads to the infamous murky green residue that appears on our skin. Canadian jewelry brand Mia, however, discovered a summer-perfect loophole: stainless steel.

The brand guarantees green-free skin wherever you dunk its stainless steel jewels, minus the luxury price tag. We’re talking sleek jewelry on the market for under $50. The brand even features lab-grown diamond accessories priced all under $200. To test such a bold claim, I adorned my epidermis with Mia’s grey rings, hoop earrings, necklaces, and bracelets for an entire month of beach trips, showers, baths, and pool days (even, for a while, against my will — more on that later). Read on for my honest cons, stay for the pros of these glitzy impermeable pieces.

Round Hoop Earrings, $19

Why stainless steel?

When I think stainless steel, I instantly envision a burly man clad in a wielding mask, not dainty and refined jewelry. The designers behind Mia have taken advantage of the material’s tough reputation to increase the longevity of its pieces and decrease the costs. To compare, popular jewelry brand Mejuri’s fine (diamond-less) pieces range from $78 to $600. As for skin sensitivity, the retailer specifically works with surgical, nickel-free, lead-free, and cadmium-free stainless steel to prevent allergic reactions. For the silver-colored pieces, that’s it. Rose gold and gold pieces are then plated, which might make you ask, who cares about the base material’s hypoallergenic attributes? Don’t worry; the plating is also hypoallergenic and durable, though not guaranteed to be waterproof. Once again, according to its site, Mia’s “plating vapor deposit” process ditches both chemicals and pollution. For the science-obsessed, this means that “solid material is vaporized in a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of a part,” atom by atom which “improves the appearance, durability, and/or function of a part or product.” I’d like to thank this article at VaporTech for the digestible low down.

Although even a brute like stainless steel deserves a little TLC. To care for your waterproof non-plated Mia jewelry just be wary of rough handling due to potential scratching. As for the plated pieces, try to avoid water and any harsh contact.

[The Puzzle Necklace] is easy to wear either with a sporty or chic garment. A necklace that you can wear every day!
MiA Reviewer

Puzzle Necklace, $42

First Impressions

I received the Puzzle Necklace, Pure Love Charm, Puzzle Bracelet, Aura Ring, Round Hoop Earrings, and Soleilo Huggie Earrings. First, we have to talk about the packaging sent from heaven. Each piece came in a sturdy stainless steel (I assume) cylinder holder that locks when you twist it closed. Each container is now home to all of my jewels and the only reason I stay accessorized on vacation — they are perfect for travel.

Each piece had an industrial flair to it. Unlike other pieces of silver jewelry I own, these were a darker silver and didn’t have a flimsy feel — which I thoroughly enjoyed. I specifically picked chains and hoops that gave a hardware vibe since it complements my personal style. Everything hung nicely and was exactly as pictured on site.

One month goes by…

I dunked this jewelry in a pool, the Pacific ocean, the Atlantic ocean, the shower, the bath, and my sweat from the gym. They all look exactly the same, as does my epidermis. To top it off, I actually got the Aura Ring stuck on my finger for a solid two weeks straight — but, hey, my finger never turned green. They do not lack any luster nor are there any scratches or rusty clasps. Oxidation be damned.

Oxidation be damned.

I will say, you can tell that these are not the most high-end pieces on the market. My accessories were a tad less refined in comparison to my friend’s sterling silver Gucci pendant necklace. It was also difficult to pair them with the silver jewelry I already owned because of the darker hue. That being said, this only applied to the necklaces and bracelets. The rings were plenty shiny, a bit brighter, softer, and daintier.

Soleilo Ring, $34

In short…

I force myself to, at the very least, answer one question in my reviews: Does the product do what the retailer says it should? As for Mia’s tarnish-resistant baubles, the answer is a confident yes. Below I provide proof of my embossed, but not green, finger which should be a solid testament to the brand’s waterproof guarantee. And, out of all the information I gathered from this review — the plated vapor deposit process, stainless steel durability, etc. — I most importantly now know this, I am not a ring size six.

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. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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How Social Anxiety Can Impact Your Style

While my social anxiety manifests in public spaces like at work and on dates, it also impacts me privately at home when I am doing the most menial tasks like getting dressed in the morning. I worry constantly about how clothes look on me and what people will think of my outfits. Despite spending an inordinate amount of time getting dressed, I’m largely unsatisfied with what I put together. Since I’m never fully content with how things look on me, I buy more things I don’t necessarily need, hoping they’ll look and feel better. Needless to say, they often just end up staying in my closet because I can’t figure out how to feel good in them. I recognize the privilege I have in being able to buy things pretty regularly, if only secondhand, but my shopping habits have previously led me to a really dark place and resulted in credit card debt.

Talking with friends and posting about it on social media made me realize I’m by no means alone in this. In fact, more than 12% of U.S. adults will experience social anxiety at some time in their lives, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. “When my social anxiety is really flaring up but I have an obligation, I sometimes spiral if I can’t find the right outfit,” says Chandra Johnson, a creative director at Day One agency. Emma Zack, the founder of plus-sized focus retailer Berriez, reflects on her own experience: “It’s hard to differentiate between whether I used to be self-conscious about my style because of how I’d be perceived in my fat body, or because I was anxious about being perceived in general.”

How Social Anxiety Can Impact Style & Shopping Habits

According to Elizabeth Beecroft, a licensed clinical social worker, social anxiety is a type of disorder that causes extreme fear in social settings. Symptoms of social anxiety can include self-consciousness, excess fear of situations in which one may be judged, worry about embarrassment or humiliation, or concern about offending someone. “For people who struggle with social anxiety or are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, style, dressing, and shopping can trigger feelings of stress, frustration, insecurity, overwhelm, worry, and more,” she says.

For example, oftentimes when it comes to planning a look or an outfit, social anxiety can leave people second-guessing and overthinking their style choices. It can also lead them to hide parts of themselves behind layers of clothing out of shame. “We might feel the need to dress in ways that garner approval, or we might do the opposite and dress in ways that camouflage us because we’re afraid of being noticed,” Dr. Juli Fraga, a psychologist focused on women’s issues, tells Refinery29. “In other cases, people might resort to ‘retail therapy’ to cope with anxiety, which can cause overspending or emotional shopping.” This is an issue I know all too well.

According to experts, while this is a self-soothing behavior aimed at reducing anxious feelings, it’s a short-lived solution because it doesn’t address the issue head-on. It’s easy to fantasize that a new outfit will ease your woes — “When we make a new purchase, endorphins are released, which play a huge role in how we feel,” says Beecroft. “It can lead to feelings of excitement and can activate the reward centers of our brain, temporarily masking those feelings of anxiety” — but, in the long run, it can lead to an unhealthy way of coping, by using shopping as a distraction and spending money on clothes you don’t need.

How To Stop The Cycle Of Social Anxiety

According to Fraga, noticing the worries can go a long way. “Start by asking yourself, I wonder what I’m really worried about?” she says. This will allow you to check in with yourself and figure out whether the anxiety is warranted or a product of overthinking about a social scenario that’s unlikely to happen.

Another tactic is to imagine your best friend in the same dilemma. “What advice would you offer? This is a great way to get some distance between your worries, which can help widen your perspective.” Similarly, Zack says that something as simple as seeing what other people are wearing on TikTok helps her. “Watching how all the cuties dress themselves is fun and inspiring,” she explains. “It’s cool to see so many people express themselves through what they wear — especially people who are the same size as me.”

Next, consider if your worry is keeping you from wearing something you love, or is it merely an annoying thought that dies down once you dismantle the narrative. If it’s the former, one of the best ways to cope with this feeling is to find safe ways to confront it. “Maybe you wear an outfit that gives you anxiety to a coffee shop where no one knows you, which can lessen your fear of judgment,” Fraga says.

Beecroft suggests having a mood board for various emotions and feelings, as well as a lineup of looks and style inspiration: “Have go-to outfits that you feel most comfortable in ready to go.” This might mean trying your clothes on and identifying what you love about seeing yourself in a ‘fit. “If you want to try a new outfit out, plan in advance,” Beecroft adds. Stylist Susanna Merrick echoes this: “Have safe choices in your wardrobe that make you feel good because you’re not always going to feel like putting yourself out there every day.” Chandra says she keeps an arsenal of emergency looks. “It’s the outfit you do not even need to THINK about, try on, second-guess, etc… For me, that usually comes in the form of a high-waisted, loose trouser with fun texture, a tiny baby tee, and a long leather jacket. It’s the foolproof ‘IDGAF about what y’all think of me’ look.”

With this in mind, wear going-out outfits at home to feel more comfortable in them, and slowly ease into social situations that can bring about feelings of anxiety. Start with things you can control, like feeling comfortable in your clothes, which will help you tackle the anxiety you may feel when you wear them in social settings. “Start small and work your way up to more triggering situations,” Beecroft says.

Lastly, Merrick suggests looking at your closet and considering, “What do I absolutely love in here? What lights me up? What makes me feel like me?” Take inventory of the pieces that you’ve collected on trips or adventures or outfits that you’ve worn to special events and re-wear them when you need to feel good. That said, if social anxiety becomes debilitating, go to your doctor or seek out therapy, if it’s available to you.

If you are experiencing anxiety and are in need of crisis support, please call the Crisis Call Center’s 24-hour hotline at 1-775-784-8090.

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18 Bucket Bags To Buy When Mansur Gavriel Isn’t An Option

The bucket bag has a universally appealing shape: It's structured but not too structured, fashionable but not too trendy, and it's the happy medium between a too-large tote and a micro bag. It's also one silhouette that both luxury designers and mass retailers have gotten behind (with fervor) in recent seasons, churning out different size, color, and material variations left and right. And while the original cult favorite belongs to Mansur Gavriel, it's hard to walk into any store without seeing some type of bucket bag these days.

If you're holding out for the OG, we get it. But if you're looking for some alternative options that are a little more wallet-friendly, there are plenty of just-as-worthy bucket bags (like the ones ahead) that you can sling over your shoulder now.

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. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.