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Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern Talk About Living in Montana, Being Educated in L.A., and Making The Movie ‘Certain Women’

Photography: Joel Barhamand for Yahoo Style

In indie director Kelly Reichardt’s new movie “Certain Women,” Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern, along with Michelle Williams, make up a trio of intersecting women living in Montana facing quiet challenges in their professional and personal lives. Even though the characters don’t share screen time, Stewart and Dern have the chemistry of old friends. They opened up to Yahoo Style about women in Hollywood, Montana hipsters, and ghosts.

Yahoo Style: There is such a sense of place in the movie. What was Montana like?

Kristen Stewart: Oh man, I drove up from LA.

Laura Dern: Oh, you did?

KS: My character was spending so much time in a car and I just kind of wanted to do that.

When it comes to physical beauty in the States, man, it might be the most impressed I’ve ever been.

What did you guys do when you weren’t filming?

KS: I kind of sat in my cabin, on this massive bit of property in the middle of nowhere, around the fire.

LD: It was winter into spring. I’ve never been that cold. The town, Livingston, where we were, is incredible.

KS: Kind of Hipsterville in the middle of Montana. You go into the grocery store and you see guys in beards and boots buying almond milk.

LD: I stayed at the Murray Hotel, which was a major experience. It’s haunted.

Did you see a ghost?

LD: I didn’t, I just felt something freaky. And the whole crew, everybody was talking about it, the energy there. So I went to the front desk and I was like, “I’m kind of freaked out but I know it’s ridiculous, but people say this place is haunted.” And she was like, “Oh yeah, I see ghosts all the time.” This woman who is seemingly a traditionalist, not a woo-woo person.

What did these three separate stories have in common?

LD: One of the things that I think is so beautiful about Kelly’s work is that she’s interested in characters that have stripped away what the outside world is trying to project. So these are people who are choosing, not necessarily to be off the grid, but to kind of live a life within a system but not become the system. And very specifically these characters were dealing with the board of education, the world of law and trial lawyers, and, frankly, the dynamic in marriage. These three places where you’re having to negotiate with the men of the world.

KS: Look at you!

LD: I just figured it out, I cracked the code.

KS: There was one other one that was interesting too.

LD: Yeah! Go into that one.

KS: They all want something that they can’t have. They all sort of are up against immovable objects. There’s a quiet struggle. What I really love about it as well, like, she thinks that it’s worth looking at even though it’s not this grand, self-aggrandizing feat that these women have overcome.

Is that important for you, having strong female characters? Or do you get offered things where you’re like ‘oh god, not this again.’

KS: Yeah, there are bad parts for girls. I think I have a good agent, I don’t think he really sends me stuff that I would be like, “What the fuck are you doing? Why am I reading this?”

Do you look at the director first?

KS: I think it’s really important to give newcomers a shot. I need to meet someone. I have to see them; I have to know them. Because honestly, you might not like me. How could you possibly know if you want me to be in your movie if you’ve never met me before. I always find that really weird. Like straight offers to me are just really weird, without a meeting or a reading. I’m like, okay, cool, so what, I get your movie made? You don’t even know me.

What if he hates everything you do?

KS: Yeah, what if literally you just think I’m annoying? You’ve never met me!

That’s a lot of time to spend with someone that you think is secretly annoying. So you are both from LA.

LD: You’re from there too?

KS: Oh I’m from North Hollywood, babe.

LD: Where did you go to school?

KS: I ended up doing homeschool.

How was homeschooling?

KS: It was a trip. I really liked it because I got to sort of design my own curriculum. And all my friends were like reading stuff that was boring them to tears and I got to choose everything. Like, when I was a freshman I read On The Road. Where’d you go?

LD: Buckley. Which is shocking, because it’s so traditional and my parents were hippies. Which by the way, I’m grateful. Who knew I would end up doing sort of politically subversive movies and end up having to debate people on CNN.

KS: I worked with your dad.

LD: Oh, that’s right! He loved you.

KS: I loved him.

How old were you when you did The Fabulous Stains?

LD: 12. I started at 11, that was my first movie job!

KS: I love that movie.

LD: I left the seventh grade. I cut my hair off and spent four months with The Clash and the Sex Pistols. I had my 13th birthday, and when I came back, I was like, “I’ll never be able to relate to any of this again.” The reason I never became a drug user was that movie. When you think, like, how can I help my kid navigate all those questions, it’s like put them on a movie with the Sex Pistols. Not from what I witnessed, but because of them saying to me, “Don’t do this stuff.” I was like, “Okay!”

KS: You have to remind me to ask you about a story that one of your dear friends who I worked with and can’t remember who it is that I have to corroborate with you.

LD: I can’t wait!

What is it?

KS: Oh, I can’t tell you. [Laughs.]

#style #celebrity #kristen stewart #laura dern #_uuid:532921d8-c5b9-3344-82f6-e2a71fe9394e #_draft:true

Harry Potter Make-Up Exists—and It’s as Magical as You’d Expect

(Photo: Shiro Cosmetics/Instagram)

Try to remain calm, Potterheads. Harry Potter make-up is here—and it’s here to stay.

The magical make-up line, which includes all of your beauty bag essentials with a magical Hogwarts themed twist, is the brainchild Shiro Cosmetics, an independent brand from Portland who definitely deserves a Butterbeer on us.

Called ‘Marauders, Mugwumps, and Muggles’ (because what else?), the collection boasts 20 eyeshadows, five lip glosses and two bronzers.

(Photo: Shiro Cosmetics)

(Photo: Shiro Cosmetics/Instagram)

As you would expect, each product has been aptly named. A dark shimmering green eyeshadow called ‘Have a Biscuit, Potter’ is our personal favorite, while the Butterbeer flavored lip gloss is one product we can’t wait to get our hands on.

The line’s not actually brand new: It launched with limited distribution last Halloween, but it was so popular that it’s back this year—and here to stay. The range is now a permanent fixture that fans of the magical franchise can get their hands on all year round.

#beauty #harry potter #makeup

Why Some Retailers Hate the Word ‘Athleisure’

Photo: Outdoor Voices

One of the most popular trends championed by top designers, models, and celebrities alike is athleisure. The word, recently added to the 2016 unabridged version of Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, is defined as “casual clothing designed to be worn both for exercising and for general use.”

However, while many industry figures (and basically anyone else who wears clothing) are quick to support the trend, some are not so crazy about the word itself. “I hate that term. It’s the worst thing in the world. I can’t wait for it to die,” Tyler Haney, founder of lifestyle brand Outdoor Voices, told Man Repeller. No, she doesn’t think it’s the new “moist.” Haney feels there’s a disconnect between the meaning of the word and the activity associated with it. Haney produces apparel for those who make physical activity fun, and believes that often people sporting athleisure aren’t attempting any sort of physical activity.

Haney is passionate about combining her design background with her athletic upbringing, and has attempted to market her company in a unique way by shifting the focus away from results and performance to simply being active. The term doesn’t align with her company’s mantra, as activity is essential to her vision — something that cannot be said for all athleisure fans.

Haney isn’t the only one taking issue with the popular term. Another activewear retailer, Bandier, wants to do away with with its clothing being referred to as athleisure. The alternative? Active fashion. Founder Jennifer Bandier believes athleisure “doesn’t connote any sort of actual activity,” according to Refinery29.

Many users have weighed in on Twitter, voicing their distaste for the word.

People using the term "athleisure" without irony is a sign of the decline of Western Civilization. Discuss.

— Jonathan Potts (@jepotts) August 8, 2016

I was just introduced to the term "athleisure". Aka rehearsal clothes but when models wear them.

— Barrett (@BarrettWeed) September 9, 2016

I hate the word "Athleisure", it sounds like you put on workout clothes then go walk your poodle in the park.

— Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) October 4, 2016

"athleisure" wearing workout clothes without actually going to workout

I didn't realize there was a term for being too lazy to get dressed

— Jacqueline (@_FatJacq) July 9, 2016

Is the term "ATHLEISURE" what we call yoga pants when we're really on our way to Krispy Kreme?

— Sheri Kondo (@SheriKondo) May 26, 2016

"Athleisure Wear" aka wearing gym clothes outside the gym is not a term I'm a fan of. Of course, here I sit in yoga pants…

— Kahtay Heetay (@StruggleMuffles) May 24, 2016

One mother said that the term can also be demeaning, as it implies that those who adorn themselves in workout garb are doing so in a leisurely way. “Athleisure connotes ‘ladies who lunch,’ and mothers are so much more than that. More like ‘ath-we’re busting our ass, didn’t have time to shower or blow dry our hair because we went from the gym to making lunches to driving kids to school to get to work’ wear,” Elisette Carlson, founder of SMACK! Media marketing and PR firm, told Mom.me.

Project Runway host Tim Gunn is perhaps the trend’s most vehement adversary. “It’s vulgar,” he told Bloomberg. “Unless you’re Robin Hood.”

Yet despite the hate from industry folk, there’s still mostly love from shoppers. Research firm NPD Group reported the market to be valued at $44 billion in 2015, a 16 percent year-over-year increase. Simultaneously, denim sales are down about 5 percent. Long live leggings!

#fashion #athleisure #news #_uuid:1b21b158-9496-3de4-beef-c08e3eabc93e #_wp:173918

Kate Middleton Just Gave Fans the Shock of a Lifetime

The Duchess of Cambridge in Catherine Walker in the Netherlands ahead of her flight back to London. (Photo: Getty Images)

The Duchess of Cambridge is the People’s Princess 2.0. After attending her first solo engagement abroad on Tuesday, the royal took a commercial flight on the 7:15 p.m. British Airways flight from the Netherlands to London. Passengers were said to have been absolutely shocked when Middleton walked onto the aircraft, according to the New Zealand Herald, and took a seat closest to the front of the plane.

Wearing the same light-blue Catherine Walker skirt suit she had worn for that day’s activities, the 35-year-old mother of two traveled with a team of bodyguards and staff during the flight. Aside from the prime seating and permission to deplane a few minutes before other passengers, Middleton was treated just like any other commoner throughout the flight.

Can you imagine sitting on the plane waiting to take off and Kate Middleton walks on. My dream! She obvi got to get off the plane first pic.twitter.com/fqzho0eGau

— Alyssa Ashton (@AlyssaJAshton) October 12, 2016

A passenger on the flight said that he had “never seen so many iPhones pop up at once” upon Middleton’s entrance.

Kate voltou da Holanda p/ Londres em um vôo da British Airways às 19h15 de ontem, o que surpreendeu os passageiros. pic.twitter.com/XJW2XK5Rw4

— Kate Middleton BR (@middletonbrasil) October 12, 2016

Middleton is no stranger to British Airways, as her mother, Carole, and father, Michael, have both worked as flight attendants for the airline company. Prince William also surprised passengers when he was spotted taking an American Airlines commercial flight from Memphis to Dallas in 2014.

Photo: @local24eli/Twitter

“I am still amazed #Prince William flies COACH. That’s pretty humble/awesome. Who Knew?” Eli Ross wrote.

The duke and duchess also flew commercial in 2011 on a British Airways flight from Los Angeles to London.

While one might assume that members of the royal family would charter private planes for transportation, flying commercial is not only acceptable, it’s preferred within the ranks of the British monarchy. The only royal who does not fly commercial is Queen Elizabeth. Yet, whenever the royals do travel on a commercial airline, they are accompanied by a large security detail and sometimes even a pre-approved photographer. Arthur John Edwards, a notable British photographer, has been seen with them on many flights.

The size of the security detail depends on the particulars of the trip. On Prince William and Duchess Kate’s commercial flight to Australia, the pair traveled with 11 security and staff members.

One unique rule for the monarchy relates to the situation in which two heirs to the throne travel with one another. Generally they are not supposed to, since it is a security threat to the throne. However, Prince William broke this rule when he traveled with his son, Prince George, to Australia in 2013.

On the Cambridge family’s most recent tour of Canada, the government in Ottawa graciously provided an aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force, which operates planes similar to Air Force One.

#news #_uuid:3fe36de2-0a43-333f-9936-18a506e08f3c #_wp:173632

Should You Use the Powerful Wrinkle and Acne Cream That You No Longer Need a Prescription For?

Acne-sufferers and fine-line-fretters, rejoice! For the first time ever in the United States, retinoid—a drug proven to effectively treat both conditions—will be available without a prescription, making the path to perfect skin a whole lot smoother.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Differin Gel 0.1% (adapalene), a once-daily topical retinoid gel that has been available by prescription since 1996 for the over-the-counter (OTC) treatment of acne in persons over the age of 12. But the announcement, made on July 8, buried the lede—because, as most of us know, retinoid is also one of the few active ingredients proven to diminish the effects of aging, including decreasing the appearance of fine lines and skin discoloration.

“It seems to be a very fortunate side effect that this medication helps with both pimples and wrinkles,” noted Dr. Doris Day, a leading dermatologist in New York City.

For the uninitiated, retinoid is a chemical compound related to Vitamin A that has both exfoliating and anti-inflammatory effects. Retinoid works by increasing cell turnover, thereby stimulating the growth of new cells; it also slows the breakdown of collagen, and thickens the deeper layer of skin where wrinkles begin. Because of its exfoliating properties, it helps to decrease the appearance of discoloration caused by aging (ahem, looking at you brown spots) and acne alike. In other words: it’s preventative as well as reparative. It’s kind of like a one-stop shop for your skin.

“I’m delighted that Differin is now available OTC as it is so very similar to retinol, which has been over the counter for years,” said Dr. Gervaise Gerstner.

Indeed, retinoid has a lot in common with retinol, which is already well-represented in the beauty aisle of your local drug store. But while retinol can take up three to six months to produce noticeable effects, retinoid has been shown to work much faster—and effectively—in many individuals. Plus, did we mention it helps unclog pores and can cure breakouts?

“[Differin] is especially useful for those with adult acne who are combatting both [acne and the signs of ageing],” said Dr. Day.

Now you may be thinking, if Differin is so wonderful, how come it took the FDA twenty years to approve it for over-the-counter use? According to Gerstner, this is actually quite typical.

“The FDA always takes a long time as they do their due diligence,” she explained.

Yet there are a few things to know before you pick up a tube at the drug store—particularly if you’re expecting. “Vitamin A oral is Accutane, which can cause birth defects if taken by pregnant women,” said Gerstner. “Differin is topical so there is not this risk but still makes it worth noting. I would not use it in pregnant patients even though it is over-the-counter.” (The FDA recommends that “women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding should ask a doctor before use.”)

More likely (and less scary) is that Differin could cause unwanted irritation or sensitivity, particularly after sun or heat exposure.

“Differin was prescribed to me by my doctor once I developed adult acne,” said Courtney, a 28-year-old who works in finance. “While it did help contain breakouts, it made my skin extremely dry. My skin was constantly peeling. It took a while for my skin to adjust to the strength of the medicine and while the dryness alleviated slightly over time, I found that my skin greatly improved once I stopped using it.”

For some patients, more serious reactions can occur. “I used prescription Differin almost as spot treatment throughout college,” said 31-year-old Jenna, who works at an online retailer. “It worked like magic, zapping breakouts overnight…Then, oddly, in my mid-twenties, I applied the medicine to some burgeoning blemishes, went to bed and woke up looking like Will Smith in Hitch. Two Benadryl and a missed work day later and I was fine. I thought it had been something I ate however the same thing happened again the next time I used the ointment. So then I was done forever.”

In other words, retinoid is no joke: the same properties that make it so effective in treating fine lines and acne, can also have a powerful impact on your skin. Don’t forget this is fundamentally a drug and should be treated with caution.

In order to avoid any mishaps, both Dr. Day and Dr. Gerstner strongly recommend starting off by applying a very small amount and gradually increasing it as your skin adjusts over time. If applying even a small amount every night still leads to irritation, Dr. Day advised, “to start slow by using every other night and building up to every night as tolerated and by using a moisturizer over it at night.” And don’t worry about diminishing its efficacy—when it comes to retinoid, more does not mean more. “A little goes a long way and if they use too much they will have increased risk of irritation but not quicker response to treatment,” said Dr. Day.

After her ordeal Jenna said she would urge friends to “spot test” the lotion before committing to it. “Dab a little bit of the stuff on the inside of your wrist and leave it on overnight. If you experience any sort of reaction, it’s safe to say you probably don’t want to use it on your face.”

Dr. Day also warns that, if combined with other potent skin products—even over-the-counter ones—Differin might be more likely to cause adverse reactions

“Patients should know that this product is in the same category treatment as retinol so they should avoid overlapping products with similar ingredients, especially if they are on prescription RetinA or using over the counter retinol as this can increase irritancy of the skin,” she explained.

Finally, even though you will now be able to pick up Differin without a prescription, a trip to the dermatologists’ office is probably not a bad idea. For one, unless a dermatologist has taken a good look at your skin, it’s easy to misdiagnose yourself. “[Patients] should know that they are treating acne and not another condition such as rosacea or irritation of the skin, which can look like acne,” said Dr. Day.

Even if you’re quite sure you know what you’re dealing with, it’s helpful to get a professional’s opinion. “[Even though it’s available over the counter] I would still prefer to seek the guidance of a dermatologist – that way they can suggest the most appropriate product for your face –and they can monitor the effects,” said Courtney.

The bonus, of course, is that once you get the go-ahead from your dermatologist—just to be safe—it’ll be easier than ever to pick up, and keep re-stocking, the miracle potion.

#beauty #retinoid #differin

Kim Kardashian-Inspired 'Parisian Heist Robbery Victim' Halloween Costume Pulled

The “Parisian Heist Robbery Victim Costume Kit” is selling for $69.99. (Photo: Costumeish)

Costume companies aren’t known for their sensitivity — just look at last week’s offensive Halloween costume: the tranny granny — so it isn’t all that shocking that Kim Kardashian’s recent Paris robbery has inspired the latest controversial Halloween look. The Parisian Heist Robbery Victim Costume Kit, which was available through Costumeish, was pulled following widespread outrage on social media and on the retailer’s site. The set came complete with a fake $4 million ring, a gag, a short white “sexy robe,” a long black wig, big sunglasses and a two-foot rope. “She has devoted her life to promoting American decadence, youth, and hedonism but all that flashy living caught up with her one night in Paris when armed men bound her, stole her jewelry and her peace of mind,” the company wrote in the product description, making light of a serious situation a tad bit too soon. “This Halloween have some fun with pop culture and dress just like the Queen of Social media with our sensational ‘Parisian Heist Robbery Victim Costume’ Costume.” And before people start jumping to their defense by saying they aren’t blatantly making fun of the Kardashian sister, as she isn’t even named, just look at the URL for proof: kim-heist-parisian-robbery-victim-costume The $69.99 kit upset a lot of people.

“This is absolutely disgusting!” wrote one shopper in a review. “She is a wife, a mother, a sister, and most importantly a human being. Yes Halloween is a time to dress up and have fun but not at the expense of another person’s tragedy!” Another added, “Congratulations on losing several customers with this tasteless piece.” Some called for a boycott of the costume website. “This is an awful ‘Halloween costume,’” said one of 17 pages worth of reviewers. “This woman went through a terrifying experience you think it’s okay to make a joke out of it. You have degraded her and the any other victim of such a crime and made light of such a serious crime that has left this woman traumatized. You should be utterly ashamed to bring such an offensive item to market.” Others took to Twitter to express their distaste:

A costume company released a Kim Kardashian 'Getting Robbed' outfit for Halloween. This is so disgusting. How could anyone do this? pic.twitter.com/oKyPQhezBP

— Nancy Hanes (@MamaHanes) October 10, 2016

That Kim Kardashian robbery Halloween costume is the stupidest thing I've ever seen in my fucking life.

— Chaneade. (@Chaneadeee) October 11, 2016

plllleeeease let me catch you in the kim kardashian robbery halloween costume your life will end on october 31st

— polite millionaire (@briannaocs) October 11, 2016

Costumeish vice president Johnathon Weeks said this is the first time the company has removed an item from its site (the company has sold various other offensive costumes in the past including the dentist who killed Cecil the Lion, Rob Ford, and others). “It’ll make people either cringe or laugh,” Weeks told TIME. “I don’t want to make light of a serious situation. My deepest sympathy goes out to the family. No one really deserves to go through what she did. We’re not mocking her.”

#costume #kim kardashian #news #halloween #_uuid:b6a2f46e-7a61-3b8b-af09-a93e05914bb1 #_wp:170553

Angry Birds Photobomb Couple’s Wedding

A couple had some unexpected wedding guests in the form of cranky birds who repeatedly swooped down on them during their wedding photo shoot. (Photo: Getty Images)

We’ve seen how celebrities and adorable shelter puppies can really add a special something to wedding photos. How about a pair of birds speeding toward the bride and groom with an evil death glare? It sure adds … drama.

Phillip and Sara Maria were posing on a picturesque bridge during their wedding in New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday, when a pair of magpies decided they were not fans of human romance. Photographer Karen Parr told the BBC that the whole wedding party had driven half an hour away from the ceremony for the photo shoot, so they decided not to cede to the territorial birds.

“I think we probably got swooped about 20 times,” Parr said. “It was quite scary at the time. We were cursing the birds.”

While Parr said the attacks made her scream a couple of times, the bride and groom “just rolled with it.”

“From the moment we got there, the magpie kept us in his sights and we were continually getting swooped for two hours whilst we got our photos done,” Sara Maria told the Armidale Express. “By the end, our best man and maid of honor got given the job of magpie-spotting.”

Magpies are apparently a prevalent danger in Australia in the spring. The birds attack when they have chicks in a nearby nest. They can be particularly vicious and have even been known to attack children. The website MagpieAlert.com, which tracks and maps attacks via social media, reports 5,803 attacks and 903 injuries in 2016. They’re a protected species in Australia.

While those birds may be the most relentless, they’re certainly not the only examples of entertaining wedding photobombers. Have a laugh at this meerkat cameo at the Edinburgh Zoo, admire the oozing lava in this volcanic wedding shoot, and just try not to squirm when you witness the approaching tornado behind these newlyweds. Mother Nature doesn’t stop for a wedding, but sometimes she likes to make a guest appearance.

#photobomb #wedding #weddings #_uuid:ef5735e3-79fa-3031-b7e2-fbe993ff75a4 #_wp:171115

Gwyneth Paltrow Flashes 6-Pack in Bikini at the Grocery Store

The November 2016 cover of Harper’s Bazaar. (Photography by Alexi Lubomirski for Harper’s Bazaar)

Of course Gwyneth Paltrow would go grocery shopping in a bathing suit. Multiple bathing suits, for that matter. The actress appears on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar’s November issue, and if you think she looks smokin’ in a lace masquerade mask, $73,400 Bulgari earrings, with perfectly curled 1930s-style hair and a hint of cleavage, wait until you see what’s inside.

Gwyneth Paltrow in the dairy aisle wearing a $2,250 Valentino and $385 Eres swimsuit. (Photography by Alexi Lubomirski for Harper’s Bazaar)

Accompanying an interview conducted by Samantha Bee, the spread features the blonde beauty in different acts of grocery shopping in a few different outfits, most of which are nothing more than a bathing suit. First, she gets some milk from the dairy section in a black Valentino cape blazer ($2,250), an Eres one piece ($385), and a chain-link Bulgari necklace and bracelet, while a young male employee gawks. Then she heads to the cereal aisle to stock up on the Froot Loops and Lucky Charms for her young ones (yeah, right, there’s no way she feeds them anything inorganic) in a black tuxedo style knee-length goop Label dress ($695), a Bulgari necklace and bracelet, and Manolo Blahnik black pumps ($595). Paltrow discusses the goop clothing line, which she launched last month, in the interview. “The clothing line is just one thread in the quilt of what I’m trying to create, which is a truly modern, global lifestyle brand,” the entrepreneur told Bee. “Some people have said to me, ‘Why haven’t you gone more fully into wellness products?’ — which is our next thing, but I wanted to make sure that as we grew in scale, we were diversifying across all the different verticals, so that we could be as credible in them as we are in food and that kind of stuff.” The goop founder knows her clothes aren’t the most exciting, but she wanted it that way. “The clothes themselves are not meant to be daring at all — these are reimagined basics. The daring part of it is that we want to change the way fashion is served to the consumer.” Then she struts down the aisle, as one does, in a Louis Vuitton black shiny jacket and bag ($3,800), a black Proenza Schouler swimsuit with cutouts on the stomach ($340) giving us a sneak peek at her amazing abs, a Bulgari serpent necklace, and Saint Laurent shoes ($995). OK, now things get a little bit more realistic. The actress poses against a plain backdrop in a black backless Armani Privé dress with silver rope detail around the neck and arm, Bulgari earrings ($10,100), and a Harry Winston ring.

Paltrow poses on a checkout counter wearing a $3,550 Saint Laurent jacket over a Eres bikini top, $290, and bottom, $240. (Photography by Alexi Lubomirski for Harper’s Bazaar)

But wait, she forgot to pay for her groceries. So she heads to the checkout aisle, and proceeds to give her fellow shoppers a show. Sitting on the conveyor belt, Paltrow reads a magazine (probably an article about herself) in a black Saint Laurent blazer ($3,550), a black one-shoulder Eres bikini top ($290) and matching bottoms ($240), a beaded Bulgari necklace and matching earrings, and black Gianvito Rossi strappy sandals ($815). But it’s what’s in between the two pieces of the bikini that counts: those abs. We knew the mother of two was in good shape, but we didn’t realize it was this good. Paltrow’s six-pack is firmly on display, while an older couple behind her tries to check out (their groceries and her) and their expressions say it all: confusion and utter amazement. That’s exactly what we look like when we grocery shop, just add a few layers of clothing and fat. But, it’s basically the same thing.

#news #_uuid:1f5ab625-cded-3fb6-aaeb-39d983ef8246 #_wp:170735

Harley Quinn Smith, Kevin’s Smith’s Daughter, Steps Into the Spotlight

Harley Quinn Smith

(Photo: Getty Images)

When your father is filmmaker Kevin Smith, it’s inevitable that you’d grow up with an affinity for acting—the man brought us cult classics like Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob for crying out loud! So when Harley Quinn Smith decided to hop onto the Hollywood scene, we weren’t at all surprised. Over the years, the teen has made appearance in several of her dad’s films, including Tusk, Clerks II, and Jersey Girl but recently took her career to the next level when she starred, alongside real life bestie Lily Rose Depp in the horror comedy Yoga Hosers (currently streaming on FlixFling). The 17 year old has officially caught the acting bug and tells Yahoo Style that as soon as she wraps up her senior year of high school, she plans on making showbiz a full time priority.

To accurately portray “the Colleens,” Smith and Depp armed themselves with an arsenal of Canadian clichés, took the costume department shopping to purchase adolescent-worthy ensembles, and pooled “the most annoying aspects” from people that they knew into creating “the ultimate basic teens.” The role was an inspiring breakout for Smith, as she was thrilled to make her film debut as an empowered female character. “Nine times out of ten, women are portrayed negatively as a victim who needs to be saved by a man or as someone who is unable to take care of themselves,” she explains. “It’s time to start depicting women as not only equals, but for the strong, independent, and capable beings they are!”

We caught up with the rising teenage star to discuss how Kevin Smith the director is different than Kevin Smith the father, her obsession with wanting to portray the DC comic book version of Harley Quinn, and how being in the public eye has taught her how to navigate the world of virtual bullying.

Yahoo Style: What did you love most about playing Colleen in Yoga Hosers?

It’s rare that you find such empowering roles for women and so I was stoked to be able to lead a movie alongside another extremely strong female and show the world that women are just as capable of leading a movie on their own. Also the fact that they’re teenagers having to fight in this extremely rare and peculiar circumstance kind of accentuates their power because they’re just your average fifteen-year-old girls, but that doesn’t mean they’re not capable of kicking some major ass.

How much fun was it to star alongside your best friend?

It was a really incredible first movie to have. It was a unique circumstance to be able to start your career with your best friend and your family and so many actors that you have looked up to for so long. It was a very special unique experience. It was so much fun hanging out with your best friend every day.

You and Lily have known each other since elementary school. Do you remember the moment you first met and realized you were destined to be bffs?

We were in kindergarten and I’m pretty sure we became friends on the first day. It’s been a nonstop party ever since. [Lily] is just a very kind and genuine person. She is hilarious. We make each other laugh so much. We always have a great time when we are together and I know she’s always there for me and vice versa. No matter where we are in our lives or what we are doing, we are always going to be there for each other so that’s very good to have.

Harley Quinn Smith and her best friend and co-star Lily Rose Depp

(Photo: Getty Images)

You girls play very exaggerated versions of Canadians in this film. Did you have fun creating the characters?

Familiarizing ourselves with the accent was super easy because there are only three words that we really used to create it, which were “aboot,” “eh” and “sorry.” Canada has always been an important part of my household because my dad has this insane fascination and absolute admiration for the country. He’s always telling me something about Canada so I feel like my knowledge of it was already pretty on point prior to filming. We also lived in Vancouver for about three months when I was younger while my dad was shooting Catch and Release, so I would say I have a pretty solid sense of Canadian culture. To build our characters, we pulled the most annoying aspects from teenagers we knew in our own lives and mashed them together to create the ultimate basic teens. When you’re already a teenage girl, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate yourself from the character you’re playing if she is also just a normal teenage girl so we made sure that the Colleens were really different from the teenagers we really are. I tend to describe my Colleen as Bubbles from the Power Puff Girls, mixed with the most annoying teenager you could imagine. Underneath, I think she does have a good heart and she cares so deeply for her best friend, however, on the surface, she’s kind of lacking in the wits department and can tend to be quite aggravating.

In the film, your Colleen catches Austin Butler’s attention over Lily’s Colleen. In real life, have you two ever competed over boys?

Way way back in the younger grades there was this boy that liked Lily that I was like in love with. But besides that, no. I have a pretty solid boyfriend as of 3 years and she has a boyfriend too so we’ve kind of got it figured out (laughs).

How much influence did you have over your character’s outfits?

We actually hand picked most of the outfits that we wore in the film. Before shooting, we went shopping with the costume department because who is going to know what teenagers like to wear better than teenagers? That was definitely a super fun experience and it was also cool to be involved in that since most actors don’t usually have a say in what they get to wear on screen. We had no say in the smocks; that was a piece my dad was very adamant about keeping, but we learned to love them in the end.

What is your style like in real life?

I go thrift shopping and vintage shopping a lot. That is where basically the majority of my wardrobe comes from. I feel like you find the best clothes there. I am usually not that dressed up. I love to wear anything that matches. I love matching shorts and shirts. I just love to match. That’s a weird personal style thing.

What was it like having your father direct you?

It was definitely very fun to get to know my dad on an artistic level. That was a very special experience to get to bond other than just in a father daughter way. Parents direct you in real life so it’s not too much of a drastic difference because he was already giving me direction and advice in my real life. And that’s what he does on set as well. I’d say that he definitely talks a lot less on set than he does in real life. He tends to give very long motivational speeches of some variety when I am having any life issue. But on set, it’s just like director dad mode so it’s much shorter of a motivational speech.

He seems like he’d be a really fun, goofy dad.

He is a pretty goofy person, pretty silly guy. Every time I leave the house, he tells me to bring something stabby with me in case I run into any altercations of some sort. So I have a pointy pen or he wants me to carry a pocketknife sometimes or a weapon of any sort (laughs). He’s very protective.

Harley Quinn Smith and her dad and director Kevin Smith

(Photo: Getty Images)

Your father has talked a lot about how he is a feminist. What has it been like growing up with a feminist father?

I would hope that anybody in my life is a feminist because a feminist is just someone who believes in equal rights for women and equality amongst genders. So if my dad wasn’t a feminist, I would be pretty damn pissed and probably not want to be around him. I think anybody should be a feminist and if they are not, I don’t really want to know them.

He recently came to your aid against a horrible Internet troll. Is it nice to have him be such a champion for you?

Yeah. I would like to think that I can definitely handle that on my own, which I am very capable of and can. It’s definitely always nice to have family and friends that support you. My dad is such a wise person and I look up to him so much. It’s very comforting to know that he will always have my back. But I definitely can handle situations on my own; I’m perfectly capable but it is nice to know that he is there for me.

How do you personally deal with Internet bullying? Are you tempted to fire back at them?

It is always tempting because when you see someone insulting you and trying to get under your skin, you always kind of have the urge to argue back and defend yourself in some way. But it’s always important to remember that fighting fire with fire will not help anyone and will not do anything for the situation. So I just try to handle it best on my own and just kind of look away from it and know that it doesn’t matter – that they don’t know anything about me because they haven’t met me in real life and they don’t know me personally. So it doesn’t matter at all what they think of me. I just have to be confident with myself and remember that I shouldn’t let anybody on the Internet alter my opinion of myself or alter my self-confidence.

Is that the same type of advice that you would give to someone else that is dealing with an online bully?

Yeah I would definitely say that I know that it’s very hard and it’s very difficult to turn away from it. But at the end of the day, that’s the only thing that you can do. Obviously no one wants others to use hateful words towards them but it really doesn’t matter and it’s really nothing personal because again, they don’t know you. You just have to be confident with yourself and know that if you have full confidence in yourself, then you shouldn’t let anybody else try to alter your opinion of yourself. You should just continue doing what you do and take their negativity as motivation to contribute more positivity into the world and use it as your fuel to go put more positive in the world than there is negative. And go create more instead of destroy, which they are trying to.

You’ve made several appearances in your dad’s films in the past but this was your first big project. Is acting your main priority now?

Yes! Acting is definitely my priority and it’s definitely what I would love to do for the rest of my life. But I’m in my senior year of high school so I’m just trying to finish that out so I can get that out of the way and done with. And then I would love to go to work and never look back. I go to auditions all the time. It’s very important to me that I work outside of my family dynamic. I love working with my dad so much and it’s a very special part of all of our lives. But it’s very important to me that I create a career outside of that as well. I love acting and it means the world to me and I just want to prove that although I got here because of my dad and because of nepotism basically—and it was a very easy transition into the world of entertainment—I would just like to work twice as hard as every other actor just to prove that I do deserve to be here and not just because of my dad but because I am good at what I do and I am a hard worker. It’s very important that I prove myself to the world and I will be hopefully working very soon right after I get out of school. I love playing roles that are most opposite myself so I would love to play a villain on Super Girl or The Flash or something cool like that. I would love to be on some sort of a comedy show. SNL is my favorite show in the whole world and what I basically learned everything about acting from. I would love to be on a show like that. I would truly just love to work in general. Playing Harley Quinn is my dream role, not only because it would be really cool just being Harley Quinn as Harley Quinn but because her character development is maybe the coolest storyline of all time. Going from a psychiatrist to a psychopath would be a pretty amazing character to perform as. I would love to do that one day but that’s a stretch. So for now I just want to see what happens.

What was it like watching this film with an audience for the first time at Sundance?

Watching your movie with an audience is definitely one of the most surreal experiences an actor can have because you finally get to see your story come to life and hear everyone’s reactions. It’s the most fulfilling feeling to hear an audience laugh at your jokes because there’s always this fear that you’re not good enough or that the audience won’t understand the humor. But when they do, it’s truly amazing. Sundance was probably the best week of my life thus far. Every time I think about it, I get so nostalgic and sentimental. Even though it was less than a year ago, I just already miss it so much. Between being reunited with our Yoga Hosers family and being able to partake in something so inspirational, I was able to reach a new level of happiness that I didn’t know existed previously.

Your character is a huge yoga fan in this film. What’s your stance on yoga in real life?

Yoga may actually be my least favorite form of exercise because I don’t have the patience or the flexibility to do it. I wish I was good at it because everyone who does it has a bomb body, but it’s just unfortunately not my thing. I think I did it once and walked out on it.

What do you want people to take away from seeing Yoga Hosers?

My biggest hope for this movie is that it inspires other young girls to create stories that are led by females as well. Representation is so important, especially right now, and it’s imperative that if you don’t see yourself represented positively in movies or on TV, to go write, produce, direct, act in and/or create a story that portrays you in a strong and powerful way. Nine times out of ten, women are portrayed negatively as a victim who needs to be saved by a man or as someone who is unable to take care of themselves. It’s time to start depicting women as not only equals, but for the strong, independent, and capable beings they are!

#style #harley quinn smith #kevin smith #lily rose depp

Is Sex Actually Better for Women in Their 40s (and Beyond)?

Like fine wine, it really does get better. (Photo: Gallery Stock)

The old bromide is that sexual satisfaction for women declines with age … but does it really? New research is challenging the notion that women are doomed to ho-hum sex lives once they near menopause.

In small new study partially funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and presented last week, researchers conducted interviews with 20 women between ages 45 and 60 about their satisfaction in the bedroom. Despite popular belief, a lot of these women claimed to enjoy their sex lives more, although they did the deed less often.

Study author Holly Thomas, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, said the uptick in satisfaction was because women “felt more confident and more comfortable in their own skin as they got older, and this allowed them to feel more free in the bedroom,” according to WebMD News from HealthDay. “They had a better knowledge and understanding of their own bodies as they got older. And they felt more comfortable and empowered to communicate their sexual needs to their partner than when they were younger.”

This knowledge runs counter to a body of research showing women tend to be less happy with sex around middle age, often due to physical issues like vaginal dryness. For answers, the researchers dug deeper and focused on face-to-face interviews and focus groups to get a more well-rounded view of the sexual issues plaguing women after 45. In total, they interviewed 20 women and conducted focus groups with an additional 19.

Some of the study participants claimed they had sex less often, achieved orgasm less frequently, and dealt with vaginal dryness — all of which generally affected satisfaction. However, more women pinpointed family and work stress as the major reason for sexual downturn, not biology’s ever-ticking clock. On top of that, they also said they adjusted to these changes.

The researchers say that women are often encouraged to try hormone treatments during midlife but that we need to remember not all sexual issues are biologically based; this is a time where kids leave the nest, college expenses arise, and women are reaching a career apex. Activities and positions to increase intimacy with your partner and make sex more enjoyable, despite stressors, may make a world of difference.

That said, some women do experience physical issues when they hit menopause or perimenopause, says Fahimeh Sasan, DO, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

The top complaint among this group of women women is vaginal dryness. “Lubrication is often the best treatment, and for many women, this is all they need,” Sasan tells Yahoo Beauty. “An example is K-Y [Jelly], which you can get over the counter.” In addition, some perimenopausal or menopausal women “may need vaginal estrogen cream to treat the dryness,” so talk to your doctor if simple lubrication does not help.

But overall, Sasan says she sees many women who have vibrant sex lives after menopause. “Women can continue to have active sex lives at any age; it’s a personal choice,” she insists. “Sex is a natural part of life, and can be emotionally and physically stimulating.”

“Age does not define sexuality,” she says. “As long as you are being safe, it is a wonderful part of life.”

#news #_uuid:1ecbc0c4-2c18-3632-851b-7ee0192c2274 #_wp:170203

From Bridal Rompers to Disney Princess Dresses, Here’s 5 Standout Moments from Wedding Fashion Week

If you wanted to, you could probably go to fashion weeks year round: there’s the four major capitals, couture, pre-collections, Swim Week in Miami, secondary cities like Berlin, Tokyo, and this week’s ModaLisboa in Portugal. But over this weekend, here in New York, editors bustled around the city to see the latest contortions of tulle, lace and illusion fabric for Bridal Market. And though there were some big omissions from the schedule — one of the headliners of the week, Oscar de la Renta, didn’t do a runway show as the brand recently tapped new creative directors, while Badgley Mishka sent out a last minute note, cancelling their showing — there was still a lot to take in.

Here’s what we saw during the week!

A model wears a Disney princess-inspired bridal gown by Alfred Angelo. Photo: Courtesy of Alfred Angelo.

A Disney-Themed Collection

To kick off bridal week, designer Alfred Angelo gave us a lineup of gowns that were no doubt plucked from the imaginations of schoolgirls: wedding dresses inspired by Disney princesses. Though he used the term slightly loosely (Mulan isn’t technically a princess, though we revere her just as much as the others), Angelo cooked up a collection that built on his existing Disney range. While we definitely could see where the one-shoulder traditional lace dress inspired by Pocahontas got its start, the collection wasn’t your typical frou frou, full skirted, tulle-stuffed princess fare. But it was beautiful all the same.

A model shows off Houghton’s “Hopeless Romantic” jacket, from the brand’s Spring 2017 bridal collection. Photo: Courtesy of Houghton.

Houghton’s Moving Film

The last jolting fashion film we saw was last September when Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss screened a documentary featuring police brutality against people of color. Katharine Polk’s “Houghton Girl” film didn’t include violence but embedded in it was a message all the same about self esteem, body image, social media, and societal expectations. It was undoubtedly the most heartfelt and sincere moment of the week.

The film featured nine women — including model Chloe Norgaard, Lulu Frost designer Lisa Salzer, Made MILK co-founder Jenne Lombardo, and brand consultant Kelly Francis — talking about issues as they relate to women. Francis spoke about coming to terms with the effects childbirth had on her body. Salzer got personal, speaking about her own experiences with depression, and how she coped. The accompanying collection featured archival Houghton pieces riffed on by the film collaborators. Standouts included unexpected pieces like the “Fuck Boy” knits, the “Not Your Baby” bomber, and of course, the black leather jacket.

A model walks the runway in a romper/dress from Ines Di Santo’s Spring 2017 collection. Photo: Courtesy of Ines Di Santo.

A Bridal Romper

There’s a lot of wedding-specific pieces these days. Usually they involve taking some ordinary thing, dressing it up in white, adding a bit of reverential design, and voilà! Think bridal coats (YolanCris did two spectacularly embroidered ones this season), bridal chokers (Julie Vino really served those up), and bridal boots (Naeem Khan did an amazing over the knee pair). One thing we didn’t expect to see, however, was a bridal romper.

At Ines Di Santo, the collection was inspired by a beautiful, confection-filled patisserie. As such, the pieces that emerged on the runway were sweet, frothy, and sometimes slightly over the top. The most surprising was a pink icing-colored sleeveless illusion romper that came replete with a lace-embellished high-low train. It was quite the look.

A naked wedding dress at the Berta Spring 2017 Bridal show in NYC. Photo: Courtesy of Berta.

What About The Naked Dress?

So, here’s the thing. After appearing on the backs of countless celebrities, the naked dress trend crept onto bridal runways a few seasons ago. Since then it hasn’t left, and our guess is that it won’t ever leave: the naked dress seems on track to integrate itself as a permanent bridal gown option. This season in particular, Inbal Dror sent out a few stunning options as did Alon Livne. Galia Lahav even had what can best be described as a naked jumpsuit.

But from this there were some other interesting bits. In what seems like an evolution of the naked dress, designers were increasingly sent down dresses that kept the naked component to the upper half, usually with full skirts. Berta showed quite a few options like this.

A model wears a short dress with veil from the reintroduced Viktor&Rolf Mariage line. Photo: Courtesy of Viktor&Rolf Mariage.

Viktor & Rolf Debuted

Last year, it was big news when designers Viktor & Rolf announced they were terminating their ready-to-wear line to focus on their couture line and fragrances. Well, this season they add to that line-up with a bridal range. To be clear, it’s not their first. In 2013, after having done custom bridal orders for seasons, the pair debuted a six-piece capsule bridal range, and in 2006, they collaborated with H&M on wedding dresses and have worked with Kleinfeld.

The new iteration of Viktor&Rolf Mariage debuted at Bridal Market in collaboration with Justin Alexander. The range was as beautiful as you’d expect from two experienced couturiers, and included an open column, tailored tuxedo jumpsuit and a “flower cloud shirt dress” that seems to be a polo-inspired upper with a flower bedecked frothy skirt. The designers brought the drama with a diagonal-cut tulle gown as well as a bow spine gown.

#weddings #news #Bridal Gown #bridal week #wedding dress #wedding gown #viktor and rolf #naked dress #houghton #alfred angelo

Couple Celebrates 50th Anniversary in the Same Wedding Outfits They Wore in the Sixties

(Photo: SWNS)

Wedding clothes are a strange thing when you think about it—one of the biggest outfits of your life is worn for a day, then put at the back of the cupboard and never put on again.

Not for Carole-Ann and Jim Stanfield, who decided to wear their original wedding clothes to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The couple were surprised to find that their outfits still fit 50 years later, after discovering them covered in dust in their loft.

Their granddaughter Hayley had visited and wanted to look at some old family photo albums, and Jim stumbled across Carole-Ann’s wedding dress.

(Photo: SWNS)

Having last worn them in 1966, the outfits still—incredibly—fit after all those years.

“When Hayley discovered we still had our wedding outfits, she said we should try them on to see if they still fit,” Carole-Ann told Metro. “Jim went up and dug them out. Hayley insisted we put them on but I said no, they’d been in the loft and they were dusty and smelly. But she begged and pleaded so we did it for her. We were gobsmacked when we discovered they still fit perfectly.”

(Photo: SWNS)

And so, Hayley thought it’d be a great idea to throw a party at which Carole-Ann and Jim could wear their original outfits.

“A lot of people knew we were going to wear them, but they were still stunned to see us in them,” Carole-Ann says.

The pair originally met at the men’s club where Jim worked in 1962, and the rest is history.

While they originally honeymooned in Malta back in 1966, they’ll be jetting off to Turkey this time.

#style #wedding #sixties

Waking Up Before Sunrise Could Be Bad for You

[Photo: Pexels]

Waking up before sunrise isn’t usually something people do voluntarily. But as winter creeps closer and our mornings get darker, it’s inevitable for lots of us.

The bad news is that waking up before the sun does could also be harming our health, as scientists from Melbourne, Australia have found that it causes “social jet lag.”

For those who don’t know what “social jet lag” is, it’s when we’re forced to wake up rather than wake up naturally.

According to The Huffington Post, when the sun rises our bodies’ melatonin (which helps people sleep) is naturally suppressed, and simultaneously, our bodies’ internal cortisol levels (which give us energy) rise too.

[Photo: Pexels]

But when someone is made to wake up unnaturally—thanks to an alarm set before sunrise—these hormones are thrown out of kilter.

And unfortunately, this hormone imbalance can cause problems such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and depression.

Which raises the question: If waking up in darkness is so bad for us, should we be allowed to work less in winter?

Especially considering many people people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder too, and so will find themselves feeling lethargic or even depressed during the winter months.

But for now, the times we wake up are pretty out of our control, so there are a few other things we can do to help this, such as eating a big breakfast, cutting out caffeine later in the day, and using alarm clocks that simulate a sunrise to wake you up.

#style #health #sleep

When New York Nightlife Queen Ladyfag Hosts a Party, It Never Stops

Photos: Roy Beeson

The party at the beginning of the night.

The week that I’m supposed to meet Ladyfag and interview her in preparation for New York fashion week, she sends me an email: “Hello! Apologies about the delay, I’m in and out of consciousness with some sort of chest virus. But I’ve been on antibiotics since Sunday …so I’ll be ready and all yours when you need me!” She continues with a list of the events she’ll be attending, any of which I’m welcome to join: the Adam Selman show, the Telfar show, a McQ party she’s hosting. The 40-year-old nightlife impresario whom the New York Times has called the “rave of the future” has more get-up-and-go than most twentysomethings.

We decide that I’ll turn up to her party that Sunday night—September 11—for Battle Hymn, her weekly dance party held at Flash Factory in Chelsea, which she hosts in addition to 11:11 Fridays at Open House in the East Village, Holy Mountain monthly at Slake in Midtown, and Shade, a warehouse party whose address is never the same place twice. Ladyfag—or, Lady, as her friends and associates call her—will also be celebrating her 40th birthday that night, which means that even for someone whose professional description requires party throwing, it should be a night.

Ladyfag is a name that the Toronto native adopted in a nod to the contradictions of her persona; though not a gay man, most of her friends are, and though she doesn’t consider herself a lady, her sartorial tastes can often run toward the Victorian. As she tells it, her goal before moving to New York eleven years ago was to open a vintage clothing store in the Toronto neighborhood of Kensington Market. “I thought of this trip to New York as my last hurrah before setting up roots in Toronto,” she says, “and I never went back.”

Aquaria, Harry Charlesworth, Lady, Sussi strike a pose.

She still thinks one day she might return to her shop (“It’d be nice to set up something like a living room where my friends could gather once I turn 60”) and her vision of Kensington Market lays bare a series of predilections in thrall to the high/low beautiful mess of it all. “Kensington Market is amazing because people go to the fruit and vegetable markets there, but there’s also the Caribbean and Jamaican food, and it’s right next to Chinatown, and then there are the hippies and the punks who have stores there, too,” she says. “People have tried to gentrify Kensington Market for so long, but no one ever can. I mean, the junkies are still there. It’s really the one thing I miss about Toronto. It’s fabulous.”

When I arrive at Flash Factory and head to the back room, Lady is getting ready in her Adam Selman dress, her makeup artists applying crystals to her body—“I wanted to go for Studio 54 glamorous disco look.” Even mid-makeup, Lady’s already leading the circus, telling trans model Connie Girl (whose watchful eyes will be determining who makes it past the door) who should be getting V.I.P. and stage tickets tonight—V.I.P.s are allowed into the booths along one wall of the club, while those with stage access can actually enter the security-guarded area around the D.J. booths. Later that night the stage is where I see Lady greeting Mel Ottenberg, Derek Blasberg, and Amanda Lepore.

A glimpse of Lady dancing in the ambient light of the downstairs dance floor.

An assistant comes through at intervals to get Lady’s approval—about lighting, guest list, sound quality. At one point Lady goes out to assess how the Mylar balloons spelling L-A-D-Y should look in front of the stage. “The ‘A’ looks funny. Can you please tie it down in the center so it doesn’t look tilted like that?” she asks one of the assistants. She comes back in the dressing room and checks her phone, answering text messages and responding to birthday wishes on social media. She doesn’t stop. The only concession to the chest virus she’s battling off is the orange vitamin C slurry she’s been drinking in lieu of her usual vodka soda.

As the clock ticks closer to midnight, Lady confers with her makeup artist on the final touches. “What are we doing for eye?” she asks. Her chic platinum-dyed makeup artist, who’s impressively rocking a leather biker during the last throes of summer, says, “I’m thinking we want to do something dewy.” Lady lets a beat pass. “I trust you. I just need something for definition. Some definition and mascara, but not too much. It’s horrible and fabulous, right?”

Lady hangs out at the party she is hosting for McQueen and Document Journal on the Lower East Side.

When it’s finally time to start the party, Lady gives me a stage bracelet—I’ve been anointed—and asks me to follow her as she makes her way up. The route from the dressing room to the stage crosses the dance floor, and as we’re wending our way, Lady stops to say hello to the club kids, the ones in full makeup and costume whose neon paint and headwear and high heels single them out as the former drama nerds and wallflowers whose creative genius the nightlife circuit gives meaning and occasion. Others come up to wish her a happy birthday, and though Lady has to be onstage, she hugs and briefly chats with each person who reaches out for her.

Lady is constantly answering emails and texts.

When we do finally make it, I see the various demographic slices of Manhattan and beyond that Lady has managed to gather together on a Sunday night (9/11, no less): the slim fashion types in tucked t-shirts and jeans, the black-clad Caesar-sporting health goths, the muscled Chelsea daddies, the androgynes doing their best Leigh Bowery impressions. All ages, all races—though, yes, more (gay) men than women.

I manage only to stay till 2:30, but the next day I see on Instagram that Lady has stayed up until the time most people are headed into the office. When I call her later, she miraculously sounds fully recovered. “I go to parties for a living obviously,” she says, “so when it’s my own birthday, I have to really go for it.” I tell her that what really struck me about the evening was how she managed the ship. There was a moment while her makeup artist was applying crystals to her body when Lady directed in her specific way—friendly but firm—how the glue should be put on: “You see, you have to let it dry slightly before putting the crystals on or else they’ll fall off, and there’ll just be a huge mess to be cleaned up.” There was something about her control of the night’s many, many moving parts that I found surprising not in its existence, exactly, but in its graciousness.

Lady poses with fashion designer Adam Selman and stylist Mel Ottenberg.

“I’m so used to doing insane productions and having a million people asking me a million things at the same time while a million eyes are watching me,” she says. “So it’s about knowing that people are looking at me but also having someone on my team catch my signal that I’m not happy with lighting. Making it seem like you’re not working is half the job. In this business, it’s almost true that you’re not really allowed to have bad days.”

That is, after all, why they come to Battle Hymn and Holy Mountain and Shade. To release their bodies to the thump of the bass, to experience the thrill of meeting someone new, to bask in the radiance of Lady’s light. “You want everyone to feel important,” says Lady. “Not just V.I.P.s and not just club kids and not just the younger people. I’m jumping from group to group and making them feel special because they are special—they came to my party!” Gritty, hardscrabble New York, it’s been argued, has been gentrified out of existence, quashed by $19 martinis, Norman Foster luxury towers, and Grindr. But there’s Ladyfag, still throwing parties for $10 a head ($5 before 10) and dancing till the sun comes up over the East River.

Lady takes a seat at the end of a long night.

#style #ladyfag #new york #nightlife

Hedi Slimane Respects the Yves in Yves Saint Laurent, OK?

Photo: Getty Images

Hedi Slimane has historically let his clothes do the talking, rarely speaking to the media. But now that he’s parted ways with Saint Laurent (or is it Yves Saint Laurent again?), he’s turning to another medium to express himself: Twitter.

On Thursday night, the fashion designer reactivated his account, which sat dormant for about three years following a rant against Cathy Horyn, to defend his deference to the YSL logo, which he apparently attempted to wipe amid a rebrand to just Saint Laurent.

Slimane’s seemingly offended that recent reports have accused him of disrespecting the logo during his tenure at the French brand. Anthony Vaccarello, the current creative director, incorporated the YSL logo into a heel design, prompting many to offer him praise — and allegedly drag Slimane.

This prompted Slimane — or a third party, it’s unclear — to post a short history of his usage of the symbol to social media.

“Fact checking / There have been inaccurate statements on recent articles regarding Hedi and the usage of the YSL historical logo,” he began. “For the record, the usage of the Cassandre logo was entirely part of Hedi’s reform project for the house from the early days of 2012 to 2016.” What followed was a short history of each time Slimane used the YSL logo.

HEDI PHOTOGRAPHED THE PRECIOUS ORIGINAL DRAWING, DESIGNED BY THE ARTIST CASSANDRE, AT YVES'S HOME, RUE DE BABYLONE IN NOVEMBER 2008 pic.twitter.com/bSGnCFCTgI