Men’s style

Ah, Crocs. You know them well and probably made fun of your dad for wearing them at one point in time – that is, until those vented foam-resin clogs became trendy. Just like a TikTok video reposted to Instagram, this is not new information at all. Whispers of Crocs becoming either ironically or unironically cool have been swirling in the fashion community for years – designers like Christopher Kane and Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia were in on it as early as 2016 and 2017, respectively, when they each collaborated with the brand to create iterations of their own. But like the person seeing the aforementioned TikTok for the first time on Instagram, I was admittedly late to the game.

Like many of us, I was extremely online throughout the pandemic, and the lack of new Succession episodes had me tapping through Nicholas Braun’s IG Stories almost daily. The missives from Cousin … Read the rest

As ephemeral as trends can be, they’re typically easy to trace, especially in an era of excessive documentation. It’s the items that have been around forever that have far less transparent origin stories. Clogs – the practical wooden footwear that’s been in and out of fashion’s collective consciousness for as long as we can remember – are one such item.

No one can pinpoint an exact date of inception, likely because clogs, originally crafted from a single block of wood, have existed in many forms, gone by many names, and been found in many countries: Belgian sabot in Belgium; Traesko in Denmark; Sabot in France; Holzschuh in Germany; Klumpes in Lithuania; Klomp in the Netherlands; Tamancoo in Portugal; Asturian madreñas or Cantabrian albarcas in Spain; Träskor in Sweden; Zoggeli in Switzerland; Paduka in India; Bakiak in Indonesia; Geta or Okobo in Japan; Namakskin in Korea; Terompah in Malaysia; Bakya in … Read the rest

All LBGTQ+ couples are different, so when it comes to engagement rings and exchanging vows, there are no set rules about the bling that comes with the declaration of love. Some couples gift each other rings upon proposal, while others hand-pick their stones and bands together, ordering them from the same company or boutique, so there’s less of a surprise but lots of room for personalization. A lot of people have partners that don’t like to wear jewelry at all, and that’s cool, too. Just like with all of the other little bridal details, the options are endless.

I’ll never forget when my sister sent me a text message: “How can I figure out Megan’s ring size?” she asked me, after having already ordered her girlfriend a promise ring that ended up barely even fitting over the knuckle of her pinky. At least it wasn’t a diamond! Luckily, they have … Read the rest

When it comes to jewelry, the more sparkle, the better – and that includes adorning teeth. Tooth gems are having a resurgence on TikTok, and many of us know the flashy look is nothing new. In fact, the technique of modifying teeth with jewels dates back to the Mayans and has continued in Hispanic cultures. In the ’80s and ’90s, it was made especially popular within the Black community, thanks in large part to rappers and hip-hop artists wearing gold caps and grills (aka decorative tooth coverings). Now, a whole new generation of stars – including Hailey Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Adwoa Aboah – is discovering the trend.

A disclaimer: Although it’s sometimes called a tooth or dental piercing, nothing is actually pierced when you get a tooth gem. It simply requires attaching a crystal or gem to the tooth’s surface with an adhesive, meaning it’s an easy (and virtually … Read the rest

We’re bracing ourselves for a historic summer of socializing, and nothing says “look at me” quite like a going-out top. First came corset sweaters, then chic knitwear, and now, bandana tops have entered the chat. In case you’re looking to further spruce up your shirt drawer, they are the top choice (no pun intended) as far as post-pandemic party-going outfits are concerned – even if they’re not technically tops.

If it seems like the current state of fashion is one Y2K trend resurgence after another, that’s because it kinda is. From being a wardrobe hero of stars like Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera in the early aughts to becoming a summer 2021 staple for celebs such as Bella Hadid, bandana tops make just as much sense now as they did then. During a time when skin-baring styles are all the rage, trading in your basic tops for bandanas feels like an … Read the rest

Transgender glam girl and queer advocate Madison Werner has modeled for Coach, Grindr, Candy Magazine, and Marc Jacobs, but she’s not focusing her life’s work on fashion and ad campaigns, and that becomes clear as soon as you land on her page. Take one scroll through her Instagram, and you’ll notice the educational infographics she posts, which are very much in style and color coordination with the rest of her feed. Those aren’t just there for show.

Madison is dedicated to teaching her followers about the LGBTQ+ community by sharing her own story and showing young folks just how much confidence they should feel free to have, no matter who they are. She began her transition in 2015 and … Read the rest

The pandemic hasn’t slowed Christian Siriano down. The 35-year-old designer was one of the first to convert his NYC studio into a place for creating masks, where he invited his small team of sewers in to support those on the front lines. He also managed to host two fashion shows – one socially distanced in his own backyard – customize red carpet gowns for virtual award season, work with ThredUp on a universal logo for thrifting, and launch his first bridal collection since 2017.

Now his focus is on Pride Month as he joins Burst in dreaming up a rainbow face mask that comes with a floss kit, for those who still want to feel smart and safe while navigating a reopening … Read the rest

There are many reasons to watch Cruella, the live-action film starring Emma Stone as the titular character and adapted from Dodie Smith’s novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians and Disney’s 101 Dalmatians franchise. Mainly the glitzy and fabulous costumes.

Set in 1970s London during the punk rock era, the story centers on the backstory of Estella, an orphan and aspiring fashion designer who, with the help of her grifter buddies, Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser), lands a job at the posh department store Liberty London and eventually gets hired by Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson). Sartorial hijinks ensue, including a guerrilla fashion show and a haute couture dress made entirely of moths, in her journey to becoming the full-fledged, dalmatian-wielding villain Cruella de Vil.

POPSUGAR spoke to Cruella costume designer Jenny Beavan, an Oscar and Tony Award winner whose previous credits include A Room With A … Read the rest

Brandon Blackwood started his luxury handbag brand out of Brooklyn, NY in 2015. The designer, who’s of Jamaican and Chinese descent, set out to to create a line that is inclusive, functional, affordable, luxurious, sustainable, and bursting with personality. Are there any more boxes you think he needs to check off? Speaking of bags with undeniable character, Brandon explains to me how all of his purses are named after really close friends, family, or townships in Jamaica. “Every bag named after a friend makes sense for that friend. That’s how I keep them close to me. Every bag has a story and speaks to who I am and who I represent,” he says.

Though he’s often compared to Telfar Clemens, who has also created an accessible product line that is for everyone, Brandon can tell you exactly what defines his bag on the market: “On the base level, it’s always … Read the rest

Ever since I was a preteen, I’ve cared deeply about my personal style. Chalk it up to living in a small beach town, but clothing has always been my platform for self-expression and individuality, like it is for so many others. During my confusing and uncertain adolescent years, I naturally gravitated toward pieces I saw in magazines: lacy tank tops, fun headbands, and heels that made me feel decidedly grown-up. But it wasn’t until a few years later that my feminine fashion choices would become a mask for the aspect of my life I so desperately wanted to hide: my physical disability.

As a timid young girl growing up with cerebral palsy, I subconsciously internalized which of my peers were “fashionable” from a very early age – and none of them seemed to have anything in common with me. Sure, we all shopped in the girls’ department at the local … Read the rest