Men’s style

It’s a sartorial move that hardly anyone saw coming, but 2000s-era wedges are back yet again. And for anyone who’s low-key struggling with the shift back to going-out shoes (let’s be real, aren’t we all?), the nostalgic and comfortable heel just may be the answer to our collective footwear anxiety. With an elevated height and even weight distribution, it’s the transitional shoe we didn’t know we needed as we get ready to re-enter the world.

“Wedge heels are both dressy and casual,” Rei Yoon Hongmi, creative director of Korean brand Reike Nen, tells POPSUGAR. “The sharp silhouette conveys a sense of womanliness, yet comfort. The current moment in fashion aims to be somewhere between the two.” What’s old is new again – just look at the most recent runways for proof: Schiaparelli’s fall/winter 2021 collection featured a stunning boot with a gold wedge heel and trompe l’oeil effects, while Givenchy … Read the rest

In a funny generational twist, millennial-favorite brand turned problematic fave Abercrombie & Fitch is trending on TikTok via influencers, curve models (we see you, Remi Bader!), and everyday shoppers. The hashtag #abercrombie currently has 61.7 million views (and counting). As a millennial myself (and a self-proclaimed shopaholic, no less), I was intrigued, to say the least.

I’ll be honest, the last time I had even thought about ye olde A&F was in high school, when I could barely afford anything the store had to offer. That, coupled with the fact that I never felt like I was the right shape or size for its clothing, meant Abercrombie was hardly a go-to for my wardrobe. Heck, I barely set foot in the place. But my mind is changing.

As it turns out, I wasn’t wrong for having mixed feelings about Abercrombie. The brand found itself in hot water a few years … Read the rest

#UGGPRIDE returns with its fifth annual “Proud Prom,” which is an inclusive, virtual event and campaign that reimagines the age-old tradition thrown with local LGBTQ+ and allied youth from Santa Barbara and the coastal communities of California. The Pacific Pride Foundation helps the brand celebrate self-identity and love through partnerships with friends of the shoe label including musician Lil Nas X, writer and model Hari Nef, UGG Feel You ambassadors Maya Samaha and Jordun Love, and PPF members Mads Hamilton, Sky Limon, Roz Borah, and the Brown family, who all show off the colorful 2021 Pride For All collection in portraits shot by Danielle Levitt.

“We did more than create images and films, we created memories and shared a collective respect and love. Because visibility is key for those who are often underrepresented, this UGG campaign became more significant. We went big, we went bold, and we didn’t apologize,” Levitt … Read the rest

For its sixth annual Pride collection, Converse has rolled out special edition sneakers – and a pair of slides! – with very important graphics. The five kicks featured in the campaign have iterations of jagged mountains that transition into colorful, free flowing summits, in order to convey that everyone’s journey to self-love can be struggling at times but is beautiful and unique on its own.

These five new styles are worn by young creatives who are members of the global All Star community and helped to dream up the capsule and campaign you see ahead. Converse By You offers nine additional customizable, gender neutral sneakers that round out the 2021 Pride collection (plus two little kids high-tops). There are also three celebratory graphic tees that range in size from XXXS to XXXL and retail from $20-$30.

To date, Converse has donated more than $1.3 million in support of local and … Read the rest

When you think of Phillip Lim, you may immediately picture his fashion brand, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and the iconic pieces associated with it – the Pashli satchel certainly comes to mind, a street style staple for years. Lim has the accolades to show for his success, having won CFDA awards for womenswear in 2007, menswear in 2012, and accessories in 2013. The Thailand-born American designer of Chinese descent has recently joined industry leaders such as Prabal Gurung, Chriselle Lim, and Allure Editor in Chief Michelle Lee to raise awareness around Asian hate crimes and have open conversations on Instagram Live to educate their followers.

“I’m not an activist by any means. I’m an Asian American who is now activated,” Lim said when I talked … Read the rest

I’ve been a Toccara Jones fan since the early aughts of America’s Next Top Model, when she was the show’s very first “plus-size” contestant. I have made my love for this woman no secret and credit her as one of the first people I saw on television that celebrated her beauty and body in an unapologetically real way. To me, Toccara redefined what a model could look like, despite the seemingly universal beauty standard of being very thin, and oftentimes, very white. She famously proclaimed in her ANTM casting that she was (and certainly still is) “big, black, beautiful, and loving it,” and that energy, paired with her undeniable beauty, has stuck with me since the show aired back in 2004. It was the representation for me!

Fortunately, since Toccara’s reign, other curve models have come onto the fashion scene who continue to break down the barriers that have … Read the rest

Former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was one of, if not the most, defining fashion trendsetters of the 1960s. Full stop. From her oversize sunglasses to her trademark bouffants, she remains a style icon even decades later, and few fashion statements have had a more lasting historical impact than Jackie O’s pillbox hat. Well, in case you’re not familiar with how the iconic accessory came to be – or the creative brains behind it – Netflix’s Ryan Murphy-produced Halston, now streaming, explores the life of legendary fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, who rose to fame after designing the item in question.

The first time Jackie donned a pillbox hat was for John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inauguration, and, as it turns out, the look was somewhat accidental. According to Halston, Jackie actually dented his original design. “Funny thing about that pillbox hat,” Halston said during a 1966 interview, per Vogue… Read the rest

New York-based costume designer Jeriana San Juan is behind the fashion in Netflix’s new miniseries Halston, which explores the life of the iconic American designer in the ’70s. San Juan, who has also worked on shows you might have heard of such as Saturday Night Live and Gossip Girl, created mostly every piece you see in the five episodes, which were written by Ryan Murphy and directed by Daniel Minahan.

“It was really a matter of designing in the voice of someone else, which is a fun exercise,” she told POPSUGAR. A fun exercise, sure, or just about the most Herculean task someone could take on. But San Juan, an industry vet, has connections and sourced plenty of vintage when she could.… Read the rest

Better Off Alone is a gender-neutral, sustainable fashion company specializing in biodegradable face masks and other protective gear that does not harm the environment. Cofounder and Asian American Bonnie Poon – who is one of three women of diverse backgrounds leading the charge at BOA – was ready and willing to talk to us about the specifics behind the environmental impact of single-use PPE.

“Most single-use masks (surgical, N95, etc.) are made from polypropylene or polyethylene, which is in essence the same as plastic, so it takes hundreds of years to degrade. When it breaks down, it becomes microplastics that can be ingested by animals, particularly marine life. Many cloth masks contain nylon or spandex, which is better, but has similar aftereffects on the environment,” Poon said.

Instead, BOA bases its designs – which also include jumpsuits and cover-ups, and eventually pajamas – on breathable fabric. The masks in particular … Read the rest

When it comes to major collaborations, Draper James runs the gamut, from the super-cute collection with Eloquii to Crate & Barrel’s home-decor range – and you can add another to the list. The Reese Witherspoon-helmed label just unveiled a second partnership with Lands’ End, known for practical and durable basics for the great outdoors. Spoiler alert: it’s adorable.

The Draper James x Lands’ End collection fuses classics and Americana staples, with swimwear, apparel, and accessories in mixed prints and cheery gingham. Though undeniably perfect for warmer weather, the bathing suits could even be worn year-round if you get creative with pairings (ahem, high-waisted jeans). Perhaps most notably, the styles come in curve-flattering silhouettes (think: twist-front one-pieces and high-waisted bikini bottoms) and are available in sizes ranging from 0 to 24 and XS to 3X. Plus, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Girls Inc.

“At Draper James, we … Read the rest