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Millennials have decided to give Gen-Zers tips and tricks on how to rock ballet flats in light of the shoes’ recent fashion comeback. Julie S Lalonde (@JulieSLalonde) posted a warning to Gen-Z on X, formerly known as Twitter, that has since been viewed over 1.8 million times, saying: “Ballet flats are coming back in style but do not go down this road. They might seem cute and practical, but you will stress about going to someone’s house because the smell of your feet once you take those shoes off is KILLER.” Millennials flooded the replies with their own experiences, with many complaining about the shoes’ lack of “arch support” and noting that the flats made their “feet stink,” especially after it was worn in the rain. One user joked that the post “triggered an intense olfactory memory,” while someone else added: “The pain is killer from flexing your foot to keep it on, which is often the opposite of what you need to support your arch. You’re better off in flip flops.” Another person said: “I’ve begun smelling the smell on public transit... there are youths unable to resist the shoe’s siren song and we’re all suffering for it.” But some had a much more positive spin on ballet flats’ resurgence in popularity, offering the younger generation advice on how to avoid smelly feet and make sure that their feet were properly supported. Heidi N Moore (@moorehn) said that while she isn’t all too happy that ballet flats are making a comeback and does “not support” their return, she does have some tips for wearing the shoes. “The issue with stinky shoes is that people do not give their shoes time to breathe between wearings. So you have to rotate the ballet flats with other shoes,” she explained. Moore continued to say that while people could wear “sockettes,” wearers must make sure that their feet are “immaculately clean AND DRY before wearing the shoe”. She also recommended not to “wear the same shoes (of any kind) three days in a row” because it wouldn’t allow the flats to breathe. On the days between wearing the flats, Moore suggested sprinkling baking soda in the shoes. She added that given the range of ballet flats to choose from, including “pointed toes, mesh, straps (Mary Jane style)” and slingbacks, it would be wise to choose a ballet flat that allows for more “ventilation”. As for styling, Moore said that because of the “delicate” nature of the shoe, it requires “delicate styling”. Pieces like wide-legged jeans or anything that doesn’t showcase “the narrowness of the ankle” will only overshadow the shoes. She recommended pairing ballet flats with chiffon and tulle skirts, and more controversially, skinny jeans. “If you wear a ballet flat with something that doesn’t show the delicacy of the ankle ... just don’t wear them. They won’t look right,” she advised. Other X users had similar words of wisdom for Gen-Zers, with user @robynasaldino writing that those who were worrried about a lack of arch support could “buy liners/socks with gel or memory foam cushioned insoles”. She added: “They’re orthopedic and meant for those with low arches, but really should just be worn by everyone if you’re wearing flats. Get those.” Like Moore, she begged people to add “some foot powder for after each wear. Please”. Meanwhile, Angela Zhang (@angelahzhang) chimed in: “A one- to two-inch block heel, structured but flexible leather, insoles, and paired with ruffled socks are the way to go. Honestly, that’s never been out of style in my book.” But having been a former ballerina, she cautioned wearers that anything resembling “a real ballet slipper will absolutely ruin you”. Read More Love Miu Miu’s ballet flats? Nail the ballerina-inspired style with these similar high-street pairs The grown-up guide to getting ‘balletcore’ right Why are millennials like me so stressed about having children? Crocs announces the launch of new cowboy boots to mixed reactions Sarah Jessica Parker wears mismatched heels to New York City Ballet Gala

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Mindy Kaling has declined to answer a question about her weight loss and “wellness journey” after losing a significant amount of weight in the last year. The Mindy Project star, 44, was asked in an interview with Allure Magazine about what she would say to fans who “feel like they’ve lost an ally” because of the change in her physical appearance. It comes after fans speculated that the actor and producer had used Ozempic, a diabetes drug that has been hailed by celebrities and influencers for its weight loss side effect. Kaling told the magazine that it isn’t “super exciting for me to talk about my body and how it’s analysed”. Declining to “get into it”, she added that talking about her weight loss tends to “take over the conversation unfortunately”, adding: “People take it so personally.” The mother-of-two has previously divulged some details about how she lost weight, but has not addressed speculation that she used any sort of medication to do so. The Independent has contacted a representative of Kaling for comment. In April 2022, she told Entertainment Tonight: “I eat what I like to eat. If I do any kind of restrictive diet, it never really works for me. I just eat less of it. “I wish there was something more juicy or dynamic about the way that I’ve lost a little bit of weight, but that’s the way I’ve done it.” Fans began taking notice of Kaling’s weight loss in December 2022, when she shared a photograph of herself wearing a white dress for a holiday party. She wrote in the caption: “I never wear winter white! I was always so worried about it not being flattering and also about dropping food on it.” Last August, Kaling recalled being labelled “unattractive” by the media while starring in The Mindy Project from 2012 to 2017. She opened up about the criticism, saying: “The amount of articles that were like, ‘It’s so good for a culture that this unattractive woman is finally on camera’. “I didn’t know I was so unattractive until I was the star of my own show. So not having to see those things, that’s wonderful.” Kaling has two children, Katherine and Spencer, who were born in 2017 and 2020 respectively. She keeps them out of the spotlight and has not publicly revealed who their father is. However, she reflected on them not growing up with a father figure in an interview with the Duchess of Sussex on the latter’s short-lived Spotify podcast, Archetypes. Kaling told Meghan Markle last year: “I would love for my… I have such a great relationship with my dad. You know, he is, we’re so different from each other. But he is just like, he is everything to me. “I do know that that would be so valuable for my kids, you know, that they have a dad. It wasn’t our lot, you know, our family’s lot in life. And I do think about it with wistfulness and then also fear, like, what will they think when they get older about that?” It was previously speculated that Kaling’s The Office co-star and long-time friend BJ Novak could be the father of her children. However, neither Kaling nor Novak have confirmed this. Addressing the rumours, Kaling said that they don’t “bother” her and said that Novak is “godparent to both my kids”. “It hasn’t affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or BJ. If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.” Read More Between Brexit and Covid, London’s food scene has become a dog’s dinner – can it be saved? Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered Influencer Annabelle Ham dies at age 22: ‘A light to the world’ Cramming all workout into weekend is still effective, scientists say Anorexic woman, 47, who wants to die may soon be able to under Canadian law Coleen Nolan becomes fourth sister in her family to be diagnosed with cancer

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