List of All Articles with Tag 'lifestyle'

Body hair might be a concern in the summer, as you strip down to a bikini or bask on the beach. But, as new research from Dove reveals 62% of us feel insecure about our underarms, here’s why these three women are choosing to grow out or whip off their armpit hair, defying the weight of societal expectation. Content creator and author, Megan Crabbe What are you doing with your armpit hair this summer? “I won’t be shaving my armpits this summer. I spent so many years shaving my underarm hair on auto-pilot – every shower from the age of 11 onwards came with a shave. I realised there was this part of my body that grows naturally. Letting my underarms grow is another small way of reclaiming my body in the face of misogynistic beauty standards,” says content creator and Dove ambassador Crabbe. What do you think society expects? “People expect women’s underarms to be smooth, hairless, and bright – that’s all we’ve seen for so long in advertising and media. I remember seeing so many magazine covers of slim white women with their arms up and barely an indent where their armpit should be, let alone any sign of hair or discolouration. “If I’m in feminist or queer company, I know there will be less judgement, because those spaces are more understanding of bodily autonomy and letting go of societal expectations. ” How do you see your summer body? “I embrace seeing my body from all angles, in all forms, in any season, but it’s taken me a long time to get here. These days, I can see an image of myself in a bikini with visible cellulite, a stomach that isn’t flat and underarm hair flourishing and think, ‘Hey, that’s cute!’ “This particular body represents all of the battles I’ve fought – against diet culture, against anorexia, against beauty standards – and won.” Content creator and makeup artist, Shahira Allen What are you doing with your armpit hair this summer? “This summer, I will be doing whatever the mood calls for with my armpits! Sometimes, I let the hair grow and other times, I like it smooth and clean-shaven. Either way, it will be my choice and I’ll make sure I feel confident and fabulous about my underarms this summer,” the creator explains. What do you think society expects? “A long time ago, society elevated women’s insecurities and made us believe no body hair on a woman is the way to be feminine. I think society expects me to spend money ‘maintaining my body’ in the most unrealistic way possible,” she says. How do you see your summer body? “I’m still learning to see my body in my 30s and it’s been a long journey. Some days, I love what I see and other days, I struggle with a roll, lump or bump. I deserve to soak up the sun and be happy, and I know there’s a young person out there who needs to see people like me being happy and thriving in our natural bodies.” Body-positive content creator and LGBTQ+ activist, Katie Budenberg What are you doing with your armpit hair this summer?“I will be doing whatever I fancy on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes, I enjoy the feeling of smooth armpits and sometimes I think I look cool with bushes under each pit. I have been tempted to dye my armpits with the lesbian flag for Pride Month,” Budenberg laughs. What do you think society expects? “Society would rather not see me at all, and if they have to lay eyes on me, then I must be hairless from the eyebrows down – like a newborn baby, even though I’m a 25-year-old woman. “Women are constantly made to feel like they have to be small, weak and hairless, and I refuse to satisfy this anymore; I will take up space, be unapologetically me, and hairy if I want to be,” she says. How do you see your summer body? “My summer body is ready to go. It’s Fed-Girl-Summer this year, where we satisfy our hunger cues, don’t worry about looking bloated and no longer feel the need to suck in our stomachs. I will never let cellulite, body hair or insecurities dictate whether I have a fun time or not again.”

Is there an item in your wardrobe that gets more love and attention than your handbag? We carry them everywhere; they hold our key essentials, prized possessions, you name it… and one is never enough. Much more than an accessory, a handbag is at the heart of how we dress for the day, evening, dinner date, summer social, beach escape or wedding party. Here’s our pick of the pieces to see you through all of the above, and stand out from the crowd… 1. Crochet shopper A throwback to the 70s, crochet is cool again and fashionable folk have taken to the shopper which lends itself perfectly to festival fashion. Hook one in neutral and it will go with all your printed sundresses; or for the boho aesthetic, tassel hems, fringing and maxi skirts. Next Cream Crochet Beaded Tote Bag, £34 FatFace Macrame Shopper, £39 2. Woven One to weave into your summer wardrobe, the woven leather bag has been reimagined in raffia or rattan – offset with golden hardware and chain detail to take you from day to evening. Or fashioned in a summery solid for a pop of colour. Think designer refresh to polish off any outfit, especially a sharp tailored white jacket or linen cargo trousers. Oliver Bonas Weave Trim Yellow Pouch, £24.50 Ted Baker Jaynina Faux Leather and Rattan Grab Bag Ecru/White, £78 (was £130), John Lewis 3. Beach bag A holiday essential, one of the reasons we favour canvas or fabric over a beach basket is you can pack it flat. Especially if you’re flying with a budget airline who expect you to bung everything into your suitcase or carry-on, without considering the consequences of straw or wicker snagging your smalls! Hush Daytona Canvas Bag, £49 FatFace Remi Quilted Beach Bag, £49.50 4. Envelope clutch With wedding season in full swing, it’s time to usher in a clutch… so you can have a glass of fizz in one hand, canapé in the other, and tuck your handheld under your arm. This time round, blush is the new nude and most envelopes come with a dainty detachable strap so versatile and voguish. Next Clutch Bag with Cross-Body Chain in Nude, £16 L K Bennett Layla Pink Coral Suede Envelope Clutch, £119 (was £199) 5. Smart Shoulder Some may say it’s the summer of the shoulder, but this classic never goes out of style. Far more chic than the crossbody which bunches up your clothes and sits heavy on your hips, the shoulder strap hangs neatly on your side and nothing gets ruffled up. When it comes to the finer details, a metal charm lends panache… otherwise look for a bright to elevate your outfit. Oliver Bonas Meegan Green Double Buckle Shoulder Tote Bag, £49.50 Radley Hanley Close Medium Flapover Shoulder in Lavender, £219 6. Pink power Surely there hasn’t been a more eagerly anticipated movie than Barbie – and if you love Barbie, you need a bubblegum pink handbag. Fact not fiction. The go-to colour this summer, the Barbiecore craze has a cult following with all things pink, from pastel to fuchsia… especially a cute one in patent or pearl detail. River Island Pink Patent Quilted Shoulder Bag, £29 Radley Harriet Street Medium Zip-Around Cross Body in Cerise, £219

Crowds are packing the Colosseum, the Louvre, the Acropolis and other major attractions as tourism exceeds 2019 records in some of Europe’s most popular destinations

Drought in Spain, which is going through yet another heat wave this year, is so extreme that virtually

Thailand’s de facto legalization of marijuana last year has brought a wave of tourists from around Asia intrigued by the lure of the forbidden leaf

A tornado that struck the Chicago area on Wednesday canceled more than 300 flights at the city’s two

There’s only one more chance this year to take in Manhattanhenge

Sitting on his yacht in January 2011, Jes Staley was taking time out from running one of the

Wednesday and Thursday are the last two days of Manhattanhenge

Gerber has announced the winner of its 13th annual Gerber Baby photo contest. On Wednesday (12 July), Madison “Maddie” Mendoza from Colorado was named “spokesbaby” for the American baby food company. Since 1928, the long-standing family brand has been known for its iconic “Gerber Baby” logo. At 10 months old, Maddie enjoys her baby music classes, swimming lessons, and hiking with her parents. Included in her photo submission was a throwback photo of Maddie’s mother, Crystal Mendoza, who bears a striking resemblance to her daughter, floppy ponytail and all. According to Gerber, Maddie is a “rainbow baby” – the name for a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of an infant. “Being a rainbow baby, Maddie has brought us immeasurable joy with every milestone, snuggle, and moment spent with her enriching our lives and making every day more meaningful and beautiful,” said Crystal. “We look forward to witnessing her grow into a kind, compassionate, strong, independent and worldly individual as we hope to be stationed overseas again to teach Maddie about all the different parts of the world.” The baby food company also shared Maddie’s inspiring background, both of her parents being from first-generation families from the Philippines. Crystal, Maddie’s mom, and her father, Jun, were high school sweethearts and have been together for 22 years. Her dad, who graduated from the US Air Force Academy, currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel physician in the Air Force. While Jun has been serving the Air Force for 16 years, both of Maddie’s grandfathers also served in the US Navy after coming to America with very little. Her parents hope that their family legacy of “resilience and love” continues on with Maddie. “Gerber has always believed in the magic of babies, and Maddie’s story, filled with love, resilience, and adventure, embodies the spirit of generations of Gerber babies,” said Tarun Malkani, Gerber President and CEO, in a statement. “The throwback submission of Maddie and her mom brought a smile to the judges’ faces and perfectly captured the spirit of this year’s program. We’re excited to partner with Maddie and her family throughout the next year to highlight the full-circle journey from baby to parent.” As winner of the 2023 Gerber Baby photo contest, Maddie will be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year. Additionally, Maddie and her family received a $25,000 cash prize, a year’s worth of free Gerber baby food, and a new wardrobe provided by Gerber Childrenswear. According to ABC News, the family was also gifted an ezpz First Foods Set, a $500 Gerber Childrenswear gift card, a Mommy & Me luggage set from Beis Travel, and a Canon EOS R50 camera and lens kit. The company also matched Maddie’s cash prize with a $25,000 donation to charitable organisation March of Dimes, which is committed to ending preventable maternal and infant health risks and death. Read More Man says he was uninvited from pregnant sister’s wedding after criticising ‘ridiculous’ baby names British toddler has American accent after watching Ms Rachel videos: ‘Payback for Peppa Pig’ Pregnant woman sparks debate after repeatedly asking stranger to give her a seat

Florence Pugh stepped in to save Emily Blunt from a possible wardrobe malfunction at the Oppenheimer photocall in London. The Oppenheimer cast was posing for photos in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday 12 July when Pugh came to Blunt’s rescue after her jacket appeared to come loose. The Devil Wears Prada star attended the photocall while sporting a gold, metallic suit with black buttons. As for the Don’t Worry Darling actor, Pugh arrived at the Oppenheimer photocall in a blue Moschino shirt dress with a deep, plunging neckline. According to the DailyMail, the Mary Poppins star’s gold jacket popped open in front of cameras, prompting Pugh to rush over and cover her pal’s suit. In photos from the red carpet, the pair could be seen giggling about the near-wardrobe malfunction as Pugh helped hold Blunt’s jacket closed. Meanwhile, fans praised Pugh for lending Blunt a helping hand and gushed over the pair’s friendship. “Florence Pugh is a real one for protecting Emily Blunt from a wardrobe malfunction,” one person tweeted. “They’re sooo cute together,” another said, while someone else wrote: “Literally my worlds colliding” In Oppenheimer, which hits theatres on 21 July, Emily Blunt stars as Kitty Oppenheimer, the wife of physicist J Robert Oppenheimer – played by Cillian Murphy in the Christopher Nolan film. The Irish actor, 47, leads the highly-anticipated biographical drama as “the father of the atomic bomb,” whose World War II invention changed the nature of war forever. Florence Pugh, 27, portrays physician Jean Tatlock, who was known for her romantic relationship with Oppenheimer. However, fans recently came to Murphy and Pugh’s defense when people began “griping about the age gap” between the co-stars. As critics condemned the 20-year age gap between the two actors, many people pointed out that “Tatlock was 22 years old when she started dating Oppenheimer and 29 when she died”. “The on-screen age gap discourse is very valid but this isn’t the film for it because Oppenheimer & Tatlock had a 10-year age gap,” another agreed. “So Cillian & Florence Pugh are perfect casting.” As for Blunt, the 40-year-old actor recently revealed that she will be taking a break from acting to spend more time with her two daughters, who she shares with husband John Krasinski. Blunt opened up about her decision to take a brief hiatus on a recent episode of iHeart’s Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi podcast. “This year, I’m not working. I worked quite a bit last year and my oldest baby is nine, so we’re in the last year of single digits,” the British actor explained. “And I just feel [like] there are cornerstones to their day that are so important when they’re little.” “It’s: ‘Will you wake me up? Will you take me to school? Will you pick me up? Will you put me to bed?’” she continued. “And I just need to be there for all of them for a good stretch. And I just felt that in my bones.” In addition to Murphy, Blunt, and Pugh, Oppenheimer also features a star-studded cast of Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, Matthew Modine, and Casey Affleck. Read More Emily Blunt opens up about decision to take year-long acting hiatus: ‘I just felt that in my bones’ ‘No need to infantalise her’: Fans defend Florence Pugh and Cillian Murphy’s age gap in Oppenheimer Oppenheimer hailed as ‘spectacular’ in rapturous first reviews following Paris premiere Florence Pugh makes return to Paris Fashion Week in sheer dress following uproar Fans can’t get enough of Barbie’s already sold-out collaboration with Crocs Fan breaks down the outfits worn by Jeremy Allen White in The Bear

News outlets are warning of a deadly TikTok challenge that involves people jumping off speeding boats