We love how diverse our food options are in 2017. From chorizo to açaí, our menus would be poorer without these delicious imports – we just wish we knew how to pronounce some of their names.
Want some pho and bao swimming in sriracha sauce with a side of quinoa? Then you better be prepared to spend a few hours discussing (possibly arguing over) which of your fellow diners is saying these words wrong.
Have no fear, though; we've identified some of the most commonly mispronounced foods out there and are here to help you say them correctly. No more ifs, buts or dodgy pronunciations from overconfident TV chefs – this is how you say these words in the UK.
Click through to get the verdict on the most mispronounced foods around...
Sriracha
see-rah-cha
Yes there are two 'r's there, but the founder of sriracha himself, David Tran says the first 'r' is silent.
Açaí
ah-sa-EE
We're not 100% sure what açaí is either, but we do know that this originally Portuguese word should have stress on the final EE.
Chorizo
chuh-REE-zoh or chorr-EE-soh
Yes, that annoying girl you went to uni with might insist that on her gap year in the Basque country it was pronounced shoh-REE-tho.
But, according to Oxford Dictionaries, in the UK the standard correct pronunciation stresses the REE and can either end -zoh or -soh.
Bruschetta
bruu-SKET-uh
You don't have to go all the way with this one bruu, but the correct Italian pronunciation of this antipasti does have a hard 'c' despite the 'h'.
Bao
b-ow
Deceptively simple, the only important thing to remember is the name for this delicious bun rhymes with now, not know. Remember: "Take a bow".
Pho
fuh
Yep, it's actually meant to be pronounced 'fuh', to rhyme with duh. Though we don't think this one is obvious at all...
Quinoa
keen-wah
If you've managed to shop at Waitrose without hearing at least one person saying this one wrong, we salute you.
Espresso
es-press-o
Possibly the most exasperating mispronunciation in the UK. "There's no 'x' in there, Jonathan!" There just isn't.
Chipotle
tchee-POHT-lay
Again, this is slightly different from what you might hear in Mexico, where they pronounce the middle syllable as POT (like...a pot). But Oxford Dictionaries has the British English pronunciation as POHT, to rhyme with boat.
Nutella
nut-ella
You may have been shocked by the news that Nutella itself decreed the delicious chocolatey spread should be pronounced 'newt-ella'. Ew, indeed.
However they quickly followed up that this is only for Americans; Nutella UK pronounces it 'nut-ella'.
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When Pinterest's latest data revealed that the search for 'curtain fringes' had gone up 600% this year alone, we can't say we were surprised. The most elegant haircut of the '60s and '70s, the heavy, cheekbone-skimming, softly cut fringe has made a comeback of late.
First popularised by the inimitable Brigitte Bardot, whose fringe began at her centre-parting and swept in a curve to her cheekbones, the effortless cut has spawned homages aplenty. Countless actresses – think Sienna Miller, Léa Seydoux, Kirsten Dunst and Felicity Jones – have gone for the look, while models like Freja Beha Erichsen and Julia Stegner keep their '70s bangs in check among the constant on-shoot hair changes. Of course, Alexa Chung has been championing the style for years, often referencing her muse Jane Birkin's fringe.
So why has the look returned this year? Low maintenance may be the answer, as, like the super popular colour technique balayage, it grows out well and needs very little styling. "It works so well because it's multi-functional, low maintenance, and enables you to wear it your own way," Sam Burnett, owner & creative director of Hare & Bone, explains. "You can move it forward to frame your face or tuck it back to open up your features. It essentially offers a 2-in-1 cut without the maintenance of a full fringe.”
While you can always take a photograph of Bardot or Chung to the salon, Sam advises you ask your stylist for lots of texture: "You want lots of layers and feathering around the face. The shag cut works well on longer or shorter hair, so with a middle parting and sweeping fringe you have basically nailed the curtain fridge trend.” With less commitment than a heavy, full fringe, styling at home is surprisingly easy. "It’s all about freedom and movement. Blow-dry the fringe back off the face in different directions: this will add volume and help create more of a lift at the root," Sam tells Refinery29. "If you have unruly hair and you need a little more control over the direction of your fringe, I would use a barrel brush to blow-dry the hair forward and curl it in the direction you want it to sit.”
So there you have it, the how-to on one of the most Pinned haircuts of the year. Classic, chic, with a touch of rock 'n' roll, this fuss-free fringe is your autumn hair switch-up sorted. Click through to see the women who've had the chop.
Georgia May Jagger's eye-skimming cut is nothing short of Bardot's best.
Of course, Alexa has been leading the pack for some time. Her cut may change length and weight, but her 'do is always '60s and '70s-inspired.
Jeanne Damas is our go-to for effortless style anyway, but her rolled-out-of-bed bangs take her to French-girl-cool heights.
You'd be forgiven for thinking this is a shot of Jane Birkin taken four decades ago. In reality, it's model/singer/photographer Alyssa Miller. Her Instagram is all the curtain fringe fodder you need.
Megan Ellaby's take on the trend is heavier and cut further out towards her ears.
While artist Chloe Wise shows how to work it if you have finer hair.
Another Bardot homage, this time from Suki Waterhouse.
Alice Levine, radio host, podcaster and one half of supper club duo, makes the look easy for those with short hair, too. Bring on the bob.
Shot From The Street a.k.a. Lizzy Hadfield's cut is longer around the face – a super flattering cut for any face shape.
Fanny Ekstrand embraces flicks and curls with her blunt-cut curtains.
There's a pretty major Tube strike happening in London next week, in case you hadn't heard, and there's a good chance your commute will be affected if you rely on the Underground to get to work in the capital.
The strike next Thursday 5th October, which hasn't received much media attention yet, will see Tube drivers who are members of the Aslef union (i.e. most of them) walking out due to a dispute over working conditions, reported the BBC.
Many Tube trains won't be running at all, causing problems for both commuters and football fans with tickets to watch England play Slovenia at Wembley Stadium. All Tube lines will be affected and bus services will be extremely busy, although extra buses and Santander Cycle hubs will be provided.
The dispute has its roots in a 2015 pay deal when London Underground said it would give drivers the chance to work four days per week and cut down their weekend shifts. There has been a trial on the Jubilee Line but drivers have been unimpressed and want it to be extended.
The drivers' union claims London Underground has broken promises and ignored the union's proposals, but the transport network says it hasn't yet collected or analysed the results of the Jubilee Line trial, the BBC reported.
A spokesman for TfL said: “We are advising customers that the whole Tube network will be substantially disrupted on Thursday 5 October should planned strike action by Aslef members go ahead," the Evening Standard reported.
"All other TfL services will be unaffected but many will be busier than usual as customers seek alternative routes.” Anyone else fancy "working from home" instead of a two-hour long journey to the office?
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At long last, things are looking up (ever so slightly) for aspiring homeowners in London. We rejoiced when we found out that asking prices for homes in the capital dropped recently – and now we're doing another little dance in our chair.
London house prices have fallen for the first time since 2009 in the aftermath of the financial crisis, according to new figures from Nationwide. Prices dropped by 0.6% from 2016 levels in the third quarter of this year, taking the average price of a home to £471,761, The Guardian reported.
The bad news, however, is that prices everywhere else in the UK are still on the rise. Nationally, the average house price increased by 2.2% to £210,982, with prices in the East Midlands climbing the most to £177,825 (up by 5.1%) and the South West and West Midlands seeing the second and third largest price hikes. London remains the priciest place in the UK to buy a home, however.
The trend suggests that "house price growth rates across the UK have converged in recent quarters,” according to Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, with yearly growth rates in the south of England becoming more similar to those seen in the rest of the country. "London has seen a particularly marked slowdown, with prices falling in annual terms for the first time in eight years.”
House prices across the UK remain relatively high because of the chronic lack of properties on the market, low mortgage rates and high unemployment, Gardner added. But this is being offset by pressure on household incomes as wage growth has stalled.
House prices have grown faster than earnings across the UK since the financial crisis, but the gulf between the two has been by far the largest in London and the South East. In the capital, the ratio of average house price to average earnings climbed from 7.8 in 2009 to 12.9 last year, the Financial Times reported. And don't we know it.
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I think I have a different relationship to makeup than most people do. To be honest, it just wasn’t ever on my mind until I started to work in film. My mum doesn’t wear any — she’s very much a kind of 'scrub yourself clean, comb your hair, and go' woman — so there weren’t a lot of products around my house to begin with.
When I was 13 or 14, I had an older friend down the street who had some makeup, and one day, I came home with a bunch of light blue eyeshadow on that I’d gotten from her. I remember my parents talking about it with me, but I don’t think I wasn’t allowed to wear it… I just didn’t have much of an interest. I’ve always been much more experimental with my hair, dyeing it pink and blue and red, bleaching it and dyeing it black in college, but in terms of makeup, I inherited the less-is-more thing from my mum.
I’m really curious to see what my daughters are drawn to and what their style will be like. I used to draw a little star on my daughter’s cheek or make a little sparkly line coming off of her eyes if we were going to see The Nutcracker or something, but I don’t think that young kids should wear makeup or dye their hair. I’ll see some of the older kids at their school with their faces just covered in makeup and I want to say, “You have such beautiful skin and eyebrows and lashes — you look so great without anything on!” But I have to check myself and say, that’s just my style.
Bright Idea
In my personal life, I wear almost no makeup. I tell myself I should put on concealer, that a little under the eyes really helps, and sometimes I manage to do it if I’m going to dinner with my husband or dressing up for something, but it’s a lot of effort. I do really take care of my skin — my facialist Joanna Vargas is the reason I don’t feel the need to ever wear too much makeup.
If nothing else, though, I always wear lipstick — even just to drop my kids off at school. I remember old pictures of my grandmother and her sisters in that kind of 1940s dark lipstick looking very glamorous; I like doing a modern version of that vintage strong matte red lip, where it isn’t absolutely perfectly applied. A bright lipstick just lights me up and makes me feel good. I always have five in my bag at all times.
I absentmindedly put it on so often that I’ll be working out and look in the mirror and be like, “Oh my god, I have lipstick on right now!” [At the Women’s March], they said you shouldn’t bring a bag, so I just took my wallet, my phone, and a bright lipstick. It isn’t an intellectual choice, and I don’t believe it’s a statement not to wear lipstick, either. That’s just me — or at least it was last January. This year, I’ve been moving toward something subtler. It used to be that there was no red too red for me.
I think it takes so much effort for me to put on makeup because so much of my work involves it. That’s why when I got married, nobody did my makeup or hair. I just did the bare minimum and got a good haircut before I left. Going into hair and makeup feels like work to me, like I’m getting ready to put armour on in some way, but I can totally understand how people who don’t have to do that for work would find it really exciting and luxurious to have someone come over and do all that.
Role Play
In terms of playing a role, I always find I feel much better about the hair and makeup in a movie when it’s different from what I would wear in my daily life. I feel like it frees me a bit from vanity when there’s a separation between how the person I’m playing looks and how I look. The most difficult transformations are the ones that are most like me.
My husband always jokes that every time I play a character, I say, “She’s got great style,” but it’s true — I think most people in the world are trying to look good every day and I’ve never played someone who doesn’t care what she looks like. I’m getting to explore all these different style ideas from such different perspectives.
Valentino coat; Paige Novick sculptural earring. Photographed by Frances Tulk-Hart.
I always try to choose characters that I can get behind and believe in, but I remember being very, very young on one of my first professional jobs where I had to wear a half wig in this television movie that took place in the ’50s. They insisted that I cut my bangs in this weird way to accommodate the wig and I did not want to do it, but I didn’t know how to say no at the time. So I did it and it was awful — I looked terrible. I love a wig, though, and the most exciting version is the one Candy wears in The Deuce, where we don’t have to pretend it’s not one.
Candy obviously has a really different look from me, especially when she’s working, and that allowed me to try out things that were so opposite from my own aesthetic. I was so inspired by playing her, I was walking around in short-shorts all last summer, which is not something I usually wear.
I used to take clothes from set when they’d ask if I wanted the dress or the shoes, but after The Honourable Woman, I stopped because none of that is me. It’s a very complicated line, because all of my characters come from me and the things that are most successful come from something very deep and personal inside, but I’d find myself thinking, I can’t wear this, this is Nessa’s suit, not mine. I like keeping the separation. I like the fiction.
In the increasingly socially pervasive worlds of yoga, meditation, healing, spirituality et al, the word 'chakra' pops up quite a bit. Great, if you know what it means; less so, perhaps, if you’re not sure (it might easily be a new superfood or trendy gym class).
So here’s a beginner’s guide to the chakras. I hope it enables you to navigate those crystal-infused water-cooler conversations with greater ease...
Everything in the universe is made of the same energy: the sun, the moon, your iPhone (your sun and moon) and, of course, us. Energy is our basic life force.
In traditional Chinese medicine and Indian yogic traditions there are thought to be lines that carry this energy around the body. Referred to as 'nadis' or 'meridians', there are thousands upon thousands of these invisible pathways – 72,000, according to my yogic lineage – traversing the physical form.
Much like busy energetic intersections (picture Oxford Circus at 9am), chakras occur where the highest numbers of these lines converge and so are the energy ‘centres’ of the body. “A chakra is a centre that coordinates energy for the system as a whole, much like an office coordinates energy for a business,” explains author, therapist, and chakra yoga teacher Anodea Judith. Chakras serve as storehouses and behave in a vortex-esque manner (chakra literally translates as 'spinning wheel' in Sanskrit), drawing energy and information towards us.
According to various esoteric teachings – including yoga – we have ‘planes’ of existence, ranging from the physical body to higher consciousness. The chakras are thought to be located on the ‘subtle plane’, which is itself a gateway between the physical and ethereal realms. Chakras therefore function as our connection point between the mind and the body, between the manifest and un-manifest.
Still with me?
There are contending views on the number of chakras in the body, but general consensus is seven major and many more minor. The major seven (sounds like a superhero film, right?) run in ascending order from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. Each of the chakras governs a specific function within the body, and is associated with elements of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
The seven major chakras and their associated characteristics are:
1. Mooladhara
Artwork by Anna Jay.
Also known as: Root chakra Location: Base of the spine near the perineum Colour: Red Element: Earth Body functions: Legs, feet, bones, large intestine and adrenal glands Represents: Stability, grounding, foundation, family, your connection to the earth, survival, financial and physical security Excessive: Heavy, sluggish, stagnant Deficient: Ungrounded, ‘head in the clouds’, fearful, anxious
2. Svadhisthana
Artwork by Anna Jay.
Also known as: Sacral chakra Location: Lower abdomen, two inches below the naval Colour: Orange Element: Water Body functions: Kidneys, bladder, circulatory system, reproductive organs and glands Represents: Emotions, desire, pleasure, sexuality, procreation and creativity Excessive: Addicted to pleasure, restless, indulgent, overly emotional Deficient: Depressed, impotent, joyless, rigid, numb
3. Manipura
Artwork by Anna Jay.
Also known as: Solar plexus chakra Location: Upper abdomen, two inches above the naval Colour: Yellow Element: Fire Body functions: Digestive system, muscles, pancreas and adrenals Represents: Power, transformation, self-will Excessive: Quick to anger, aggressive, dominating, controlling, lack of compassion Deficient: Indecisive, insecure, timid, needy, passive, poor self-esteem
4. Anahata
Artwork by Anna Jay.
Also known as: Heart chakra Location: Centre of chest Colour: Green Element: Air Body functions: Lungs, heart, arms, hands, and thymus gland Represents: Love, relationships, joy, peace, forgiveness, trust Excessive: Loss of personal boundaries, needy, co-dependent, narcissistic Deficient: Closed, shy, lonely, isolated
5. Vishuddha
Artwork by Anna Jay.
Also known as: Throat chakra Location: Throat Colour: Blue Element: Ether Body functions: Neck, shoulders, arms, hands, thyroid and parathyroid glands Represents: Communication, voice, self-expression, judgement Excessive: Overuse of voice, loud, inability to listen Deficient: Shy, quiet, scared to speak up, unable to express emotions
6. Ajna
Artwork by Anna Jay.
Also known as: Third eye chakra Location: Between the eyebrows Colour: Indigo Element: Light Body functions: Visual perception, pituitary gland, neurological function Represents: Intuitive wisdom, discriminating, decision-making Excessive: Delusional, paranoid, difficulty concentrating Deficient: Poor memory, denial
7. Sahasrara
Artwork by Anna Jay.
Also known as: Crown chakra Location: Top of head Colour: Ultraviolet Element: Consciousness Body functions: Cerebral cortex, central nervous system and the pituitary gland Represents: Connection to source, ultimate truth, awareness Excessive: Overly intellectual, spiritual addiction, dissociation from body Deficient: Disconnection, depression, spiritual cynicism
In a healthy, balanced person (I dare you to find me one), the seven chakras spin in harmony, and provide precisely the right amount of energy to the body, mind and spirit. But the majority of us experience energetic imbalance – i.e. deficiency or excess – in one or more of our chakras at various stages of our lives. Our physical, mental or emotional states may trigger energetic inequity or blockages in our chakras, and vice versa.
“An excessive chakra results from a defensive pattern in life that is trying to compensate for something we didn’t get enough of, such as safety, pleasure, attention, power, or love,” explains Anodea in her book Chakra Yoga. “We become overly attached, fixated at that level, still trying to obtain fulfilment or healing. However if we release or express more energy than we take in, we become depleted, which leads to a deficient chakra. [It’s] the result of an avoidance strategy, avoiding something we might not have the tools or desire to deal with.”
The chakras are innately connected to one another and when one becomes unbalanced, the others may overcompensate. “Someone who is not very grounded in their lower chakras may live in their head or try to balance their disembodiment with excessive spirituality," says Anodea. “Or someone who is emotionally insecure may be excessive in their throat chakra and talk too much.”
By engaging with the chakras you can tune into the natural energies of the body and harness them to further your personal wellbeing, wants and needs (which are, hopefully, not mutually exclusive).
This can be done in a variety of ways but as a yoga teacher, I – unsurprisingly – recommend yoga. A well-composed asana and pranayama practice can alert you to the presence of your chakras, and help you begin to work through any imbalances. For example, if you’re feeling anxious or lacking in stability, then grounding poses for the root chakra – such as tree and warriors 1 & 2 – may be of benefit. If you’re lacking in energy or willpower, a few rounds of uddiyana bandha will help ignite the fire in your naval chakra. Or if you’re finding it difficult to speak up at work, then working with shoulder stand or fish may give you the throat chakra strength to find your voice.
And if you don’t believe in any of this chakra stuff, your body and mind will most likely thank you for the yoga anyway.
Chrissy is a 47-year-old nurse clinician living in Missouri who decided to get labiaplasty and vaginoplasty. The following story was told to Refinery29 and edited for length and clarity.
Before getting a divorce, I was married for 22 years and I'd had two very large babies with episiotomies. Two decades ago when they did episiotomies, they just stitched everything closed, but didn't actually do muscle repair, so everything was stretched-out and didn't feel the same. When I would sneeze or laugh, I would pee in my pants a little, and I was always self-conscious of the appearance of my vagina.
My ex-husband never complained about it, but it always bothered me — I never wanted him to look down there, especially in daylight. So when I was suddenly thrown into the dating world again, it was hard. About a year ago, I decided to finally do something about it. Internally, I wanted to feel tighter; externally, I wanted the appearance of the labia minora — the extra skin — to be reduced.
I'm a nurse clinician board-certified in plastic surgery. Being in the profession and knowing so much about plastics certainly helped when it came to researching the best doctors in the field for vaginal rejuvenation surgeries. Nobody around where I live [Columbia, Missouri] wants to touch labiaplasty or vaginoplasty with a 10-foot pole. I don't know if it's an old school thing, but it's controversial for women to want to do this, so I had to go to the big cities to find physicians who had mastered the art of it. I did consultations with five or six different doctors from Boston, LA, Seattle, Denver, and Dallas. I wanted someone who had done thousands of these procedures.
I ended up picking a physician in Dallas who had four kids, had gotten the procedure herself, and put me at ease by letting me talk to some of her former patients. I'm a big believer — and this is just my own personal preference — in female physicians when it comes to breast augmentations or anything OB/GYN. I just feel like women can better understand what's going on down there. I found it disheartening when male physicians who do vaginal rejuvenations told me they understood how I feel... I really don’t feel like they do.
I didn’t tell anyone at work or any of my family I was getting this done because they would've freaked out, but I did tell my best friend and my partner Jake. He was a little upset with me; I think he felt kind of intimidated, like maybe I was doing it because he wasn't big enough, but that wasn't the case at all. It was a personal, self-conscious thing.
I took two weeks off from work, drove myself to Dallas, and hired a private duty nurse to take care of me for 48 hours. I wasn't nervous — I was ready to get this party started! Before the surgery, my physician asked me what size I wanted to be. I had no idea how to answer that. She explained that when she did her physical exam on me, she could get four fingers into my vaginal opening comfortably and move her hands back and forth — that's how stretched it was. I was considered a size four. She recommended going to a two — it's what she did for herself — for more tightness and friction during intercourse, so that's what I chose.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
My biggest fear was the recovery. I knew that I would like the final result, I wasn't worried about that, but I knew all the muscle repair was going to be pretty significant. I was warned ahead of time that there was no intercourse allowed for six to eight weeks, I would have packing inside the vagina for the first 24 hours, and I would have a urinary catheter in my bladder for the first two days so I didn't urinate on any fresh incisions.
The procedure itself took about three hours and was done under general anesthetic, though you can choose to do it under local. Afterward, the nurse brought me back to my hotel and got me settled in. Being a nurse myself, I felt comfortable because I know how to take care of a catheter and dressings, so I wasn't too helpless.
Really, I didn't think it was all that bad after surgery; I was anticipating it to be much worse than it was. The labiaplasty was a piece of cake because that’s just removing extra skin, but the vaginoplasty was more uncomfortable. Muscle work affects our core and how we sit and stand, so that was pretty uncomfortable for three or four days.
But sex the first time was HORRIBLE. Oh my goodness. I can't even describe it. My doctor told me to use lots of lube, be on top rather than missionary, and recommended getting a vibrator and trying to stretch things out on my own first. She said it'd be like losing my virginity, but I definitely didn't remember the first time being that bad. I was literally clawing his back and crying, thinking I would never do it again.
After eight to twelve weeks, intercourse finally felt normal again, but the couple of weeks in between were so painful. You just have to let your guard down and relax. Now it's better than ever for both of us — I'm far more comfortable with the appearance, and Jake says it's a night and day difference.
Some people say this type of surgery is anti-feminist, but I'd say the complete opposite. As women, we're told to just live with these things, to not talk about our breasts or vaginas or childbirth, but I disagree with that. If I can look a little better, make things function better, and feel better about myself in the process, I’m all for that. I think people need to educate themselves and do their research and not just go to anybody, of course, but if this is something that bothers you, you should know you can fix it. It shouldn't be taboo.
Welcome to Mothership: Parenting stories you actually want to read, whether you're thinking about kids right now or not, from egg-freezing to taking home baby and beyond. Because motherhood is a big if — not when — and it's time we talked about it that way.
No matter the season, Europe is always a good idea — and even better if you can explore multiple countries in one go. While budget airlines like Ryanair (ahem) and Easyjet offer a multitude of affordable connections within the continent, you really can't beat the sightseeing experience on a train: from snow-capped Alps to Portuguese vineyards, Europe's idyllic landscape slowly unfolding beside you is simply indescribable. Plus, remote villages are much more accessible by rail.
Most people tend to pick low-cost carriers over trains due to the price factor, but travelling by rail can be a lot cheaper — and a lot less of a hassle — than you think.
Eurail offers passes that allow travellers to take multiple train trips and hop between its network of 28 countries for a fixed price, and they could very well end up costing you less than booking separate flights. These passes can be booked 11 months in advance, and travellers under 27 years old get a pretty good deal. Read ahead for a breakdown on why this might be a great transportation alternative for your next #eurotrip.
If you're looking to do a once-in-a-lifetime grand tour of Europe, this pass is pretty much your dream come true: The period of validity ranges from five days to three months, allowing travel for up to 28 countries. The pass starts at €305 (£270) for travellers under 27, and it's €466 (£410) for travellers 28 or over.
This option covers two to four bordering countries, and is ideal if you want to tour a specific region of Europe. You can pick up to 10 days of train travelling within a two-month period. The prices fluctuate according to which neighbouring countries you pick (which makes playing around with the options endlessly fun). Here's an example: A 27-and-under pass for a France-Italy-Spain trip starts at € 257 (£225) for five days of train travel within two months, while a Norway-Denmark-Sweden trip starts at € 223 (£195).
Only have time to explore one country? This pass category allows you to explore one country to its fullest. You can pick from a whopping 22 options. Our top pick is doing a train journey around France, where youth tickets starts at € 130 (£115) for three days of travel within a month, and €159 (£140) for adults 28 or over.
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Tens of thousands of people have marched through Dublin today to demand an end to Ireland's notoriously strict abortion laws, the BBC reports.
Under the Eighth Amendment of the predominantly Catholic country's constitution, abortion is illegal unless the mother's life is in danger. The Eighth Amendment, which has been law since 1983, also bans abortion in cases of rape, incest, inevitable miscarriage, and fatal foetal abnormality.
As they joined the sixth annual March for Choice today, women's rights campaigners held placards with slogans including "Keep your rosaries off my ovaries" and "Repeal the eighth" as they made their way through Dublin city centre.
A post shared by Laura Cunningham (@cunninghamlaura) on
At present, women in Ireland convicted of having an illegal abortion using pills obtained online can face up to 14 years' imprisonment. However, they are allowed to travel abroad to have the procedure. Thousands of Irish women travel to the UK each year for this reason, often at great expense.
In a show of solidarity with Dublin's March for Choice, hundreds of women's rights campaigners also congregated outside the Irish Embassy in London today, the Evening Standard reports. They drew more than 200,000 chalk marks outside the Embassy to represent the number of women who have travelled to the UK from Ireland to have a safe and legal abortion since 1983.
The UN Human Rights Committee last year deemed Ireland's abortion law to be "cruel, inhuman [and] degrading." Meanwhile, public attitudes toward abortion in Ireland have shifted markedly in recent decades.
In an Irish Times /Ipsos MRBI poll in May 2017, the majority of people agreed abortion should be legal in certain circumstances, with 73% of respondents saying it should be allowed up until 12 weeks of gestation.
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Expect London to become seriously 'luvvie' in October with the arrival of the Frieze Art Fair as well as the London Film Festival. If you're looking for something a little less, dare I say, highbrow, then Netflix has some incredible new offerings, from fan-favourite Riverdale to comedy classic Crazy Ex Girlfriend. And if you're into hip-hop, then October is very much your month. Click through to see what the R29 staffers are getting excited about.
Gillian Orr, senior editor
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan, published 3rd October I've lost count of how many people I've given Egan's last book to, the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit From The Goon Squad. Early reviews have pointed out that Manhattan Beach will embrace traditional storytelling, and that Goon Squad fans might be left disappointed with the Depression-era historical novel. Still, she's incredible and I can't wait.
The BFI London Film Festival, from 4th to 15th October The 61st London Film Festival is premiering an embarrassment of riches this year, from Jake Gyllenhaal's turn as a Boston bombing victim in Stronger to Tangerine director Sean Baker's follow-up The Florida Project. And many events are open to the public – you can view the programme here. And check out which films R29 is most excited about.
Georgia Murray, fashion & beauty writer
Gengahr, UK tour, from 13th October I have a soft spot for the sweet melodies of guitar-wielding boys in bands, and Gengahr's sweet vocals have made it onto many a playlist since their 2015 album A Dream Outside. The band's latest single "Carrion" sees a move away from the pop-tinged music while still keeping the psychedelic sound I so love. Let's hope they play some more new stuff live.
Dalí / Duchamp at the Royal Academy of Arts, from 7th October Two of my favourite artists in one exhibition! Godfather of conceptual art, Marcel Duchamp, is so much more than his urinal-turned- Fountain piece, and surrealist Salvador Dalí did far more than paint melting clocks and frightening figures. This exhibition promises to examine the relationship between both men, via their work, humour and future-thinking approach to art.
Charisse Chikwiri, editorial intern
The Family Function, The Roundhouse, London, 29th October Brought to us by the women behind London's favourite club night Work It is The Family Function festival and it's amazing to see so much underground British talent on one line-up, and without the painfully obvious headliners. TFF is putting talent before what's considered "cool" by the masses and this what sets this festival apart for me. It will be the most well-organised, energetic and unconventional family function you'll ever go to. Aren't they the best?
Kelela, Take Me Apart, released 6th October It's Kelela's debut album! Through her music, Kelela is in every way the type of woman that I adore. Bold, dynamic, sensual, carefree, unconventional and self-aware. Finding vocal harmony in the wildest of sounds, and speaking relatable truths. I can't wait for what this album will bring to the table.
Jess Commons, health & living editor
Riverdale Season 2 on Netflix, 12th October What happens when Twin Peaks meets Gossip Girl. This show is weird, full of teenage angst and murder mysteries. I'm probably too old to watch it but whatever; Jughead for president.
Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 9 on Sky Atlantic, 1st October I'm intrigued to see how this show has stood the test of time. Sure it's relatable as hell for anyone socially awkward (hello) but looking back five years to the last series, I'm not so sure it was kind to its female characters. Very interested to see how it pans out.
Katy Thompsett, sub editor
Little Dragon, UK tour, from 27th October Oh, Little Dragon, how I love you and your kooky Swedish ways. On fifth studio album Season High, Yukimi Nagano’s vocals glide from low and sensual to high and pure (think: someone running a finger around a crystal wine glass), over some seriously ‘80s electronic beats. Plus oriental synths... Here’s hoping the live shows will help the band shake off its reputation as everyone’s favourite collaborator. Dates around the UK.
Everything At Once, 180 Strand, London, 1st October-31st December (exact dates TBC) 80,000 people attended 2016’s The Infinite Mix at 180 Strand, which Time Out called “the most engaging pieces of visual art you’ll see together all year”. I took a date and we had a great time – and I never saw him again. But don’t let that put you off. This year’s group show, Everything At Once, is themed around a quote by experimental musician John Cage (he of every radio DJ’s worst nightmare, ‘silent’ track “4’33”). It’ll probably be weird. Go.
Zanny Ali, content manager
Blade Runner 2049, in cinemas 6th October Will it be as good as the original? No. But if the trailer's anything to go by, it should do the trick all the same. Gosling's husky voiceover, Harrison Ford's quiet intensity, the epic Hans Zimmer score, hot cyborgs – what's not to like?
Future, UK tour, from 20th October Been anticipating a UK tour for a while now, and what's more, Wizkid is supporting. A plethora of bangers await... absolutely convinced it's gonna be lit.
Sarah Raphael, editorial director
Stranger ThingsSeason 2 on Netflix, 27th October Is Eleven the demogorgon? Is she eating the Eggo waffles that Chief Hopper leaves at the entrance to the upside down world? What deal has Chief Hopper struck with the government? Why is Will still coughing up slugs? What mature, brilliant things will the crew of 2016 – Mike, Dustin and Lucas – do next? These questions have plagued me for a year. I’ll be on the edge of my sofa with my hands over my eyes, eating waffles.
King Krule, The Ooz, released 13th October Archy Marshall hasn’t released an album as ‘King Krule’ since 2013, when the music industry fell head over heels in love with him. Maybe now, at 23, he’s finally caught up to that spine-tingling old man voice. If track "Dum Surfer" – where everyone in the video is dead – is anything to go by, we’re about to fall in love all over again.
Anna Jay, art director
Frieze London,5th-7th October, Regent's Park Frieze is always one of my cultural highlights every year; it's a warren of inspiration, from installation to painting, performance and photography. Also great for stylish people watching... Tickets are available here, make sure to book.
Louis Theroux: Dark States – Heroin Town, BBC Two, 8th October Like every other person I've avidly watched all of Louis Theroux's documentaries, from Swingers to Scientology and everything in between. The next episode is about the drug that one in 10 babies in Huntington, West Virginia are born dependent on: heroin. Theroux gets under the skin of this highly addicted city and the people within its grip.
Natalie Gil, news writer
Ty Dolla $ign, Beach House 3, released 27th October At the moment, there’s nothing that helps me escape the drudgery of daily life better than the smooth, sexy soulfulness of Tyrone William Griffin Jr’s voice. My obsession with pretty much anysonghe’severfeaturedin – and there are many – would probably start to get boring soon were it not for his new album released this month, aka the soundtrack to the next few months of my life. Bring. It. On.
Lethal Bizzle, UK tour, from 12th October I first became aware of Walthamstow-born Lethal Bizzle in the early aughts when the rap fans at my north London school would play "Pow" on loop in the playground. More than a decade on, he’s nothing short of a grime legend, so I’m bursting with excitement at the prospect of finally catching him live.
David Farrell, marketing intern
Thor: Ragnarok, in cinemas 27th October "Not another superhero film", we hear you groan, but hear us out. It's worth buying a ticket for Ragnarok based on the cast alone. Chris Hemsworth is back as Thor and has to battle Mark Ruffalo's The Hulk to escape captivity and stop the deliciously malevolent Cate Blanchett from bringing about the end of the world (naturally).
Kelly Clarkson, The Meaning Of Life, released 27th October The hitmaker has finally managed to escape the bonds of her American Idol contract which obliged her to star in the heinous rom-com From Justin to Kelly and work with controversial producer Dr. Luke. This could mark the beginning of a brand new era for the "Miss Independent" singer, one which *cough cough* actually celebrates being independent.
Sadhbh O'Sullivan, social media assistant
Crazy Ex Girlfriend Season 3 on Netflix, 14th October Crazy Ex Girlfriend is my favourite ever show. It follows Rebecca Bunch in her impulsive move from New York to West Covina, California where her ex-boyfriend from when she was 16, Josh, just happens to live. Instead of playing into tired stereotypes of 'crazy exes' it's funny, and clever, and full of original songs (!) that make me laugh and sob in equal measure. I could talk about it for hours, as you can probably tell, and it's BACK. I'm so excited.
Everyone should read Audre Lorde. Her work feels as relevant as ever, as she tackles the intersections of her blackness and her lesbianism in a world run by straightness and whiteness. This edition, published by Silver Press, brings together a collection of poetry, speeches and essays in one volume in the UK for the first time. If the book isn't enough, the London Review Bookshop is hosting this conversation with Reni Eddo-Lodge about Lorde's work. I'm gutted I missed out on tickets.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Everyone knows colour is a deeply personal matter – one person’s calm, off-white oasis is another’s beige nightmare. It’s not easy to decide which shade your sanctuary should be – there’s an overwhelming range of hues on offer. But don’t get your colour cards in a twist.
We’ve asked five colour experts to tell us which shades they think you should be painting your walls. And if all else fails, take a bit of advice from designer Abigail Ahern, whose signature dark schemes (pictured) spearheaded the trend over 10 years ago: "The best advice I can give you is to follow your gut. Don’t get hung up on the amount of natural light in a space or the size of a room. Look at the colours you already gravitate towards – in your wardrobe, in artwork you love, in images you tear out of magazines. You’ll start to work out your own palette."
For the open-plan kitchen
"The kitchen is the heart of a home – cooking is only a small part of what goes on here," says Marianne Shillingford, creative director of Dulux. "Use tonal colours to ‘zone’ an open-plan or multifunctional kitchen space to create areas that can be used for different activities like eating, work, relaxing, etc. Blues continue to be big news in decorating and design in 2018 – team almost-black shades such as Cobalt Night with delicate chalky ones like River Bed and Drifting Cloud."
It’s tempting to leave small spaces like hallways and entryways white, but Ruth Mottershead from Paint & Paper Library says: "A combination of warm pink tones for hallways is ideal for creating a welcoming feeling as soon as you walk through the door." Try Plaster V 405 and Plaster II 402 – putty shades are the next millennial pink, FYI.
"If you’re decorating your sitting room, you want it to be somewhere you can chill and have friends over to chat late into the night," says interior designer Abigail Ahern. ‘I have painted everything, from the ceiling to the floorboards in my colour Madison Grey. It's grey but has undertones of green, which change with the light creating the coolest of vibes."
Cathryn Helsby of eco paint company Earthborn loves mixing dark shades with pops of bright colour. "One of the new Earthborn colours, Hobby Wood is perfect for this trend. The darkness of the green, mixed with flashes of bright accessories, looks great in a living room or bedroom." It’s also surprisingly soothing and restful – just the environment to help you switch off after a full-on day.
Hobby Wood eco-friendly paint, from £38, available at Earthborn
For the classic kitchen
Charlotte Cosby, head of creative at Farrow & Ball recommends bringing neutral tones into the kitchen. "It’s the perfect place to introduce some colour, whether it’s a soft accent or a bold statement. Green hues help to bring nature back into the home, especially if your kitchen looks out onto a garden. Cromarty is a beautiful muted pastel that could be used on your cupboards to complement a neutral shade on the wall, such as Shadow White."
"Smaller rooms of the house such as bathrooms and cloakrooms look great in darker colours. Traditionally, we would want rooms to be brighter to appear bigger, but the trend for all things dark is definitely on the increase and darker colours work beautifully in small spaces," says Helsby. "Earthborn Claypaint in Trumpet is one of my favourite colours at the moment."
Cara Delevingne has spoken about her past struggles with depression and suicidal feelings - and how they helped her capture the angst of her teenage protagonists in her new book Mirror, Mirror - in an interview with Net-a-Porter's The Edit magazine.
In the interview, she explained that her mental health began to suffer as a result of struggles in school. "If I fail at something, it's the worst thing in the world because I never forgive myself," she shared with The Edit. "I didn't feel like I was ever good enough. The fact I couldn't do as well as other people made me hate myself. And you're made to feel that once you get a mark, like a C, that's your mark in life; that's you as a human being. That really sat with me for a long time."
Delevingne explained that she felt weird and different as a kid, and said she lacked the ability to express those feelings. "I wish I could have given myself a hug. I wish I'd known that I was still in there somewhere, that I wasn't my own worst enemy, that I wasn't trapped. That if you can hold on for dear life — because being a teenager can feel like you're on a rollercoaster to hell, that's what it honestly felt like to me — you can get through it. Time moves on, feelings pass, it does get better."
Her feelings of alienation and loneliness continued, leading to a break from school at the age of 15 to receive treatment for depression. "I was very good at disassociating from emotion completely. And all the time I was second-guessing myself, saying something and then hating myself for saying it. I didn't understand what was happening apart from the fact that I didn't want to be alive anymore," she explained.
Since seeking help and treatment, Delevingne is now in a much healthier place. "I know it sounds really stupid, but I relied too much on love, too much on other people to make me happy, and I needed to learn to be happy by myself," she said. "So now I can be by myself, I can be happy. It took me a long time."
Delevingne has now delved into the YA fiction writing world, with her book set to be published on 5th October. In a post on Instagram earlier this year, the new author announced she had written a book, and shared a teaser of the plot. She wrote: "Mirror, Mirror is a twisty coming-of-age story about sixteen year old friends Red, Leo, Naima and Rose who are all trying to figure out who they are and navigate the minefield of school and relationships. Until it all changes one day… (que scary music) I love these characters so much, I love what they stand for, what this story represents. The process of putting this novel together has been life changing and something I hold really close to my heart!! I cannot wait to share with everyone!"
Update: Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz appeared on AM Joy Sunday morning and, when asked about the president's tweets about her, set the record straight where her agenda is concerned.
"Actually, I was asking for help," Cruz said. "I wasn't saying anything nasty about the president. But don't take my word for it. Gen. Buchanan, a three-star general, has said as one of the first comments he's said about the Puerto Rico situation, that he doesn't have enough troops, that he doesn't have enough equipment of what he needs to get the situation under control...We have one goal, it is to save lives."
The statements she referred to are from Buchanan's interview on CNN, where he said there were currently not enough troops, but that more would be brought in.
"I have no time for distractions. All I have is time for people to move forward [and] get help," Cruz said. Watch the clip below.
During the interview, mayor Cruz responded to comments made by Elaine Duke, Homeland Security Secretary, on Thursday.
Duke iterated her satisfaction with the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, explaining that it was “really a good news story in terms of our ability to reach people and the limited number of deaths.”
Mayor Cruz vehemently disagreed, saying, "When you're drinking from a creek, it's not a good news story. When you don't have food for a baby, it's not a good news story. When you have to pull people down from buildings -- I'm sorry, that really upsets me and frustrates me."
Cruz then invited Duke to come to Puerto Rico to see the damage and how people are coping for themselves, calling it not a good story but a "people are dying" story, and expressing her frustration at the difference in tone between Duke's comments and the phone call she had with the White House on the same day.
Duke arrived in Puerto Rico on Friday, and clarified her earlier remarks, explaining that she meant the "unification of command" helping to save lives and to get "things to the people they need" in Puerto Rico was a good story.
Cruz's comments didn’t sit well with President Trump.
Early Saturday morning, Trump responded to Cruz’s critical remarks with his own, on Twitter. “The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump,” he said. “Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help."
The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump.
Trump then retweeted several government agencies who wrote about the recovery efforts underway in Puerto Rico, and announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump will go to Puerto Rico on Tuesday, the 3rd of October. Trump criticised "fake news" networks CNN and NBC for their coverage of the events, but did not mention that federal help was slow to come to the American territory.
Army Lt. Gen. Jeff Buchanan, the three-star general assigned to lead efforts in Puerto Rico, arrived on Thursday. Buchanan told CNBC that presently FEMA is setting the military's priorities to help Puerto Rico, that increased help from the federal government is expected, and that the Army Corps of Engineers is taking over getting the utility grid updated for long-term transmissions. Buchanan also said his priorities are medical capabilities and logistics support to move and distribute supplies.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has publicly advocated for his home, Puerto Rico, since it was hit by Irma, sent out a series of tweets in response to the president that did not mince words. "You're going straight to hell, @realDonaldTrump. No long lines for you. Someone will say, 'Right this way, sir.' They'll clear a path. She has been working 24/7. You have been GOLFING. You're going straight to hell. Fastest golf cart you ever took," he said.
You're going straight to hell, @realDonaldTrump. No long lines for you. Someone will say, "Right this way, sir." They'll clear a path. https://t.co/xXfJH0KJmw
Come a little closer — they're not going to bite! (And even if they do...) Love planet Venus is making moves this week, getting in bed with sexy Pluto on Wednesday and landing next to her celestial soulmate Mars on Thursday for a rare, exact connection. These heart-opening transits will make it hard to resist Cupid's arrows. But thankfully, we won't lose our good sense in the process. With both Venus and Mars in virtuous Virgo, standards should remain high.
And good luck to the lazy lover who gets a little too comfortable. (To the left, to the left...) On Thursday, the annual full moon in Aries brings an epic surge of self-esteem. From body-shamers to Betsy DeVos, the trolls make it hard out here for a modern-day woman. But with fierce warrior queen Aries helming this full moon, we'll all get our fight back. In fact, all the world is a talent show under these potent moonbeams. Let your superpowers be seen! Independence and originality will be rewarded this week. Just avoid any reckless or daredevil moves. And wear a helmet when riding your bike or that "just for tonight" Tinder date.
Libra September 23 to October 22
Surrendering can be sexy this week, Libra, so let go of a little control as your cosmic ruler Venus floats through your 12th house of fantasy. It's not that you should totally take your hands off the wheel. But with dashing Mars and sultry Pluto flirting with Venus midweek, a captivating copilot (or three) could show up. Coupled Libras, get some nightlife on the shared calendar, like dressing up for a fancy dinner and a live show.
Double down on Thursday! The annual full moon in Aries rockets through your relationship zone and you'll get to do one of your favourite things as a Libra — pair up! Your ruler Venus makes a rare, exact meetup with Mars that day, too, which only amplifies your case of the butterflies. In the two weeks to follow, you could be talking commitment in a more serious way, even sharing the spare set of your apartment keys or setting up a ring-sizing appointment. On the flip side, some Libras may realise that you’re ready to move on from the sweet soul you adore who, alas, isn’t your ultimate match. This full moon could also bring a promising business offer or a contract that changes your life for the better. Lawyer up before signing to make sure the terms are favourable for you.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Scorpio October 23 to November 21
It's okay to be extra this week, Scorpio, as long as you do it with an original flair. Creatrix Venus is on a weird and wonderful journey through your refreshingly eccentric 11th house. And on Wednesday, she'll get some divine downloads from Pluto's deep well. All things indie, underground, and undiscovered will draw you in. Make time for some cultural exploration — IRL and via some new apps. Make new playlists and let that be your excuse for hosting a party or sharing them as an icebreaker with new friends. On Thursday, Venus mashes up against her planetary partner (and your other ruling planet) red-hot Mars. Love is in the air — and you might just find it through the introduction of mutual friends or a very well-timed right swipe. Coupled Scorpios should make a point of getting out for some weeknight cultural activities, like seeing a friend's band or checking out a restaurant opening. Have you been like two ships passing in the night? Under this tech-savvy Venus-Mars duo, sync up with a shared calendar app.
On Thursday, think about investing in a classic pair of Adidas Gazelles or a fancy, filtered water bottle. This year's only full moon in Aries activates your sixth house of wellness, putting workouts back on your priority list. Find a fitness modality that's challenging, but also fun. With warrior spirit Aries helming this zone of your chart, you could work off some Trump-era rage on the boxing bag or by learning a martial art. Have you been judging yourself by the size of your thighs instead of the content of your character? This body-loving full moon reminds you that there are wide categories for beauty, so embrace the skin that you're in!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Sagittarius November 22 to December 21
Ready to see your name in lights — or maybe on a plaque in an executive wing? Those Cookie Lyon visions could come to life this week as enchanting Venus in your career corner syncs up with potent Pluto in your money zone. Make a bold move in the professional realm, even one that would fall into the "competitive" category. (Just stop short of "cutthroat," Sag, because burning bridges is never worth it.) Are you undercharging for your talents? Time to raise your rates or sit down with your boss for a performance review and a discussion about a pay increase. Midweek, you could get a strong and clear vision about what you want to do with your life. If someone else has been taking credit for your hard work, enough's enough. Start strategically stamping your name on all that you do and being much more vocal in the morning meeting.
Thursday’s full moon in Aries lands in your house of fame, romance, and self-expression. And it's doubly potent, since cosmic canoodlers Venus and Mars are having a rare, exact meetup that very same day. If you feel like Cardi B grabbing the number-one spot from Billboard frontrunner T-Swift, we wouldn't be surprised. The talents you've been developing over the past six months are ready to shine! When you leave the house this week, be Instagram-ready. Snap your selfies, but think about setting up an actual shoot. Having stunning profile pics that also show your personality is the best way to attract people who are on the same page as you — for finance and romance. A simmering attraction could reach a rolling boil — or, a combustible coup de gras. Either way, you'll be glad to have clarity. If you're already attached, this full moon will nudge your bond to a deeper level — which could even include a proposal, pregnancy, or an exciting new travel plan.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Capricorn December 22 to January 19
If you think you have a type, Capricorn, guess again. With Venus pulsing through your expansive ninth house, some surprising attractions could emerge this week. And when her planetary partner, passionate Mars, arrives by her side on Thursday, you could get caught up in the heat of the moment. So unlike you! Or maybe not. As the Zodiac's sea goat, you can ascend to the highest levels of ambition — but you can also get down and dirty when it comes to love. You might even explore a secret kink this week or just switch up the scenery for a fun little sexcapade. Venus also gets some smoke signals from seductive Pluto in Capricorn your daring first house. Take a gamble or take the lead...your willingness to make the first move makes all the difference.
Matters under your roof demand your attention near Thursday when the full moon in Aries drops down into your domestic zone. Call a house meeting to discuss Dirty Dishgate; or work up the nerve to serve a good-for-nothin' roomie an eviction notice. Or, maybe, Capricorn, you just need to remember that you actually have a home base — and not just a throughway where you drop your suitcases between business trips. Feathering your nest could become your autumn obsession, so start the pinning of decor inspo. A relative could require a little extra time or TLC near this full moon. How about a weekend visit or a bonding getaway in an Airbnb?
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Aquarius January 20 to February 18
The power of your purr will be legendary this week, Aquarius, as celestial sexpots Venus and Mars mingle in your erotic eighth house. Flirting is fun, but it's time to close the deal. That might mean ending a going-nowhere pseudo-relationship or leaving a trail of clothes from the front door to the bedroom. You'll know for sure what to do by Thursday, when the two planets make a rare, exact meetup. On Wednesday, mysterious Pluto will also be in the picture, sending Venus some extra heat. Someone could open up to you with a secret, which draws the two of you much closer. Attached? Plan to stay in with bae for some humpday bonding. You could start talking next steps, which could include moving in together or even starting a family.
Ready to upgrade an acquaintance to the genuine friend category? Thursday's full moon in Aries lights up your kindred spirit zone and separates the real from the fake. You might even bestow the "best friend" title to someone you've been getting to know for the past six months — or turn a talented colleague into a legit partner-in-crime. Move forward or move on: There’s no room for indecision after this. If you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, let the test-driving commence. Or, look into mobile gadgets that can make your commutes more enjoyable and edifying. Who says you don't have time to be part of that book club? The audio version counts, too!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Pisces February 19 to March 20
Table plans to catch up on your personal projects or slip off in solitude. This week is all about dynamic duos, Pisces, and you won't want to miss this astrological assist. Romantic Venus is pulsing through your partnership house all week and on Wednesday, she'll make an electrifying connection with seductive Pluto. An attraction could erupt out of the blue — quite possibly with someone you've only seen as a friend until now. Group hangs and dating apps will also give your inner pickup artist a hand. If you're already spoken for, you might meet a dream collaborator who wants to connect for a creative project. And when Mars makes a rare and exact meetup to Venus on Thursday, an undefined attraction could finally get a proper label. Don't be shy about initiating that conversation about "what's next for the two of us."
You'll be making money move on Thursday as the full moon in Aries hits your finance zone and heats up your earning power. Keep your interview outfit dry cleaned and ready to go. In the two weeks that follow, you could be tapped by a hiring agent or notified of a cool position opening up at your current 9-5. Need more experience? Design a challenging assignment that builds your career cred, even if it's something you do on the side, like learning web design or taking a workshop in digital marketing. If it’s time to ghost a dead-end gig, this full moon hastens your departure. Have you been saving diligently? A luxurious, but practical, upgrade gets the thumbs up. Splurge on something scintillating and sensible.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Aries March 21 to April 19
When it comes to love, you're pickier than most. What can you say, Aries? You have specific tastes and know that you're worthy of the best. So what if most mortals just can't live up to your nosebleed-section standards? Please, don't ever, ever lower them. (Okay, maybe for one night here and there). Some might call it entitlement, but we call it pure inspiration. This week as your ruling planet, lusty Mars, spoons Venus in Virgo, holding out for your idea of perfection could truly pay off. And if there are some improvements you'd like bae to make, find a diplomatically direct way of addressing. Just remember: If you can dish it out, you also have to be ready to get some feedback in return.
On Thursday, 2017's only full moon in Aries lights up the skies and crowns you zodiac royalty. If you've been hustling away on a personal project, consider this your personal ribbon-cutting ceremony. Get your work into the public eye and make sure the influencers are aware of your talents and offerings. If you're not sure what's next, the full moon could illuminate a promising path that is worth exploring in the final quarter of 2017. Do you need to be released from confining circumstances? This full moon jailbreaks you, setting you free to explore more lucrative opportunities. No looking back!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Step up your style game! Venus the astral fashionista is flowing through your fifth haus of fierce all week, drawing inspiration from sexed-up Mars and power-dresser Pluto. Red lips seem like a no-brainer, but push the envelope with the season's red eye shadow trend. The trenchcoat has been reinvented for 2017, so buckle into one that's anything but boring khaki. Romantically, this week could be one for the highlights reel, whether you're giving a totally new type a try (and loving it) or finally having that conversation about the future with the one you adore. Take the lead, Taurus! Fortune favors the boldest Bull.
On Thursday, let go so that you can grow. Clutching on to an expired past is simply futile as the annual full moon in Aries lands in your 12th house of healing and completions. Maybe it's a soul-sucking job, a crush who keeps ghosting, or those self-deprecating things you say about your own body…regardless, you know this is no longer serving you. Give it up, Taurus, and you’ll clear space for a life that brings you bliss. Although change can be scary and sad, don't hang on out of habit or you'll only wind up stuck in a rut. Cry, scream, break a few dishes if you must — but, please, don’t go running after something that's bringing you down.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
Your sentimental side is showing, Gemini — and this week, make no effort to hide it. Warm-hearted Venus is flowing through your touchy-feely fourth house, making contact with intuitive Pluto on Wednesday and her dance partner, Mars, on Thursday. When you get a gut feeling that you should talk to someone or ask a question, follow it! A beautiful and connecting conversation could open up — and this is what you, the sign of kinship and communication, basically live for. Romantically, you could skip all the fancy-schmancy date nights and just stay in for some cosy Netflix-and-chill time. Ready to talk cohabitation or clear out a drawer for bae? The Mars-Venus conjunction will make nesting feel romantic. If you're single, the sweet, family-oriented type could make you swoon.
On Thursday, embrace the spirit of collaboration as the full moon in Aries electrifies your 11th house of teamwork and technology. There's strength in numbers, Gemini, and we're talking about a number that's greater than two. Success is in the stars — if you pick the right people to be part of your hive mind. Screen people on a stricter set of criteria instead of handing out all-access passes. Style matters, yes, but do they have substance and a solid work ethic to back it up? Run the background checks before letting them in to your inner circle. If you can’t find your squad in real time, search virtually. A status update could connect you to a group of people working toward similar goals.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Is that you, Cancer, Instagram cameoing (Instagrameoing?) across every damn feed? With charming Venus buzzing through your ultra-social third house all week, your name could be the hashtag du jour. And on Wednesday, when the love planet makes eyes at sultry Pluto in your relationship house, a casual connection could make a move out of the platonic realm. There may be more blurred lines on Thursday when she mashes up against lusty Mars. But don't clam up in the face of the attraction! With Venus and Mars in your communication zone, you want to talk about what's happening, ideally before your crewneck is crumpled up next to your bra on the floor. Nothing feels sexier — and sweeter — than discovering that you're legit on the same page. And if you're not, well, be glad that you dodged a dramatic bullet.
Dress for success on Thursday when 2017's only full moon in Aries electrifies your 10th house of professional prestige. You could be pulled into an impromptu meeting or wind up on the elevator with an exec you admire. And, if you've been hustling like nobody's business for the past six months, it's manifestation time! In the two weeks that follow, you could lock down a game-changing gig or rise through the ranks at your current 9-5. Ready to change lanes — and make money move? Consider this full moon your launching pad. Not sure what's next (but you know you're ready for something different)? Invest in a session with a career coach who can help you radar in on the intersection of your innate skills and the activities you love.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Leo July 23 to August 22
Put a little luxe in your life! Stylista Venus is weaving through your sensual-yet-sensible second house all week, whetting your appetite for the finer things in life. But before you start entering your credit card information anywhere, do a closet inventory. You could discover a forgotten pair of black ankle booties or a denim skirt. Once you see what pieces might be missing, add a few well-made basics to the racks. Make sure they are office appropriate, too! You could get called in to give an impromptu presentation or status update during Wednesday's trine between Venus and powerhouse Pluto. You've got this, Leo, but it won't hurt to put a polished foot forward. On Thursday, Venus makes a rare, exact conjunction to her dance partner, Mars. Spotify those slow jams and plan some time in with the one you adore. Talks could turn to money management and how you split the bills. Be honest (but direct) and create an agreement that works for both of you. Single? You could suddenly swoon for the hottie next door after brushing them off as boring last week.
Have you been suffocating from your own politeness lately? On Thursday, the full moon in Aries and your call-it-like-it-is ninth house will dose you with truth serum. All your covert thoughts, opinions, bottled-up rants, and feelings could rush out in an uncensored rush. Warning: This could get messy, so try to use a few filters. But don't fail to point out the neon pink elephant in the room — especially if said elephant has been mansplaining ad nauseum or otherwise dominating everyone else in its midst. Make sure your suitcase is in good shape: An opportunity to travel could pop up over the next two weeks and you shouldn't even think twice about saying "yes!"
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Virgo August 23 to September 22
Hello, luminous! Your gorgeous glow is beaming, Virgo, whether you believe it or not. With radiant Venus flowing through your sign all week, your powers of attraction are dialled up. And she's getting some extra voltage this week from sultry Pluto and lusty Mars. Someone you hoisted up on a pedestal (hey, we all have our fangirl moments) could suddenly start charming you near Wednesday. Totally flattering, but hang on to that upper hand and make them work for it. This is also a stellar week to launch one of your creative projects into the public eye. A Snapchat story of you playing guitar or showing off your crafts could go viral and even put some money in your pocket.
Circle Thursday as one of the sexiest days of 2017! The Virgo vixen takes the wheel (or maybe the pole) as the full moon in Aries lights up your erotic eighth house. Love planets Mars and Venus are also making a rare, exact connection in Virgo that day, which makes you simply irresistible. A simmering attraction could go full boil. Just try to close the blinds before clothes wind up strewn all over the floor. Attached Virgos could take a more permanent plunge together within two weeks of this lunation. But if you just can't get past that "bored with bae" feeling no matter how hard you try, you might have to make the sad decision to move on — or at least take a little break to figure out if it's them or you.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
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A same-sex couple who featured in a TV advert for the chip brand McCain have spoken of their shock at receiving vile homophobic abuse after the advert was aired.
Cheshire couple Lee and Mat Samuels-Camozzi appear with their baby son in McCain's We Are Family advert, which aims to celebrate "the diversity of family life".
"When it comes to normal, what is normal? Normal isn't normal," a narrator says at the beginning of the original 60-second advert, which goes on to showcase a wide range of different family units.
The couple told the BBC last month that they had received homophobic abuse on social media after the advert aired, with one online troll calling them "sick".
The couple said they felt "disheartened" by homophobic responses to their appearance in the advert, but added: "For all the negativity, we had lots of hugely supportive comments."
The 60-second We Are Family advert has since been replaced by two 30-second adverts, one of which does not feature the couple. A spokesperson for the chip brand told The Guardian that this decision was "absolutely not" connected to the pernicious ripples of homophobia that resulted from their appearance in the original advert, of which the company remains proud. The 30-second versions of the advert, created to run in rotation, were simply edited to fit into a shorter time slot.
The spokesperson said: "Our campaign is all about celebrating the diversity of family life and not everybody’s a normal family. There’s only so much you can say in 30 seconds. We’re still promoting them, they’re in the posters and we’ve got them on social media."
McCain also told a viewer on social media that "the advert featuring the two dads has always been a part of our campaign," and "this will continue to be so."
I'm a bit confused, @McCainUK. Will the two lovely dads be in your adverts or not?
While the advert is currently off air, McCain has confirmed that Lee and Mat and their baby son will return to TV screens next week. In the meantime, you can watch the advert above or check it out on the company's YouTube channel, here.
Ed. note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Lee and Mat Samuels-Camozzi had been removed from the campaign as a direct result of the online abuse they received. A spokesperson for McCain has since clarified that the decision to air the 30-second version of the advert, in which the couple do not feature, was made weeks prior to the initial rollout of the campaign and was in no way a response to the reaction from certain members of the online community. The above has been amended to more accurately reflect the company’s position.
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For its SS18 show at Paris Fashion Week, Balenciaga sent models down the catwalk wearing platform Crocs, adorned with kitschy baubles. The Foam, the shoe's official name, already has professional and amateur fashion critics divided.
"It's a very innovative shoe," Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia told Vogue UK. "It's light, it's a one-piece foam mould, and to me these kind of techniques and working with these kind of materials is very Balenciaga."
Though many have been predicting the final demise of the rubber clogs since their initial post-craze decline in the early 2000s, Gvasalia asserted that there's long-term potential for them. "In the future you will be able to 3D print them at home because they are all one piece," he said.
While Crocs is facing a legal battle over its patent with competitor USA Dawgs, the company understandably jumped at the opportunity for this collaboration. They're probably quite relieved to get fashion's endorsement, after their most famous supporter, chef Mario Batali, just publicly announced that he had ditched Crocs for Yeezys.
"Working with Balenciaga has been so much fun for our team, and once again demonstrates the relevance of our iconic clog in today’s fashion and design world, as well as allowing us to tap into the excitement and energy that comes from unexpected partnerships," Michelle Poole, Crocs' SVP of global product and marketing, told Footwear News. The company has also been working with designer Christopher Kane on his high-fashion Crocs since 2016.
Though Vogue editors seemed to be onboard with the Kane Crocs, there are many who would prefer these rubber soles disappear forever, and they're pretty clear about that while responding to Balenciaga's tweeted photos of the shoes.
"This is why we can't have nice things," wrote Alex V. He was much kinder than the many GIF reactions from people who wondered: have we reached peak ugly shoe yet?
Podiatrists were already critical of Crocs — for their lack of support and too-flexible heel — so we wonder what they'll have to say about this platform version. In exchange for more support, they've introduced that ankle twisting danger of tipping. Then again, when did fashion ever care about comfort?
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Fortunately for some lucky Stranger Things fans, they were able to visit the Upside Down without worrying about death or disgusting side effects.
A Netflix-sponsored installation at Toronto's annual all-night art event Nuit Blanche, which took place on September 30, replicated the forest from the Emmy-nominated series, but with a big twist. Titled "The Red Forest," the art installation featured bikes melting into trees, as well as plenty of Eggo waffles scattered across the floor in honour of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).
Strangely, it wasn't just Stranger Things that was nodded to in the installation. Though the interactive art piece was certainly inspired by the Upside Down, the Red Forest also featured elements of other Netflix series, including Riverdale, which streams on the service outside of the United States.
The Twilight Drive-In, which fans may remember as a Southside Serpent hang out and the one-time home of Jughead (Cole Sprouse), also gets a shout-out in the installation.
According to PopSugar, the Netflix original film Bright, starring Will Smith, was also referenced in the Red Forest ahead of its December 22 release.
No word on whether the installation will move anywhere after Nuit Blanche, but at least we have season 2 of Stranger Things to stream over Halloween weekend.
On Thursday, acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke claimed that the US government's response to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria was "really a good news story in terms of our ability to reach people and the limited number of deaths that have taken place in such a devastating hurricane."
The following day, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz said on CNN's New Day, "When you're drinking from a creek, it's not a good news story. When you don't have food for a baby, it's not a good news story. When you have to pull people down from buildings — I'm sorry, that really upsets me and frustrates me. ... This is a 'people are dying' story. It's a life-or-death story."
In response to Cruz's criticism, Donald Trump tweeted that "the Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump." He added, "Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort."
Cruz said on MSNBC the following day that she didn't have time for Trump's "small comments," and celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, and JLo jumped in to defend her. After seeing her name all over the internet, many people are curious about who she is.
Before her career in politics, the San Juan native studied in the US, attending Boston University as an undergraduate and Carnegie Mellon for her Master's. Afterward, she became a human resources director and manager for several companies and the US Treasury Department, according to the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce. She came back to Puerto Rico after that to serve as an adviser to San Juan's mayor and then to the Puerto Rico House of Representatives president. She joined the House of Representatives in 2008.
While she ran for mayor, a position she's now serving her second term in, Cruz called herself “pitirre,” The New York Times reports. That's a little bird that fights bigger birds — a label that now seems fitting.
After Hurricane Maria hit, she rescued residents at an assisted living facility herself. When asked if she was concerned it could appear like she was doing this for her image, she told The New York Times, "My job is to make life better for people, and you cannot make life better if you are in a helicopter. You can’t make life better for them if you can’t touch them."
"Sometimes you have to shake the tree in order to make things happen," she continued. "And if that has a political cost, I will take it, as long as it saves lives."
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In case you haven't noticed, London has itself some excellent cocktail spots. So good, in fact, that each year it dedicates an entire week to them.
London Cocktail Week is back. It's running from 3rd-8th October and, over those six days, 250 bars across the capital will be holding events, parties, masterclasses and, most importantly, offering discounts and deals on their cocktails.
To go, you'll need to purchase the digital wristband. It's £10 but, with cocktails priced at just £6, you'll (sort of) make your money back very quickly.
Here are the events we're most excited about.
Le Calbar x Seymour's Parlour Bar Swap
As one of Paris' finest bars, Le Calbar is known for creating startlingly innovative cocktails, not to mention the fact that, well, the bartenders don't wear any trousers.
For one night only during Cocktail Week they'll be taking over Seymour's Parlour Bar in the Zetter Townhouse in Marylebone and serving a whole bunch of delicious cocktails. Gin lovers should try From Calbar with Love, made with Star of Bombay gin, lime juice, spiced pineapple syrup, Pedro Ximenez ‘El Candado’ and egg white, while those looking for something a bit more spicy should check out the The Roof is on Fire, a fiery concoction of Patron Silver tequila, Chipotle Chilli syrup, fresh mint, lime, and Szechuan pepper.
Le Calbar x Seymour's Parlour Bar Swap, Wednesday 4th October, Zetter Townhouse Marylebone. Book a table to ensure entry here.
The Sun Tavern x Dead Rabbit
Those of you in the know will be aware that New York's Dead Rabbit is renowned for having some of the very best cocktails in the world. In fact, it was voted world's best bar in 2015 and 2016.
On Wednesday, they're taking over the Sun Tavern for a night of cèilidh dancing, Slane Irish Whiskey and three of Dead Rabbit's beverage director, Jillian Vose's best creations. Personally, we're after the God Is A DJ, made from toasted sesame-infused Slane Irish Whiskey, pale cream sherry, banana syrup, maple syrup, lemon, and pimento bitters. Cocktails are £6.
It's first come, first in, so make sure you get down there early. Although the menu does continue throughout October if you miss out.
If you're willing to spend a bit extra, the Belvedere Single Estate Rooms are set to feature an entire Polish forest, indoors, in the middle of east London. Oh, and cocktails too. Many cocktails.
These two cocktail-making masterclasses are £30 each but for that price you get the masterclass, four cocktails, canapés and entry to the Estate Rooms private bar.
Belvedere Single Estate Rooms Cocktail Masterclasses, Thursday 5th October at 6.30-7.30pm and 8-9pm and Friday 6th October at 6.30-7.30pm and 8-9pm, Motel Studios, Clerkenwell. Book tickets here.
Trash Tiki
Because we're responsible human beings, 2017 signals the return of the Trash Tiki pop-up to LCW.
On all week in Hoxton, Trash Tiki will make its food and drink exclusively from materials donated by people from the London Cocktail Week Village which otherwise would have gone to waste. Their mission? To #drinklikeyougiveafuck
Trash Tiki, 3rd-8th October, Hoxton. For more info click here.
Photo: Via @foodrepublic
Bad Sports x Candelaria
First things first, Bad Sports' tacos are exquisite. Especially, my friends, the lamb barbacoa. So what happens when you pair said tacos with the cocktails from Candelaria - Paris' very first authentic taqueria and agave spirit bar? Only good things.
Fingers crossed Candelaria bring their La Pata Sola cocktail, which is named for a beautiful one-legged woman who calls out to men to seduce them, then turns into an evil vampiric beast and attacks and murders them. It sounds, um, spicy.
Bad Sports x Candelaria, Friday 8th October, Bad Sports, Hoxton. Free entry; first come, first served.
Photo: Via @whiskynlace
Into The Wild Dinners with Botanist Gin
Held at the, quite frankly, always delicious Sager + Wilde restaurant in Bethnal Green, these dinners feature a three-course meal inspired by foraging and exploration (venison ragu, cocoa tagliatelle and pine oil anyone?). Each course is paired with a different Botanist Gin cocktail.
It is at the pricier end – £45 – but when the food and drink is this good, it's worth it.
Into The Wild Dinners with Botanist Gin, 3rd-6th October, Sage + Wilde, Bethnal Green, book tickets here.
Hendrick's Gin Immersive Experience
To tie things up at the weekend, Hendrick's is turning east London's The Golden Pineapple into a vintage airline departure lounge. Along the way you'll experience "a series of innovative therapies, treatments and polite diversions".
It's all very mysterious.
Hendrick's Air Departure Lounge, 7th-8th October, The Golden Pineapple, east London. Register here.
Grey Goose at The Ned
If you've been looking for a reason to go to Soho House's newest offering; the sumptuous and much-Instagrammed The Ned, then give it a go this week as they're doing a different Grey Goose cocktail every night in the non-member bars (score) paired with a snack. Look out for Saturday's offering in the Nickel Bar - the Sunshine Spritz which is Grey Goose, peach, turmeric, lemon, smoked salt, soda which comes with an orange & almond cupcake. Sunday, on the other hand, sees Millie's serve The Ned’s Bloody Mary which comes with a cheese straw. Yum.
Log out of LinkedIn, take off your misspelled name badge from that awkward industry event – there's a new way to network and it's anything but fusty. If you're single, you may have used Bumble to help yourself get a date, but now the female-first dating app is about to change how we network, too.
Bumble Bizz is a new feature that aims to help users make the all-important connections that lead to once-in-a-lifetime professional opportunities. It's less about job hunting per se and more about forging that magic "spark", which sounds far more exciting than browsing job listings and making LinkedIn endorsements. The free tool allows you to upload a digital CV, add your "skills" to highlight your talents and accolades and enables you to upload a portfolio of your work.
The feature, which launches in the UK, USA, Canada, France and Germany today, works in much the same way as Bumble Dating and Bumble BFF. Bumble Bizz connects users through geo-targeting, enabling them to then swipe left and right, and women must make the first move. With more than 20 million people already using Bumble worldwide, there's real potential for Bumble Bizz to overhaul the business world.
The geo-targeting aspect alone will make it far easier to find what you need in your area quickly, says Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble's founder and CEO. "We're hoping to make networking more effective, and efficient," she told Refinery29. "The swipe right mechanic makes it quick and easy to find what you need, and the geo-targeted element means the likelihood of finding someone – a photographer, graphic designer, events manager – who is around the corner and ready to connect in real life is more likely to happen."
It means you'll potentially no longer need to place an ad on a jobs board or post a desperate plea on social media the next time you need someone with a specific skill set. "The feedback we had from our users was that they needed quicker ways to complete potential networking conversations," Wolfe Herd explained.
Taking the formality out of networking also arguably makes it less intimidating and more accessible to the masses – rather than just a confident, privileged few who probably already have important industry connections. "Not everyone has the time or often the confidence to go to networking events where they’re expected to speak to total strangers," Wolfe Herd told us. "With Bizz – much like Bumble dating – we want to empower women to have the confidence to make the first move within a professional environment."
Age is also less important on Bumble Bizz than it may be elsewhere – profiles don't contain a user's age – making it easier for potential business partners to focus on each other's ability and skillset.
Depending on their industry of work, many younger adults consider LinkedIn, along with most jobs sites and traditional IRL networking events, to be old-fashioned and uninspiring, so what sets Bumble Bizz apart? According to Wolf Herd, users' progressive values will play a big role in making it a modern, relevant way to network. "We speak to an audience – men included – that believe in empowering women and rooting for equality in all areas of life, especially in business," she told us.
"Our hope is that by women making the first move, we filter out unwanted and unnecessary conversations that many women have experienced on other professional platforms and we allow them to set the tone and steer the conversation in the way that they see fit," she added. Potentially, this reduces the likelihood of another LinkedIn sexism scandal, in which human rights lawyer Charlotte Proudman received an unwanted message about her appearance from a partner 30 years her senior. Sign us up.
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