Bang, Bang, Bangs

I haven't had bangs in three years, but 2014 was giving me good bang vibes. So I followed my gut and got my hair chopped.

Every baby picture shows me sporting bangs. I grew up with them. Also, might I add, every baby picture of me is terrible. Absolutely horrendous and embarrassing. These are probably the best ones, and I look like coconut head from Ned's Declassified on the right. Clearly my face hasn't changed at all (I did get better at smiling, sort of, and taking pictures) so getting my hair snipped across my forehead wasn't a huge deal to me.

Most girls stray away from getting bangs because they don't know how to maintain them. I haven't had bangs in a while, but I've formulated a routine that is basically fool-proof. When you wake up and you're fringe looks like a sad quiff that would belong to a member of a boy band, DO NOT FREAK OUT.

First, go and wet your bangs, but don't press them down that's the trick. While they are wet is the time to style them. Then after they've been air dried spray dry shampoo onto them. This will give your bangs some bounce and make it looked like you've showered (we've all been there, no worries). Lastly, blow dry your fringe. Blow dryers are magical and will make your fringe perfectly piecey and give off an effortless look. Presto! The sad boy band quiff is gone and your bangs look chic and clean.

A huge pet peeve of mine is when girl question whether they can pull them off or not.  Come on ladies, grow some confidence and wear or do whatever the hell you want. If you want bangs then go get them! Across bangs can be styled and cut in various ways to be complimentary and veered towards a particular style. Here is a wide range of bang inspiration to wet every fringe-wannabe girl's appetite.

http://woohair.com/

Audrey Hepburn had a classic face and iconic bangs. Her's are rather daring because they don't graze her eyelids. But if Hepburn can wear them then there are plenty of other women who can too. I would recommend brining a picture in to the hair salon so you get the exact cut and shape you want.

http://www.juxtapost.com/

http://www.hitherandthither.net/

Jane Birkin was, in my opinion, the coolest girl from the 60's. Her style oozes elegance and ease. Her piecey, long bangs that don't seem so put together helped her achieve that look. Birkin was also the inspiration for Hermès Birkin bag. The point is if Birkin's good enough for Hermès she's good enough for you. 

http://flavorwire.com/

http://www.last.fm/

Marianne Faithfull another great fringe muse from the 60's. I don't know what it was about that era, but bangs were so cool. Faithfull was the former flame to Mick Jagger, frontman for The Rolling Stones and the frontman of my heart. Faithfull was a master at styling bangs. The middle parted fringe is very chic, Alexa Chung is also huge fan of it. But, Faithful also knows how to rock the classic full eye grazing fringe.

http://www.bellasugar.com/

Françoise Hardy is my personal fringe inspiration. She's french and fully captures the cool French girl vibe. Hardy has a side part and splits her fringe accordingly, which is what I do almost regularly. Run your fingers through your bangs, muse them up and let them fall accordingly for a perfect French, Hardy inspired look.

http://glamourcouture.blogspot.com/

http://www.stylebistro.com/

Rashida Jones has long and wide bangs that fully encompass her forehead, which is different than the previous looks. The Harvard graduate knows that having bangs allow for really easy, cute hair styes. Bangs look so chic when hair is pulled back either in a pony or bun so much that Jones does it on the red carpet.

A misconception about across fringe is that it needs to lay perfectly across the forehead. Unless you're going for a Zooey Deschanel look on the daily, that is not the case. Bangs are very versatile and can be cut and styled in various ways. So many style icons have sported the across fringe, use them as inspiration and get bangs.

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Tips and Tricks

According to movies, having a Mom who was a former representative of Clinique an an older sister I should have received the holy grail of makeup tips. But I didn't. Everything I know about beauty I've discovered from magazines, the internet or trail and error.

Recently my older sister asked for some makeup advice. I thought this was amusing (because she's older, so she should be teaching me stuff), but I told her some of my tricks regardless. So here's a handful of my most coveted beauty tricks and tips.

http://www.lifeloveandlacquer.com/

1. Nail polish is so expensive. I'm not about to spend $9 on one OPI polish (I wish I could, hell I wish I could buy Butter polish). But I buy Spoiled polish instead, which is only $1.99 and can be found at CVS. The polish maintains a good consistency and has a wide bush for easy application. It chips easily, so I would invest in good top coat. I use Sally Hansen advance hard as nails top coat.

http://www.womansday.com/

2. Stop buying shaving cream, It is honestly the biggest waste of money. Swap out you shaving cream for conditioner.  All shaving cream is doing is softening your leg hairs to create an easy close shave. Conditioner is made to soften your hair, and is a lot cheaper than shaving cream. Buy a hug pump of the cheapest conditioner, and violà, you are all set.

http://pakifashion.com/

3. Use multiple eyeliner products and layer them for extra stay power. I personally like gel and liquid liner. First I start out with Revlon gel liner, then I go over it with Sephora liquid liner. My liner stays for hours and is super dark. If pencil is more your thing, I would recommend MAC kohl eyeliner. The trick to great eyeliner is to use multiple kinds, so stock up.

http://beautyfool.com/

4. Exfoliate your lips for a smooth, soft, kissable mouth, Exfoliated lips will help lipstick and gloss lay evenly. You can buy exfoliate or make your own, I've done it both ways and I don't have a preference. ELF lip exfoliate is the one I'm currently using. When I make my own I combine Vaseline and brown sugar, but the internet is full of different recipes. 

http://theinbetweengirls.com/

5. Rim your waterline with white eyeliner. It will instantly open up and brighten you eyes. This is because the white liner enhances the whites of your eyes. I'm currently using NYX slim eye pencil, but obviously any liner will do just make sure it's a pencil and not a cream liner. 

http://www.maskcara.com/

6. Contouring your face is an art. It will make you look like you were born with impeccable bone structure or enhance it. All that is needed is blush, bronzer and highlighter. I use NYX cream blush, ELF bronzer and Rimmel London radiance shimmer. The difficult part is where the hell do these products go. I reference this contouring picture, which shows hot to contour based on face shape. The picture is from the makeup blog Mask Cara, which can teach you how to contour way better than I ever could.

http://blogs.ubc.ca/susannayao/2012/11/16/beauty-queen-sephora/

7. Sign up for Ulta and Sephora emails. There are so many freebies and coupons, I cringe when people pay full price. Hell, if you like a product so much go to the company's website and sign up for their emails. Chances are they will have their own freebies and coupons. The more freebies the merrier. 

Hopefully you learned some new beauty tricks and will be able to teach your older sister something too!

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Diving Deep Into The Girl Crush World

Oh, girl crushes. I have so many, which will makes this post hard to write. They all have taken a space in my heart for different reasons. Diving into the girl crush world is more complicated than it looks to the outside, non-girl crusher's eye (I honestly don't think there are any non-girl crushers out there but if there are, shame on you, girls are so badass).

There's a hierarchy in the girl crush system: Different levels of girl crush.

1. Basic Level Girl Crush
You just appreciate this female's sweet and awesome existence and commend her on her beauty and kick-ass personality.
Personal Basic Level Girl Crushes: Anne Hathaway, Rihanna and Janelle Monae

2. "I Want to be Your Best Friend" Girl Crush

This is the girl crush that you feel an instant over-the-web/tabloid
connection to. Something about her makes you want to have sleepovers with her, braid her hair and dissect all of her deepest, darkest secrets. Every fiber of your being knows that if, or when you ever run into her, an instant connection will form and a beautiful girl crush friendship will blossom.
Personal "I Want to be Your Best Friend" Girl Crushes: Jennifer Lawrence, the HAIM sisters, Mindy Kaling, Tavi Gevinson and Marina Diamandis

3. The "I Want to be You" Girl Crush

The end-all-be-all of girl crush hierarchy. You don't necessarily envy this female, you just want to be her. Everything she does you want to do. It's like a elementary school crush. You want to steal a piece of her hair and drink an everlasting polyjuice potion. There's just something about this woman that really speaks to you; she's an overall babe in your eyes (while you're wishing your eyes were her's).
Personal "I Want to be You" Girl Crushes: Sky Ferreira and Alexa Chung.

Many honorary girl crushes couldn't fit under my personal basic level girl crush and "I want to be your best friend" girl crushes. But Sky and Alexa are for sure my only "I want to be you" girl crushes. You can't be wishy-washy with level three girl crushes. Those are definite and typically static, for if a female gained or lost her status of being a level three crush it's a big deal. It indicates that you're personally evolving as a women. You're changing what you admire and look for in other women and your personal characteristic goals.

Sky and Alexa (I think I'm on a first name basis with them), are my level three girl crushes because I really want to embody their cool it-girl aura. In my head I think I'm smart, a badass, chic and total babe. But in reality I'm consistently none of those things... that's okay. I'm not trying to be something or someone I'm not. I'm just trying to develop my own version of Sky and Alexa's mythical love child. I'm inspired by them and the other girl crushes I listed, and I'm trying to incorporate everything I admire about each female and internalize it.

4. The Ultimate Girl Crush
The most overlooked but highest level girl crush. Level four is when you gain girl crush status from another female. This is the dream of every girl crusher, to have other women be infatuated and appreciative of you. If I was given the ultimatum to either be a girl crush or be Sky, I would without a doubt choose being a girl crush. Being a girl crush is different than being a role model. When you're a girl crush your crushers accept you as a real woman, a flawed but simultaneously amazing women. Role models have the stigma of perfection and fall under daily scrutiny. Role models crash and burn, girl crushes are forever. 

(I do not own any of these photos)

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Ali Michael, Girl Crush

My girl crushes are endless. There are so many beautiful women in the world that are cool and fun and funny (as far as I can tell from the internet). More importantly they're huge influences on my personal style, so I will glorify them on this blog. First up:

23 year old Ali Michael from Colleyville, TX. She's a beautiful model with piercing blue eyes, but she's also just really, really freakin' cute.

She's talented in high fashion, but what I admire is the appeal she brings to a t-shirt and socks, my most beloved outfit.

thelibertineezine.com

terrysdiary.com

Pretty self explanatory. B-A-B-E

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By: Marlena Scott

Robyn Lawley, Size Does Matter

My girl crush feelings are at an all time high for Robyn Lawley. She is an Australian plus sized model and is rocking my world right now.

www.glamour.com

For starters Robyn is b-e-a-u-tiful no matter what size. There's just something about her that radiates glamour. But at the same time she seems so "girl next door" down to earth.

Robyn started modeling at 16 being a regular sized model. At age 18 Robin ditched her regular model agency for the plus sized agency, Bella model management. Robin made this move because she was tired of maintaining a size eight. Hallelujah, finally a girl who openly admits she is tired of working out and dieting.

Robyn is a bad ass babe who is slowly changing the model world. She has been on the cover of French Elle, French Marie Claire,  Italian Vogue, Madison, Australia Style and couple other publications. She was also the first plus sized model to have her own editorial in Australian Vogue. She's also had other features in Australia Cosmopolitan and Glamour. She's a bombshell in all of them. 

And to boot Robyn runs her own food blog. A food blog that is so good that she is making a cookbook with her own recipes. I'm convinced she's not real. Robyn is exactly what girls around the world need. A beautiful, confident, successful full figure model to look up to. Robyn's body is the one girls should be looking up to. Not to achieve, per say, but to reference when their body self esteem is low. A beacon of light in the body scrutiny society that illuminates the idea that a girl can be big, curvy, and hot. 

The title of this post is the name of photography exhibition by Kenneth Willardt that features Robyn naked with animals. It explores the power of femininity and the natural world. 

www.kennethwillardt.com

I'm basically drooling. I can't get enough of Robyn and her sex appeal and intelligence. She was recently on Ellen talking about her life and body acceptance. Please watch and fall in love.

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Doing the 90s Right

This fabulous 90s revival is the word of the web and the current object of our affection. The whole point of this entry is to introduce you to these classic grunge staples for you to make them your own. To start off, here's a rule of thumb: be you, always. How you wear and style these classics should be to your own liking and comfort. So on that note, here are our nine steps to reviving the 1990s the right way, sans "soft grunge".

http://vintagetees.storenvy.com

1. Band t-shirts are a loaded component. Think outside of the box because Sublime and Nirvana have been done to death. Personal favorites from the era include: Built To Spill, Slowdive, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Cocteau Twins and Sonic Youth, to name a few. For my rap fiends: Lord Finesse, A Tribe Called Quest, N.W.A., etc. Don't take this lightly, this entire "movement" is built off the foundation of these artists. Check out 90s music before you decide to snag a t-shirt or continue on with this list.

www.90s411.com

2. Flannel needs to be on your body. Not only will you be nice and toasty in it but it's so versatile. First, there are so many color combinations. There's the classic red flannel and the blue/green flannel. But the best flannels are the odd colors,  I'm talking brown/orange, purple/white and green/yellow. Pick whichever color combination speaks to your grungy heart because you'll have it on you 24/7. Wrapped around your waist, carried in you hand, or actually on your body, you will be one with your flannel.

www.annaroditi.wordpress.com

3. Jackets are most valuable to this trend when they are found in your dad's closet, or the family Goodwill bag downstairs that has been collecting dust over the years. Popular materials include but are not limited to denim, leather, and maybe even suede. They are to be paired with your flannel, your loose white tank top or your band t-shirt. They should be big, boxy and broken-in.

www.urbanoutfitters.com

4. Black tights are necessary if you want to pack some extra grunge punch. The tights shouldn't be too sheer but also not made of wool, they should be right in the middle. If your tights are ripped up and have holes in them they are still wearable, please don't throw them away. Extra grunge points if you layer black knee socks over them.

www.urbanoutfitters.com

5. High waisted bottoms, both flattering and easy to find, are the perfect time machine back to our beloved decade. If you're looking for shorts, cruise over to Goodwill's men's pants section, find a waist that fits, hike them up and cut them. For fall and winter, don't be afraid of thick men's jeans (also known as dad jeans). If you're looking for a decent fit, Urban Outfitters and American Apparel are options.

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6. Boots need to be the "shit kicker" chunky type. They will keep your feet warm while you're reviving the 90s but also make you look infinitely cool. When in doubt go black, the black boot will go with everything. But don't limit yourself because dark green, burgundy, or floral boots will give you grunge credibility.

www.marieclaire.com

7. Hair in the 90s varied from the Rachel to Winona and there is certainly nothing wrong with the long, greasy blonde locks of Courtney Love and Kim Gordon.  However you want to execute it, doesn't matter. Just avoid shampoo and attempt a middle part. The messier the better and the long-instilled girl rules of roots and dead ends do not apply to the 90s. Let your hairstylist bitch at you. They just don't understand (angst is a subtle yet important aspect of this look).

www.monroemisfitmakeup.com

8. Dark lips will complete and tie together your grungy look. Most importantly dark lips are not just restricted to red. Do everyone a favor and rock some burgundy or plum lips, but not black. Unless you plan on attending a Lamb of God show please step away from the black lipstick. Matte lips or shiny lips, it doesn't matter just wear what you like. Make it dark and make it daily.

www.thegloss.com

9. Black eyeliner is essential to the grunge look. Pile it on. Layer it. You can even give it wings. Whatever you do just make sure that there is a lot. If your eyeliner falls through out the day, even better! Just make sure that you're not using your eyeliner as eye shadow. You're not channeling your inner scene girl; you're channeling you're inner grunge girl.





This is only the beginning of your journey. Don't forget your muted floral, your velvet, your scrunchies, your overalls, your backward hats. We're starting simply; grungy baby steps. Do not mimic the 1990s, allow it inspire you. For further effect, study the behaviors and values of our darling idols in Crippled Rejex:

Just a reminder: we're reviving and glorifying the 90s, not reliving it.

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By: Marley Scott and Sarah Weingarten