Ariana Grande has done it again, people. The Thank U, Next singer has unleashed yet another bop into the world. This one’s called “Boyfriend,” and it was cowritten by the duo Social House, with whom she frequently collaborates. Sonically it’s right on par with the songs she released on both the Sweetener and Thank U, Next albums: soulful and R&B-tinged with an incredibly catchy pop chorus. I’ve already listened to it 15 times, and I haven’t even had breakfast yet.
Fans shouldn’t read too much into the lyrics on this one. There don’t appear to be any hidden references to Grande’s ex-boyfriends the way there were on the Thank U, Next album. Rather, this breezy track is all about the push and pull of being casual with someone but wanting more. “You ain’t my boyfriend (Boyfriend) / And I ain’t your girlfriend (Girlfriend) / But you don’t want me to see nobody else,” Grande sings in the chorus.
Grande took to Twitter on Thursday night, August 1, and revealed the inspiration behind the song. “Well, I feel like this song captures a common theme in the lives of so many people I know,” Grande wrote. “People want to feel love but don’t want to define their relationship and have trouble fully committing or trusting or allowing themselves to fully love someone even though they want to.”
She continued, “We wanted to make something uplifting that captures that feeling of being afraid to take the leap and trust, being afraid of being hurt or feeling like you won’t be enough for that person…but also how it feels to have a crippling crush on someone.”
And as if the song weren’t enough, Grande also dropped the video for “Boyfriend.” In it Grande and Michael “Mikey” Foster from Social House play jealous friends with benefits who get inexplicably angry when they see the other flirting with someone else. At one point Grande pulls out a literal bow and arrow and…well, just watch it for yourself, below. The 2020 VMAs is already shaking.
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Naturally, fans are living for both this song and video:
Thank you, Ariana Grande, for blessing my weekend with yet another banger.
Late last year, I set out on a mission to figure out my fashion uniform—that signature outfit that people will recognize me for. I pledged to not buy any new clothes in 2019 (with a few exceptions, like underwear), a decision that stemmed both from my concerns about climate change and my desire to lessen my waste impact on this planet. There were other rules: If I were to purchase something, it must be second-hand (except, you know, underwear); I would donate and recycle everything I didn’t wear anymore (which was a lot), and would work with what I have left (which, honestly, is still a lot.) The way I saw it, having a uniform would mean I’d be less inclined to mindlessly shop for things I might wear and only acquire things I actually will wear.
As an indecisive Gemini, I’ve always long admired people who uniform-dress. To me, women who have a uniform know exactly what they want in life—they’re assertive, strong-willed, and motivated. But, at the same time, as an indecisive Gemini, I get bored easily, which makes me fearful that I won’t make it through the year without shopping.
I’m all about self-expression through clothes, and I love tinkering with my personal style. I grew up on fashion magazines in my teens, and street-style blogs in my 20s, so I long believed that to be considered even remotely stylish, I had to be wildly unpredictable and eccentric with what I wore. That meant that, for a while, I’d fill my closet with ridiculous thrift store finds and overstock from the bargain basement of Urban Outfitters, sheer babydoll dresses with flared jeans; longline bralettes over men’s undershirts; big flannel nightshirts with ratty boots—all items that were disposable to me by the following year.
Those days are over. Now, it’s much more important to me to have my wardrobe be reflective of my values than being swept up by the latest trends. What remains after purging my wardrobe are primarily jeans (I have a 24 pairs), sweatshirts (16), T-shirts (50+), and street sneakers (8 pairs). By default, I’m leaning into the whole jeans-and-T-shirt look—it’s kind of basic and doesn’t feel like a real “uniform” to me yet, since a T-shirt, jeans, and sweatshirt are what most people wear casually, anyway. But it offers me the comfort and peace of mind I always imagined came with uniform dressing: I don’t have to overthink getting dressed, nor do I have to worry about whether something “works” for my body type—these are pieces that survived a dramatic closet edit for a reason, after all.
While there’s an obvious monotony to uniform dressing, it isn’t boring or uncreative by any means. Some of our greatest fashion icons subscribe to wearing the same thing every day: Grace Coddington with her all-black; Victoria Beckham with her coordinated separates; Stevie Nicks with her witchy-bohemian dresses. A uniforms helps you get on with your days—and it can help you communicate your values just as strongly.
There are a myriad of reasons why women choose to uniform-dress: Some do because their career or line of work requires it, others do it because it makes their mornings a breeze, and then there are those who simply find joy in wearing their favorite thing on the daily. I’m still trying to figure out what my “uniform” is, but there are plenty of women out there who’ve mastered the art form. I spoke with 11 uniformed dressers on how they arrived to their trademark aesthetic and how it has changed their approach to fashion.
Jinnie Lee is a freelance writer in New York City.
Every so often, you might find yourself in a style rut—not quite the “full closet, nothing to wear” phenomenon, but more like an inescapable feeling that your closet feels stale. The colors feel less vibrant, those “statement pieces” less exciting… Simply buying something new won’t cut it: You need a new perspective to guide you. That’s why street style and social media have become so valuable in the fashion world, providing fresh inspiration from outside your immediate surroundings. You might even start picking out your favorite faces among the crowds or feeds. Well, even those stylish people have the accounts they turn to when they’re in need of new ideas. So we asked them—the bloggers, stylists, and models that appear on your fashion mood boards—to tell us who they look to when they’re hunting for ways to invigorate their wardrobes. Ahead, they share the pages that help them bring out the best in their closets and personal style, all of which make for great follows in 2019.
Crafting the perfect Halloween costume all comes down to timing: You need a reference that’s recognizable, yet fresh—news cycle permitting—on October 31. (Admit it: A Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande couples costume might not feel as on point as it did a few weeks ago.) When it’s down to the wire, Halloween procrastinators can always rely on a handful of zeitgeist-y television shows with very specific aesthetics, like Riverdale or Stranger Things. And this year there’s another program to add to the list, and it drops right in the nick of time.
On Friday, October 26, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina premieres on Netflix, and it brings with it plenty of witchy fashion you’ll want to jump on for Halloween. The show is a dark reimagining of the comics series of the same name: Sabrina Spellman must choose between her mortal friends and her family of witches on her sixteenth birthday—and events move in a sinister, satanic direction from there (it exists in the same universe as Riverdale, after all.)
In many ways it feels like a continuation of a costume trend started by its sister program on the CW. Every character has a distinct way of dressing, based on their looks in the comics, that’s integral to their development. Sabrina’s known to don a preppy red peacoat and a black headband; her witching rivals, the Weird Sisters, have coordinating long-sleeve tea dresses with lace Peter Pan collars. Throughout the series, you’ll see plenty of high-neck dresses, moody colors, and velvet—a vibe that really lends itself to Halloween.
On the whole, Sabrina and her coven stick to a handful of style signatures. We talked to the cast of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and they broke down their character’s costumes, their evolution, and the best ways to re-create them on Halloween. Read on.
Sabrina Spellman
PHOTO: Diyah Pera/Netflix
When she’s in the mortal world at Baxter High, Sabrina has an understated preppy look—think Blair Waldorf’s polish but without the colorful tights and pearls. “She actually gets ready in the morning—which is admirable, because she’s got so much going on in her life!” Kiernan Shipka says. “She definitely takes time to put an outfit together.”
Her wardrobe is made up of a lot of pieces you likely own already, and probably not what you’d expect from a witch in training (you can put down the pointed hat, sorry): easy crewneck sweaters, button-front corduroy skirts, and oxford loafers. Each look is completed with two finishing details—a thick black headband, which she wears at all times to neatly pull back her hair, and a red cape coat, just like in the comics.
PHOTO: Diyah Pera/Netflix
There’s a small detail that’s crucial for getting a Sabrina costume right, according to Shipka: her golden locket. “In the first season, in every single scene, I wear the locket that Harvey [her boyfriend] gives me,” the actress explains. The necklace is a sentimental reminder of her ties to the mortal world. Try as Sabrina might to act and dress like a typical teenager, though, she can’t escape her witchy side—and her fashion reflects that.
At the Dark Baptism, a ceremony where Sabrina is expected to officially join her coven and leave the mortal world forever, she wears a white slip with lace detailing…and that’s it. It’s one of the earliest scenes where Sabrina ventures outside of her demure, straightforward style to something darker, with an almost nineties-rocker edge.
PHOTO: Diyah Pera/Netflix
“As you see Sabrina sort of leaning toward one side or the other, you can definitely see her clothing choices and her hair and makeup change,” Shipka says. (The biggest shift won’t come until later in season, during a scene in which Sabrina and the witches hit a nightclub in outfits Shipka describes as “insane.” “It’s a lot of leather,” she teases.)
The Weird Sisters
PHOTO: Diyah Pera/Netflix
Riverdale has Cheryl Blossom. Scream Queens had Chanel Oberlin. And on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the title of unapologetic style maven is shared by the Weird Sisters, three witches from the Church of Night.
Prudence, Agatha, and Dorcas are inseparable on the show, and that bond is reflected in their matching campy, goth-glam outfits and makeup. In most episodes, they wear velvet dresses with long sleeves and contrasting lace collars, with black tights and heavy makeup—almost like an ultra-gothic take on The Shining’s twins. Can you think of a better group getup?
The whole squad can wear the same dress, either with bibbed high necks like the Sisters or with a crewneck you can just add a detachable lace collar to. Tie your hair into a severely low bun and paint on a dramatic smokey eye to match their OTT makeup. Swipe on a coat of black lipstick and gather your two closest friends, and you can head out to start hexing.
Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda
PHOTO: Diyah Pera/Netflix
What’s a witch in training without her teachers in the occult? Sabrina lives with her Aunt Zelda and Aunt Hilda, two older sorceresses and warring sisters with opposing style. Aunt Zelda is a stringent follower of the Church of Night—all in for witches and no sympathy for Sabrina’s mortal friends—with a buttoned-up wardrobe to match. Aunt Hilda is her lighthearted counterpart: She’s cheerful, mortal-friendly, and leans toward the colors that Zelda despises.
All it takes to arrange an Aunt Hilda costume are clashing patterns and several pieces of statement jewelry. She’s the most upbeat of the bunch at Spellman Family Mortuary, and her joie de vivre comes across in her boldly colorful clothing and jangling necklaces.
“I think Hilda dresses a bit like me in that she will put each individual item on with joy, not thinking about the end effect,” says Lucy Davis. “[There is] no regard for the end look, thinking it will all go because they’re beautiful.”
PHOTO: Dean Buscher/Netflix
Meanwhile, Aunt Zelda, played by Miranda Otto, is dark-spirited with an austere flair. She wears only navy and black, in vintage-inspired, conservative silhouettes. “Zelda’s into severe, dark, tailored, strong,” Otto says. “She definitely wears her clothes from a time before synthetics were invented. She’s a lady.”
PHOTO: Diyah Pera/Netflix
Madam Satan
PHOTO: Diyah Pera/Netflix
Is “dark glamour” your desired Halloween vibe? Look no further than Madam Satan, the witch tasked with swaying Sabrina toward the Church of Night, for your last-minute costume. She’s the most cunning character on the show, and she has a sharp, sexy wardrobe to match. (Read: lots of tight-fitted dresses and even more heels.)
“There’s some seriously fine tailoring,” Michelle Gomez, who plays her, says of her wardrobe. “She’s all angles and poise.”
Copying the look for yourself is simple: All you need is a V-neck dress that’s fitted to the body, voluminous curls, and a belt to cinch at the waist. Definitely don’t forget the spiky heels—she’s never seen without them.
“Madame Satan can run across a bumpy graveyard in Jimmy Choos with absolutely no problem whatsoever,” Gomez says. “She sleeps in her Jimmy Choos. I think she’s even had a bath in her Jimmy Choos. She just wouldn’t be seen without a perfectly poised ankle.”
By now, we know we can count on Cardi B to add some brightness to the world, even when things are at their gloomiest (just spend a half hour on her social media accounts if you don’t believe us). But this week, the Bronx-born rapper went above and beyond on the delightfulness scale by hitting the streets of New York and handing out hundreds of coats and sneakers to people in need.
According to WABC, Cardi was seen on Thursday at the Marlboro Houses, a housing complex in Gravesend, New York, where a crowd had gathered to get a glimpse (and selfies) with the hip-hop queen. The swell of people surprised Cardi, who had shown up to help the community as temperatures drop over the weekend (the National Weather Service had issued a freeze warning in parts of upstate New York.)
“I didn’t know it was gonna be so big,” Cardi B told WABC. “My homeboy Chuck, he told me, ‘Hey, let’s give out coats to our community, I know somebody who wants to give out coats in Marlboro,’ and I said, ‘I’m pulling out, what’s up?'”
Billboardreports that some of the coats and shoes were donated with help from organizations such as NY Tent Sale, Trax NYC, and Daniel’s Leather. The event was set up by friends of Cardi, and she made it out—despite arriving four hours late because of a scheduled photo shoot. Videos show her rolling in full of excitement and ready to help.
“You gotta support the ppl who supported you,” Cardi B says in footage while handing out the items.
Cardi took to Instagram later to thank people for braving the cold to see her, and indicated this isn’t the last time we’ll see her out and about doing good deeds: “IT WAS LIT IN MARLBORO TODAY !My Hat @astonmartinchuck hit me up a couple of days ago about a coat giveaway we couldn’t believe how big this was and how many people pulled up, i wasn’t ready??!Thanks Marlboro! I shot RED BARZ & PULL UP ON ME out here .I will be back before the year end .THANKS @traxnyc @Astonmartinchuck @danielsleather @nytentsale @mr_Footwork @bg_chopwhop FOR putting this together and the Marlboro community ?.I can’t wait to this in my borough next BX.”
The charitable giving comes just after Cardi celebrated her 26th birthday with the most extravagant surprise party ever, courtesy of her husband, rapper Offset.
Feeling inspired by Cardi? You can donate coats by getting involved with the organizations below.
One Warm Coat: This nationalnon-profit organization provides free coats to anyone in need.
Operation Warm: Thisorganization provides brand new coats to children across the country.
Coats For Kids: This is theSalvation Army’s effort to collect thousands of coats for children.
New York Cares: New YorkCares organizes coat drives every year, and you can help by textingCOAT to 41444 and donating just $20, which is enough to help NewYorkers buy a new winter coat.
Congrats are in order for Kate Hudson! The actress announced the birth of her daughter on her Instagram on Thursday afternoon, October 3, with the caption: “She’s here.” In the post she writes, “Everyone is doing well and happy as can be. Our family thanks you for all the love and blessings that have been sent our way and we send ours right back.”
The little girl, born on October 2, is the first child for Hudson and her boyfriend, Danny Fujikawa. She’s also mom to two sons—Ryder and Bing—from previous relationships. And it seems that the actress and Fujikawa had family in mind when deciding on their daughter’s name: Rani Rose Hudson Fujikawa.
“We have decided to name our daughter Rani (pronounced Ronnie) after her grandfather, Ron Fujikawsa,” Hudson writes. “Ron was the most special man who we all miss dearly. To name her after him is an honor.”
See the full post, below:
Hudson first announced her third pregnancy and that she was having a girl on social media via a video with many pink balloons. She also confessed in the post that she’d been suffering from morning sickness.
“SURPRISE!!!,” she wrote. “If you’ve wondered why I’ve been so absent on my social channels it’s because I have never been more sick! It was the most sick first trimester of all my children…We have been trying to keep this pregnancy under the radar for as long as possible but I’m a poppin now! And it’s too darn challenging to hide, and frankly hiding is more exhausting then just coming out with it! My kids, Danny, myself and the entire family are crazy excited! A little girl on the way ?”
And since the announcement, she’s been taking followers along on her pregnancy journey—from family vacations and baby showers to workouts and trips to the Ellen Degeneres Show with her mom, Goldie Hawn, to promote their Fabletics collaboration.
Congrats to the family on the birth of baby Rani Rose!
