Month: October 2017

Biden and Gaga team up against sexual assault

/ takeherlead / 1 Comment

What do you get when you put a pop star and the former vice president of the United States in one video? A powerfully moving appeal to support sexual assault survivors.

According to HuffPost, former Vice President Joe Biden and Lady Gaga teamed up to create a PSA for Biden’s “It’s On Us” campaign, a project he started in 2014 to stop sexual assaults on college campuses around America. In the video, HuffPost says the duo not only asks viewers to not be bystanders to abuse, they also urged survivors to seek support.

“I am a sexual assault survivor,” Gaga said in the video. “I know the effects, the aftermath, the trauma ― psychological, physical, mental. It can be terrifying waking up every day feeling unsafe in your own body.”

But, Gaga followed her experience by saying that having a support system that is loving and safe can help survivors power through.

Biden spoke on the importance of intervention this way: “It’s on everyone to intervene, to stop abuse when they see it, and when they hear about it, to intervene.”

Agreed. Watch the PSA here.

 

Target to revamp beauty aisles

/ takeherlead / Leave a comment

It’s safe to assume that [almost] everyone loves a good Target run, but now, the one-stop shop is giving us another reason to adore them even more.

According to Glamour, Target will be giving their makeup aisles a major makeover, reporting that it will more closely resemble a Sephora store than it currently does. The revamp, says WWD, will take effect in 75 stores nationwide by the end of October, offering “an open floor plan to make roaming the beauty section easier,” as well as “better lighting and low shelving.”

Glamour also reports that, in addition to increasing offerings from popular brands like E.l.f and Glow Studio, the store will also try to sell less mainstream makeup brands, offering “curated spots for up-and-coming trends, men’s products, natural brands, and South Korean–inspired products, along with cheap, cute minis.”

Additional changes are set to include more service counters with specially trained makeup personnel and even an NYX brand Brow Bar.

The only question left is when your nearest Target will get the changes!

 

Hadid launches collection with Maybelline

/ takeherlead / Leave a comment

Finding makeup that is both quality and affordable can be like finding a needle in a haystack. But look no further, because Gigi Hadid has just dropped a new collection with Maybelline.

According to Glamour, the IMG model’s newest makeup line with Maybelline center around her “world-traveling lifestyle,” serving up a smattering of products that include “an eye contour palette, tinted primer, black gel eyeliner, black liquid eyeliner, black fiber mascara, an iridescent liquid strober, and matte lipstick.”

Additionally, Glamour reports that Hadid’s home state of California also inspired the collection, sparking the design of the West Coast Glow palette as well as influencing the names of the shadows included.

However, she gives some love to the East Coast, too. According to Glamour, the “East Coast Glam collection is based on Gigi’s ‘favorite Soho alleyways'” and “draws on trendy, stylish, and grunge influences for morning-to-night-out looks. She named the lipsticks after a best friend (McCall), makeup artist (Erin), and her astrological sign, Taurus (Taura).”

If you’re as ready as we are to shop the new products, Glamour says the line is currently available for purchase on Ulta.com and will be available in Ulta stores starting Nov. 5.

‘SI Swimsuit’ models rep body positivity

/ takeherlead / 1 Comment

In the past, the words “body positivity” were the last to be associated with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. But this year, two models and real-life BFFs are giving us major the body positivity inspiration.

According to PopSugar, Georgia Gibbs and Kate Wasley were recently selected as the magazine’s newest swim rookies, giving them the chance to shine in the glossy’s forthcoming issue. The magazine shared the news on their Instagram account says PopSugar, wearing matching lace swimsuits set against the azure blue waters of Aruba.

The friends are also the founders of the Any.BODY, says SI, a project that aims to promote body positivity and empowerment and stems from their own experiences in being called either anorexic or overweight. Wasley explained the project to SI this way:

“It’s for anyone that’s ever felt insecure because they’re ‘too thin,’ or ‘too fat,’ have rolls, scars, cellulite or stretch marks…It’s for anyone that’s ever been told they would be beautiful if they only lost weight.”

With the model-friend duo earning spots as the magazine’s latest swim rookies — not to mention being featured side-by-side in photos — PopSugar makes the case that this “will surely show readers that there’s a place for every type of woman in the magazine.”

We couldn’t agree more.

 

 

Smith donates film residuals to Women in Film

/ takeherlead / Leave a comment

After accusations of sexual misconduct have surfaced against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, some are trying to distance themselves from the exposed film executive.

Take Kevin Smith, for example. According to HuffPost, the filmmaker — who earned his place in Hollywood after his low-budget Indie film “Clerks” was picked up by Weinstein in the 1990s — is donating the future residuals he earns from his Weinstein-linked films to Women in Film, an organization that “advocates for and advances the careers of women working in the screen industries.”

HuffPost reports that Smith tweeted his feelings before making the announcement on his podcast, Hollywood Babble-on, sharing that he was “‘ashamed’ to be profiting from his relationship with the producer while ‘others were in terrible pain.'”

On his podcast, HuffPost says the filmmaker expanded on his thought process this way:

“My entire career is tied up with the man,” he said. “It’s been a weird fucking week. I just wanted to make some fucking movies, that’s it. That’s why I came, that’s why I made ‘Clerks.’ And no fucking movie is worth all this. Like, my entire career, fuck it, take it. It’s wrapped up in something really fucking horrible.”

Explaining that he is not looking for sympathy, HuffPost says Smith went on to explain that he feels a sense of responsibility in building up the clout of Weinstein, offering that he often spoke of Weinstein as a “friend” and even a “hero” because he “changed [his] fucking life.”

While it is clear that Smith is still trying to come to terms with the situation, he is certainly trying his best to make up for the years of support he provided to Weinstein; in fact, HuffPost shared that Smith “pledged to donate $2,000 to Women in Film every month for the rest of his life” in addition to donating his residuals.

 

Hilfiger to design clothing specially for the disabled

/ takeherlead / 1 Comment

Tommy Hilfiger is truly embodying what it means to have ‘fashion for all.’

According to ELLE, Bloomberg reported that the luxury designer will begin crafting a clothing line specifically for people with disabilities. As for what the new line will include, ELLE says it will ensure that pieces will be easy for wearers and caretakers to navigate, featuring “magnetic closures so that it is easier to pull garments over the head or to get dressed with one hand.”

Pieces like trousers will be fitted with velcro and magnetic flies, says ELLE, while “leg openings and hems will be adjustable to accommodate for leg braces.”

What’s more is that the line won’t just be a few paltry pieces; ELLE reports that the men’s line will include 37 styles, and the women’s will feature 34 — a solid amount of items to create outfits and stock a wardrobe.

Bravo, Tommy Hilfiger.

 

Glazer gives harassers the boot

/ takeherlead / Leave a comment

Broad City’s Ilana Glazer had enough of sexual harassment. So she did something that not many women have the chance to do.

According to HuffPost, the actor took to Instagram to post her own response to the #MeToo campaign, a social media movement that reawakened after many women came forward to share their stories of sexual harassment against famed producer Harvey Weinstein. In her post, Glazer detailed the numerous occasions in her life when she was subjected to sexual harassment, going back as early as her middle school days.

However, as she landed on her current stage in life, HuffPost says Glazer wrote that she fired staff for sexual harassment.

“i’ve fired a couple dudes — one background actor and one sound guy. i was asked ‘are you sure?'” she wrote. “hm 🤔 okay yeah lemme think a sec — YEAH I’M FUCKING SURE. cuz getting sexually harassed seems to be a constant, but having the opportunity to do something about it is rare.”

Way to go, Ilana!

Faux Filter foundation offers shades for all

/ takeherlead / Leave a comment

It should be a no brainer that makeup should be available in all shades to fit the many beautiful skin tones that exist in the world. While some makeup companies are still trying their best to expand their offerings, one brand seems to have it down pat — and shoppers have noticed.

According to Glamour, beauty guru Huda Kattan recently released her Faux Filter Foundation, a “fine-tuned formula for filtered-looking skin in real life, without the makeup artist know-how.” But that’s not all that’s revolutionary about the foundation; Glamour reports that the line features 30 shades that aim to fit a range of skin tones.

“There’s so much more to your skin tone than meets the eye. I would hand-mix the formulas myself, make the shade elaboration, and call them back in to test,” Kattan told Glamour. “And that’s why I’m so pleased we’ve created a really representative 30-shade offering. We shade-matched hundreds of people to ensure that our final selection would be all-inclusive.”

While the foundation collection was released within the past week, 12 the 30 shades have already sold out at Sephora at the time of this writing. And what’s more is that Glamour points out that the foundation is no more or less expensive than other brands, coming in at $40.

Ready to find your shade? Click here.

Rihanna shares body-positive wisdom

/ takeherlead / Leave a comment

While launching her Fenty x Puma collection at Bloomingdale’s last week, Rihanna decided to share her best body-positive wisdom at the event — aptly named a pep rally.

According to InStyle, the singer and designer shared in an interview with The Cut the way she approaches dressing her “fluctuating” figure, sharing that she has to assess her body every day to decide how to flatter it best.

“I actually have had the pleasure of a fluctuating body type, where one day I can literally fit into something that is bodycon, and then the next day—the next week—I need something oversized,” she said, according to InStyle. “I need a little crop here and a high-waist there to hide that part, you know? I really pay attention every day when I go into the closet about what’s working for my body that morning.”

Armed with this piece of advice from one of the biggest fashion icons of our time, InStyle also says Rihanna left us with another major takeaway about dressing the skin we’re in:

“I think it’s important to make sure that you wear the thing that works for your body the best, and that’s flattering.”

Amen to that!

CoverGirl gives its mantra a makeover

/ takeherlead / Leave a comment

It all started with the hiring of new faces; from Issa Rae to Ayesha Curry and Maye Musk, CoverGirl was slowly but strategically building something new and exciting. And now we know: CoverGirl has officially rebranded itself as the makeup of the strong and fearless.

According to Glamour, the iconic makeup brand has just changed their long-time slogan from “Easy, breezy, beautiful CoverGirl” to “I am what I make up,” marking the new mantra with an equally powerful short film filled with all the badass women they’ve featured as brand ambassadors.

Glamour succinctly described the brand’s new direction this way:

“…Its shift from sugary-sweet messaging to including more real women of substance feels incredibly needed—and incredibly now. Its point is loud and clear, makeup is for everyone.”

With a new slogan and a host of powerful women to prove it true, we cannot wait to travel this new journey with CoverGirl.

Watch the video here.