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Monday, April 25, 2022

Dua Lipa Brought Back the Controversial "Thong Pants" Trend in a Cool Way

Dua Lipa is doubling down on the low-rise trend, wearing a pair of light-blue baggy jeans styled with a micro thong pulled up above her hips - so as to place firm focus on her G-string. Lipa, who showcased the look on Instagram Stories, styled her bottoms with a chunky dark-blue cable-knit sweater and a red Diesel purse. A red-and-brown New York Yankees baseball cap nicely complemented the bag, while a pair of rings, one orange and the other gold, added a subtle pop.

The laid-back outfit offered Lipa's take on the controversial "thong pants" trend, which involves a peek at your underwear thanks to a low-rise pant slung low around the hip. Lipa isn't one to shy away from controversial trends, instead bringing her own brand of signature cool to looks. Julia Fox is also a fan of the trend, as she was seen wearing it for a date night with then-boyfriend Kanye West.

As for more of Lipa's recent bold style moments, the star has been on a nostalgic fashion kick lately, bringing back sartorial ideas from the late '90s and early aughts in a decidedly modern way. She reintroduced Versace's iconic bondage gown from 1992 at the 2022 Grammys, chose catsuits as her uniform during her "Future Nostalgia" Tour, nailed the lingerie-as-outerwear trend for a Grammys afterparty, made a convincingly chic case for Loewe's viral rose-heeled sandals, and surprised fans with furry thigh-high platform boots on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." There's no denying her willingness to experiment makes her a rising style icon to watch.

If you're looking to re-create Lipa's latest look, shop similar pieces ahead.

Gigi Hadid's New Collab With Frankies Bikinis Is Filled With Personal Details

Frankies Bikinis just got us very excited for swimsuit season. The brand's founder and creative director, Francesca Aiello, is a longtime friend of Gigi Hadid, so the pair are releasing a swimwear collaboration on May 11 with a second drop following on May 25 - yes, there will be two drops! The Americana-inspired collection draws inspiration from Hadid's Pennsylvania family home; there are tons of hidden details in the designs that are very personal to the model. For instance, in the toile print, there's a tree stump with G+F carved into it that represents her and Aiello's friendship.

"Francesca and Gigi grew up together, spending summer days and afternoons after school on the sandy beaches of Malibu," Frankies Bikinis stated in a press release. "As they both continued to pursue their careers in the fashion industry, they maintained their close friendship, always supporting one another through each major milestone. Coming together 10 years later to design a collection of swimsuits and loungewear is a full circle moment for the both of them."

If you want to see the swimwear and loungewear that will be available next month, we're sharing some of our favorite photos from the campaign. Check out all the gorgeous designs so you'll be ready to add them to your cart as soon as the collection goes live.

Blake Lively's Purple Bodycon Mini Is Straight Out of the 2000s

On Saturday night, Blake Lively attended Gigi Hadid's 27th birthday party wearing a purple minidress by Sergio Hudson. The 34-year-old actress posed for pictures in the bold outfit outside of a restaurant in downtown Manhattan. The fitted dress featured a short hemline that showed off her long legs, along with thin straps and a scooped neckline that felt very 2000s.

Lively proved that purple and red can be a powerful color combination, finishing the look with scarlet suede pumps with gold heels by her go-to shoe brand, Christian Louboutin. She accented her footwear with a matching lambskin Chanel clutch, completing the ensemble with a pair of dangling earrings from Lorraine Schwartz that peeked out from under her long, flowing waves.

It's not the first time Lively's tapped Sergio Hudson for an event. She attended the Gem Awards in New York City last month wearing a stunning black dress plucked from the designer's fall 2021 collection. The cutout, midriff-baring number featured a plunging neckline and exaggerated shoulders affixed to a knee-length pencil skirt.

For Hadid's birthday, the supermodel herself also had a major fashion moment in a sheer, white lace outfit by Dion Lee that came with a matching jacket and a corset top. The look was complete with see-through flared pants that revealed an elegant, pointed-toe white pump. Hadid completed her look with a body chain at the waist and plenty of pearl necklaces. Her sister Bella, brother Anwar, and friends Martha Hunt and Emily Ratajkowski also made appearances at the star-studded birthday party alongside Lively.

Keep reading to see Lively's stunning Sergio Hudson dress from all angles ahead.

Charli XCX Went Full Y2K In a Shiny Latex Dress at Coachella

Coachella 2022 has come and gone, but its fashion footprint will linger all festival season long. After a two-year hiatus, Coachella returned with endless style inspiration to channel into the summer months, both from attendees and performers alike. Bold color palettes, playful patterns, and mixed textures were everywhere, including Harry Styles' custom Gucci rainbow sequined jumpsuit and Megan Thee Stallion's embellished bodysuit with all-over cutouts.

Charli XCX, who headlined the Pandora Oasis at Coachella, also went for the more-is-more vibe in a shiny green latex mini dress with ruched detailing by The Andamane and white and fuchsia zebra print boots by Paris Texas. On the accessory front, the 29-year-old "Every Rule" singer layered several link necklaces and bracelets from the Pandora ME collection to create custom chokers, in addition to stacking rings (from the same collection) on both hands. When she hit the stage, Charli topped off her look with classic black Oakley sunglasses.

The three-day party culminated in performances by Charli as well as rapper and singer Shygirl. As it relates to street style, the event brought out a host of influencers and tastemakers who delivered a wide range of fashion looks, many of which were rooted in quintessential Y2K trends, including logomania, low-rise silhouettes, and colorful hair accessories like barrettes and scrunchies.

At Pandora Oasis, crop tops continued to dominate as a clear fashion frontrunner, with party attendees pairing them with matching skirts for a cute coordinating moment or cargo shorts for a utilitarian feel. Ahead, check out our roundup of all the best Coachella party fashion from the event, and get inspired for all your summer style needs.

J Lo Steps Out in a Red Micro Minidress and Knee-High Boots

Jennifer Lopez embraced a short hemline for a girls' night out in a bright, retro-inspired minidress. The design product of Saint Laurent, the fiery red garment provides ample coverage at the top with a turtleneck and long sleeves, then adapts a fitted bodice at the bottom. The newly engaged star dialed up the allure with knee-high black leather boots that feature sharp stiletto heels and a rounded point toe. High heels have become a signature finishing touch for Lopez, who often incorporates them into daytime looks (to visit a Sephora store or go furniture shopping with her daughter) just as well as evening ones (most recently, for date night with fiancé Ben Affleck).

Lopez's choice of footwear always makes a statement on its own, not unlike her other outfit accoutrements that have become her signature, such as large gold hoops. She finished the look with a beige Chanel crossbody bag, a textured gold bracelet, and a few rings, one of them being the green stone engagement ring Affleck proposed with. She parted her wavy hair in the middle, her blond highlights perfectly complementing the shade of her eyeshadow. Needless to say, the getup had her Instagram fans raving: "MY IDOL BE LOOKING HAWTTTT @jlo," someone commented under the singer's post.

That same day, the actress rocked a different silhouette in a red maxi dress for a house-hunting adventure with Affleck. Her flowy halter-neck design matched his go-to burgundy flannel shirt jacket, and the two showcased yet another spring transitional look. Maxi dresses are another staple in Lopez's bohemian-infused wardrobe. She recently channeled beachside elegance in a white ankle-length dress with voluminous sleeves and a ruffled collar. The star continues to turn even the most casual outings into style moments, providing a wellspring of fashion inspiration one look at a time.

Re-create J Lo's look ahead.

Simone Biles Channels the '90s in a Gingham Bikini and Bucket Hat on Vacation

Simone Biles has been showing off a stylish vacation wardrobe on her girls' trip to Cancun, Mexico. The newly engaged Olympic medalist leans toward classic swimsuits, usually complete with a low-rise bottom, a swimsuit silhouette she's been a fan of.

She's already sported two suits by sister-led brand Mikoh, including this blue gingham two-piece. Biles used the print to channel a full-fledged '90s moment, adding a white bucket hat and an oversized boyfriend shirt worn as a cover-up. "I swear I have it all together I just forgot where I put it," she captioned her photo on the balcony of her room, with the ocean in full view behind her. Biles accessorized the beach look with a choker necklace and rings (perhaps she stuck with her second silicone engagement ring for a day in the sun). Biles chose a swim label that represents strong women, beauty, and strength, with the Japanese word "Miko" meaning "female shaman" or "female prophecy." Based in Orange County, CA, sisters and designers Oleema and Kalani Miller come from a family of surfers (Oleema is a former professional), so there's a clear connection to Biles as a fellow athlete. They designed Biles's Vikana top - which offers fuller coverage with a square neckline and wide straps - to complement the Cenote bottoms that have a sleek shape.

Ahead, shop Biles's exact look for $292, along with several similar options, and keep your eyes on Instagram for all the patterned sets that she's been wearing lately.

Saturday, April 23, 2022

These $20 Old Navy Sandals Feel Like I'm Walking on a Cloud

I'm probably really late to the game, but I only recently discovered the sheer brilliance that is Old Navy's footwear section. Earlier this month, I fell in love with the brand's Linen-Blend Pointy-Toe Mule Flats. (So in love, in fact, that they made their way into my suitcase for a trip to France.) I was amazed by their comfort, especially since I scooped them up on sale - and let's face it, a majority of my expensive shoes are hella uncomfortable, so I definitely didn't have high expectations for a pair of affordable-priced ones.

That brings me to my latest obsession, which I'm thrilled to reveal is just as comfy as the aforementioned linen pair. Enter the bestselling Criss-Cross Faux-Leather Sandals ($16, originally $20), which I knew I had to try when I saw they had a nearly perfect five-star review. I added them to cart in size 9.5 (yay, half sizes!) and mentally thought through what outfit I'd team them with (read: my favorite long black denim shorts and a cropped white tank).

In the product description, the brand describes these sandals as having a cushioned footbed, and in no way are they exaggerating. These slides feel like I'm walking on a cloud - or at least what I imagine walking on a cloud would feel like, anyway. Better yet, everything about them feels super durable, like they'll last me well beyond this summer.

As implied by their high rating, other Old Navy shoppers are obsessed, too. "It's the most comfortable sandal for the summer," writes one reviewer. Another says, "I was pleasantly surprised by how much I love these! I think I've worn them every day since I got them!

I can't forget to mention that these sandals also come in Cognac Brown, so you have options depending on which matches your warm-weather wardrobe more. The only thing keeping me from adding that color to cart too is that I'm almost certain I'll be scooping up more styles from Old Navy's footwear section this summer – and a girl can only have so many before it becomes a problem.