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Jon Stewart Gives His Final Goodnight

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"From the world headquarters in New York, this is the Daily Show with Jon Stewart!"

These are words our generation has been hearing for as long as we can remember. In 1999, Jon Stewart became host of a then still relatively unknown comedy news show from Craig Kilborn, and turned it into a late night staple for millions of viewers. Sixteen years later, he has announced that he will finally be stepping down from his incredibly popular show, presumably in order to move on to greater things. Naturally we were all absolutely devastated to hear this news—first "The Colbert Report" and now this—but it's also a good time to reflect on exactly how much Stewart has given us during his 16-year tenure on the show.

Stewart's specialty, what set him apart from other comedians of his class, was his ability to skillfully and sarcastically deliver the actual news in a manner which didn't warrant a lot of heckling or attempts at low-brow humor. His mastery of delivery allowed him to, for the most part, let the news speak for itself—which ended up making it hilarious. Focusing mostly on politics, he brought news to a newer, younger audience in a tasteful and entertaining light, making current events both accessible and fall-out-of-your-chair-laughing funny. He was unabashed, unafraid of going where no one had ever ventured before—and his attacks were surprisingly balanced on both sides of the political ideological scale. In one program, he could make fun of both House majority leader Mitch McConnell and President Obama. Sure like most of us, he had a more left-wing progressive lean, but he never let that stop him from poking fun when it was duly warranted. 

Over the years, his program helped launch the nascent careers of several comedic geniuses including Steve Carell, John Oliver, Larry Wilmore (who now hosts the "Nightly Show" after Stewart's slot) and of course the one and only Stephen Colbert, whose "Colbert Report" was originally a spinoff of the "Daily Show" (and Jon Stewart remained an executive producer and best friend).

His guests have included presidents, dignitaries, actors, musicians, fellow comedians, Nobel peace prize winners (like Malala Yousafi), and of course political elites (many of whom went on the show because it came to have so much clout in the political playing field). 

Many will remember his "Rally to Restore Sanity" in 2010, where millions of liberal-minded youth flocked the National Mall in D.C. to watch performances and hear speeches including a knockout one from Stewart himself.

Perhaps the performance which we will remember most however, is the one time Jon Stewart left his comedic post to talk about something serious and very close to his heart. The "Daily Show" had a broadcast following the events of 9/11, and Stewart, a New York native, had a few words to say about the events. His speech that night continues to move us to this day.

All we can say about this news in the end is: thanks for all the memories Jon Stewart, and best of luck in all your future endeavors!

 


7 Pinterest-Worthy Valentine’s Day Crafts

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Regardless of whether or not you’re in a relationship, Valentine’s Day can be super fun. With all things glittery, red, pink and, of course, heart-shaped, February is a blast. Don’t all of the cute Valentine’s Day store decorations make you want your apartment or dorm to be a little more festive, too?

Check out these fun and simple crafts, which you can do with just a few easily accessible supplies. Whether you’re giving them as gifts or just decorating your dorm, making these crafts is a fun way to have a girls’ night in with your friends.

1. Homemade Valentines

Valentine cards are probably the most widely recognized part of Valentine’s Day—remember passing the ones with cute Disney characters on them out in elementary school? Up your game by making your own cards this year for your family, friends or boyfriend. It’s a cute way to show them how much they mean to you and a great excuse to improve your scrapbooking skills. Card-making is more fun and effective if you get a group of friends together, because that way you can share supplies like heart punches and glitter glue, so plan a day where a few of your friends can catch up and make valentines together.

Tools and Materials

  • Colored construction paper
  • Markers or colored pencils
  • Scissors
  • Glue sticks
  • Glitter glue pens

Classic Valentine Card Instructions

Elementary school art might have included drawing a heart on paper, but you can do a lot better than that.

  • Cut a variety of colored hearts, and glue them onto the card to create a collage.
  • Decorate the individual hearts with glitter glue or color different patterns on them to show how much effort you put into the card.
  • If you have access to buttons and ribbon, bows would make a great accent to the outside of the cards, too. Get creative!

Or, if the idea of cutting a template and gluing a bunch of hearts together makes you sweat, try this cute and easy valentine idea we found on Pinterest.

You can get the popcorn holder at a dollar store and can find candy hearts almost anywhere this time of year. All you need is a hot glue gun to get everything to stick, and the result is adorable.

Popup Valentine cards

If you’re ready to take your valentines to the next level, try making popup cards. MarthaStewart.com has step-by-step instructions for making crafts like accordion cards and illustrated cards, so you can choose the project that fits with your skill level.

We love the accordion card since it’s easy to make—here are Martha Stewart’s instructions, taken from her website:

Tools and Materials

  • Card stock, scrapbook paper, and envelopes
  • Pens and pencils
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Craft knife
  • Self-healing cutting mat
  • Double-sided tape
  • Hole punch
  • Bone folder

Accordion Card Instructions

  • Print a template (which can be as simple as the outline of a heart shape) on card stock; cut and trace onto the paper for the folded piece. If making one card, print directly on desired paper.
  • Fold along score marks. Then unfold, cut out and refold.
  • Position the folded piece inside base card so it pops. Secure with double-sided tape.

2. Crayon Hearts for Windows

If you’ve always loved stained glass or just want a way to make your room look a bit more inviting, these crayon hearts are a festive way to spruce up your space. All you need are a few pieces of wax paper, some crayons and an iron, and you’ll have plenty of hearts in no time. Here are the instructions for these lovely crayon hearts.

Tools and Materials

  • Wax Paper
  • Crayons in festive Valentine’s Day Colors
  • Iron
  • Handheld Pencil Sharpener
  • Kraft paper

Crayon Heart Instructions

  • Begin with a 12-by-16-inch sheet of waxed paper. Fold it in half along its length; unfold.
  • Deposit wax-crayon shavings (made with a handheld pencil sharpener) evenly but not thickly across one half of the paper. Fold the clean half of the paper over the shavings.
  • Crimp the three open edges with a 1/2-inch fold to hold the shavings.
  • Protect your ironing surface with kraft paper. Place the waxed paper on the kraft paper, and cover it with another sheet of kraft paper.
  • Iron lightly on medium heat, checking after every few passes.
  • Stop when all the shavings have melted; let cool.
  • Next, trace and cut out hearts of various sizes. String each heart with a silk thread for hanging.

3. Hanging Heart Wall Art

If you don’t have crayons or an iron, this heat-free project is a great alternative. Wall art is perfect for decorating a small space, and it will add instant holiday spirit to your décor.

Here are the instructions, taken from Making Home Base:

Tools and Materials

  • Card stock in various colors
  • Scissors
  • Twine
  • Hot glue
  • Old frame found around the house or from a vintage store or thrift shop

Heart Wall Art Instructions

  • Create cutout hearts from the cardstock pieces. You can leave them in solid colors or add stripes and other patterns—it’s up to you and your decorating style. For her project, Chelsea of Making Home Base used a combination of patterned and solid hearts.
  • Place cutout hearts in the frame to position them.
  • Place the string over the top of the hearts and start gluing. On the site, Chelsea recommends gluing two heart cut outs together so that you don’t see the glue or string on one side if they get turned around.
  • Glue the strings in place onto the frame with hot glue.

4. Decorating with Candy

There are so many Valentine’s Day-specific candies that it would be a shame not to use them in a Valentine’s Day craft. Also, having a few treats around will make you everyone’s favorite hostess next time your friends visit your dorm room or apartment.

Try Lauren Conrad’s idea of putting candy hearts in a Mason jar and wrapping the lid in a festive ribbon. This requires very little effort and will add instant Valentine’s Day charm to your room. Conrad makes the jar even sweeter by adding a tag with a penny and a note about being lucky in love, making this a quick and easy gift to give your friends. Here are the instructions, taken from Lauren’s blog:

Tools and Materials

  • Penny
  • Red or pink ribbon
  • Mason jar
  • Hot glue gun
  • Gift tag
  • Bag of Sweethearts or your other favorite Valentine’s Day candy

Lucky in Love Jar Instructions

  • Using the hot glue gun, glue your lucky penny in the middle of the tag (heads up, of course).
  • Next, take a letter stamp set or a Sharpie and write the message “Here's to getting lucky in love” onto the gift tag around the penny.
  • Use the ribbon to tie the tag onto a Mason jar and fill it with Sweethearts or your other favorite candy.

5. Felt Fortune Cookies

Martha Stewart’s creative mind is at it again with her felt fortune cookies, which unfold to include a personal message and a treat for the recipient. Everyone loves opening fortune cookies, and your friends or party guests will love that you took the time to make this thoughtful gift. Plus, they include candy!

So, ready to get crafty? Here are the instructions for the fortune cookies, taken from MarthaStewart.com:

Tools and Materials

  • Felt sheets in various red and pink shades
  • Fabric shears
  • Fabric glue
  • Wire cutters
  • Floral wire
  • Ribbon or paper with printed message
  • Small, individually wrapped candies

Fortune Cookie Instructions

  • Use fabric shears to cut a 4 1/2-inch-diameter circle from a piece of felt. Cut a piece of matching ribbon slightly shorter than 4 1/2 inches. Use wire cutters to cut a piece of floral wire slightly shorter than the length of the ribbon.
  • Using craft glue, affix the wire to the middle of the felt circle. Glue the ribbon on top, covering the wire. Let dry for 30 minutes.
  • Fold the felt circle in half, using the wire as a guide so the ribbon is inside the cookie. Next, angle the sides toward each other, bending the wire at its halfway point and forming a fortune-cookie shape.
  • Assemble the fortune cookies. Carefully peel back one flap of the felt cookie and insert a paper fortune and a few candies. Fold the flap back over to close cookie around contents.

6. Heart-Filled Gift Box

If you want to show your friends or boyfriend how much you care about them, why not give them this adorable box filled with dozens of heart cutouts? The best part about this project is that it is super easy to create, so if you’re not great with arts projects you’ll love this one from The House That Lars Built.

Here are the tools and instructions, which, along with the photo, are taken from The House That Lars Built:

Tools and Materials

  • Medium-sized gift box
  • Scissors
  • Cutout hearts made from construction paper in various colors

Heart-Filled Box Instructions

  • Glue a large heart on each side of the box’s exterior. You can also write the person’s name or a Valentine’s Day message inside the hearts.
  • Fill the box with the heart cutouts. It’s as simple as that!  For a more heartfelt version of this craft, write a reason why you love the recipient on each heart.

7. Decorated Wine Glasses

Wine glasses are the classy way to consume any beverage, alcoholic or not, and there’s no better wine glass than a personalized one. You can make these with your friends at a Valentine’s Day get-together, or you could make them for your friends in advance as Valentine’s Day gifts in lieu of traditional valentine cards.

For the glasses themselves, you can find affordable packages of clear, plastic wine and champagne glasses at most party supply stores. They’ll be easy to work with, and you won’t have to worry about breaking glass during your craft making.

Tools and Materials

  • Plastic wine glasses
  • Permanent markers
  • Enamel paint
  • Fine paintbrushes

Decorated Wine Glass Instructions

Here are the instructions for painting your wine glasses, taken from WikiHow:

  • Sketch your designs onto the glass before you apply paint. The design can be hearts, flowers, your friend’s name—anything you want to include that signifies Valentine’s Day. This will help you avoid mistakes before you start painting, and according to WikiHow, you can remove mistakes with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover.
  • Fill in your sketches with paint. You may need to add multiple coats to ensure that the paint won’t chip off after a few uses of your wine glass. As with the sketches, you can use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover to get rid of paint mistakes.
  • Let your wine glasses dry for a full 24 hours before heating them.
  • Now, it’s time to heat the glasses to set the paint. Line a cookie sheet with foil and turn your oven to 350ºF. Immediately put the glasses on the lined sheet and place them in the oven without waiting for it to preheat—the gradual warming will prevent the glasses from cracking.
  • Set a timer for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat after 20 minutes, leave in for a further 10 minutes, and then remove the glasses after the 30 minutes.

 

Whether you want to give a valentine to the guy you’ve liked for months make a gift for a friend, or decorate your dorm room, these craft ideas will impress all of your friends.

What are your favorite Valentine’s Day crafts? Let us know in the comments section!

Announcing Her Campus's Book! Pre-Order NOW & Enter to Win a Sephora Gift Card!

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Hey collegiettes!

We know you love reading HC on your laptops, your smartphones, and your tablets... but now you can truly curl up with HC because our first-ever book hits stores this April, and it's available for pre-order on Amazon NOW! If you pre-order your copy and forward your receipt to giveaways@hercampus.com by Thursday February 19, you'll be entered to win a $50 Sephora gift card and a Her Campus tumbler!

The Her Campus Guide to College Life: How to Manage Relationships, Stay Safe and Healthy, Handle Stress, and Have the Best Years of Your Life covers everything you need to know to rock college, from how to get along with your roommates to how to avoid the 'freshman 15', deal with tough professors, snag internships, decide whether to study abroad, and much, much more.

Whether you're already an upperclassman or are just getting ready to go off to college next fall, this book has everything you need to survive and thrive on campus when it comes to all aspects of your life. Our book also includes handy resources like a template roommate contract, dorm room grocery list, and more.

The book officially hits stores in April, but you can pre-order your copy NOW on Amazon so that you'll be one of the first to receive it once it comes out!

I can't wait to hear what you think!

HC Love,
Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, Co-founder, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus

5 Fragrances Proven to Make Your V-Day Date Fall for You

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Since Sex Panther by Odeon is illegal in nine countries (60 percent of the time, it works every time), we've sought out other Valentine's Day fragrance alternatives. The scents of vanilla, sandalwood and rose are proven aphrodisiacs that have been used for centuries. We've found five fragrances that include these scents, making you virtually irrestible to anyone with a sense of smell. Spritz a little, or spritz a lot, to get in the mood for the most romantic Valentine's Day ever!

1. Beautiful Eau de Parfum Spray by Estée Lauder, $75

Incorporating two of the aphrodiasiatic scents from above, rose and sandalwood, this fragrance was designed to inspire a feeling of romance and femininity. 

2. Trésor Eau de Parfum by Lancôme, $58

There is a reason Trésor is one of Lancôme's best-selling fragrances. Intended to evoke elegance, each spritz covers you in a shower of rose, mugent and lilac.

3. Intimately Beckham by David Beckham Eau de Toilette Spray, $14.99

Designed by one half of quite possibly the world's sexiest couple, Beckham's mix of rose petals, musk and sandalwood creates the perfectly irrestible V-Day combination. And if it's what David wants us to wear, we will wear it!

4. Very Sexy Eau de Parfum by Victoria's Secret, $52

One of the many perfumes from romance expert Victoria's Secret, Very Sexy includes touches of vanilla orchid, sun-drenched clementine and midnight blackberry.

5. 0.2 Eau de Parfum, $80

This fragrance, clevery named 0.2 based on a recent study that revealed it only takes a fifth of a second to fall in love, promises to recreate the emotional high that accompanies falling in love every time you wear it. Skeptical? Try this unisex scent on you and your partner this Valentine's Day for a fun and potentially sexy experiment.

What scent you will be wearing this Valentine's Day?

Real Live College Guy: Is He Hiding Something Bigger?

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We all need a little guidance now and then, so whether you’re stressed about a fling gone wrong, a recently wrecked relationship or how to handle a stage-five clinger, Real Live College Guy Dale is here to help you navigate the college dating scene.

I feel like I should kick myself for asking this... Should I trust and give chances to my boyfriend whom I've caught in lies numerous times, even though the lies were silly things? For example: One of his lady friends gave him an old Kindle of hers, and instead of just telling me that, he told me his sister gave it to him. Then, while visiting another friend, my boyfriend told him the truth right in front of me as if he'd forgotten I was right next to him. Another time, I was expecting him to come hang out, and he called to tell me he was having lunch with his dad and would be late, but later his dad called and he was still out visiting family in Tennessee. When I confronted him about this (calm and cool) he said he just wanted to sleep longer.

I'm trying to be mature and work things out with him, but it's like talking to a wall. He takes it like an attack, and I only simply asked him why, as calm and understanding as I can manage. –Suspicious at Syracuse

Syracuse,

When I was a kid, I would always get in trouble for telling my mom little white lies. I knew it was bad to lie, but I just didn’t want to face the consequences of my actions. What does any of that have to do with your situation?

You haven’t given your boyfriend any consequences. You have, from what I can tell, allowed him to continue lying to you. By now, he knows he can do it. By now, he probably knows he’ll get caught too. You haven’t put your foot down and given him an ultimatum, so this has made him arrogant.

And that’s what all of this boils down to: You need to decide for yourself how much of his BS you’re willing to take. He obviously feels guilty enough to hide little things from you, and he hasn’t really given you any reason to believe that he isn’t hiding something bigger from you.

You’ve let him get away with lying for too long. You’ve been calm and understanding too long. Buck up and put your foot down. If he doesn’t respect you – which, I hate to say, it sounds like he doesn’t – then he’s not going to be honest with you. Your boyfriend honestly sounds like a shady guy, and I wouldn’t blame you for deciding that you’ve put up with his lies for too long already as is.

You need to do what’s best for you, and being with a guy that doesn’t have the common courtesy to tell you the truth about little things isn’t the kind of guy you need to be with.

Fill out my online form.

14 Things That Happen to Hopeless Romantics on Valentine's Day, As Told by Jessica Day

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There's a pretty commonly known stereotype that Valentine's Day divides the female population in half. You're either the annoyingly happy girl in a relationship who just can't wait to get the roses she told her boyfriend to send, or you're the girl throwing the "I Hate Valentine's Day" party.

Somewhere in the middle of those personalities, though - somewhere between wishing you had someone to spend the day with and also wishing you didn't care - there's a hopeless romantic who can't decide if Valentine's Day is the best or the worst thing ever (sound familiar?). Here's Jessica Day's take on 15 things that happen to these gals on the most romantic (or miserable?) day of the year.

1. It's slightly embarrassing, but you actually think Valentine's Day is kind of cute.
Okay, really cute.
 
2. Since you're not dating anyone, you catch yourself imagining what it would be like to date each guy you make eye contact with on campus.
 
 
Is he thinking what I'm thinking? Is this fate? Is he the - oh, nope, there's his girlfriend. Moving on.
 
3. All day, you're totally torn between trying to see the best in the holiday...
 
People are in love!! This is cute!! I am actively trying not to cry!!
 
4. ...And joining all of the other singles in abhorring it.
 
 
If you can't beat them, hate on them.
 
5. You're trying to enjoy being single, but every social media feed is blowing up with couples.
 
It's cool. It's totally cool. You Insta'ed a pic of your cat, which is honestly better than a boyfriend anyways.
Honestly.
Right?
 
6. You vow to stay off social media - as it will only make you miserable - and settle for cute YouTube videos.
 
OMG, who is chopping onions????
 
7. You know there are a few guys who could potentially be your Valentine...
 
 
Ex-boyfriend? Bad idea. That one senior you hooked up with freshman year? Oh, he's married now. Oh. Okay.
 
8. ...But then you start to question your whole idea of if "that special person" is even real. Is this even a thing?
 

Disney movies lied. WHERE IS MY PRINCE CHARMING??

9. You cry at least once at some point during the day. Even if it's just a little bit. Even if it's in the shower.
 
 
*Alone, but with a cat.
 
10. Your friends in relationships won't stop talking about what their boyfriends planned for their V-Day date.
 
 
Seriously, what makes her think you are the person to tell this to?
 
11. By the end of the day, you've heard so much love talk that you're starting to wonder why you thought this was cute. Like, ever.
 
 
There IS such a thing as death by too many #ManCrushEveryday Instagrams and Tweets. There is.
 
12. It makes you angry to know that, if YOU were the one in the relationship, things would be so different.
 
 
YOU would only talk about your (super perfect) flower arrangement to your mom, not your single lady friends. Because you care.
 
13. For now, though, you'll have to settle for staying single and enjoying the pool of hotties to look at.
 
Taken or not, they're always fun to look at.
 
14. Besides, you'll always have your true Valentine...
 
 
Pinot.

The History of High Heels (It's Not What You Think!)

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You don’t have to be a fashion expert to have a basic understanding of footwear. Chances are, if you were to ask anyone older than the age of five, they’d tell you that heels are for women. It is also likely that they’d be confident that this has always been the case. However, like so many other things we take for granted, the gender divide associated with heels is largely the product of a historical accident. In fact, if you asked people several centuries ago to tell you who heels were for, they would have told you an entirely different story.

That’s right, ladies: if your Tinder date had arrived at your doorstep four hundred years ago, you wouldn’t have been the only one with sore feet.


Part of the reason men were the ones rocking heels was an issue of functionally. They’ve been helping horseback riders stand up in their stirrups since the Persians started doing it way back in the day (we’re talking 800s here). However, they’ve also had fashionable implications for both men and women. For men, the goal was to convey their power. Height has remained a relatively unchanged standard of attractiveness for men across history, so it isn’t surprising that men were the first to try to look taller. Women, on the other hand, wanted to make their feet appear small and dainty.


The most important heel-wearing agenda was shared by both genders. Heels were designed to communicate status and wealth in both men and women. Wearing inconvenient shoes has been one of the many visual indicators that aristocrats around the world have adopted throughout history (like pale skin or long nails) to show off their prestigious place in society. Heels are pretty impractical if you’re trying to work in a farm or walk down an unpaved road, so donning them proved that the wearer did not ever need to perform manual labor. In fact, heels became so exclusive in France during the 17th and 18th centuries that King Louis XIV ended up restricting the use red heeled shoes to members of his court alone. (In other words Christian Louboutin is a copycat—or perhaps a history major.)


The French Revolution eliminated heels from fashion for a while, as former aristocrats tried to lay low (literally) by wearing flatter shoes. In the mid-19th century, heels made a comeback, as upper class women filled the newly paved boulevard streets to shop, eat and be seen. This time, heels were exclusively seen on females. Though men have abandoned elevated footwear over the last few centuries, high heels remain an item of clothing tied closely with ideas of luxury and class for women, just as they have for half a millenium.

The history of heels should remind us all that the style conventions we take for granted in the present day are, as always, products of the past. Similarly, things we consider inherently “masculine” or “feminine” are cultural creations that have changed and can continue to change over time. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see boys tottering around in stilettos again one day.

What do you think, collegiettes? Should shoes be allocated for specific genders? What about clothes in general?

15 Dogs Who Want to Be Your Valentine

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Still looking for that perfect Valentine? Here are a few adorable canines who would be more than happy to take you out on V-Day.

1. Pugs and kisses.

2. Will you accept this rose, Valentine? 

3 & 4. Pawsitively adorable. 

5. So fetch. 

6. This dog will be all ears for you. 

7. This little guy would impRUFF any Valentine's Day. 

8. How do I love thee? Let me count thy wrinkles. 

9 & 10. Just too doggone cute. 

11. We're definitely ready to emBARK on a relationship with this Valentine. 

12. This love is fur real.

13. We appreciate the gesture, but mutt you have made such a mess? 

14. No bones about it, this pup is smitten. 

15. We know this tail will end happily ever after


What Was Urban Outfitters Thinking?

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Urban Outfitters strikes again, this time (hopefully) inadvertently referencing the Holocaust in one of their tapestries.

The tapestry in question features a grey, striped background with an inverted pink triangle, patterned almost exactly like the uniforms gay men were forced to wear in concentration camps. Approximately 100,000 gay men were placed in concentration camps during World War II, abused in unthinkable ways as many were subjected to medical experimentation and mutilation at the hands of Nazi doctors in the name of finding a “cure” for homosexuality.

The Anti-Defamation League requested of Urban Outfitters CEO Richard Hayne that the tapestry be removed from stores and the company’s website.

This isn’t the first time that Urban Outfitters has been under fire for overlooking offensive content. Over the holidays, it sent out a holiday party invitation to its employees, encouraging them to "break out your juttis, kurtas, turbans, saris, lehenga cholis and harem pants." In 2012, the clothing store sold a shirt with a star that looked disturbingly like the ones Jews had to wear during the Holocaust. The store has also sold a V-neck shirt emblazoned with the logo “Eat Less,” a Monopoly game titled “Ghettopoly” filled with racist and classist language and a Kent State sweatshirt that looked as though it had been spattered with blood, which brought to mind the Kent State massacre in the 1970s.

Though still one of the most popular clothing stores for young adults, Urban Outfitters has certainly come under fire for some of the oversights committed by the design team. Somehow, this one company, has offended an absurd number of groups: those suffering from eating disorders, Jews, people of color and Native Americans are just a brief sampling of those who have spoken out against Urban Outfitters.

Do you shop at Urban Outfitters? What are your thoughts on these missteps? 

8 Pairs of Tights You Need to Buy Right Now

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Winter is here, and you still just aren’t ready to let go of your closet full of playful dresses and adorable skater skirts (because, who would be?!). It’s every girl’s winter fashion dilemma: You want to look cute with short hemlines and flouncy fabrics, but you don’t want to be that girl who bares her legs to the elements in sub-zero temperatures. The solution? Tights! You’ve been wearing them for as long as you can remember, but ladies... it’s time to switch things up. Check out these fun, fresh and totally unique tights that you should be adding into your everyday wardrobe—and what dresses to wear them with!

1. Fleece-lined tights
 

Fleece-Lined Tights

 

Plaid t shirt
choies.com

 

 

Plush brown tight
zappos.com

 

 

Plush tight
shopbop.com

 

 

Black pantyhose
urbanoutfitters.com

 

Although they are often a little pricier than your average pair of tights, fleece-lined tights are a great investment for the cold winter months. These tights will keep you warm, but they’re still significantly thinner than a pair of leggings, which means you can wear them under a skirt or dress without looking too bulky. Just remember: Fleece-lined tights are NOT the same thing as leggings and should not be worn as pants!

Because fleece-lined tights and regular tights have the same overall look, there really are no rules you should adhere to that are out of the ordinary when planning your perfect outfit. Throw on an oversized cardigan dress or a sweater dress if you want to look cute and cuddly for class, or play around with prints with a three-quarter sleeve, cut-out back, printed A-line dress. A knitted, striped rugby dress is a great go-to for a cute winter outfit, and would go perfectly with a pair of boots and light jewelry. ?

If dresses aren’t your thing, pair an oversized T-shirt, sweater or plaid flannel with some shorts layered over your tights (this is just one more way to make the most out of your summer closet!).

Lindsey Thompson, a junior at Drexel University, shares her favorite layered look. “One of my favorite things to do in the winter is to wear shorts over my tights, then pair it with a chunky, solid colored sweater,” Lindsey says. “It allows me to wear all the new shorts I got at ‘end-of-season’ sales without having to wait a whole year.” Because she’s short, Lindsey loves to pair her look with some similar colored ankle boots to extend the length of her leg. “This really only works with the wool or fleece-lined tights,” she says. “It's a fun alternative to wearing a skirt out during winter!”

2. Thermal tights
 

Thermal Tights

 

 

Madam Rage pink dress
$23 - newlook.com

 

 

Linea black pantyhose
$15 - houseoffraser.co.uk

 

 

Fleece-lined tights aren’t for everyone. So what other options do you have if you are so over wearing leggings but you still want to be warm? “While fleece-lined tights are great, they sometimes get bunchy or look too thick,” says Sara Beth Kaye, a senior at Rutgers University. “Basic thermal tights are made with a synthetic material that makes them warmer without bunching and they still have the shiny look of tights.” She continues, “Thermal tights are the best way to take a dress from fall/spring to the depths of winter.”

Similar to fleece-lined tights, simple black or colored thermal tights can be worn with a variety of dresses (although they do also come in a variety of designs and patterns!). This winter, play around with some super fun dresses like a vintage-inspired microprint short-sleeve dress, a cute three-quarter sleeve tunic dress, or a velvet dress (a wintertime favorite!). You definitely won’t regret leaving behind those super-thin, barely there polyester tights and instead going for a much warmer look that’s still adorable!

3. Ombré tights
 

Ombré Tights

 

 

DKNY white hosiery
nordstrom.com

 

 

 

DKNY tight
macys.com

 

Ombré has been hitting it big the past few years, whether it’s DIY ombré nails, ombré hair or, yes, you guessed it, ombré tights. These unique, eye-catching tights are sure to make a statement. With that being said, make sure the dress you wear with them is simple and doesn’t make your look totally over-the-top.

When choosing a dress to wear with your tights, try to match the top ombré color (the color that goes from around your knees to up past your thighs) with the dress. This is often easiest if the color is black, simply because of how easy it is to match black with black (as long as they are the same shade!).

To get the gradual tones flowing in your outfit, play around with dresses such as a black, cap-sleeved, skater-style LBD. Worn with a pair of ankle booties, this will give you a unique night-out look. Want a more low-key, outfit to pair with your ombré tights? Throw on a grayish-black or neutral-colored oversized T-shirt dress, a beanie and some cool kicks!

Overall, make sure you keep this outfit loose and minimal in color; a more structured, tight and overly colorful outfit will take your ensemble from fashion-forward and fun to regressive and overdone.

4. Over-the-knee sock tights
 

Over-The-Knee Sock Tights

Closet pink dress
$76 - newlook.com

 

 

 

 

Black jumpsuit
yoins.com

 

 

Pretty Polly opaque tight
barenecessities.com

 

 

 

Opaque tight
unique-vintage.com

 

Love the knee-high sock look but don’t want to bare your thighs during the winter? Why not get the best of both worlds?

Sometimes called two-tone tights, these flirty tights are a great addition to a Friday night outfit or a cute layered look on campus. You can stay classic with a standard pair, or put a bit of whimsy into you look with a fun patterned set (see the NYC skyline and cat knee-high tights—so cute!). These tights are great if the outfit you want to wear would look better with just knee-high socks, but you don’t want to freeze outside. Make sure to look for a pair that matches your skin tone.

Skater and babydoll dresses go great with tights like these. Throw on a pair of riding boots, a scarf and a cardigan and you have a chic layered look for winter. Remember to keep the hem of the dress at thigh length so you don’t cover up the sock, but don’t go too short—you want to be able to wear this look to class!

Need an outfit for a fancy night out? “Knee-highs are awesome to pair with dark-colored rompers for the winter,” says Sabrina Galiney, a junior at University of Rhode Island. Throw on a pair of heels, a dressy romper and look the part for your night out on the town!

5. Patterned tights
 

Patterned Tights

Fancy short dress
modcloth.com

 

 

Long sleeve dress
choies.com

 

 

Boohoo shift dress
boohoo.com

 

 

 

Patterned hosiery
modcloth.com

 

 

 

We all love the printed pant fad that is still going strong today. Why not bring the same concept into your tights? Patterned tights are a great way to take your outfit to the next level. Whether you’re into simple patterns like stars, stripes and polka dots or more intricate and abstract designs like florals or galaxy prints, you’re sure to find a pair you’ll love.

What you have to keep in mind when putting together your outfit for these tights is that, like with many other tight styles on this list, simplicity is key. You definitely don’t want to overdo the clothes, jewelry or accessories and wind up looking like a mismatched mess (although pattern blocking, like color blocking has been hitting the runways hard, it is very difficult to accomplish).

A classic graphic T-shirt dress is a great option to highlight your fun patterned tights. By keeping the dress simple, you have the option to accessorize (lightly) with jewelry. A Peter Pan-collared dress is another great go-to, and can be paired beautifully with a pair of polka dot tights for a cute throwback look. A hoodie shift dress is a comfy yet adorable option, as is a front button, flouncy A-line dress.

Patterned tights can be a fun and cheap way to spice up your winter wardrobe this year; try them out!

6. Knit tights
 

Knit Tights

 

River Island turtleneck top
$34 - riverisland.com

 

 

Missguided tartan top
missguidedus.com

 

 

Green stocking
modcloth.com

 

 

 

There is nothing better than a pair of knit tights or leggings in the chilly wintertime. You can find these tights in a variety of textures and patterns and they go with many of the dresses you likely already have in your closet (a plus for all us collegiettes on a budget!).

While knitwear is big this winter (we all know that girl who wears a different scarf every single day of the week), you should be careful not to overdo it while wearing knitted tights. Usually throwing on a scarf to your outfit is pretty necessary, but add your sweater dress, wool hat and knitted UGG boots, and you have gone way, way too far.

Instead, try out a turtleneck tunic, oversized flannel or chambray shirt dress (great with knitted leggings!). These outfit choices will keep you stylishly textured and are a great way to add a subtle change to a simple pair of tights or leggings.

7. Tights with a wow-factor
 

Tights With a Wow-Factor

Scoop dress
pinkice.com

 

 

High low dress
$35 - newlook.com

 

 

 

Pretty polly stocking
nordstrom.com

 

 

Nordstrom hosiery
nordstrom.com

 

 

Cat print tight
modcloth.com

 

Looking for a pair of tights that are subtle but still dramatic? Many tights are now available with cute messages or patterns written up the back legs or with a simple and small design on a certain location, such as the cat face on the knees of the tights above.

“In the winter, I absolutely love wearing designs with cool patterns on the back [of my tights],” says Aja Frost, a junior at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. “They add an unexpected twist to my outfit! My favorite way to wear them is with ankle boots (so my shoes don't hide the fun design), flowy high-waisted shorts in a classy fabric, and a simple, tucked-in top. Then I add LOTS of layers so I can stay warm, like a coat, gloves, a scarf and a hat.”

Great options for dresses include a simple scoop-neck bodycon dress or a sleeveless empire-line dress with a deep V-neck (both super cute first date outfits or dresses for a sorority formal!). If you’re looking to keep things more casual, go for a khaki roll sleeve dip hem shirt dress and pair it with a pair of cute booties, as Aja suggests!

8. Fishnet
 

Fishnets

 

River Island high neck black dress
$46 - riverisland.com

 

 

River Island long sleeve turtleneck
$49 - riverisland.com

 

 

DKNY fishnet hosiery
barenecessities.com

 

 

Fishnet hosiery
modcloth.com

 

 

Ah, fishnets. They’ve often been branded as something you don’t want to be caught on campus in, but maybe it is time to rethink that.

First of all, realize that not all fishnets are the Halloween costume-looking ones that your mother would never let you out of the house in. For example, diamond-patterned fishnets look great with a cut-out swing dress for a night out. There are also more detailed and intricately-patterned fishnet tights that can give you a more toned-down and unique look.

Picking out the perfect dress to pair with fishnet tights can be tricky; try to avoid those with minuscule details so as to not make your outfit too busy. Some great examples include a simple colored textured knit dress, a midi bodycon dress or a long-sleeve trapeze dress. All will have you looking flirty, fun and totally tasteful on campus!
 

Tights can be difficult to wear, especially if you don’t know how to style them. Thankfully, there are so many styles of tights to experiment with that you can have a completely new wardrobe and winter look this season!
 

Spoil Yourself with Valentine's Goodies from Harvard Sweet Boutique!

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There’s nothing like baked goods to take any occasion to the next level—be it Galentine’s Day, a study session in the library or… yes, a midnight snack (hey, nobody’s even awake to judge). Since we subscribe wholly to the “treat yourself” mantra, we’ve decided to partner up with Harvard Sweet Boutique again to give away $50 worth of any of the delectable goodies this bakery makes!

Using only all-natural ingredients, Harvard Sweet Boutique is chock full of cookies, brownies, toffees and so much more (cue the mouth watering—we’ll give you a moment). Their gift packages start at just $11, and they deliver nationwide—so no matter where your campus is, you can indulge in sweets just about as good as your grandma’s cookies. Plus, they even make low-carb and gluten-free options, so nobody has to miss out on these amazing treats!

Whether you already have a special someone to spoil you this Valentine’s Day or are looking to splurge on yourself this year, you won’t want to miss out on these baked goods!

Fill out my online form.

Angelina Jolie Opens a Center for Women, Peace & Security

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Actress, director and noted humanitarian Angelina Jolie just announced the opening of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics on February 10.

Starting in 2016, students will be able to enroll in a Masters of Science degree program at the school. They will study the brutality faced by women in war zones and work to combat it.

Jolie made the announcement with the British First Secretary of State William Hague. In 2012, Jolie and Hague started the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, which aims to bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice.

In two new short films, Jolie tells the stories of refugees displaced by Isis violence in Iraq and Syria. She has worked as a special envoy of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees since 2012, and has been interested in humanitarian work since traveling to Cambodia in 2000 to film Tomb Raider.

Jolie spoke of her hopes for the Centre for Women, Peace and Security in a statement, saying, "I am excited at the thought of all the students in years to come who will study in this new Centre. There is no stable future for a world in which crimes committed against women go unpunished. We need the next generation of educated youth with inquisitive minds and fresh energy, who are willing not only to sit in the classroom but to go out into the field and the courtrooms and to make a decisive difference." 

This new program adds to the extensive list of Jolie's many wide-ranging accomplishments, including everything from extensive humanitarian work to her various creative projects and to raising six children with her husband, Brad Pitt. She remains a inspiration to women everywhere. 

Drake Dropped a Surprise Album on Twitter Last Night

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Remember that time when Beyoncé literally stopped the world and released an entire visual album by surprise? Well, ICYMI, in a move that would make Queen Bey proud, Drake just released a surpise mixtape and, naturally, his fans just couldn't even.


The 28-year-old rapper released (via Twitter) a 17-track mixtape called If You're Reading This It's Too Late. Just earlier in the day we saw the release of a 15-minute art film called Jungle (see the full video below!) that shows the rapper walking around his hometown, Toronto, to the tune of new music. 

Drake "Jungle" from a52 on Vimeo.

The mixtape, which features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Travi$ Scott, and PARTYNEXTDOOR, is a precursor to the release of Drake's newest album Views from the 6, which is set to be released later this year. 

If You're Reading This Its Too Late is now available on iTunes for $12.99.

5 Movies to Watch on V-Day if You Don't Plan on Seeing 'Fifty Shades'

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With Valentine's Day coming up this weekend, it's safe to say that a lot of the country's moviegoers will be headed to see Fifty Shades of Grey. The steamy erotic thriller has been one of the most highly anticipated films this year, so it's no surprise that many will be lining up to catch it, whether or not they're creeped out by the premise. But if you want to head to the movies this weekend and not deal with the crowds of giggling girls or lovey-dovey couples, you still have plenty of other options! Here are some of the films you should catch this weekend:

1. Jupiter Ascending

Sure, Jamie Dornan is super cute but Channing Tatum will forever be in our hearts! If you're going on a more casual date and want a no-frills movie, your best bet is Jupiter Ascending. It has enough action to keep your date enticed, but also a nice romantic subplot to stick with the Valentine's Day theme. 

2. Mortdecai

If you're looking for a night full of laughter, whether you're with your SO or your besties, Johnny Depp's quirky and charming character Charlie Mortdecai will definitely help you achieve that! In this Pink Panther-like flick, Depp plays a crime-stopping art dealer whose latest mission is to find a famous piece of artwork.

3. The Boy Next Door

For a good spook this V-Day, head to theaters to see Jennifer Lopez in this classic romance-turned-obsession thriller. We have a feeling the fling between Lopez's character and the charming guy next door is not going to end well...

4. The Wedding Ringer

If you liked I Love You, Man with Paul Rudd, The Wedding Ringer is right up your alley. Funny man Kevin Hart will probably have you and your friends keeled over laughing in this comedy, where he plays the CEO of a company that finds a best man for friendless grooms. 

5. Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made of

For a feel-good time and a walk down memory lane, check out the Backstreet Boys' latest documentary, which follows their rise to fame and ultimate fizzle. It's raw and gritty, but also one of those movies that will bring you back to your days of being a boy band fanatic. Hint: It's available to rent on iTunes so you can watch it without having to leave your bed!

What will you be watching this Valentine's Day, collegiettes?

5 Valentine’s Day Dessert Recipes That Are Too Sweet To Resist

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Nothing says “I love you” like homemade sweets… but you’re not exactly Martha Stewart. Don’t panic. Thankfully, we’ve rounded up five recipes that are easy to make in your campus apartment. Whether you’re making a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for you and your S.O. or you’re just a single collegiette with a sweet tooth, you can dig into thesedelectable Valentine’s Day desserts on February 14.

Rice Krispies Treat Hearts

You know those heart-shaped candies with the sickly sweet endearments stamped on them? The ones your mom always sends you every year in your care package that you never eat? Well, now you finally have a use for them with this super easy V-Day-themed Rice Krispies treat recipe!

Ingredients

4 tablespoons of butter 

10 drops of red food coloring 

40 large marshmallows 

6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal 

2 cups of mini marshmallows 

1 cup of conversation heart candies 

1 heart-shaped cookie cutter

Directions 

  1. Spray a large baking sheet (with a ledge) with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Melt the butter and stir into it the food coloring and large marshmallows until fully melted.
  3. Remove this mixture from heat and add the Rice Krispies cereal and mini marshmallows.
  4. Make sure you spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray and press the cereal mix onto the cookie sheet until it’s flat and even. Add the candies into the cereal sheet.
  5. Let the treats cool, then cut into hearts with a cookie cutter.

Cocoa Espresso Truffles

These luxe little truffle treats are a bite of heaven! While they take a little more waiting (the chocolate needs to be refrigerated to form), whip up a batch of these truffle bites with your sorority sisters for a single girls’ V-Day bash! These espresso-coated candies are perfectly paired with coffee, so share a cup with your bestie and the two of you can gripe about that cutie from last weekend’s party who never texted you back.

Ingredients 
 


1 cup of heavy cream 

1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder 

1/2 pound of semisweet chocolate drops 

1/2 pound of bittersweet chocolate drops 

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract 

1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder 

1 tablespoon of coffee liqueur (optional) 
 


Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, heat the cream and instant espresso powder over medium heat, stirring until the mixture bubbles around the edges. Remove from heat, add the chocolate and stir until fully melted. Add the liqueur and vanilla and stir. Pour the mixture into a bowl and refrigerate it until firm (at least four hours).
  2. Using a small scoop or a teaspoon, drop one-inch balls of the chocolate mixture onto a wax-paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate these until they are firm, about 15 minutes.
  3. Place the cocoa powder in a shallow bowl. Roll the chocolate balls in the cocoa, then transfer to a wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate. Let them set in room temperature before serving!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Rich and velvety... what could be a more perfect dessert to share with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day? Red velvet cakes, pies and cupcakes are classic, so we borrowed this easy recipe for red velvet whoopie pies.

Ingredients

Cookies

1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist devil’s food cake mix
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 tablespoons of red food color
1 box (4-serving size) of chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix

Filling

1 cup of softened butter
2 cups of marshmallow creme
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 cup of fresh berries

Directions 

  1. Beat the cookie ingredients in a large bowl, with electric mixer on low speed until moistened; beat 1 minute longer on high speed. Drop batter onto a cookie sheet (which should either be lined with parchment paper or sprayed) with each cookie being two inches apart.
  2. Bake the cookies for 13 to 16 minutes at 350°F. Cool two minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
  3. Beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. For each sandwich cookie pie, spread about 1/4 cup filling on bottom of 1 cooled cookie. Top with blueberries and raspberries before sandwiching the filling with a second cookie.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cupcakes

The white chocolate flakes remind us of snowy winter days on campus (perfectly fitting for this time of year) and the cranberries give the otherwise fluffy, light cakes a tart bite of flavor. Delish! Don’t believe us? Check out this recipe from for white chocolate cranberry cupcakes and make them yourself!

Ingredients

Cake

1 box of white cake mix
2 egg whites
1 egg
1/3 cup of oil
1 cup of buttermilk
1 cup of sour cream
1 orange for zest
2 cups of chopped cranberries

White Chocolate Ganache

¾ cup of white chocolate chips
2 ½ tablespoons of heavy cream

White Chocolate Buttercream

8 ounce of softened cream cheese
½ cup of softened butter
2 tablespoons of white chocolate instant pudding powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla
3-4 cups of powdered sugar

Directions

  1. Gently stir the egg whites, egg, oil buttermilk, sour cream, zest and cake mix, then add chopped cranberries. 
  2. Fill the cupcake liners ¾ full and bake for 14-18 minutes at 350°F.
  3. When the cupcakes are almost cool, make the white chocolate ganache by melting white chocolate and cream together in the microwave.
  4. Once your cupcakes have cooled, dip them in the ganache and let them set before piping buttercream.
  5. To make buttercream, beat the cream cheese and butter for four minutes. Add pudding mix, vanilla extract and powdered sugar. 
  6. Pipe onto your cupcakes and top them off with sprinkles!  
 


Sweetheart Chocolate Martini


For collegiettes over 21, this liquid dessert is just the thing for Valentine’s Day, whether it’s a girls’ night or date night! Here’s a toast to getting your happily ever after this semester!

Ingredients 
 


3/4 cup of half-and-half  

8 ounces dark chocolate liqueur 

2 ounces of vodka  

ice cubes  
 


Directions 
 


  1. In a pitcher, stir together the half-and-half, chocolate liqueur, and vodka.
  2. Place ice cubes in a martini shaker.
  3. Add liqueur mixture and shake.
  4. The mixture makes four to six drinks.
  5. Garnish with drizzled chocolate or candy hearts!

New York Fashion Week, Fall/Winter 2015: Ryan Roche

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When I haven't heard of a designer, I normally try not to look up too much about them before a show. I like to go in with a clear mind and develop an opinion for myself because, if I may quote the classic film Working Girl, you never know where the big ideas come from, you know? Sometimes a smaller name could (and in my past experience has) yielded some beautiful, unusual, thoughtful garments that turn me into a follower for life.

Such was the case with Ryan Roche. I merely read Roche’s biography before going backstage and attending the show. Upon arriving, the information I most remembered was that she was known for her knits, lived in upstate New York with her family, and had received positive attention from some major publications. The latter, for the aforementioned reason, I didn’t read too much about—I have had designers email me before and say they were written up in some high-end publication when, really one of the editors had merely Tweeted about their show. I nevertheless arrived with an open mind; the few images I saw of her work online had piqued my interest.

I am happy to say Roche absolutely delivered. What I said to another photographer backstage is that Roche thought inside the log cabin for fall/winter, when so many designers were thinking outside of it. I had come from a show earlier that day that felt like The North Face’s attempt at high style, and it was grossly disappointing. Everything at that previous show had been hard and bulky and foreboding, making me me fearful of the frosty climates one must have to endure to wear such clothing.

But Roche’s knits were soft and welcoming, not to mention exquisite—they were made of some of the finest cashmere I have ever touched. The collection made me think more of cozy nights by the fire of said log cabin than fear of being frostbitten. Her color palette was also, in my experience, unusual for fall/winter, in that it ran in hues of blush, peach, beige, cream, grey and black. I’ve seen so many collections for that season that run along the darker spectrum, as if there were some hard and fast rule stating this was the status quo.

Her pieces, like cashmere jumpers and long, roomy sweaters and ponchos, gracefully and elegantly hang on the body, as if asking me to remember that winter can also be a time of style and not just of braving the cold. On a 17-degree day (and below) day like today, I’m grateful for such a reminder.

For me, Roche’s quiet, elegant vibe began backstage at the High Line Hotel, where it seemed at least on the surface everyone was so calm and relaxed. Makeup, by Romy Soleimani for Beauty.com, was lush and light, featuring bright eyes, soft pink cheeks (matching Roche’s collection), and dewy eyes, all with products from bareMinerals. Hair, by James Pecis for Beauty.com using PHYTO products, was loosely structured in messy waves woven together at the top of the head, flowing freely down the shoulders. Sounds of The Velvet Underground, Elliott Smith, and Joni Mitchell bathed the comfortably warm room in thoughtful repose. Everyone sipped a juice and read books when they were unoccupied. The clothes Roche made fit perfectly into this environment, one absent from the loud, thumping basslines I perpetually hear in the tents at Lincoln Center that seem to put everyone on edge. Roche’s pieces were meant for floating gracefully through space, though, not banging down a runway; her backstage and ultimately her presentation reflected this.

Part of the High Line Hotel was once a cathedral, and Roche’s presentation was held in a room known as The Refectory. Its ornate high ceilings and dark brick walls were interspersed with panels of stained glass. Two young girls sang in soft voices at the stage, likely the former altar space, their voices casting a sweet melody throughout the space. Models came out and stood in Roche’s attire while guests sipped champagne and perused the collection. That same feeling of overarching calm infused the entire event. Roche and her team managed to create not only a fashion presentation, but an experience, one in which I am grateful to have participated.

So what did I learn about Ryan Roche? She was the runner-up in 2014’s prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition, which is no small feat, and has been dubbed ‘the next big thing’ and a designer to watch by the likes of Style.com, New York Magazine’s The Cut, The New York Times Style Magazine, and more. I know that I certainly agree with them, and I hope with her presentation (at her first ever fashion week) she’s made many more converts.

Check out more of the images I took before and at the show here—and if you can't get enough of Ryan Roche, be sure to check out her site!

The Making of a Dior Couture Dress

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If you’ve ever seen Project Runway, then you’ve probably seen one of the many couture challenges where the designers have approximately two days and $300 to make an amazing couture gown. The designers inevitably freak out once presented with the challenge and nine times out of ten, they’ll exclaim how it’s “impossible to make a couture dress in two days!”

They’re right. Refinery29 recently collaborated with Visionaire to create a beautiful short film that follows the life of a Dior couture gown from start to finish. From its start as a muslin pattern on the mannequin to the final runway show featuring Creative Director Raf Simmons’ design, we are given a sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes processes that go into making these one-of-a-kind gowns.

When you see a dress in the few seconds it takes to go down the runway, it’s hard to fathom the hours and skills that went into making that garment. It’s hard to even imagine how a project like that begins. In the film, one of the first things we are shown is the muslin mock-up of the pattern and the workroom that’s making the fabric. Dip-dying ribbons and hand-sewing them onto the fabric that will eventually make up the skirt is the job of this first workroom. One of the seamstresses jokes that “these stripes will drive us crazy.” All in the name of couture, right?

The fabric, neatly folded and wrapped in tissue paper, is transported to a pleating house. There, the master pleaters lay the fabric on a contraption that sandwiches it between two layers of a mold. The mold is then rolled up and placed in a super steaming machine to set the pleats in place.

The pleated fabric is sent to the seamstresses that fabricate the actual gown and other Dior couture pieces. These men and women are the best of the best and are the ones who really bring the dress to life for the creative team to see.

The final shots of the video show the styling details that will complete the runway look. After watching the endless hours of work that go into the garment, seeing how exactly it’s made, there’s something really special and satisfying about seeing it on the runway.

This video offers incredible insight into the couture world and the reasoning behind those crazy prices. The hefty price tag makes sense after seeing all of the people and skills that go in to making just one dress—we don't even want to think about the time that goes into making an entire collection! Check out the full video below:

How to Stay Independent While in a Relationship

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You and your S.O. are the perfect match: You share the same hobbies, love the same foods, and may even be in some of the same classes. He or she makes you laugh like no other, and it feels like you get each other in a way nobody else understands. You love spending time with him or her, from sunup to sundown. The two of you just can’t stay away from each other!

But sometimes, you wish you had a bit more time for yourself. You don’t really go to the gym anymore and you haven’t seen your bestie in ages, and you’ve basically stopped trying to catch up on that show you love. You’re starting to miss the person you used to be, but you’re afraid to branch out on your own for fear of hurting your relationship. What are you supposed to do?

If you’re feeling like you and your S.O. are becoming the same person or living the same life, then it’s probably time to regain your sense of self.

Healthy commitment or unhealthy attachment?

While it’s good to be close to your partner, completely losing yourself in him or her is not the best idea.

“There [are] healthy attachments and then there [are] unhealthy attachments,” says licensed professional clinical counselor Jeffrey Sumber. “Somebody with an unhealthy attachment is going to need their partners to make themselves feel better, make them feel loved or make them feel whole.”

Kate Travis, a freshman at the University of Wisconson-Stout, knows what it feels like to rely on someone so much. “I encountered this very problem in my first semester of college,” she says. “My boyfriend was the only person I knew from my hometown that went to UW-Stout, so whenever I felt homesick or wanted a break from stress, I relied on him.”

Sumber says that it’s okay to have someone to reach for when you’re in a time of need, but that the difference between a healthy attachment and an unhealthy one is that in a healthy attachment, we don’t need the other person all the time. For Kate, this realization came the hard way. “It got to the point in which we almost broke up due to him starting to feel like I was too dependent on him,” she says.

What are the signs of an unhealthy attachment? Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a licensed clinical psychologist (who goes by Dr. Ramani), says that they occur when we start regulating our needs through the other person in our relationship.

“You eat when he eats, you drink when he drinks,” she explains. “You feel the need to check in with the other person before doing anything, even things that you would ordinarily do without making such a fuss about it, like spending time with friends.”

Other signs of an unhealthy attachment are changing your clothing choices to suit your SO’s preferences, giving up exercise to fit his or her schedule, or even choosing a job or a graduate program in their city so that you can stay close to them. While it’s okay to do some of these things to show that your relationship is important to you, the trouble comes with the reasoning behind these decisions. Are you doing them because they will better you as a person or are you doing them because you’re afraid that your relationship won’t survive if you don’t?

Remember your S.O. likes you for who you are

Ironically, instead of saving your relationship, those very behaviors can lead to its demise. While our individuality is of course affected when we’re seeing someone, Sumber says that losing too much of ourselves can actually make us less attractive to our partners.

“Who you are is inevitably going to grow and change in a relationship with somebody else,” he says. “And yet, it’s your individuality – the parts of you that are inherently you – that the person in the relationship is drawn to you for.”

Your partner started to go out with you because of who you are. Your unusual quirks and the weird things that made you tick sparked something in his or her heart. Completely changing ourselves and who we are to be more like our partners can end up ruining our relationships, because the parts of us that they liked are no longer there.

Recognize the need to change

If you do feel like you’ve gotten too caught up in your partner and his or her life, there are some things you can do to regain your sense of self.

First, you have to be ready and willing to do so. Becoming aware that there’s something you need to work on is already a big step. “It is very common to be totally consumed by a relationship in the beginning,” says Lesli Doares, a licensed marriage and family therapist. “Being able to step back and look at yourself as a whole person with goals, dreams, desires and fears of your own is critical.”

How can you tell if you’re too caught up in your partner’s life? Sumber offers a very simple way to determine this. “Something to be wary about is when you stop enjoying being by yourself,” he says. “That’s a really important sign to watch for.”

Ask yourself this question: Do I still enjoy spending time by myself? If the answer is ‘no,’ then it may be time to start separating yourself from your partner. And don’t worry; there are ways to do this without feeling like you’re completely pulling away from him or her.

Speak up to your partner

If you’re feeling like you and your S.O. are becoming the same person, then it’s probably a good idea to talk to him or her about it.

Find a time when you and your partner are relaxed and able to listen, and explain to him or her as clearly as possible that you feel you might be losing yourself because of the relationship. Explain that you feel as if your lives are becoming one, and that you’d like to get some of your old self back.

“Having a conversation about what’s important to you and why (and how you would like to make room to include your partner) is a good way to take ownership of your needs and keep the relationship in mind,” says Doares.

Make sure to frame your words in a way that expresses your concern while keeping your S.O.’s feelings in mind. Try using “I statements” so that he or she doesn’t feel blamed or accused: “I feel like I don’t take time for my favorite hobbies anymore,” or “I need some time each day to do an activity that I love on my own.” Starting your sentences with “I” puts you at the center of the conversation, and avoids putting your S.O. on the defensive.

Communication is at the heart of every healthy relationship. “Being able to talk with your partner about expanding your activities – both together and apart – is important,” Doares continues. “If you cannot have this open conversation, then there is already trouble in the relationship.”

Your partner should be supportive and willing to help you individuate yourself to make the relationship better for you both. If they are not willing to support you, or to even have this conversation, then it may be time to reconsider whether this relationship is the right thing for you.

Take small steps toward being more independent

If you’re feeling uncomfortable about distancing yourself from your partner, then it’s a good idea to start off with baby steps.

Are there any times during the day when you and your partner are not in contact? If so, do something you enjoy for yourself. Make a your favorite snack, watch that new show you’ve been curious about or take out your iPod and shuffle that old playlist. Do something to take your mind off your partner. This will help you be more comfortable with spending time by yourself, without feeling the need to text your S.O. every other second.

Once you’re okay with having alone time when you’re naturally away from your partner, you can start to actively create times when you and your S.O. will be apart. Dr. Ramani suggests creating “ground rules,” such as making sure to exercise alone or refusing to have your S.O. pick you up from class, to help establish boundaries. “Sometimes, this is a good time to start taking a new class or joining an organization, because that becomes a built-in group of people with whom you may have a shared sense of purpose,” she explains.

Rachel Petty, a sophomore at James Madison University, found that setting boundaries worked for her. “My boyfriend and I each do our own things,” she says. “He’ll watch football with the guys and I’ll have a girls night in. It gives us time with our friends and a little break from each other!”

Taking time away from your S.O. will make you treasure the time you do spend with him or her. And think of all the interesting stories you’ll be able to tell about your day! You can’t do that if you and your partner are attached at the hip 24/7.

Reconnect with friends and family

As you become a part of your partner’s life more and more, your relationships with other people may fall by the wayside. It’s really important for you to maintain your sense of self by having your own friends and seeing them regularly.

“Making sure you have time to do the things that make you who you are is key, but so is carving out time to call your folks and your friends that you’ve known since childhood,” Sumber says. “You need to stay connected to the people that will, in the end, be there for you if this relationship fails.”

Reach out to friends you haven’t seen since you and your S.O. started dating. Call your parents and other close relatives, too. “The most important people all need to find room in your relationship,” says Doares. Plus, keeping in touch with your family can help you feel like you have a solid identity that isn’t dependent on your partner.

If you recognize that most of your friends are mutual friends with your S.O., then you might want to try adding some new friends to your social circle. When you take the initiative to do some new activities on your own, whether it’s joining a book club or taking a cooking class, make an effort to get to know the people you meet. Having friends who share your hobbies will not only make them more fun to participate in, but it will also reinforce the sense that you are, indeed, your own person.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Learning how to separate from someone you’ve become so attached to can be difficult. Sometimes, it’s a task much too big for us to do alone.

It’s always a good idea to get help if you need it. Dr. Ramani says to definitely reach out to close family members, like a parent or a sibling, whom you really trust. “Start there, because those are the unconditional people that had your back even when you weren’t showing up because you were being so dependent on your partner,” she says. Explain to them your situation and ask for their help by saying something like, “I got too deep in this, and I really need to start getting out.”

If you’re in so deep that you’re thinking of making serious life choices (like getting a job or moving to a new city) based solely on your S.O., then you may need to see someone who’s trained to help in situations like these. Dr. Ramani recommends visiting a counselor. “They will help take you through the step-by-step process of gaining more independence and autonomy,” she says.

Reach out to your school’s counseling center and meet with someone to help you through this. And if you can find a support group, then join it! It’s great to talk with others who can share your experiences (and hold you accountable to becoming better). You may even make a new friend.

There are also great books that you can read to learn about how to create healthy attachments in your life. Sumber recommends Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson, which provides templates for seven conversations to have with your partner to create a stronger, healthier emotional attachment.

It’s easy to forget ourselves when we’re caught up in the hormones of new love. Thankfully, we can take a step back and regain our footing if we stray too far off the path. “It’s wonderful to spend time with your partner, as long as it feels balanced, where you can also have time for yourself,” Sumber says.

There’s nothing wrong with connecting with another person. It’s one of the most essential parts of being human, and it’s a very beautiful thing. But it’s important to remember that you are also a beautiful person, and your individuality is a tremendous gift. A relationship should complement you, not complete you. Don’t let go of the things that make you who you are; that’s what drew your partner to you in the first place.

Dancer Sergei Polunin Takes Us to Church

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Typically when we think of ballet, we picture the epitome of girliness and grace: ballerinas on their toes, beautiful pink tutus, and let's not forget all of the swirling and twirling. However, if you have ever seen powerhouse ballerina Misty Copeland in action, she proves that ballet is just as athletic and powerful as it is beautiful. When it comes to male dancers there are even more misconceptions involved. Men who dance are stereotypically seen as being weak and not very masculine. Anyone who believes this to be true clearly has not seen Sergei Polunin perform highly strenuous and complicated choreography to Hozier's "Take Me to Church."  

If you watched the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, you saw the models strut down the runway to Hozier's hit song. While walking in six-inch heels with massive wings on your back and attempting not to completely wipe out any of the musical guests is definitely a very impressive feat, it is not nearly as impressive as the stunning, emotional movement of the former Royal Ballet principal dancer. Known for being "ballet's bad boy" due to his numerous tattoos, the 25-year-old is definitely pirouetting himself into Internet fame with the help of choreographer Jade Hale-Christofi and director David LaChapelle. LaChapelle is notorious for his out-there pop culture photography and this video does not fail to perpetuate his reputation of making of statement. Thank goodness for Polunin being able to capture the emotional distress in his dancing that we can only dream of expressing when we channel our inner So You Think You Can Dance moves in the comfort of our own rooms... behind closed doors. 

Harvard Bans Sexual Relationships Between Students & Professors

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Earlier this month, Harvard University instituted a total ban “sexual and romantic relationships” between professors and undergraduate students. The university insisted that relationships of that nature between students and faculty are inappropriate, the Associated Press reported.

The policy also extends to encompass relationships between professors and graduate students who are under their supervision, while graduate students are prohibited from relationships with undergraduate students only, The Guardian quoted, “if the graduate student is in a position to grade, evaluate, or supervise the undergraduate.”

The university currently holds about 2,400 faculty members and about 6,700 undergraduate students. Prior to this latest decision, Harvard’s policy only banned professors from having sex with students under their direct supervision. Now the policy reads,  “No [Faculty of Arts and Sciences] Faculty member shall request or accept sexual favors from, or initiate or engage in a romantic or sexual relationship with, any undergraduate student at Harvard College.”

Alison Johnson, a Harvard professor and chair of the committee on sexual misconduct, told Bloomberg that the decision did not face much debate on campus. “Undergraduates come to college to learn from us,” she said. “We’re not here to have sexual or romantic relationships with them.” She further elaborated in an email, “As part of this process, we thought a lot about the way that power dynamics can contribute to sexual harassment…We wanted to emphasize that the central characteristic of any relationship between a professor and an undergraduate in the College should be pedagogical.”

As the New York Times noted, following courts’ decisions in the 1990s that institutions could be held responsible for sexual harassment, colleges began crafting policies that forbade relationships between faculty and students. Yet, these changes to Harvard’s policy no doubt come as a direct response to the Department of Education announcement that the university was among several being investigated for its responses to reports of sexual abuse and harassment.

While many institutions take a more informal, laissez-faire approach to this contentious—perhaps even taboo—issue, Harvard’s actions follow those of several other notable universities, including Yale University, which banned student-faculty relationships in 2010; the University of Connecticut, which banned them in 2013 and Arizona State University, whose faculty voted to prohibit themselves from dating students whom they might “reasonably be expected” to have academic authority over in January, as was reported by Arizona Central.

Nevertheless, though most institutions have yet to create formal policies discussing such relationships, like Harvard, many have already made informal statements about them. For example, the University of California, Santa Cruz and Northwestern University have similarly declared, “The best time to date your professor, if at all, is after you have graduated from school.”

Should more universities adopt similar policies? Or should it simply be expected that faculty and students do not engage in sexual or romantic relationships?

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