Taylor Swift recently returned from her social media hiatus to reveal the cover for her sixth album, which is set to be released this fall. While this may have been exciting news to T. Swift fans, Taylor’s actual reputation may be on the line for her not-so-original cover art.

Taylor is posed on the album cover with a newspaper print overlay, which appears to be the knockoff version of a fashion print by designer John Galliano.

Taylor’s cover art resembles one of Galliano’s t-shirt designs, as well as the iconic dress that he designed for Sarah Jessica Parker to wear on Sex In The City. Many Twitter users called her out on the strikingly similar design.

Whether Taylor’s copycat design was intentional is unknown, but it’s gained her album release a lot more attention. The set release date is November 10, and for now, we’ll try not to judge an album by its cover.

Beauty is getting a little more exciting with all the new face masks that are hitting shelves. We've seen everything from the traditional Freeman’s Feeling Beautiful Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask to the more luxurious Miss Spa 24K Gold Créme Mask. Now, Lush Cosmetics is gifting us with jelly face masks (and jelly bath bombs, too)! We’re so ready for this jelly.

These easy-to-apply jelly face masks are going to take your next at-home spa night to a new level. To apply, you just scoop a little of the jelly, rub on dry hands, apply to your face and rinse after ten minutes. The masks come in five formulas: Just to Clarify, Bunny Moon, Birth of Venus, FOMO and 1,000 Millihelens, which are named after the successful businesswomen of the company. Each formula has a different healing aspect from rejuvenating to reducing redness to soothing sensitive skin, which means there's a mask for all your skincare needs.

The face masks will be available for purchase September 1 at www.lushusa.com for $13.95. Until then, follow Lush cosmetics on Instagram.

Laverne Cox is not here for your societal pressure. She became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy Award, and now she’s smashing beauty norms by rocking her gorgeous, makeup-free face on first dates. That’s right. Makeup-free on the first date.

In her interview with Access Hollywood, the actress and LGBTQ+ advocate explained why she doesn't get all dolled up right away. “I show up as Laverne,” she said. “I don’t glam up.” However, Laverne admits that she used to wear makeup on her dates when she was younger. “I used to try to make them like me,” she said. “Now, [it’s] do I like you?” She explains that she wants to know if her date is into the “real authentic Laverne, stripped way down.”

It's no shock that the actress is confident sans-makeup on her dates. After all, she has previously shared her bare-faced selfie on Instagram with her signature hashtag #TransIsBeautiful.

If Laverne’s beauty positivity wasn’t enough to inspire and excite, she also revealed in the same interview that she will be collaborating with Beyoncé on a new project. We don't know what the two queens will collaborate on, but we're keeping up with Laverne on  Instagram until we can find out.

Everlane, a company that sells ethically made high-quality clothing, is adding a new line of denim to their collection this fall. The video on their website explains how they have conquered the challenge to “make a premium denim to wear today, and ten years from now.”

These high-quality jeans, priced at $68 a pair, are made with a premium Japanese fabric in environmentally-friendly factories, which definitely makes these jeans “denim we can get behind.” Just like Ginuwine, we can't wait to be in those jeans.

In an interview with Vogue, Everlane founder Michael Preysman explains that the denim collection will feature styles that are sleek and simple. “We’re going to keep it pretty minimalist,” he says. “What we’re not going to do is distress, rip and repair in big ways, but I think adding a couple of key fashion silhouettes and a few more washes is what you’re going to see from us.”

The denim line will be revealed September 7 at Everlane, but you can sign up for early access to their new collection now.

By now you’re probably overwhelmed by all the advice from people who know you’re headed off to your first year of college: Make lots of friends, study hard, don’t party every weekend…

Lucky for you, we’ve got it all written down with some personal input from real collegiettes to help guide you through your first week of college! The first week is a tough transitional period that can be endlessly fun but also overwhelming, so this is the time to put all that advice into practice.

DO keep your door open

This is an oldie but goodie when it comes to making friends during the first week or two at a new school: Now that you’re living dorm-style, it’s up to you who comes in and out of your room. An open door or a welcoming sign is a friendly invitation for your neighbors (and possible future friends) to step inside.

“I met one of my best friends during the first few days of college because she had a sign on her door saying they had cookies to share,” says Alex Watson, a junior at New York University. “My roommates and I lived on the same floor and decided to indulge in cookies one day and ended up gaining a few friends, too!”

Whenever you and your roomie are having some downtime and are hanging around the room, open the door and see if any future friends wander in!

DON’T buy your textbooks early

No, this doesn’t mean you won’t be doing any studying. Buying school supplies for college is a bit different than it was in high school. Unfortunately, one big difference is the cost. Textbooks can cost up to hundreds of dollars each semester, depending on your school and courses.

However, there are ways to avoid the worst of the bills! Some professors don’t even use the textbooks that are on the bookstore’s list, so we recommend waiting until the first day of class before making any purchases. That way you won’t shell out your savings on anything you don’t truly need.

Ivy Stafford, a junior at Keene State College, says, “I originally bought my textbooks too soon and almost always ended up not needing them, which could get pretty annoying.”  If you’re too nervous about showing up empty-handed, shoot the professor an email beforehand asking for his or her suggestions.

Once you have a final list of books, see if you can rent them, buy them used or even find them at a cheaper bookstore in the area. There are tons of deals online for students, so check out the six best sites for cheap textbooks.

DO try new things

It’s important to head into this new chapter of your life with an open mind. If you want to get involved and meet new people, you’ll have to try your hand at a few new things! Don’t hesitate to join extracurricular groups you may not have considered, try out for a team sport or approach a group of students at the dining hall. Check out your school’s a cappella groups, look into an art class or try your hand at a group fitness class. Many schools offer job fairs and/or club fairs that allow you to see all your options at once, gather some info and sign up on the spot. Now’s the time to try new things, so take advantage of it!

Kendall Donohoe, a third-year student at Northeastern University, says that the first week of school is a great time to branch out and meet new people. “During the first week of school, everyone is trying to make new friends and will be especially friendly, so try hanging out with different groups of people, not just your roommate or someone you knew before coming to campus,” she says.

DON’T overschedule yourself

That being said, you should limit yourself to some extent. We do encourage you to try new things, but there’s a line that can easily be crossed when you’re given more freedom than you’ve normally had. New students can often get overwhelmed by the array of options they receive when they come to campus, what with all the events, fairs, info sessions and new people. While it is important to go into the first week with an open mind and an eagerness to get involved, make sure you don’t get carried away with your obligations. Make sure you’re not messing up your regular sleeping or eating patterns, or you may be stuck in an unhealthy lifestyle for the rest of the semester.

DO make a roommate contract

If you want to avoid any potential conflict with your roomies, we recommend the classic roommate contract. It may feel a little awkward to sit down and have a serious conversation about living standards with someone you’ve never talked to in person before, but trust us: It’ll be worth it! This way you’ll know what to expect from your roommate and what she will be expecting from you.

Ivy says she’s definitely benefitted from roommate contracts she’s made in the past couple of years. “It’s a good way to at least figure out what your roommate's schedule will be and how you can handle chores or whatever and just get to know each other's quirks a little better,” she says. “It doesn't need to be formal, but just set some boundaries (like the classic sock on the door), and it will make everything about your first year so much easier.”

Have a chat with your new roomie about cleaning, visitors and what’s generally allowed in your room so you can start the year off on the right note.

DON’T get a boyfriend or girlfriend right away

While it may be hard to resist the new dating pool that college will present you with, we recommend holding back in the boyfriend/girlfriend department. While it’s always fun to flirt around and test the waters with new crushes, you want to be careful about making a big commitment in your first week at school. Nothing’s wrong with spending time with someone you’re interested in, but you’ll want to commit your time to other things, like class, friends and studying! If you’re devoting most of your time to your SO, you’ll risk falling behind in class and missing out on building lasting friendships, and you’ll perhaps end up having had a not-so-fulfilling first semester at college.

Alex says she regrets throwing herself into a relationship during her first semester at school. “My freshman-year boyfriend was a great guy, but I wish I had waited another semester or two before I committed to [a] relationship with him,” she says. “In retrospect, it definitely held me back from other freshman-year activities, because I was more focused on spending time with him.”

While campus cuties can be a definite step up from those high-school sweethearts, it’s not always the best decision to commit yourself to one person while you’re still in a transitional period of your life. Hold off on starting up that first-semester romance until you’re fully settled in to school!

DO go to class

This might seem like a no-brainer, but you’ll be surprised at how many no-shows there are on your first day of class! With the first few overwhelming days of moving in and meeting friends behind you, you might feel tired and less motivated to attend your classes. Once you get used to having more freedom, it can be tough to resist sleeping in and easy to forget to set an alarm or to get lost on the way to your lecture. We’re telling you to push past your unmotivated thoughts, plan ahead and get to class!

While all of your class periods are important to attend, the ones that fall during those first few days might just be the most important. During the first few class periods, your professors are likely to go over the syllabus, assign textbooks and get a feel for the class roster. And if you’re not marked as present on the roster, he or she might just consider cutting you from the class! Those first few days are your best chance to make a good impression, and you certainly don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.

College will be a fulfilling time in your life, so you should start on a strong note. Follow these dos and don’ts for a smooth first week of school!

President Donald Trumps's economic adviser Gary Cohn called out the POTUS on Friday for not properly denouncing white nationalism following the protests that turned violent in Charlottesville, Virginia. Though he stood beside Trump during his controversial statements following the white nationalist protests, according to The Washington Post, he said that he's since been facing "enormous pressure" to resign.

Cohn, the director of the White House National Economic Council who is also Jewish, is reportedly upset about Trump's comments on the protests in Charlottesville —particularly when the president attributed the violence to "many sides"rather than outright condemning the white nationalists, neo-nazis and so-called alt-right groups involved. 

"This administration can and must do better in consistently and unequivocally condemning these groups and do everything we can to heal the deep divisions that exist in our communities," Coh said during an interview with The Financial Times.

Cohn said that many of his colleagues have urged him to stay, while others have told him to resign. But, according to the White House on Thursday, Cohn isn't planning on leaving anytime soon and feels it is his "duty" to "voice [his] distress" over the situation post-Charlottesville. 

"As a patriotic American, I am reluctant to leave my post… because I feel a duty to fulfill my commitment to work on behalf of the American people," he said. "But I also feel compelled to voice my distress over the events of the last two weeks."

Cohn's comments couldn't have come at a more pivotal time, as the Washington Post noted, with his nomination as chairman of the Federal Reserve on the line. If he were to grab the position it'd make him the world's most powerful central banker. However, if Trump (who is frequently preoccupied with the loyalty of those in his circle) decides to oust him, or if Cohn decides to part ways with the administration over this deeply personal issue, it will certainly affect the president's economic policy plans. 

It's been about a month since President Donald Trump sent a series of early-morning tweets promising to ban transgender people from serving in the U.S. Military. While it was reported on Thursday that the Pentagon would soon offer directives about how exactly it would be implemented, critics of the ban are still out and ready to fight. 

One such critic? Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the junior U.S. senator from Illinois and a U.S. Army veteran. Known for her candid nature, Duckworth is certainly not backing down on her views about trans people in the military. On Thursday night, recounting the story of the helicopter crash where she lost both of her legs while serving in Iraq, she tweeted about how essential all service members are to the military — especially for people who are actually on the ground. 

"When I was bleeding to death in my Black Hawk helicopter after I was shot down, I didn’t care if the American troops risking their lives to help save me were gay, straight, transgender, black, white or brown. All that mattered was they didn't leave me behind," Duckworth said in her statement. "If you are willing to risk your life for our country, and you can do the job you should be able to serve — no matter your gender identity or sexual orientation."

Another day, anotherBachelor Nation breakup. The news came out this morning that Nick Viall and Vanessa Grimaldi have officially split, and we're honestly devastated. The couple released a statement to E! News, announcing that despite trying to make it work, they've chosen to call it quits.

"It's with a great amount of heartbreak for the both us that we have decided to end our engagement,” the joint statement reads. “We gave this relationship our all and we are saddened that we did not get the fairytale ending we hoped for. We will continue to be there for each other no matter what. This hasn't been an easy decision, however, as we part ways, we do so with lots of love and admiration for each other."

The couple got engaged during the Bachelor finale, which aired in March, where Viall proposed to Grimaldi in Finland after saying goodbye to current Bachelor in Paradise star, Raven Gates. “I was fighting my feelings for Vanessa for such a long time because there were other women involved,” Viall told Peopleback in March. “However, once I was able and free to make my choice, I felt like my heart knew for a while.”

This leaves Viall 0-4 on the Bachelor franchise scoreboard, after finishing as runner up on The Bachelorette twice, appearing on season 3 of Paradise, and finally, as the main suitor on season 21 of The Bachelor. Better luck next time, I guess?

Leave it to Twitter to solve a best-seller mystery! No, not the latest riveting crime thriller, but an actual discrepancy on the New York Times’ YA Best-Sellers list ranking,Vulturereports.

Here’s where it starts: Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give had been sitting pretty at number one for Young Adult Bestseller for a solid 25 weeks, until suddenly it wasn't. The list for the week of September 3 showed it being replaced by something called Handbook for Mortals.

Sure, all’s fair in love and bookselling, and maybe Thomas’ acclaimed novel couldn’t hold the top spot forever, but the flaw Twitter users found and investigated was that no one had really heard of Mortals until it was suddenly at the top, as Pajiba reported. Another YA author, Phil Stamper, was the primary voice in questioning the authenticity of the mysterious book's fast sales, first addressing its publisher, a website called Geek Nation.

He went on to point out the apparent lack of advertising or press on behalf of the book, and the unlikelihood of so little publicity resulting in bestseller worthy sales.

But wait, the saga continues. According to Vulture, apparently the author, Lani Sarem, is an actress, though with few credits to her name. And her book had already been discussed as a possible movie adaptation. Therefore, as Stamper pointed out, maybe the publishers and those attached to the possible film (like American Pie’s Thomas Ian Nicholas) artificially inflated sales just so they could pitch the movie with the best-seller tagline.

A few anonymous direct messages later, Stamper revealed sources from independent bookstores had received calls about purchasing Mortals in bulk orders, therefore boosting sale numbers. Long story short, Handbook for Mortals has since been removed from the list, and YA Twitter is rejoicing about their real life Nancy Drew sleuthing skills. Honestly, the scheming and discovery behind this story is worthy of a top spot on the best-seller list itself. Or even a movie adaptation…?

Tote bags are truly a staple, no matter the season or occasion! Available in every shape and color imaginable, they serve as the ultimate casual accessory. With all the necessary feminist rage happening lately, designers have taken up the opportunity to create pieces that are totally #girlpower and we are here for it. So for all you badass ladies out there, we've put together our top picks for totes that smash the patriarchy. Check them out below!

1. Feminism Statement Bag (Etsy, $13)

*reads in Beyonce's voice*

2. Power Fist Tote (Society6, $24)

3. Smash The Patriarchy Tote (CafePress, $15)

4. Revolt-ing Tote (Wildfang, $24)

Purchase this and all proceeds go to Planned Parenthood or ACLU! Double win!

5. Resist Tote (Etsy, $10)

6. Girl Power Tote (Etsy, $20)

Personal fave!

7. Nasty Women Unite (The Outrage, $28)

YES.

8. Empowered Tote (Feminist Apparel, $25)

A classic. 

9. STEM Tote (The Outrage, $25)

Because STEM women need a little love too!

11. Michelle Obama Quote Tote (Society6, $20)

Said by the queen herself. 

12. Bad Ass Babes Club Tote (Society6, $20)

Members only.

The 2016 election cycle caught a lot of people in the U.S. by surprise. It featured the way-too-many candidates running for the Republican candidacy, the heated battle between Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton within the Deomocratic Party and (the grand finale of what seemed like the most dramatic political drama of all time) the victory of our current President Donald Trump. Want some more twists and turns?

According to the Cooperative Congressional Election Study by YouGov, 12 percent of voters who voted for Sanders (a Democratic socialist) in the primaries ended up voting for Donald Trump (a real estate tycoon and Republican) in the general election. Wait, what? 

You read that right. According to this massive study that surveyed over 64,600 people, more than 1 in 10 of the voters who first chose the incredibly progressive Sanders switched sides in the end. Brian Schaffner, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts, broke down the data on Twitter: 

Many might assume that these "Bernie-Trump voters" felt strongly about trade, since both candidate were against the Trans-Pacific Partnership. However, Schaffner found there wasn't a particularly large discrepancy there between the Sanders supporters—regardless of who they voted for in the general election.

Instead, he said the data found race to be more divisive than trade decisions, showing that in general Bernie-Trump voters likely don't think that white people have significant advantages in America. That could explain why they didn't vote for Hillary Clinton, who aimed many of her efforts toward addressing racial inequality. 

So, who are these people? In an interview with Vox, Schaffner said these voters were "also older and whiter, and also less liberal." A breakdown of the partisanship supports this theory, showing that even though they voted for Bernie Sanders initially, they didn't all necessarily label themselves as Democrats. 

The big question is whether or not these voters' choices gave Trump the W. Based on some of the key deciding states in the general election, if these Bernie-Trump voters chose not to defect from the Democratic party, then yes, Clinton could have won—in theory. 

"The way to think about this is, as several people have noted, that this election was so close that any number of things could have proved the decisive difference," Schaffnertold Vox.  "This is yet another one of those anythings."
 

It's important to remember that hypotheticals are just that: hypothetical. There's no telling what unintended consequences any change would have had. It's also worth noting that people changing political alignments between the primaries and general election isn't really uncommon. NPR noted that in one 2008 study that about 25 percent of Clinton primary supporters voted John McCain in the general. So, maybe America isn't as partisan as we thought (or perhaps just more fickle.)

It may be hard to see how anyone who "felt the Bern" could also want to "Make America Great Again" with Trump, but this election put a lot of people in a position they probably weren't anticipating being in. We could look at statistics and surveys all day, but in the end it's hard to say exactly why everyone voted the way they did. 

A high school in Denver, Colorado, is being investigated after video evidence surfaced of a young cheerleader crying in pain while being pushed into the splits, The Washington Post reports.

In the video (which many may find disturbing to watch) a young girl, reported to be a 13-year-old incoming freshman at East High School, screams over and over "please stop" while it appears that the coach and teammates continue to force her into the split position. Other videos have surface of other girls on the team being pressed into the same painful position. 

The coach in question, who is now on required leave after the incident, is Ozell Williams. Lnown for his appearance on "America's Got Talent" in 2015 and tumbling across the field at Broncos and CU-Boulder games, The Washington Post also notes that he was removed from Boulder High School for doing the same "breaking" technique—AKA forcing young girls into horrible uncomfortable and dangerous positions. 

The videos were sent to KUSA News, an NBC affiliate in Denver, who originally broke the story and prompted the investigation by the Denver Police Department this past week. However, the parents of one student involved, Ally Wakefield, said they sent the school the videos and spoke out back in June.

KUSA published an email addressed to the East High School Athletic Director, Lisa Porter, on June 15 where Wakefield's parents alleged their daughter was injured during the "forced splits." 

“I have attached a video of the forced splits she and her other team members were forced to do at cheerleading camp and practices; unless they had a doctor's note," the email read. "This is how Ally injured her leg."

Based on his Instagram account, Williams is still maintaining an active online presence as a coach and promoting his camps and clinics. In a post from two days ago, he wrote: "Just got through teaching a tumbling/stunting camp out at one of our family gyms in California last weekend. It was awesome. Excited to bring some stuff back to our athletes @mht5280. We love sharing our gifts and making others smile, especially the youth. Thank you @goldstarallstars. For camp and clinic info, please contact us!!"

Kimberly Archie of the National Cheer Safety Foundation condemned the practice as "child abuse" after watching the video.

"It's okay to be competitive, it's not okay for something like this. This is child abuse. This is child maltreatment. It's not okay. The coach should have known it wasn't okay, and the kids should have felt comfortable enough to say, 'Hey stop! What are you doing? Why are you doing this our teammate?'"Archie told KUSA. "And for the school district? Do nothing until journalists get involved? That’s even more egregious than the act itself.”

As you prepare to enter your freshman year of college, it might be a good idea to clear any preconceived notions that you’ve learned from movies, family members or your friends. Most of what you think you know probably isn’t true. While we had to figure out just how different our freshman year would be on our own, these experiences will be a perfect guide of what to expect—but more importantly, what myths to steer clear of.

1. The friends you make at orientation will be your BFFs all throughout college

Lindsay Fuce, a sophomore at Gordon College, thought that she’d be close with her orientation friends throughout the year, if not all of college. However, that quickly changed. “I would say by the time second semester rolls around you don't even see your orientation friends anymore!” she says.

After meeting a couple of girls that seem cool, you might be thinking, “Wow! We’re going to do everything together, I can’t wait!” While it is a great thing to meet new people right away, the ones you interact with at orientation most likely won’t become your best friends. Unless you both exchange numbers and really make an effort to hang out all the time, you’ll go your separate ways. This is because you get caught up in different classes, dorms and lives.

2. You have to get involved in a lot right away

Throughout the first couple of weeks, you’re going to be overwhelmed with the variety of different things on campus that spark your interest. While it may be tempting to join multiple clubs or throw yourself into a lot, it’s important that you don’t. Not to say that you shouldn’t get involved at all, but you shouldn’t commit to more than what you have time for.

Mollie McKinley, a junior at High Point University, learned that sitting back and weighing her options was better than committing without knowing what everything entailed. “In the words of Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation, ‘Don't half-ass two things, whole-ass one thing,’” Mollie says. You’ll be glad you did.  

3. You won’t have any fun unless you join a sorority

Upon arriving for school, you might notice that a lot of girls have already moved in and made friends. This is only because most schools require those rushing a sorority in the fall to move in a week early in order to begin the process. If you decided beforehand that Greek life is not for you, then don’t second-guess that! If you are genuinely interested but missed your shot in the fall, there’s always informal recruitment in the spring!

Whether or not you’re in a sorority will not determine the amount of friends you make or fun you have. There are still plenty of opportunities to meet new people throughout the year, so don’t worry. Jane Griseham, a junior at TCU, learned this after being upset throughout the first couple of days at her school. “I genuinely thought that I wouldn’t know what parties to go to or have anyone to hang out with. I was completely wrong, it just took me a week or so to stop being ridiculous.” Myth busted!

4. Ramen will be all you eat

Why is college so often associated with ramen noodles? Yes, it’s cheap and a quick meal—but there are plenty of other options. For example, most colleges require a meal plan for freshmen living in the dorms. Dining halls have a large variety of food, including plenty of healthy options. Even if you get sick of eating there, you can still get creative with what you’re eating.

If you don’t have a meal plan and really want to stick with ramen, at least switch it up with different variations. Haley Koralek, a junior at Fort Hays State started eating like this after deciding against a meal plan. “I wanted to be able to eat well, but on a budget,” she says.

5. You’ll be lost on campus

There’s no doubt that finding your classes on campus can be difficult, but you have to remember that every other freshman is just as worried. To calm these fears, a lot of colleges place student ambassadors throughout campus to guide new students to their classes or answer any questions they might have.

Jenny Williams, a junior at the University of Central Florida, used the Maps option on her iPhone instead. “I felt kind of stupid, but I looked up the address of the building I needed to go to, plugged it in and clicked the ‘walking’ option,” she says. “I just kept doing that until I memorized everything, and it worked.”  The point is, even if you’re too shy to ask for help, there are other ways to conquer campus!

6. You can skip class all the time

Technically, you can skip class all the time–but you shouldn’t. Yes, you finally have the freedom to do what you want, but with that, comes responsibility. It might be easy to justify skipping a lecture that doesn’t take an attendance to sleep in, but you’re only cheating yourself.

Most importantly, you’re paying for that class. If you end up failing, you can’t get that money back. Additionally, skipping one time can turn into multiple times because it’s a hard habit to break. Susette Garcia, a sophomore at Kansas State University, had an 8 a.m. class every day, meaning she was always tempted to skip. “I looked it like this: either I could skip, and waste even more time trying to get caught up, or just go and be done with it for the day,” she says. Trust us, it’s not worth it.

7. You’ll still be super close with your high school best friends

As sad as it is, you’re going to grow apart with your friends from home. You’ll all be meeting new people, so it’s natural to not talk as much as you used to. However, you can still make an effort to catch up with them and even plan a visit to their school after you’ve settled in.

Sarah Archer, a sophomore at New York University, lost touch with her friends, even with one of them attending the same school as her. “We still talked every once in awhile, but it’s a big campus and we ended up going our separate ways,” she says.

As you continue to count down the days until move-in, don’t let yourself worry about everything you think you know about college. Instead, get ready to experience everything for yourself!

This article has been syndicated from Macarons & Mascara​, an InfluenceHer Collective Member. Read the full post here.

I study journalism and one of my biggest career dreams is to work for the biggest digital media sites out there (Well, hello there, BuzzFeed and INSIDER). The thing is, competition is tough, and I can basically get in line behind all the other twenty-somethings graduating in a year who also want to work for the biggest digital media sites out there. While experience is extremely important, you’ll gain an advantage by getting to know some of the people who work in the industry you want to break into, and what better way to do this than to ask for an informational interview?

Honestly, I had never even heard of the term “informational interview” until this summer. I was lucky enough to have been able to score one recently with a writer I was introduced to at Her Conference, and I learned so much from her! It was such a great experience that I wanted to share it with you and give you tips for meeting your favorite writers and editors. So let’s get right into the world of informational interviews.

First thing’s first: What exactly are “informational interviews”?

“Informational interview” is a super professional term for a coffee meeting between you and your favorite writer, editor or freelancer from whom you receive career and industry advice. I prefer to call them coffee dates, but the meetings don’t even have to involve coffee; if you both love tea, it could be a tea date, or if you’re feeling bold, you might invite him or her to a pub for drinks (only do this after you get the job you want to say thanks for the advice!)

The editorial assistant I met with was a panelist at the conference attended, and she made some points that I really wanted to learn more about. Luckily, she is friends with a co-worker of mine, and he was able to give me her email address, so when I messaged her for a meeting, she agreed! The tips she gave me were fantastic, and will definitely help me become a stronger writer for future sites I write for.

No, you don’t have to bring your resume and cover letter because this is NOT a job interview. As a matter of fact, you’ll be the one asking questions, so make sure you’ve got good ones. Don’t ask anything that you can easily Google the answer to. If you’re nervous, start off by asking your “interviewee” how they got to their current position, and just go with your natural curiosity.

How do you organize an informational interview? 

Like I said, I organized my first meeting through a co-worker giving me contact information and telling the editorial assistant to expect my message. Using your connections is one way to go about setting up a coffee date with someone you’d really love advice from, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask! Your colleagues and bosses were in your position at one time, so I’d imagine they’d love to help you in any way that they can. You might have to do some LinkedIn research to find any of your co-workers’ connections who have had jobs at any of the places you want to work at. When you find someone, see if your colleague can message their connection to expect your email. This is way better than just having them give you an email and then keeping your fingers crossed that it’ll get a response.

Another way of getting an informational interview is the infamous cold email (another phrase I hadn’t heard of until recently). Basically, you look someone up, find their email address, and you just go for it! You usually won’t have any common connections, which can make cold emails seem intimidating at first, but honestly, what’s the worst that can happen—they might say they’re too busy, or they might ignore you. Either way, it doesn’t cost you anything to try.

Lastly, you may meet some influential people in your desired industry at networking events. But this requires that you actually look for and attend networking events, meet someone you’d love advice from, and actually get their contact info so you can email them. It can be difficult because literally everyone and their mother will likely want to get in two minutes with an Editor or Social Media Director, but if you need tips, I’ve got a post all about How To Survive Networking Events. Once you get their email, message them as soon as you can and ask for a meeting. But no matter which method you choose to organize a meeting, you have to make sure that editor, writer, or social media manager actually says yes…

Get them to say yes: how do you give them a reason to meet you?

“Hi, so-and-so! My name is Jasmin and I’m a student and writer at XYZ. I love your work on ABC Magazine, and it’s my dream to work there. I would love to meet you for coffee in the city when you’re free.” 

That’s a pretty decent example of what you should NOT send to someone you want to meet for coffee! Why should this person care enough to meet you for a couple of iced chai lattes in a noisy, packed coffee shop in Manhattan instead of leaving the office to go home, eat a fancy steak dinner, and dip their toes in a warm bubble bath? Simply put, just saying you love their work and want to meet them isn’t enough.

Yes, it’s a good idea to say that you enjoy reading their work (as long as that’s actually the case!) but they don’t want to attend a coffee meeting where they’re being fangirled over because that’s just a waste of their time. Try to be as specific as possible about why you’d like to meet with them. Did they mention something specific in a particular article that you’d like to hear more about? Did they recently receive a promotion and you want to know more about how they got their position? Great, say that! This will help them prepare what to talk about so they help make the most of your time together, and having a focused topic of conversation will help you think of focused questions to ask. This is called giving them a reason to meet you. And, without this handy tool under your belt, be prepared to receive an “I’m too busy” or be ignored altogether.

Read the full post here. 

As we’ve grown up, the world has gone digital, so naturally we have a different perspective on technology and its communication uses than older generations do. As young college women just starting out in or preparing to enter the professional workforce, proper email etiquette is essential to come across to employers as serious and qualified.

Sometimes we don't even realize the mistakes we’re making when it comes to emails. Here are several common errors to avoid before you hit send.

1. Your tone is too casual

OMG, LOL, and LMK are great for letting your squad know what’s up, but maybe not the best move for your colleague or boss.

Since we’re comfortable using email and text messages to talk to our friends, it might be hard to switch tones between audiences.

“Sometimes, younger people email professionals as if they were emailing their friends,” says Darlene Johnson, Director of External Relations at the Career Center at Hofstra University. “Always remember, you would speak in a different manner over the telephone to a professional than you would to a friend. That same difference should apply to email.”

Avoid using slang or casual words when talking to employers and colleagues. But make sure to find a balance between showcasing your mature “adulting” side and your actual self.

“The most common mistake young people make when communicating via email is not finding a balance between professionalism and personality,” says Heather Huhman, President of Come Recommended. “While some send overly formal emails that lack personality, others send emails cluttered with typos and slang.”

Find an appropriate balance that shows you’re a young professional ready for the working world, while also demonstrating your positive personality traits.

Related: 6 Terrible Cover Letter Mistakes to Stop Making

2. You don’t proofread for spelling or grammatical errors

Spellcheck exists for a reason!

When your emails are riddled with typos, it just looks careless. It suggests that you didn’t care to take the extra minute or so to glance over your email. Not to mention, you seem ignorant in disregarding the plethora of available resources that can help with the proofreading process.

“I have received emails with poor capitalization, grammatical errors or informal greetings,” says Johnson. “This does not show that you have a grasp on basic business communication, and could reflect poorly on you in an internship or job search.”

An email full of basic grammar issues just proves you didn’t put a lot of thought into your message, which might make an employer think you aren’t taking personal interactions, or the job, all that seriously. Don’t let a stupid typo or misuse of your/you’re stand between you and your dream job!

3. You don’t follow up

Having a solid convo with a potential employer is intimidating enough, so don’t let it go to waste by letting them forget about you.

After a networking event or career fair, make sure to follow up with any new contacts with an email so they remember you. Briefly reference any particular conversation you had, like, “I really enjoyed talking to you about the many opportunities for sophomores,” or, “The summer program you mentioned sounds like a great experience.” And make sure to say thank you!

“If sending a follow-up email to a professional that you met at a career fair or networking event, always attach your resume, event if the recipient has it,” advises Johnson. “This will make it easy for the recipient to re-familiarize him/herself with who you are and what experience you have.”

The night of or day after a career event is generally a good rule of thumb for following up because the conversation will still be fresh in their mind. Not to mention, they might be scheduling job interviews in the next coming days and you want to make sure they remember your name when it comes time to make the calls.

4. You forget your target audience or goal

Make sure to communicate clearly the purpose of your email and keep your wording clear and concise. There’s no need to include excessive details or ramble on.

“Many young people believe a professional email needs to include a lot of detail to show they’re competent and experienced,” says Huhman. “However, most professionals appreciate a brief email that gets to the point, is polite, and acknowledges the fact that their time is precious.”

Be present in the moment when you are writing your emails, not just hurriedly typing something out on your phone while on the go. Think about who you are writing to, and what you would say to the recipient in person if you ran into him or her on a 30 second elevator ride. You would have to give a greeting, but then get to your point fairly quickly! The best way to clearly communicate your purpose is to actually know it ahead of time, so have it mind when you prepare to type it out.

Related: 4 Ways You're Secretly Sabotaging Yourself at Work

5. You are the only one reading your emails

No, not talking about some incognito internet hacker reading your witty banter with your friends.

Have friends or a family member read through an email, particularly a follow up hoping for an interview, to make sure they can identify what you’re trying to say. Not to mention, they also know you and your personality well and they’ll be able to call you out for trying too hard to sound professional and losing your own voice in the process.

“If you are not sure if an email sounds professional, run it by someone,” says Johnson.

Most colleges also have career centers with advisors available to give feedback on almost anything, from resumes to cover letters to emails, so make sure to maximize the use of those resources, too.

6. You are too generic

Keep it professional, but don’t forget to make your communication personal.

Aside from the tendency to be too informal in email, sometimes emails are sent out that are too generic. You shouldn’t be able to copy and paste the same email to multiple employers, or even multiple people. This applies to follow up emails, as well as normal office communication.

“If you are emailing a professional contact, be sure to include his or her name and also reference where you met this person, as they may not remember,” Johnson says.

Adding personal references differentiates yourself from other candidates as well as the many other emails the person you are emailing is receiving.

7. You haven’t changed your email address since 7th grade

Sorry, but jonasluvr5 might not come across as strictly business.

Be sure that you are using a professional account both on your resume and for job and internship search correspondence.

“An inappropriate email address will certainly put off an employer,” says Johnson. “A student I worked with had "thongangle@..." as the email address on her resume. I had her change it immediately.”

Also, if you have separate email accounts for work and the rest of your life, make sure you are checking the work one regularly. Creating a completely separate account might be helpful, but a school email address also works fine.

Related: The Lazy Girl's Guide to Networking

These are just a few things to keep in mind as you’re preparing to go from group texts to office wide emails. Some might seem obvious at first, but they are definitely common mistakes to watch out for. Just keep it professional, clear, concise, and make sure you sound like you! That’s why you got the job in the first place.

Yes, we said it: we’re glad summer is over. While we all enjoy a few weeks of hot weather and attempting to tan, there are so many things to look forward to about fall. And to be honest, summer isn’t as great as it’s cracked up to be–we’ve all had that nasty summer frizz or ended up with bad burn lines. Not cool, summer; not cool. So here’s why you should be embracing the change of season and not despairing that the ever-wonderful summer is over.

1. You’re going back to college to see your friends

2. You don’t have to worry about sunburn anymore

3. You get to buy a whole new fall wardrobe

4. It becomes acceptable to stay inside and watch movies all day (Love Actually - need we say more?)

5. Fall is sweater season, and who doesn’t love being cozy?

6.   All of our favorite TV dramas are back

7.  Shaving your legs becomes less of a priority since we’re no longer wearing shorts

8.  Football season is back (and so is tailgating!)

9.  No more bikinis = no more worrying about your bikini body

10.  We’re not going to keep finding sand from the beach in every single pocket

11.  We don’t have to keep looking at all our friends’ vacation photos on Facebook

12.  The cool weather makes you much more attractive; sweat doesn’t look pretty on anyone

13.  You can now snuggle under a blanket by the fireplace

14.  It’s cool enough to have hot chocolate (especially with marshmallows!)

15.  It's the return of cinnamon, gingerbread and pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks

16.  It’s the perfect time for new year’s resolutions for college

17.  Daylight savings: we finally get to catch up on that lost hour of sleep

18.  Halloween is only a month away; cue pumpkin carving and an excuse to get dressed up!

19.  We get to pull out those beautiful boots we’ve had to keep in the back of our closets for months

20.  Fall leaves are the best for jumping in; the crunching noise is the best!

21.  …they also have amazing colors

22.  Thanksgiving is just round the corner; get excited, collegiettes!

Don’t despair that summer is over–just embrace how great fall is!

As far as celebrity couples go, there are basically none more #CoupleGoals than Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Not only are they super adorable, but they're not afraid to laugh at themselves and each other. Case in point? Ryan's birthday tribute to Blake on Friday, which was basically the most Ryan Reynolds-esque way ever to wish your wife a happy birthday.

As is typical birthday shout-out protocol, Ryan took to Instagram to post a photo of he and Blake along with the caption, "Happy birthday to my amazing wife." The super pixilated photo, on the other hand, barely features half of Blake's face - and I can't stop laughing.

Their best couple photo? Probably not. Hilarious? Absolutely.

That's not to say that the duo can't also be super sweet and "aww"-worthy. We're still swooning over all the things Ryan had to say about his wife at this year's Met Gala, proving you should always find a man who can do both.

While I can't believe we're still having the leggings-as-pants conversation, alas, here we are: a high school principal has come under fire for body-shaming her students for wearing leggings.

Hello Giggles reports that Heather Taylor, the principal of Stratford High School in South Carolina decided to use a new school year meeting about the dress code to tell 10th grade girls that, if they are bigger than a size 0 or 2, they "look fat," in leggings, saying that they shouldn't be worn as pants.

"[Leggings are] meant to wear underneath a long shirt that covers your heiny, or a long sweater of some type, or a dress. It is not meant to be your actual pants, and if you have a shirt that comes to here, then you are showing everything. Yes, everything," she reportedly said.

It gets worse. "The sad thing is with that, ladies — if someone has not told you this before, I’m going to tell you this now — unless you are a size 0 or a 2, and you wear something like that, even though you are not fat, you look fat."

Taylor's comments were caught on tape, and naturally, when word got around to Stratford High School parents, they were less than thrilled. ABC 4 reports that they took to the school's Facebook page to express their anger about what Taylor said, accusing the principal of fat-shaming and body-shaming their daughters.

"You're meant to be a public figure that young women can look up to, yet you make comments bodyshaming teen females? I'm disappointed but not surprised," one of the comments reportedly said. 

Taylor has since apologized (sort of?) with a statement about her comments. "Yesterday and this morning, I met with each class of the Stratford High School student body. I addressed a comment made during a 10th grade assembly and shared from my heart that my intention was not to hurt or offend any of my students in any way. I assured them all that I am one of their biggest fans and invested in their success. After speaking with our students and receiving their support, I am confident that, together, we are ready to move forward and have a wonderful year."

She continued, "Stratford High is a very caring community, and I want to thank all of our parents and students who have offered their support to me and provided me with an opportunity to directly address their concern. I am very proud to be a Stratford Knight."

Can we all just agree to stop enforcing dress codes that unfairly sexualize young women's and girls' bodies so we don't need to keep having this conversation? LMK.

Getting to walk the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is basically the holy grail, "I've officially made it," of all modeling jobs. So of course, as the lineup for the 2017 VS Fashion Show in November is announced, both Angels and newcomers are taking to Instagram to announce the fact that they'll be walking.

However, as Cosmopolitan and tons of fans have already noticed, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid's Instagram accounts have stayed relatively mum on the matter - and there's some speculation that they may not be walking at all this year. Both Gigi and Kendall have walked the show two years in a row, and last year was Bella's first year on the VS catwalk.

Meanwhile, Angels Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, Elsa Hosk, Jasmine Tookes, Martha Hunt, Lais Ribeiro, Sara Sampaio, Romee Strijd, Stella Maxwell, Taylor Hill, and Josephine Skriver have all been confirmed to return for the 2017 show, which will take place in Shanghai, China Life & Style Weekly reports.

If you're a Kendall or Gigi fan, don't freak out just yet, though. As Cosmo points out, we only found out that Kendall was walking last year as she was literally boarding the plane to the show - and the show is still a few months away. Stay tuned!

Freshman year has come and gone, and for many, it's a whirlwind. As a newcomer to your campus, you met a lot of people quickly and probably made many fast friends. Whether you're content with your current acquaintances or you’re feeling as though you haven’t quite found your niche, now that you're adjusted to your college lifestyle, you're probably feeling ready to make a variety of new friends  and expand your social circle. This five-step guide shows you the most effective ways to make friends after freshman year using the social, professional and academic opportunities you get in college.

1. Go to Parties in Smaller Groups

As fun as it can be to kick it with a huge, wild crew, it’s probably not the most effective means to making lasting friendships. Instead, invite one or two girls from your dorm to join you at a party one weekend. "I was less intimidated by the social scene come sophomore year, and felt comfortable going out in smaller groups," says Allie Chase from Michigan State. “It's easier to look out for each other, and much less overwhelming, because when you aren’t struggling to remember names right off the bat, you take the time to get to know people more personally.”

Not only does keeping your going-out group small help you get to know who you’re partying with better, but it also makes it easier for you to meet even more new people at the party. “Everyone's loose and ready to have a good time, joke around and connect, but only with approachable-looking people,” says Erin Fett, a recent grad of Colgate. Think about which group you’d feel most comfortable approaching: would it be a smaller circle, or a pack with too many people to count? The first one? We agree!

2. Join a Club Based on Your Career Path

Focusing on your GPA freshman year was a smart move, and now that you’ve set yourself up for success, Sharon L. Jones, the former Associate Director of Career Services at UNC-Chapel Hill, explains that “sophomore year is a good time to venture out and meet people with similar interests, explore careers and build skills.”

Jones was also a former adviser to the student chapter of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) at UNC-Chapel Hill, and she suggests that you look for clubs based on your current career goals, such as student chapters of professional associations, academic honorary societies in particular fields of study, and professional fraternities and sororities.These types of opportunities will not only prepare you for life after college, but will also introduce you to people with similar professional aspirations. Exeter University collegiette Lauren Hudson gained a great group of friends through her involvement with Her Campus Exeter as President and Editor-in-Chief. “Running the whole team has brought me closer to so many girls that I never would have met before,” she says. “These are girls in different year groups and girls who study completely different courses–it's been such a benefit of an already amazing position that I've been able to make so many great friends!”

3. Volunteer Your Time

Those of us who made our first pals selling Thin Mints and Samoas know that community service can be a great opportunity to make friends. Though nowadays, the old Girl Scout getup might only come out once a year (hello, Halloween!), there are endless opportunities to be an asset to your campus community year-round. Whether you choose to build affordable homes, pay visits to hospital patients, or groom puppies at an animal shelter, the key to meeting other students with similar skills and interests is to pick volunteer work that interests you.

Christina Hoover, an architecture student at Syracuse University, made some of her best friends when she joined the Freedom by Design team within the American Institute of Architecture Students. Freedom by Design is an organization that uses simple construction solutions to make living easier for those who are confined to their homes. Devoting this amount of time and effort to a cause they care about has allowed the members of FBD to “become more than just a team,” she says. “We’ve become close friends ready to work hard together, take breaks together, and laugh together. Its a one-of-a-kind experience.” Not to mention, volunteering looks impressive on a resume!

4. Take on a Leadership Role in Your Club

Many people take freshman year to explore their interests, and we all know an easy way to do that is through the clubs offered on campus. Whether you’ve been involved in several activities or have been totally devoted to one, you now know the ropes, and can help others get on your level by taking on a leadership position.

Erica Choo, president of the Wellesley Class of 2014 Council, says she ran for her position because she wanted to become more involved on campus. “Since becoming president my junior year, I have met so many incredible people that I probably would not have had the chance to interact with otherwise,” she says.

Through her role of bringing the class closer together with social events and fundraisers, she has organized events that helped others make friends and allowed her to do the same along the way. “On council, I met a girl who I had seen around campus before but never really talked to a whole lot,” she says. “We organized a study break tailgate together outside of the dorms for everyone in our class, popped the trunks of our cars, and blasted the radio so loud that I’m sure you could hear the music all the way from the other end of campus. It was a really great way to meet new people and bond with other girls in our class, and through working together on class council, she has truly become one of my best friends at school.”

5. Study Socially

While Erica’s wild study break tailgate has us easily convinced that taking a breather from the books can be a fantastic way to make friends, we can only wish it was possible to take a study breaks without the aforementioned studying. When its time to buckle down, organizing a study group is a great way to stay on top of your work with a built-in excuse to hang out with the people you’re working with. Invite people in your classes to whom you haven’t talked much to meet up and prep for a midterm together. And since we can’t always rely on revved engines and blasting beats to stay social on study breaks, recent Boston University graduate Mary Danielewski shares a tip for breaking the ice with study partners: “I like to let classmates I don’t know as well choose dinner spots and coffee shops,” she says. “It puts them in their comfort zone, and introduced me to some great new hangouts!”

As you prepare for another year of fun and friend-making, the most important thing is to keep an open mind. Remember that sometimes the best things, including friends, can be found when you aren’t even looking!