The Prettiest Brand in Fashion Is Now Making the World’s Prettiest Shoes

Most of the current footwear trends fall squarely into two camps: pretty shoes and “ugly” shoes. This new collection is undoubtedly in the former camp. Since it’s debut in fall 2014, Brock Collection has been one that fashion girls regularly freak out over season after season. Each collection, filled with beautiful prints, wearable, flattering corset silhouettes, and special details flies out of stock.

The latest collection to create major buzz among the fashion crowd is S/S 19, which just made its debut at NYFW. To add to the buzz, Brock Collection presented its very first shoe collection, which it designed in partnership with luxury shoe brand Tabitha Simmons. The boots, kitten heels, and mules complement the spring collection beautifully and feature many of the beautiful details Brock Collection is known and loved for. Currently available for pre-order at Moda Operandi, the shoes (and the rest of the spring collection) are expected to ship between March and early May. We’re sure that sizes will be scarce for shoes this pretty when they’re officially released, so you might want to secure your pair now if you feel like splurging. They’re worthy.

See and shop the Brock Collection x Tabitha Simmons shoes below.

Next up, shop more of the new shoe brands fashion girls are losing it over.

The Futuristic BikeBox Easily Secures Your Motorcycle Anywhere

Parking your prized motorcycle outdoors is a drag. It gets rained on. Thieves steal bikes or parts off of them. Drunks try to sit on them like playground equipment and knock them over. Bikes need to be secured in a closed space, and Germany’s BikeBox24 has just the compact solution for many riders.

BikeBox24 is a clamshell compact garage that holds a single motorcycle in places like your yard or parking lot where the bike would otherwise be left exposed.

The BikeBox requires only about 32 square feet of space, and because it is not permanent construction, usually no permission is required.

The box is made with a plywood floor, topped by a plastic clamshell top that locks down for security. It flips up and out of the way for easy access loading or removing your bike.

The price is about $4,000, but that is well worth it for your peace of mind and the security of your bike. One stolen bike will have you realizing why they used to hang horse thieves, and it is a feeling best avoided.

This Trick for a Flawless Jean Fit Is Bizarre, But It Works

Raise your hand if you love the way rigid, vintage-feeling denim looks? Now keep your hand raised if you also like how it feels upon first wear? Didn’t think so. It’s not always the most comfortable of things to slip into given there’s zero stretch, so I hear you on that one. I love essentially everything about authentic, heavy denim—aside from the feeling upon the initial wear. Of course, they loosen up and start to give in all the right places as you break them in, making them ultra-flattering and the main reason they’ve been my go-to for years. But let’s just call a spade a spade: At first, they’re quite tight.

Even though I practically live in jeans, I will confess that getting into my favorite pairs of rigid denim can often result in jumping, pulling, wriggling, light sweating, and a general feeling of frustration. Now, I’ve always been a huge proponent of the fashion squat (if you’re not familiar, yes I do mean a literal squat—I drop it low a few times to stretch my jeans out in all the necessary places), but I’m always open to new tips to make my favorite denim more comfortable. So when my co-worker was talking about the weird trick she uses for a flawless fit, I was all ears.

She proceeded to tell me that upon purchasing and before her first IRL wear, she sleeps in her rigid denim. Yes, sleeps. As crazy as that sounded to me, I simply had to test this theory for myself. Anything in the name of journalism, right? For this experiment, I turned to my two favorite brands for perfect, 100% cotton denim: Re/Done and Grlfrnd. Here’s what went down.

Trial #1: For my first time around, I chose this cool Grlfrnd pair that, as you can see from the photo above, were tight like a tiger. I slipped them on, snapped some photographic proof, and hit the hay.

Fast-forward to the morning, and they’re perfectly worn-in. They still fit like a glove, but I’m able to do things like sit down comfortably and, you know, breathe. I would call this a success.

Trial #2: For my second night sleeping in jeans, I chose this classic pair from Re/Done. As you can see, they also started out quite form-fitting. I repeated the same process from the previous night—snapped some photos and crawled into bed. 

Once again I woke up in the morning, and violà! Perfectly relaxed. They still retain their flattering, authentic shape, but I am able to move around comfortably—no fashion squats required. 

While I can attest that, yes, sleeping in your brand-new non-stretch denim does, in fact, loosen them up to the perfect degree, I can’t say that this will be something I’m doing on the regular. I much prefer dozing off in my pajamas, but I’m happy to have this trick in my back pocket for when the situation may call for it.

So my conclusion is that if you’re really committed to the cause, knock yourself out and sleep in your rigid jeans. You’ll wake up with a flawless fit—and maybe a few friends who think you’ve lost your mind. Hey, fashion knows not of comfort, right?

This is the exact pair from trial #1, and let me tell you I’ve never gotten so many compliments on a pair of jeans.

And this is the pair from trial #2. I would wear these literally every single day if nobody would notice (and honestly, it might still be worth it even if they did). 

Hello, legs for days! 

This ’90s-inspired pair just shot to the top of my wish list. 

You really can’t beat Ref’s denim price point. 

This shape is so flattering. 

It’s hard to go wrong with a classic pair of skinnies. 

This raw hem feels so rock ‘n’ roll. 

Re/Done just gets it. 

These pair perfectly with a bodysuit and mules. 

Everyone will think you scored these in a vintage shop.

Just add a band tee, and your outfit is set. 

Now that you know how to perfectly stretch your jeans, check out the denim styles NYC girls are loving right now.

Facebook beats Twitter at fighting fake news, a new study found

Reality has had a tough year. When the president of the United States is denying that thousands of Americans died in a hurricane, journalists face an uphill battle. That battle has been particularly fraught on social networks, where malicious actors have spent the past several years peddling hoaxes and sowing division.

But today I bring you at least one reason for optimism. “Trends in the Diffusion of Misinformation on Social Media,” a new study from authors at Stanford University and New York University, analyzed the performance of stories posted on fake news sites from January 2015 to July 2018. Here’s what they found (emphasis mine):

Interactions with these sites on both Facebook and Twitter rose steadily through the end of 2016. I…

Continue reading…

4 Flattering Fall Trends Under $150

You wouldn’t be alone if you found yourself slightly intimidated at the current items trending this fall. From ultra-slick vinyl to loud, ’80s-inspired colors, there’s more than a fair share of out-there trends making it big at the moment. To those of you who don’t plan on venturing far outside your comfort zone (which is most of us, to be honest), rest assured that there are so many ways to get into the fall mood while remaining true to your personal style.

Whether you’re shopping for a new pair of jeans, some boots, or a jacket to wear with anything and everything this season, let me recommend some pieces that are guaranteed to look good on you and feel just right for fall. Considering they’re all $150 or less, think of these trends as the perfect way to refresh your wardrobe staples without blowing your budget. Ready to find something you can love sans guilt? Look no further.

We love the way this looks buttoned all the way up.
Not your average denim jacket.
Just the update your blazer outfits needed.
Lean into the ’70s vibes.
Just add a statement top.
These jeans are the most flattering pair we’ve spotted this season.
These will highlight your ankle boots.
The contrasting side makes this pair super flattering. Also available in more sizes.
Oh, Ref, you always nail it.
Word to the wise: This skirt’s primed to sell out soon.
Print mixing done right.
We like the model’s styling idea.
A pair of boots you’ll own for at least a few years.
Um, Gigi Hadid just wore these in NYC. That’s all.
The white boot trend is still going strong.
Add to cart ASAP.

Now you’re all set to look (and feel) your best this fall.

24 Under-$100 Items Stylists Want You to Buy Now

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the seemingly effortless appearance of our favorite celebrities when we’re seeing Instagram snaps or street style shots of their literally picture-perfect outfits day after day. I’m sure you’ve at times wondered how they do it. Well, what we often have to remind ourselves is that there’s actually team of people working hard to make these stylish moments happen—and at the helm of those teams are stylists.

And while It girls do wear their fair share of high-priced designer goods, the best dressed ones tend to mix in a handful of affordable pieces as well. That’s why I recently reached out to six of the aforementioned celebrity stylists to get the lowdown on the under-$100 items we should all be buying now. And from accessories to dresses to denim, their answers did not disappoint; read on to see and shop their picks.

“Summer days may be gone, but as the sun starts to sit lower in the sky, you’ll still need chic shades for fall. Need Supply now makes its own no-nonsense frames under the Need brand for less than $100.” — Sissy Sainte-Marie
“This little Zara bag is irresistibly adorable.” — Sissy Sainte-Marie
“Here’s a perfect wardrobe staple that’s ethically and sustainably produced—a rarity in the under-$100 range.” — Sissy Sainte-Marie
“Loeil has lots of eye candy for your ears priced well under $100. (Not to tempt you, but it also has a heap of cute dresses for a wee bit over $100.)” — Sissy Sainte-Marie
“When Julie Pelipas’s big white jeans look went viral this summer, I just couldn’t resist copping her steez. You too can find your 12-sizes-too-big jeans for 40 bucks here at Langston’s.” — Sissy Sainte-Marie
“A must-have. I love simple jewelry, and these can be worn with any and everything.” — Cary Robinson 
“My go-to black clutch. Not too big and not too small.” — Cary Robinson 
“A must-have staple piece to have in your wardrobe.  You can dress this perfect little sweater up or down, and it’s great for fall!” — Cary Robinson
“My new obsession are these cuffs from By Chari! A timeless piece you can wear with anything. I like to stack them too!” — Cary Robinson
“Bring earth elements into your wardrobe with rattan jewelry.” — Alexandra Mandelkorn 
“Love this day-to-night clutch with an ode to the cosmos. Perfect to pair with fall tones.” — Alexandra Mandelkorn
“A chic alternative for early fall headwear. It’s still a little warm for a full hat.” — Alexandra Mandelkorn
“Every woman should invest in a good strapless bra in black and nude so they can still have support with open necklines. I like Spanx bras because they’re smooth and seamless.” — Christina Pacelli 
“I love Le Specs and own multiple pairs. They’re designer quality at a really great price. When I need to update my look for the season, a new pair is the first way I do it.” — Christina Pacelli
“Commando low-rise seamless thongs are an essential part of my personal wardrobe, and I always have multiple pairs on hand in my kit. This seamless pair of underwear shows no lines and can be worn under most shades of white. I could not live or do my job without them.” — Christina Pacelli
“Nipple covers by Nippies is my favorite nipple-cover brand. They come in different skin tones, and the opaque shade obscures the nipple color and outline. These are indispensable in my kit for when my client goes sans bra and there is sheerness.” — Christina Pacelli 
“A good bag can elevate any look. This one from Mango has a great graphic shape and looks super high-end.” — Katie Bofshever 
“Levi’s 501 jeans are magic; these are my go-to when it comes to denim.” — Katie Bofshever 
“I’m a hoop girl through and through. These Laura Lombardi pairs are great because they make a statement but are still super lightweight.” — Katie Bofshever  
“White sneakers go with everything, and I love this classic style from Nike.” — Katie Bofshever 
+ Plaid Mini Skirt with Zippers ($19) . “You basically just need this cute set, and I can vouch, as I already own it. All I can say is ‘Way harsh, Tai.’ And at a $50 price tag for the set, I can do Tai-from-Clueless cosplay all season long.” — Emily Sanchez
“For fall, treat yourself to a cheeky, trendy bag. As long as it’s under $50 like this one, you won’t feel bad getting sick of it by next season.” — Emily Sanchez
“I love this little printed power-lady dress. It’s a bit ’80s and bit ’40s. I suggest throwing on clean sneakers or chunky platforms to switch up the look.” — Emily Sanchez. Also available in more sizes.
“I love this sporty update of the denim mini. At under $20, you can go ahead and order all the colors to switch it up.” — Emily Sanchez

Up next? 24 fall pieces that just need a sweater and ankle boots.