President Biden has asked the intelligence community to investigate whether or not the virus leaked from a lab in Wuhan, China. Vanity Fair reporter Katherine Eban shares her findings.
With the launch of a fifth new-generation satellite, the US finally has a constellation able to globally beam M-Code signals that are tough to spoof or jam.
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage is one supremely weird dude, whether it’s his predilection for collecting dinosaur skulls or his enjoyably over-the-top performances in scores of movies.
Now, we finally get to watch the first trailer for the long-rumored indie movie PIG, in which Cage portrays a bearded, porcine-loving truffle hunter bent on finding his stolen hog.
Here’s the brief official plot synopsis from Neon films:
A truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped.
Sounds like fun, right? Check out the trailer above for PIG, which oinks its way into theaters on July 16.
We want you to turn your living room into a hotbox. (No, we don’t mean the smoke-filled Camaro from your high school days.) We mean we want you to transform any spare space into your sweat gauntlet in lieu of a gym. As such, we’re putting the spotlight on five pieces of smart home gym equipment that provide personalized attention from virtual trainers, progressive challenges via artificial intelligence and detailed insight thanks to sensors. Best of all, no one will know if (read: when) you drag your dog-tired body into the bathroom and sit in the shower for 45 minutes post-workout. It’s your world.
1. Use AI for Gains: Tonal
Sometimes lifting is all about quality, not quantity. Tonal has two extendable arms that generate up to 200 pounds of resistance, plus a motion-sensor camera hidden in its 42-inch screen to analyze form and offer cues to boost performance. An initial fitness assessment determines your baseline, then AI algorithms take over. “Spotter” mode drops weight if you struggle in the bottom of a chest press, while “Burnout” mode reduces weight one pound at a time at the end of a set of curls, so you can work your biceps to failure.
The full-length reflective surface of Mirror hides an LCD screen controlled by an iOS app. Try a class in more
than 50 disciplines, or connect with a personal trainer on-demand. Using the built-in two-way audio and video, your trainer provides expert feedback, form corrections, and encouragement in real time for $40 a pop—a fraction of what you’d pay for a trainer at the gym. You can even sweat to your own workout playlists via Apple Music.
A true total-body strength workout usually requires multiple sets of weights or a pricey squat rack. Not
so with the space-saving JaxJox connected kettlebell. It adjusts from 12 to 42 pounds in seconds. While you’re swinging, motion sensors track reps, sets, weight, and power, so you can review your “Fitness IQ”—which measures strength progression—in the app. Users can also subscribe to on-demand workouts.
[$229 plus optional $13/month membership, jaxjox.com]
Arena houses a multidirectional cable system and specialty attachments capable of more than 300 exercises, from hamstring curls to woodchops. The portable device uses opposing electro-magnetic fields to generate hundreds of pounds of resistance (same tech that powers electric cars). Motorized resistance technology safely recruits more muscle fibers than traditional strength training, so you get better results in less time.
[$1,995 plus optional $20/month membership, goarena.co]
Solo neighborhood jogs. Treadmill intervals. All-out track sprints. With 32 sensors, Nurvv smart insoles capture all your running idiosyncrasies including cadence, step length, footstrike, pronation and balance. That might not mean much to you, but they indicate efficiency. The app provides tailored training tips and exercises to help fine-tune your technique and avoid injury. Looking to hit sub 7-minute miles? The Pace Coach feature provides target zones for your cadence and step length, with in-run alerts synced to your headphones like “shorten your stride” or “increase your cadence.”
It doesn’t take a PhD in psychology to understand why fashion and identity are so intrinsically linked. When we can’t control how others perceive us—a basic fact of life—what we wear, how we do our hair and makeup, and how we present ourselves to the world are the elements we can control, and we think there’s a lot of solace in that. It’s no coincidence that style is the lens through which many, including the LGBTQ+ community, are first able to explore and express their identity.
In honor of that exploration, we sat down with five queer creatives whose résumés span everything from fashion design to artistic creation to just generally being fabulous on platforms like TikTok. Ahead, hear from them about their personal style journeys, get inspired by their aesthetics, and see the stellar fashion buys they’re shopping for right now. Although we’re celebrating Pride Monthnow, let’s be clear that queer style and stories aren’t limited to one month—this is a year-round type of thing.
What does it mean to you to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community?
To me, being a part of this beautiful community is being a part of a family that just gets you. And as you grow, you find out that not everyone in the community will love you or be kind, but you can and will find folks who will.
What are you most excited about this Pride Month?
I’m always excited to see the looks, to see everyone go out in confidence in their fave looks! I love seeing people happy in their skin and living to the fullest.
As a model, it’s near impossible to extricate your identity and personhood from your career. How has being a member of this community impacted it, if at all?
Without my queer family and friends, I wouldn’t even feel confident enough to create the way I do. They fueled me to keep creating and told me I was good and worthy, even when I didn’t believe it.
Fashion, in recent years, has had a big push toward inclusivity and diversity. In terms of LGBTQ+ representation, how can the industry better serve these communities and move past performative allyship and “rainbow-washing”?
Pay Black trans women! Hire Black queer creatives and *pay* them! When you support folks with money and not exposure, that’s money that feeds us, houses us, and allows us to further thrive and work. The rainbows are nice and all, but money in the pockets of queer folks is better (and hiring queer folks year-round, not only in June).
“Track shorts are a go for me. They’re very affirming, but also, these added tassels are perfect for dancing!”
“I love No Sesso and dream of wearing this cozy, sexy dress. The brand makes pieces that can stand alone, and they give you a put-on-and-go vibe. No overthinking, just ✨vibe✨.”
“I love pieces that can grow with your body. You Swim’s one-size-fits-all swimsuits hold it down every summer! I’d wear their tops and the one-piece even when I’m not going to the beach, too.”
“I’m a sucker for a jumpsuit—something that is a two-for-one deal and can be transformed for any time of day.”
“And what I’m *actually* wearing all day.”
“I love this designer. This corset top can bring simple elevation and support.”
Style and beauty can be powerful tools for self-expression. What role do you think fashion has played in your life? Has your identity had an influence on your style at all?
Before I had the words to describe who I was or even what I felt, I had clothing. Fashion was one of the first ways I began to communicate myself on my own terms. It’s kept that role for me today, challenging people’s stereotypes of who I am and where I should belong and insisting on my individuality, my personality, my humanity. Fashion has helped me design my own sensibility in the world, root my feet more firmly on this earth, and take up space.
Fashion, in recent years, has had a big push toward inclusivity and diversity. In terms of LGBTQ+ representation, how can the industry better serve these communities and move past performative allyship?
One way is to move from just symbolic gestures toward making structural shifts. It’s about being proactive rather than reactive. This is why I started the #DeGenderFashion campaign a few years ago. It’s one thing to make an LGBTQ capsule collection; it’s another to understand that clothes have no inherent gender. People should be able to determine what clothes mean to them, not fashion and advertising industries. I’d love the industry to move away from “women’s clothes” and “men’s clothes” and just offer… clothes.
How can someone be a more supportive ally?
It’s about centering the leadership of LGBTQ people. I think so often we mistake looking at or experiencing LGBTQ culture as the political ask. We have to push further. It’s about investing in the leadership of LGBTQ people—especially trans and gender nonconforming people—so we can be decision-makers and actually shift the industry.
“Abacaxi is a queer South Asian designer–led brand based in NYC with such stylish and vibrant pieces. I love this skirt.”
“Christopher John Rogers’s use of color is unparalleled. Always a mood-booster that brings joy everywhere you go.”
“Tótem Tienda is a showroom featuring Mexican designers in Los Angeles with so many eccentric pieces. I can’t recommend them enough!”
“I love this pattern—so chic and such a statement piece.”
“Lota is a New Delhi–based sustainable-fashion brand that recycles fabric scraps to make these gorgeous shirts.”
What does it mean to you to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community?
I feel really hopeful for LGBTQ+ youth. Every generation paves the way for future generations to live their lives more authentically. I’m excited to see more spaces created where all LGBTQ+ members are welcome.
Style and beauty can be powerful tools for self-expression. What role do you think fashion has played in your life?
Fashion is the perfect icebreaker. I love meeting new people, and even though it’s scary or anxiety inducing at times, I love to use fashion as a signal to let others know I am open to them and vice versa. The first thing I say to a stranger that I find interesting is a compliment about what they’re wearing. It’s a great conversation starter.
How has being a member of this community impacted your career, if at all?
Being a gay designer and only having female friends helps me to design clothing for all femmes. I try to listen while also creating a fun fantasy for us to participate in.
“Nothing says Hot Girl Summer like a sheer, bias-cut Galliano gown.”
“After a day in the sun, I love putting on my baby-soft tee after a shower.”
“I wear white every day, so these Danielle Guizio x Reeboks are the only thing I will be wearing.”
“I realize I’m wearing underwear out when I wear silk boxers, and I’m okay with that.”
“My friend’s boyfriend brought one of these to the beach, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.”
As a model and digital creator, your career is inevitably intertwined with your identity. How has being a member of this community impacted your career, if at all?
It has majorly impacted my career. I don’t think my work would look like it does if I wasn’t a nonbinary, queer person. It’s brought me to so many creative folks who have shared experiences and experiences I’m unfamiliar with. I think that, for a long time, it felt like my identity was perhaps a hindrance in my advancement in the industry. These days, that feels less so, but it can still be a hurdle.
One of the things I enjoy about perusing your feed is discovering a new-to-me brand. For instance, you introduced me to Wray! Are there any fashion brands you see as being truly inclusive and celebratory of this community?
Chromat is a perennial favorite. They have consistently supported their community—LGBTQ+ folks—in the entirety of their existence as well as being size inclusive long before it was “on-trend.”
“I’m always a fan of Wray’s pieces—this dress is on repeat as the temps rise. Super lightweight and great over a swimsuit.”
“I am *often* in a bike short once the temp goes up. I have these in several shades. They are comfy, stay in place, and are a go-to when I want to live my off-duty style fantasy.”
“This is the underwear I basically live in. It’s made from the softest cotton. My favorite way to wear these is a Full Coverage Bra as a bralette/crop top—throw a blazer, shacket, or silk vintage shirt on top and call it a day.”
“Another trend I’ve been leaning into extra hard: matching sets. I love how you can build a little faux-jumpsuit moment, but both of these look great with a white tank or easy linen pants.”
I’m obsessed with your hilarious TikTok videos and spot-on rants. What advice would you give to younger folks who want to become more confident in themselves?
I see confidence as a way of being, like something you can feel, and like most feelings, it changes and fluctuates as you go about life. It’s completely natural for us to feel more confident in certain situations more than others. But ultimately, I think embodying confidence is truly about being completely and 100% comfortable with the being that you are. Once you get to that level, there’s nothing other people can say or do that will affect you. So I say go out there and stop focusing on what others do or don’t think about you and ask yourself, What do you think about yourself?
What are some pieces of clothing that make you feel like the best version of yourself?
When I want to feel myself a little more than usual, I like to use clothing as a way to build a fantasy for myself. So something like a heel or a bag can really transport me to another dimension. While wearing them, I am able to channel all of the powerful women that I’ve admired for the whole of my life. Now, it’s my turn to strut down the street and make people’s heads turn as I make a halt to whip out my gloss from my bag and touch up my lips! (Yes, I live my life in an incredibly cinematic way.)
Fashion, in recent years, has had a big push toward inclusivity and diversity in general. I’m curious to know if there are any fashion brands, in particular, you see as being truly inclusive and celebratory of this community?
Do I know any truly 100% queer-inclusive fashion brand out there? No. Something that every single brand I know does is gender all of their clothing. And until a brand has let go of these constructs, none of them will be truly inclusive of all queer and trans entities out there. This said, I have seen brands like Savage X Fenty and Mugler represent us on the runway, but very rarely does it go beyond that.
“The shorter the better.”
“I mean, the garment speaks for itself.”
“As your official HBIC, oversize sunglasses are a must!”
“If you think I won’t get a pair of matching heeled slippers, you’d be wrong!”
