Month: January 2022

My mom discovered a fashion trend without even trying. In anticipation of Chicago’s winter, my mom and I always go coat shopping together to try to find her a new warm jacket. We tear up Michigan Avenue, going from store to store in 15-minute increments. The same thing happens in every store: I pull out funky bombers and cropped puffers, my mom shakes her head no, and she reaches for a knee-length jacket.

“Come on, Mom. Why not this one?” I’ll say, holding out a leather bomber that I secretly hope she likes so I can “borrow” it from her closet.

She informs me for the 97th time that she will not wear any jacket that does not fully cover her butt. I remind her of her great physique, which is perhaps due to weekly pilates and five-mile runs every day. In turn, she tells me that’s not the point and to not push it. “I’ll wear a short coat the same day you wear a long one,” is her final word on the matter.

In my defense, I tried wearing long coats. But every long puffer made me feel like an elongated walking marshmallow, every trench coat made me feel like a lurking private investigator, and every wool overcoat made me feel like I was trapped in a blanket. Then one night, as I was putting on my favorite leather jacket to go out, it hit me: long leather jackets.

While I still may not understand my mom’s no-short-coats rule, I will say that I can get behind her long-coat look. Long leather coats are the ideal jacket for winter. They’re sleek, subtle, and have just the right amount of shape. The leather isn’t too heavy, and the extra length adds plenty of warmth. And after a lengthy online search, I found tons of options that I could see both my mom and myself wearing. Below, I’ve rounded up 21 long leather jackets to get you through the winter. (And Mom, if you’re reading this, it’s now your turn to try the leather bomber.)

Up Next: 30 Brown Leather Jackets That Will Put Your Black Ones to Shame

It’s a new year, and you know what that means: Most of us are setting personal goals and intentions, tossing out old habits that aren’t serving us, and just looking for a fresh start. It’s also a prime opportunity to have a little fun and try something new.

One way I like to mix things up at the beginning of the year is by changing up my beauty routine. Listen, I’m not forcing you to trim your own bangs or to box-dye your hair a crazy color, but if you did and it didn’t quite work out, that’s what hats are for, right?

Even if you’re a little wary of making a drastic change, you can take baby steps and start by mixing up your manicure routine. If you normally stick to reds and neutrals, why not opt for blues and greens? Or if your nails are usually bare, you can treat yourself to an at-home mani and experiment with some new colors or designs. The sky’s the limit here, and if you don’t like it, well, there’s always nail polish remover!

To get you inspired, we compiled a list of our favorite nail colors to wear this January. Some are classics, but we’ve also got a couple of funky and unusual options. Take a look below.

Deep, darker colors are the norm for the wintry season. Instead of an inky black polish, why not grab a dark navy polish? You still get that dramatic effect, but it’s a little more unexpected.

If you normally gravitate toward pinks and reds, you can switch things up with purple. There’s a shade for any kind of mood or vibe—like a dark wine-inspired hue, one that veers toward magenta, or a soft mauve.

Wintry whites? How groundbreaking. But there’s a reason why it’s a classic hue, especially this time of year. Depending on the shade, white can look crisp and sophisticated or soft and creamy. It’s versatile and goes with just about any outfit or look.

Winter might not be a particularly green and lush season, so if you’re missing that hue, you can express it on your nails. Deep emerald polishes have a regal look, but softer sages can be so calming, too.

For those of you who think neons are more of a summer choice, hear us out. The colder temps in the wintry season can make it feel a little glum, so bring a little bit of happiness to your fingertips with some bold neon hues. The bright colors will definitely make a statement and might even lift your spirits.

On the flip side, reliable, goes-with-anything gray works all year round, but especially this time of year. A dark gunmetal gray can have the same strong effect as an inky black or a deep navy polish. And a dove gray can add some lightness if you’re looking for that type of mood.

And of course, you can also reach for the nudes and neutrals for a subtle manicure. It’s always a timeless look. Plus, if you’re not used to having color on your nails, it’s a good place to start.

Up Next: Making This One Small Change Made My Nails Grow Crazy-Fast

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.

The L.A.-girl urge to load up on puffer jackets every winter is strong. This may be because winter fashion is heavily inclined toward heavy coats and jackets meant for subzero temperatures, and they just look so cozy. Can you blame us for wanting in?

However, after several years of living between New York and L.A., I noticed I only actually wear a handful of jackets when I’m on the West Coast. There’s no need to force a fur-coat moment when a beach day is also a viable option. Save the puffers for skiing or your trips east, and stick to the below 32 lightweight jackets to keep you more than toasty through the mild winters in L.A., Miami, and the like.

Between bombers, denim, moto jackets, and very fashion cropped numbers, there are so many good options that you won’t envy your East Coast friends and their puffers again. I promise.

Next up, I’m Pulling Up in Square-Toe Boots Till Further Notice

We know by now the never ending struggle that comes with shopping for clothes as a curvy woman. It turns out, particularly when it comes to jeans, the hunt isn’t particularly easy if you’re, say, 5’3″ or shorter, either. Put these two together (read: if you’re both short and curvy), shopping for jeans can easily lean more toward pull-your-hair-out stressful than it does fun.

With a number of denim trends buzzing on the market right now, we know you don’t want to sit this one out, so we’re doing what we do best—making shopping as easy as it can possibly be with a hefty roundup. And because shopping online can oftentimes be finicky, we’re going by what matters most: reviews (we know consumers tell it like it is when it comes to denim).

We looked everywhere from Nordstrom to Levi’s, and according to shoppers just like you, these are the 23 jeans that worked out the best.

Next: Shop these under-$50 petite styles