Category: Fashion

Every year, Austin’s Fantastic Fest–the largest genre film festival in the United States– harkens the scariest season with the best in horror, sci-fi, thriller, action, and more. 

So many modern genre classics got their start at the fest (John Wick, There Will Be Blood, Arrival), and this year’s lineup was packed with bloody fare sure to explode over the next year. Keep an eye out for these upcoming hard-hitters, big and small.

Halloween

If we had a dollar for every time someone said they were making a “great new” Halloween movie, we’d be able to, well, actually fund a “great new” Halloween movie. However, David Gordon Green and Danny McBride’s swing at the legendary franchise finally connects.

The film, which wipes clean the universe of bad sequels, is the perfect recipe of homage and innovation, humor and horror. In it, an aged (but not out-of-shape) Michael Myers – get this – escapes from his asylum to pursue his old prey Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). Laurie is working on her relationship with her daughter and granddaughter, while simultaneously attempting to overcome the trauma of her past. The whole thing is a total blast and will satisfy horror buffs while converting a new generation of weirdos.

Apostle

Brutal and relentless, director Gareth Evans (The Raid and The Raid 2 – basically the Bible of modern action film) changes his tune a little bit with a haunting British folk horror. 

Apostle is centered around the incredibly intense Dan Stevens (Legion) investigating the kidnapping of his sister by a mysterious cult. The atmospheric horror is punctuated with scenes of visceral violence in which Evans’ action talents are on full display, including a kill so awesome that people in the theater stood up to cheer. You can watch Apostle on Netflix in October.

Overlord

American World War II soldiers fight off bloodthirsty, medically-enhanced Nazi zombies in 1944 France in a movie produced by JJ Abrams: what’s not to like? 

This bloody, brutal ride is a little formulaic, and not without it’s flaws, but damn if it isn’t fun. See it in a theater this November to maximize the tremendous first and last sequences.

Suspiria

This highly-anticipated remake of the 70s horror classic by Oscar-nominated director Luca Guadagnino previewed some footage from this movie in April and the audience gasped, cursed, and in some cases, even walked out. 

We’re happy to report that the whole product is truly and actually that disturbing. But it’s also beautifully shot, skillfully acted, amazingly creepy, with some of the best editing we’ve ever seen and a haunting score from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you can gut your way through the super-arty gore, it was our absolute favorite movie of the festival. You can see it in theaters October 26th.

Hold the Dark

Westworld star Jeffrey Wright plays a wolf expert who travels to a small Alaskan village to help a woman track down the pack that took her son. He quickly uncovers something much bigger, darker, and more relentless than the canines. 

Director Jeremy Saulnier has been a Fantastic Fest regular, showing his last two masterpieces Green Room and Blue Ruin in years past. Hold the Dark is another bleak and exciting thriller, with a sharp penchant for violence. It also
differs in a lot of ways. It’s a much bigger, more open, and more expensive film than Saulnier’s others. It’s already on Netflix, but they’re also holding screenings of it in a number of cities.

The Guilty

Bottle movies – or movies that take place in one location, often in real time and with very few characters – are very difficult to pull off successfully. Luckily, The Guilty does effortlessly, and with only a single character for most of it.

The Danish film centers around a 911 operator (112 in Denmark), and an escalating night of tension as he’s dragged into one of the most horrifying domestic situations imaginable. The lead actor, Jakob Cedergren, is magnetic and the director finds endless engaging ways to capture one guy in one room, and make you sweat through the whole thing. It’s not slated for distribution in the U.S. yet, but it’s the Danish nominee for the Best Foreign Film Oscar, so it very well could be in the near future.

Mid90s

If you ever had a Shorty’s t-shirt or a Toy Machine hoodie, this movie will speak to you. Jonah Hill writes and directs for the first time in this slice-of-life feature following 13-year-old Stevie, with a single mom and a shitty older brother, attempting to find a place in the Los Angeles skate scene. 

Hill pulls it off effortlessly. It’s nostalgic without cheap ploys, and coming-of-age without the clichés. It’s also undoubtedly the best movie in history that also features a character named “Fuckshit.”

Bad Times at the El Royale

Drew Goddard, director of Cabin in the Woods, tries his hand at a Tarantino-esque ensemble piece taking place at the “bi-state” El Royale hotel, straddling Nevada and California. 

He gets immense help from a knockout cast and great production design, and although the third act is not as satisfying as similar genre pieces, it’s still an incredibly fun ride. Look out for the lesser-known cast members, who shine despite performing alongside vets like Jon Hamm and Jeff Bridges.

Destroyer

Come for the twisted hard-boiled detective story, stay for the soul-crushing existential meditation on death and anger. 

Karen Kusama, who previously helmed The Invitation, directs Nicole Kidman as a detective with enough baggage to make Batman blush as she tries to make sense of a violent case from her past as well as her rage entangled with it. It’s a noir story we’ve seen before but with style we haven’t.

Donnybrook

In the gnarled woods of the midwest, you’ll find the Donnybrook; a bare-knuckle, no rules affair in which the winner walks away with $100,000. 

This gut punch of a film explores what two men (Frank Grillo of The Purge and Jamie Bell of Snowpiercer) will do to survive and protect what they hold dear. You don’t so much enjoy this movie as much as you survive it, but there is a whole lot to find in the bleakness of Tim Sutton’s film.

Cam

A real modern-day techno-thriller, we follow a cam girl named Alice (Madeline Brewer of The Handmaid’s Tale) working her way up the charts, only to find that someone has not only stolen her login and identity, but apparently her likeness too. It somehow gets more tangled, as the techno-thriller takes Alice into a neon-soaked underworld to get back what’s hers. 

The debut film for both director Daniel Goldhaber and writer Isa Mazzei, who is a former cam girl herself, was a sleeper hit at the festival. Netflix bought the film so it should be streaming soon.

When Maximilian Büsser, founder of cult avant-garde watch brand MB&F, first presented his design for the Horological Machine No.9, AKA HM9 Flow, his manufacturer simply said “no way.” But Büsser has never been one to bow to convention, often referring to his own creations as “crazy.”

Described as a “geometrically complex” combination of milled sapphire crystal and grade 5 titanium, the HM9 costs $182,000 and is limited to just 33 examples each of two different versions: an “Air” edition with a dark movement and aviator-style dial, and a “Road” edition with a rose gold-plated movement and speedometer-style dial. The movements are of course in-house, i.e. bespoke.

Resembling a jet engine and inspired by futuristic mid-century automotive and aviation design, the HM9 could be dismissed as deliberately provocative and impractical. But Büsser insists that’s (somewhat) wide of the mark.

“If it has already been done, what is the point in doing it again?” he once told me. “The watch industry has been taken over by marketers, who keep on copying whatever they think will sell. It’s a little sad and leads to a dwindling creative spiral.”

Outside the oil-fueled fantasyland of Dubai where he is based, Büsser’s designs, inspired by science fiction and his childhood dreams of space travel, can look a bit absurd. But well-heeled watch collectors have not only kept him solvent but made the business a resounding success. 

We still can’t see many people wearing a 57mm mechanical alien that costs nearly as much as a McLaren, but if you ever do spot one of these in the wild you’ll never mistake it for anything else.

Breast cancer touches most of us, directly or indirectly. What happens when someone you love is diagnosed, and the world keeps turning? So often, well-intentioned family, friends and coworkers want to be useful but realize they don’t really know how to be.

When breast cancer affects someone you care about, your greatest contribution can be offering both tangible and intangible support. Though not everyone will want the same things or react the same way, the most important takeaway is this: Don’t ignore the pink elephant in the room. Do something.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bare Necessities compiled the 10 best suggestions:

Listen.

If you’re not sure what to say, you don’t have to say anything. Your role isn’t problem-solver; it’s reliable shoulder. Always keep an ear open for clues that illuminate what she needs without making her say it. On the other hand, explicitly say that you’re there for her in whatever ways she needs, rather than attempting to guess. Take on the communications heavy-lifting: Send short texts or make quick calls, often. Tell her you’ll be in touch soon—then do it. Work around her schedule, or set up regular times to touch base, and return messages right away. Skip speaking in platitudes, too (“everything happens for a reason”). Not helpful.

Do your research.

However inadvertently, do not expect your friend to school you in the ABCs of breast cancer or walk you down from (your perfectly natural) worry while dealing with her own. Know that cancer is a rollercoaster and some days will be harder than others. Avoid sharing medical advice or opinions and other cancer stories you’ve heard about.

Be extra-sensitive and respectful.

Even if you didn’t before, always call before dropping by, don’t overstay and plan to come back soon to give her something to look forward to. Keep pity out of your tone, take a beat to think before you speak and don’t overreach: “You look rested” is preferable to a formerly offhanded remark like “You look great!” or “You’ve lost weight.” If you’re at a loss when she breaks the news, you can say something as simple as “I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this. I care about you, and I’m here for you.”

Just be you.

Treat her normally—not too much fawning. Be present, supportive and encouraging. Never assume it’s okay to share her story with anyone else. And while it sounds obvious, now more than ever, don’t be afraid to hug or touch your friend! She may be at the fore of your thoughts, but her mind is elsewhere; she may take awhile getting back to you. Don’t disappear.

Do the things you’ve always done together.

A perfect way to pitch in where others can’t is to take her mind off her diagnosis by having some fun. If she’s up for a manicure or a walk in the park, have at it.

Pick up some of the slack.

Thoughtful gestures mean a lot, so bring by her favorites, prep meals, help out around her house, do her shopping, drive her kids around. Volunteer to be someone she can count on to sit with her during chemo, send thank-you notes on her behalf or maintain a care page online (where people can sign up to receive updates without checking in with her individually all the time). Coordinate with your circle to send a bunch of uplifting cards. Whatever it is, if you say you’ll do something, follow through.

Become an advocate.

You can volunteer to attend doctors’ appointments and take notes so she can process better and verify what she’s hearing from someone whose mind is a bit less overwhelmed.

Stay the course.

Around diagnosis, it seems, everyone turns up—but support can flag as time passes. Sure, life gets busy, and there’s a new normal, but one of the best things you can do is to show up consistently.

Coordinate with her caregiver.

It can be incredibly helpful to relieve him or her for a few hours when you can swing it, or take care of the errands for them on the regular.

Help make life a little more pleasant.

Cancer survivors have suggested the following make great pick-me-ups: plush or silly socks, hats or pretty scarves, pajamas, bathrobes, a blanket and nice pillow, fancy soaps and lotions, favorite snacks, a gift certificate for a massage or to her favorite restaurant, funny movies, an e-reader or gift card to buy books, a journal—even a stuffed animal. And of course a charitable donation in her honor is always appreciated.

For information or support, the American Cancer Society is available 24/7 at 800-227-2345 or cancer.org.

The post Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 10 Ways to be Supportive appeared first on Bare it All.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: once in a while when I’m looking for a fresh story idea, I ask my friends what they wish we’d write an article about. What’s interesting is that, whenever I do, about 80% of the time their requests have something to do with jeans. Whether it’s that they’re looking for a new denim trend to try, need help finding a great pair, or are in search of styling tips, it seems like jeans are not just everyone’s favorite staple, but their most complicated, too.

Which brings us to today’s post. Let’s say you’ve got the jeans—it’s then time to start stocking up on tops to wear with them. After all, is there any easier outfit combo? Just add boots, sneakers, or mules and you’re ready to face fall effortlessly and stylishly. On that note, shop a cool 36 of my favorite tops to pair with your jeans for the season ahead below.

Up next? The secret Nordstrom section every cool girl should know about.

Now that spring runway shows are wrapping up, it’s safe to say logomania is here to stay. From brands like Prada with its iconic triangle logo on tops and nylon bags to Fendi’s logo biker shorts Bella Hadid wore down the runway in Milan, designers are plastering logos on more pieces than ever. As I pointed out last month with the best Manolo Blahnik shoes under $200, we all can’t afford a new “it” designer item every season or even every year (myself included) so today I’m spilling how I score logo pieces without paying the full price.

Some of my favorite luxury resale sites are The Real Real and Vestiaire Collective, which you can easily browse by filtering by designer and your size. Below I’m sharing the best vintage Prada items you can add to your fall wardrobe for less than $200. I sourced everything from shoes to the cutest nylon baguette bags that all have a very throwback yet current vibe, so scroll down to snag the goods before someone else does. Be sure to show us how you’re wearing your new vintage pieces by using the hashtag #WhoWhatWearing on Instagram.

I can’t say enough how important I think it is to cultivate your own jewelry look to ensure every outfit is as stylish as possible from one day to the next. I personally have a stack of hoops up my ears that, at any given moment, can be found to include a fun pair of hoops or a larger statement piece. No matter your jewelry look, there’s always room for a new piece to shake up your staple pair and this fall, jewelry designers really delivered in the earring trends department.

The earring trends we saw emerge on the F/W 18 runways was varied for sure. We saw all-out ’80s glam jewelry moments, thanks to the triumphant return of the decade’s maximalism to fashion. And then there were the more eclectic, art-inspired shapes and the pretty pearl pieces on offer. On the whole, this season’s earring trends prove one thing for certain: no matter what kind of jewelry wearer you may be, there’s a fall 2018 earring trend with your name all over it.

To get a look at the styles that will adorn everyone’s ears for the next several months, keep reading and then shop our picks of each trend.

Now your lobes are all up to speed on the latest fall earring trends.

Even though fall has barely just begun, the fashion crowd has been wearing the biggest trends of the season for months now. And since fashion month is wrapping up, four cities later, we can say with confidence that we know what the “It” items of fall 2018 are. 

Spotting It items is a big part of our job, and between street style, Instagram, and those waitlisted pieces that no one can seem to get their hands on, we don’t have any trouble with the task of pinpointing them. This season, we settle on 13 pieces that are defining fall 2018. Some of them are specific items and some are a specific type of item, all of which are informed by the season’s biggest trends (i.e. ’80s, Western, animal print, dad sneakers, and general “extraness”). 

You know the drill: Keep on scrolling to find out which pieces all the cool fashion girls are wearing this fall, and shop them for your own closet.

Next up, find out which high school clique you’d be in now, according to fall trends.

We’re all about the details and truly believe they’re the key to separating a chic outfit from a head-turning, street style–worthy look. Whether it’s a new pair of boots or eye-catching earrings, we’re advocates for punching up your look with a trending accessory. Shop the latest ones we’re eyeing from Matches Fashion now.