Tag: Clothes

Who What Wear editors check Zara on the regular—like, multiple times a day—so upon waking up to the first snow of the season in NYC, we were delighted to see its latest drop of pretty new swimsuits ready to shop. 

This season’s offering includes hues mostly found in nature—moody blues and greens and desert-inspired browns and oranges. There are also a few splashes of pink and purple, which go perfectly with the new style of printed tulle designs. From asymmetrical shoulders to subtle embellishments and fun fabrics, it’s clear that Zara is prepared to make a big splash for spring break beachgoers and summer poolside sunbathers.

Ahead, check out 10 of the newest swimsuits from Zara that we predict will sell out quickly. And don’t forget to browse the brand’s fun, affordable accessories, including sunglasses, hats, and beach-friendly jewelry.

Next, 3 Swimsuit Trends Celebs Are Already Wearing in 2023

Here at Who What Wear, we focus a lot of our energy on the biggest trends of the season, and while we’ll never stop covering the heavy hitters, there are several micro-trends worthy of honorary mentions. These aren’t making major style moves yet, but we firmly believe that it’s only a matter of time until they graduate from micro to macro or, in other words, from niche to mainstream.

After hours of studying the runways and, of course, online shopping (all in the name of research!), we’re sharing the micro-trends on my radar at the moment. We’ve spotted these pieces on the feeds of the most influential women we know and stocked at several key retailers, which tells me that each is on the brink of becoming huge. Keep reading for fashion’s most exciting micro-trends of spring 2023, from the silver jeans we raced to order after seeing the recent runways at NYFW to the cheap but impactful red tights that have all our editors in a tizzy.

Up next, see the items French women are removing from their closets in 2023.

Welcome to Deep Reviews—your one-stop destination to discover the absolute best products and brands the beauty industry has to offer. The Who What Wear staffers you already know and trust will research, test, and review the market’s most sought-after and buzzed-about products to see which formulas (of the hundreds up for consideration) are truly worth your hard-earned money and attention. You can expect honest, completely uncensored feedback and no-BS recommendations our hard-to-please testers endorse without reservations.

Sometimes, wearing a full-coverage foundation feels like putting on a latex mask. And on the flip side, going totally bare-faced can feel daunting. For days when both sides of the spectrum feel impossible, it’s best to reach for a base product with flexible coverage that feels breathable and maybe even skincare-adjacent. That’s where BB creams come in.

BB creams are the perfect solution for skin-blurring, even-toned coverage that looks—and feels!—like your skin. Unfortunately, finding the right BB cream can quickly devolve into a Goldilocks and the Three Bears situation. You want a formula that has enough coverage (but not too much), feels hydrating (but not oily), and stays on all day (but doesn’t mattify). Basically, we want BB creams to do the most. We tried 13 BB creams and picked the top eight. Keep reading for our favorite BB creams and why we loved them, plus info on our rigorous testing process and insight from a celebrity makeup artist on everything you ever wanted to know about BB cream.

“To me, the formula is about as perfect as a tinted moisturizer can get. There’s no funky scent or heavy oily consistency, and it just blends into my skin so seamlessly without drying it out or making it break out. I can wear it every single day (and honestly do) and my skin is actually better for it. I’ve actually already been using this product for two or three years now, and it’s my holy grail. I love how seamlessly it glides on, and it blends flawlessly. The formula is just right for my skin so it never feels dry or flaky or, on the flip side, oily or heavy, like so many other BB creams I’ve tried have done. It also works as a wonderful base to makeup, and my cream blush, concealer, and bronzer all blend in well on top.” — Anna LaPlaca, Editor

“I have used many, many BB creams in my day, and I can honestly say that none have ever held up better than this tinted moisturizer from Chantecaille. I don’t know how they do it, but it genuinely looks like an eighth layer of skin—you can’t even tell you’re wearing any base makeup at all with this product, which is genuinely impressive. It does come with a steep price tag, but if there’s anything you’re considering splurging on, this is truly, truly worth every penny. The finish is dewy but not shiny, and it never pills over my skincare and sunscreen. Truly the holy grail.” — Katie Berohn, Beauty Editor

“Since I was test-driving this BB cream throughout New York Fashion Week, I knew I needed lightweight, long-lasting coverage for running around the city and being photographed. Lightweight and long-lasting usually don’t go hand-in-hand, so I was skeptical at best. But shockingly, Covergirl blew me out of the water. It settled on my skin flawlessly and gave me a radiant, skin-like finish. I’ll admit I was having much better skin days at the start of fashion week than at the end, so my first reactions were that it was incredible. Toward the end of the week, I was itching to get it off since my skin was starting to break out (too many slices of stress pizza will do that to you!), but sans textured skin or acne, it looked incredible. Given how low-cost the CG BB cream is, I’d recommend everyone try it out at least once—at worst, you’re out the price of a latte in New York. At best, you’ve found an affordable formula that you can wear without worrying about cost per wear.” — Ana Escalante, Assistant Shopping Editor

“This is the product I use daily, and I absolutely love it. Prior to trying it, I never used a tinted moisturizer or BB cream and just kind of went with whatever my skin looked like. From a product like this, I’ve only ever really wanted a dewy, barely there layer of coverage that looks like skin, and that’s exactly what this product provides. I’ve already bought it at least five times and will continue to for years to come unless they reformulate. It’s something I put on every single day and genuinely adore. I think if anyone’s looking for super lightweight, barely there coverage that still provides you with a glowy, fresh look, this is a great product for them to try. It’s much dewier and more natural looking than most BB creams I’ve tried. It also acts as a better base for makeup than I’m used to.” —Eliza Huber, Editor

“It did exactly what I wanted it to do. It glided onto my skin with ease, gave me a nice glow, and evened out most of my discoloration. I usually still go in with concealer for my under-eye area while using any BB cream, but I’d be okay with just applying this if I just wanted just a little something. Other BB creams either feel like they do absolutely nothing or they’re too close to a foundation. I think this product found that sweet spot right in the middle. And as someone with dry skin, I’ve had the issue of other creams cling to my dry patches and make my skin look even more dry, no matter how I moisturize. This makes it look like I have dewy and healthy skin, which I love.” — Yusra Siddiqui, Associate Editor

“As someone who typically shies away from skin tints or BB creams in fear of looking too oily or not having enough coverage, I was surprisingly excited to try this one from Fenty. I see a ton of content creators using this product, and it has pretty rave reviews from people of all skin tones and skin types. I was hoping for the glowy finish that I see all over my For You page. My biggest hope was for my skin to look like skin. It definitely met my expectations in terms of glow and finish, but I found that the product had such a red undertone that I looked a bit orange immediately after application. After a while, it oxidized and the match felt right, but if I were going to take a selfie immediately after finishing my makeup (like I normally would), I might look a little orange. I will definitely use this product for those light-makeup days. It gives just enough coverage where I feel like my skin can breathe while my blemishes are concealed. It’s super lightweight and perfect for those days when I’m running errands, hopping on a virtual meeting, or heading to lunch. I love that it’s available in so many different shades.” — Aniyah Morinia, Associate Editor, Branded Content

“The shade match process got me the correct shade on the first try. Since BB creams usually have limited shade options, I was so impressed that this one offered up to 25 options. It blended super easily and had the best coverage, while still being lightweight, of the other products that I tried. My mom has been looking for a new tinted moisturizer, and I’ve already pointed her in Fenty’s direction. It reminds me of a step back from my favorite natural finish foundation. That’s a huge compliment, by the way.” — Sierra Mayhew, Associate Editor

“Even though it met me at a rough time, it delivered. I was quite tired during fashion week after a late night and tried it in the midst of all the craziness. It is important to note that the shade range was impressive, and I loved seeing that it brought color to my skin and revitalized me after a rough night. While many BB creams disappear into my skin, this one sticks around with great coverage for a tinted product.” — Mayhew

“My skin truly looked impeccable after application, but during the process of blending it out, the cream was literally white. It changes color as the product is blended out, so it’s safe to say I had quite the jumpscare when the shade didn’t match. After giving it about five minutes, it magically matched my skin and had the most flawless finish. The product is silky smooth and blended in super naturally. It accentuates my natural features without covering too much or too little. I love that this has SPF 30 in it. I’m a huge fan of this product and would happily repurchase it. I will 1000% be keeping this product in my routine. It’s lightweight, easy to apply, protective, and surprisingly doesn’t transfer. I don’t feel like I need additional products to have a flawless base when I’m wearing this. It’s truly everything I’ve been looking for in a skin tint or BB cream. It’s light, slightly dewy, breathable, and creates a nice satin finish.” — Morinia

“There are three things I always look for in a BB Cream: sheer coverage, glowy finish, and blends well with the rest of my makeup routine. So far, we’ve hit the trifecta with the Cle CCC Cream. It brings such a healthy glow to my dull winter skin and feels weightless. After wearing all day long, the coverage has stayed intact with no powdering involved. Other glowy tinted moisturizers I’ve tried tend to transfer easily and wear off throughout the day. If you like decent coverage but hate the feeling of foundation, you need to try this product.” — Natalie Gray Herder, Associate Editor, Branded Content

“Unfortunately, I think my shade was a bit too light, making the product look a bit off on me. Apart from that, though, I actually think very highly of this product. It’s super natural and clean, making it good for sensitive skin like mine, and I love that it’s SPF 50, which is rare in a BB cream. I like how skin-like this product is and that it gives a subtle, realistic glow. My only other qualm is that I think it doesn’t give as glowy a result as I prefer. I probably won’t use it every day, but I think if I got a darker shade, it’d be great for the summer, when I need a daily higher SPF. It’s a great item to keep in your pool or beach bag when you want a bit of tint. I think it’s great for someone with sensitive skin who wants something natural and skin-like. It’s different from other similar products in that when it comes out of the bottle, it’s not colored, and it doesn’t change color until it makes contact with your skin. It has a little bit of a white cast, which is something I wouldn’t want daily, but I wouldn’t mind it at all if I was going to lay in the sun.” — Huber

“It’s definitely heavier than a lot of other tinted sunscreens on the market, and if you’re looking for more payoff and coverage without resorting to a thicker foundation-type product, it’s great. For people who prefer more lightweight formulas for their BB creams or with oily skin, I’d recommend something else. It’ll become my new non-foundation foundation.” — Escalante

“I have been using this product for a couple of years now, and it’s one of my go-to base products, particularly in the summer when I don’t feel like wearing foundation and want an extra boost of SPF over my face sunscreen. (Always remember base products with sunscreen never have all the SPF you need to stay protected.) This tinted moisturizer applies so easily and looks incredibly smooth on skin while giving you a juicy, skin-like finish. My only qualm with this formula is sometimes I find the finish a little too dewy—it can border on glossy.” — Berohn

“Believe it or not, this is the first BB cream I ever used. I never used to wear base makeup at all through high school and college (save for some concealer under my eyes and to cover any blemishes). In the summer of 2016, I wanted to try something with a bit of extra coverage. I was interning in New York City, and I was also broke. I went to Duane Reade and picked up the cheapest BB cream I could find, and it ended up being this one. I personally love the formula and always have—it is a really solid drugstore find that blurs and evens skin and leaves you with a radiant finish. My only qualm is that I found the shade to be a bit too dark and warm-toned for my skin, but it blends out enough to not be noticeable. I recommend applying this one with a brush for the most flawless finish. I wore this to dinner with my friends a few weeks ago for the first time since 2016 and got so many compliments on my skin—might be time for me to break this baby out of retirement.” — Berohn

“It got the job done, and it’s decent for its affordable price, but I wouldn’t reach for it on the daily. While it felt fairly lightweight on my skin, it did have a noticeable sunscreen scent that put me off, and it tended to pill when I blended it in. I just used my fingers like I do with other makeup products, but maybe it would have blended better with a brush or makeup sponge. I wouldn’t want to use it as a key part of my everyday routine because the sunscreen scent bothered me, and it felt too oily on my skin for my liking. I’d be nervous everyday use would make me break out. It holds up for being a drugstore find.” — LaPlaca

To get the lowdown on all things BB cream, I reached out to celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz who’s clients are Quinta Brunson, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Cynthia Erivo, Jaylon Barron, and Vanessa Rubio. Essentially, BB cream really is a do-it-all product—it’s moisturizer, primer, and foundation all in one. “[It’s] sort of like an all in one product that helps to hydrate, smooth fine lines, and brighten the skin,” Loiz says.

There are plenty of ways to apply BB creams. “You can apply like a moisturizer with your fingers, use a makeup brush, or a beauty sponge,” says Loiz. “I personally prefer to use a beauty sponge, as I feel I use the least product this way and get a seamless finish.”

Think of CC creams as a step above a BB cream—they share all the same benefits, but CC creams have the extra benefit of color-correcting added in. “Also, a CC cream is a much thicker formula and has more coverage than BB cream,” says Loiz. 

A tinted moisturizer is the simplest of the three but still shares many similarities to BB cream. “A tinted moisturizer is a moisturizer and foundation mixed together,” says Loiz. “[It] has a very sheer coverage and usually no added skincare benefits.” When it comes to product names, the terms can be pretty interchangeable, which is why you’ll see some products labeled “CC cream” and “tinted moisturizer” on this list.

First, Loiz recommends looking for a BB cream with a wide-coverage range. After that, she recommends looking for BB creams that boast hydrating and skin-blurring benefits. With Loiz’s expertise in mind, I combed through 51 BB creams that had made other publications’ “best-of” lists, and landed on 13 formulas for our editors to test. From those, we chose and ranked the top eight based on coverage, blendability, finish, shade range, wear time, and more. 

Next, Out of 67 “Best-Ever” Perfumes, Our Editors Tested and Chose the Top 15

To be perfectly frank, makeup and oily skin don’t always mix. One minute your makeup can look perfectly intact, and the next, your face can be a total oil slick. However, that’s only if you don’t have the right tools. If your skin does tend to overproduce surface oil, a good setting spray is absolutely key. Although some with oily skin might prefer matte formulas, even a good hydrating spray can work some serious wonders. 

Celebrity makeup artist Sara Talias also has a few tips. “If you have oily skin, it’s best to avoid setting sprays that are too dewy or illuminating because they add moisture and reflective elements to the skin, which can make skin appear more oily,” she shares. Although this is a bit of a bummer if you’re like me and love a dewy finish, there are still some great options out there that leave your skin perfectly balanced and radiant without causing it to appear too oily. For a few of Talias’s setting-spray recommendations for oily skin and some of our favorites, keep scrolling.

Up Next: FYI: You Shouldn’t Spend More Than $18 on This Popular Beauty Product

There’s nothing worst than taking the time to plan a trip to the nail salon and realizing that none of the shades leave you with that clean, polished look you crave. The process of selecting a neutral shade that complements a deep skin tone can be made that much more difficult when there’s no immediate reference for how trending nude shades look on darker skin. (No one wants to spend their appointment testing endless similar polish shades.) 

As someone who’s experienced that painful process firsthand and is a self-proclaimed manicure enthusiast, I’m always on the hunt for neutral nail colors that are versatile enough to be great on any skin tone and look absolutely immaculate on my own. Recently, I had the opportunity to go straight to the source and ask the ridiculously talented celeb nail artist Elle Gerstein for her go-to shades as well as her tried-and-true process for creating the perfect manicure. Gerstein has been behind the gorgeous nail looks of celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Storm Reid, Blake Lively, and Mariah Carey. 

Her philosophy for achieving a clean, polished look for any manicure is to prep the nail and give it a great base coat like her personal favorite, Butter London’s Priming Base Coat. “[It] makes the nail have a good even base for sheer colors, as it will prevent and camouflage the streaking and discoloring,” she explains. “A lot of the newer base coats are like concealers for nail problems such as white spots, ridges, streaking, and polish-stained nails, as they disguise and conceal so you can wear sheer colors and still look flawless.” After giving your nails the TLC they need, it’s time to move on to selecting your color. Keep scrolling to reveal the neutral nail colors we’re loving for medium- to deep-toned skin.

Up next, My Friends Always Text Me From the Nail Salon—8 “Hit” Colors I Recommend

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for our weekly installment of new arrivals. In case you’re unfamiliar, every week, I search high and low to find the best designer and affordable pieces from your favorite brands—all of which just hit stores—so that you can be the first of your friends to wear them. After all, if you’re going to buy something, why not beat everyone else to it?

Welcome to another edition of the best new arrivals of the week. Despite the fact that it’s literally snowing outside my window in New York as I write this, I can’t help but turn my attention to the sunnier days ahead. With the first day of spring just a few weeks away, you can bet all our favorite brands and retailers have been pumping out It items and essentials for the coming season, making it impossible for me to not think about planning my warm-weather wardrobe. From shoes and accessories to tops, dresses, skirts, and more, below you’ll find the first of many batches of my new season must-haves, with something for every budget. Read on to shop the best new arrivals of the week, and be sure to check back in exactly seven days for another round of fashion finds.

Next: 8 Always-Popular Items That’ll Be Hard to Find Once Spring Arrives

When stylish celebrities aren’t wearing their sheer tights and platform heels on the red carpet (just a couple of the fancy trends that are a thing right now), they’re wearing casual, comfortable trends such as baggy jeans, retro sneakers, bomber jackets, oversized button-downs, and baseball caps. It’s these casual outfits that get some of the most love online because they’re relatable and easy to copy in our own lives. But the celebrities I’m talking about here aren’t going to just throw on any casual pieces and go—they’re going to put some thought into the outfits they wear, even if said outfit isn’t for an event (because they know that where they go, paparazzi follows). 

My point is that the casual outfits the following celebrities wear are purposely trendy, and that’s what makes them stand out. So if you have casual style like I do, you’ll appreciate this mix of outfits, all of which have stood out among the many celebrity outfits we’ve already seen this year. Scroll to find out what you need to recreate them and shop the key pieces.

Next up, 12 celebrity outfits that’ll make you want to wear leggings as pants again.

Ready for the resurgence of “ugly” shoes? So are we. Sure, there have been specific styles that simply won’t quit (chunky loafers, we’re looking directly at you), but looking at the biggest shoe trends to hit this year, it seems as though we’ve reached the peak of the craze. Now that we’re in the midst of warmer days, it’s time to hone in on one particular shoe style that’s left a room divided: the Birkenstock.

Many brands have reimagined Birkenstock’s iconic Arizona sandals for a fashion-forward take on the podiatrist-approved shoes, and some, like Valentino and Rick Owens, have even collaborated with the brand for a high-fashion spin. But let’s be real: Nothing comes quite as close to the one that started it all—just ask fashion’s favorite It girls.

From Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner to the Olsen sisters—along with the chicest style-setters—Birkenstocks have become one of the most beloved pairs of “ugly” sandals in the closets of fashion lovers everywhere.

If you’re ready to get on board with the trend and want to sport your own Birkenstock outfits, scroll through to see how our favorite celebs and It girls are wearing the two-strap slide sandals now.

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

Next, I Broke My #1 Shopping Rule for These 23 Fantastic New Arrivals

What’s Good is a Who What Wear column where senior editor Kristen Nichols shares her latest fashion and beauty finds.

As an editor, fashion month is always a highlight of the year—a moment to see runway shows up close, have a preview of what is new and next in fashion, and chat with other people in fashion about their thoughts on what is unfolding. This season, I attended London fashion week and the F/W 23 collections were full of experimentation amongst young designers and a much-discussed changing of the guard with Daniel Lee taking the helm at Burberry. Tove showed its debut runway collection, up-and-coming brands such as Di Petsa and Mowalola were some of the most talked-about shows of the season, and established designers such as Simone Rocha and Emilia Wickstead stunned with their beautiful shows.

Aside from seeing the new collections, fashion month gives me an excuse to put together new outfits to wear to the shows. My approach this season revolved around great outerwear and accessories, mixed with some of the essentials already sitting in my closet, so that’s exactly what I packed and brought to The May Fair Hotel in London, which was the home base for myself and the other US editors in town.

Among the new pieces in my fashion week wardrobe were Khaite’s just-launched sunglasses in collaboration with Oliver Peoples, T-shirts and turtlenecks from Refine, Ralph Lauren’s new Polo ID clutch, and a Celine bag I’ve been waiting until fashion week to debut. I was also lucky enough to borrow samples from some of my favorite brands and retailers, including Tove and FWRD, so I tried out their beautiful pieces as well. Ahead, see the LFW outfits this editor wore and shop each of them.

This season, I’ve been gravitating towards longer coat lengths and immediately knew I wanted to add this beautiful Tove piece into my London fashion week wardrobe when I spotted it. The incredibly soft lambswool is even more luxurious in person. Underneath, I paired my go-to turtleneck from Refine and Frankie Shop trousers—both pieces I’ve been wearing for several seasons that have been some of my best buys of the last few years.

I added in some newer accessories, including strappy heels from The Row I’ve been waiting to wear, silver drop earrings from Jenny Bird, and a beautiful croc-embossed clutch from Ralph Lauren—a piece I already know will be a new favorite for evenings out.

This look included mostly pieces I already had in my closet—including western-inspired boots from Paige, a whipstiched Khaite coat I bought last year and the brand’s Danielle jeans, which is a style I’ve been slowly collection in a range of colors because the fit is so incredibly good. This Refine T-shirt is new to my closet but already a piece I know I’ll be wearing on repeat and recommending to everyone—everything from the fabric weight to the sleeve length are absolutely perfect and take it to a level beyond any other tee I own.

This is another look where I made new accessories a focus point. I instantly knew it needed my monogrammed Celine Triomphe bag to add a printed element—the colorway works so well with neutrals like white and navy. I finished the look with Khaite’s new sunglasses in collaboration with Oliver Peoples. I opted for the 1969 oval-frame silhouette in tortoiseshell—a shape so perfect, I’m already considering ordering them in black as well.

When in doubt, I gravitate towards tonal looks and built this outfit around this gorgeous Toteme shearling coat and white Khaite jeans from FWRD—pieces that both tap into the movement of low-key luxury we’ve been seeing on the rise in designer fashion. This beautiful cashmere knit from Marisa Witkin added just the right amount of texture for some added dimension. Then, I added the Paige boots and Ralph Lauren bag that I wore in looks throughout the week.

For dinners and evening events, I kept things streamlined with layers of black in the form of turtleneck tops, relaxed jeans, maxi coats, pointed kitten heels, and drop earrings. This oversize coat from Filippa Hägg is the perfect shape and weight that could withstand cold nights and make a simple top and jeans feel polished. I love the idea of adding a strong outerwear piece to completely transform pieces as simple as a turtleneck and jeans worn underneath.

Next: 30 Cool Finds I’m Obsessing Over Right Now

Leggings have come a long way over the years. Yes, they’re usually associated with working up a sweat or lounging around, but they can actually be versatile pieces in your everyday wardrobe. Here, I’ve rounded up seven legging outfit ideas to give you a dose of sartorial inspiration from editors, street-style stars, and influencers. Even celebs like Emily Ratajkowski, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Laura Harrier incorporate the staple into their style rotation. 

When you pair them with boots and a bomber jacket or high heels and a sleek coat, you can transform your look while still staying comfortable. That’s the name of the game, right? Plus, there are so many types out there to help dress you up like flares, cropped silhouettes, bootcut shapes, front-split ones, ribbed textures, leather-like ones, and lots more. All these options make it easier than ever to confuse leggings for just a regular pair of pants—and that’s the goal. Keep scrolling for some of the best outfit ideas with leggings, and shop some similar finds for each if you want to give your pair an upgrade. 

Next: This Controversial Silhouette Is Preparing for a Surprisingly Chic Return