When's the last time you did a workout that took less than 30 minutes and left you feeling strong and in a better mood than when you started? If you can't remember, we recommend bookmarking this page, because this 20-minute bodyweight workout from Brittany Watts, a NASM-certified and Performix House trainer will do just that.
Not to mention, it can help you develop lean muscle in your lower body, especially in the glutes (but you're going to have to be consistent with training and your nutrition for those results!). "Efficient and effective, this workout is perfect if you don't have a lot of time," Watts told POPSUGAR.
If you're looking for something that will have you feeling mentally and physically good, grab some water and get ready to move your body!
Brittany Watts's 20-Minute Bodyweight Abs and Lower-Body Workout
This workout is broken up into three circuits. You'll complete all three exercises in each circuit for the designated reps/time, taking little to no rest in between each exercise. Once you've finished all three exercises, take 30 seconds of rest, repeat the circuit two more times for a total of three rounds, and then advance to the following circuit.
When it comes to horror movies or TV shows, stylish or fashionable isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind. But nothing sets a creepy or foreboding tone quite like a costume designed to elicit fear, confusion or apprehension. Who can forget the blue nightgown in Rosemary’s Baby or Delia Deetz’s kooky ensembles in Beetlejuice? Read on for our picks of the most fashionable horror movies and shows to binge this Halloween weekend.
Lovecraft Country
This HBO miniseries is set in the segregated United States but thanks to the supernatural premise and plotlines involving time travel, the story weaves from the 1950s to the ’20s to the late 1800s; from Chicago to Tulsa to Korea; from Jim Crow America to Jazz Age Paris. Accordingly, the fashion on the show spans various time periods and influences, resulting in a rich and wide-ranging costume wardrobe.
In Fabric
This British horror-comedy follows a haunted red dress as it torments various owners, like a twisted take on The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. Purchased during sale season in London in January 1993, the dress in question comes with a message— “You who wear me will know me” —sewn right into it. “I think clothing is inherently haunted to some degree,” director Peter Strickland said in an interview. “Once it’s been worn by someone it contains its own power, whether it’s the power to disgust you, the power to turn you on, or the power to make you cry.” Watch at your own risk.
The Craft
This ’90s cult classic centering around the story of four young witches in high school has remained an iconic fashion film for its tartan skirts, leather chokers and chunky boots. 2020 saw the release of a sequel to the hit film, focusing on a new modern-day quartet. Instead of looking back at ’90s fashion, costume designer Avery Plewes created contemporary bold looks of her own. In a recent interview, Plewes tells FASHION how she she built a current, Wiccan-worthy wardrobe. The starting point: “Crystals for each of the four main cast members – ones that connect to the ‘elements of ritual’ each girl symbolizes (earth, fire, air, water).”
The Cell
Legendary costume designer Eiko Ishioka created the bold looks worn by Jennifer Lopez in this psychological thriller. Lopez plays a child psychologist who, when hooked up to an experimental machine, enters the “dreamscape” of a serial killer, where she appears dressed in ornate head pieces and jewellery, sheer dresses and even a Virgin Mary-esque ensemble in crimson.
Midsommar
Ari Aster’s second horror film (following his breakout hit Hereditary) explores themes of the occult, revolving around the rituals of a pagan cult in a remote Swedish village. Florence Pugh stars as a young American woman caught in the middle of it all, with a nightmare of epic proportions unfolding against picturesque fields and flower-adorned pastoral outfits.
Twin Peaks
One of David Lynch’s most enduring works, this ’90s-era sci-fi series is packed with memorable outfits: preppy pleated skirts worn with oxfords and socks; oversized cardigans; plaid shirts tucked into high-waisted trousers; and many a leather jacket.
Suspiria
Like Dario Argento’s original 1977 film, Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 remake is set at a prestigious dance academy in Berlin run by a coven of witches. Awash in disquieting shades of red, the film’s 1970s setting is evoked through dramatic caftans, printed pussy-bow blouses, midi skirts and patchwork cloaks. Oh, plus there are some dresses “made out of real human hair extensions.”
Rosemary’s Baby
This 1968 horror movie sees Mia Farrow dressed in mod frocks and blouses with Peter Pan collars, all in angelic pastel hues. Despite her chic outfits, rounded out with berets and leather satchels, Rosemary Woodhouse’s most iconic look, arguably, is probably her blue nightgown.
Swallow
Released last year, this psychological thriller follows a neglected pregnant housewife who begins ingesting all manner of inedible objects—from batteries to thumbtacks to marbles. Suffering from a psychological disorder known as pica, the woman nevertheless tries to keep up outward appearances, dressed in tailored separates and surrounded by sleek midcentury-modern furniture.
Persona
Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 psychological drama centres around two main characters: a renowned actress, who is sent by her doctor to a cottage by the sea to recover from a strange affliction, and the young nurse tasked with looking after her. Stills from the film are impossibly chic—think black turtlenecks, cat-eye sunglasses and boater hats—but they belie the tensions of identity and self-image swirling underneath.
Queen of the Damned
In her last film role before her death in 2001, R&B singer Aaliyah plays vampire queen Akasha decked out in regal, Cleopatra-inspired outfits. Think ornate head pieces, chunky jewellery, and long skirts worn with a body-armour-like bodice.
The Hunger
Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon star in this 1983 erotic horror film, which went on to inspire Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 1996 collection. ’80s power shoulders, bold hats, and leather jackets made up Deneuve’s wardrobe, which was provided by Yves Saint Laurent.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
This gothic horror by Francis Ford Coppola won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design in 1993. Spearheaded by Eiko Ishioka, the wardrobe comprised of gilded gowns, tailored suiting, embroidered robes and sculptural accessories.
Beetlejuice
The most family-friendly pick of the bunch, this 1988 cult hit created several sartorial icons: Catherine O’Hara’s Delia Deetz, dressed in monochrome with whimsical accessories (who can forget the glove-as-headband?); Winona Ryder’s Lydia, outfitted in head-to-toe black; and Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse, who wore his dandy suits with a darkly comic flair.
Crimson Peak
Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska and Tom Hiddleston spend their screen time in Guillermo del Toro’s gothic romance walking around in elaborate Victorian costumes. Although the world around them is dark and bleak, their costumes are rich and sumptuous—heavy silks and velvets in shades of ochre, midnight blue and of course crimson.
When you’re ready to take a break from binge-watching horror films, check out our other ideas for a safe Halloween at home.
We’re not doctors. There is enough authoritative information online on how to survive COVID-19 — wash your hands like your life depends on it (because it probably does), wear surgical masks (not those silly fashion masks, please!) and keep a social distance. But what about your mental health? What about not losing your mind from […]
Soak up the flavours of fall as long as you can and make these delicious chocolate chip pumpkin spice sheet pan pancakes. No more flipping pancakes on the stove! These bake on one sheet so they save you time and are the perfect quick and easy Sunday meal prep recipe.
These fluffy pancakes are made with two servings of vanilla plant-based protein powder, so each square offers six grams of protein. You can enjoy a stack of three for under 300 calories, almost 7 grams of fibre, 17.1 grams of sugar, and 18 grams of protein.
This recipe is made with a full can of pumpkin so you won't have to worry about forgetting about half a can of leftover pumpkin in your fridge. Sweetened with mashed banana, maple syrup, and a sprinkling of vegan chocolate chips, these taste sweet enough on their own. You can even pick them up and just bite into them - no plate and fork needed! Of course they'll taste even more decadent smeared with a little nut butter, and topped with sliced banana and a drizzle of maple syrup.
To store these for the week, cut the pan into 15 squares so you can enjoy three at a time for five days. If you don't want to have them all this week, freeze squares in an airtight container - they'll keep for several months.
3 cups unsweetened soy milk (or any nondairy milk)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 1/2 cups white whole-wheat flour
2 servings vanilla plant-based protein powder (about 3/4 cup; I used Orgain, which has 21 grams of protein per serving)
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon flaxmeal
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
15-ounce can pumpkin
1 large very ripe banana, mashed
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon vegan chocolate chips (I used Trader Joe's)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 11x17 sheet pan it with parchment paper.
In a small bowl or four-cup measuring cup, mix the nondairy milk and apple cider vinegar and set aside to curdle.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, protein powder, baking powder, flaxmeal, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt together.
Add the pumpkin, mashed banana, maple syrup, and vanilla to the nondairy milk mixture and mix well.
Pour the wet ingredients into the large bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Pour the pancake batter onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, using a spatula to spread it evenly. You'll notice that the batter will be puffy - that's the baking powder reacting with the apple cider vinegar, and that's what makes these pancakes fluffy. Top with chocolate chips.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Allow pancakes to cool for five minutes before cutting into 15 squares. Enjoy with syrup, fruit, nuts, yogurt, or nut butter. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days, or in the freezer for several months.
Here's the nutritional information from verywell.com for one square (makes 15):
Information
Category
Breakfast/Brunch, Pancakes/Waffles
Yield
15
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Total Time
34 minutes, 59 seconds
Nutrition
Calories per serving
98
from POPSUGAR Health & Fitness https://ift.tt/2HNZogM
via babu31
Sam Smith is on their last interview of the day to promote their new album, Love Goes, at a London hotel and has been rewarded with a vodka martini. It arrived, however, with an olive instead of the twist they requested. Many stars, especially of the Oscar- and Grammy-winning variety, would have sent it back, possibly even had a little hissy fit. Not Smith. They shrug it off and sip contently while we have a Zoom chat to talk about the album, which drops today along with a livestream performance from the iconic Abbey Road Studios at 4pm EST.
The album is Smith’s most varied work yet – from the poignant acapella Young to the bouncy Diamonds, which was released in September.
“I was in the studio pretending to be a really, really rich woman whose husband had left her and taken all of her diamonds and possessions in a nasty divorce,” Smith describes. “She was left in a mansion by herself, in her wedding dress, drinking wine. That’s what I was imagining when I wrote the song. This disco, Diana Ross character came out of me.”
How true to life are the lyrics?
“I only have these diamonds they’ll have to rip out of my ear to get,” they say, pointing out the two solitaires in their right lobe. On the other hangs a vintage pearl, worn at the suggestion of stylist Ben Reardon, who dressed Smith for the album art shot by fashion photographer Alasdair McLennen. “I never really liked pearls but I wear this every day,” Smith says of their new jewellery signature. “Now I want a pearl that has a deep, dark story to it.” Among the jewellery on their fingers is a gold Tiffany & Co. 1837 ring purchased in New York. “I was really sad after the breakup of my first long relationship,” Smith recalls. “I was so, so down. To cheer myself up, me and my three beautiful queer friends basically pretended we were in Sex and the City and got all dressed up, went for cocktails, walked around and then went to a vintage store and got this. I think of it as my independence ring.”
There is a lot of love angst on this album, some stemming from that breakup. And Smith laments that it’s tougher for someone who isn’t cis-gendered to find love.
“It’s hard, not because there’s a lack of people wanting to love these wonderful people. It’s hard because we’re taught not to love ourselves. So to have successful relationships can be incredibly difficult because we can self-destruct. It takes a lot of therapy, to be honest, and help, communication and practice to love.”
Smith finds listening to American author and therapist Brené Brown helps. “She speaks about vulnerability being the birthplace of joy and courage. To my queer life that really, really hit me deep.” Smith came out as non-binary in March 2019, and advises others contemplating the same to accept there are some things they can’t control. “You need to put your hands in the air and go into the moment sometimes knowing that it’s not going to be okay. That message has helped me a lot.”
Being genderqueer also resulted in a developmental delay in the romance department, Smith feels. “My ‘20s are like my teenage years when it comes to love because I was cheated from that in school.” They used fashion as a weapon to help deal during that difficult period. “From the age of 15 to 19 I would be in all female clothing and full makeup throughout school. It was my way of saying ‘f— you’ to all the bullies. And I felt incredible.”
Fame has also been a lot to cope with, Smith reveals.
“Becoming famous is one of the main traumas of my life so far,” they say. “I’ve found it such a shock to the system. I was brought up quite normally. I didn’t go to performing arts schools or anything. I left school and worked in a news agent’s in a local train station, and a bar in London. And at the age of 20 I was put into this machine that turned my life upside down in the space of eight or nine months. Everything I knew changed. Everyone treated me differently. My financial situation went from 0 to 100. I started to have to take responsibility within my family and my work circle. I didn’t have the knowledge to have that responsibility. I was a child still. And as a queer person, you’re already feeling inexperienced.”
Smith’s new reality also impacts family, friends, and co-workers, they point out. “And that’s all because I wanted it so bad. So there’s this weird mixture of guilt, pride, sadness, happiness, freedom, entrapment. All these things that you feel at the same time that you just have to work out and ride the wave.”
Leaving Smith to enjoy their martini, one last question comes to mind. Would they ever go back to dressing in that flamboyant, more feminine way?
“I think I would,” they respond. “As I get older I just want to be in caftans, diamonds and jewels.”
Purchase tickets to watch the livestream performance at Abbey Road Studios at 4pm ET today here. You can also purchase tickets for an encore showing of the livestream at 8pm ET/8pm PT today via this link.
In May, Isamaya Ffrench was named as the Global Beauty Director for Burberry – and starting a new job amidst a global pandemic is undoubtedly strange but Ffrench has taken it all in her stride. When we ask her what it’s been like she says, “A beacon of light!” with a laugh adding that its been “great because it meant that we could do a lot of talking and planning. It meant that I could really get stuck into something whilst looking forward to creating things once everything was back to normal.” And whilst we’re still in our new ‘normal’ at present, Ffrench did get to make her debut for the brand during its S/S21 show earlier in September.
Read on to find out more about the beauty inspiration for the show, her top tips for nailing mask makeup, as well as the unconventional beauty trick she recently tried…
What was it like working on your first show for Burberry under these exceptional circumstances?
It wasn’t usual show circumstances obviously but it was really amazing because it meant that I could actually go and watch the show myself. We [also] had a lot of time to prep for it. Normally, you get a very short amount of time to work with the models – and we had [a lot more]. It was just really nice and a lot more relaxed. For me, I felt really lucky that it was just kind of the perfect circumstances – no stress, really exciting, you could watch it, and the show was amazing anyway, so it was lovely.
Where did you get your inspiration for the beauty look?
The show look was, in a way, quite sort of simple. Obviously it was this very elevated, polished look but we had a lot of performers in the show because Riccardo was working with an artist called Anne Imhof and her vibe is a little bit grungey but very natural, very intense. I’m pretty sure none of her dancers were wearing much makeup and we wanted to keep some kind of continuity. We wanted to elevate [the models’] skin a little bit and treat them like models so we tried to keep that balance between looking very natural and fresh, but also having that intensity that the dancers bought.
I just feel very lucky that we have a very strong vision guiding the brand. I’ve worked with many brands before and it’s quite rare that you have the fashion house and the beauty house trying to be as close as possible in terms of mood/vibe/message. He really oversees everything we do, he will approve things, he will give direction. So for me it makes my job a lot easier and lot more rewarding because I feel like everything we’re doing is really creating this 360 vision, his vision of the brand.
The brand recently launched the Essentials Glow Palette – why is this a key piece in your kit?
Palettes are key because they’re so useful and it’s great to get a lot of possibilities in one small thing. For me, the Glow Palette is your everyday palette but it is a very well-thought-out palette in that it’s a mixture of cream-based and powder-based products. I’m really into gradients, I really like things that work beautifully together [like this palette]. It creates a really beautiful, quiet subtle finish to the skin.
How would you describe your overall beauty philosophy?
That’s quite a hard question because I never like to tell people what to do – I like to give advice or my opinion. I think this relates back to Burberry’s beauty philosophy – obviously a great foundation is key but it’s really about confidence, your own personal identity and using makeup as a way to enhance yourself and your features, not to create a mask.
What have become your makeup staples during the pandemic?
I’ve always really been into natural skin but it really made me rethink my approach to skin and become even more detailed oriented because people aren’t going for big looks anymore. They’re spending more time on their skin and trying to be healthy. My makeup is normally very, very creative but it’s so important to have a really polished and elevated base to carry anything so I sort of went back to basics in lockdown. I also took time to do my makeup which I never do because I’m on the go [laughs].
What are your top tips for makeup application now that we’re all in face masks?
In terms of base – because everybody is getting a bit oilier and a bit sweatier with this mask situation – to have a product that you can really rely on to mattify you throughout the day is key. One product we’ve had a lot of feedback on is our Matte Glow Foundation.
You recently shared an image on Instagram of you using ketchup to tone your eyebrows. How did that work out?
That’s supposed to be one of those old wives tales where when you bleach your hair and it goes green you put a load of ketchup in it and it sort of colour corrects it [laughs]. It kind of had a desired effect but to be honest I wasn’t really up for stinking of vinegar – I forgot that that’s what happens when you put ketchup on your face so I had it on for about five minutes and then I thought, I’ll just use a toner. [laughs].
We have an extensive Kisses collection and we’re going to be renovating that line, introducing new colours and formulas – we have a matte formula, a really lovely satin formula with a couple of interesting colours. People have been very eye-focused because of all of this mask stuff but actually lips is still a really huge part of most beauty brands and people don’t stop wearing lipstick, so I’m really excited to be working on that.
When Kevin Klover and Sunny Basran launched their Vancouver-based brand Sevin Kasran, they were coming at it from the position of being fashion fans but design outsiders. Neither have formal training, but through a mutual love of style, a shared admiration for the rich garment history and artistic motifs of their backgrounds, and a desire to unify people through the power of dressing, the’ve come to craft pieces that resonate with both everyday citizens and the sporting elite.
Sevin Kasran’s newest ungendered collection features the use of upcycled fabrics from saris, and sees favourite elements from their first collection reiterated in items like the Turmeric bomber jacket. “The silhouette is inspired by our grandparents and the oversized wool pieces they’d wear everywhere and have forever,” says Basran of the garment. Its eye-catching hue pays homage to the spice the duo’s parents would cook with, and the pattern on the sleeves reference Indian silk art.
It’s this fusion of forward-thinking and reverential nostalgia that make Sevin Kasran’s wares into instant wardrobe staples. “We don’t want to release a bunch of collections every year despite how big we get,” notes Klover. “We really strive to make our collections wearable for a long time.”
How did you develop this brand? Do you have a background in fashion design?
Klover: We met through friends and doing sports, and through talking about things like fashion, sports and music, we built a relationship between us. From there, we hung out a lot and wanted to create a brand. I went to school for graphic design; I knew the computer side of creating visuals but from the pattern-making side and production side, we were brand new to it and just learned along the way.
Basran: We’re obviously not from the traditional wave of fashion designers; I’d say we’re from the newer wave of youth culture. My background is in art and literature; Kevin handles more of the technical side of the business and I do the storytelling and figuring out how we incorporate that into every collection we do. Our brand is like a personal conversation between us that gets showcased in a product. Then these products represent a larger idea that we want to evoke in people. As designers, we want to tell stories and open doors for the next generation. That’s really important for us, because we don’t often see people like us doing things like this.
Do you think not having formal fashion training might have benefitted you in launching the brand?
Klover: I think it helped us a lot, even just by teaching us persistence and getting some grit on us. But there are no rules that we go by. In the beginning it was hard – we didn’t have any resources and didn’t know how to make garments. But we learned so much through failures and tried doing things so many different ways. Not knowing anything was a blessing because we were schooled through doing and trying. And we just kept going and now have a lot of confidence in the brand.
Basran: I reflect on this a lot. I like using the term of ‘blissful ignorance’ – I know my personality, and I couldn’t survive in a realm of doing things in a [certain] way. I think sitting at a desk and being told what to do suppresses creativity. I mean, knowing how to sew would’ve been nice, but we created a partnership and had an end goal in mind. I wouldn’t have done it another way; we traveled to Italy and America together and just figured things out. There’s a stigma that ‘everyone’ can be a fashion designer, but not everyone works hard on their craft and hones a proper message. We’re not in this to be the next big thing; we want to take care of our families, and we have a civil duty to spread our message, to let a younger generation know that they can also do it.
Klover: School also doesn’t give someone the perfect, golden path towards success either. We’re from a smaller city called Kamloops; we want to show people in our culture, and every culture, what’s possible through learning and perseverance. We literally started from nothing. We figured it out, and we’re still figuring it out.
Tell me about why you decided to incorporate upcycling into this new collection.
Klover: We’re both very aware of the environmental problems in the fashion industry. We’re new, and upcycling is hard for a smaller brand, but we want to use the resources that we have to get into that practice as much as possible. Anyone can do it if they really want to. This collection features our first upcycled pieces and we’re really proud of it – especially given the fabrics we got to use. We always used to watch our moms wearing their saris, and we joked and would say, why do you only wear these nice, expensive pieces once?
Let’s go back to your mention of sports; quite a few sports figures have worn your pieces. What does it mean to you to have their support?
Klover: The NBA is a huge part of our lives. Talking about sports brings us together with others. And it’s also something that brought Sunny and I together. Our first dreams were hoop dreams; we wanted to be basketball players. We didn’t end becoming them but this is the next best thing. Seeing someone like Kyle Kuzma wearing our Gandhi sweat suit – the fact that an African-American basketball star can wear that piece – that’s why do this. This is the movement we wanted to create with the collection, [and] he obviously felt it.
Basran: These athletes are the kind of people we get our inspiration from, and the tunnel as become a runway. It makes what’s happening feel like a big potluck instead of it being like, sports and music and fashion are separated. Our brand is trying to accomplish this feeling of unity.
You showed during Vancouver Fashion Week in 2018. Do you think fashion shows are still relevant? And what are you doing now as a brand to communicate your ethos and show your new collection, given the fact that fashion weeks have changed so much this year?
Basran: Fashion shows in general serve their purpose and I think they should stick around. Tradition is a good thing – in our culture, we have traditions. Everybody has them. Going back to VFW, we were just like, this is what you do. We worked really hard to get the pieces together and present. But with COVID happening and forcing everyone to go online means that everyone has to be more creative and more resourceful, and hone a message that will really impact people. I think the cream will rise to the top. And I love that the narrative is changing and that things aren’t being done in a cookie-cutter way; you don’t have to do things the same way to be cool or relevant. I feel like consumers are different now, too. They want to see something with meaning and latch on to something with substance.
Klover: The overall experience of VFW was so fun. My favourite thing growing up was playing basketball or soccer, and the feeling of butterflies before a game. The feeling before [our] fashion show almost exceeded that; we looked at each other before the pieces went out and were like, whoa, this is pretty crazy. And when we walked out and people were clapping and we got an awesome response. I hadn’t felt like that in a long time. Our goal is to one day go to Paris and show a collection, but it’s not our be all, end all. We love history and want to pay our dues in that way, but we know there are other ways to show our work. We have a lot of pride in our videos and storytelling.
As the weather starts to turn cold I love pulling out comfy sweaters and recipes for comfort food. There is nothing quite like warming up with your favorite food that also brings back happy memories! Chicken Enchiladas and Meatloaf and Brown Gravy are two of my favorites, what are some of yours?
If you’ve come to the point where elastic waistbands just aren’t cutting it or you want to dress things up without sacrificing comfort, the sweater dress trend is for you. Opt for a body-con or billowy silhouette for a look that is very versatile – the ’70s-inspired soft stretchy shapes celebrate curves, à la Emily Ratajkowski.
Worn over pants, like leather leggings, or grounded with a lug sole boot, this look can take loungewear up a notch to office appropriate. A sleeveless style is perfect with a white shirt underneath or wear your chunky knit with shearling slippers around the house. Feel more productive as you work from home in something that is just as cozy as your go-to lounge set but channels runway looks from Bottega Venetta and The Row. We say it’s time to embrace the freedom of a comfortable staple you’ll be living in all season long.
Click through for our favourite takes on the sweater dress trend: