Visit a hairstylist

Visiting a hairstylist is one of the easiest (and most fun!) ways to change your whole look in a single day. A new haircut can completely change your appearance and face shape, so a good hairstyle is a must. It’s important to visit a hairstylist so that you can ask a professionals opinion on what hair color and cut will look best with your look! Make sure if you set an appointment to bring photos of the hair you want, so your stylist will know exactly what you’re going for.

Experiment with make up

If you’re a girl and you’ve never experimented with make up before, it can really change your appearance! One of the best ways to get exposure to make up and how to learn some tips is by the magical and wonderful world of no other than Youtube. You can simply search “Make up tutorial” on Youtube, and millions of videos will pop up. The good news with the summer is that you have plenty of time to practice and perfect your look! That way, if a makeup tutorial goes wrong, you can just wash it right off and nobody even saw! And if you decide you don’t like wearing make up, then it makes your life even easier!

Get healthy

Something good for your body, skin, and mental health is deciding to get healthy! Getting healthy can be as easy as deciding to work out a few days a week, or limiting the amount of junk food you eat. The healthier you become, the better you will feel! Plus being healthy helps you live your best life, so this one should be near the top of your list.

Take care of your body

Whether it be through skin care, working out or taking time to yourself, taking care of your own body can make a huge difference. From treating yourself to a mani pedi, finding a toothpaste that whitens your teeth, or even finding the perfect shade of self-tanner, taking care of your body has a huge impact on the way you look. This means going to the doctor, dentist, dermatologist- you name it! Your body is all you’ve got- so treat it with some respect!

Become confident with who you are

If you have any sort of transformation this summer before coming back to school, let it be this- learn to be confident in your own skin! You don’t have to look any specific way to “glo up” because glowing up should be the way you feel about yourself. If you learn to love the reflection in the mirror, it will translate into the way other people see you!

The post How To GLOW UP This Summer appeared first on GirlSpring.

I’m not saying following trends is bad, but are we losing ourselves in the process?

Fast Fashion (Dun, dun, dun!!!)

Let’s talk about fashion. Before the 1970s, companies spent months perfecting their next line of clothing, usually organized into seasons. Each line took months of predicting trends, finding good fabric, designing clothes and catchy names, choosing models, and taking photos. Not to mention that it took forever to make the clothes, with factories in the US using fabric from across the world.

Then something crazy happened.

Fast fashion happened, suddenly, you could have factories nearby to each other, across the world, pumping out cheap fabrics that could be used in anything. Now, you didn’t need planning, instead, you’d wait for the next trend, send a quick message, and the factory would take fabric sitting there, and whip it up into whatever you wanted for a fraction of the price. Stores like H&M were the first, and Nike, SHEIN, Puma, and Charlotte Ruse followed.

Trends, and more trends. And more trends.

Because fast fashion made clothes cheaper, faster, and less durable,  people got to buy more clothes for fashion purposes but at the same time, sacrifice durability. Now we go to the store and buy clothes to wear once. Sometimes, the clothes only last us one wear. So clothes came and went, and trends started lasting less. And then the internet rolled around. And then we got influencers. Yay! Now brands didn’t have to rely on models or magazines to show their clothes to the world. Instead, influencers could get paid, add a small hashtag at the end of the caption saying this is an ad, and convince their followers that these leggings were the next hot thing.

Be YOU

You might feel pressured to dress a certain way, have this hobby, or watch this show. Maybe everyone’s wearing these shoes so you get them, but the next week, those shoes are out and another pair is popular. Middle and High school are especially difficult. You might think having the trendy stuff is your way into a certain clique but it’s not. If you’re hiding behind your name-brand socks, trying to make yourself just like some girl on the internet. Re-examine yourself. Look into the mirror and ask yourself, “What makes you happy?”. Take up a hobby you may have quit, or do whatever makes you happy. Don’t let someone you don’t even know, decide what you “have” to like. Be yourself and love yourself!

The post TikTok! Keep Up With The Trends! appeared first on GirlSpring.

The Life of Anna Wintour 

Turns out, my friend was not crazy about this Anna Wintour person. Dame Anna Wintour is the current CEO of Vogue. In 2017 ,the late Queen Elizabeth II appointed Wintour with the position of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or DBE giving her the title of Dame. She’s believed to be the inspiration behind the iconic movie “The Devil Wears Prada,” she is known as the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, the chief content officer of Condé Nast, and one of the most influential and recognizable figures in fashion. Some even speculate that Edna Mode from the Incredibles series may be based off of Wintour. 

Known for her signature bob and her dark black sunglasses, she’s arguably the most powerful woman in the fashion world. She is praised for her skills in determining fashion trends, and she is hated for her aloof and no-nonsense personality. But this no-nonsense woman got to her current position without working hard. Her father, Charles Vere Wintour was the editor of London’s Evening Standard newspaper. Wintour went to school and later dropped out of North London Collegiate in ‘66. Four years later, she became a fashion assistant for Harpers & Queen magazine. She later worked as a fashion editor for numerous New York magazines. Inn 1986 she became an editor of British Vogue, and later in 1987, she became an editor of House & Garden. 

When Wintour replaced Grace Mirabella, the former editor in chief of American Vogue, Elle, another magazine, was launched in the United States with the sole purpose of dethroning Vogue’s popularity. Wintour unapologetically said in a published fashion philosophy she created, “mass with class – that’s my mantra.”

The Legacy of Anna Wintour

Afterwards, multiple famous and influential women were featured on the cover of Vogue, like Angelina Jolie and Hilary Clinton, to name a few.  She also worked on creating multiple associations and famous events including the notorious Met Gala to collect money to fundraise for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She’s also the reason behind multiple famous fashion careers including supermodels, photographers, and designers who made it big by flaunting her reputation and influence. People who benefitted from her influence include Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs. In 2003, she and the Council of Fashion Designers of America created the Vogue Fashion Fund to help support the next generation of American designers. 

The Devil Wears Prada and Other Media 

Anna Wintour is also the inspiration behind the famous best-selling novel by Lauren Weisberger and the 2006 film, the Devil Wears Prada. Meryl Streep acts as Miranda Priestly, an editor of a famous fashion magazine while Anne Hathaway plays Andy, a recent college graduate who serves as Priestly’s assistant. Andy tries to survive the high stakes and power struggles of the fashion industry. People speculate that Weisberger wrote the novel drawing inspiration from her time working for Wintour earlier in her life. Wintour also appeared in numerous documentaries about her life and her time at Vogue including The September Issue: Anna Wintour & The Making of Vogue and The First Monday in May. 

Throughout her life, Wintour has shown that she is not a woman to be trifled with, especially in the fashion industry. Her influence, signature look, and her no-nonsense attitude demands the respect and admiration of everyone around her. From the beginning of her career even to now, Dame Anna Wintour will always be known as one of the most influential women in the fashion world. She will go down in history as “Nuclear Wintour.” 

Sources

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Anna Wintour”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Sep. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anna-Wintour. Accessed 1 November 2024.

“The Devil Wears Prada.” Box Office Mojo, https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1481606657/. Accessed 1 November 2024.

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Starting of at 7:00 Taylor heads to the gym for a morning workout. Then at 8:30 Taylor opts for a heavy breakfast and a glass of orange juice. Finishing off her morning, she devotes some time into songwriting!

At 10:00 Taylor would have studio recording. At 12:00, Taylor likes to hang out with her three cats, Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button. At 1:00 Taylor enjoys having lunch with family or friends! After her lunch Taylor enjoys taking walks or going for a run!

After a long day Taylor likes to read books for around one hour every day at 4:00. At 5:00 Taylor makes dinner for herself consisting of a carb, a meat, and a vegetable. After Taylor enjoys her dinner she likes to wind down and watch some television or hang out with her friends!

It’s safe to say that Taylor Swift has a very exciting day and enjoys being active!

The post A day in the life of Taylor Swift appeared first on GirlSpring.

Here are some things you can do to find your unique style:

Look for Inspiration

Sometimes it can be tricky for knowing where to start. That’s where it is a good idea to look for some inspiration. This can be by looking at influencer’s outfits, pinterest, magazines, etc. There are endless places you can look to for inspiration.

And if you know you’ll want a more high-end style, maybe check what the newest celebrities are wearing. If you are going for more street wear, maybe check out some teenage or young adult influencers across social media. Having a bit of an idea of what you are looking for is going to help of knowing who to look at.

Gather the Basics

Starting out with basics will provide you a base for any outfit you would be wanting to create. You can get some really affordable basics at places like Target or Walmart. However, if you are hoping to invest into some longer lasting pieces, there are other options.

Some places could be Urban Outfitters, Aritzia, Brandy Melville, etc. But just getting some easy basics such as plain tank tops, a couple of jeans, maybe some zip up hoodies, will help you to layer for outfits.

Look at What you Already Have

Using pieces that are already in your closet will help you to save some money. Such as if you already have some basics or pieces you can use for laying with newer pieces. Or if you have accessories you can use to elevate your outfits like jewelry, bags, belts, hats.

Create Unique Pieces

If you just can’t find what you are looking for, maybe you can create it. You can make this as complex or simple as you’d like. Such as you could follow sewing patterns and create whole new items. Or you can just upcycle some other pieces by cropping them, adding patches, etc. Pinterest has great ideas of some cute things you can do to transform some dull and simple items.

Experiment with New Looks

Creating new outfits or combining different things together can make for some fun looks. For example, if you typically dress girly and wear dresses, maybe add a leather jacket on top and go from there. Another easy way to incorporate this idea is by using different makeup and hair looks.

You could try out colored eyeliner, eyeshadow, etc. And for hair you can use accessories such as claw clips, bows which are trending, or just do different styles. Don’t forget that a big part of fashion is having fun with it. You should leave the house liking your outfit and feeling comfortable in it always.

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Check out this article on some funky ways to spice up your fashion and make it your own!

For more mature fashion styles, click the link here!

The post How to Find your Style appeared first on GirlSpring.

Taylor Swift announced 1989 (Taylor’s Version) at the final Los Angeles show of the Eras Tour. Following her master’s dispute over her first six studio albums, Swift announced she would re-record the albums. The first album to be recorded was Fearless (Taylor’s Version) followed by Red (Taylor’s Version) and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). All of her songs debuted at the top of the US Billboard Hot 200 and met critical acclaim. 

Swift began teasing 1989 (Taylor’s Version) by releasing “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” in September 2021. The next year she released “This Love (Taylor’s Version). Snippets of “Bad Blood (Taylor’s Version)” and “Out Of The Woods (Taylor’s Version)” were featured in different movie trailers. 

The album was a huge success and broke numerous records.  It caused the biggest stream day for an album on Spotify, and became the highest number of vinyl sales in the century. 

Just like the original, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is a 1980s synth-pop album that features the heavy use of synthesizers and percussion. The album includes the re-recorded songs from the original album and five unreleased songs “From the Vault.” The deluxe version of the album includes the remix of: “Bad Blood” featuring Kendrick Lamar and “Sweeter than Fiction”, off the soundtrack of the movie “One Chance.”

The five vault songs are

“Slut”– Swift wrote about the slut shaming that she had experienced due to her relationship, however, the world’s opinions on her relationships do not bother her. 

“Say Don’t Go”– A song about not wanting her lover to leave her. 

“Now That We Don’t Talk”– This song is the shortest song in her discography. Swift sings about moving on from an ex, accepting that she doesn’t have to fit in with their taste and lifestyle. (Which she mocks in her song).

“Suburban Legends”– The track depicts a hopeful romance that would be remembered by everyone. 

“Is It Over Now?”– (This is my favorite song from the vault) It records the ending of a relationship and the mistakes that happened throughout. The rumors say that the song is about Harry Styles. 

Overall feelings about the album

I personally felt that most of the vault songs seemed to be heavily influenced by the production of her previous album Midnights. 

The main difference in 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is how Swift’s vocals have matured.  While the lyrics remain the same, there are a few differences from the production of the original to the re-recording. For the most, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) might be better than 1989 and shows off Taylor Swift’s amazing vocals and production skills. 

The post 1989 Album Review: Taylor’s Version appeared first on GirlSpring.

Two of my closest friends and I sat at our local movie theater, prepared to watch yet another movie about Elvis. What we got surpassed my assumptions and completely changed my perspective on both Elvis and Priscilla’s life.

As a big fan of Elvis (2022), I, as well as most of the world, had glossed over Priscilla’s side of the story. The movie begins by dropping the fact that Priscilla was only 14 when she started dating Elvis, and when my friends and I realized this, we audibly said, “Ew”. She was just a young girl, a freshman in high school. I am a junior in high school, and I can not even imagine that happening to me now, much less when I was a freshman.

Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola’s story is layered with beautiful aesthetics on top of its lasting tone of sadness. Actress Cailee Spaeny delivers an exceptional performance that leaves the audience heavily sympathizing with her titular character of Priscilla. Jacob Elordi, who plays Elvis, does an incredible job in his role.

You feel with Priscilla the twists and turns, the love and fear, and the constant mood swings that come with being the wife of Elvis Presley. You love Elvis and hate him, but throughout the film, you never hate Priscilla.

I adore Austin Butler’s Elvis. I watched it in theaters three times and made just about everybody in my life watch it with me again once it was available to stream. Now, after watching this film, I can say that I also adore Priscilla. I will definitely be back in theaters to watch more.

A24 Films

Every girl should watch this movie. Whether you are a fan of Elvis, a lover of all A24 films, or just someone wanting to go to the movies on a rainy day, you will fall in love with Priscilla. I may be biased, but I find it hard to comprehend that anybody could dislike this film.

In my eyes, it is simply perfection.

The post “Priscilla” Movie Review appeared first on GirlSpring.

Although my rankings change daily, 1989 is consistently in my top 3 of favorite Taylor albums. In its honor, I am sharing my top five songs from the album! Every other song is an honorable mention!! 

5. I Wish You Would
6. New Romantics
7. Out Of The Woods
8. Clean
9. You Are In Love

Most importantly, I can almost guarantee that when Style (featuring Harry Styles); which I’m convinced is happening, is going to skyrocket up my list. I was fortunate enough to go to Nashville Night 2 of the Eras Tour and hear Out Of The Woods live!!

Even though she messed up on the bridge (the best part) of the song she restarted, so we got to hear it a second time! Thus, I have been highly anticipating the release of this album and know it is going to break some records. There are only 5 vault tracks (songs she originally wrote for the album but didn’t make the cut), and I know they will be as “insane” as she said. Friday the 13th could not come any sooner!

Click here to check out more songs you can listen to for the back to school season!

The post Top 5 1989 Songs appeared first on GirlSpring.

Gomez recently became one of the most followed people on Instagram, boasting more than 424 million followers. She recently dropped a post on Instagram hinting that she may be recording new songs.

While waiting for her new albums, let’s review five brilliant songs that showcase her talent.

1 – The Heart Wants What It Wants

This song is allegedly about the singer’s emotionally and mentally draining relationship with Justin Bieber. The song opens with a tearful monologue, where Gomez shares her reflection on her relationship with Bieber, describing it as an unhealthy obsession and addiction. She refers to it as a “fever” and believes her relationship was unhealthy due to Bieber’s prioritization of his music, cheating, and inadequate career support.

Despite receiving psychiatric guidance, and advice from friends and family, Gomez refuses to give up on her relationship, stating that her heart wants what it wants, despite the emotional turmoil. The song highlights that her love is a powerful feeling that keeps her pursuing an unhealthy relationship despite various reasons not to.

2 – Back to You

Her emotional, yet powerful song has to do with feelings for an old lover, even though they are both in different relationships and stages in life. The singer considers what went wrong in the previous relationship and how she would go back and do things differently if she could.

The chorus appeals to her lover to recognize her urge to return to him, despite the fact that he has hurt her numerous times. Another obstacle that stands in their way is their current relationships, as they implied that both are involved with other people. Despite all the difficulties they had in the past, the bridge symbolizes her desire to return to her ex-lover. The love ballad’s overarching theme is that she wants to be back with him despite all the time that has passed and all the hurt he caused.

3 – Lose You to Love Me

This song is about understanding that sometimes a romantic relationship needs to end for a person to start accepting their worth, beginning to love themselves, prioritizing their needs, and discovering their wants. The song considers all the warning signs that went unnoticed while dating and thus emphasizes the necessity of letting go of that person to rebuild self-love and self-worth.

The key takeaway I had was that sometimes letting go of someone we love is necessary to love oneself genuinely. Gomez strongly emphasizes the necessity of realizing that her love was not entirely reciprocated and accepting the reality that she must go on. Thus, the song focuses on coming out of a relationship as a mentally and emotionally stronger individual.

4 – Boyfriend 

This next song is about seeking a lover to cure loneliness. The singer shares that she constantly meets “dead ends” and “wrong ones” in her search for the one, leaving her disappointed. She wants to be in a committed relationship but needs help finding the right one, acknowledging that “there is a difference between a want and a need.”

While some nights, the loneliness creeps in and leaves her wanting companionship, she usually understands that a relationship does not guarantee feeling better about herself. Overall, this song is about the frustration people feel while dating because they often meet the wrong people and struggle with loneliness. Moreover, it stresses the message that a relationship is a “want” and not a “need.” Thus, people can feel adequate, sufficient, and well-loved even if they are single.

5 –  People You Know 

Lastly, this song examines how the end of a relationship can take a toll on someone’s mental and emotional health. The lyrics express how embracing the thought that people can change from being close to strangers in moments might be challenging.

Her vocals contrast, “you were running through me like water,” with, “now the feeling’s leaving me dry,” to demonstrate how people can be integral parts of each other’s lives one day and be painful memories the next. The song addresses that relationship transitions often leave people feeling hurt, empty, confused, and regretful.

If you liked this, click here to read more powerful and emotional songs that pack a punch by another female singer and idol, Lana Del Rey.

The post 5 Emotional Selena Gomez Songs appeared first on GirlSpring.

Description

The book is about the life of a fictional actress that went by the name of Evelyn Hugo, however, the narrative is constructed in a unique way. Evelyn wanted her story to be a tell-all in book format to show the world the real her behind the Hollywood curtain.

She turned to a young journalist named Monique Grant to write the story for her, but Monique was unsure of why Evelyn chose her of all people to write her book; which would bring her vast sums of money. Following the entire writing process, beginning of the story starts when Evelyn asks Monique to write her book, following along as Evelyn tells Monique her story, and ending when the book is finished.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

This is a wild ride of a story that exposes Hollywood’s faults and thus gives readers a taste of what life as a celebrity is like. The book very eye-opening in a way that no other book I have ever read has been, so I would definitely recommend it. However, the story does include domestic violence and mature topics, so it is best for older readers.

A thread running throughout Evelyn’s career was that a large part of her fame came from her being sexualized in film and the media. Additionally, there were several moments early on in her acting journey where she chose to use her body to get her the parts that otherwise never would have been given to her. This plot line highlighted how women in the spotlight are often highly sexualized in the media, and it also made me think of the #MeToo movement, which brought attention to the sexual harassment towards women taking place in all work environments, but focused mainly in Hollywood. This movement, coupled with Evelyn’s story, is a powerful reminder of how women have been and continue to be looked at for their bodies and not for their talents.

Cultural Conflict

Another crux of Evelyn’s story was that she came from a Cuban family and grew up in Hell’s Kitchen in New York. In hopes of seeing her name in lights, she dropped her Cuban heritage completely, knowing that she would never be cast in a major picture if she was not viewed as white. The rejection of her heritage haunted her throughout her life, but she knew that she never would have realized the level of fame she did if she had not cut those ties. This rejection of one’s cultural background in order to “make it” in Hollywood brings light to the whitewashing that plagues the film and television industries today—we have improved in this area in the last few years, but many pieces of visual media still have all-white casts telling stories that beg for diversity.

*Caution—this section of the article contains light spoilers.

The Seven Husbands

And finally, the husbands. They are what make the book so intriguing—how can a person have so many loves in their lifetime? The short answer—they don’t. Or at least not in the case of Evelyn. None of her husbands were the love of her life; instead, each marriage was orchestrated to augment her fame, improve her image, or to promote a movie. One element of the book that I loved was that it included snippets of fictional tabloid articles that came out after major moments in her life, such as after a scandal or a marriage. These snippets helped me see the contrast between what the media portrays and what actually goes on behind the surface, which served as a harsh reality check.

The Reality of Hollywood

Far too often we see celebrity-related social media posts and magazine articles through rose-colored glasses, believing everything we see without a second thought. But in reality, much of the news we read about is carefully orchestrated by the celebrity themselves and their PR team in order to ensure that their audience views them in the exact light they want to be viewed in. 

Therefore, whenever you see a post on Instagram about a celebrity’s “dramatic” break up or “enchanting” new love, always be skeptical and question how much of it’s true. We tend to forget that celebrities are people too; they are people with emotions, families, and personal lives. Humans are complex, and nothing is as cut-and-dry as it seems.

Evelyn’s Life

Throughout most of her life, Evelyn chose fame over true love and happiness, which brought up the question of whether receiving diluted love from the public or true love from a person was more important. This question is one that she battled with throughout the entire book, so you’ll have to read her story to form your own answer.

Like I said, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an eye-opening tale that sucks you in and puts you in the shoes of a Hollywood star. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a copy, I highly recommend giving it a read.

Click here for more book reviews by Girl Spring contributors!

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