Latest news with #Cosmo
Cosmopolitan
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
What Is Tinder's New Double Date Feature?
Earlier this week, Tinder launched 'Double Date,' a new feature that allows users to—wait for it—double date by pairing their profiles with friends and swiping for other paired matches. Double Daters can sync their profiles with up to three friends, arguably rendering the 'Double Date' of it all something of a misnomer, but that's neither here nor there. For world-weary daters like myself who have been swiping since the apps went mainstream a decade ago, this news may trigger flashbacks to the mid-2010s chaos that was 'Tinder Social,' a similar (and relatively short-lived) feature that allowed daters to swipe as a group. But enough showing my age. While Tinder Social was ostensibly a flop, launching in 2016 and sunsetting the following year, the app seems to be betting on a new generation of daters better suited to the group-dating mentality. As Tinder's resident relationship expert, Devyn Simone, puts it, 'Gen Z isn't shy about being, well, a little shy.' For a generation of post-pandemic daters who crave in-person interaction but were deprived of it during their formative years, 'Dating can feel like a high-stakes performance,' Simone tells Cosmo. Double Date 'turns it into a team sport, one that comes with a built-in gut check.' Meanwhile, in an age of dating-app burnout where singles are craving real-life connections but aren't sure where to find them, a group-date scenario—however app-originated—could potentially make a first date feel less like an algorithmically generated job interview and more like a low-stakes hang where sparks can fly (or not) organically. According to a press release, the new feature has already proven popular among its target demo, with nearly 90 percent of Double Date profiles coming from users under 29 years old (the oldest Gen Zs are, like my Zillennial self, currently 28). Testing also found that the feature may be particularly attractive to women, who were three times more likely to swipe right on a pair than on an individual profile. As for how that's playing out in real life—well, as one TikToker put it, 'Everywhere I turn they release more tools for men to be absolutely heinous because why did they release a Double Date feature on Tinder? I do not need to be seeing more than one of you guys at once.' Anyway, whether this summer is destined to be the summer of double (or triple or quadruple) dates or Double Date is headed for the same fate as its Millennial predecessor, I think we can all get on board with anything that gets us out of the house and actually interacting with other people. Life's short, go forth and date (with friends!).
The Spinoff
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- The Spinoff
The Spinoff Essay: Becoming my own man of the year
Lorde has couched statements about her gender cautiously, but they're still welcome and radical for women who grew up thinking traditionally masculine traits were a flaw. The first time I realised I could choose to buy men's clothing was in April 2023. I'd worn 'old man pants' in the 90s (previous owner likely deceased) during a brief flirtation with grunge dressing, but that wasn't a conscious choice; it was the result of cultural instruction. Aged 43, I stood behind a curtain in a dressing room in the menswear section of 2nd Street, one of several vintage clothing stores in Hiroshima's Hondori shopping district, and pulled on a pair of Homme Plissé Issey Miyake pants. They were black, famously pleated and to the naked eye, had nothing to suggest they weren't the same as the black, famously pleated women's version of the pants. Only the label and the gaping at the crotch, fastened by two buttons, gave the game away. I'd landed in the menswear section after encountering a common problem for anyone of antipodean proportions. Japan is a mecca for vintage and preloved designer shopping, but it primarily caters for a domestic and smaller-sized market. Disavowed of the savvy and strictures of familiar culture and humbled by a lack of language, I had tentatively wandered up to the menswear section after realising nothing in the womenswear would fit. I took baby steps, grabbing a scarf that fit my restrictive idea of what was acceptably 'unisex'. Realising no one but me cared who I was or where I was, I moved towards items that, through cut, sizing, areas of coverage and decades of cultural conditioning, were more denotatively male: trousers, jeans, shirts, jackets and shoes. I left Japan with more menswear than womenswear. I haven't stopped browsing and shopping on both sides of the strangely upheld border between the two since, but it took a long time getting there. Growing up in the analogue 90s, before iPhones, social media, the mass adoption of the internet and the infinite splintering of cultural understanding, Western ideas of femininity were shaped by Hollywood and women's magazines. Despite Mum's best efforts to guide me away from these bibles, issues of Cosmo and Dolly (stolen from the public library) informed my friends and me about beauty, sex, sexuality and what it meant to be, and look like, a woman. It was a strange and contradictory time for feminism. The Girls Can Do Anything poster, on display in classrooms throughout the country in the 1980s, presented a wholesome ideal of women doing 'men's jobs' like welding and lifting heavy things. The 1990s were informed by a highly sexualised explosion of 'girl power' and corporate 'have it all' culture. It felt progressive, but at the zenith of mass and monocultural media, it was informed by singular ideas of desirability, identity and appearance. Xena, Warrior Princess (Lucy Lawless), now regarded as a canonical lesbian icon, appeared on the covers of Maxim and Stuff For Men – men's magazines in the tradition of FHM and Loaded – wearing her underwear. 'Xena as you've never seen her before.' As a teenager, and every day since, I have never once looked in the mirror and seen what I'd describe as a typically feminine face. I once took a celebrity look-alike quiz online and got Russell Crowe. My face, to be clear, is fine, and I have no doubt people looking at it might dispute what I just said. For me, though, I had a list of defects that took away from what I understood as 'pretty' and, therefore, what women should look like. My eyes were too round, and not almond-shaped or wide enough. My mouth was too small. My hair was never long enough, and my chin was too pointy. The most egregious was a lack of sharp cheekbones. 'I have no cheekbones,' I would wail, ignoring the obvious lack of complete facial collapse that would occur if that were true. I resigned myself to a simplistic binary: not 'pretty' meant masculine, and that wasn't something to embrace or even accept as OK. I vividly recall being described as 'handsome' by someone in passing and wanting to die. While I now share the view expressed by Tilda Swinton about her father and David Bowie in 2011, it got under my thin and stubbornly dull skin at the time. For a man, 'handsome' is good, but for a young woman with no reference points for embracing any kind of fluidity or positive connotations about masculinity as a woman, it was antithetical. I also absorbed ideas that being articulate, smart, 'intimidating', and a leader were masculine qualities, which were at war with the feminist ideals I was rapidly absorbing at university. To me, the pathway to being a fully-rounded woman was to wrestle those ideas to the ground, bludgeon them to death and reabsorb those 'masculine' characteristics as feminine. There was never any contemplation that a reconciliation could occur between the different parts of me, or that embracing masculinity as an act of positivity was an alternative. Through my 20s and 30s, I was very overweight. Year after year, the pages of my university diaries were a testament to the era's contradictions. Bullet-pointed goals included: 'finish Masters' (I did not) and 'lose 10kg' (also not achieved). I'd also discovered an admiration for masculine tailoring and androgynous fashion. Studying film, I spent hours falling in love with Katharine Hepburn's screen presence and her trousers. I watched Annie Hall and wanted nothing more than to sling a tie around my neck. By the time Sally Potter's adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Orlando arrived on my required screening list, I was completely besotted with the interplay between trickery, freedom, identity, gender and style. There's a particular cruelty in wanting to dress more androgynously when you already feel like your body occupies too much space and isn't conforming to a desired ideal. Choosing clothes that made me look 'bigger' felt like a form of self-sabotage, and clothes that weren't 'feminine' just highlighted broad shoulders and a wide back. Despite a growing mental catalogue of masculine sartorial icons, 'flattering' was the only style preoccupation I allowed myself to have. There was nothing more humiliating to me than having people think I didn't understand my own body or the rules that should apply. I did eventually lose weight via gastric bypass surgery. I've reconciled how that changed my relationship with my body privately and publicly. It also changed my style. I rarely wear dresses and frequently wear men's jeans, shirts and jackets. Driving through the heart of Auckland's University Central City campus one day wearing sneakers, men's jeans and a sweatshirt, I realised that aside from shape, there was no real difference from behind between me and the 20-something-year-old men mooching along Princes Street. The reasons for this late-stage and, by the standards of more enlightened generations, quaint transitory phase are ripe for an unfurling of caveats, discursive criticisms of just about every aspect of life today, and self-flagellation, but the most permissive and accurate description I have found is clunky and base. It's not my description but Ella Yelich-O'Connor's, and it's held together by the completely obtuse and amorphous concept of 'the ooze'. Two weeks before Lorde's single 'Man of the Year' landed, her interview with Rolling Stone was published. In it, she details how she came to a different understanding of gender. It's layered and authentically rooted in her own experience. She talks about an eating disorder, growing up famous, a break-up, therapy, anxiety and the relentless drain of existing in the limbo of being what people expect you to be and being yourself. She describes buying men's jeans, taping her chest and feeling like a man on some days, and a woman on others. The ooze is defined as 'the act of letting herself take up more space in everything she does, whether physically or creatively. Doing so opened the floodgates of her own identity'. 'My gender got way more expansive when I gave my body more room,' she explains. She is careful not to overegg this disclosure, saying, 'I don't think that [my identity] is radical, to be honest,' she says. 'I see these incredibly brave young people, and it's complicated. Making the expression privately is one thing, but I want to make very clear that I'm not trying to take any space from anyone who has more on the line than me. Because I'm, comparatively, in a very safe place as a wealthy, cis, white woman.' And she is. Despite her assertion that her gender expression isn't that radical, conversations about gender have simultaneously become more nuanced and visible, and contentious and dangerous enough to be ascribed the language and conditions of warfare. The war is cultural and ideological, but protests, abuse, violence and death are now its regular companions for those without the safety of Lorde's position. 'Woke Lorde accused of 'gender baiting' as she appears to come out as non-binary… but there's a twist,' screamed The Daily Mail, a publication that lives and dies by the potency and twisting of bait. I also write from a position of safety. I am a cis woman, and all I'm doing is wearing men's clothing. I wear makeup, dye my hair and sometimes remove my body hair. I'm not existing in a particularly unacceptable, challenging or radical way. When I put on those pants in Hiroshima, I wasn't challenging much at all, except my own restrictions. It was still a revelation. Revelations always seem like they're meant to be sudden. This one crept up over decades. Maybe that's what Lorde means by 'the ooze'. It's the slow acknowledgment that you're allowed to take up the space you actually occupy. Growing up on a diet of highly prescribed ideas of femininity, it's taken time to peacefully inhabit that space and not see traits traditionally ascribed to masculinity as a flaw. Nothing needs to be bludgeoned to death and absorbed to fit one of the binaries. It's expansive. Sometimes, to become someone more like yourself, you've just got to wear the pants.
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
This kids smartwatch beats my Apple Watch — here's why my 10-year-old and I love the JrTrack 4
As a mom of three, juggling school schedules, sports practices and the everyday chaos of life, I'm always on the hunt for tools that make my life just a little bit easier — and give me a little more peace of mind. The JrTrack 4 Kids Smart Watch has been exactly that. When I first strapped it on to my 10-year-old son's wrist, I had no idea just how much we'd use it and even depend on it. Since then, it's helped in ways I didn't even expect. To name just a few recent examples: It's honestly been a lifesaver — giving my son just enough independence while keeping us both connected. He can send texts or voice messages, call me (or any parent-approved contact), and I can always check his location from the parent app. There's also an SOS button he can press if there's ever an emergency. Here's what I love about the JrTrack 4: This JrTrack 4 Kids smart watch from Cosmo is an all-in-one utility watch that comes with a slew of features that help you stay on top of your kid's life, including GPS tracking, calling, text messaging, an activity tracker and camera. And from my end, the parent app is simple and intuitive. I can manage contacts, set safe zones, enable School Mode and view location history — all from my phone. Now, a heads-up: there is a subscription fee — about $17 per month for the data plan. But honestly, it's more than worth it for the level of safety, convenience and peace of mind it fact, I'd happily trade one extra streaming subscription for knowing where my son is — and being able to reach him — anytime. If you're on the fence about getting one, here's my honest advice: go for it. The JrTrack 4 Smart Watch has made our lives easier, safer and a lot less stressful — and as any parent knows, that's priceless. In fact, after seeing everything this kids smartwatch can do, I think it's giving my Apple Watch a run for its money.
Cosmopolitan
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Sofia Richie Grainge's The Row Sandals Look Just Like This $55 Amazon Style
Flip-flops are having their moment again. Just ask Jennifer Aniston, Gigi Hadid, or the entire Cosmo team, who have embraced the thong sandal revival with open arms—and pedicured toes. If you had any doubt about the polarizing shoe trend left, this should settle it: Certified it girl Sofia Richie Grainge just shared back-to-back Instagrams in the style. While vacationing in the French Riviera (at the same opulent hotel as her royal wedding!) Sofia has been reaching for the exact flip-flops that, well, all of Hollywood is wearing: The Row Dune Cotton Flat Thong Sandals. Jennifer Lawrence, Zoë Kravitz, Kendall Jenner, and Hailey Bieber have all been spotted in the trending shoe. But, here's the thing: While they can afford to spend $690 on a rubber flip-flop, I cannot! And, I don't have to! There's a $55 version on Amazon that looks identical—down to Sofia's colorway. The lookalike sandal has the same red textured outsole and ribbed black thong strap as the designer style. They're so similar, in fact, that I'm quite sure I couldn't tell the difference in a side-by-side. The rubber footbed offers just the right amount of cushion, and you don't have to worry about blisters thanks to its soft ribbon-like fabric. Shoppers can confirm! "They are very comfortable to wear. The insole has a raised massaging surface that feels really good on the bottom of your feet," one reviewer says. "The straps are fabric so they do not cut into your toes or feet." Another customer adds that the flip-flops are so "cute, comfy, and affordable" that they've "had many pairs over the years." In addition to the classic red and black style Sofia opted for, Amazon also has an all-black sandal and black and sand color combo just like The Row versions Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber chose. Oh, and the beauty of a flip-flop (and these, in particular)??? They go with everything. Hailey wore the Dunes with leggings, Kendall styled 'em with jeans, and Sofia paired the shoes with several different swimwear looks. So, if you're looking to cosplay as a girl who can afford $690 flip-flops (without actually spending that), now's your chance! I'm certainly taking it! Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.
Cosmopolitan
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Editor Review: Testing The New Clinique Nude Honey Lipstick for 2025
Clinique's Black Honey lipstick might be the most iconic lip product ever. For more than 50 years, the beloved shade has been a go-to for celebs and beauty editors alike, thanks to its ability to enhance your natural lip color with a buildable your-lips-but-better berry tint. Now, Clinique just leveled up its lip game with a new addition to the lineup: Almost Lipstick in Nude Honey. This new shade leans more mauve and neutral than the original's deeper and slightly purple undertone. Think of it as a lip version of Glossier You—the pH-balanced fragrance that adapts to your skin chemistry. Nude Honey works the same way, adjusting to your natural lip tone to deliver a just-for-you nude that flatters everyone. Ahead, team Cosmo got their hands on Clinique's Nude Honey to see how it stacks up against the OG Black Honey. Keep reading for our full thoughts. The Nude Honey shade swaps Clinique's classic deep berry Black Honey for a soft brown. At first swipe, the formula looked nearly identical to its cult-favorite sister, but after a few layers, it developed into something a bit more wearable—slightly more brown with a hint of orange-pink, rather than a reddish purple. Honestly, it looks like someone took my natural lip color, bottled it up, and turned it into a slightly bolder lip product. As someone who doesn't typically reach for lipstick, I appreciated the thin applicator that allows me to be precise and trace around the edges of my lips without a mirror—no smudging or overlining necessary. And while the formula isn't the most hydration-forward, it's still filled with enough emollients (aka moisturizing ingredients) to keep the lips feeling soft and conditioned as I wear it. The finish is subtle—somewhere between a creamy balm and a lipstick—and though it's not glossy, it doesn't dry out my lips, either. The result is simply natural, but brighter, bolder, and better than my bare lips. Beauty editor Beth Gillette also put the new shade to the test. "I never bought into the Black Honey renaissance, but I did use it years ago in high school and remember loving the vampy look it gave me without all the fuss of more pigmented formulas. My lip vibe as of late, though, is something softer and simpler, hence why I haven't picked it back up in so long. But! Nude Honey is essentially that and everything I would look for in a formula like this in 2025. It's the same shade as my natural lip color, but makes them look plump, smooth, and a little glossy." If you're looking for a natural lip that gives a little something extra, Nude Honey is that shade. It takes your lip color a bit deeper with a neutral tint that's super easy to wear. I love the original Black Honey for nights out or full glam looks, but it can feel a little too much with softer or no makeup. Nude Honey, on the other hand, is super wearable and works perfectly for everyday. The only downside is that the Almost Lipstick formula is a bit matte. If you want a glassy finish, I recommend topping it with a clear gloss. Or maybe this is Clinique's cue to drop a Nude Honey lip gloss—just saying! Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers everything from beauty trends to buzzy product launches. For this story, she tested Clinique's Nude Honey Almost Lipstick ahead of the drop to give her full thoughts and review. She also tapped Cosmo's beauty editor, Beth Gillette, for her insight. Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You'll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it's usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles' entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
