On Tuesday, the nominations for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were announced and the list featured some heavy hitters: Megan Thee Stallion, SZA, Doja Cat, Beyoncé, GloRilla, and Muni Long are among the artists who earned nominations. However, many music lovers are side-eyeing the Video of the Year category after realizing Victoria Monét wasn’t included in the lineup.

This year’s Video of the Year nominees include Ariana Grande (“we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”), Billie Eilish (“LUNCH”), Doja Cat (“Paint The Town Red’), Eminem (“Houdini”), SZA (“Snooze”), Taylor Swift and Post Malone (“Fortnight”). To be clear, Monét did earn two VMA nominations in the Best R&B and MTV Push Performance of The Year categories for her hit single, “On My Mama.” But for the performer to not be a contender for Video of the Year is disappointing and, honestly, confusing. The “On My Mama” music video was released in August 2023 and was an ode to Black and Y2K culture. The visual also infused elements of today’s pop culture. In addition to the video’s early 2000s concept with the nostalgic oversized white tees and baggy jeans, the slick choreography catapulted a wave of online creators reenacting Monét’s viral dance moves. The R&B artist broke the Internet after dropping the “On My Mama” visual. This year, Monét had the timeline in shambles once again after releasing the music video for “Alright,” another popular song from her second studio album, Jaguar II.

We’ve been saying for a while “bring back real music videos” and here it is. A well thought out, studied, choreographed video with cultural references to Black Southern culture. She’s always been the one but this is Victoria Monet’s standout moment. https://t.co/Yn1npZaQdw

— Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) August 15, 2023

The VMAs had not one but two solid options of Monét’s to choose from to nominate for Video Of The Year. As if “Alright” couldn’t get better, the accompanying visual superseded fans’ expectations after the two-minute teaser (which didn’t give many details other than a Michael Jackson “Thriller” reference) dropped. The legend-in-the-making dug deep into her creative bag and delivered a masterpiece that pulled inspiration from legendary icons like Missy Elliot, Janet Jackson, and Britney Spears. The lack of acknowledgement and complete disregard from the VMA Video of the Year nomination committee is just another example of how Black female artists are often overlooked. 

The same goes for Tinashe and her smash hit “Nasty.” According to Billboard, projects from both artists were eligible to be nominated because they were released within the submission period, which ran from June 22, 2023 to June 20, 2024. Tinashe wasn’t nominated in any category even though “Nasty” became an immediate viral sensation after hitting the airwaves on April 12. Unfortunately, it’s clear that the time it takes for Black female artists to be recognized by awards shows like the VMAs either comes too late or not at all.

Monét’s snub caught the attention of many upset fans who shared their frustrations online. One person wrote, “Now who down at the VMAs and MTV has a problem with Victoria Monét? Because this is starting to feel personal. My girl always delivers ART in her music videos.”

Another Twitter user said, “Victoria Monét has had two awe-inspiring videos grace our screen over the past 365 days. Neuter was worthy of VOTY [Video of the Year]? That’s crazy. She has us On My Mama-ing on TikTok forever.”

Tinashe not being nominated for her song, "Nasty," and Victoria Monét getting snubbed for Video of the Year for her music video, “Alright,” at the #VMAs is so unserious. MTV can never get things right.

— 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 ⚡️ (@MJFINESSELOVER) August 6, 2024

Now, who down at the @vmas & @MTV has a problem with Victoria Monét? Because this is starting to feel personal. My girl always delivers ART in her music videos.#VMA pic.twitter.com/jce1jhWaZG

— Golden (@Goldengirlstate) August 7, 2024

#VictoriaMonet has had 2 awe inspiring videos grace our screen over the past 365 days… Neither was worthy of VOTY? That’s crazy…. She had us On My Mama-ing on Tik Tok forEVA!#MTVAwards #VMA https://t.co/EQp6Eyavjy

— Rudii ★ (@RuDoesIt) August 6, 2024

Although fans were disappointed, the snub wasn’t surprising. This isn’t the first time the awards show has slighted the artist. For the 2023 MTV VMAs, fans campaigned for Monét to perform onstage after her name didn’t appear on the list of live performances. In a tweet, she shared that her team was told that it was too soon in her career for her to take the stage. “I see your advocation for me to have performed tonight and I’m so grateful to you,” Monét wrote. Sincerely! My team was told it is “too early in my story” for that opportunity, so we will keep working! I’m grateful for YOU, for my tour starting this Friday, and for the ability to see some of my favorite people perform tonight and receive the love they so deserve! For me, it’s part of the story…and in God’s time.”

I see your advocation for me to have performed tonight and I’m so grateful to you!! Sincerely! My team was told it is “too early in my story” for that opportunity so we will keep working! I’m grateful for YOU, for my tour starting this Friday and for the ability to see some of my…

— Victoria Monét (@VictoriaMonet) September 13, 2023

We knew that the Jaguar artist could devour the VMA stage then, and the proof was in the top-charting success of “On My Mama.” With a 15-year music career, there’s nothing “early” about Monét’s stamp in the music industry. While the transition from songwriter to performer may be her most recent journey, her resume still places her ahead of many of her industry peers. But, whoever is in charge of the VMAs refused to see what was already in front of them back then and they’re repeating the same mistake now.

Despite last year’s snub, Monét used that moment as fuel to prove the naysayers wrong. Since then, she headlined her own sold-out tour, won three Grammy Awards, co-headlined the Essence Festival with Janet Jackson, and accomplished so much more. With her current trajectory, superstardom is within her reach. Whether an award show recognizes her value, Monét’s impact will be enough to induct her into the next class of music legends.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Brittany Brown ran the 200m race of her life to qualify for the Paris 2024 games, clocking a personal best at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. And this week, she solidified her track-star status on the ultimate world stage, speeding to the finish in 22.20 seconds — and scoring the bronze medal at the Paris games. But the American sprinter hasn’t had the smoothest run to the top: Not only did she have to overcome a recent injury to achieve her dreams, she’s also had to compete while dealing with severe pain from another cause, endometriosis.

A chronic disease, endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This tissue can swell and bleed during menstruation, create scar tissue in the pelvic region, as well as cysts (from blood that gets trapped in the ovaries), and also cause a crapload of physical and mental pain. It’s estimated that 10 to 15% of reproductive-aged people with uteruses are affected by endometriosis, but the condition is under-discussed, understudied, and underdiagnosed across the board, particularly in racialized women. The exact cause of endo is unknown, and there is no known cure, so treatments are usually geared toward easing symptoms.

Brown started to experience debilitating cramping during her period almost 10 years ago, but it wasn’t until last year — and many false starts — that she was finally given an endo diagnosis. “For a long time, my body was talking to me, but I wasn’t listening,” she says. Brown is one of the few Olympic athletes to talk openly about her #EndoWarrior status. 

In an interview shortly before flying out to the Paris Olympics, Brown chatted with Refinery29 about managing pain and busting stigma, one exposed tampon at a time. 

On social media, you’ve talked about how your road to Olympic athlete status was not the typical journey. Can you explain what you meant? 

My story is that I don’t have all of the typical accolades. I didn’t have all the “right things” or the “right path” to my end goal. I didn’t go to a big track school; I only made it to state championships once, and I didn’t win. I wasn’t signed to a shoe contract in my first year of running professional track, which is what a lot of people consider to be the standard for being a professional runner. But I was still able to reach for my dreams. 

I think it’s a story that a lot of people can relate to — not only those in the track world, but also just anyone who is going after something. A lot of people in track have been doing this since they were a lot younger. Their parents saw they were fast, and they put them in this special program and hired this special coach. I didn’t have that. I’m one of four siblings — Brandi, Brittany, Brandon, Bryan. My sister went to college on a basketball scholarship, and that’s why I got into track — I just wanted to get school paid for. And then somewhere along the way I started realizing, I’m really good at this. I just hadn’t really been in an environment to cultivate that success. I think a lot of people relate to the kind of adversity I experienced. 

And you haven’t even mentioned having a serious medical condition. When were you first diagnosed with endometriosis? 

I wasn’t actually diagnosed until early 2023, but I knew something was wrong a lot earlier. I think it was my second year of college. I was doing a super intense workout, and I was on my period, and afterwards it was just an unbelievable amount of pain. Like, I was in the bathroom crying and shaking and actually throwing up. 

My teammates had to help me and the whole time I’m thinking, I don’t think my period is supposed to feel like this. I don’t think this is normal. I started to see doctors, and I got the same answers that so many women get: “Oh, just go on birth control — just stop your period,” or “oh, just have a baby,” or “just have a hysterectomy.” I called my mom crying after that one.

Right. Like, no big deal, just have major surgery to remove your uterus even though we can’t tell you what’s wrong— 

I was 26 at that time. I do want to have children, but not yet. And this whole idea that giving birth will get rid of the pain caused by endometriosis is not true. It comes back, and you still have to deal with the lesions and the pain. There is so much to navigate, and still a lot of doctors don’t know a lot about endo. The more I learned, the more you realize how much you have to be your own advocate. 

I have joined an endo group chat, and it has been so amazing to have this community of women who share their experiences on medical issues, like which doctors are good, and which treatments have been effective. But it’s also: how to stand up for yourself, how to make sure you’re not dismissed, that it’s okay to listen to your body. I hope, by sharing my story, I can give other women that confidence. For a long time, my body was talking to me, and I kept thinking, I’m fine, I’m strong, I can do this, I don’t want to be too emotional, which is something women hear all the time. 

Endometriosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated in Black women. And those who are diagnosed receive poorer care. Have you dealt with medical racism?  

I think that when we talk about pain, Black women have always been told that we have a high pain threshold and we can handle it, so that dismissal that affects women’s health issues in general is that much more extreme. I have connected with other Black women in the endo space who feel like they have to be that much more cautious. It starts with period pain, but this is also about concerns to do with childbirth and the possibility of surgery. 

Do you think the stigma and ignorance around endometriosis relates to the broader period stigma? 

Definitely. Look at how we are taught about menstruation at school: Call it a period; don’t talk about it; keep your tampon in your pocket when you’re going to the bathroom because it’s a secret. Recently, I was walking around with my tampon in my hand — I don’t care who sees it. When I first went to pelvic floor therapy, I was learning the terminology — vulva, that sort of thing — and it was like, damn, why don’t I know about this already? 

How do you handle the mental health piece of pain management?

That is definitely a huge part of it. Even before I had a diagnosis, I have been big into meditation. I try to go for a walk every morning, to avoid social media, and to be very intentional about my environments. Stress is a huge trigger for endo pain. I had asthma as a kid, and one thing we learned is that when you’re having an asthma attack, the worst thing you can do is to freak out, and the same thing is true with endo flare-ups. 

Not to point out the obvious, but competing in the Olympics isn’t exactly a low-stress job.

Ha! I know. I know! This disease is very contradictory to my job. There have been races where I have competed through a lot of pain, but I try to focus on the reasons to be grateful. A lot of women with endo aren’t even able to work out or do anything physical, and here I am. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a job that was less physical, but that’s not my life right now.  

Are you traveling with any good luck charms?

I bring my turtle with me everywhere — my boyfriend bought him for me.

A real turtle?

Oh, no, he’s a stuffed animal. His name is Mr. Clementine. I bring him. I bring my journal, which is an important part of my pain management. Oh, and my heating pad. Any endo girlie knows that you need that heating pad.  

Will you get a chance to be a tourist in Paris, or is the trip strictly business? 

After the race, I’ll have a couple of days. And my family will be there, so I’m excited to do some sightseeing. For my mom and my granny, this will be their first time out of the U.S., so that’s pretty amazing. I’ll probably sit at a cafe somewhere and write in my journal. I love to people-watch, and then make up stories about them and what their lives are like. 

That is either a very cool or semi-creepy self-care ritual — 

Ha! I know. I love it. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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When it comes to shopping for a moisturizer, there are certain ingredients that you might always keep an eye out for. Think hyaluronic acid for deep hydration or vitamin C to provide antioxidant protection against environmental aggressors like pollution. Lately, though, one ingredient seems to be trumping them all in terms of popularity.

Enter: ceramides.

While they form the foundation of many moisturizing skincare and body care products we love already, (CeraVe’s entire collection is literally built on them) you’d be forgiven for not knowing exactly what they do or how they work. Skincare is a science, after all.

Think of ceramides as the glue that keeps skin cells intact. As such, they can help alleviate a range of skin concerns including dryness, atopic dermatitis (which causes skin to become itchy and cracked) as well as eczema. Ceramides keep your skin barrier — the outermost layer of skin which keeps “good” stuff in (like moisture) and “bad” stuff out (like bacteria) — healthy and happy, subsequently calming irritation. It’s the kind of multitasking yet soothing ingredient that we look for in every ingredient list.

In fact, Refinery29’s deputy beauty director Jacqueline Kilikita rarely buys a moisturizer without ceramides. “My skin barrier is hard to please, and anything can mess it up, from exfoliating acids that are too strong to the wrong cleanser. If a moisturizer boasts ceramides in its ingredients list, I know for a fact that it’ll bring my skin back to normal.” That’s all thanks to the ingredient’s ability to repair and lock in moisture, says Kilikita. “So much so that I actively look out for ceramides in my skincare now.”

What are ceramides and why are they good for the skin?

Besides beauty editors, dermatologists also extol the virtues of ceramides. “Ceramides are one of the components — alongside cholesterol and free fatty acids — that hold the skin barrier together,” says Carl Thornfeldt, dermatologist and founder of Epionce skincare, something dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall, consultant dermatologist and medical director of Tarrant Street Clinic, expands on.

“Ceramides are the major lipid or fat constituents present in between skin cells,” she says. “If this structure is strong and healthy, then the skin barrier is more effective, for example, at retaining water.” Think of them as scaffolding between skin cells. Human skin actually produces ceramides naturally, but thanks to excessive dryness, environmental factors and growing older, the levels need replenishing.

What are the best ceramides products for skin?

Thanks to brands like CeraVe, there are now plenty of ceramide-rich products available than ever before. But which ones — if any — are worth your money? Here are the tried-and-tested ceramide moisturizers, lip balms, and face masks that team R29 loves.

Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream, $49

This is one of our favorite skincare launches of the summer. You can read more in our standalone review of this Medik8 moisturizer here, but the TL;DR is that we’ve been high-key impressed with its ability to keep our skin plump and pillowy without any greasiness. A medley of ingredients, including skin-strengthening prebiotic peptides, deeply moisturizing squalane, and (you guessed it) ceramides keeps the skin dewy and soft — even if you skip other skincare products due to the summer heat. “It immediately takes away any tightness post-cleanse and makes my skin look even in tone,” says Kilikita. “It’s lightweight enough that I can layer SPF over the top and not feel suffocated, and makeup glides over the top effortlessly.”

Shop Medik8

Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner and Moisturizer, $36

If you’re weary of unctuous creams and lotions that can clog your pores and cause breakouts, this K-beauty essence is just the ticket. The star ingredient is cerapeptide, a blend of ceramides and peptides (a protein that improves skin hydration levels and elasticity by kickstarting the production of more collagen) to keep skin soft and supple. The fluid texture is somewhere between a toner and a serum and it sits comfortably under sunscreen and makeup.

Shop Sephora

The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer, $20

This editor-approved moisturizer gives other more expensive skincare products a run for their money. A lot of that is down to the presence of bio-active ceramides, which work to strengthen multiple layers of skin cells. Additionally, shea butter and glycerin replenish the moisture levels in the skin. “I’m big on anything that will build up my skin barrier and ceramides are some of my favorite ingredients,” freelance beauty editor Rebecca Fearn told R29 in a recent review. “[This moisturizer] feels so luxurious and it’s comparable to very expensive formulas I’ve tried and have in my collection.” If your skin barrier has been feeling a bit vulnerable from the use of actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids — not to mention the pounding sun — consider giving it some much-needed TLC with this $20 bestseller.

Shop Sephora

Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Lip Balm, $16

Not all lip balms are created equal; some of them might actually be the culprit of your lips becoming dry and flaky, especially if you’re allergic to ingredients like camphor and menthol. Not when it comes to this lip balm, though. The glossy, jelly-like formula is rich in ceramides, forming a protective layer on your lips while working extra time to repair any cracks and dry patches. It’s a great product to prime your lips before applying a favorite lip combo.

Shop Sephora

Byoma Moisturizing Rich Cream, $16.99

This moisturizer is substantial but not at all greasy. It contains glycerin, which draws moisture to the surface into skin, while ceramides complex seals it into the skin barrier. It’s an affordable go-to for repairing, plumping and hydrating your skin, and the unscented formula is perfect for those with sensitive or reactive skin types. Reviewers rave about the light and airy texture, which sinks straight into the face without leaving behind an oily residue.

Shop Ulta

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask, $49

This is one of the most popular masks on the market, and for good reason. It delivers a double-pronged attack on dry, rough skin thanks to the gently exfoliating plant extracts and a dose of ceramides, which moisturise, soften and repair. At the same time, vitamin C shields your skin from damage caused by pollutants and UV damage, while brightening your skin tone.

Shop Summer Fridays

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, $14

Even a light layer of this cream provides instant relief from tight, cracked, flaky skin. It’s all down to the ceramide precursors, which kickstart the skin’s own ceramide reserves into action. Refinery29’s deputy beauty director uses it as a facial moisturizer — and a hand cream — to banish dryness. “This is a no-frills moisturizer that does exactly what it says on the tin. It makes my skin soft and smooth without clogging my pores. Dry skin doesn’t stand a chance. I skip eye cream by taking it up to my eyes and I even put some on my lips throughout the day.” The formula doesn’t contain any fragrance, oil or silicone, making this a great choice for sensitive skin types.

Shop Sephora

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, $19.99

CeraVe’s ceramide-centered skincare line is a godsend to anyone who struggles with dry skin or eczema. The moisturizing cream, a much-championed OG formulated by dermatologists, should be a staple in your beauty cabinet. A trio of ceramides, plus hyaluronic acid, forms a lightweight and protective balm around your skin barrier and serves a much-needed drink of water. The oil-free formula dries to a silky but matte finish, so you can apply makeup without any slipperiness. We recommend keeping a large tub of this around the house to keep your hands or any dry patches well hydrated.

Shop Ulta

More ceramides skincare products we love

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We made it through the first week of Mercury retrograde, and the energy of last week’s 888 ascension portal is coursing through us and will continue to be felt for the rest of August. This week is best for integrating the downloads you received during last week’s new moon in Leo and the 8/8 portal. If you haven’t yet set your new moon intentions, you have until August 14 to take advantage of the new moon window and let the universe know what you’re seeking to manifest in your life these next six months.  

Now that Venus, the planet of love, is in Virgo, we’ll collectively be taking life and our relationships more seriously. We’re cautioned not to become overly critical of ourselves and others during this transit, particularly since Mercury’s retrograding back into Leo on the 14th, which could lead to ego conflicts between us and people in our orbit. People will be taking things more personally and will have less patience for discussion so it’s best not to get others (including ourselves) riled up but rather stay focused in our own lane.

Read your horoscopes for your Sun and Rising signs for the most in-depth forecast.

Aries Sun & Rising:

Aries, Mercury’s retrograde back into Leo on the 14th could spice up your love life considerably, and it may also lead to you reconnecting with a past lover (or several, since your ruler Mars is currently in Gemini, the sign of the twins). Rather than getting caught up in all the attention, make sure you’re being discerning and selective about who gets to be in your orbit and why. Don’t let anyone waste your time. 

Chiron’s continued retrograde in your sign is amping up your sensitivity to life so if you can, allow yourself to cry, especially this weekend as we approach the Aquarius full moon. Too often you feel like you have to be the strong one. But it’s okay to be tender. It’s okay to be soft. It’s okay to admit that you need more support and that you don’t want to carry life’s burdens alone. Find your people, even if it’s just one person you open up to, and allow their presence and compassion to heal you.

Taurus Sun & Rising:

With your ruler Venus chilling in Virgo, you may want to mellow out but you may find it hard, especially since Mars, the planet of action, is in Gemini, encouraging you to do several things at once. Try to incorporate moments of meditation and restfulness into your week despite all the mental chatter going on in your mind. With Mercury retrograding its way back into Leo on the 14th, you may feel more stubborn and temperamental at home, so avoid getting caught up in drama or saying things you’ll later regret. 

As we approach next week’s Aquarius full moon, a part of you may want to practice the art of emotional detachment, but the more you try to act like something or someone doesn’t bother you, the more you won’t be able to hide your irritation or annoyance. So rather than pretending to be indifferent, use this upcoming lunation as an invitation to ask yourself if you need more attention from someone close to you, or if you perhaps need to give yourself more attention, love and compassion. 

Gemini Sun & Rising:

Gemini, Mercury’s shift out of Virgo and into Leo on the 14th activates your sector of communication, making the next two weeks ideal for completing a passion project from previous weeks, months or years that you’ve been meaning to fulfill. It’s best to focus on projects that were already underway rather than attempt to start something brand-new during Mercury retrograde. But at the same time, exciting opportunities to change course may appear due to the energy of last week’s Leo new moon, so if it feels right, go for it. Don’t let the retrograde stop you from accepting blessings that are calling your name.  

This weekend, you’ll be in a chill yet somewhat distracted mood as we approach next week’s Aquarius full moon. People may be wanting you to come out and party but you’ll be struck by wanderlust and may be envisioning what your future would look like in a different town, or even a new continent. This isn’t the time to make impulsive decisions but it is the time to allow yourself to dream of infinite possibilities without limiting your imagination. Exciting opportunities for an enhanced life may be just a daydream or two away.

Cancer Sun & Rising:

How are you feeling after last week’s epic Leo new moon and 8/8 Lion’s Gate Portal? Having the sun and the moon united in your sector of security, money and self-esteem most likely gave you a boost of confidence that is still going to be felt this week. This is shoot-your-shot season, my love. Go after what your heart’s been tugging you toward, and have fun in the process.  

With Mercury, the planet of communication, retrograding its way back into Leo on the 14th, you may have to face previous limiting beliefs about money that are suddenly creeping back up into your consciousness. Get curious about where these money blocks are coming from and choose to face them fully rather than running away from them. They won’t have as much power over you if you take off the rose-colored glasses and assess what lessons are to be learned from your previous challenges. You got this.

Leo Sun & Rising:

Leo, new week, new you! Last week’s Leo new moon truly took you to new heights and it’s just the beginning. The rest of Leo season will feel profoundly stimulating for you, and the key is to view life as your playground, especially once Mercury retrogrades its way back into your sign on the 14th, making people from your past pop out of the woodwork and shake up your life.  

Mars’ presence in Gemini harmonizes well with Mercury in Leo so it’s best to remain open-minded if people return, especially if they haven’t hurt or traumatized you but rather you had a gradual falling out. Mercury retrograde can help you make amends if you’re both willing to hear each other out and not let your pride or ego stop you from apologizing or receiving apologies.  

As we approach next week’s full moon in Aquarius, you may be in the mood to retreat from your social circle and hibernate for a bit, especially as you continue to integrate the 8/8 Lion’s Gate portal downloads. Rest, hydrate, meditate and enjoy these pre-full moon vibes without pressuring yourself to be productive.

Virgo Sun & Rising:

Virgo, your ruler Mercury spends the first few days of the week rounding out its stay in your sign, so you may be quite self-focused as the week begins and you won’t want to socialize that much, other than with people who let you be you without expecting more of you. Last week’s Leo new moon and 8/8 ascension portal activated your spirituality sector and helped you learn how to set boundaries and protect your peace, so you’ll be walking the walk this week —  and everyone will notice.  

Venus is now in your sign too, so if you feel the desire to switch up your look, do so in a more minimal way but avoid huge hairstyle changes or drastic style transformations, especially once Mercury retrogrades its way back into Leo on the 14th. It’s best to wait until early to mid-September to do extreme makeovers. Venus in Virgo combined with Mercury retrograde in Leo will have you more focused on your inner beauty.

Libra Sun & Rising:

Libra, pay attention to the people who enter your life this week, or perhaps re-enter it, since Mercury will be re-entering Leo on the 14th, and Leo energy activates your sector of friendship and social networks. Ever since last week’s Leo new moon struck and the 8/8 Lion’s Gate portal took place, you’ve been more trusting and open to the novelty entering your life, but also much more selective and exclusive with your energy in order to ensure your generosity, love and kindness isn’t taken advantage of.  

Your desire for greater discernment in your closest unions will only get stronger now that Venus, your planetary ruler, is in Virgo for the next three weeks, highlighting your sector of solitude and encouraging you to look within for love first and foremost, and then share it with intention with those who are a vibrational match. The only caveat is that Mercury’s retrograde in Leo could lead to you second-guessing connections that feel like kismet. Regular meditation will help clear any anxiety in your mind. 

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

Take a deep breath, Scorpio. This week should be about sustainability and celebration for you. You’ve recently achieved a goal that you’ve dreamt about for years, and rather than immediately moving on to the next big thing, it’s best to be here now, practice gratitude and truly reflect on how far you’ve come since the start of the year.  

As the eighth sign of the zodiac, last week’s 8/8 ascension portal hit you more intensely than most and you may feel like a snake that’s shed its skin, or a phoenix that’s just risen from its ashes. Celebrate the miracles that have either already occurred in your life or that will suddenly occur in the days and weeks to come. You deserve this auspicious fresh start. 

Your mission now, should you choose to accept it, is to not sabotage all of the wealth, support and joy entering your life by being too stingy with your resources. Jupiter’s presence in Gemini, as well as your ruler Mars’ presence in Gemini, is doubly activating your sector of abundance and outside resources, which means that the more intentionally you share, the more you receive. So continue to cultivate an abundance mentally, particularly once Mercury retrogrades into Leo on the 14th and makes you more egocentric when it comes to career objectives. Challenge yourself to not get so stuck in your own bubble that you forget to empathize with the practical and emotional needs of those around you.  

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

Sag, you’re all fired up this week thanks to last week’s Leo new moon, which highlighted your sector of expansion, adventure, media, publishing and growth. You’re evolving so beautifully, and this week you’ll feel the urge to spend time outdoors, soaking up the sun, and continuing to integrate the magic of last week’s Lion’s Gate portal. Just make sure you’re not exhausting yourself energetically in the process, because this is still quite the sensitive time, and with Mars and Jupiter both in Gemini in your sector of relationships, you may find yourself sharing your energy and resources with several people at once, which could feel draining. 

As a contrast to all this stimulating and social energy, Venus’ presence in Virgo serves as a reminder to slow your roll and focus on life’s simple pleasures, although it may feel a bit boring at first. While Leo season may have you in a more extravagant mood, Venus in Virgo is likely to have a more humbling effect on you, which could feel like an internal tension that you’re meant to get curious about. Allow yourself to sit with the sensation of discomfort that may emerge this week, as it’s here to teach you pertinent lessons.

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

Leo season has been one for the books for you, Capricorn, because it’s caused you to reconsider the typical routine you set for yourself and be open to experiencing something more intense, more passionate, more dramatic than usual. You may have felt the need to live on the wild side now that the Leo new moon has struck and the Lion’s Gate portal also catapulted you into a new consciousness. You may not want to experience the wild side alone but rather with someone who isn’t afraid of that side of you and makes you feel safe revealing it. This week, don’t be afraid to explore or reveal your own shadows as well as those of others — they humanize you. 

Now that Venus is in Virgo for the next three weeks, you may initially find it hard to be vulnerable and transparent, even if there’s an inner fire rumbling within you. You may attempt to play it cool rather than letting them know that you’re actually craving kisses and cuddles. But if you’re drawn to people who can see past your tough exterior, then you’ll notice your self-protective walls start to fall down, and you’ll be more willing to trust and open up.

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

Aquarius, with Pluto only spending three more weeks in your sign before re-entering Capricorn on September 1, you’ll feel like you’re on a galactic mission this week. Part of you will feel like finding closure with people with whom you previously had a falling out, particularly once Mercury retrogrades its way back into Leo on the 14th and activates your sector of relationships. But since Leo energy opposes your Aquarius nature, power conflicts and ego struggles are likely under the retrograde’s influence, so tread carefully. 

Meanwhile, Venus’ current transit in Virgo is forcing you to acknowledge your own insecurities and blind spots, particularly if you’ve been internally judging others for theirs. Take a look in the mirror and become aware of potential projections you may have unconsciously placed on people in your environment. It’s never too late to stop the cycle, acknowledge your blind spots and move differently.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

Pisces, last week’s Leo new moon helped you get your life together in so many ways. The Lion’s Gate portal on 8/8 had a healing influence on your psyche, which you’ll continue to feel this week. Your partnerships are on your mind due to Mercury being in your opposite sign of Virgo until the 14th, and Venus, the planet of love, being in Virgo for the next three weeks. This is a week to reflect on previous relationship problems from a refreshed perspective. Instead of trying to prove your point, both you and the person you’re talking to would benefit from practicing active listening, as it’ll prevent unnecessary arguments.  

By now it shouldn’t be surprising that people from your past are re-emerging in your life, particularly due to Saturn and Neptune being retrograde in your sign and leading to people either seeking a sense of closure with you or wanting to get closer to you, almost in an obsessive way. It’s up to you to check in with yourself when it comes to who you allow back in your life, but you may be second-guessing yourself, particularly due to Chiron’s current retrograde in your sector of security and self-esteem. The key is to pace yourself in your decision-making process and let people’s intentions be revealed naturally. There’s no rush.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

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Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

Today: a forensic accountant who makes $108,280 per year and spends some of her money this week on peach-picking.

If you’d like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we’re not able to reply to every email.

Occupation: Forensic accountant
Industry: Consulting
Age: 27
Location: Virginia
Salary: $108,280 + variable annual bonus (last year was $20,000).
Assets: Emergency fund: $19,250; 401(k): $43,000 (contributed 5% for about three years with a 4% employer match; started contributing 15% in late 2023); Roth IRA: $4,500; brokerage account: $975 (just opened this recently); various sinking funds: ~$1,500 total (for wedding, vacations etc.); car: ~$15,000 (~$30,000 value split with my partner). My partner, E., and I split all expenses equally.
Debt: Student loans: $6,500 remaining. Car: $7,000 remaining.
Paycheck amount (2x/month): $2,670
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses

Housing costs: E. and I live in a small three-bed, 2.5-bath townhouse with our two dogs, hereafter referred to as Velcro Dog and Pukey Dog. My half of the rent is $2,000.
Car payment: $226
Student loans: $100
Internet: $45
Electric: $40-100 depending on the month.
Gym membership: $42
Phone bill: $25 for Visible (what’s the catch, you ask? I don’t know but I’m convinced there is one).
Donations: $13 to NPR; random donations to GoFundMes and dog rescues as they pull at my heartstrings.
Subscriptions: $2.99 Apple storage; $12 Spotify; $70 dog meds (both of our dogs have anxiety and take doggie Prozac… Nice).
FSA: $125
401(k): $1,356
Car wash: $38 for unlimited plan.

Annual Expenses

Amazon Prime: $139
Pool membership: $450
Car insurance: $1,500ish (split with E.).
Renter’s insurance: $100ish (split with E.).
Washington Post subscription: $60

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
Yes. I was an International Baccalaureate kid in high school, surrounded by equally college-bound IB kids, so I just assumed at the time (with great privilege) that it was what I was supposed to do. I also wanted to compete in NCAA cross-country and track and field. I completed four years of undergrad and a one-year master’s in accounting, the point of which was mostly preparation for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam. My parents helped pay for part of undergrad; I covered the rest with smaller loans and got a few need-based grants thanks to my parents getting divorced and my primary parent (mom) having a low income. For grad school, I got a $10,000 scholarship and took out a $21,000 loan. Contrary to popular belief, I received a whopping $0 from athletics and, in fact, sacrificed my long-term health. Don’t ask me how many MRIs I’ve paid for in the five years since finishing undergrad.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
We didn’t have conversations about money so much as constant rumblings from my dad that we were running out of money and the mortgage was too high, we were spending too much on frozen fruit and other “luxuries” etc. My dad was incredibly resentful about the family spending “his money” and his way of educating us about money went the way of telling us as teenagers that we should open a Roth IRA and that we were stupid if we didn’t. Shockingly, this did not make us more inclined to open a Roth IRA.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
I started working as a mother’s helper when I was nine ($6/hour) and a babysitter when I was 12 ($8/hour). I didn’t get an allowance and wanted to have spending money; I also wanted to go to an extra week of sleepaway camp and my parents told me I had to pay for it ($800). My first W2 job was at a local ice cream and coffee shop.

Did you worry about money growing up?
Yes, but I’m not sure how much of it was warranted. My dad is from an immigrant family with a single mother and allegedly grew up eating hot dogs for every meal and not being able to march in his elementary school parade because they couldn’t afford the T-shirt. My mom grew up with very-not-amicably divorced parents, one of whom (her father) was well-off and the other (her mother, the primary parent) was dirt-poor. Oh, how history repeats itself. My mom became a stay-at-home mom after I turned four, and my dad grudgingly worked full-time and was controlling and resentful of his family “spending all his money.” He made it seem like we were always on the verge of bankruptcy. But I had piano lessons, both my brothers took tae kwon do classes (with MUCH complaining on my dad’s end), everyone had braces, my parents were able to pay for me to go to Peru in middle school etc. When my parents divorced when I was in high school, my dad refused to pay a penny more than he legally had to for child support, and my mom had to borrow money from my grandmother to stay afloat. We drove the family car on a doughnut tire for an entire summer one year. To this day, I have no idea what my family’s actual financial position was when I was a kid.

Do you worry about money now?
Sort of. I’m proud of my career and my salary, comfortable with my emergency fund and my retirement savings rate, and I can afford my living expenses. But I constantly feel the need to plan-plan-plan and feel uncomfortable if an expense comes up that I didn’t plan for, even if I know I can cover it. Could this be control issues that developed due to a financially unpredictable and blame-laden upbringing? Who can say?

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I started my full-time job at 23 and was fully financially independent within a year of that. I lived at my mom’s house for a year after grad school; she charged me $500 per month to ease her own living expenses but that’s still much cheaper than what I would have paid for a shared apartment. I moved into an apartment with a roommate at age 24 and have been financially independent since then. In terms of financial safety net, I would say E. and I are each other’s safety net. I could live with my mom if I absolutely had to, but my mom wouldn’t be able to provide financial support and my dad would refuse. We could also live with E.’s parents if needed.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
My mom gave me $500 a few months ago for my wedding — does that count? Otherwise, no.

Day One

6:15 a.m. — My alarm goes off. I’m working remotely today but enjoy having several hours to myself in the morning. I Velcro myself into my wrist brace (I broke my wrist in a bike crash a few weeks ago), check to make sure my partner, E., is okay, and walk the dogs. E. developed a horrible ear infection and fever over the weekend so is down for the count (and the rest of this diary is going to seem like I do ALL the chores and dog duties around here. I promise this is not usually the case). His illness is a bit of a letdown for both of us because I’m pretty sure that he was planning to propose this weekend!

7 a.m. — I feed the dogs and start the prescribed strength session from my running coach/PT. The coach was a splurge the last few months as I am trying to finally fix my body (broken wrist notwithstanding) after years of punishing collegiate athletics and post-collegiate injury. I already paid for the coaching services in past months so re: the temporarily exorbitant monthly expense… I’m not telling 😉

8:30 a.m. — I finish PT, shower, log onto work and make a banana-berry protein smoothie for breakfast. We’re in a bit of a lull on my main case. It seems like I’ll have a busy morning and then have no idea what work will come up after that.

10 a.m. — E. wakes up and I help him put ear drops in his infected ear. Good thing I love him because this shit is gross. My friend texts to let me know she can’t make it to a concert we had planned for next week, so I ask another friend if she wants to go. She says yes so I buy us both tickets ($48.50 for mine). $48.50

12:30 p.m. — My work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with an hour for lunch. I eat at my desk (eggs/kale/lentils/homemade hummus), heat up soup for E., then spend the lunch hour running errands. I drive to PetSmart to get 12 cans of bougie beef stew for Pukey Dog ($42.27, my half $21.14). He eats better than we do. PetSmart is right next to Target so I get spinach, bananas, Ritz crackers, Greek yogurt and E.’s special request of chocolate milk (he is a 31-year-old 5-year-old) ($24.04, my half $12.02). $33.16

1:30 p.m. — My boss messages to say that she can’t approve my printer ink expense report because I “could print at the office” so that’s $52 I wasn’t expecting to cover. Fabulous. Also, my broken wrist starts to hurt from carrying groceries and dog food. I drive home from errands cranky as heck. $52

3 p.m. — I have no billable work at the moment so I make a yogurt bowl with berries and chocolate and study a bit. I’m studying for the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) certification and after a few months of a more-off-than-on study routine, I feel like I’m finally getting into the groove. It’s also mid-year performance review season so I write a ~glowing~ review for my coworker.

5:30 p.m. — Work is done! Velcro Dog lets me know that I should close my computer and pay attention to her by putting her chin on my arm and staring at me disconsolately. I attempt to take the dogs for a walk right as a summer thunderstorm hits. So much for that. We sprint home, I feed them and my wrist still hurts so I heat up a Kevin’s paleo meal of Thai coconut chicken instead of cooking for real. E. and I veg on the couch for a bit before I do some more CFF studying. E. charges me for a movie ticket — we’re going to see Deadpool in a couple weeks. $20.98

9:30 p.m. — Bed! I say goodnight to E. and then lie awake with intrusive thoughts about his ear infection getting worse and him needing me in the middle of the night and me not hearing my phone (he woke up yelling in pain the other night) but eventually drift off.

Daily Total: $154.64

Day Two

5:30 a.m. — Alarm goes off (it’s an in-office day). I stumble to the kitchen and drink half a citrus LMNT and a banana. I walk and feed the dogs, do my warm-up drills and go for a short run. I’m currently following a very conservative return-to-running approach from my coach after a lonnnggg foot injury, so today’s run includes a 30-second walk break every four minutes. This is a great challenge to the ego.

7:30 a.m. — I stretch, shower, swipe on some makeup, do nothing with my hair, make a smoothie, say goodbye to E., grab the lunch I packed last night and hit the road. This is such an automated routine that my butt lands in the car at 8 a.m. with no conscious memory of the last 30 minutes.

11 a.m. — I get hungry so eat my lunch early (leftover Kevin’s Thai coconut chicken, rice and veggies) while making trial demonstratives.

12:30 p.m. — Actual lunch break. I chat with coworkers for a few minutes and then walk to Whole Foods to get ingredients to make a superfood soup for dinner per E.’s request. I stand in the refrigerated section for a few minutes to cool down since it’s 100 degrees outside. I don’t impulse-buy anything! $13.25, my half $6.63. $6.63

3 p.m. — I finish up making demonstratives, let my boss know I’m available for more work and spend a few minutes following up with a friend-of-a-friend who is interested in pivoting to forensics from audit. I send an email to our talent acquisition team telling them to look out for her email, then spend a few more minutes surfing Amazon Prime Day deals. I need (okay, want) a new Garmin running watch and one of the models I’m considering is nearly half off. I eat some chocolate and text my running coach for his input while I ponder.

4 p.m. — The availability chat pays off. I get pulled on to a new case with a doc review deadline this week. In classic fashion, the second I start reviewing for this case, my other case group chat pops off with trial prep questions. The last hour and a half of the workday flies by.

6:15 p.m. — I arrive home starving and greet the dogs. Velcro Dog jumps all over me and growls in excitement, while Pukey Dog immediately grabs a squeaky ball. E. is still pretty miserable but is feeling well enough to chop some vegetables while I snack on a peach and make the rest of our soup.

9 p.m. — I log onto Amazon to see that the usually good move of “waiting to see if you still want to buy the thing you wanted to buy earlier after time has passed” was NOT the move this time as the watch I was looking at has gone up $125. I don’t buy it (or anything else). I eat a gummy, say goodnight to E., and go to bed shortly after that.

Daily Total: $6.63

Day Three

6:15 a.m. — My alarm goes off. I did the thing where you wake up early feeling refreshed, see it’s not time to get up yet, go back to sleep and wake up later feeling exhausted. I wash my face, chug half an LMNT, eat a banana with almond butter, and walk and feed the dogs. I see that the E-ZPass charged a refill yesterday so add it to our Splitwise ($17.50 for my half). $17.50

7:30 a.m. — I bike on my spin bike for what’s supposed to be an hour but ends up being 50 minutes because I simply cannot be bothered. Watch Sprint on Netflix while I spin. I grew up running at the same meets as Noah Lyles so it’s cool to see him make it big! I have an hour of strength and PT exercises to get done but that will have to happen after work.

8:30 a.m. — Log onto work, shower and make a smoothie. Spend the next several hours doing financial statement analysis for the new case. My boss asked me to put together preliminary questions to send to counsel but I have so little background on this case that my questions are all along the lines of “What does this term mean?” Not exactly what they’re looking for.

10 a.m. — E. wakes up and I help him with his ear drops. The romance this week is off the charts, let me tell you.

12 p.m. — Lunch break! I make the world’s ugliest omelet before running to the grocery store. E. is feeling well enough to leave the house after several days so he comes with me. We get Mush overnight oats, wild-caught salmon, eggs, brown sugar, dish soap, dishwasher pods and E.’s impulse buys of Ovaltine and pudding since it hurts to chew ($74.77, my half $37.39). For someone who’s been dying on the couch all week, E. is suspiciously intent on hashing out our weekend date plans of hike and winery. This is suspicious because we designed an engagement ring a few months ago and I know he’s planning on proposing soon, but he’s keeping the exact plan a secret from me. $37.39

2 p.m. — My gut tells me to check on the Garmin watch price again and I see that it’s come back down. I bite the bullet and buy it. This isn’t a purchase I factored into my monthly budget but it’s not the end of the world and I save $160 thanks to Prime Day deals! $229.69

4:30 p.m. — After several hours of financial statement analysis, my anxiety starts creeping up again so I lie down on my yoga mat to do some box breathing. I recently quit Zoloft (the withdrawal was hell) after being on it for a couple years following some massive life trauma, and I’m really trying not to go back to the pre-2022 life of having anxiety attacks at 4 p.m. every day.

7 p.m. — I complete a PT session and make some salmon for dinner. I keep watching Sprint because it’s too good to stop. After I finish eating dinner, I make carrot muffins to bring to the office tomorrow. I love to bake and frequently bring treats to the office since E. and I do not need dozens of cookies/muffins/scones to ourselves. E. buys movie tickets for us on Friday but doesn’t charge me for them.

Daily Total: $284.58

Day Four

5:30 a.m. — Alarm, LMNT, banana and peanut butter, walk dogs, drills, run. It’s humid but at least it’s not 85 degrees at the crack of dawn. The arthritis in my foot is flaring up today so I vow to take a turmeric shot later.

8:30 a.m. — I get to work and start back on financial statement analysis. My Gen Z friend texts me to complain about something a millennial friend did that apparently only a millennial would do. I don’t have the heart to point out that, while technically Gen Z, I am a wannabe millennial and therefore whatever point she’s trying to make goes right over my head.

10:30 a.m. — I get hungry so eat carrots and hummus. I take a quick break from work and the Athleta flash sale influences me so I buy two pairs of Ultimate 7” shorts. $66.74

12 p.m. — I eat my lunch of leftover salmon (I know fish is an in-office no-no but oh well), rice, spinach and avocado. I decide to leave at lunch and work from home the rest of the day. E. and I are going to our friends’ place in D.C. for dinner. My office is in the opposite direction and I don’t feel like commuting for an hour and a half straight this evening.

3 p.m. — I feel drowsy after getting home so I lie down for a few minutes and then run to Target to grab a kombucha, along with some LaCroix for E. ($7.55, my half $3.78). $3.78

5:30 p.m. — I eat some yogurt with berries and chocolate while finishing up the workday. E. walks the dogs and I wrap up a few work tasks before we head to our friends’ place in D.C. They break out the pasta roller and feed us delicious Italian wine while we help them roll the pasta.

10 p.m. — Late night for me! We leave their house after several hours of great conversation, great wine and copious amounts of pasta and bread. I’m tipsy (major lightweight) so E. drives. We get home, E. takes the dogs out and I chug water.

Daily Total: $70.52

Day Five

7 a.m. — Velcro Dog sticks her snout in my face until I get out of bed. She doesn’t even try to wake E. up anymore; she’s learned to go straight to the morning parent. I wash my face and chug LMNT before walking the dogs. Two glasses of wine have made me feel groggy and dehydrated.

8:30 a.m. — I log onto work and make a smoothie. We’re supposed to have half-day Fridays in the summer but my company has been doing a not-so-subtle subtle phaseout of that perk because revenue is down and therefore we are expected to take half-day Fridays only if we have no billable work. But we’re expected to always have billable work. Sigh. Anyway, I’m hoping but not expecting to log off at 12:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. — I will definitely not be logging off for the day but I take my lunch break to go get a gel manicure for the proposal that I’m still suspicious is going to happen tomorrow. My favorite nail salon is conveniently located a two-minute walk from my house. $42 + $8 tip = $50. $50

1:15 p.m. — I log back on, make a cheesy omelet and eat an apple for lunch, and continue doing work for several hours. Finally around 4 p.m. my boss says I can log off. I do my PT exercises while watching the last two episodes of Sprint. Noah Lyles starts crying on the podium and I start crying watching Noah Lyles cry. Quitting antidepressants has marked the return of my emotional extremes so I now cry at the drop of a hat.

6 p.m. — E. and I head out for a date night. We have dinner at a nearby seafood restaurant and order a drink each, plus Parker House rolls, oysters, shrimp, lobster rolls and fried octopus. It’s so nice to spend quality time together after E.’s physically tough week. Dinner is a splurge and we split the bill. My half is $103. $103

8 p.m. — We walk over to the movie theater two minutes from the restaurant (I love where we live). We watch Twisters. I love Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell but the movie is SO bad. We whisper snide remarks at each other the whole time and walk home giggling. E. paid for the movie tickets so my portion is $0.

Daily Total: $153

Day Six

6 a.m. — I wake up too filled with anticipation to go back to sleep. I remind myself that while I’m pretty sure E. is going to propose today, there’s still a chance I totally misread the signals and we’ll have a great day no matter what happens.

8:30 a.m. — I’m dillydallying while E. uncharacteristically rushes around packing up the car and getting the dogs ready to go. This only increases my proposal suspicions because usually I’m the one packing up the car while E. gets in the shower three minutes before our targeted departure time. I put on mascara and a cute hiking outfit. You can never be too prepared.

9:30 a.m. — We arrive at the hike spot and I eat a Larabar because I forgot to eat breakfast before we left. I drove and spent the majority of the car ride analyzing E. Meanwhile, E. spent the majority of the car ride texting his best friend, N., who is also not a morning person and has no business being up at 9 a.m. on a Saturday, unless…

10 a.m. — After a steep uphill climb in which both dogs beelined for every cow patty they could find, we reach a scenic overlook. E. not-so-sneakily tucks a note into Velcro Dog’s collar and asks me to read it. The note says, “Will you marry our dad? From [Velcro Dog] and [Pukey Dog].” E. has to go the extra step and ask me to take my wrist brace off, which is incredibly romantic. After I get the brace off, E. gets down on one knee and proposes! Of course I say yes, and then turn around and see N. coming out of the bushes with a camera. I KNEW IT!

10:30 a.m. — We head back down the mountain after many more photos and time spent soaking in the moment. It feels wild to have the ring on my finger, even though I knew it was coming and helped design it. N. leaves, and we debrief the proposal before heading to a nearby orchard to go peach-picking. I pay for two half-pecks and we leave with nearly 40 peaches. $40

12 p.m. — After peach-picking, we drive 30 minutes to an excellent fast-food burger place (I know, it sounds like an oxymoron but it’s local and really good). We have the most perfect post-proposal celebratory meal of drive-through burgers, fries and frozen custard milkshakes, eaten while sitting in the car in the parking lot and calling everyone we know. The dogs even get custard pup cups. I pay for our food. $33.75

1:30 p.m. — The last step in our plan for the day is a local dog-friendly winery. I get a tasting flight with four different whites, and E. gets a Coke because he’s still on antibiotics and not drinking ($15.69). Velcro and Pukey get ice cubes left over from someone else’s party. Everyone is incredibly helpful and accommodating, and E. and I decide that we have to consider this winery in our wedding venue search. It starts raining once we’re safely under cover of the winery’s porch, and we continue to call and FaceTime our loved ones while I enjoy the wine flight. $15.69

4:30 p.m. — We get home and E. immediately falls asleep. I don’t think he slept much last night. I bathe the dogs since they’re both covered in cow shit, and then my mom comes over for a few minutes on the way to hang out with friends. She brings flowers and a large Crockpot.

6:30 p.m. — We get Japanese food for dinner — ramen for him and a salmon bento box for me. He pays. N. sends over the photos he took of the proposal and they are ADORABLE. We jointly post on social media and immediately start receiving likes and comments from both loved ones and completely random people that we haven’t spoken to in decades.

11 p.m. — Neither of us wants the day to end but finally I get tired and go to bed. Velcro Dog has been snoozing for hours, while Pukey Dog still wants to play.

Daily Total: $89.44

Day Seven

6:30 a.m. — So much for thinking the dogs would be tired after yesterday. Velcro Dog boops me until I wake up. I am moving slowly but drink half an LMNT, coffee and eat a banana and peanut butter to get ready for a run. I also walk and feed the dogs. It’s humid as hell and I drink the other half of the LMNT when I get home from my run.

10:30 a.m. — I intend to do some CFF studying but get distracted setting up a wedding planning spreadsheet, which is the nerdiest thing to find joy in but I don’t care. E. buys some groceries and probiotics for himself and charges me for half. $21.23

12:30 p.m. — Right as I start studying, E. asks if I can get bagels with him. I should keep studying but he pulls the “It’s our engagement weekend, we can go easy on ourselves for one more day!” card. We drive to our favorite local bagel spot and I get an everything bagel with egg, cheddar, spinach and sprouts. He pays.

4 p.m. — After I actually study, E. wants to get taiyaki soft serve since it’s National Ice Cream Day. We drive to the taiyaki place and E. gets ube soft serve with ube-filled taiyaki. I don’t get anything because my stomach is a little upset from all the fried food this weekend. On the way home, we stop to pick up tortellini, penne and tomato sauce from a local Italian store for dinner ($22.12, my half $11.06), as well as a 35-pound bag of dry dog food, 12 more cans of wet food and a bag of treats ($169.77, my half $84.89, ugh). $95.95

6 p.m. — I make us dinner while E. lies on the couch. He’s not feeling well, likely due to the antibiotics. My brother, A., and his fiancé call to hear about the proposal and discuss our respective wedding planning. I think A. is afraid we’re going to have a wedding super close to his but doesn’t want to be a groomzilla so doesn’t bring it up.

10 p.m. — I go to bed but feel extremely wired so take a gummy. I probably fall asleep around 11 p.m.

Daily Total: $117.18

The Breakdown

Weekly Total $$ Spent: $875.99
Food & Drink: $284.55
Entertainment: $69.48
Home & Health: $387.72
Clothes & Beauty $116.74
Transportation $17.50
Other $0

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Finding the right wedding guest dress is a challenge at any size (see: confusing or thematic dress codes, or outdoor venues in the August heat), but it gets a lot harder when you can’t just pop into a store and browse the racks. Even the largest department stores rarely have much formalwear for sizes over US 14, and the only plus-size wedding guest dresses they do have in stock are often more of the “mother of the bride” variety than they are “best dressed guest.” 

Fortunately, there are some actually cute options available if you know where to look, from budget-friendly rentals to luxury made-to-measure investments. Read on for some of my favorite wedding guest dress recommendations as a plus-size shopping expert and someone who has had lots of personal experience navigating formal dress occasions.

Chic Plus-Size Wedding Guest Dresses: Eloquii

Eloquii is one of my all-time favorite brands for plus-size fashion, with sizes starting at 14 and going up to 32. While I am always happy to see straight-size labels expand their size range, there is something to be said about brands that have always put plus sizes first, and Eloquii’s designer Yesenia Torres gets it right season after season. She personally understands the nuances of sizing on plus bodies and has a keen eye for what will be on-trend (no need to wait a year for a trend to trickle from straight-size runways down to plus here!) 

Eloquii offers a broad range of style options, from denim and swimwear to workwear and even wedding gowns. When it comes to guest looks, it has dresses for every occasion, from low-key garden receptions to black-tie affairs; its gowns have even appeared on A-listers like the Nicola Coughlan, who wore the stunning pink look pictured below. And given the sheer number of dress options on the site (over 250 different styles at the time of publication), I also appreciate that they have pre-sorted sections like “occasion dresses” and “night out” to help you narrow it down based on what you are looking for. 

Luxury Plus-Size Wedding Guest Dresses: Pari Passu

While we’ve seen an increase in fast fashion plus-size availability in the last decade, there are still not enough options on the other end of the spectrum. Plus-size luxury shoppers exist and, as such, should be able to have the same access to designer fashion as their straight-size counterparts. This is the mindset that inspired designer Shanna Goldstone to start Pari Passu (named after the Latin phrase for “equal footing”). 

Ahead of the brand launch in 2019, Pari Passu 3D scanned over 7,500 plus-size women to create three fit types (B, C, and D), with patterns and size grading specific to each. For background, most designers create their fit based on only one body shape — the idealized (and fairly uncommon) hourglass — and then size up and down from there, which makes for a poor fit for other body types. While, in the years since, Pari Passu has become known for high-quality workwear, as the brand got to know its customer, it realized that formalwear was a massively underserved area in the plus market. This inspired the launch of Made-to-Measure, a collection of 17 looks for size 12+ shoppers, in August. By having in-depth fit info for all of the most common body types at the ready from prior research, Pari Passu’s made-to-measure process requires fewer fit sessions than typical custom experience would usually entail. 

I got to try on some of the brand’s samples before the launch and was beyond impressed with the fit and quality. This sequin caftan is one of the most effortless pieces of evening wear I’ve ever put on my body, and the shimmering silvery lilac paillettes are even more captivating in person. The label’s other styles span from chic black-tie-ready separates to asymmetric neckline gowns to striking sleeved, bias-cut crystal mesh gowns. The prices start at around $2,000 for custom pieces, so their formalwear won’t be an option for everyone, but, if you are a discerning shopper looking for a unique, gorgeous piece that fits like it was made for you (because it was), I highly recommend checking out Pari Passu’s new service.

Budget Plus-Size Wedding Guest Dresses: ASOS

The UK-based site ASOS is always at the top of my list if I am shopping on a budget. If you’re not familiar, the online retailer carries a wide variety of labels, including some British brands like Vila Curve and Simply Be that are otherwise pricey (or impossible) to get Stateside. 

Even with all that variety, ASOS’ house plus-size label Curve tends to be the standout for me. It is generally of better quality than other fast fashion brands at a similar price point, and the sheer breadth of their selection means I’m more likely to find what I’m looking for. The prices get even better during their frequent sales, too (the coppery metallic number I am wearing above is currently marked down to $12!). ASOS is also a good option if you are looking for a quick turnaround: The annual ASOS Premier membership gives you free two-day shipping all year for $19.99.

Romantic Wedding Guest Dresses: Selkie

Though Selkie first rose to fame for its viral Puff Dress, this size-inclusive (XXS-6X) designer label has since expanded its style offerings significantly. From pretty day dresses that would work for spring garden weddings to lush silk bias-cut gowns, this is a brand for the romantics and coquette aesthetic fans alike.

And while their full-on tulle ball gowns might be a bit much for more conservative weddings, for others, they are exactly right. Last year, my friend had the most gorgeous Rococo Bridgerton-themed wedding I’ve ever seen, and she encouraged us to dress accordingly. The accompanying moodboard was full of Selkie dresses, and I was more than happy to oblige with this garden print gown. At her reception, the dance floor was filled with women in Selkie puffs and frills, and it was glorious.

Rental Plus-Size Wedding Guest Dresses: Rent The Runway

I always try to think of at least a few ways I could wear an item before adding it to my permanent wardrobe. When it comes to more formal occasionwear, sometimes that’s simply not an option. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing fashion-forward babes layering tulle gowns over jeans and sneakers, but I know that’s not a typical daytime look for most shoppers. So instead of shelling out for a dress code- and venue-specific gown you’ll only wear once, it’s worth checking out a more sustainable alternative like renting. If the nuptials are more casual (say, a beach or backyard wedding), Nuuly has a broader plus-size selection. Meanwhile, Rent The Runway has more options for formal black-tie affairs. 

The latter carries gorgeous gowns from occasionwear designers like Theia, Monique Lhuillier, Badgley Mischka, and Christian Siriano in sizes up to 22W and even offers long lengths in some. And, the company’s robust review system (complete with multiple photos from prior renters) is helpful for finding the right size. While you can rent individual gowns, you can also borrow five items at a time for less than $100 with the RTR Unlimited membership program (which might actually be cheaper than doing a specific rental). I’d suggest picking two or three gown possibilities for your event and filling the rest of your membership slots with fun designer bags or more casual dresses from plus-size friendly brands like Tanya Taylor or Derek Lam 10 Crosby for the rehearsal dinner or post-wedding brunch.

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Every four years, at every Summer Olympic Games, iconic snapshots emerge that immortalize feats of greatness that wouldn’t seem humanly possible if we weren’t glued to our screens watching them play out in real time. Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) with her arms in the air, celebrating her world records for the 100m and 200m sprints in Seoul in ‘88. That time Vince Carter dunked on a seven-footer on Team France in Sydney in 2000. Usain Bolt in Rio in ‘16, a meter ahead of his competitors, flashing a smile to the camera. Every photo of Simone Biles. And now, we have Sha’Carri Richardson in Paris in 2024, sprinting to the finish line of the 4x100m relay for Team USA looking over her right shoulder, staring victory in the face. 

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“I may have to put it up in my house,” Richardson tells Unbothered over Zoom on the ground in Paris at the P&G Pavilion with OLAY. When I respond that they should hang a photo of that legendary moment in the Louvre, she laughs and says, “I’m right down the street.” But the “Sha’Carri Stare” is not the only image of Richardson that could adorn the halls of history. Richardson, like Flo-Jo and Gail Devers before her, isn’t just known for her speed. She’s also a beauty icon who leaves fans in awe of her nails, hair, and jewelry every time she sets foot on the track. So it makes sense that along with Olympic medals, Richardson is stacking up endorsements. Her partnership with OLAY’s new Cleansing Melts is a tribute to her grandmother (who she lovingly calls “Big Momma”) who raised her on the brand and serves as a reminder to focus on self-care amidst the pressure of being an Olympian. 

Richardson entered the games with a whole lot of pressure. After the controversy surrounding her exclusion from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, all eyes were on the 24-year old sprinter to deliver the medals that were expected of her three years ago. Well, she delivered. After securing silver in the 100m, Richardson anchored Team USA in the 4x100m and it was her speed, resilience, and conviction that led the team to glory. Richardson is almost as good at going viral as she is at winning Olympics medals. From her now famous mid-sprint side-eye to her fixing her wig in the middle of a post-race interview, Richardson’s personality was on full display during the games. And over Zoom, it’s pouring out of the screen. With her Dallas accent intact, medal around her neck and hair laid, Richardson was charming, relaxed and exuding the confidence that comes with reaching the pinnacle of greatness, while knowing it’s “only the beginning.” 

Here, Richardson talks about her self-care and beauty routine during the games, what she was thinking during those viral moments, and which one of her teammates’ voices pushed her across the finish line to first place. 

Refinery29 Unbothered: Tell me about your OLAY partnership and how you’ve incorporated their products into your Olympics beauty routine? 

Sha’Carri Richardson: As a child growing up with my grandmother, [OLAY] was something that I’m already used to. In my house as a kid down in South Dallas, [OLAY] was almost like a treat, like Big Momma was like, “This is mine’s. Don’t touch my OLAY!” But honestly, even now, present day, going into the games, the ability to almost access that inner child in me and have this partnership with OLAY is amazing. I feel as if the product itself aligns with my lifestyle. Even while I’m outside, and I feel the build up of being outside, running in the wind, against the wind, hot, humid, cold, warm, whatever the case may be, when I use my OLAY Melts, that’s something that continues to let me feel content. I’m able to decompress. I’m going to take the energy that I know I invest into so many other things and invest back into myself and my self-care. I’ve been here for over 20 days now! [laughs]. If nothing else was consistent, my skincare routine with my Melts was consistent.

So you run an incredible race and win the silver in the 100m. Then you have to gear up for the 4x100m relay. What was your self-care routine in between races? I know that there may have been some distractions with the practice facility incident, but how do you focus on yourself in between those two races? 

SR: I would say, honestly, just focusing on myself consistently, and knowing that, yes, I may not be able to control certain things outside of me, but I can control my skincare. I can control my eating, I can control the energy that I apply to whatever it is that I am doing. No matter the day, no matter the event, no matter the issue, no matter the joy in whatever I was doing, I was able to sit in that moment when I’m cleansing my face and just be me. I can take care of myself. I don’t have to worry about X, Y and Z going on, but I can just worry about A, which is myself. As an athlete, having a routine is very important. Maybe not for everybody, but for myself, having a routine is almost calming. Being able to have a skincare routine, a cleansing routine, something that helped me decompress, was very nice to have consistently through the rounds.

Is there something specific that your grandma or the women in your family passed down to you that you use in your beauty routine?

SR: I acknowledge one of the things I love about what my Big Momma and my mom let us know was look good, feel good, do good. I come from a line of beautiful, natural women. I know a lot of people think that it’s all makeup and stuff like that. But baby, that ain’t nothing but a good liner and a good spirit and good genes. And, of course, great products that don’t strip my skin, that don’t damage my skin, but also, ultimately, just build the naturalness that I already have to develop from. Even if you look at my nails, the women in my family have always shown me that the level of presentation of yourself has a great impact and you have a great responsibility to show to the world how you want the world to treat you. 

I want to talk about those nails and your jewelry. I don’t know if you’ve seen that photo of your hand on the starting blocks, it’s one of the most iconic photos from the games. So how do you decide what design you’re going to do with your nails and what you’re going to wear on your hands for each race?

SR: I have a phenomenal team that I continue to trust and be vulnerable with, and they take that relationship and take that bond that I’ve developed with them, and they use their creativity to show who I am. So when it’s [before a race] and I see my nails, and I put them on, I know it’s me, but I trust them to be themselves as well, and we align. They’ve been my ladies for plenty of years, simply because I trust them, and I know that whatever they bring to me, they know that there’s something that they felt from me. They know what time it is, and they know that ultimately I always got to be different [laughs]. 

Is your team in Paris with you or did you get your nails done before? 

SR: I actually got them done before. They make sure that I have them pre race to make sure that when I do race, I have everything that I need. 

Talk about what you were thinking during the 4×100 relay. Were you and the team confident you would bring home the gold?

SR: Oh my gosh, it wasn’t even about placement or being that specific. We just knew that if we were our very best and executed, we had the confidence and the faith. Not even just confidence, but the faith that we had in the practices that we put in, and the ability that each lady had, and also the trust that we had in each other. We knew that no matter what we were going to do our very best and ultimately deliver the gold. And so I literally just trusted every single body before me and it almost was like a chain reaction. My first lady did her thing: Melissa Jefferson. Then Twanisha Terry, Gabby Thomas. And once I got the stick, it was like the baton was just full of love and determination. I just knew that when I had this baton in my hand, not only was it for these three ladies before me, but it’s for a nation. It’s for a world that understands and believes in us four. So getting this thing and running down the track, I knew there was no option but to do my best and I did my best. 

Girl, you absolutely did your best and it was incredible. Could you hear Gabby? What’s going through your mind in that final leg?

SR: Absolutely, during the 4×1, I don’t hear anybody else but Gabby. If it’s not her voice, I can’t hear it. Everything else is a blur. Gabby’s voice automatically sends me into a place of determination and it sends me into a place of I know what time it is. I know she did her part. Now she is trusting me. Now she is believing in me. Now she is expecting me. She has every right to, because she did her thing to get me to go into a different phase, to continue to transfer that energy and that speed in which we did. So she gives me the stick. She says, “Stick!” I get the stick. And she tells me to “Go! Go!” She doesn’t stop after just telling me to get the stick. She’s encouraging me on the way down the track.

That’s so beautiful. As an outsider looking in, to see the sisterhood and the support between you two is so beautiful. Okay, we gotta talk about the now viral look over at the end of the race. Were you looking at the camera or your competitors? What were you thinking? 

SR: Honestly, that look over, if I had to just highlight anything, the look over was — it’s almost like it was a mirror on that side of me, and I’m just looking at a version of myself that nobody but me could see, if that makes sense. I looked over and I just knew that no matter what was going on, there was nobody that I was going to allow — even myself — to be in front of me. I know that sounds crazy, but I was in that lane and feeling like I’m always my biggest competitor [so I had to] leave my best on the track. I was just like, there’s no way that I’m not going to leave my best on the track. And so just looking over, it was more so showing that the hard work that all of us ladies in that 4×1 put in was not going to be in vain. I wasn’t going to even allow myself to not cross that finish line in first place and not get that medal, or to let down those ladies and the support that we received when it comes to us crossing the finish line, in first place as Team USA.

It was cold as hell. I just have to say that.

SR: I may have to put it up in my house [laughs].

Hang it in the Louvre!

SR: You know what I’m saying! I’m right down the street. 

We saw you get visibly emotional on the podium when you were receiving your gold. I think we were all emotional for you. What did that moment mean to you? 

SR: Getting emotional on the podium, that was not a plan, that was not scripted [laughs]. I would honestly say that moment was just a full circle moment, just embracing everything, not even including what had happened in the general moment to make it on the podium, but just embracing the entire journey of being just a human and growing, not even just as an athlete, but as a woman, as a spirit. It’s almost like one plus one equaling two. I was just embracing those two things at that moment to show that this is literally only the beginning. But I’m so grateful that this is the beginning, because, literally, there’s nothing but up from here. 

Your hair is always laid and looks beautiful right now. After the 4×100 relay, I don’t know if you know this, but a camera caught you fixing your wig. 

SR: I actually saw that this morning. I’m just now seeing it. I know I did it, but I didn’t know it was on camera. But yes, I feel like that was a real moment. One of the things I pride myself on is I show the world who I am, literally, like, no matter what it is, the world is feeling my energy. We’ve all had that moment where we know something isn’t quite right, so let’s fix it real quick. That was that moment. But honestly, I was even entertaining myself. I knew the camera was there, but I didn’t know it was gonna be aired. I enjoy myself. Look, we all have that moment. Like, let me straighten it real quick. You know, let me make sure I’m matching the energies of the ladies standing next to me because every single one of them looking good. Let me make sure I’m on point. So that’s what that was. But it was funny. It’s funny that it was even a moment for the world to see and register. Because for me, it was super funny. I was just like, Yo, I know that I should not be doing this on camera, but, one thing y’all know is that I’m gonna be me regardless [laughs].

@presidente_parra She needs a gold medal for that pretty skin. #fyp #olympics #shacarririchardson #lacewhere #blackgirlmagic #4x100relay ♬ original sound – Presidente_parra

This is what we love about you. What is the secret for keeping your hair laid when you’re running at such top speeds? 

SR: Well, I could soon be coming up with something for that…  I have a team of a lot of beautiful women around me who pay so much attention to me, and they’re very attentive. Like, “Hey, I know you’re running fast, so let me make sure this stuck down.” Like, “let me make sure this is on your head the way that I know you did it. That way you can do your very best and you’re not thinking about anything.” So I trust my stylist. I don’t have to think about it. All that I have to think about is just being the best. 

You look so good while you’re being the best and we applaud that. What current Olympian are you in awe of right now? 

SR: If I had to pick any, any Olympian in all honesty. I will honestly, honestly say Sydney [McLaughlin-Levrone]. My favorite thing about her is her faith. Faith is something that I admire even in myself and continue to grow in. I admire that her resilience, her determination and her faith in everything that she believes is something that drives her no matter what. 

This interview has been edited for clarity.

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As much as we love sniffing out the latest trending perfumes, many of them can be prohibitively expensive. A large bottle of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540, the It girl of designer perfumes, costs a whopping $665 — a third more than the average cost of a round-trip domestic flight in America. While a signature scent can be worth the investment to some people, many perfume lovers are turning to less costly alternatives, Take a look at the hashtag page for #dupes on TikTok, and you’ll find an overwhelming majority of top-viewed content is about cheaper versions of designer perfumes. This is exactly how we came to discover Oakcha perfumes.

We’ve been seeing Oakcha’s lineup of affordable scents all over our FYP, many of them “inspired by” some of the most prolific luxury scents of the moment, including Parfums de Marly’s Delina, Le Labo’s Santal 33, and the aforementioned Baccarat Rouge 540. Creations from this New York-based brand are priced between $35 and $50, which are significantly more wallet-friendly compared to their designer counterparts. Oakcha also exclusively sells extrait de parfum, a good marker of longevity. According to Eudora Nwasike, a certified fragrance specialist, extrait de parfum has the highest perfume oil concentration of around 20% to 40% (in Oakcha’s case, the concentration is 30%). They can last longer on the skin compared to eau de parfum, which typically has a concentration of 15% to 20%.

Naturally, we had to smell them for ourselves. We rounded up a team of R29 editors and perfume experts — who happen to own the OG scents — to give Oakcha’s bestselling ones a sniff. Let’s just say that we were pleasantly surprised…

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

The designer: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540, $335 for 2.4 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Sweven, $69 $50 for 1.7 oz

“In recent years, Baccarat Rouge 540 has earned itself Chanel No.5-level fame. I firmly believe that it will go down in history as one of the best perfumes ever. Fir resin and cedarwood give it a vibrant, sparkling quality, while amber, saffron and jasmine make it warm and cozy. It’s my most complimented perfume, so it’s safe to say that I was more than keen to see how Oakcha’s version would compare — especially as it’s a snip of the price.

“At first spritz, Sweven smells like Baccarat Rouge and… burnt plastic. I will say that it’s better when you wear it in — and it’s far nicer on clothes than my skin. I sprayed it onto my dress, and as it wore off, I caught whiffs of it throughout the day; it wasn’t too dissimilar to its designer counterpart. At one point, I questioned whether I’d mistakenly spritzed the original on my dress previously. It boasts the same woody notes and an element of warmth thanks to amber and saffron, but up close and personal, it’s got nothing on Baccarat, which sticks around forever. There’s a winter coat hanging in my wardrobe that still smells of the stuff!” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director

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Le Labo Santal 33

The designer: Le Labo Santal 33, $235 for 1.7 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Ruhe, $50 $37.50 for 1.7 oz

“If I had to pick a signature scent for myself, it would be Le Labo’s Santal 33. I know every millennial living in Brooklyn wears it, but it’s just the right mix of smoky, woodsy, and spicy for me. It’s not floral or sweet, and it doesn’t smell super traditionally feminine or masculine, which I think is why this fragrance has become so universally loved. At first spray, I found Oakcha’s Ruhe so similar to Santal 33, but when I applied it to my skin, it seemed a touch more fruity; I almost caught a whiff of melon.

“The overall fragrance definitely seems lighter to me, and didn’t quite have the richness of Santal 33. Considering the scent is still so close, these subtle differences didn’t bother me much, but I did notice Ruhe wore differently throughout the day and didn’t have the same staying power and seemed to develop into something slightly more floral. Although I think I’ll be sticking with my Le Labo, this is a great and much more cost effective option. Alternatively, I can see someone loving this for daytime if they feel Santal 33 is too heavy for their tastes.” — Kate Spencer, Senior Affiliate Partnerships Manager

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Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy

The designer: Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy, $295 for 1.7 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Sweet Addict, $45 for 1.7 oz

“Love, Don’t Be Shy quickly grew to become Kilian’s hero perfume when it was revealed to be Rihanna’s signature scent. In addition to this, perfumes that will make the wearer smell extremely sweet, addictive, and irresistible — the effects of a gourmand scent — have been gaining popularity in recent years. I must say that Oakcha hit it out of the park with Sweet Addict. I was shocked at how similar it is to the original; in fact, it smells stronger on my skin. The fluffiness of the marshmallow, combined with the sweetness of honeysuckle and vanilla, gives the fragrance a playful element.

“I was surprised and impressed by the longevity of Sweet Addict: It lasted a total of eight hours on my skin, whilst Kilian’s Love, Don’t Be Shy lasted five hours. The scent had moderate projection [ how much it radiates from you], and I’d catch whiffs of the scent on me throughout the day. For $45, this is an exceptional dupe of the original and ideal if you want to smell good on a budget.” — Eudora Nwasike, certified fragrance specialist by the Fragrance Foundation

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Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium

The designer: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium, $130 for 1.6 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Midnight Nymph, $35 for 1.7 oz

“Black Opium is my go-to scent for a girls’ night out. It’s sexy, unique, and gives major bad bitch — or dare I say, brat — energy. The black, glittery bottle looks gorgeous IRL, and the warm, spicy notes of saffron, sandalwood, and orange blossom don’t smell ‘perfume-y’ — you just feel like you naturally smell amazing when wearing it. I found Midnight Nymph to be shockingly similar to Black Opium. Truthfully, I’m not 100% confident I can tell the two apart in a blind test. The warm, sensual woody notes really come through in the Oakcha version, and I loved that it lasted a few hours on my skin. For nearly $100 less than the YSL original, it’ll be very tempting to replace it with the Oakcha version if and when I run out of my bottle.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer

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Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum

The designer: Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum, $220 for 1.0 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Madame Rose, $45 for 1.7 oz

“The moment I smelled Delina, I knew I had to have it. The fragrance had gone viral long before then, of course, thanks to TikTok — but it’s entirely deserving of the hype. It opens with a punchy rose note that’s lush and fresh as opposed to old fashioned, but it’s the addition of syrupy rhubarb and zingy bergamot that make this so moreish. It makes me feel feminine in a powerful way. I didn’t believe it would be possible to dupe something as unique as Delina, but this is absolutely spot on. I couldn’t tell the difference one bit, and that shocked me considering the enormous price difference.

“Madame Rose boasts the same striking rose and rhubarb notes that are so unmistakably Delina, but once it dries down, it becomes a little sweeter than its designer counterpart, which retains the tarte-ness from the citrusy bergamot. This, I think, is what makes Delina so distinctive; it’s more nuanced. When it comes to staying power, though, there isn’t much difference between them. I tested both on my skin and clothes and my jacket still smelled strongly of Madame Rose even days later — just like Delina. All in all, this is probably the closest ‘dupe’ I’ve ever tried.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director

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Tom Ford Lost Cherry

The designer: Tom Ford Lost Cherry, $405 for 1.7 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Sinful, $50 for 1,7 oz

“Lost Cherry is massively popular because it’s an edgy perfume. Most cherry fragrances tend to be overly sweet or too playful, but with Tom Ford’s iteration, you get a mature, intriguing, and sophisticated scent thanks to cherry liqueur that wonderfully compliments the juiciness of the fruit. In Sinful, I noticed the boozier notes are not prominent on my skin when I compared both side by side. Sinful accentuates the nuttiness of the cherry with woodsier base notes [vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood], which I actually preferred. The scent lasted for six hours on my skin, and sat closer to my skin as the fragrance dried down, creating an intimate scent bubble around me. The staying power was more impressive than Lost Cherry. For a price point of $50, that’s pretty exceptional.” — Eudora Nwasike, certified fragrance specialist by the Fragrance Foundation

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Creed Aventus For Her

The designer: Creed Aventus For Her, $300 for 1 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Akimbo, $50 for 1.7 oz

“I call Aventus For Her my ‘rich auntie’ perfume, since it’s the kind of scent I’d always picture myself wearing as a grown up. Fresh, floral, and woodsy is a combination I can never get enough of, and this sophisticated perfume offers exactly that. It develops into something fruitier over time, with refreshing hints of sweet peach, pineapple, and green apple. I’d say that Akimbo, Oakcha’s copycat iteration, is about 85% on point. You smell the pineapple and green apple notes right away, but they are a bit too overpowering and cloying in this case, and you don’t get as much of the amber, rose, and ylang ylang notes compared to the original. It does have a lovely projection and you can smell it from a distance. Overall, Aventus For Her edges out Akimbo for me as I prefer how the former interacts on my skin and it’s a bit more complex. But given Akimbo offers great value-for-money, I’m going to use it as an everyday stand-in and save my Creed for special occasions.” — Venus Wong, Senior Writer

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Byredo Gypsy Water

The designer: Byredo Gypsy Water, $225 for 1.6 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Morning Rain, $45 for 1.7 oz

“Byredo’s Gypsy Water is my all-time favorite unisex scent. It has that rare alchemy of refreshing, creamy, and woodsy notes that smell interesting on both me and my partner, albeit in different ways. On him, the scent reminds me of a sharp gin and tonic — the juniper and pine notes immediately jump out — while it has a more subtle profile on my skin. I would say that Oakcha’s Morning Rain is like a more palatable younger sibling to Gypsy Water. While you can still detect the citrusy and leafy top notes, the vanilla, amber, and sandalwood base is more prominent, making this a muskier and warmer experience. I would even say that Morning Rain has a lovelier initial blast compared to the original, since it smells less alcoholic to my nose. I do find that it requires a few more sprays to get my desired level of sillage [diffusion of the scent as you move around]. But given this retails for less than a quarter of Byredo’s price tag, I feel rather comfortable dousing myself in the perfume. My partner also loves it, so I’m certain we’ll go through the whole bottle in no time.” — Venus Wong, Senior Writer

Shop Oakcha

Valentino Donna Born In Roma

The designer: Valentino Donna Born In Roma, $135 for 1.7 oz

The dupe: Oakcha Love In Rome, $35 for 1.7 oz

“Born In Roma is my favorite summer daytime scent. I love it so much, I actually got the Uomo Born In Roma cologne for my fiancé so we can match on date nights. Needless to say, I was pretty familiar with it going into my test with Oakcha’s very similarly named Love In Rome, which boasted similar notes of blackcurrant, jasmine, and bourbon vanilla. While it has a similarly light, bright impression, Oakcha’s Love In Rome was overall more saccharine, bordering on powdery on my skin. It had pretty decent staying power, but the dry down had less of the fruity floral kick that I love from Valentino’s. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you love sweet scents, but definitely a point of differentiation to take note of.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer

Shop Oakcha

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Women’s gymnastics continues to be one of the most highly-anticipated sporting events at the Summer Olympic Games. From the mindblowing flips to the captivating floor routines, the gymnastic performances didn’t disappoint at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Team USA’s ‘Golden Girls’ – Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, Hezly Rivera, and Jade Carey – had some ups and downs, starting off strong by winning a gold medal in the team’s final. Biles made U.S. Olympic history as the country’s most decorated gymnast after ending her triumphant run with three gold medals and one silver. Then, there was the unforgettable moment where Biles, Chiles, and Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade stood as the first all-Black podium winners. Despite the controversy surrounding Chiles’ medal, it was a beautiful moment that paid homage to all of the Black women gymnasts who paved the way for the trio on that podium. One of those trailblazers is legendary gymnast Gabby Douglas.

At 16 years old, Douglas stole viewers’ hearts worldwide as she made history. She became the first Black gymnast to win gold in the Olympic all-around event at the 2012 London Games. While there, she also became the first American gymnast to earn gold in the individual all-around event and the team competition. The gymnast followed up with another iconic victory at the Rio 2016 Olympics, winning a third gold medal in the team competition before taking a break from the sport. But, like many highly visible Black women athletes, Douglas received so much online bullying and hate about her appearance that she chose to step away from the spotlight. After an eight-year hiatus, the champion hoped her return to the mat would be at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But, an ankle injury caused Douglas to miss the Olympic trials in June.

Now at 28, Douglas says her gymnastics career is far from over. While she didn’t get the chance to compete this year, she’s gearing up for a return at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. To prepare, Douglas has partnered with Dr. Scholl’s to ensure her feet are in the best shape possible as she trains for her epic return in  four years. 

The athlete’s excitement illuminated over Zoom as she talked about her training regimen, the iconic all-Black podium moment, and her legacy as a beacon of inspiration for other Black gymnasts.

Refinery29 Unbothered: The 2028 Summer Olympics will take place on home turf in Los Angeles. Can you tell us more about your training regimen and how your partnership with Dr. Scholl’s fits into that?

Gabby Douglas: I’m super excited for the game to come to my hometown. I love California. It’s beautiful. The Olympics hasn’t been hosted in the U.S. for a very long time. So, it would be cool for it to be on our turf. My regimen right now is doing a lot of recovery, icing, and cryotherapy. It’s off-season, so I’m taking it one day at a time. I’m so grateful and honored to be a part of their [Dr. Scholl’s] taking care of your feet plan. We skip feet, which is very important. I bang up my feet a lot in the gym. Coming home and doing their masks [Tired Achy Feet Soothing & Reviving Foot Mask], repair cream [Dry Cracked Foot Repair Ultra-Hydrating Foot Cream], and foot balm [Severe Cracked Heel Repair Restoring Balm] really have helped me out. I’m super grateful for that partnership.

Although the Olympics have ended, so many moments were cemented in history – one being the first all-Black podium in gymnastics history shared by Team USA’s Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade. What was your initial reaction to seeing that historical moment where Simone and Jordan bowed to Rebeca?

GD: It’s honestly so beautiful for all these athletes coming out here together and inspiring each other. I’ve seen a lot of memes and very fun pictures where everyone’s just supporting each other. It goes to show you that you can do anything you set your mind to. It’s very inspiring to see everyone coming together and uplifting each other.

You’ve been very open about the online bullying you’ve experienced from gymnastics fans and have urged cyberbullies to stop the hate. When you were experiencing that while competing at such a young age, in what ways is your mindset different now than how it was dealing with that as a teenager?

GD: As a teenager, I was very young and naive. My head was in the clouds, and I just always wanted to get back in the gym. I am still like that. I have a huge passion and love for gymnastics. It’s different now because I have been under that kind of pressure for a very long time. It’s very tiring, I would say.

What goes through your mind as this is still an issue for you and other gymnasts, especially Black women, who endure similar criticisms targeting their hair?

GD: It’s annoying because we’re out there putting our bodies on the line. We’ve trained so long and so hard, and gymnastics is a very grueling sport. So, there are going to be a few flyaways…Like sometimes, I use gel, and it doesn’t stick. And I was like, ‘Okay, whatever, we’ve got to rock with the clips.’ But, [gymnasts] sweat. Sometimes, [gymnasts] do timers and land on our necks or do certain things where our hair gets messed up. So it’s very unfair for us to get criticized for that when we  have no control over that.

You recently responded to a TikTok video that spoke about the lack of recognition for how you transformed the sport. As a trailblazer who has helped pave the way for other Black gymnasts, how do you want to be remembered?

GD: I just want to inspire. I want to uplift and tell people it doesn’t matter your race, color, background, or where you’re from. If you have a love for something, a passion, and want to do it, why not do it? Don’t let anyone define what you can and can’t do.

In your response to that same video, you said, “I just want to live my life and be at peace.” What does a peaceful life look like for you, and what steps are you taking to cultivate it?

GD: For me, it’s really being true and positive to myself and not letting others get me down when I experience a lot of hate and comments. It’s going to sound a little odd, but being at peace is where my Creator wants me to be…Being at peace is knowing I am where I’m supposed to be.

Another major spotlight from the Olympics is the advocacy for mental health among several competing athletes. What message do you hope sports fans take away from these elite athletes, like you, who are pushing for audiences to see them as humans?

GD: I really hope it resonates with people and, even more so, not take it as a joke or skip over it because we do go through a lot as athletes. We put our bodies on the line. I think people are taking it very seriously because it’s nothing to be played around with. So, I hope people will watch what they do, say, and how they treat other people because we [athletes] go through a lot.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

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As the daughter of Nicaraguan immigrants in San Francisco, I am the first in my family to go to college. But my academic journey hasn’t been easy: Several schools, plenty of frustration over financial aid, and two babies later, I accomplished my goal, but it would have been impossible without a strong support system. 

I started my bachelor’s degree at FootHill College in Los Altos, CA, in 2005, but I was constantly failing math and English. At the time, I had a good job at a bank, so I decided to take a break from my studies because I was making decent money and the college wasn’t understanding of my financial situation. Additionally, as a low-income Latina who needed to work full time to pay her bills, I felt alone navigating white-majority academic spaces. I was fully supporting myself because my parents couldn’t afford to pay for my college tuition — they didn’t even know what that was — so when I applied for financial aid, I constantly had to wrestle my dad for information. When I asked for his tax documents to receive the financial assistance I needed, he would say, with distrust in his voice, “¿Por qué lo necesitan?” 

But without my degree I learned I couldn’t get promoted at my job. I went back to school in 2008 to City College of San Francisco. I planned to do everything in my power to transfer to San Francisco State University in two years. It was at City College that I changed my major from criminal justice to Latinx studies because I felt that represented my values and identity more than my previous major.

I graduated in May 2012 from San Franscico State University, and on the same day as the commencement ceremony, I found out I was pregnant with my then-fiance’s baby. It was one of the most joyous occasions of my life, as my family came together to celebrate my accomplishment. It was a beautiful moment that I shared with my tía, my parents, and my husband. As I entered a new chapter of life, I decided to take some time off from school so I could take care of my daughter, but I knew I would eventually return for my master’s degree. A post-undergrad degree meant I could earn more at the property management agency where I worked. 

Two years later, I was ready for school again. But as I started my MBA at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA, I learned I was pregnant with my son. This time the reactions weren’t as positive. Instead, they asked, “Are you gonna work and go to school? Who’s gonna take care of the baby?” Or they would straight-up say, “You should drop out of your master’s program because it’s a lot to have two kids, especially a newborn.” I started to question my choices. My husband and I felt the workload was doable, but everyone else thought we were in denial. 

It became so overwhelming that, at a doctor’s visit, I burst into tears while speaking to her. She diagnosed me with pre-partum depression — something I didn’t even know existed. Unfortunately in my family, we don’t talk about mental health, but my doctor, who took the time to listen to me, helped me make a decision. She recommended I take a break from work and focus on school, so that’s what I did. 

Wobbling around campus, I felt low-key embarrassed to be pregnant and a student. I don’t really know why it’s so taboo to be a pregnant person in school, but as I worked toward my goal, I felt as though people stared at me and judged me. I leaned into my support network — my husband, my family, and friends. I also asked my school what sort of accommodations were available to me during my pregnancy. I was able to arrive later to my classes without any penalty, and I could get extensions for my assignments. This helped me take things day by day until I gave birth to my son in August 2016. 

I didn’t have the luxury of taking a lot of time off. About 30 days after the birth, I returned to both school and my job because I couldn’t afford not to work. Having a newborn while doing a master’s program is tough, and here I was up late to write a paper and feed my kid — sleep deprivation during the first months postpartum is difficult enough. But despite all the challenges and long, sleepless nights, I graduated in April 2017. 

But I knew that wasn’t it for me. I took a three-year break from academia and focused on my family and property management career. With renewed energies, I started a doctoral program for educational leadership at Mills College at Northeastern University in Oakland. For my dissertation, I am exploring the experience of Latinas in higher education, motivated by the fact that I did not see myself represented in my master’s program. I still don’t see too many Latina women in grad school, but Nicaraguan graduates and researchers exist and I want to reclaim our space in academia.

My history with dropping out and returning to higher education is part of what led me to create the Latinas with Masters community on Instagram. I knew I wasn’t alone in experiencing imposter syndrome throughout my academic career because of my Latina identity and motherhood. I became pretty good at navigating these majority-white institutions despite the micro and macro aggressions, and I wanted to provide guidance for others who are learning how to occupy spaces that don’t necessarily welcome them. I learned that with community, we can do the hard things. 

Throughout my years in education, the right people have seen me for who I am, and they are not intimidated with how I show up. They motivated me when others told me to quit. As I continuously proved myself, there were a few people who looked like me and had similar experiences who said: “I see you; how can I support you?” I wanted other Latinas in higher education to have a place to turn to when they felt unsupported. I am also doing that in real life. I recently took a job as the director of student support services at a local community college, where I help vulnerable students figure out issues around housing, financial aid, and food insecurity.

Being a Latina in higher education is tough and lonely — especially if you are also a mother — but one of the best things you can do for yourself is remain flexible about your goals. Don’t get caught up on self-imposed deadlines and have compassion for yourself if you don’t fulfill those timelines. Life happens and you have to adapt. And don’t be afraid to ask for help from your higher education institution and learn how to advocate for yourself. No matter how long it takes, you will get there — just like I did.

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The 2024 Paris Olympics are officially over. The controversy surrounding them is not. In a shocking turn of events, American gymnast and two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles has been ordered to  return her bronze medal from the women’s Floor Exercise competition. On Sunday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) upheld a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG)  that stripped Chiles of her third-place win due to a technicality. I’ll get into the details, but let’s be clear; Jordan Chiles isn’t getting penalized because she performed poorly. Her medal is being stripped from her because of a judging error and a fight over four seconds. No matter how this mess ends, the backlash, scrutiny and racist abuse Chiles has been facing in the days since the games — when she should have been celebrating her victory — is heartbreaking and unfair. 

“Following the CAS decision with regard to the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final and the amendment of the ranking by the International Gymnastics Federation, the IOC will reallocate the bronze medal to Ana Bărbosu (Romania),” the IOC said in a statement. “We are in touch with the NOC of Romania to discuss the reallocation ceremony and with USOPC regarding the return of the bronze medal.”

The US Gymnastics authorities appealed the decision and submitted video evidence that would have reinstated Chiles as the bronze medalist if approved. In an update on Monday, USA Gymnastics released a statement saying they were notified by CAS that, even with new evidence presented, the ruling will not be reconsidered, nor will Chiles’ bronze medal win be reinstated.

“We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan,” the USA Gymnastics posted on Instagram. 

At the gymnastics event, Chiles initially ranked fifth with a score of 13.666. Her competitors, Romanian gymnast Ana Bǎrbosu and her teammate Sabrina Maneca-Voinea placed third and fourth on the leaderboard with a tied score of 13.700. After Chiles finished her floor routine, her coach, Cecile Landi, filed an inquiry with the judges about the gymnast’s difficulty score. Landi contested that the gymnast wasn’t credited for the split leap ( also called a “tour jete full”) in her performance, leading to Chiles scoring lower. After deliberating, the judges agreed and adjusted Chiles’ result. Her score was bumped to 13.766, ultimately securing her third-place spot and knocking her competition out of the top ranking. 

When Chiles realized she had medaled in the final event, she was caught on camera jumping up and down in pure joy and happiness. Her triumphant win became historic as it solidified the first all-Black gymnastics podium shared between her, Simone Biles (silver), and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade (gold). The heartwarming display of sportsmanship and sisterhood was captured in an iconic picture that instantly became a viral sensation on social media. However, the celebration didn’t last long. 

Stripping an athlete of their Olympic medal typically happens for two reasons: cheating or failing a drug test. Neither applies to Chiles, which makes her situation unprecedented and completely unfair. It’s worth noting that the issue has nothing to do with the athlete’s performance. Instead, the controversy has everything to do with the judges’ error. The judges deliberated after Chiles’ coach inquired about her difficulty level not being appropriately scored. They recognized their mistake and adjusted Chiles’ results accordingly. Chiles’ 13.766 score is her correct score. So, it’s unfair for the American gymnast to be stripped of the bronze medal she rightfully earned – especially since the criteria is based on execution and difficulty, which are two things Chiles does not lack. 

On August 10, CAS ordered that Chiles’ original 13.666 score be reinstated (knocking her back to fifth place) after ruling that her coach’s inquiry was submitted after the one-minute deadline. According to the press release, the inquiry was submitted four seconds over the time limit. On Saturday night, The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique abided by the CAS decision, which raised Bǎrbosu back to third place. After confirming the ruling, the IOC announced on Sunday that the bronze medal will be reallocated.

The USA Gymnastics also released a statement on Sunday saying they submitted time-stamped video evidence that proved Landi’s inquiry was placed before the one-minute deadline and requested that Chiles’ bronze-medal score be reinstated. ESPN also reported that the Romanian Gymnastics Federation asked for three bronze medals to be awarded. As of right, the ruling still stands that Chiles must return her medal.

The controversy has made Chiles a target for racist attacks on social media. Many claimed that Chiles’ medal was awarded solely to fabricate a historic moment with the all-Black podium. Those people must not know the history of racism within the very same organizations that awarded (and then stripped) Chiles of her bronze medal. Like in many other sports, racism and the mistreatment of Black athletes has existed throughout the history of gymnastics. Although there are more Black and brown gymnasts now, the sport is historically predominately white. Decorated gymnasts like Biles and Gabby Douglas have been open about the racism they’ve experienced early in their careers. Biles recalled an incident in 2013 after defeating Italian gymnasts Vanessa Ferrari and Carlotta Ferlito at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. In a post-game interview, Ferlito commented that Biles and Douglas were only the podium finishers because they were Black. The reality is that every Black gymnast who succeeds does so against insurmountable odds in spite of their Blackness, not because of it. And I can’t imagine that the unprecedented vitriol, hate, and unfairness that Chiles is facing now would be happening to a white gymnast. 

Like her peers, Chiles had past racist encounters that led her to almost quit gymnastics. Since the CAS ruling and controversy over her medal, the 23-year-old announced on her Instagram story that she was taking a break from social media to focus on her mental health. The athlete’s sister, Jazmin Chiles, shared her reaction online with a series of posts on her Instagram stories. “Racism is real, it exists, it is alive and well,” one of the posts read. “They have officially, 5 days later, stripped her of one of her medals. Not because she didn’t win, not because she was drugged, not because she stepped out of bounds, not because she wasn’t good enough.”

Jazmin continued to express her frustrations about the panel of judges. “But because the judges failed to give her difficulty and forced an inquiry to be made,” she said. “Her bronze was stripped over 4 seconds of time that would have never needed to happen if the judges did their job. I love you baby sis. And I got your back no matter what.” Chiles’ mom Gina also shared her feelings. 

“The racist disgusting comments are still happening in 2024. I’m tired of people who say it no longer exists,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter). “My daughter is a highly decorated Olympian with the biggest heart and a level of sportsmanship that is unmatched… and she’s being called disgusting things.” Chiles’ teammates Sunisa Lee and Biles also reacted to the news by sharing supportive messages on social media. “Sending you so much love Jordan,” Biles said in an Instagram post.  “Keep your chin up Olympic champ! We love you!”

Chiles earned that bronze medal fair and square. And she shouldn’t be penalized for a mistake made by the judges. Chiles being stripped as a bronze medalist has nothing to do with her skills or talents. Yet, she’s paying the price for something that could have been avoided if the judges didn’t undercredit her routine. Chiles won — regardless of the ruling. She made history as one of the three finishers on the all-Black podium. No matter how hard they try, no one can take that away from her.

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It’s almost time — in just a few months, Taylor Swift is back on our side of the pond; kicking off the final leg of the Eras Tour in the US and Canada. In Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Toronto, and Vancouver, from October 18 until December 8, to be exact. (Insert maniacal, unhinged, euphoric fangirling sounds here). Personally speaking — and I’m sure I’m not alone in the feeling — this is major, mega, immense. Perhaps the most important moment of my life; like Christmas, my birthday, the best first date, my wedding day all rolled into one. This is my Super Bowl, my Joker, and all I’ve been able to think and talk about, ever since the fandom gods graced me in the Ticketmaster trenches. You see, the last time I was lucky enough to (and able to afford to) see my favorite person perform live, it was on the Red Tour in 2014. Now, I have big girl adult money to spend — the world is my Swiftie-shaped oyster.

You would be surprised then to learn that, with just a few months to go, I haven’t quite chosen my outfit. Call it decision fatigue, call it overly excited procrastination, call it a whole year of watching other fans absolutely nail their outfits in real time on social media, but there’s been a lot to consider. Which era do I honor? Do I just go for a color-themed vibe or try to replicate an outfit? Maybe I should DIY a look? Make my own version of one of Taylor’s tour looks? Or perhaps there’s a niche lyric association I can make? Not to mention all the practical aspects to consider. Blondie is on stage for a whole three-plus hours, performing a staggering 45 songs — I need to be able to stand/dance/scream/cry in comfort.

Plus, give me some credit: This year, Taylor released a brand new album, The Tortured Poets Department, with 31 new songs to absorb and process (that’s a lot of new lyrics, melodies, and stories). And now we know for sure — she’s completely shaken up the original set list, rearranging albums, cutting songs (RIP “Long Live”), and incorporating TTPD into the show with its own dedicated set. Arguably, the most theatrical of the entire tour. Six new songs, brand new outfits, visuals and choreography!

So, to try to help myself as well as anyone in the same boat, I’ve put together one mega guide to what to wear to the Eras Tour, with tidbits here for everyone — whether you’re a longtime Swiftie like myself or a new fan looking for inspiration. I’ve covered everything from Debut-ready cowboy boots to reputation snakes, plus all the sequins, sparkles, and fringing that we’ve come to expect from a TS tour. I’ve followed the set list of the tour as it currently stands, throwing in fan-favorite outfit DIYs, some lyric- and Easter egg-inspired looks and color themes that define each era.

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a Lover fan

After the darkness of the reputation era, 2019’s Lover was an explosion of color, sparkle, and bubblegum pop. This was when Taylor “found herself” again after symbolically killing off her past self during “Look What You Made Me Do” (“I’m sorry / But the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now / Why? Oh, ’cause she’s dead!”).  Lover is also the first album owned by Taylor following her departure from Big Machine Records, so, of course, it has a special place in Taylor’s heart.

Like the literal transition in the “Me!” music video, when the rep snake bursts into pastel butterflies, this time was all about everything that makes Taylor, Taylor. It’s also an era cut short by the pandemic (RIP, Lover Fest), so it’s meaningful to fans that Taylor kicks off the Eras tour this way with lyrics from “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince”: “I counted days, I counted miles […] It’s been a long time coming.” (I get chills every time I hear this intro).

Colors & themes of the Lover era

The colors most closely associated with Lover are pastel rainbow, and more specifically, pink, baby blue, and lilac. In this segment of the show, Taylor wears a custom, bedazzled Versace bodysuit, a sequinned Versace blazer (for “The Man”), and sparkly Louboutin boots.

If you’re a Lover stan, this is also your time to shine in popstar-ready sequins, blazer dresses, and butterfly, heart, and flower motifs. For an easy nod to the era, draw a heart around your eye à la Taylor in the album photoshoot or dip your hair tips into some pink or blue dye. Other whimsical and romantic themes are winners here, too — just think about the ‘Me!’ music video, which featured cats, a unicorn, princess dresses, candy-colored cowboy boots and rainbows.

Lover era DIY costume ideas

Feeling crafty? I love how this fan replicated Taylor’s rainbow fringed jacket moment using just paint. If you really want to make a statement, DIY your own 2019 AMAs shirtdress.

To replicate an actual Lover era look, the “Me!” and “You Need To Calm Down” music videos provide a wealth of inspiration, from Taylor’s pastel suit and ’60s babydoll look to her hot pink fur coat and cat eye sunglasses.

A super-easy DIY that has been all over my TikTok feed are these bedazzled heart-shaped sunglasses. All you need are the specs (which are all over Amazon), super glue, all your leftover friendship bracelet beads and an afternoon in front of the TV glueing (watching the Eras Tour Movie to prepare, perhaps?).

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a Fearless fan

The Fearless era was when Taylor went from being the talented new face of country pop to worldwide recognition and mainstream chart success. It’s the album that gave us career-defining songs like “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me,” so it was perhaps unsurprising that Taylor chose Fearless as her first Taylor’s Version rerecord and placed it second in the tour set list.

Colors & themes of the Fearless era

Just like her 20-year-old self on the 2009 Fearless tour (gold is the official color of this era), Taylor mainly opts for glittering gold, fringed mini dresses — it’s so satisfying seeing it glitter as she twirls and skips around the stage. This time around, though, she swaps out her black, knee-high riding boots for a custom pair of cowboy-style Louboutins.

The easiest way to honor the era is with a similarly sparkling gold dress, cowboy boots, Taylor’s signature curls and “13” drawn on the back of your hand. If you want to go all out, you could DIY a sparkly “13” guitar like Taylor’s.

Fearless era DIY costume ideas

Fun nods to the Fearless discography come from the era’s music videos. The hand-drawn band Junior Jewels tee is an easy arts and crafts project (wear with plaid pajama pants). If you’re going with your best friend, a great duo idea is band geek Taylor and cheerleader Taylor. Alternatively, channel Princess Taylor from “Love Story” with a white and gold corset top and flowing skirt.

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a Red fan

Welcome to the first major shakeup implemented by Taylor on the European leg of the Eras Tour: the Red set, which was originally sixth in the lineup, has been moved up to third (originally, when watching the grainy livestream of Paris Night 1, I thought this was to reflect the order of her rerecords but that theory was swiftly — ey, ey — proven incorrect).

Red is clearly one of Taylor’s favorites (the eight new-to-us vault tracks on Red TV, 10-minute “All Too Well” and its accompanying short film directed by Taylor attest to this). As a longtime Red stan, I’m very happy about that. It was her first proper shift into pop, spawning mega-hits like “22”, “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”, and it was her second rerecord in 2021; one of the few revisited eras that truly got time and space to breathe alone, before Taylor moved onto the next or a new album (after almost a year, it was followed by Midnights in 2022).

Colors & themes of the Red era

The Red era has a very distinct aesthetic and not just because of the color. During the OG Red era, Taylor’s personal style was perhaps best described as twee. She was well known for tea dresses, high-waisted shorts, brogues, and Mary Janes, Breton stripes, bowler hats and cat eye sunglasses, most of which made their way onto the stage. The RED tour also saw one of her most iconic performance outfits: a top hat-wearing circus ringleader. She pays homage to the look on the Eras tour with a sparkling red-to-black ombre, sequin bodysuit and matching jacket (a custom design by Ashish).

Red era DIY costume ideas

The easiest way to channel RED energy is with a red dress, a twee-inspired shorts-and-brogue moment or a look from the “WANEGBT” or “22” videos: squirrel pyjamas/glasses Taylor and “not a lot going on at the moment” T-shirt Taylor spring to mind. A more recent, popular source of inspiration is the “I Bet You Think About Me” music video. In particular, red dress Taylor complete with rose headband and lace gloves.

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a Speak Now fan

Justice for Speak Now! So far, it appears that we’re back to just a one song set with “Enchanted” (to make more time for the new TTPD set) but, Taylor is tricksy and so I’m hoping and praying that it will be permanently joined by fan favorite and certified tearjerker “Long Live” once again — with the famous koi fish guitar of course. Cue the manifestation circle…

This is arguably Taylor’s most romantic and magical era — “enchanting” you could say. If you’ve seen the OG Speak Now tour footage, you’ll know that it’s one of her most theatrical shows to date, with elaborate sets for each song, including an entire wedding setup for the titular track, a spooky forest for “Haunted”, and Taylor’s first floating stages. In fact, the entire thing was staged like a theatre show with red velvet curtains and tap dance breaks from her dancers. I highly recommend watching  the original Speak Now Tour film on YouTube if you’ve never seen it.

Colors & themes of the Speak Now era

To capture the nostalgia of the Speak Now era, sequin babydoll dresses and princess ball gowns like those originally worn by Taylor at the time are your best bets (preferably in purple, the color of the album). Also a must for this era: a red lip and a carefully chosen arm lyric — something Taylor used to do as a kind of “mood ring” for how she felt each night of the tour. This is the look Taylor is sporting in her latest music video, “I Can See You.”

Speak Now era DIY costume ideas

For a music video look, you have either the old-school flapper vibes of “Mean” or the preppy school girl vibes of “The Story Of Us” (DIY your own storybook poster to carry with you, just in case locals don’t get it).

So far, my favorite DIY Speak Now costume idea has come from this thrifty duo, who dressed as bottles of Wonderstruck and Wonderstruck Enchanted, the two perfumes Taylor released during this era (and which I forever pray she brings back).

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a reputation fan

Didn’t you hear? The old Taylor is dead (mic. drop.), so if you’re a rep stan, it’s time to throw out the candy-colored sparkles and cowboy boots in honor of Taylor’s (aesthetically) darkest album. Taking charge of the narrative surrounding the Kim/Kanye phone call drama, Taylor adopted the snake — a symbol originally used against her — as the motif of the era, especially the imagery of a snake shedding their skin in order to regenerate themselves. The original reputation tour even featured a gigantic inflatable snake, nicknamed Karyn. This time, Taylor transitions into the era with a digital serpent on the massive LED screens backing and lining the stage.

Colors & themes of the reputation era

If you’re dressing for a “big reputation”, then your safest bet is a lot of black, green, sparkles, and snake motifs. Head to Netflix and watch the reputation stadium tour for inspiration — you’ll spot Taylor wearing hoods, bodysuits, knee-high boots, sharp-shoulder jackets, cut-out features, and a black manicure to match the mood. On the Eras Tour, Taylor usually has a few different iterations of her outfits that she mixes up for different shows and, most probably, so they can be fixed in between appearances (she now has multiple fringed dresses for the Fearless segment, for example). For reputation she has just one bodysuit: an asymmetrical, one-leg, one-sleeve black and red sequin design with snakes slithering up her body. Some fans have theorised that this is a metaphorical nod to her own reputation in the public eye; others think that she’ll only make any changes when she announces reputation (Taylor’s Version), as she did for 1989 TV (more on this below). Either way, you’ll probably see plenty of fan recreations of this iconic red and black look.

reputation era DIY costume ideas

If you want something a little more subtle, then a newspaper print, inspired by the album cover, is a strong bet. Or try a cheeky nod to a lyric: old-timey “Getaway Car” Bonnie and Clyde, the maps where you buried the hatchet (“End Game”), or a magician and illusionist from “So It Goes…” Anyone brave enough to go as zombie Taylor from the “Look What You Made Me Do” video gets my vote, though.

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re an folklore & evermore fan

Another major change to the setlist was Taylor combining her two pandemic albums, folklore and evermore; described by Taylor as sister albums. Despite have sonic similarities (acoustic, indie folk), they have very distinct aesthetics and energies, and so have divided them up (also, because you never know, Taylor could easily split them up and surprise us again).

Dressing for the folklore era

folklore is Taylor’s first pandemic-era album — a total surprise drop that was announced less than 24 hours before its release, and the first project that she released not on her usual two-year schedule (freed from the restrictions of writing for single-release and stadium shows). It’s also her first true alternative album, co-produced partly with The National’s Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff who each collaborated remotely. In fact, the very first time they got to perform the songs together was in the Disney+ concert film folklore: the long pond studio sessions. Together they created a lush, folky, rustic world where Taylor experiments with other people’s stories, make up characters, and dip into history and local myth.

Colors & themes of the folklore era

folklore’s key aesthetic is “cottagecore grandma picnics in the woods” so think floral prairie dresses and cozy knitwear (referencing “cardigan”, of course). A plaid shirtdress is a great nod to the folklore: the long pond studio sessions. For the folklore segment of the Eras tour, Taylor turns it up a notch with a rotation of ethereal, floaty dresses that give Stevie Nicks and Florence & The Machine a run for their money and, as it turns out, were potential Easter eggs for the Stevie references and Florence collab on TTPD (honestly, this woman’s mind…). One of the easiest ways to capture some folklore energy is with a woodland-nymph look in a palette of whites, creams, greys and silver, and with light floral patterns. The way I imagine the folklore aesthetic is as if I’m wearing a cozy knit cardigan pulled over a faded floral dress with a glass of white wine, overlooking the sea at sunset in a rich-white-woman, Big Little Lies style. Whereas evermore is red wine on a gloomy, winter evening, huddled around a roaring fire, casting spells like a witch (you can tell me in the comments if this makes sense).

folklore era DIY costume ideas

If you would rather take on a look inspired by your favorite song, you’re not alone. We’ve already seen silver, sparkling “mirrorball”-inspired outfits and moon/Saturn duos (for “seven”) become fan favorites. For our craftiest Swifties, Taylor’s floaty folklore dresses are DIY catnip; especially her green number.

Dressing for the evermore era

For those whose ears are yet to be blessed by arguably Taylor’s best album (in my humble opinion), evermore is the surprise indie folk sister to folklore. While both Taylor and the collective fandom have acknowledged that folklore lives in the months of spring and summer, evermore lives in autumn and winter. It’s cozier and warmer in tone, with nods to Christmas and the cold drawing in, and so its color palette is also warmer and cozier.

Colors & themes of the Evermore era

For this era, a continuation into the “folklorian woods”, Taylor marries the folkloric, cottagecore sensibility with something more mystical. Think the witchy vibes of “willow” (a green velvet cloak, vintage-style slip dress and flower crown are a must), the lead and only single from the album. The key colors of this album riff off the album cover, on which Taylor wears a cozy-looking plaid coat: so rust orange, copper, beige, and earthy browns.

evermore era DIY costume ideas

With less obvious music video prompts, you can have some fun here. Maybe you could dress as the golden thread? The willow tree itself? An ivy-covered house from “ivy”? A glass of champagne from “champagne problems”? A Wild West-style bandit from “cowboy like me”? You could even take inspiration from the album cover. The world is your evermore-shaped oyster.

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a 1989 fan

For Taylor’s pop magnum opus, you have a full range of iconic music video looks to choose from: “Shake It Off” (ballet or cheerleader Taylor), “Blank Space” (Taylor stabbing the cake in black lingerie and lace sleep mask), “Bad Blood” (one of The Squad) and “Wildest Dreams” (old Hollywood Taylor in the yellow dress). Alternatively, Taylor favoured matching two-piece sets, Wayfarers, sequinned jackets and skater skirts for the OG 1989 tour, which she continues to reference today. If you want a monochromatic look, the color here is the light baby blue used on the album cover. In fact, Taylor used the color blue to Easter egg and hint to 1989 being her next rerecord whilst on tour: the night she announced 1989 TV she began opting for blue iterations of some of her outfits, so a blue ball gown for the Speak Now section, a blue folklore dress and, naturally, a blue sequined two piece for the 1989 set itself.

1989 era DIY costume ideas

It’s easy to reference the 1989 tracklist with your outfit. This album and era are most closely associated with New York City (she opened the original tour with “Welcome To New York”) so NYC-inspired prints are a winner. Likewise, I can’t wait to see “Style” fans nod to Old Hollywood with James Dean and “red lip classic” inspired looks. The most creative (or unhinged, depending on your perspective) outfits pay homage to the seagulls that grace both the original 1989 and new 1989 TV album covers.

For an inside joke look, you can’t beat Taylor’s 2014 “no, it’s Becky” T-shirt, which has a special place in Swiftie history.

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a Tortured Poets Department fan

We were all collectively trying to catch our breath after Taylor absolutely gagged us with her latest release, The Tortured Poets Department, when she went and staggered us even further with a brand new six-song-long set. TTPD or Tortured Poets for short — including the surprise Anthology edition, that’s a whopping 31 new songs that truly live up to the anguished, poetic name; and the tour performances equal that. Just imagine if your favorite pop megastar put together their own Broadway show, with all the theatrics, drama and emoting to match (Taylor may have jokingly nicknamed this section “Female Rage: The Musical”, but I don’t think she’s far wrong. I now want an entire show dedicated to TTPD!).

This album covers everything from heartbreak to the pressures and scrutiny of fame; old flames turned sour, old rivalries turned bitter, then turned bittersweet; mental health and addiction; Taylor’s masters’ ownership struggle. And that just scratches the surface. Simply, though, I think it’s Taylor at her absolute best.

Colors & themes of The Tortured Poets Department era

Primarily, TTPD is associated with the color white: Taylor wore a white bridal-like gown to announce the album at the Grammys, referenced this look in the music video for “Fortnight”, and then again on stage with a dramatic, corseted Vivienne Westwood gown; inscribed with her own lyrics. As if Taylor is wearing a crumbled up piece of paper torn from the pages of her own songs. She’s paired this with a chunky Westwood orb choker with black beads or pearls.

Similarly, the first cover we saw for TTPD (there are four variants) is white and Taylor has been using a white heart emoji to discuss the album on her social media. TTPD is also associated with black — a nod to the cover of the Anthology edition (the surprise second album drop that shortly followed the release) and the darker, grittier topics Taylor is delving into here. We also see her physically transform from white gown to black Victoriana dress in the “Fortnight” video (which is shot in black and white).

Overall though, the TTPD aesthetic is a sepia-tinged, Dark Academia-meets-Case-File, meets the dark side of Hollywood vibe. Taylor teased the album with a library installation littered with Easter eggs and has been playing with a preppy fashion style all year: pleated mini skirts, rugby shirts, loafers, blazers and knee-high boots. Mimic her with an outfit you’ll easily be able to wear again after the show.

The Tortured Poets Department era DIY costume ideas

For a more relaxed approach, I would go the sexy, sultry lingerie-inspired route taken for the cover art. Think, plenty of black, white, and grey lace, silky soft fabrics and loose silhouettes — all the better for writhing around your bed in a tortured, poetic way.

If going all out, consider any one of Taylor’s stage or music video looks to replicate: a haunted bride (complete with garter and smoky, intense makeup)? Or an unhappy 1920s starlet in tails (with nod to “Clara Bow”)?

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a Midnights fan

2022’s Midnights has generated a host of great costume ideas, most notably because Taylor’s return to pop star glam and chart-topping ear worm hooks relate easily to the glitzy, sparkle-heavy style that tends to dominate concert fashion. Fan favorites include her “Bejewelled” video bodysuit (you can DIY your own), midnight blue star dress red carpet look, “Anti-Hero” orange hot pants and “Lavender Haze” faux fur and slip moment.

Colors & Themes Of The Midnights Era

This is perhaps one of Taylor’s most comprehensible concepts: Surprise, surprise, the color of Midnights is midnight blue. You could also run with the nighttime concept of the album, from astrological prints to star chain belts; I love this “he was sunshine, I was midnight rain” duo idea.

Midnights era DIY costume ideas

Inspired by the album cover shoot, Midnights is also the perfect opportunity to pull out your best Daisy Jones ’70s looks. Here’s hoping that someone recreates Taylor’s Miss Bejewelled, Marie Antoinette look, too.

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re a Debut fan

Let’s hear it for the Debut fans! Perhaps Taylor Swift’s most under-appreciated album among the fandom, I’m ready for teenage Taylor’s country twang to have its well-deserved moment when Taylor’s Version drops. Right now, there are no Debut songs on the set list — apart from the occasional acoustic surprise — but again, I hope this changes once we have the rerelease (my Swiftie-since-11-years-old heart will not be able to cope when I hear grownup Taylor sing “Tim McGraw” and “A Place In The World”).

Colors & themes of the Debut era

The staples of any good Debut look are simple: boho summer dresses (preferably white, like the album cover art, or in shades of light green and blue), cowboy boots (shoutout to baby Taylor’s personalised pair which I have been obsessed with since 2006), blue jeans, hoop earrings and an armful of bracelets. For a color-first look, it’s all about lush summer green, baby blue and white; motif-wise, it’s time to bring back the butterflies and flowers.

Debut era DIY costume ideas

There are some great music video looks to recreate for this era too, from “Picture To Burn’s” black mini dress, gloves, and headband to “Our Song’s” baby blue prom dress.

What to wear to the Eras tour if you’re broke

If you don’t want to buy anything new, I understand — tour tickets are expensive! Thankfully, the colors and vibes of each era are really strong, so all you need to do is pull a monochromatic outfit in the album color of your choice, draw a lucky “13” on your hand, cover your face/hair/body in glitter, and you’re ready.

For a quick guide, here are the colors most commonly associated with each era/album:

Debut: mainly light green but also white and light blue

Fearless: gold

Speak Now: purple

Red: red (obviously)

1989: light blue

reputation: black and green

Lover: pastel pink, blue and purple

folklore: grey (silver if you’re going for a “mirrorball” look)

evermore: amber, beige and brown (occasionally a dark forest green)

Midnights: midnight blue

The Tortured Poets Department: white and black

What to wear to the Eras tour if you can’t pick a favorite era

I’ve changed my mind about which era I want to dress for about 13 times while writing this article. When in doubt, I think a sequin dress in your favorite color plus cowboy boots is always a winning option, and both are pieces you’re likely to wear again and again.

If you happen to own Taylor Swift merch, then go for that. There’s something very Debut Taylor about a tour T-shirt worn with a denim miniskirt or your favorite blue jeans.

Don’t forget your friendship bracelets

Inspired by a lyric from “You’re On Your Own Kid,” Swifties have started making and swapping friendship bracelets at the tour. What are you waiting for? Bead kits are readily available on Amazon, and quite a few crafty people over at Etsy have done the work for you if you’re in a time crunch.

See you there!

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Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

Today: an editor who makes $80,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on health insurance copay.

If you’d like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we’re not able to reply to every email.

Occupation: Editor
Industry: Nonprofit
Age: 46
Location: Washington, D.C.
Salary: $80,000
Assets: I have $76,000 in my bank account (savings/checking) and $582,000 in me and my husband’s investment portfolio. The bulk of that, $492,000, is from stocks and mutual funds, and the remainder is two retirement accounts; one has $8,600 in it and the other has $81,000.

My husband, J., and I each have our own bank accounts. We also have a joint account that currently has $19,000 in it; we use that account to pay for utilities, groceries, clothes for our 11-year-old daughter, pet care, medical bills, vacations and anything else that falls under the general umbrella of family expenses. I’ve put $2,500 into that account each month since we opened it almost 20 years ago, and J. contributes $3,400 a month. Anything that J. and I buy for ourselves — clothes, personal items, meals out, gifts for each other or our relatives — comes out of our own accounts.

I came into our relationship with significantly more savings, which allowed us to put down 20% when we bought our house 12 years ago. J., who has always earned more money than me (his annual salary is $191,900), pays our monthly mortgage of $3,431 out of his personal account.
Debt: Remaining mortgage: $256,557; home renovation loan from my parents: $42,000.
Paycheck amount (2x/month): $2,331
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses

Mortgage: $3,431
Loan payments: $833 to my parents for the home renovation loan.
Gas: $22
Electricity: $90
Water: $130
Internet: $80
Netflix: $6.99
Hulu/Disney Plus/ESPN Plus Bundle: $15.89
Patreon: $5
Recurring donations: $50 to two different abortion funds.
Phone: I’m on our friends’ family plan (if anyone asks, we’re cousins) and they never ask for reimbursement.
House cleaner: $260 (twice a month).
Hebrew tutor: $180 (our daughter is studying for her bat mitzvah).
FSA: $400
401(k) contribution: $1,770
Health insurance: $742

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
There was definitely an expectation for me to attend higher education. My mother has a master’s and my father has an M.D. For both me and my older sister, the question wasn’t would we go to college but where. My parents also made it clear that they would contribute the same amount of money to my education as they did to my sister’s education. She went to a private college and I graduated from an in-state university so that meant that when I applied to graduate school, there was enough money left to cover that tuition. That said, my parents also encouraged me to apply for merit-based scholarships, one of which helped pay for my first semester of grad school.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
My parents didn’t really talk about money that much when my sister and I were in elementary school but at some point, when we were in our early teens, my mother began having discussions with us about our family’s finances. Her family had held stocks and other assets — land, real estate etc. — for generations; as a result, she knew a lot more about investing and the stock market than my father, who grew up in a more middle-class household. My mother taught us about dividend reinvestment, diversified portfolios, market volatility and other aspects of investing in stocks and mutual funds. But while my mother was open with us about our family’s finances, she and my father thought that talking openly about money wasn’t polite. My parents were also very frugal — they bought a new car once during my childhood and drove that for over 30 years; we didn’t take extravagant vacations or live in a huge house — and as a result, I thought that all my friends came from similar backgrounds. It wasn’t until I was in college that I realized that not everyone grows up with generational wealth. In retrospect, it’s embarrassing that it took me that long to figure it out.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job that wasn’t babysitting or pet-sitting for neighbors was working in a small law office the summer before my senior year of high school. I got it because I wanted to earn my own money to buy clothes and CDs, and because at the time I wanted to be a lawyer.

Did you worry about money growing up?
I did, even though my parents never gave me a reason to worry about it. But I took books like A Little Princess and The Boxcar Children series way too seriously because I always had a fear that our family’s finances could change — for example, what if my dad lost his job? It wasn’t until I was in high school and my mother began to explain more about our finances that I stopped worrying so much.

Do you worry about money now?
Yes. I have chronic health issues that require a lot of surgeries, medications and doctors’ appointments to manage, and that’s made it difficult to consistently work full time. I spent a long time working as a freelancer because that made more sense with my health, but it also meant that I never had paid time off or sick leave, a 401(k), anything like that. And just taking care of myself is expensive. We have good health insurance through my husband’s job but because of how complex my issues are, there’s a lot that isn’t covered: treatments that are considered experimental, specialists that aren’t just out of network but out of the area. Because of the example my parents set, I’d probably live below my means even if I was healthy but knowing that, after our mortgage, my health is our largest yearly expense is a big reason that I worry about money. Based on the averages from the past six years, we spend $12,600 a year on out-of-pocket medical expenses, $3,200 a year on the tax-deductible health savings account, and $9,650 a year on health insurance.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I started paying my own rent, utilities etc. after I graduated from college. But because of my health my parents paid to keep me on their health insurance until I went to graduate school two years later and qualified for coverage through my school. After I graduated, they insisted on putting me back on their insurance until I had a full-time job with benefits. So I’d say that I wasn’t fully financially responsible for myself until I was 27. My parents did pay for my wedding; they asked me and J. to keep the expenses under $10,000, which we were happy to do. My parents still help me and J. out financially but now it’s for our daughter, M. (their only grandchild). They’ve been putting money in her 529 account for years, and that’s a big reason that the account currently has over $130,000 in it. She goes to sleepaway camp each summer and my parents insist on paying for that. They also cover our travel expenses whenever we visit them or do any kind of travel that involves my family (for instance, if we meet in my sister’s city for the holidays, my parents pay for our hotel room). Thanks to their generosity and my mother’s financial acumen, I have a very strong safety net. I know how fortunate this makes me and I don’t take it for granted.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
When each of my grandparents passed away, I received shares of stocks they had owned. And after I finished grad school my parents gave me a lump sum of $12,000, which I used to pay for rent, utilities and groceries until I found a job.

Day One

5:30 a.m. — Woken up by a severe muscle spasm in my right shoulder. I spontaneously developed spasms in my shoulders and neck about 15 years ago. They’re chronic so I’m used to the pain, but it’s still not fun. I get up and go to my favorite indoor pool for a half-mile swim. I swim three times a week, both because I like it and because exercise helps keep the pain manageable. (In addition to the spasms, I have chronic pain in my right wrist, which came out of nowhere when I was in college.) All city pools are free for D.C. residents, which is awesome.

8 a.m. — J. walks our two dogs while I go to my home office and check emails as I eat breakfast: Greek yogurt mixed with blueberries and granola. J. goes to work and M. pops her head into my office to announce her plan to stay in pajamas for as long as possible and read all morning. I try not to be too jealous since that’s what I’d like to do, too.

2 p.m. — Work is quiet, which is typical for a summer Friday. M. is going to sleepaway camp in a couple of weeks and has made a list of things she needs to buy, so we head out to the suburbs for some shopping.

5 p.m. — We find almost everything on her list: new clothes at Old Navy ($33.91) and Gap ($10.59), new Jibbitz at Crocs ($26.45), a battery-operated fan and more clothes at Target ($22.45), because M. keeps getting taller and outgrowing everything she owns, and a stationery set at Barnes & Noble ($18.95). I also buy an Auntie Anne pretzel ($5.29) for M. and a Starbucks chai latte ($5.38) for myself. $123.02

6:30 p.m. — Back home I wrap up work and feed the dogs, then throw together a tofu and pepper stir-fry for dinner. I find cooking relaxing and since I’m a vegetarian who occasionally eats fish, the whole family eats vegetarian at home. J. and M. clean up after dinner and we walk the dogs.

10:30 p.m. — After M. and I watch an Indigo Girls documentary on Netflix, I get ready for bed — brush teeth, wash face, apply Glow Recipe nighttime moisturizer — and decide which pain pills to take tonight. I take two medications every night to help me sleep and tonight I add a muscle relaxer to the mix. I fall asleep almost immediately.

Daily Total: $123.02

Day Two

8 a.m. — I wake up still in pain. We have friends coming over this afternoon so I decide to make chocolate babka. I learned how to make it during the early days of the pandemic and it’s become a family favorite. M. helps me mix the dough, then eats breakfast as I clean up the kitchen and put the dough aside to rise. J. gets up and he and M. walk the dogs while I start a load of laundry, take a shower and put on a cute sundress. The best piece of advice my mother ever gave me was that looking nice when you feel crappy can lift your mood, and that’s been true for me more often than not. I have some Diet Coke; it might be psychosomatic but sometimes I think the caffeine helps ease the spasm pain.

9 a.m. — I have a quick breakfast of cereal, milk and a banana. Inspired by last night’s documentary, M. and I decide to see if the Indigo Girls will be coming to the D.C. area anytime soon and find out that they’ll be here next month. J. decides that he’s not enough of a fan to go so I find two tickets for me and M. The tickets are $106 each and the fees add another $84. $295.76

10 a.m. — Time to run errands! J.’s brother and his wife just bought a house so we go to a home goods store in our neighborhood to buy them a housewarming present and a card ($27.03). Then it’s on to the farmers’ market for corn, mint, parsley, blueberries, tomatoes, radishes, garlic and scallions ($32.35). After that is the library; today they’re having a book and music sale where everything is $2. I buy two books and J. buys a stack of CDs ($22). $81.38

12 p.m. — The dogs jump all over us when we get home. I take them into the backyard and J. and M. leave again to go to an escape room in the suburbs, where they also have lunch; J. pays for the food and activity out of his own account. I take care of the laundry, do more babka prep and have a lunch of sliced peaches, yogurt, granola and a ton of water since it’s so hot outside. The spasms have subsided a little, which is a relief.

8 p.m. — Our friends have come and gone, we had a thrown-together dinner of leftovers and walked the dogs. M. asks for TV time and we tell her she can have an hour. The spasms are still pretty bad so J. and I go to our room so he can massage my shoulders with the massage gun he bought me for Hanukkah a few years ago. The massage leads to sex, which is a great way to end the day.

10:30 p.m. — After my regular nighttime routine, I take several drops of my THC/CBD tincture for the pain. Then I read in bed for a while before falling asleep.

Daily Total: $377.14

Day Three

7 a.m. — Wake up and take stock of the spasm situation. The pain has both spread and faded; now my neck and the base of my skull hurt, but it’s not as sharp as the past two days. I make a note to call my pain specialist tomorrow and make an appointment, although I’m not sure what treatment options are left — we’ve already tried dozens of medications, injections and more invasive treatments. I get out of bed and do my morning routine.

11:30 a.m. — M. and I pick up one of her friends and go to the pool. J. stays home to garden and read the paper like a stereotypical dad from the 1980s.

6 p.m. — M.’s friend is staying for dinner. J. and I feed the animals and then start our own meal prep. He makes salsa, I cook rice and we have black bean and rice bowls for dinner, with salsa, cheese and peppers. The girls say the bowls taste just like Chipotle, which I consider high praise.

7:30 p.m. — We’re almost out of produce and other random items so I run to the grocery store. On the sidewalk outside the store I chat with S., an unhoused man who’s been staying there for the past few months, and ask if he wants me to pick him up anything. He asks for bread, peanut butter, jelly, a few bottles of Gatorade and water, which I get along with the food for my family: berries, limes, tofu, pasta, shredded cheese, bananas, peppers, ice cream that’s on sale, black beans and a chocolate cake. $86.74

9:45 p.m. — Nighttime routine, including more THC/CBD tincture; I’m hoping this will be enough to finally calm down this spasm. I read in bed for about 15 minutes before falling asleep.

Daily Total: $86.74

Day Four

6 a.m. — The spasm is gone! I’m so happy to be at my normal level of pain that I practically leap out of bed. I feed the animals, let the dogs into the backyard, then do the rest of my morning routine before I start work in my home office. Since my pain tends to increase throughout the day, the mornings are my most productive time, so I feel fortunate that my employer is cool with my work hours basically being 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. I eat a breakfast of blueberries, yogurt and granola while I catch up on emails and the news.

8:15 a.m. — M. has a dentist appointment so we take the Metro to the dentist’s office. D.C. has a program where all kids under 18 can use the Metro system for free and my fare is covered by my employer. At the dentist, M. has to get two baby teeth pulled. All but $50 of the cost is covered by our dental insurance. $50

10:30 a.m. — Once we get home M. settles on the couch with the TV remote and an ice pack, and I go back to my home office. On an average week I go into my employer’s actual office once or twice but there’s flexibility in that; last week I worked an extra day in-office so that I could spend this whole week working from home.

1:45 p.m. — I receive a bill for an emergency room visit a couple of months ago, when I had severe pain in my kidneys and lower back. After, according to the statement, over $8,000 worth of testing and evaluation, the doctors discharged me without a diagnosis. With our insurance we owe $656.25, which is a hell of a lot better than it could be but still a major expense. $656.25

6 p.m. — J.’s working late so I feed the animals and make M. some very soft pasta for dinner. After she eats, I drop her off at a friend’s house for a sleepover.

7:15 p.m. — J. and I walk the dogs and talk about the hospital bill. We know how fortunate we are that we can absorb unexpected expenses like this and still have enough disposable income to buy things like concert tickets. At the same time, never knowing exactly how much each ER visit will cost is a constant source of stress; depending on what tests are ordered and how many doctors are called in to consult, they can run us anywhere from around $200 to over $1,000.

10 p.m. — Nighttime routine, this time without any extra pain meds on top of my usual ones. I’m living on the edge! Fall asleep after reading for half an hour.

Daily Total: $706.25

Day Five

5:50 a.m. — Wake up and go to the pool. Once I get home I feed the animals, put the dogs in the backyard, shower and then do the rest of my regular morning routine. I start work while eating a breakfast of yogurt, strawberries and granola. M.’s spending the day at her friend’s house so I have a very productive morning.

2:30 p.m. — One of J.’s closest friends has invited us to his daughter’s seventh birthday party this weekend. For her present, I order two books that M. loved at that age from our local bookstore. $12.70

6 p.m. — I pick M. up from her friend’s house. The girls are continuing the sleepover at our house so I chat with the other mom while M.’s friend gets her stuff together. J. gets home before us and feeds the animals, then I make teriyaki tofu for the first time while the girls set up M.’s room for the sleepover.

10 p.m. — Nighttime routine, read in bed for 20 minutes, pass out.

Daily Total: $12.70

Day Six

6:20 a.m. — I’m taking a few hours off this afternoon so I start work earlier than usual. Not too much came in after I logged off yesterday so I take advantage of the lull to prep my lunch, heating up leftover rice from last night with chopped garlic, sesame oil and olive oil, mixing in egg and pepper to make a dish that kind of resembles fried rice.

8 a.m. — J. and I walk the dogs after he eats breakfast. When we come home the girls are awake and ask if I can make eggs. After I do I notice that we’re running low on eggs and milk so I go to the grocery store to get those and the other food we’re running low on: cereal, strawberries, yogurt, granola, tortilla chips, ice cream, lemonade, bread and peanut butter. $79.46

12:10 p.m. — I wrap up work, the girls and I eat a quick lunch, and then we leave for the pool. After a lot of swearing and circling the block I finally find street parking near the pool ($4.60). It’s less crowded than the other day so although I usually don’t swim two days in a row, I take advantage of an empty lane and get my laps in. $4.60

3:30 p.m. — After the pool we drop M.’s friend off at her house and go home. I immediately jump on a call with my boss while M. studies Hebrew in preparation for her tutoring session tonight.

7 p.m. — After M.’s lesson, we have dinner: sautéed radishes, corn on the cob and fake meat. Dinner conversation revolves around M.’s bat mitzvah, which is about a year away. That sounds like a long time but there’s a lot she must do to get ready for it.

9:45 p.m. — Nighttime routine, then fall asleep almost as soon as I get into bed.

Daily Total: $84.06

Day Seven

7 a.m. — My happiness at sleeping in immediately evaporates when I realize that due to a water main break down the block, we have no water. J. talks with the repair guys and finds out that the break won’t be repaired until noon at the earliest. I feed the animals, then he and I walk the dogs. Once we’re home, we put all the ice cubes in our fridge into a pitcher so that there’ll be water for the animals and M.

8 a.m. — J. goes to the office and I start work, feeling a little bit guilty that the chaos of the morning has me logging in later than usual. I eat the same breakfast as yesterday because I am a boring creature of habit. M. sleeps late, too. After she wakes up and hears about the water situation, she decides to go to a friend’s house.

4 p.m. — The water’s back on! I celebrate by starting a load of laundry — I am perpetually surprised by how the three of us generate so much laundry each week — and then try to fix my ancient printer, which has apparently chosen today to finally die.

6:45 p.m. — M., J. and I decide to get takeout from our favorite Chinese place. When J. goes to pick up the order, he realizes that the food was accidentally charged to my dad’s credit card, which was stored as the default card on the restaurant’s ordering platform after my parents bought us dinner there during their last visit. I text my dad to warn him about the charge and tell him we’ll repay him; he replies that he’s happy to have bought us dinner, which is very sweet of him.

10:30 p.m. — I’m almost to the end of Cue the Sun! and really want to finish tonight but I’m too tired. It’ll have to wait until tomorrow.

Daily Total: $0

The Breakdown

Weekly Total $$ Spent: $1389.91
Food & Drink: $209.22
Entertainment: $317.76
Home & Health: $725.20
Clothes & Beauty $93.40
Transportation $4.60
Other $39.73

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Paulette M. Pagán got her first job at 15. As a kid, her parents taught her that to live a better life, she needed to work hard because “hard work pays off.” Over the next 20 years, Pagán dedicated herself to her career, becoming the first person in her family to go to law school, get published in a law journal, pass the bar, make partner at a law firm, and earn six figures. 

Though her parents gently and lovingly encouraged her to succeed, Pagán imposed high standards on herself — not only to make her family proud, but to provide for her family. They had left their lives behind in Puerto Rico to give her and her sister a chance at a better education and work opportunities in the contiguous U.S. 

Pagán isn’t alone. More than half of Latinas say they often feel pressure to provide for their loved ones at home or succeed in their jobs, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center report. As a result, Pagán endured an exhaustion like no other on her journey to become a lawyer. 

“At one point, I was going to law school full time, I had an internship at the prosecutor’s office three days a week, I worked at a gym, I babysat, and I also wrote at [the law school’s] law journal,” Pagán tells Refinery29 Somos. “I was in survival mode to get through it all.”

Celebrating our successes as Latina women is crucial and necessary. Yet it’s also critical to talk more openly about the weight and fatigue that come with being the first to navigate and assimilate in new spaces, whether it’s in education, entrepreneurship, finance, or other areas where we are often one of a few. 

“Being a Latina comes with a lot of beauty and color when it comes to our culture, but it also comes with a lot of inexplicable pressure, especially being the first,” explains Lupita Martínez, a licensed therapist based in California who specializes in first-gen clients and imposter syndrome. “In daily life, this may look like second-guessing what you say, being afraid of raising your hand or sharing your opinion, comparing yourself to your counterparts, feeling alone, or feeling anxious. Oftentimes, these feelings stop us from applying to jobs because we ‘aren’t good enough or ready enough,’ influences us to not ask for help, or creates this innate habit to overwork ourselves to the bone because, honestly, that’s what we’ve been taught.”

While Latines are making strides across sectors, a lack of representation can make these spaces lonely and challenging. In the U.S., Latines account for only 8% of professional degree holders, 5% of all lawyers, and roughly 6.9% of business owners. Among Latine investors, a third have non-retirement portfolios valued at less than $5,000 as they only started investing recently.

As Latinas attempt to break through U.S. culture — which values achievements and generational wealth — Martínez underscores that fear, self-doubt, and anxiety may also creep up as a result of Latine cultural expectations to continue to help the family. This may look like taking care of younger siblings, attending family gatherings, completing daily chores, or cooking, even while going to school full time or having other professional responsibilities. Neglecting to acknowledge the potentially draining nature of being a trailblazer can take a toll on you. 

“If you’re experiencing any of the above struggles that come with being the first but you don’t seek support or guidance, you have a long road ahead filled with worsening feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and self-doubt,” Martínez says. “Burnout, lack of boundaries, low energy, low libido, gastrointestinal issues, a compromised immune system, sleep disturbances, anxiety (social and general), extreme stress, depression, and so much more will likely be waiting on the other end of this long-term journey if we don’t take care of ourselves and prioritize our needs.”

For Latinas looking to manage the stress or exhaustion associated with being the first, Martínez advises four coping strategies: learn to self-regulate your emotions when entering spaces that make you feel like you don’t belong; reframe your goals from things you need to accomplish to things you want to accomplish; keep track of your wins to train your brain to recognize all that you can accomplish; and lastly, find community willing to support you and your academic, emotional, and professional goals. 

Somos interviewed four Latinas who are the firsts in their respective spaces on the challenges that come with their accolades. Here’s what they had to share. 

Sharina Maillo-Pozo, Dominican professor in Athens, GA

I was the first in my family to pursue a doctoral degree, which came with lots of satisfaction, but also pressure to succeed. One of the most significant was being constantly probed about my career choice by family members who did not understand the reasons for taking a professional path that is not lucrative and requires lots of time away from loved ones. The criticism from my family was more a symptom of their concern about my mental, physical, and financial stability. I wish I had understood earlier that what seemed like criticism from my family was their way of caring and being concerned about me. That would have avoided many years of feeling alone and resenting them. 

Being the first has come with lots of pressure, some of them, or perhaps most of them, self-imposed. In everything I do, I perform at my best, which is never enough, and that can be exhausting. Perhaps the most challenging moments have been seeing how institutions keep reminding us, first-generation scholars, that we are, at times, not enough. 

I was honored to have amazing mentors during my undergraduate and graduate journeys who were aware of the many burdens that first-generation college students endure. With their support and guidance, I have been able to navigate the torrid waters of academia. I have also been privileged to find friends and colleagues at my current and previous workplaces who have always supported me, rooted for me, and walked alongside me in every step of my career.

So in the end, I have never been alone on this journey. Yes, I was the first in my family to take this road, yet I was never as alone as I thought. Yes, being the first is exhausting, but it is also a gift, an opportunity that the women in my family who came before me did not have. Finding and creating communities of support is vital. All can be better if, as Lorgia García-Peña has indicated in Community as Rebellion: A Syllabus for Surviving Academia as a Woman of Color, we move away from the logic of “the one” and recognize that working together will be much more effective than seeing each other as competition.

Michelle Delgado, Mexican-American business owner in Ridgewood, NY 

I was the first in my family to graduate college, leave Los Angeles, and start my own business. I was raised by my widowed grandmother, who worked every day of her life to support my great grandmother, my aunts, my mother, and me. Everyone in my family finished high school then jumped straight into full-time work to help the family financially. I did the same but also took classes at a local community college here and there. Eight years of off and on community college, and I was eventually eligible to transfer to a university. I juggled my full-time job with full-time school, and I graduated the summer after my grandma died. 

Being able to share my college graduation with my family was an amazing feeling. Also, I discovered the amount of hustle I had in me by juggling a pretty demanding day job while taking on full-time courses. It was a huge challenge for me, but I did it. After I graduated, I traded school for a side hustle on Etsy. I eventually made enough money to quit my day job in foreign trade support for Bank of America. I was so happy to quit. 

Soon after, I moved to New York and got a role at Etsy’s headquarters, eventually helping launch Etsy Wholesale. I fell in love with that job and would probably still be there if I wasn’t laid off in 2017, two weeks before I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter. At the time, my friend Lisa was in a similar situation. Fast forward three months later, and we opened our store Stay Forever. We scraped together our savings and signed a lease. No business plan, no financing, just the skills we picked up from our previous jobs and the desire to be our own bosses and raise our kids.  

Imposter syndrome is real. I struggle with it to this day, not feeling worthy of any of my successes or feeling like my accomplishments aren’t good enough. Not having any guidance was a real difficult challenge for me to overcome. I would hope that the journey gets easier as Latinas continue to support each other. If every Latina took a younger Latina under her wing, imagine where we’d be. If you find your calling, figure out a way to make it work and don’t let anyone, including yourself, tell you that you can’t.

Mabel Nuñez, Dominican investing educator in New York City

As a first-born daughter and a Dominican immigrant raised in the Bronx, I’ve experienced a lot of firsts: First in my family to go away to college and dorm at a university, first in my family to complete a four-year degree and graduate with a bachelor of science, first in my family to invest, and first in my family to quit a formal job and start a business full time.

One of the most critical challenges I faced was resistance from family since a lot of these firsts were very scary. For example, when I got my acceptance letter for college to go away my dad refused at first. I was only 17 years old when I graduated from high school and going away was unheard of in my family. However, he eventually said yes thanks to a guidance counselor who convinced him. I am so grateful for that because those four years were truly transformative in my life. 

I’ve experienced a lot of shame and intimidation because I was doing things no one in my family had ever done. These emotions were so big at the beginning that I refused to share my plans, successes, or goals with the people close to me. My family didn’t know about my business until I had already been doing it for a few years, and they only found out through word of mouth.

When I decided to quit my full-time job to pursue my business, I was terrified of telling my parents. Although I had prepared to the fullest to take that step, I actually quit before I told them because I didn’t want their apprehension to stop me. Eventually, they supported me and now are my biggest fans as I teach others how to invest through Girl$ on The Money. 

With investing, I didn’t want to come off as bragging, or I didn’t want my family to think I felt I was better than them because I was in the stock market, so that’s also something I kept away from them due to shame at the beginning. As a Latina, our culture typically encourages us to save money under the mattress. That’s one of the reasons I felt so ashamed when I started to break away from that norm and started to invest my money. It’s up to us to break the cycle. I was changing the generational narrative of my family in a way that had not been done before and that filled me up with hope and pride. 

Paulette M. Pagán, Puerto Rican partner at a law firm in Washington, D.C.

I am the first in my family to go to law school, make partner at a law firm, get published in a law journal, and first to earn six figures. I had to work two jobs to save enough money to get myself to and pay my way through law school. There’s a lot of stress that’s involved, and one of the biggest challenges for me was navigating the financial aspect of paying for school, taking out six-figure student loans, and working and paying my expenses, all while trying to excel academically. 

Many people who go to law school are wealthy and have family members who can prepare them for law school by sharing their personal experience and supporting them financially, but I was figuring it all out on the fly. I needed to make sure I did everything I could to ultimately land a job to be able to pay for student loans.

I had to sacrifice being able to go out to eat with friends. Since I went to law school in Boston, I couldn’t afford to travel back home as often as I wanted. I spent Thanksgiving by myself at one point. That stress takes a toll on you physically and mentally. 

One of my coping strategies was to remind myself that these sacrifices were all temporary. I would ground myself by asking myself, “Why am I doing this in the first place?” I recognized that I put myself in a tough position to get to the point where I’m at now, where I don’t have to struggle and worry about the future. 

When I felt overwhelmed, I would take a step back and remind myself that not everything needed to be figured out at that moment. I gave myself grace for the questions I didn’t have answers to. I went to professional networking events that were open to students so I could learn what it’s like to be a lawyer, learn about the different types of law, and seek out mentorship. 

My advice to other Latinas is to keep asking questions and learn as much as possible. Learn things for yourself, so you can then pass that information along to someone else that’s coming up in their career. It’s a total gamechanger and accelerates your peace and excitement for life. 

Interviews have been edited for clarity and brevity.

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Free People may be best known for conquering the easy, breezy boho glam corner of the market and upgrading our gym kits, but did you know that the brand also has a stellar denim line-up? Sitting underneath Free People’s own We The Free line, they’ve covered all bases — from tried-and-true straight-leg cuts and classic indigo blue washes, to statement silhouettes and unique colorways. Most notably, just this year alone they’ve popularized the ever-divisive ‘barrel’ or ‘horseshoe’ silhouette, the tapered, paper bag style Lotus jean, and airy, so-wide-leg-it’s-almost-a-skirt Dawn On Me jeans. Even better, they’re offering designer denim quality but not at designer denim prices: Pretty much all their offerings are under $200.

In terms of size and fit Free People also ticks all the right boxes. If you’re petite and endlessly have to hem your jeans, you’ll be glad to know that We The Free offers almost all its bestselling designs with a short 32-inch inseam, whereas all our tall friends out there can opt for a longer, 34-inch inseam (so you can avoid that awkward ankle gap).

Personally, it’s We The Free’s CRVY fit collection that has been a denim-sent savior (all the same designs as the regular lineup; no sad jeggings with little support and structure here!). Made for sizes 24 to 35, the CRVY pieces are designed with a 12-inch difference between the hips and waist, as opposed to the industry standard 10-inch. Perfect for navigating the too-tight-waist, baggy-bottom dilemma I often face when it comes to jeans.

Not sure where to start your Free People denim shop? We’ve rounded up nine jeans we think are worthy of best-seller status.

We The Free Pandora Wide-Leg Jeans, $188

The bigger, the better when it comes to these billowy, extra-wide jeans. Instead of looking like you’re swamped with fabric, the waistline is fitted just like a classic pair and hugs your bum, whilst the nifty pleating draws attention down the leg; looking more like a flowy denim skirt than pants. For any petite shoppers, be sure to click through the different color options — only some come in the short inseam option.

We The Free Lotus Jeans, $128

Imagine a paper bag, tapered at the top and bottom; flowy in the middle. Now translate that into denim and you get the Lotus jeans, which are way more stylish and flattering than I’ve made them sound — especially thanks to those patch-style front pockets.

These are the jeans I reach for the most often, simply because they are so comfortable. They’re the ideal middle ground between my off-duty sweats and ‘real clothes’. I’ll be swapping out my linen pants for Lotus jeans once the temperatures drop for easy, but put-together WFH ‘fits.

We The Free Good Luck Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans, $98

The 1990s had the mom jeans, the 2010s the boyfriend, the 2020s have the barrel — it’s a truth universally acknowledged that relaxed styles of denim always prevail. The barrel silhouette makes so much sense for our Western-obsessed style sensibilities and thrifty, vintage-loving, second-hand shopping habits.

We The Free CRVY Vintage High-Rise Flare Jeans, $78

Slim fitting in all the right places and with just the right amount of flare, this curve-hugging style doesn’t just look super flattering, they’re also super comfortable to wear. The medium-weight denim is thick enough to offer support, but has enough stretch to move with you and not restrict. Plus, as part of the CRVY line, the back rises slightly when you sit down, which means they don’t gape when you sit down.

We The Free Libre Wide-Leg Jeans, $98

Wide-leg jeans don’t always have to mean flowing fabric from each leg, as the Libre pants prove. These are more on the refined, straight-leg end of the denim spectrum, but with all the stretch that we’ve come to expect from and love about Free People denim.

We The Free Jayde Cord Flare Jeans, $98

Nothing says fall fashion like corduroy and now you can switch your favorite flared denim style for its cord iteration, thanks to We The Free.

We The Free CRVY High-Rise Vintage Straight Jeans, $78

If you’re not ready to let go of slim-fitting, skinny-style denim, may I suggest We The Free’s Vintage Straight-Leg Jeans? They will fulfill all your body-fitting and bootie-hugging needs, but with a little more stretch and give for all-day comfort (plus, without any of the too-tight, knee- and ankle-bunching tendencies of skinny jeans).

We The Free Tinsley Baggy High-Rise Jeans, $98

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect dark blue wash, straight-leg, vintage jeans to wear with ballet flats, a cropped knit and trench coat (I’m always very inspired by Jeanne Damas for fall fashion). Unfortunately, everything I’ve found whilst thrifting has been teeny, tiny and won’t even go over my thighs, let alone my bum and waist; and is way too long in the leg (imagine a kid trying on their mom’s pants and trailing around the house vibes). The Tinsley Baggy High-Rises in the short in-seam are satisfying my cravings — French girl fall chic, here I come!

We The Free Final Countdown Cuffed Low-Rise Jeans, $128

Remember when it wasn’t considered cool to cuff your jeans? Luckily, we’re over all that malarkey — especially when it comes to these bad boys. Just look at that statement cuff! These definitely run big, fyi, so I would suggest sizing down for the low-slung hip look.

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