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The weather may be unpredictable in Copenhagen right now, but one thing has remained constant throughout Fashion Week: the haircuts.
As expected, Denmark's best-dressed attendees have turned out with an array of enviable cuts, from razor-sharp bobs and sculptural Koroba braids to accidentally perfect, '70s-inspired layers.
Ahead, discover the standout haircut trends emerging from Copenhagen Fashion Week — and wherever you are in the world, there's plenty of inspiration to take to your next salon appointment.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.Butterfly layers are taking over Copenhagen Fashion Week. They look especially pretty when styled with volume and movement, so consider investing in a hot brush, like the Shark Glossi 2-in-1 Hot Tool and Air Glosser. Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty ImagesSoft, invisible layers give this Copenhagen Fashion Week guest's waves a cascading effect. Recreate the look with a large-barrel curling wand, like the ghd Chronos Curve Grand Curling Iron, and always prep hair with a heat protectant first. Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty ImagesPolly Newman’s blunt bob, complete with shorter face-framing pieces, is a masterpiece by Elliot Bute at renowned London hair salon Hershesons. Photo: Moritz Scholz/Getty ImagesCelebrity hairstylist Lorraine Dublin predicted we’d see lots more natural afro hair in longer or medium lengths this summer, and this guest’s hair is a beautiful example. Photo: Moritz Scholz/Getty ImagesThe undone tousles give this blunt lob a shaggy, lived-in effect. Recreate the look with straighteners, like the ghd Sculpt Interactive Hair Straightener, which can straighten, wave, and curl hair without heat damage. Photo: Moritz Scholz/Getty ImagesMarianne Theodorsen's jaw-grazing blunt bob looks just as chic tucked behind the ears as it does framing the face. The cowgirl copper color is the perfect finishing touch. Photo: Moritz Scholz/Getty ImagesThis guest's Koroba braids are gorgeous, complemented by two face-framing pieces that create the illusion of sculptural curtain bangs. Photo: Moritz Scholz/Getty ImagesInês Isaías proves the bixie — a hybrid of a bob and a pixie cut — isn't going anywhere. For extra polish, slick back the face-framing pieces and tuck them neatly behind your ears. Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty ImagesIf you’re tempted to go shorter but aren’t quite ready for a bob, consider the lob — a longer take on the classic cut. Ask your hairstylist for a blunt finish to make hair appear fuller. Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty ImagesThe slanted side part and long braids are stunning on this guest, proving that the smallest details can make the biggest impact. Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty ImagesThis choppy pixie cut on Irina Kro Eicke looks effortlessly cool, with micro-layers throughout the lengths adding volume, movement, and that perfect swishy finish. Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty ImagesIf you need convincing to get a bob, let this be your sign. This face-framing cut with a deep center part feels fresh and modern, with a shape that will grow out seamlessly. Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty ImagesNo hair accessories to hand? No problem. Have fun with your braids and tie them into cutesy bows, like this guest outside Renè. Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty ImagesThe dainty bows! The slightly parted micro-bangs! Evie Mills shows just how versatile a mid-length cut can be with this playful yet polished style. Photo: Moritz Scholz/Getty ImagesJeanette Friis Madsen's grown-out bangs channel Jane Birkin vibes, while subtle layers enhance her natural waves. Photo: Christian Vierig/Getty Images
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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.
This week: An operations manager working in technology who makes $210,000 per year and spends some of it on a coffee grinder.
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This diary was written in 2026. This is a follow-up diary, you can read the previous diary here.
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Occupation: Operations Industry: Technology Age: 38 Location: San Francisco, CA Salary: $210,000 salary plus $63,000 annual bonus (30%), and 5% ownership in RSUs. Joint Income/Financial Setup: My husband, W.’s salary: $400,000 base plus $600,000 bonus (bonus is the average he has gotten over the last five years). We have a joint account that all of our expenses come out of. Assets: $8M ($1.2M 401K, $4M investment accounts, $800K in various bank accounts, $2M equity in home). Debt: $1M (loan on house) Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $6,200 (and W’s is $11,000) Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing Costs: Mortgage: $5,500 Loan Payments: $0 Health Insurance: $200 Internet/Cable/Security System: $400 Water/Sewer: ~$250 (depends on the month) Electricity: ~$650 Garbage: $40 Netflix: $0 (share with family) Cell Phone: $150 Spotify: $20 GCloud: $1.99 iCloud Storage: $2.99 Disney+: $7 (share with our families) Donations: $500 (Planned Parenthood, Red Cross, American Heart Association, Habitat for Humanity, etc.) Preschool: $3,000 (will be increasing to $5,000 for K. in the fall) O.’s extra-curricular activities: $500 Undergraduate Donation: ~$2,000 annually Homeowner’s Insurance: $2500 annually Car Insurance: $2250 annually Car Registration: $750 annually Property Taxes: $29,000 annually Amazon Prime: $119 annually Chase Credit Card Fees: $795 annually Amex Credit Card Fees: $795 annually
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. From a very young age, my parents were clear that college was an expectation, not a question. Education was a central value in our household and academic success was strongly emphasized. My parents paid for my undergraduate education and expenses. While I considered getting an MBA and applied, I never followed through on enrolling after deferring.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances? Due to my dad’s career, money was discussed openly and regularly in our household. My parents were transparent that we had a privileged upbringing. My parents both came from families where they didn’t have to budget or track spending, and I had a similar upbringing, as well. One consistent principle they emphasized was avoiding debt whenever possible and prioritizing financial stability and long-term planning.
What was your first job and why did you get it? My first job was a summer internship in college at a financial services firm in NYC. I got the internship to build my resume. My parents paid for my summer expenses in NYC. I was a Resident Assistant in college and got paid for it. I invested the income from it and we ended up using it as part of our down payment for the house we bought in San Francisco.
Did you worry about money growing up? No. My parents consistently provided for everything we needed and most things we wanted. We were aware that we grew up with the ability to not have to worry about our financial position. I got quite a bit of flak about calling myself upper middle class in my previous diary. I stand by that assessment — I compare myself to those who grew up in the same city and my neighbors. In the area where we lived, we were upper middle class, but for the rest of the broader US or global population, we were in the top 1%.
Do you worry about money now? We don’t track our expenses or worry about what we are spending daily. In my last diary, I was concerned about the future, but over the last two years, we have significantly increased our assets. I worked for a tech company that had a successful IPO, and the company my husband works at has paid him well in the 10 years he has been there. Also, he has a large upside if he continues to perform well. If my husband and I maintain our current lifestyle, with minimal creep, we will be more than fine for the future.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net? I started being self-sufficient when I graduated from college and started my first professional full-time job. My parents and W.’s parents have been our safety nets since we graduated from college, but we were fortunate to never rely on them. Over time, we have noticed that my parents have been more generous with us than W.’s parents.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain. I received passive income in college to pay for expenses outside of room and board and tuition. This worked out to be about $20,000 over four years of college. My parents contributed $20,000 for my wedding, W.’s parents contributed $20,000 as well, and the remaining we covered. When our son was born, my parents gave me $25,000 and we used that to start a 529 for our son.
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Day One: Sunday
6 a.m. — My son, O., wakes up and calls for my husband, W., so he gets him up. He then comes to my side of the bed to wake me up. We have about 15 people from W.’s company (10 adults and five kids) coming over for brunch and it’s all O. is talking about.
9 a.m. — We have spent the last three hours prepping for the brunch — asparagus frittata, chocolate chip pancake, breakfast potatoes, croissants with lavender blueberry jam, citrus salad, bacon, granola parfaits, cinnamon rolls, and fresh fruit. O. helps me squeeze orange juice for the mimosas. $353.73
10 a.m. — Folks have started arriving and we spend the next three-ish hours entertaining the kids and adults. It was great meeting everyone and their families. O. does an incredible job being a gracious host and sharing his toys. I’m super thankful that we are left with minimal leftovers.
1 p.m. — O., W., and I tidy up the living room, dining room, and kitchen. O. goes down for his afternoon nap. He only naps on the weekends since he is at home. At school, he suffers from FOMO and doesn’t nap anymore.
3 p.m. — O. wakes up from his nap and we decide to go to the park since it’s such a beautiful day in SF. It is over 70 degrees and the park isn’t too far. O. and I ride his scooter to the park while W. stays home to work.
5 p.m. — At the park, we happen to run into one of his classmates from preschool. I love when we see friends there because O. then hangs out with them rather than asking me to play with him the entire time. The other kid’s parents and I socialize and watch the kids play together.
6 p.m. — O., W., and I head to O.’s swimming class. O. has a ritual where he goes to the local taqueria for tacos and then goes to his swimming lesson. W. gets some fajitas but I’m not craving Mexican food and skip. O. has been taking swimming lessons for a year and we have seen a huge improvement in his abilities over that time. $57
8 p.m. — We return home after the lesson. We get O. ready for bed — shower, brush teeth, stories, night light/white noise, and he’s in his bed.
10 p.m. — I watch an episode of TheReal Housewives of SLC and sleep. It’s always interesting to watch the show when it was shot sometimes a year plus ago, and you know that some major things have happened since then.
Daily Total: $410.73
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Day Two: Monday
7 a.m. — Ever since the time change, O. sleeps in and wakes up an hour later. W. is already downstairs making coffee for himself. O. grabs me from bed and we head downstairs to get ready for preschool. I make him some eggs, a toasted bagel, bacon, and cut him some berries. He eats most of it and gets ready for school.
9 a.m. — I drop O. off at school and head to my desk to work. When I come home, I notice that W. has left for work. I’m lucky to have a job that is fully remote/virtual. It gives me the flexibility to start working after I drop off O. at school without having to worry about a commute to an office.
10 a.m. — I try to catch up on any open items that might have come in over the weekend. I shared my Calendly link for the various candidate interviews I have and ended up with over 20 hours of interviews this week. Definitely didn’t do a good job spacing out the interviews.
12 p.m. — I have a new hire starting today and after his orientation this morning, he is finally logged in, so I meet with him and walk him through his onboarding plan, including his 30/60/90 day expectations. I’m excited to have him after three months of searching for the right person. The two of us end our call and join our weekly team meeting. I quickly make some noodle soup with tofu, veggies, noodles, and coconut peanut broth I have in the fridge. I eat it during the team meeting.
3 p.m. — I spend the afternoon doing more interviews. I’m thankful when a candidate sends me a message that she needs to reschedule. I meet with my new hire again to check in on how onboarding is going. I’m blown away by how quickly he is picking things up and how much of a self-starter he is.
5 p.m. — I pick up O. from school and take him to his soccer class. O. is eating a sandwich in the car. On our way to soccer, we have a bathroom emergency so need to make a pit stop at home. We’re a few minutes late to soccer but since it is our first class of the season, the class hasn’t started yet. Also, this is toddler soccer so no sweat.
6 p.m. — O. finishes soccer and heads to the playground attached to the field. W. is waiting for us there. W. brought some pizza from a local restaurant we like. I say bye to O. so I can head to my monthly book club. $62
9 p.m. — The book club is at another lady’s house and she has a beautiful view of the SF skyline. The entire time we are at the book club, I’m gawking at both how clear it is and that I can see everything from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Palace of Fine Arts to Alcatraz from her living room. I like that this book club is low pressure — I didn’t get to read the book from last month. I bring along a bottle of red wine, crackers, and cheese. $46.50
10 p.m. — I watch an episode of Love is Blind and sleep. Again, it is already public knowledge that one of the couples is divorced after only being married for a few months, so it feels anti-climactic to watch the wedding when I know what has happened. As you will probably see, I watch a lot of reality TV. I feel like my life is so boring and mundane that I love seeing the drama that reality TV has.
Daily Total: $108.50
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Day Three: Tuesday
7 a.m. — Similar morning ritual every day — O. wakes up and grabs me. We head downstairs and I make him a croissant sandwich filled with Nutella and fruit. He eats most of it, plays a bit with his Lego, and gets ready for school.
9 a.m. — I drop O. off at school and head to my desk to work. I stop by the plant store to buy three plants, and the grocery store too to buy some more fruit. I don’t have enough time before my first meeting to buy everything on the grocery list. I spend the first hour checking in with my new hire and making sure he has everything he needs. I check my email and see that we got into one of the private schools we applied for. It’s a relief to know that we don’t have to move. $72
10 a.m. — I get an alert from one of our employees that the direct deposits for the entire team didn’t get deposited today. I start scrambling with various team members to get an update and resolve the issue, while also attending an interview where the candidate is doing a presentation.
12 p.m. — We still haven’t resolved the payroll issue. Multiple members of the leadership team have weighed in on this and the Slack thread is now 76 messages over two hours. There isn’t a DRI [Designated Responsible Individual] who owns this. I’m going to let someone else dictate messaging here since I don’t agree with the decision being made. I make a quick egg scramble with veggies and toast. I’m trying to be good about incorporating more protein into my meals.
3 p.m. — I spend the afternoon doing more interviews. I’m monitoring responses from some of the folks who didn’t get paid, and understandably they’re very agitated.
5 p.m. — Before heading to pick up O. from school, I send a message to the team saying I think the responses to the employees lack empathy and we should regroup in the morning to talk about how we respond.
6 p.m. — O. and W. eat dinner. I didn’t have much time to prep today so I make some ravioli with pesto, veggies, and chicken for dinner. I decide to go for a run so I can clear my head. The weather in SF is beautiful in the spring. I’m loving that it’s brighter in the evenings.
8 p.m. — W. folds laundry, while I do dishes from dinner. O. is playing with his Lego. O. goes to bed, and I message a friend who I’m supposed to grab lunch with tomorrow about when and where we’re meeting. I don’t have the energy tonight to watch TV, so I call it an early night.
Daily Total: $72
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Day Four: Wednesday
7 a.m. — Similar morning ritual every day — O. wakes up and grabs me. We head downstairs and I make him a pulled pork sandwich with Hawaiian rolls and cucumbers. O. isn’t always into breakfast food so sometimes I make him lunch/dinner meals for breakfast. He eats most of it, plays a bit with his Magna-Tiles, and gets ready for school. On Wednesdays, he doesn’t like the lunch his school provides him so I make him a deli sandwich with turkey, salami, and sopressata on Dave’s Killer Bread.
9 a.m. — I drop O. off at school and head to my desk to work. I stop by the dry cleaners to pick up W.’s shirts ($22) and go to Trader Joe’s to buy our weekly groceries ($147.52). I also happen to go to Whole Foods to buy coffee for W. ($52.61). I liked this Whole Foods since they have a coffee grinder. Only to find out that they got rid of it as well, so I will now have to buy a coffee grinder. I spend the first hour checking in with my new hire and making sure he has everything he needs for the day. $222.13
10 a.m. — I spend the next two hours conducting interviews for candidates. I used to try to mute my Slack and email notifications, but have realized it makes me miss supporting my team. I find it so hard to be present during an interview while also ensuring the broader business has the support they need for escalations.
12 p.m. — I meet a friend, M., for lunch. It’s beautiful weather and we sit outside. I get a plate with rice, beans, salsa, avocados, and a yummy chipotle sauce. They have a delicious watermelon agua fresca I usually get but I have been trying to cut down on my sugar and lately haven’t been craving anything sweet. I have a great time catching up with my friend. She updates me on her work, personal life, and job search. She just ran an ultramarathon, so I hear all about that. We used to work together about 10 years ago, and she is one of my closest confidantes. In a remote work environment, I haven’t been able to make the same quality of friends as when I was in an office. $32.67
3 p.m. — I spend the afternoon doing more interviews. In between interviews, I help review some SOPs my team created, provide feedback on some open items and start creating a product request I have for our Engineering Team.
5 p.m. — I meet one more time with my new hire to check in, answer any questions, and give him some context about the meetings he will have tomorrow. W. comes home and we catch up about our days before heading to pick up O. from school. I also buy a De’Longhi burr coffee grinder. $119.95
6 p.m. — O. and W. eat dinner. I made a rack of ribs and grilled some corn for them. I head out to an art gallery opening I got tickets for. I meet a friend who is joining me. The wife is a painter while the husband is the musician. It’s really nice to see both together and how each of their works ties together.
9 p.m. — I head home after the event and O. is already asleep. W. is working in his office so I pop in to say hi. I appreciate that O. and W. cleaned up after dinner, started the dishwasher, and swept the floors so I don’t have any household tasks I need to do. I watch an episode of Shark Tank. I like all of the new guest judges. It reminds me that I couldn’t be an entrepreneur. I enjoy being a cog in the machine at a company.
Daily Total: $374.75
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Day Five: Thursday
7 a.m. — Similar morning ritual every day — O. wakes up and grabs me. We head downstairs and he just wants the leftovers from yesterday night’s dinner: ribs and corn. He finishes it all and asks for more. I don’t have more so I offer him other options and he picks eating strawberries while playing with his cars. I make my tea for the morning and get ready for drop-off.
9 a.m. — I check the portal and find out that W. got into another school. This school is low on our list, so we still prefer the one we heard back from on Tuesday. I cancel my morning check-in with my new hire, so I can spend some focused time on creating the product request before my first candidate interview.
10 a.m. — I spend the next two hours conducting interviews for candidates. I get alerted that one of the people who did not get paid wants to set up time with me to chat. She says she is available at 12 p.m., which is perfect since it’s when I’m free as well.
12 p.m. — I speak to the person who didn’t get paid. She asks me if I’m confident that she will get paid tomorrow. I’m transparent with her that I confirmed with the vendor that she will be and we should definitely check in tomorrow to ensure that it happened. She is much more understanding than I would be if I didn’t get paid, so I appreciate it. I eat my leftover rice plate after I hang up with her before my 12:30 p.m. meeting. I log into the portal a final time and find out that we got into the last two schools. We feel so fortunate to have so many choices and need to spend the next few days assessing our options.
3 p.m. — I spend the afternoon having our weekly meetings. We have one with cross-functional partners. We have our team meeting as well. I check in with the team and make sure I address any questions or concerns they have. They remind me of a couple of open projects that they need my guidance on, so I provide real-time responses. My team is great at staying on top of things and does an incredible job with all of the moving pieces we have.
5 p.m. — I do my daily check-in with my new hire. W. comes home with O. and I make them dinner. Tonight is chicken burritos with veggies, Spanish rice, and black beans. O. likes them deconstructed so he can do it himself. W. actually uses a soft taco-size tortilla since it makes it more manageable for him to hold it. We spend the rest of the evening before bedtime doing puzzles, painting some papers with watercolors, and listening to stories on Alexa.
9 p.m. — O. goes to sleep and I get ready for bed as well. I spend an hour reading the book for my book club, All The Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman. I can’t say I’m surprised this was the pick since we are all mothers! This book is great. It’s an easy read and the main character is everything I strive not to be as a mother. I start getting tired so I call it a night around 10:30 p.m.
Daily Total: $0
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Day Six: Friday
7 a.m. — Similar morning ritual every day — O. wakes up and grabs me. We head downstairs and he eats hash browns, scrambled eggs, toast, and some sliced oranges. Today our cleaning lady comes, so O. is responsible for putting all his toys away before school. On Fridays, he does not like the lunch his school provides him, so I make him spinach ravioli in pesto sauce and put it into a thermos. I appreciate that the school is open to me providing lunch on days he doesn’t like what is on the menu.
9 a.m. — I spend the morning in meetings. I’m glad this super heavy meeting week is coming to an end. We have our hour-long weekly business review, followed by a meeting with the product/eng team on priorities. I spend the next two hours in candidate interviews and responding to Slack and email escalations. Our cleaning lady has a key to the house so she lets herself in at some point. $140
12 p.m. — I take a quick break to go get my car washed and a walk around the neighborhood while it is being done. $50
1 p.m. — I spend the afternoon trying to get organized for next week — determining any open items that I need to close out on for today, prioritizing what I need to work on for next week and updating my various weekly 1:1s with my direct reports about what projects they will need to work on. I take a break to eat some fried rice with tofu that I make.
5 p.m. — W. comes home with O. and we go to a local Italian place for dinner. Friday is a night I try not to cook and we usually go to a restaurant. We order a mushroom pasta, lasagna and a lamb ragu pasta. $117
8 p.m. — O. goes to bed and I need to respond to some emails and text messages from friends. I try so hard to put my phone away, but randomly I will notice I’m doom scrolling. I spend a little time reading my book as well before calling it a night early at 9:45 p.m.
Daily Total: $307
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Day Seven: Saturday
7 a.m. — O. wakes up and jumps into our bed to shake W. awake. After some silly games like I Spy, we all head downstairs to start our morning.
8 a.m. — W. and O. usually go to get bagels and the farmers’ market. They each get a bagel with butter and a side of pastrami ($14) and buy some fruit from the farmers’ market ($16). I decide to skip today so I get some things done at home. $30
10 a.m. — O. is back home and anxiously awaiting for his friends to arrive for his playdate. Unfortunately, his friends are late and we end up playing tag on the street while waiting for them to arrive. They arrive around 10:30.
12 p.m. — The five kids have a blast playing with the trucks, trains, and other toys we have at our house. The moms hang out on the couch just catching up. All of the kids are going to start Kindergarten in fall, so we spend a majority of the time discussing where we got in and what we anticipate doing. We all eat spaghetti and meatballs with a choice of berries and cucumber or carrots for lunch.
2 p.m. — All the kids leave, we clean up and O. takes his nap for the next 90 minutes. I prep for the crispy pan pizza I’m making for dinner and rest for a bit as well.
4 p.m. — After O. wakes up, I take him to get his hair cut. After over five years, I have finally talked him into going to the salon. I was doing a terrible job with the razor and I’m so happy to have a professional cut his hair. $47
5 p.m. — I put the pizza in the oven and spend the time while it is in the oven to power wash the stairs. It feels so satisfying to see the stairs free of dirt and moss. The pizza comes out delicious and golden brown. I serve everyone some pizza. I go back to power washing after dinner.
8 p.m. — O. starts complaining that he is itchy. I assume it is from the haircut even though we rinsed off after the haircut. After almost 90 minutes of stalling, he finally falls asleep in his bed.
10 p.m. — I watch the reunion episode of Love is Blind (season 10). W. and I try to talk about which school we like. Our top two schools are in opposite directions from where we live, so logistically the same one is more academically driven, which is the one W. prefers, and I prefer the other one because it seems more like a community. We’re at an impasse and have another 48 hours to decide. I get tired and go to bed.
Daily Total: $77
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The Breakdown
Conclusion: I realized that while I didn’t have any major big-ticket purchases, I had a lot of everyday purchases and spending to maintain our household. In my previous diary, I booked travel and a trip, which I considered our big-ticket item. It felt like a good mix of time alone, time with friends and family, and time running errands. I feel like our family spending is mostly around how to make my family and my life easier and run smoothly.
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NEW YORK – April 1992: Puerto Rican entertainer Iris Chacon poses for a portrait backstage in April 1992 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Catherine McGann/Getty Images)
I’ve always been fascinated by showgirls, often exploring the history of Latin American and Caribbean vedettes and their cultural influence throughout my journalism career. I think it’s because, from as early as I can remember, they made me rethink so much of what I had been taught about beauty and freedom. Growing up as a shy, modest, chubby girl in the 1990s and early 2000s, an era when glossy magazines circled curvy women’s thighs in red ink, these dazzling performers from another time seemed untouched by that shame.
They weren’t just baring their skin on stage. They treated their bodies as works of art, adorning them with sequins, feathers, and rhinestones, as they commanded attention with their dance, humor, and sensuality. They reveled in being seen, making visibility seem less like vulnerability and more like power. I didn’t have the language for it then, but I wanted whatever freedom they possessed.
“They treated their bodies as works of art, adorning them with sequins, feathers, and rhinestones, as they commanded attention with their dance, humor, and sensuality. “
raquel reichard
As a Puerto Rican girl, no one captivated me more than Iris Chacón, the illustrious vedette who rose to fame in San Juan in the 1970s and became one of the earliest woman cross-over artists. “La Vedette de América,” as she’s been nicknamed, produced and hosted her own weekly hit variety TV show “El Show de Iris Chacón” for more than a decade, reaching No. 1 ratings in Puerto Rico and airing in U.S. markets like New York, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. The “Bombshell of Puerto Rico” had monthslong residencies over multiple years at the iconic Caribe Hilton, lighting up the stage at Club Caribe, the hotel’s legendary cabaret showroom. There, she became part of the same glamorous legacy that drew stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, and Rita Moreno to the resort.
Iris was also the first Latine artist to sell out performances at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in the ‘70s and was photographed by the iconic fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez in Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine.
By the time I was coming of age in the early millennium, the height of her fame had passed, but she remained a cultural icon — one that is still celebrated today. In fact, in the spring of 2026, Caribe Hilton opened a permanent on-site exhibit reflecting the hotel’s history – from its grand opening in 1949 to the birth of the piña colada in 1954 to Iris’ revered performances in the ‘80s, which sold out to crowds made up of both local Puerto Ricans and tourists alike. Meanwhile, in May, Iris, now 76, returned to Puerto Rico for two sold-out performances of Las Noches del Caribe at Moneró Café Teatro & Bar in Caguas. Inspired by her legendary cabaret residencies, the intimate production recreated the glamour and spectacle of Puerto Rico’s golden age of hotel showgirl entertainment.
“She gave women permission to push past the gendered rules that constrained them, reject the false choice between purity and sensuality, embrace their bodies with confidence, and imagine a freer way of moving through the world. “
raquel reichard
But for Puerto Rican women — and for Latina viewers across the world — Iris was more than an amusing pastime or barrier-breaker. She gave women permission to push past the gendered rules that constrained them, reject the false choice between purity and sensuality, embrace their bodies with confidence, and imagine a freer way of moving through the world. And as showgirl culture — in the form of burlesque, drag, and traditional vedettes — re-emerge in Puerto Rico, she is inspiring a new generation.
For American Colony, a podcast from The Latino Newsletter and Shake It Easy Media, I trace Iris’ extraordinary legacy and how she transformed fame and entertainment into tools for challenging colonial ideas about power, femininity, and visibility. In my episode “La Chacón,” produced alongside Locatora Productions’ Diosa Femme and Mala Muñoz, I explore how both Puerto Rico and showgirls have been commoditized and consumed as exotic paradises, and how Iris manipulated the imperial script to build creative independence, employ women and queer artists, and expand what generations of Puerto Rican women imagined was possible for their bodies and their lives.
Listen to “La Chacón” below or wherever you tune into podcasts.
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Everyone knows someone — a friend, cousin, or colleague — who always smells amazing. It could be the height of summer, when everyone else has melted into a sweaty puddle, but they somehow still smell fresh, like they’ve just emerged from a pile of clean laundry. You can’t quite put your finger on it. Is it their perfume? Their hair? Their clothes? Or all of the above?
We couldn’t figure it out either, so we asked the people who know a thing or two about smelling good: scent experts and enthusiasts, fragrance content creators, and esteemed perfumers.
Ahead, they share the habits and tricks they swear by to smell incredible — and none of them involve spending a small fortune on a niche fragrance that’s impossible to track down.
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Exfoliating toner — under your armpits
Aamna Lone, a fragrance expert and content creator behind @perfumeconnoisseurz on Instagram, swears by using Paula’s Choice 6% Mandelic + 2% Lactic Acid AHA Liquid Exfoliant under her arms three times a week to help keep body odor at bay — alongside wearing an antiperspirant and choosing lightweight, 100% cotton shirts. “It sounds odd, but the toner lowers the pH of the skin in the underarm area, so the bacteria that feed on compounds in sweat are reduced,” says Lone. “I find that my body odor is noticeably less when I do this.”
Solid perfume on the ends of your hair
Hair perfume has its place, but Lush fragrance category lead Lee Howes makes a case for solid perfume — especially those containing moisturizing jojoba oil, candelilla wax, and castor oil, which Howes says are suitable for the ends of the hair. These are ingredients commonly found in hair oils and split-end serums, too. “Take your Lush solid perfume, apply a small amount of product onto your fingertips and gently massage into the ends of your hair to get wafts of scent every time your hair moves around you,” says Howes. Our favorite is Chelsea Morning, an equally zingy and buttery caramel citrus.
Layering two versions of the same scent
Fragrance content creator Habiba Suleiman-Adejoh, aka @femmescents on Instagram, is convinced that it’s the year of the body mist, which she says is an “easy way to create an effortless all-round scent cloud that follows you throughout the day.” But the key to maximizing its power is choosing a shower oil with similar notes. “Layering your scent in the shower, and then applying it on your skin, really helps it linger, so when you hug someone, they think, She smells really nice, without it even seeming like you are trying; it’s just effortless. Suleiman-Adejoh loves Glossier Sandstone Body & Hair Fragrance Mist layered with Sandstone Daily Oil Wash. “Together, they smell super chic and clean — a memorable your-skin-but-better type of scent,” she says.
Secret scent spots
“Besides my wrists, décolletage, and collarbone, I apply fragrance behind my ears, on the back of my neck, and even my inner thighs,” says Cherry Cheng, perfumer and founder of Jouissance Parfums. “These are places where the scent feels intimate and only available by invitation,” she adds. In fact, Cheng believes there’s a connection between scent, mood, and the body. “When you associate fragrance with pleasure and self-care, you naturally become more aware of how you move through the world,” she says. “To me, that’s what makes someone smell amazing — not just the perfume itself, but the habit of consistent self-care, as well as confidence and ease that come with wearing scents for your own enjoyment,” Cheng continues.
Perfume behind your knees
Lone loves to spray her trousers or skirts, so that when she walks, the movement of the fabric wafts a delicate plume of scent into the air. But what if you’re wearing something shorter? “To create a trail of scent in warmer weather, a couple of spritzes of your favorite perfume behind your knees can be really effective,” says Howes. “That’s because the skin is often warmer here and can help leave a trail of fragrance behind you.” He adds that if you’re sitting in a bar or restaurant, your fragrance will gently rise up, rather than creating a cloud of scent around you — and everyone else.
Wearing perfume to bed
“Because I work in fragrance, I rarely wear perfume during the day anymore,” says Cheng, “so by the evening, I want to wear perfume purely for myself.” One of her favorite rituals is spraying either side of her collarbones before she gets into bed. “I catch little wafts of it as I’m falling asleep, and the quiet promise of romance and pleasure, whether rooted in memories or imagination, brings me so much joy,” she says. “When fragrance becomes part of your daily rituals, you start to carry yourself differently.”
The unexpected power of powder
If you thought solid perfume was cool, you’ll love scented powders, says Howes, who sees them as an inexpensive way to fragrance the skin post-shower — especially if body lotions feel sticky or overwhelming. “Dusting powders offer a subtle yet beautiful way of bringing more scent into your routine,” says Howes. “After a shower or bath, dry the skin before gently dusting your powder onto arms, legs, or anywhere the skin will be bare for a soft scent cloud around you all day.” Try the Dusting Powder in Super Milk, a musky fragrance with hints of vanilla and coconut.
Smelling good starts in the shower
“My greatest tip for smelling great naturally — and feeling great, too — is to start with a fragranced body wash in the shower,” says Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation, who currently loves Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser and Body Balm. But the real secret to making the scent last is layering. “For staying power, fragrance is best applied to moist skin, so I smooth the matching body lotion or cream all over as soon as I’ve towel-dried,” says Levy. To top it off, she always carries a portable body oil or travel-sized fragrance for touch-ups on her pulse points throughout the day. “This allows you to refresh with the same fragrance or layer on another.” Her current favorite is Costa Brazil Aroma in Oil, which blends green leaves, woody notes, and lush tropical florals.
Lastly, Iso E Super
My beauty editor peers who are fragrance enthusiasts swear by one particular note for making them smell effortlessly amazing all day: Iso E Super. This fragrance molecule adapts to your own scent chemistry, smelling unique on everyone, but it always remains clean and musky — like your favorite sweater. It’s best worn on skin, especially pulse points, where your body heat helps amplify the scent as the day goes on. Escentric Molecules built its entire line around Iso E Super, but now other brands like Commodity are embracing the molecule, too.
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No matter how challenging it’ll be this year, from August 6th to September 10th, Venus in Libra will try to bring harmony and balance into our lives. The objective is that love conquers all, but what we are finding is that the love we have for ourselves does. The cosmos will be intense, since the eclipse season coincides (summer’s two eclipses occur on August 12th and 28th). Be prepared for our relationship scales to be thrown off.
Venus in Libra shares an airy aspect with Pluto retrograde in Aquarius on August 10th, igniting struggles in our relationship dynamics. We’re going to be part of the problem due to our reaction to others’ feelings because we are being taken for granted, which is going to cause them to push back and take a stand (and vice versa); the caveat is that the moment we choose to do so may not be the most amazing time, and it can elevate to another type of argument. With annoyances increasing, it’s best to stay in our lanes (which will be hard), as the temptation to be messy grows.
Venus in Libra opposes Neptune retrograde in Aries on August 10th, creating friction in our relationships. On the one hand, we’ll want to believe in others, but on the other, their actions will show us that we have to be realistic before believing their words and the dream of happily ever after. Seeing people for who they are is going to be a wake-up call because we are projecting an ideal onto them. It’ll be hard to cultivate boundaries because we are losing ourselves in partnerships to make others happy. Sacrificing our needs can cause resentments later on, so be mindful of implementing limits and not allowing them to take advantage.
Then on the following day, the sun in Libra harmonizes with Uranus in Gemini, pushing us to break free of cycles that are dragging us down. We may have outgrown certain relationships, which is why it’s important for us to go our own way and to be our own individuals. It doesn’t mean that we are ending these connections forever, just that we are asserting ourselves and embracing individuality. The flipside is that we may embark on an impulsive journey with another or fall head over heels in love with someone impulsively. We will not look before jumping into situations — so be careful and mindful.
Venus in Libra and Jupiter in Leo come together on August 17th, making our love lives feel luckier than ever. The 17th is a day of extreme sentiment and tenderness when it comes to matters of the heart. We’ll feel as though we are walking on sunshine, as our confidence is at a high. If we’re planning a social activity or the chance to declare our affections, this is a pristine moment to do so. Being open and vulnerable offers the potential to start defining relationships and take the partnership to the next level even if we’re cuffed up.
August 21st brings a fierce energy between Venus in Libra and Saturn retrograde in Aries that might sting. The opposing vibes may leave us feeling insecure, and unnurtured relationships will be tested to see whether they have longevity and can overcome obstacles. It’s vital to look at who we are aligning with to see if it’s worth the effort we are putting in, and whether our partner or crush is reciprocating the work we are doing. Friends are seemingly unreliable, mostly because they are going through their own baggage, so be patient with them and yourself. Journaling can help in navigating feelings.
By the time we get to September 9th, we’ll be making decisions about how we want to proceed with others. The Nodes of Destiny on the Aquarius and Leo axis activate Venus in Libra to make choices about who to keep in our lives. We might opt to see the best in others as long as we are aware of who people are and do not have expectations that exceed their bandwidth.
As Venus switches signs and moves into Scorpio on September 10th, committing to who and what we are passionate about is important. The lesson from Venus’ stint in Libra is to not settle for anything less than we deserve.
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The multihyphenate on her second Fabletics collection, what Pilates rebuilt after her son, and why she stopped explaining herself.
Keke Palmer interviewed Oprah Winfrey last month and she’s still processing it. It’s the first thing I ask her about when we get on the phone in Los Angeles, just after her return from New York, where she’d been doing press for Southern Belle Insults, the Audible series built around her alter ego Lady Miss Jacqueline. There’s a looseness in her voice that suggests she’s finally somewhere she can exhale.
“It’s something that maybe will really be able to be absorbed much after the fact,” she tells me. “I feel somehow connected to it, but I’m so in the moment of it, and I’m trying to just stay so in flow that it’s hard to step outside of it. Which is crazy, because I’m generally quite a zoomed-out person.”
There is a version of this moment that reads as a victory lap, and the résumé supports it: Emmy winner, podcast host with a guest list that now includes the woman who invented the format, certified Pilates instructor, founder of a wellbeing platform, mother, and as of last Friday, a second Fabletics collection. She doesn’t describe any of it that way. She describes being pulled, carried along by something she trusts more than she can currently explain.
What the second year gave back
I spent over a decade as a doula, and there’s a pattern I’ve watched hold across hundreds of mothers: somewhere after a first child turns two, the world reopens, though not into the same world. It comes back narrower and more deliberate, and mothers step into their own lives with a clarity they didn’t have access to before. When I tell her this is what’s happening from the outside, she doesn’t hesitate.
“Kids bring a different level of presence, a different level of intentionality, a different level of no-nonsense to your life that you maybe didn’t have before. With Leo, I think that’s what he’s brought to my life. Pregnancy is no joke. It literally changes you physically and chemically. Coming out on the other side of that, I became a new person. Any of the things that weren’t useful to me anymore, they were easily ridded out, and my time became even more precious. Which are things you’d imagine should always have been the case. But children have a way of putting things into perspective in a way that forces you. So I really do attribute where I am at this point of my life largely to the fact that I became a mother.”
She’s describing subtraction, the quiet removal of everything that wasn’t holding anything up.
The core is an access point
Palmer found Pilates in the wreckage of the fourth trimester, deeply disconnected from her own body and looking for something low-impact, because the idea of walking into a gym or running five miles while still hormonally underwater was more than she could hold. Most people would leave it there, a gentle way back into exercise and nothing more, but not Keke. She fell in love with it, then got certified to teach it.
When I tell her I think Pilates is mostly what happens off the reformer and the mat, she doesn’t just agree, she builds on it, moving through discipline as the practice of principles before arriving at the abdominal muscles that Pilates calls the core, and what they’re actually connected to.
“The core is really just an access point. We have tons of different access points in our bodies. Whether we’re thinking straight up and down, or across, or from our hips to our legs, or across our arms from one side to the other, or the different spinal points. When we start engaging with Pilates in that regard, when we’re actually accessing the core of what it really means to be in alignment, it absolutely changes your posture. It changes the way that you show up. It changes the way you hold your head high. It changes the way you’re able to speak to somebody.”
The core as an access point rather than a goal or an aesthetic or the thing you’re trying to flatten is a real reframe, one that treats the body as something you can enter from any direction. It’s also an accurate description of her career.
Never too much, just early
Palmer grew up watching vaudeville, Judy Garland and Sammy Davis Jr. and Mickey Rooney and Shirley Temple, performers who sang and acted and hosted and made you laugh across a single evening because that’s what the job required. That’s the multihyphenate blueprint she came up on, and everything she’s built since sits on top of it. For a long stretch, that created a legibility problem in an industry that has always preferred a box.
“A lot of people would feel like I didn’t know what I was doing, or I’m losing my way. I’m supposed to be Angela Bassett. I’m supposed to be Brandy. I’m supposed to be this person. And it’s like, I was always just trying to be Keke.”
Twenty-three years into a career that started when she was nine, the useful reframe is that the industry took two decades to build the architecture she’d already been engineering. She spent the first half of her career being told she was too many things at once, and the second half building a body, a practice, and a business where that multiplicity is the structure itself. The rest of us are only now catching up to what she was already doing.
Why this one fits
The second Fabletics x Keke Palmer collection lands as more than a follow-up. What sets it apart is the way it reflects the full architecture of Palmer’s life: not a single facet, but the whole of it. In talking about the campaign, she names the identities herself: CEO, mom, Pilates girly, podcast host, and the point is not that she wears many hats, but that this partnership seems to understand she was never meant to be reduced to one.
That recognition is part of what makes the collaboration feel unusually aligned. Palmer speaks warmly about small but telling details, like Fabletics’ bring-your-kids-to-work day, as evidence of a company that has thought seriously about what it means for a woman to show up fully, without partitioning off the different parts of herself.
There is also a larger career arc underneath it. For years, Palmer has moved in a way that outpaced the structures around her, building a career across performance, hosting, audio, entrepreneurship, and now wellness, long before the culture had easy language for that kind of multiplicity. “I had to wait years for those places to exist,” she says. “What I have to offer isn’t too much. It actually fits perfectly.”
That may be what gives this collection its particular charge. It doesn’t feel like a celebrity attachment so much as a brand ecosystem finally catching up to the person at its center.
Palmer is also bringing Practice by Palmer into the launch event, extending the collaboration beyond the clothes and into the kind of communal experience she increasingly wants her work to create.
“It’s not just you buying a product,” she says. “It’s you being a part of a space that we’re sharing together.”
The Fabletics x Keke Palmer collection is available now.
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Amid the second coming of the Italian summer manicure trend, which champions cute green olives, juicy oranges, and lemon motifs, it’s no surprise that sardines are having another moment for 2026. We’re seeing the cute silver fish on keychains, jewelry, and kitsch beaded bags, proving that they aren’t just a salty snack — they also make some seriously fun accessories. It was only a matter of time before we started to spot them on nails.
Sardine-inspired manicures are everywhere this summer — just take a look at this set by @polishedpinkbykoda — and they’re so versatile. Blending bright hues, eye-catching silver flecks, artistic patterns, and 3D decals, there are endless ways to incorporate sardines into your next set. Think beach nails complete with shell textures and classic French tips. Anything goes.
Who knew adding a dainty fish to your fingertips could be such a great beauty moment? Scroll on to see 10 of the best sardine-inspired nail art ideas to help you live out your best European summer, wherever you are in the world.
A classic color combo, this red and blue set feels like the perfect manicure for an ocean getaway. Salon @b_l_o_n_d_i_e_s nails this color palette using contrasting shades, striking stripes, and scalloped edges. Getting the hues just right is the trick here; we love Essie Nail Polish in Not Red-y For Bed — a pillarbox red — with Essie in New Day New Me, but you could even go even brighter in the blue.
On the surface, this appears to be a simple set thanks to the soft, nude base, and delicate, hand-painted sardines. But for the real magic, zoom in to see the impressive detail of these little (and adorable) fish created by @selfmademars_.
A little sardine doesn’t have to be the main event; it can be part of a cute, summery set. With vibrant colors and cool 3D olive detail, nail tech Dayii has got this design so right. Featuring neon yellow, orange, and bright blue hues, this is sure to inject joy into your everyday. You can play around with this one, taking inspiration from the color theme and adding your favourite elements of summer.
There’s something about the combination of pink and red that’ll always stand out, and this manicure is no different. Each nail on this manicure, created by Hadley Dunn, has an epic amount of detail with a tiny chrome sardine tin, blooming gel flower, and blue striped detail. The best part is that, alongside the sardines, you’ll find perhaps the cutest shrimp and lobster we’ve ever seen.
This design, created by nail artist Jacquelin has everything going on. Sardines (of course), oranges complete with 3D juicy droplets, blue French tips, and orange stripes.
Created by nail artist @fullsetsbyspens, the aim of the game with this manicure is color — and lots of it. With a different shade on each finger and a contrasting sardine over the top, this is the definition of sparking joy. If you want to try it at home, we love the shades Wisteria, Candy, Gold Button, and Riviera, from Manucurist.
Sure, it’s a bit early to be thinking about our February 14th manicure, but when they’re this cute, can you blame us? This creative manicure by Electric Pather Nails features sardines holding hands, one diving head-first into a martini glass, and some olives as a garnish. You’ll want a hand-painting nail art specialist for this design.
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