Tag: Most Popular

Today kicks off Amazon Prime Day, which means for two precious days fashion lovers get to scour the depths of Amazon in search of incredible deals on fabulous items. Case in point: JW Pei bags. You can’t scroll through Instagram or TikTok for long without seeing one of these incredibly popular bags, usually the Gabbi style, adorned on the arm of a celebrity or influencer.

Until the clock strikes midnight PST on July 12, the beloved Gabbi is 20 percent off. That’s $16 off this already-affordable bag, bringing the price down to a whopping $63.99. You also get free shipping during the retailer’s epic shopping event, and if you purchase today, your goods are guaranteed to arrive in time for the rest of summer.

The mini shoulder bag has quickly become a favorite of street style royalty, whether it be actresses like Megan Fox or supermodels like Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber, or Emily Ratajkowski. As for what color to go for, the options are vast. Will you go for a bright blue style like Fox or a bold neon orange hue like Ratajkowski? Or maybe keep it tame with a neutral yellow bag like Hadid? With 24 on-sale color options to choose from, the perfect statement bag is only a scroll away.

Created by husband and wife duo Yang Pei and Stephanie Li in 2016, JW Pei has quickly risen in popularity thanks to its line of sustainably made accessories. The Gabbi, constructed from vegan leather and sourced from recycled plastics, features a croissant-like shape with a single, ruched top handle and a curved base. On the inside, you’ll find a faux suede interior that snaps shut using a magnetic closure. Don’t be fooled by its miniature shape, though, because this bag can still hold all your necessities. Small but mighty, some might say.

If you want another It bag to add to your collection in addition to the must-have Gabbi, the brand’s other best-selling style, the Abacus, is also marked down for Prime Day. Shop the Abacus and our other favorite JW Pei styles on while they’re on sale. Keep a watchful eye because some have even been included in Lightning Deals.

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Millie Bobby Brown, the actress the public first met when she was 12 years old in the first season of Stranger Things is now 19 years old (!) and has been dating boyfriend Jake Bongiovi for years. On April 11, 2023, the couple hinted in two Instagram announcement posts that they are now engaged before the news was later confirmed:

The pair was first linked in June of 2021, after being seen holding hands in New York City. They were both masked at the time, and Bongiovi carried Brown’s dog, a poodle named Winnie, in a tote bag. Brown travels with Winnie to help ease her anxiety while she travels.

“About two years ago, I just started having really bad panic attacks, like, really bad anxiety and I struggled with it really bad,” she said on an episode of Miley Cyrus’s Bright Minded. “And, one day I was just talking, and I was like, ‘Maybe I should get a therapy dog,’ you know, something to comfort me when I am really stressed.’”

Over the years, Brown has been linked to YouTube star and musician Jacob Sartorius and Romeo Beckham, the son of Victoria and David.

Since those early days, they have become quite public about their relationship. But Bongiovi, it turns out, is used to the spotlight, much like Brown. Bongiovi, born Jacob Hurley Bongiovi, is one of Jon Bon Jovi’s four children.

You might have seen him in photos with his father and the rest of the fam, but here is what to know about him and his relationship with Brown.

He is 21 years old.

Bongiovi was born in May 2002, according to a Facebook fan group for his father. He is the youngest of his three siblings, who include Romeo, Stephanie, and Jesse.

This is Jesse:

His mother is Dorothea Hurley.

Bongiovi’s parents have been married since April 1989 but have had a romance longer than that. They met in high school.

“Mutual respect,” Jon told People last year of what has helped their relationship last. “Having grown up together and grown together. And we really like each other. We want to hang out.”

Dorothea said: “I always said I was good at spotting potential, too. I have a gift.”

Jon continued: “We work hard at it, but we enjoy each other and we never fell for the trappings of what celebrity can do. We’ve witnessed that happen over the years to people that were close to us and people that we knew from afar. It’s just what I do, it’s not who I am. I write songs. I happen to be very good at performing them. That’s it.”

He was an athlete in high school in Brooklyn.

Bongiovi attended Poly Prep Country Day School and played football. He is listed on the roster as a Poly Prep “Blue Devil” for the 2019-2020 school year.

He has referred to Brown as his BFF.

“bff <3,” he wrote.

It looks like they were obviously already more than friends.

He’s friends with her friends.

Brown’s real life bestie is Stranger Things co-star Noah Schnapp, who attended a Harry Styles concert with the couple this summer. Scnhapp shared some shots of he and Bongiovi playing around in the stadium with Styles in the background.

Brown also shared a pic from the night of her and Bongiovi sharing a romantic moment.

How did Brown and Bongiovi meet?

In an interview promoting Netflix’s Enola Holmes 2, Brown discovered that one of the most Googled searches under her name is “how did millie bobby brown and jake bongiovi meet.”

“We met on Instagram, and we were friends for a bit, and then, what can I say?” she said.

They’ve made their red carpet debut.

They first appeared together on the red carpet at the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022 at Royal Albert Hall in March.

And in May, Bongiovi was Brown’s date at the premiere of the latest season of Stranger Things.

He also accompanied her to the premiere of Enola Holmes 2.

They were together for Thanksgiving 2022 and decorated a Christmas tree together.

Bongiovi shared he was very thankful for Brown during Thanksgiving.

And that same month they seemed to be decorating a shared Christmas tree together, posting a clip to “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” while wearing coordinating Disney PJs. It looked like on the tree, there were matching “M” and “J” ornaments, too.

The couple celebrated Christmas 2022 together.

On December 22, 2022, Brown showed off her boyfriend on Instagram Stories, sharing a shot of her kissing him on the cheek at Taylor Swift’s “Maroon” played in the background.

“I chose u!” she captioned the post. In a second black and white video, Bongiovi is singing karaoke to Mulan’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.”

“Disney songs? Key to my heart,” Brown editorialized. Earlier in the month, she shared a photo on her timeline of the two of them enjoying a beautiful day on a sandy beach, hugging in their bathing suits.

“sunny one so true, i love you,” she wrote.

Bongiovi shared his POV of the same trip, in which he and Brown are walking down the beach holding hands.

Brown has said he’s her “partner for life.”

To celebrate her 2022, Brown shared a carousel of photos of the previous twelve months, saying she was “endlessly in love with the year” she had. The photos included a number of pictures from Brown with her pets, her friends, traveling, and on set. And it included quite a few pictures of her boyfriend.

One photo featured a strip of photo-booth images in which they are kissing, another in which they are hugging in the car, and one where he seems to be grabbing her waist by a Christmas tree and she pretends to be surprised.

In the rest of the caption, Brown said she was “grateful for my friends, family, donkey (bernard), my doggies, my puppies teeth, and my partner for life.”

She added, “here’s to another year with you and the wonderful people and animals around us let’s do it again but better!”

“Your year babe love you so much,” Bongiovi commented on the post, adding a red heart emoji.

Bongiovi celebrated Brown’s 19th birthday with a loving Instagram tribute in February 2023.

Bongiovi gave the public an intimate look into their love story when he shared an Instagram post celebrating Brown’s 19th birthday. “Another year around the sun together happy 19th to the girl of my dreams,” he wrote. “I love you more than words can describe. Everything about you is golden down to the core ❤️”

The pair was also photographed celebrating her birthday out together on Sunday, February 19, at Los Angeles’ Tao restaurant.

A month later, on Friday, March 24, they were seen in London at the members only club and hotel Chiltern Firehouse. Brown was wearing white zebra-print bell-bottom pants by Alessandra Rich paired with a white top and a large black jacket with quilted lining. Her hair was slicked back in a bun and on her feet were strappy heels with a white pedicure.

Bongiovi wore a large white button down with the collar open to reveal a chain necklace and a baggy pair of lightwash jeans with white sneakers.

Bongiovi and Brown announced their engagement in April 2023.

Brown and Bongiovi dropped bombshell news on the morning of April 11. Both shared photos of them posing together, Brown in a white lace bridal-like dress. She showed off a diamond ring on her left ring finger and captioned her Instagram with a Taylor Swift lyric: “I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, I want ’em all 🤍”

Bongiovi posted his own Instagram at the same time, captioning it, “Forever 🤍” Neither explicitly said they were engaged, but fans took the posts as hints of an announcement.

Bongiovi’s dad, Jon Bon Jovi, commented on the young couple’s engagement while talking with Andy Cohen on his SiriusXM show. Bon Jovi married his high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley, so he’s no stranger to young people making a commitment.

“So you were together when you were young,” Cohen asked his guest. “When your almost-21-year-old says, ‘I’m getting engaged,’ do you worry for them that they’re too young, or because you were so young when you were with Dorothea, you weren’t engaged that young, but do you worry as a dad about how old or how young they are?”

“I don’t know if age matters,” Bon Jovi answered. “You know, if you find the right partner and you grow together, I think that would be my advice really, is growing together is wise. Growing together, and so I think that all of my kids have found the people that they think they can grow together with, and we like them all.”

Brown wished Bongiovi a happy 21st birthday in an Instagram post on May 7, 2023.

Brown shared a little look into her life with her fiancé and feelings for him in a birthday post she shared to fête Bongiovi’s 21st birthday. “This sums us up,” she captioned a carousel of photos of them holding hands. “In bliss, exploring together. I am eternally holding your hand. happy birthday fiancé. I love you ❤️”

The couple enjoyed an engagement party in May 2023.

Brown and Bongiovi were celebrated at an engagement party, and Brown’s hairstylist Pete Burkill shared a few photos where the young couple are standing in front of a bunch of white balloons and a sign that reads “Mr & Mrs Bongiovi.”

Brown for a lace two piece from Italian designer Giambattista Valli, and Bongiovi was in an olive green suit for the occasion.

“Congrats to this beautiful couple!” Burkill wrote in the caption.

Like many celebs, they headed to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

Brown and Bongiovi were spotted by fans in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Friday June 30, 2023, for Swift’s show at Paycor Stadium. They were enjoying the show from their seats in the VIP section, though they were mostly dancing and rocking out to the music. Brown was dressed in solid monochrome pink and painted a glittering pink heart around one, just like on the cover of the singer’s 2019 Lovers album.

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Welcome to Same Same But Different. As Gen Z and millennial ELLE editors, we know a thing or two about shopping—for all ages, and especially our demographics. As we find the best products for you, we can’t help but do a little shopping for ourselves and build our personal (age-appropriate) wish lists. And now, we’re sharing them with you. Ahead, check out what’s in our hearts and in our carts lately.

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Madison Feller: It feels like a faux pas to write this on the internet—thanks to The Great War we all went through earlier this year—but Sam and I, ELLE.com’s resident and repeatedly proven Swifties, have scored tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. (I say scored, but it’s more like, spent our entire salaries and made several blood sacrifices.) And now that we’ve recovered, we’ve been more or less panicking about what we’re going to wear to our respective shows. So, we asked Meg and Dale—your usual Same Same But Different authors—if we could take over this column to talk it out. Also, if you couldn’t already tell, I am unfortunately the millennial in this equation.

Samuel Maude: It’s been quite the struggle, and as the Gen Z representative in question, I have felt an immense pressure to not only slay the day with an iconic reference and look but also serve an outfit that could wind up on SwiftTok. There have been some great moments already—I was obsessed with this take on the classic T.S. cardigan—and as your attention-seeking youngster, I wanted to ensure that I had a true moment on Taylor night.

MF: I truly respect your ambition and have to admit…it’s giving Taylor Alison Swift. SwiftTok has proven to me that a lot of fans are taking “Eras,” the theme of the tour, as an invitation to dress up as representations from any of Taylor’s 10 albums, but personally, I’ve never considered rewinding past 2022. I will definitely be channeling Midnights, her latest record and the one we’ve had the least amount of time to play with. Part of me wants to lean into the title and go all-out with stars, sparkles, and velvets—with a hint of the ’70s aesthetic Swift (tbh, confusingly) sported in the marketing for this album.

SM: I literally just purchased a shimmering, sparkling pair of pants as an option actually, so I support this vision wholeheartedly. I have a pair of celestial earrings I’m happy to loan; let me know. Ultimately, I went with a slithering plan of attack, ready to enter—as is Gigi Hadid, apparently—my Reputation era. I decided it would be fun to pay homage to my first all-in Swiftie era and embrace an edgy (something I am often not), ready-for-a-rave (somewhere I am often not) energy. If Taylor can put on a character for an era, I can too. I’m thinking: risky tank tops, severe makeup, jewelry that nods to the snake motif without hitting it on the slimy nose, and lavender cargo pants to honor Taylor’s upcoming record Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

MF: Speaking (hehe) of, I’ve also contemplated dedicating my outfit to that particular hue and honoring one of Swift’s best opening album tracks: “Lavender Haze.” I’m still not over the fashion and beauty picks from that music video (the slip dress; the moody lipstick), which so far have only been surpassed by her tour look when performing that song (the sparkly T-shirt dress; the video-lookalike furry coat). A combo of the two might be my sweet spot.

SM: I love how you went for current Taylor through and through, but I had to throw it back even more for my second look. I’ve recently been jamming out to “Change (Taylor’s Version)” and, as a proud Midwesterner, figured I could also saddle-up to a more western-inspired Fearless (Taylor’s Version) look. When I think of that album, I think of shimmering gold, denim, and a whole lot of country. I also loved how this denim vest feels like a nod to “Bejeweled” but instead of gems, it’s ravishing rivets. And of course, any country queen look isn’t complete without a cowboy hat.

MF: I look at this and immediately want to dance in a storm in my best dress, so I would call it a success. Though I’m still debating my outfit, I do know it will be paired with a venue-acceptable bag and comfortable shoes for the untold number of hours we’ll be standing on our feet. For the uninitiated: Swift’s set alone is over three hours, and she has two openers. (Which reminds me, I also need to buy some Band-Aids…) Shopping aside, I have to ask, Sam: What are your two dream secret songs?

SM: This is so tough, but two Taylor songs have specifically meant a lot to me: “Call It What You Want” and “King of My Heart.” I promise you, I’m not in love, but I am a hopeless romantic, and they sing to my Reputation-loving, wistful soul. I also must give an honorable mention to “Cornelia Street,” which she simply has to play at a New York show! How about you?

MF: I’ve thought about this a lot, and I’d also love to hear some newer songs she hasn’t performed yet, so I’m going with “Ivy” on guitar and “Sweet Nothing” on piano. Though I’m sure that will change by tomorrow.

SM: Well, we are just days away from our show (yes, we are going to the same one), so fingers crossed we both get our Wildest Dreams for our surprise songs. See you at the stadium, and best believe we’ll make the whole place shimmer.

Megan Thee Stallion is ready to share the full story of her life after Tory Lanez assaulted her—and how, behind the scenes, she hid her mental health struggles and the effects of the trauma on her from the public.

“I wish I could have handled this situation privately,” she told ELLE in a new as-told-to. “That was my intention, but once my attacker made it public, everything changed. By the time I identified my attacker, I was completely drained. Many thought I was inexplicably healed because I was still smiling through the pain, still posting on social media, still performing, still dancing, and still releasing music.”

On Instagram Live shortly after the incident, Megan said she was shot multiple times in the foot by Tory after leaving a party in July 2020. Her medical report obtained by Page Six indicate doctors found three major bullet fragments in her feet after the attack; in June 2022, Megan told Rolling Stone, “I still have bullet fragments in my feet right now.” Megan first named Tory as her attacker in August 2020.

Megan told ELLE that she hid the effects of the trauma publicly despite the dismissive comments some people said about it. “I persevered, even as people treated my trauma like a running joke,” she recalled. “First, there were conspiracy theories that I was never shot. Then came the false narratives that my former best friend shot me. Even some of my peers in the music industry piled on with memes, jokes, and sneak disses, and completely ignored the fact that I could have lost my life. Instead of condemning any form of violence against a woman, these individuals tried to justify my attacker’s actions.”

She kept strong, but privately, she struggled greatly: “The truth is that I started falling into a depression,” she admitted. “I didn’t feel like making music. I was in such a low place that I didn’t even know what I wanted to rap about. I wondered if people even cared anymore. There would be times that I’d literally be backstage or in my hotel, crying my eyes out, and then I’d have to pull Megan Pete together and be Megan Thee Stallion.”

In December 2022, Tory was found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm; possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm; and negligent discharge of a firearm. It marked the beginning of the end of that chapter—and a milestone in Megan’s journey to healing. “When the guilty verdict came on Dec. 23, 2022, it was more than just vindication for me, it was a victory for every woman who has ever been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them,” she said.

In the months since, Megan took time privately to focus on her mental health. “These last few months, I’ve been healing after being in such a dark place,” she said. “The physical and mental scars from this entire ordeal will always sting, but I’m taking the appropriate steps to resume my life. I’ve spent the last few months off social media and taking time off for myself, spending time with my dogs, hanging out with my manager, Farris, and doing a lot of praying.”

“Navigating these emotions without my mom or great-grandma has been challenging,” she added. “Growing up, they always made me feel like I could dust myself off, get back up, and keep going. I still miss their guidance and reassurance. At the same time, I’m thankful that this situation brought me closer to one of my cousins. I talk to her every single day, but it never clicked that she was my best friend until I endured this experience.”

Now, “I’m in a happier place, but I still have anxiety,” she said. “Talking about being shot still makes me emotional. I’ve started journaling as a way to better process my thoughts, hopes, and fears. Prayer has also played a therapeutic role in my healing, because I can have honest and unfiltered conversations with God without any judgment.”

“But that’s the process of healing: It’s an ongoing process with moments of fear and uncertainty mixed in with blissful realization,” she noted. “I’ve accepted this chapter of my life as part of my journey, but I will not allow it to define my journey. I’ve been dragged through the mud, but I’m so happy that I’m able to finally come out of it with a new perspective.”

You can read Megan’s full as-told-to here.

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In a new as-told-to for ELLE, Megan Thee Stallion gave her first and final account of how Tory Lanez’s assault of her and the corresponding trial, resulting in his December 2022 guilty verdict, profoundly changed her. She privately fell into a depression—and pulled herself out. Now, she has hard-earned, honest advice to other survivors of violence.

Regarding her journey to healing, she said, “I was once told that you can’t have crucifixion without resurrection, and that statement resonated so deeply with me. This is a rebirth of a happier and healthier me. I’m a survivor and I have—and will continue—to embrace the highs and lows of my journey. I’m excited to get back into music, because I have been so transformed.”

She said the guilty verdict “was more than just vindication for me, it was a victory for every woman who has ever been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them.”

“But my heart hurts for all the women around the world who are suffering in silence, especially if you’re a Black woman who doesn’t appear as if she needs help,” she continued. “So many times, people looked at me and thought, ‘You look strong. You’re outspoken. You’re tall. You don’t look like somebody who needs to be saved.’ They assumed that, per preconceived stigmas, ‘I didn’t fit the profile of a victim,’ and that I didn’t need support or protection.”

“Time after time, women are bullied with backlash for speaking out against their attackers, especially when they’re accusing someone who is famous and wealthy,” she added. “They’re often accused of lying or attempting to make money from their trauma. From firsthand experience, I know why a lot of women don’t come forward. Any support and empathy that I received was drowned out by overwhelming doubt and criticism from so many others.”

That said, she has some words she wants all survivors—and allies of them—to hear:

For anyone who has survived violence, please know your feelings are valid. You matter. You are not at fault. You are important. You are loved. You are not defined by your trauma. You can continue to write beautiful, new chapters to your life story. Just because you are in a bad situation doesn’t mean you are a bad person. Our value doesn’t come from the opinions of other people. As long as you stand your ground and live in your truth, nobody can take your power.

We can’t control what others think, especially when the lies are juicier than the truth. But as a society, we must create safer environments for women to come forward about violent behavior without fear of retaliation. We must provide stronger resources for women to recover from these tragedies physically and emotionally, without fear of judgment. We must do more than say her name. We must protect all women who have survived the unimaginable.

Read Megan’s full as-told-to here.

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Cindy Crawford. Christy Turlington. Naomi Campbell. The bouncy blowouts of the ’90s—and of the era’s most popular supermodels—are the latest nostalgia-based beauty inspiration. Sleek, brushed-back blowouts and super-high topknots with thick, face-framing tendrils were seen on countless runway models this season. Regardless of which style you choose, you need volume, baby.

“Beauty looks are recycled every decade or so,” says Tamika Gibson, owner of The Hair Diagram and head hairstylist at Sergio Hudson’s spring 2023 show, which featured teased hair. Beyond the supers, Gibson had Robin Givens as Jacqueline in Boomerang on her mood board.

What makes this trend firmly planted in 2023 is that you can have body with movement—no hair-sprayed helmets. Celebrity and TRESemmé Global Stylist Justine Marjan, who recently styled similar looks on Ashley Graham and Ella Balinska, suggests adding TRESemmé One Step Blowout Balm to damp hair for “the perfect bouncy blow-dry prep.” Gibson likes to pair two products from Kenra to build big hair: Design Spray 9 on each curl for hair memory, then Volume Spray 25 to lock in the final style. “You also need to make sure hair is 100 percent dry before starting to style,” Marjan adds. “If any moisture is left in the hair, it will fall flat immediately.”

To create the height, try this: Curl hair sections with a large-barrel iron, like InfinitiPRO by Conair Cool Air Styler, then wrap them around big rollers, like Dry Bar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers, and secure with duckbill clips. This will give the hair bounce and curl, differentiating it from the sort of beachy waves you normally see on The Bachelor franchise. For a subtler, easier version, there’s the T3 AireBrush Duo, a styling brush that dries and round-brushes your hair simultaneously. For those with curl patterns three or four, try large flexirods, which will help to loosen a tighter curl pattern without losing your natural volume or using heat.

Big curls inspired by another ’90s runway icon—Linda Evangelista—are also my go-to hair look, with one catch: I have a chin-length bob. Discover my full routine, which uses hair rollers—you are one click away from volume.

“In the ’90s, big, voluminous hair represented luxury and glamour,” Marjan says. No wonder we can’t resist the look.

This article appears in the March 2023 issue of ELLE.