Table of contents for Summer 2020 in Harper's Bazaar

AT ITS BEST, fashion is very much about hope: the places we’ll go, the things we’ll do, the people we’ll meet, the lives we’ll lead. But for much of the world, finding reasons to have hope has been harder than usual these past several months. We started work on this issue in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic while living in lockdown; as we prepared to send it to the printer in early June, more than 100,000 people had been lost to the virus in the U.S. alone. By then, the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police had ignited waves of protest, unrest, sadness, and outrage across the country over the systemic racism, hate, and violence against the Black community that has touched and claimed…

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NECKLACE NEBULA is the poetic name given by astronomers to luminous, diamond-like concentrations of gas and dust 15,000 light-years from Earth. It’s a planetary nebula, an expanding ring of material expelled from an aging star, that served as one of the inspirations for the more than 120 out-of-this-world pieces in Van Cleef & Arpels’s new Sous les Étoiles high jewelry collection. Over the years, the French jeweler has often evoked the night sky in its exquisite designs, tracing its starry legacy from a star-shaped pearl-and-diamond brooch sold in 1907 through textured gold “crater” cuffs that became a signature after the historic Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. For this latest range, which includes rings modeled on comets and clips inspired by spiral galaxies millions of light-years away, the maison’s gemologists…

BRIGHTS can officially take a break this season. Their more subtle counterparts—mint, lavender, butter yellow, and macaron pink—offer a livelier take on neutrals. “These hues are dreamier and gentler, so they act like neutrals without sacrificing color,” says manicurist Holly Falcone. You may be surprised by how wearable they are, especially on a rounded square shape of any length. Always prime nails with a base coat to prevent streaks (Falcone likes Orly Bonder, $10), then follow with two or three thin coats of color. If white-based pales start to separate in the bottle, give it a shake when switching hands, advises manicurist Julie Kandalec. Finish with a glossy topcoat, et voilà: a manicure that’s equally sweet and sophisticated.…

“I want people to know that whatever they think is impossible for themselves is possible.” Of all the late Aretha Franklin’s great many talents, her ability to bring people together is high on the list. Songs like “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” became anthems. Her career spanned genres and eras. Her social conscience and civil rights activism inspired millions. With her spirit as much as her music, she opened doors, hearts, and minds. Performers like that don’t come along very often, so it’s appropriate that another generational boundary breaker, Cynthia Erivo, is set to play the Queen of Soul in the forthcoming National Geographic limited series Genius: Aretha, which airs this fall. Before the pandemic put the culture business on pause, the…

I’m a young black manDoing all that I canTo standOh but when I look aroundAnd I see what’s being done to my kindEverydayI’m being hunted as preyMy people don’t want no troubleWe’ve had enough struggleI just wanna liveGod protect meI just wanna liveI just wanna live THE DAY AFTER the death of George Floyd, 12-year-old gospel singer Keedron Bryant posted a video of himself on Instagram singing an original song called “I Just Wanna Live.” The video garnered millions of views, and his performance drew praise from former President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, among others. “I never thought it would be spreading the way it is, especially to see that former President Obama shared it. Wow!” says Keedron, who lives with his family in Jacksonville, Florida. “Black people are…

The TECH SET Stay connected with a wallet-phone case and coordinating jewelry that work double duty to hold your key devices. The AIRPOD BOX Never misplace your headphones again thanks to a mini quilted pouch. The CLUTCH Lay on the charm with an embellished minaudière and sleek silver jewelry…

GEMINI MAY 22–JUNE 21 Others may question whether you can handle an important property or financial matter. Prove to them you can. LUCKY DAY: July 30. In August, resolve to tackle problems in a rational way, and try not to let paranoia seep into your thinking. LUCKY DAY: August 17. TAURUS APRIL 21–MAY 21 Work to improve connections with loved ones, but avoid coming off as bossy or controlling. LUCKY DAY: July 13. In August, if you plan to restructure elements of your home life, do so by mid-month. Waiting too long can create unnecessary anxiety for those impacted. LUCKY DAY: August 6. ARIES MARCH 21–APRIL 20 In July, be ready to reorganize how you operate in the wider world. LUCKY DAY: July 5. In August, don’t listen to people…

ASK SOMEONE five years ago to describe “clean” and they’d refer to that squeaky sensation after washing with soap. Today clean is a way of life. (See: the cultural phenomenon that is Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop.) And following the organic food movement, in which offerings swelled from artisanal goods at farmers’ markets to mass-grocery-chain staples, clean beauty is having a moment. But along the way there’s been a lot of confusion about what clean serums and salves actually are. Bolstered by consumer demand, safe ingredients, transparency in sourcing, and efficacious formulas are table stakes now, with sustainable packaging and more inclusive options on the horizon. Here, a primer on building your clean vanity. DEFINING CLEAN “I go back to opening my natural and organic store in Brooklyn 10 years ago,” says…

As a maternal health advocate, Christy Turlington Burns has spent the past decade traveling the world with her organization, Every Mother Counts, to ensure that women everywhere have access to proper care through pregnancy and childbirth. Turlington Burns made that her mission after suffering a life-threatening hemorrhage following the birth of her daughter, Grace, in 2003. Her work since then has afforded her visibility into a range of women’s health issues, as well as a vast maze of health-care systems both in the United States and abroad. It has also given her a stark perspective on many of the inequities that have been exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to her involvement with a task force created by New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to explore how to make…

ALESSANDRO MICHELE Creative director, Gucci HARPER’S BAZAAR: Tell us about the place in your home where you were photographed. Why is it important or significant to you? ALESSANDRO MICHELE: It is in my living room, where I spend most of my time these long days, sitting on my couch, my mind always filled with thoughts. My dogs keep me company—and my table as well, where I keep all the objects I need for my work. This room is somehow the heart of my house, a dear and loving place, overflowing with life. It wraps me up and cherishes me; it lets me travel in my mind. It is a living room, yeah, but it’s like a kid’s playroom. There are the things I collect that mean something to me, and…

KEEP • Oversize blazers • Patent leggings • Neon accessories RECYCLE • Patchwork denim • Chandelier earrings • Padded headbands…

CAN I COLOR AT HOME? “At-home coloring can be scary, but a T-zone touch-up—focusing on the hairline, part, and crown—is a great way to get your toes wet,” says Goddard, who counts Reese Witherspoon and Charlize Theron as devotees. Her ongoing Instagram posts help demystify the process, with video tutorials and tips like pre-coating strands with cooking oil—olive, coconut, and sunflower all work—for subtler results (and fewer mistakes). And in lieu of salon appointments, she’s preparing custom at-home coloring kits for L.A. locals and offering out-of-town clients virtual color matching to box dyes, as well as FaceTime coaching sessions. Contact her at lorrigoddardcolour.com. HOW ARE MY BROWS? Streicher, the woman behind the Feathered Brow technique, guides clients through grooming and grow out with a series of virtual appointments. After you…

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“It showed us just how important it is to have competent leaders in office—leaders who prioritize their citizens’ well-being over their own poll numbers.” SHONDA RHIMES: The theme of this issue of Harper’s Bazaar is hope, and I think it’s accurate to say that 2020 has been an uncomfortable year. One that I’ve found to be scary at times, frustrating at times, painful at times, and yet hopeful at times—the peaceful marches worldwide after the wrongful death of George Floyd come to mind. It’s been an important year. When you look out at the world right now, what gives you hope for the future? And is there anything that this experience we’re all living through right now has revealed to you that makes you hopeful? MICHELLE OBAMA: With everything that’s…