Table of contents for 08-May-2017 in Look

Look LOVES social media. If it’s got a #fashtag then we’re all over it, like any dutiful social shopper should be. Each morning we scroll through the trends like they’re going out of fashion (which they will – social trends are notoriously fast and fickle) before posting an artsy 'coffee, amirite!?’ pic for good measure. Yet the ridiculousness of it all slapped me smack in the face last week. Sure, I fanny around with flat lays and ask The Husband to take endless shots of my #ootds, but when faced with swarms of women, plus personal photographers, queuing to take the classic 'itchy head doorstep pose’ on a blossom-lined street in London, it struck me: WTF ARE WE ALL DOING!? Which is why Look’s encouraging women to 'Get Real’ this…

It’s with open, phone-in-hand arms that we welcome you to Look’s #GetRealIssue. What’s that, you ask? Let us enlighten you. There’s no denying that the age we live in is a digital one and while we adore social media, it’s important for us (all of us) to take a step back and 'get real’ once in a while. A life made on Instagram isn’t always as glossy as polished posts may suggest and often it can seem impossible to keep up appearances. Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought something you didn’t really like or need because you saw it on one of those tiny squares. Yep, we too are guilty of this shopping faux pas, which is why we’ve devoted ourselves to taking the sweat out of infinite scrolling…

Oh Ri, as much as we loved your reinvention earlier this year (bagging an award at Harvard and becoming a successful actress overnight) we have been craving your old ways. Which is why we were seriously chuffed when we saw a glimpse of the bad gal we know and love – the one who 'gives zero f**ks’ and exudes sass 24/7. In honour of the Queen’s 91st birthday, 28-year-old Ri took to Instagram last weekend to post a string of images of the Queen’s face superimposed onto her body. Naturally, the pictures caused a stir, with followers calling Rihanna 'offensive’ and 'a silly little girl’. One user commented: 'This is just disrespectful she is our monarch who has ruled for 65 years.’ Another observed: 'RiRi has gone rogue’. If that…

“We would argue constantly” Let’s hear it for the unsung heroes of the blogging world: the boyfriends, the husbands, the amateur photographers. Otherwise known as ‘human selfie sticks’, this underrated group is every blogger’s right-hand man. So much so that there’s an Instagram account dedicated to supporting them (@ig.husband, if you were wondering). In fact, they were behind the Instagram husband video that went viral in 2016 . Even celebs are getting in on the action. Former US President Barack Obama has been given the title since standing down, and last month Ryan Reynolds secured his own status as Blake Lively’s official Insta husband after snapping a series of photos of Blake posing on the beach (left). Seriously cute behaviour, guys. But while you might already have or be tempted…

‘I was with @FleurDeForce and @IamChouquette on a recent trip to Japan. We spent an hour attempting to get the perfect ’gram and literally everyone in this park was doing the same as us – trying to find a square metre of space where no one else was standing to take a totally casual picture (and make it look like you were the only person there). In reality it was absolutely packed with tourists. The girls wanted a matching bow pic, so I played hairdresser and after 10 minutes and 20 shots we nailed it. We were all laughing about how much effort we were putting in to try and get the perfect shot. Yes, it’s a bit mad but the outcome is so pretty, it was worth it!’…

There are a number of things to think about when it comes to swimwear: support, practicality (see-through bikini bottoms, anyone?), trends… The list goes on. Finding somewhere that does all that and more is practically unheard of. So imagine our delight when we discovered Simply Be ticks all of these boxes and then some. Using a savvy selection of figure-flattering features – perfectly positioned panels, shape-sculpting high waists and ladylike lattice detailing to name but a few – each piece works to make you look and (more importantly) feel your very best. Choose halternecks to narrow broad shoulders, or off-the-shoulder tops if you’re an hourglass. Basically, you’re about to experience swimwear shopping like you’ve never experienced it before. Throw in the fact that everyone will be cossie shopping in the…

…

The Jeans They might be one of the most well-worn items in our wardrobe, but that doesn’t mean we like shopping for them. Yes, jeans are the bane of all our lives which is why we sent our resident denim obsessive, Features Editor Giselle Wainwright, to find her dream fit. GISELLE’S VERDICT 'I’ve always gone for classic skinnies, but these are actually Topshop’s straight fit. They’re a size 10 and I’m usually a size 12 in skinnies (Zara doesn’t count – I can’t even fit into a Large), so it just goes to prove that shape has an impact, too. The mind boggles.’ The Top With so many styles and necklines to choose from, navigating blouses, shirts and T-shirts can be a daunting prospect. Enter our Digital Writer Laura-Jane Turner,…

1 . MASK The ingredients in Farmacy Honey Potion Mask, £ 51 , are super-fresh because the brand cultivates them on its very own farm and bottles them straightaway. Healing honey, antibacterial propolis and free-radical-fighting echinacea de-stress your skin and stimulate blood flow. Best of all, a little goes a long way so it lasts for absolutely ages. 2 . TONER Not convinced by toners? Hear us out. They work wonders for removing any leftover make-up your cleanser might have missed and they give a double dose of hydration to boot. We love Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner, £ 34 , because it’s proven to increase skin’s hydration levels by a whopping 46 per cent for six hours after application. Impressive stuff, we think you’ll agree. 3 . SERUM…

HAIR RINGS Looped into almost every ’do at Coachella, these are set to adorn plaits everywhere this summer. COLOURED BRAIDS Whether you pre-colour and plait extensions or spray your style with a washout chalk, this is how to wear colour in 2017. SPACE BUNS From Bestival to Benicàssim, we predict you’ll be seeing double (buns) everywhere in the coming months.…

Happy… GET TOOTHY Just when we thought we’d resurrected all the 90s trends worth noting, along comes another that’s set to divide opinion. Tooth gems are officially back on the beauty map, with Chanel’s intertwined 'C’s spearheading the nostalgic way. You definitely don’t need one but, let’s face it, they give us the perfect excuse to smile all day long. So really, it’s a gift for you and everyone on the receiving end of your grin. Happier… CARTOON HEROES What do you remember from your childhood? Holidays? Christmas? How about cartoons? Whether you were into Tom & Jerry or The Simpsons, we now realise how important our favourite toons were. So to celebrate World Cartoonists Day on 5 May, we’re shouting out to Penelope Pitstop. Sure, her wheels may have…

You’re probably questioning my originality right about now. What more could be said about a few days in the French capital? Well, stay with me, because with much organisation and forward planning, I unearthed a whole new world in which a trip to gay Paris didn’t leave me bankrupt. Firstly, eschew hotels and instead hunt down an Airbnb within your budget. There’s a vast range on offer, from cute city hideaways to sprawling apartments right by the river, so you can choose how much (or in my case, how little) you spend. Our Parisian bolt-hole was a charming little flat in Le Marais, the vibrant area that spans both the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. With everything in walking distance, we spent our days ambling along the Seine, gawping at Notre-Dame,…

WHAT IS IT? This could be the funniest film ever. Starring The Mighty Boosh’s Julian Barratt, Mindhorn follows the story of Richard Thorncroft, a has-been actor who used to star as Detective Mindhorn in an old TV show. Out of the blue, Richard is approached by the police – they have a serial killer in custody who’ll only negotiate with ‘Detective Mindhorn’. Could this be Richard’s chance to revive his career? Out 5 May LOOK’S VERDICT: ‘If, like me, your teenage years were spent heavily under the influence of The Mighty Boosh, you’re bound to feel a nostalgic pang for Julian’s one-liners. And if you didn’t, it’s still the best film!’ Laura-Jane Turner, Look Digital Writer…

The beauty giant is no stranger to the campaign circuit – in fact, some of its ads have been the most influential of recent times. However, Dove Denmark’s new PR strategy has to be its most innovative yet. Called Image_Hack, its sole purpose is to break the unrealistic image of women portrayed in the media. Handing the power over to Dove’s advertisers, brands are able to select which image they want to feature via a bank of Dove-approved shots. Including women of all ages, races, shapes, sizes and backgrounds, it’s proving so successful you can expect to see it landing on our shores soon… NEW LOOK’S ‘NODEL’ SQUAD 13,000 entries later and New Look x Milk Management’s model competition is complete. Say hello to the super eight, each with their…

WHAT’S NOT CHATS Who needs ’em when you can use your head? Says 2017’s take on Insta’s No 1 hat trend. Hat, £ 17 , Joanie. WHACK WEATHER Luckily, Look has your every dressing dilemma sorted. Watch our #WhatToWear video series at Look.co.uk. HANG OVERS Give sore heads a miss with M&S’s cocktail candles, £6. WHAT’S HOT HOO-RAE For Rae Feather’s new raffia sandals, £ 155 . Expect a cult following. MOST PINNED Treat yourself to a bestselling Graham & Green vase (and then flowers), £ 16.95 . MONSIEUR BIG Meet Lancôme’s new mascara, which delivers long-lasting XXL lashes (and will never stand you up), £ 21 .…

In case you missed it, we’ve dedicated this entire issue to getting real on social media. Don’t get us wrong, we love it – but there’s no denying that the FOMO goes way beyond outfit envy. In fact, it can have some pretty negative consequences. So to champion being real, true to yourself and, above all, happier on all platforms, we’ve joined forces with a host of familiar faces and Look Influencers to kick-start a whole movement dedicated to the cause. How can you get involved, you ask? Simple! Just take a snap – a selfie, an #ootd, whatever you fancy – and caption it with the number of shots it took to capture it. For example, 'TWELVE. That’s how many attempts it took to get this outfit shot just…

When it comes to social media, honestly, we’re still its biggest fan. Who doesn’t love a flattering selfie or an envy-inducing brunch shot? Or checking in at the latest private members’ club? In fact, the average person now spends 21 minutes a day on Insta, while the photo-sharing app recently hit 700m global users – proof that we’re utterly, totally addicted. But while updates, snaps and tagging seem harmless, even celebs like Rosie H-W and Kim K have realised it’s time to get real. That’s why this is our #GetReal issue, where we’re highlighting the hazards and traits that the likes (literally) of Instagram have fuelled... How far would you go for likes...?…

“They’ve grown their following in a shady way” Ever been suspicious of those random accounts that start liking every picture? No, it’s not an ex who’s madly in love with you – instead, it’s much more likely to be an automated 'like’ from a fake account. That’s because buying followers and using 'robots’, or 'bots’ as they’re more commonly known, are now commonplace tactics that are as likely to be adopted by individuals as they are major corporations. 'A brand could purchase Twitter followers, Facebook likes, Instagram followers, even YouTube views, retweets, tweet likes, Facebook shares, anything,’ says social media specialist Jodie Cook (Jodiecook.com). 'There are hundreds of cheap sites that offer these services and some companies even make guarantees that their bots are based in a certain country or…

With more emphasis than ever put on the amount of likes, comments and followers we’re racking up on a daily basis, many studies have shown that there’s a strong link between social media use and mental health. Are you more affected than you think? What happens when your phone lights up with a notification? Does your heart pound that bit faster as you open Instagram to see who approves of your latest outfit pic? Does your stomach flip as you watch the comments pouring in on your latest Facebook post? Whether or not your response is physical, there’s a strong chance social media is affecting you. And you’re not alone. Given that there are currently about 1.8 billion users on Facebook – that’s a quarter of the entire world’s population…

Alicia Keys #NoMakeup Essay After Alicia hit the red carpet at last year’s VMAs without a scrap of make-up on, she wrote a powerful essay on LennyLetter.com  about why she’s now choosing to live life makeup free. She said: ‘I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.’ THIS BEAUTY VLOGGER’S REAL RESPONSE When beauty vlogger Gina Shkeda received a tweet from a teenager about how naturally beautiful she looked, her response was everything. Gina replied: 'Girl, I have microbladed brows, lash extensions in and lip injections – I don’t even look like this.’ BOBBI BROWN VS CONTOURING Before Bobbi Brown left, um, Bobbi Brown, the make-up…

On-The-Go Perfect for stressful moments when you’re out and about (hello, morning commute) rub one of these on your pulse points and breathe in deeply for an instant stress soother. At Your Desk It’s no secret that we could all do with a bit of clarity and de-stressing at our desks. Keep one of these nearby for a midday mood booster. In The Evening Mindful beauty is being incorporated into our evening routines in the form of oils. With aromas that calm and quieten the mind, take a few minutes every night and use one of these essential oils. DISCOVER YOUR WELLBEING NEED Not sure what your body’s really craving? NEOM’s Scent Discovery Test can help. Inhale the four scents and whichever you’re most drawn towards identifies what your true…

Next Primark Urban Outfitters Boden Topshop New Look River Island Boohoo NEW IN LOOK FASHION Want More!? Shop Look’s Daily Edit Of New Look At fashion.look.co.uk/brands…

Nobody knows decluttering like queen of clean Vicky Silverthorn. She is a professional organiser, after all (having founded youneedavicky.com )! Here are her top tips for streamlining your beauty stash like a pro… 1 Start by gathering all your beauty products. Lay everything out in front of you and sort into categories. This way you get to see exactly what you do and don’t have. 2 Once you’ve organised all your products, put away all the ones that are full or unused to ensure you use the ones that are already open first. This stops you from overloading your make-up bag or bathroom cabinets with multiple half-empty bottles of the same thing. 3 Stick to one small area for spare products. Only allow…

A recent survey* found that British women keep hold of their make-up products for six years after they go off, which is, er, pretty gross! A) It means your products become less effective, and B) it exposes your skin to nasty toxins. Here’s what you need to know… 2 TO 3 MONTHS Face masks, nail files, mascaras 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR Liquid eyeliners, foundations, face washes and serums 1 YEAR TO 18 MONTHS Lip gloss, sunscreen and moisturisers 2 YEARS Nail polish, lipstick and powders 3 YEARS Fragrances can keep for years as long as you avoid heat, bright light and keep the lid on securely between usage. *Escentual.com survey…

1 PHOTOGRAPH A FEELING Some of the most authentic ’grams evoke a mood or allow you a bit of escapism. Think textures, close-ups, cityscapes. ‘Keeping that consistent from picture to picture can be as powerful as a specific theme,’ says Naomi Okunaka (@NA 01223 , 280 k followers). 2 PUT YOURSELF IN THE PICTURE ‘Make people feel like they can transport themselves into your picture,’ says Oliver Vegas (@OVUNNO, 410 k followers). ‘It allows them to feel some of the same emotions you felt when there.’ 3 CHOOSE YOUR NAME WISELY ‘I would advise you to check your account name of choice is available on other networks, as then your accounts can feed off each other,’ says Michael Schulz (@Berlinstagram, 460 k followers). ‘Having a consistent name means it’s easier…

CAN’T COPE, WON’T COPE A millennial comedy-drama following Aisling and Danielle, two party animals working in Dublin and learning to navigate adulthood. ‘We’ve all been Aisling or Danielle at some stage,’ says writer Stefanie Preissner. You’ll laugh, cry and probably crave a night out afterwards. BBC Three, from 4 May JAMESTOWN From the makers of Downton Abbey comes a new series following three of the first English women to arrive in Jamestown, US, in 1619 . As Alice,Verity and Jocelyn settle into their new home, each is faced with a string of challenges. The girls quickly realise they need each other if they’re going to survive. Sky 1 , 9pm, 5 May…

#1 STAR BUY OF THE WEEK If you’re looking for a new spring scent, Kenzo’s got you covered. The latest instalment in the brand’s Flower By Kenzo range, Eau de Lumière is fresh, modern and musky to boot. Plus the bottle is so beautiful you’ll want to display it on your dressing table. Sold. Flower By Kenzo Eau de Lumière, £53 for 50ml 2.PRETTY IN PINK Bra, £ 38 , Ultimo 3.LACE-UP LOVELY Skirt, £ 34.99 , H&M 4.IN THE TRENCHES Trench coat, £ 165 , Comptoir des Cotonniers 5.SUPER STRIPES Dress, £ 40 , Animal 6.PRETTY POT Vase, £68, Anthropologie 7 FANCY FUCHSIA Skirt, £ 35 , Miss Selfridge 8.NO SWEAT Jumper, £ 35 , & Other Stories 9 BOW TOE Mules, £ 42 , Topshop 10.GET LIPPY Eve…

Saturday night, one selfie in and you’ve already racked up 50 likes in 30 minutes. Let’s be honest: this selfie game gives us a scary buzz. Being 'addicted’ to likes feels shamefully uncool, but last year psychological findings compared the feeling to eating chocolate or winning money (and let’s face it, we’re big fans of doing those things too). But while most people work on angles (your best side is your left, apparently), flawless contouring and 'the perfect lighting’, there’s a darker – and frankly terrifying – new realm to achieving a winning selfie. Say hello to 'social surgery’, where cosmetic procedures have one sole purpose: looking good on the ’gram. In a recent survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery*, 42 per cent of surgeons…

The words Finsta and Rinsta might mean nothing to you at the moment, but they’re 100 per cent coming your way. The phenomenon is a millennial issue, whereby teenagers have a ‘Finsta’ (fake Instagram), which is a private account showing real shots of how they’re living their lives, while their ‘Rinsta’ (real Insta) is a public front that they’re happy for prying parents to see. But it’s now not just Gen Z taking part as more and more twentysomethings operate a similar policy to ensure work bosses can't see those shameless selfies and drunken pictures from last Saturday night. Heidi, 31 , a digital designer from Croydon, admits to being part of this new breed. ‘I have two separate accounts but one is just for me and my close friends…

£800K PER POST Beyoncé’s already got the most liked photo ever with that bump snap, but with 100 m followers, she’s also the highest paid . £ 5 00K PER POST To think Selena Gomez probably commands as much for a gig as she does an Insta post. Well, she does have 118 m followers... £2 4 0K PER POST Want Kylie Jenner to endorse your product? With 92.6 m followers, she can command upwards of this for a single post . £200K PER POST Cara Delevingne loves social media but getting her to snap to her 39.5 m fans could set you back nearly a quarter mil. Jeez!…

Bella Hadid is an angel. And I’m not talking about the Victoria’s Secret kind. She is simply not human. Packed in a sweltering room with around 100 beauty editors, influencers and celebrities, all desperately toppling over each other in their attempts to get that all-important ’gram, was Bella Hadid. Human angel. Was she all flustered and sweating up a storm like the rest of us? Nope. Instead, Bella sat serenely, clad in a heavy-lined suede Dior coat, denim jumpsuit and patent red stilettos, as cool as a high-fashion cucumber. It was at that moment I realised Bella Hadid is no mere mortal. She’s not like the rest of us. Yes, she looked great (she is a model, after all), but she also gave off an air that only few can…

DOUBLE UP ON DENIM WEAR IT NEW-GEN NEEDLEWORK Embroidery was the detail du jour on the catwalks and is undoubtedly THE festival trend to get onboard with RN. On the fence about it? Let these beauties inspire you... SHARE IT MANTRA (FOR STREET-INSPIRED STYLE) SHARE IT SANDAL SAVVY THIS SEASON’S NEW SHOE DROPS AT MATALAN ARE *EVERYTHING* WATCH #THESHOW Victoria Adegboyega and Lydia Bright join Denise Van Outen to show their top picks from Matalan’s SS17 collections. Tune in at matalan.co.uk…

When I was a teenager, I could walk into any shop, try on a size 8 and know that, mostly, it would fit. Then I developed hips, boobs and other regulation body parts that rendered shopping trips entirely more complicated. Suddenly, I found that in every store I needed a slightly different size. Often, I need different sizes within the same store. H&M? I currently wear dresses that are a size 10, while the trousers need to be at least a 14 for me to even get them on. ASOS? I can be anything from an 8 on top to a 12 on bottom. In fact, according to reports, 49 per cent of women can’t find clothes that fit them properly. That’s basically half of the female population, all struggling…

NARS SOFT MATTE COMPLETE CONCEALER, £23 This treats delicate skin around the eye area while covering at the same time. Invisible layers of polymers, hailed as ‘stretch’ technology, help plump the crepey skin around the eye, ensuring the formula doesn’t gather in any creases. Think of it as a second layer of skin that blurs out fine lines . BEAUTY PIE TEN BEST NATURAL EYESHADOW SHADES PALETTE, £6 . 7 7 With its butter-soft textures and stunning shades, this portable palette lets you create so many looks. There are even two shades helpfully named Sculpt and Highlight, making it much easier to create a professional finish. VICTORIA BECKHAM ESTÉE LAUDER EYE KAJAL SAFFRON VANILLE, £22 Double ended, this exceptionally creamy eyeliner offers the best of both worlds. For a chic…

TIME FOR A TRIM Regular trims keep your hair in tip-top condition, and the same goes for your wick! Keep it as short as possible, no longer than 1cm, or the flame causes black smoke that can mark the candle glass – or, worse, your walls. QUELL THE WELL Burn new candles for a minimum of two hours to allow the wax to pool evenly and stop that annoying dip in the middle of the candle forming. FOREGO THE BLOW It sounds weird, but it’s actually better not to blow out your candles! The bacteria from your breath affects the quality of the oils and the wick can go off-centre, which blackens the glass when the candle is next alight. If your candle came with a lid, use this to…

DON’T… Restrict Yourself ‘Food should be something we enjoy. You should never feel unhappy or restricted. Banning certain foods increases the risk of bingeing.’ DO… Have Dessert ‘I never tell anyone to cut out any food groups. I include everything – I eat chocolate every day after dinner! Maybe skip the whole slab for the week leading up to your holiday, but that’s it.’ DON’T… Have A Cheat Meal ‘I always get asked: “What’s your cheat meal?” I don’t think of my meals as cheat meals; if I want a pizza, I’ll go out and have a pizza, but I don’t do that all the time.’ DO… Cook For Yourself ‘Make sure that you’re cooking from scratch and having balanced meals. That will stop you from reaching for snacks. Plus…

'I’ve always wondered where the owners of those Instagram rooms kept everything, and now I know. Some of these are so cool you overlook their purpose.’BRIDIE WILKINS, FASHION NEWS ASSISTANT If you’ve looked on Instagram recently, you’ll know that less is more when it comes to interiors. Save for a few succulents, a marble table (obvs) and something to sit on, the most-liked rooms contain little else. Or so we thought. Turns out the owners are just storage-savvy. From hidden compartment foot stools to minimalist towel racks, they’ve got hiding clutter down to a fine art.…

AFTER WE READ THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN LAST YEAR, WE COULDN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT PAULA HAWKINS WOULD DO NEXT. HER THRILLER SPENT A RECORD-BREAKING 20 WEEKS AT NO 1 IN THE BESTSELLERS LIST. NOW HER SECOND BOOK IS BEING HAILED AS EVEN BETTER… PLOT If we were you, we’d write off getting any sleep for the next few days – because once you start, you won’t be able to put this one down. Into The Water focuses on two sisters, Nel and Jules. When Nel is found dead at the bottom of a river, everyone assumes she jumped – apart from Jules. Forced to return to the town she left behind to care for Nel’s 15 -year-old daughter, Jules is terrified – of the water, the memories and…

• We get it: you want to share your excitement with social media. But seriously, think twice or be unfollowed. • If you can’t contain yourself, at least double check to see if anyone’s watched it first. • Pulling an OMG face is just as revealing, so don’t give the game away. • Spoiler Shield: if you ever find yourself behind, this app allows you to block spoilers from your Facebook and Twitter feeds. Just be sure to stay away from Instagram……