Blog Posts by Refinery29

By Lexi Nisita, Refinery29

Stateside, those of us with no luck finding love in real life turn to the Internet for a helping hand - OkCupid, Match.com, and a host of other, lifestyle-specific dating sites. But if you've ever tried any of said sites, you know that not all of the fish in the sea are particularly fresh. So, here's the question: In a desperate moment, would you ever shell out cold, hard cash for time with a special someone? And we don't mean paying for dinner.

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In China, many women say yes. ABC News reports that searches for "rent-a-boyfirned" have gone up 884% this year, presumably due to the unusual proximity of the Chinese Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day. And, while these services come at a price, it's nothing like the exorbitant rates we hear about on Law & Order: SVU. Of course, you have to factor in exchange rates and local price points, but a full day of fun will cost you about $128. Just going shopping? That'll be $6.42 an

By Krisitian Laliberte, Refinery29

.Whether you've got a S.O. or are single and ready to mingle, Valentine's Day is all about sexy time. And, you know what that means - it's the right moment to bring out the hot, racy lingerie to make this holiday as un-PG as possible. So, what better place to start than the purveyor of all things amazing in the undergarments arena, Victoria's Secret. Just in time for Cupid, the retailer is bringing out all the stops to bring you the best, and yes, sexiest, offerings in the nearly naked department.

If scanning Victoria's Secret's doesn't put you in the mood, fret not, sweethearts. We sat down with VS angel and gorgeous-as-all-get-out supermodel Candice Swanepoel to chat all things V-Day related, as well as seduction tricks, pickup lines, and date prep. Check out our Q&A below, and get your Valentine's Day game plan started - after getting intimate with Candice, who says V-Day can't be every day of the year?

RELATED: How To Increase Your Libido

A lot of

By The Editors at Refinery29

Sure, fashion shows may only last five minutes, but with dozens of people invested in making sure that the millions of dollars at stake don't slip away, you're pretty much guaranteed that those five minutes are some of the most beautiful you'll ever experience.

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While the looks at New York Fashion Week were definitely the most commercial we've seen in years, there were a few intrepid dreamers who pushed the limits to create truly fantastical fashion and beauty creations that left us blinking. Compound that with our staff of talented photographers, and you're left with photos that'll make you feel like you got knocked over the head with a stiletto. Now, without further ado - lights, camera, fashion!

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By Gina Marinelli, Refinery29

Lingerie for Valentine's Day? Yeah, we know it's not a groundbreaking idea, but that doesn't mean we don't love to unwrap a sexy little somethin'. And this year, whether you're trading cutout hearts and tossing back truffles while watching HBO (no judgement), prepare for a little sexy indulgence, courtesy of - wait for it - JCPenney. The mass retailer has joined forces with one of our favorite lingerie lines, Cosabella, for a collection that's a bit lacy, a bit frilly, and completely crush-worthy.

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With nothing over $35, the Cosabella Amour collection is filled with sexy-yet-sweet bra-and-panty sets, as well as cheekier nighties for whatever you're planning on the 14 (or 15, or 16...). The collection is available on JCPenney right now, which means you can order up something sexy and still have time to secure your V-Day plans.

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By Erika Stalder, Designed by Isabelle Rancier, Refinery29


Real women have voracious sexual appetites - or so it would seem, judging by the hot-and-heavy messages currently dominating pop culture. Go behind the societal myth, though, and one in three women say that they're actually uninterested in sex. And, it's not just premenopausal women we're talking about; in fact, studies show that they're more sexually driven and sexually active than women aged 18-26. Women of all ages, relationship statuses, and sexual orientations can have low (or missing) libidos.

Is it really a reason to worry? Jill Blakeway, renowned NYC acupuncturist, director of the YinOva Center and author of Sex Again, says it is. "Sex in a long relationship is one of the things keeps us bonded in ways that we don't necessarily think of," she says. "In Chinese medicine, we say there's an energetic connection we create when we have sex with someone, and that's really important to a relationship." So, what's happening to

By Connie Wang, Photographed by Mark Iantosca, Refinery29

Thank you, Mother Nature, for making New York Fashion Week more of a struggle than it usually is. In addition to canceled flights, delayed shows, and destroyed blowouts (is there a such thing as a blizzard-proof hairstyle?), we had to figure out how to style our old Wellies and rubber boots as best as possible. Not an easy feat, if you must know.

Related: 5 Ways To Tie The Same Scarf

But for those more intrepid than us, the snow provided an opportunity to spotlight fashion fearlessness (not to mention, a stunning background for street-style photography). Ahead, the lucky soles that hit the NYFW streets just as Nemo hit us.

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By Gabriel Bell, Refinery29

From a purely economic standpoint, this could be good news. Just hear us out; according to a study conducted by a cognitive psychologist at Northern Kentucky University, "Alcohol, consumed with a diet mixer, results in higher (BrAC) Breath Alcohol Concentrations as compared to the same amount of alcohol consumed with a sugar-sweetened mixer." Translation: Mixing your rum with Diet Coke gets you to sloppytown faster than stirring it up with the original formula. As we said, great for cheap thrills, but potentially very bad if you want to imbibe responsibly.

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Now, you ask, what sort of spell has been cast on diet soda to transform it into a magical alcohol-enhancing elixir? Well, none. Since diet soda lacks the added sugar (or high-fructose corn syrup) of the regular variety, you'd be metabolizing only the alcohol in your drink. Basically there's nothing else in your cocktail to slow down its punch. Notice how a

By Leila Brillson, Refinery29

Though always well-assembled, Jennifer Aniston has never been a risk taker with her 'do. Caramel highlights, sure, perhaps even bangs. But there have been no major cuts or color changes since the dawn of time (i.e. when Friends launched). So, when she was photographed with wildly blonde (Gwen Stefani-esque) hair, immediately we thought: This has got to be a wig.

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According to People, Jen's major transformation is probably an impermanent one, but she covered up any tell-tale signs or obvious roots with a jaunty beret in this latest pap snap. Though the Christina Applegate-y dye job is most likely fake, how cool would it be if it wasn't? Aniston is known for polish and poise, not peroxide, so it would be fun if she rocked our expectations.

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