Blog Posts by Refinery29

By Connie Wang, Photographed by Jacqueline Harriet, Refinery29

Before you all start commenting with "YOU PUT IT AROUND YOUR NECK," let us explain ourselves. A scarf is one of the easiest things to put on, but if you're still wearing it like how your mother put it on your neck in elementary school, you're missing its potential. This versatile accessory can be shaped and molded in a variety of ways to flatter different outfits, hairstyles, and - yes - different temperatures.

A novel knot, twist, or new drape can make an old scarf feel new again (or a not-so-interesting one feel super-special), so come take a look as we (and our gorgeous intern Kimberly Wang) show you five different ways to tie the same scarf. And yes, they all begin with "putting it around your neck."

Yarnz Camo Daisy Cashmere, $205, available at Shopbop.

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By Nicole Catanese, Illustrations by Ammiel Mendoza, Refinery29

Healthy eating is very near and dear to our hearts here at R29. We're big proponents of the old adage that you are what you eat, so we do everything we can to know everything we can about our diets.

With that in mind, we asked a few of our favorite food experts to weigh in on seven of the most popular diets among the health-obsessed - vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo, high-protein, raw, and macrobiotic - to give you the inside scoop on what they really do to your body. In the epic guide ahead, you'll find a breakdown of each diet, plus its nutritional pros and cons.

We get that for many of you on these diets, the choice may be about more than just about eating. So, hear us now: We don't intend for this to be a competition of which diet is best. This guide is here to do just that - guide you to make informed, healthy decisions about your dietary needs. And, as always, remember that there are no one-size-fits-all

By Connie Wang & Willow Lindley, Refinery29

Here at R29, ugly sweaters are akin to pugs; so awkward and weird that we can't not love them. Yep - we're the kinds of people who don't wait around for Ugly Sweater Parties to wear our fugly fuzzy friends out, and we do it proudly.

Fortunately for us, the graphic, retro, over-the-top ugly sweater is something of a trend this season, so you won't attract quite as many weird stares wearing one on the subway as you used to. This also means that there was tons of styling inspiration on the fall runways to help us pair those sweaters with trousers, skirts, dresses, and so much more (but not reindeer ears, Santa hats, and a mug of eggnog, thankyouverymuch).

To celebrate this quirky turn of events, our Shops team dug hard through all of our favorite thrift stores to bring you the best vintage sweaters. And we styled some of our favorites in these five Perfect Outfits. Falling in love? (We don't blame you.) Just remember to shop fast, because

By Nicole Catanese, Refinery29

Most of us are essentially living life on repeat: wake up, have coffee, eat breakfast, go to work, do your thing, eat again, work out, eat again, and sleep. So, why not make the nitty gritty stuff you always do work for you? Turns out, there are subtle changes you can make in how and when you execute tiny tasks each day that can offer a big payoff down the line. Make the most of your daily routine with these tweaks from Dr. Oz Garcia, a nutritionist and wellness expert in New York City.

When You Wake Up
Beep. Beep. BEEEEPPPPP. Sound familiar? Yeah, not fun. Instead of a beyond-annoying blast of noise to jolt you out of bed, set your alarm to your favorite song (and veer on the upbeat side, no Goyte "Somebody That I Used To Know" BS). "Hearing something pleasant is a way better way to start your day then dreading a sound you hate - it can truly set the stage for your attitude and mindset," says Garcia. And, while the glare of streetlights and your

By Leila Brillson, Refinery29

Yoko Ono once gained notoriety for her experimental films that obsessively studied the butt, so when Opening Ceremony announced its menswear collaboration with Ono, we had a feeling the resulting line was going to kick some gluteus maximus. And boy were we right. Upon perusing the just-released collection, it's clear that the artist/icon/being-from-another-universe's predilection for the rear really takes center stage.

Based on a book of line drawings she gave John Lennon for their wedding, "Fashions for Men" envisions a bunch of curious, tush-focused garments. Call us conservative, but pants with cut-out butts or bright, contrasting hands on the crotch might not make the most practical of purchases - but then again, those wearing Ono's light-up man-bras probably don't have practicality on the mind. But the point is this: The project came from a conceptual sketch originating from a conceptual artist based on a very specific concept - so naturally the

By Leila Brillson, Refinery29
For some reason, people just love talking about Willow Smith's hair - and not just about her "whipping it back and forth." The preteen has a no-holds-barred approach to fashion, wearing combat boots, animal prints galore, and more spikes and studs than Lady Gaga. Yet, while her sartorial sense is remarked upon by the fashion set, it is the girl's coiff that receives constant scrutiny: When she shaved her head earlier this year, fans were shocked, and media commented that it was "too much, too soon."

The criticisms all had the same undertone, with observers weighing in that Willow's extreme 'do doesn't allow her to look like a young woman. (One commenter sums up their misgivings by saying: "Thank goodness my kids just want to play and ride up and down the street on their bikes with their friends. No stress or worries. Too much, too young in celeb land. She just looks like her dad, what little girl wants to look like a boy?")

This summer, Willow took to

By Lexi Nisita, Refinery29
It was only seven months ago that Jessica Simpson gave birth to her and fiancé Eric Johnson's first child, the normally named Maxwell Drew - but it appears she's now got another on the way! According to Us Weekly, an inside source reports the couple just found out about the unexpected but very welcome news.

Jessica was the subject of a lot of media scrutiny regarding her post-baby weight, but we're thinking the new mom has plenty of more pressing things to worry about than haters, these days - plus, she's has been looking curvy and gorgeous these days, so really, who care? Being pregnant twice in one year is a lot to handle, so we wish her the very best.

Congratulations to the happy couple - and if you're curious to know more, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly on newsstands this Friday!


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By Sarah St. Lifer, Refinery29
It looks like Christmas has come early for Playboy subscribers - the saucy mag has revisited its roots for the December issue by featuring its most well-known model (and Hugh Hefner's all-time top crush), Marilyn Monroe. Clad in a towel and little else, the tribute is not only touching (2012 marks the 50th anniversary of her death), but quite titillating for fans and history buffs alike.

The glossy dug through its archives (10 million photos deep!), to publish the special series of rare shots of Monroe throughout her career. Of course, Hef couldn't be more pleased with the homage to Playboy's premiere cover girl, revealing, "She was most in control when she was in the nude ... What would be a position of vulnerability for others was a position of power for her." And boy does the portfolio prove it!

From her iconic shoot with Lawrence Schiller two days before her death to the candids of Monroe getting dressed by her pool, there's no denying this woman was