Author: Iskra Banović

Happy almost Fourth of July, everyone! Just as we celebrated the end of Game of Thrones Season 4 and our love for books, we are now going to get excited once more with some amazing patriotic tattoos. As you may be able to guess, there are tons of folks who are deeply devoted to America and all things Americana, so it only makes sense that plenty of them would dedicate an entire section of their skin to it. Let’s pay tribute to them paying tribute, shall we? 1. American Bicep The placement of this black and grey flag tattoo by Josh Gable of Speakeasy Tattoos is…

I love weddings. I love the idea of planning someone else’s wedding, I love the idea of planning my own, and I love to watch hours of Say Yes to the Dress and tell myself that I’m doing it ironically. I completely understand why someone would spend years searching for the perfect gown– I’ve made lists of pretty engagement rings that I love to gawk at, and marriage is a while off for me– but I also have to wonder if we’ve let our obsessions grow to an unhealthy point. For instance, when I told my friend that I’d just stumbled upon an online…

It seems like people always have an opinion on the trend of wearing tights under shorts. We’re asking our readers for their input! It’s always fascinating to me when trends are able to go on for several years and still carry controversy with them. People continue to wear Crocs despite the general consensus being that they’re ugly and gnome-like. People continue to wear peplums despite countless fashion articles saying they’re over. I have no qualms about wearing flats over socks once in a while, despite the weird looks I get from strangers every time I layer them up. The whole point of fashion is…

I love you, Gloss readers. I really do. It’s incredibly helpful to have a community of stylish, badass women to turn to when I’m clueless about something. You guys have helped me form an opinion on nude eyebrows (blegh), you’ve helped me wrap my mind around the concept of Normcore (meh), and I’ve loved hearing your thoughts about men grooming their eyebrows (eh!). We had a fun little discussion yesterday about whether or not it’s worth it to dye your hair unnatural colors as an adult, and today I have another burning question that requires your input. How do we feel about knockoff handbags? Related: How To Tell If…

There’s something about looping your arm through a well-made, attractive handle that makes everything seem right in the world, you know? Don’t get me wrong– I have plenty of cheap purses and thrift store totes– but I’ve been in the market for a designer bag. Because I’m not opposed to shopping secondhand, I’ve been doing some research to make sure I don’t get suckered into buying a knockoff bag, and I thought I’d be kind and share with you what I’ve learned! Here are five solid tips for recognizing a fake. 1. Ask for any papers or certificates that prove…

It’s a trend you can’t ignore. Demi Lovato has been wearing a whole rainbow of colors in her hair. Nicole Richie‘s made pastel purple hair looks so good that we kind of forget it doesn’t grow out of her head that way. Kesha changes her color every thirty seconds, and it’s hot enough that we aren’t even remotely bored of it yet. Unnatural colors are having a moment, and every time a celebrity debuts a mane full of Manic Panic, I start to feel myself itching to do something fun with my own hair. But then I look around the office. I look around the grocery…

It’s happening. It’s happening now. More and more European men are starting to groom and shape their eyebrows in ways that have traditionally been associated with women, and it’s only a matter of time before the trend hits the US. The days of overgrown, rectangular brows are drawing to a close, and the golden age of high arches is about to begin. So here’s our question: How do you feel about it? In the same way that I can’t decide if nude brows on women are badass or creepy, I’m on the fence about shapely brows on men. My brain is all a jumble with…

Fashion is weird. Fashion has always been weird. In fact, one of the oddest trends to explode in the mainstream in a long time… is pretending that fashion isn’t weird. I’m talking about Normcore, of course. If you’re not sure what Normcore is all about, you’re not alone. It took a while for me to accept that it wasn’t just a huge joke. Kelsey did a great post the other day in which she tested the trend for herself, but if you need a little bit more background, here are the basic pillars of norming: Rocking the #nomakeup look (while keeping in mind that that…

I have not yet done a whole lot of crowdsourcing here at The Gloss so far, but it seems to have worked out well for all of my colleagues (I was even there when Amanda used your feedback to buy this sweater). Now, I need your help with my feet (and my sanity). Look, guys, I am in a bit of trouble. Not like “accidentally spilled a slushie on Will Smith” trouble or “can’t stop stripping in public” trouble, but just a bit of annoying, inconvenient trouble. I just moved (again, already) across the country (again, already) from Portland to New…

Weddings involve a whole lot of items you will probably never use again: big decorations, long lacy veils, bouquets that are so over-the-top, they’re practically gardens. But not everything has to be discarded afterward! If you are choosing bridesmaid dresses for your wedding, or if you happen to have been chosen for the task of being a bridesmaid, you may want to consider the importance of versatility. We recently showed you many wedding dresses you can wear after your wedding, but now it is time to give the other women in the ceremony a turn at having a multipurpose outfit. There are even…

You probably have quite the winter boot collection. Your shoe rack probably contains countless pairs of black Chelsea boots, some waterproof styles, a couple of tall boots for fancy occasions, and maybe even a printed pair. Do you have any sock boots in there nestled among the Stuart Weitzman imitations and the sneakers you refuse to give up wearing? We’re not talking about slippers shaped like boots. We’re talking proper wear-out-of-the-house footwear. Sock boots are one of the trendiest shoes of the season. The most popular style is slightly taller than your booties and they are fitted to your ankles, like a sock, hence the name.…

Slim heels are great but there is something about those chunky, “ugly” shoes and sandals that is a bit wrong but so right. There’s no denying the appeal of a pair of heels. They have the sleek, curved lines that are comparable to a well-designed sports car. They look good whether they’re on your feet or not, but when you slip them on, they do really good things to your legs. Just looking at a gorgeous pair of heels you can see why Carrie Bradshaw was so obsessed with her Manolos. On the opposite spectrum of the shoe, the scale is the chunky, platform shoes.…