We love Halloween here at Brit + Co, I mean really love it. And we also embrace the celebrations in all of their forms, from IRL blow-out bashes to WFH office parties. If you've got a virtual Halloween party to attend on Zoom with your remote team or friends across the country, here's how to get dolled up for the best costuming and celebrating from a Zoom-y distance. Keep reading for fun ways to dress up with wigs, makeup, and festive tops without having to worry about what you've got on the bottom — basically, the costume version of a mullet. Happy Halloween!
Brit + Co
Pirate
Ahoy, matey! Just grab a red scarf, eyepatch, striped shirt and a fishtail side braid for this classic and super easy costume.
Brit + Co
Cleopatra
Stand out with a costume that's part-Ancient Egyptian, part-badass babe. With some eyeliner and well-chosen accessories, you'll be able to craft up a Queen-of-Egypt-inspired Halloween costume that's sure to blow your Zoom party guests away.
Brit + Co
Rosie the Riveter
White button down and red polka dot headscarf, easy peasy. For the hair, pin up half of your hair and twist it up into a bun. Then take the rest of your hair and create another bun a little lower on your head. Top the look off with the scarf, and you'll be riveting in no time. :)
Brit + Co
Elsa
Does Frozen still melt your heart? Be everyone's favorite snow queen with this DIY costume.
Brit + Co
Holly Golightly
Top off your top knot with a tiara, then add a LBD, pearls, coffee and sunnies.
Brit + Co
Angry Bird
We've seen this costume before, but this look is too dang cute to pass up. Especially when all you need is a yellow wig and some craft supplies. Draw out the face onto felt and cut it out, then glue the head piece to a headband. Everything else can be taped to the wig.
Brit + Co
Creepy Clown
Whether you're going for a clown or a mime vibe, this kinda creepy, kinda cute look will achieve all of your Halloween dreams.
Brit + Co
Lady Gaga
It's been quite some time since Gaga donned her signature bow, but we'll never get enough of it. Head to our Hair Bow tutorial here for the full how-to.
Brit + Co
Pumpkin
Okay, this may be really, really basic, but it is a Halloween staple. Plus, it's the one time of year you can wear all orange, all the time. Grab an orange wigand go!
Brit + Co
Frenchie From Grease
Here's an excuse to break out that cute pink wig in your closet. Add a Pink Ladies jacket and bubble gum and you're ready for beauty school!
Brit + Co
Strawberry Shortcake
You can go with the full Strawberry Shortcake costume or just order a pink wig and bonnet— then add freckles and a pink top and you're Zoom ready!
Brit + Co
Pop Art
If you are looking to really up your costume game and stand out on Zoom, go for this pop art makeup look. Pop on some comic leggings (totally WFH-friendly!) and yellow wig too.
Brit + Co
Vampire
Don a black lip and eye makeup, then use that same eye makeup or black face paint to create a faux widow's peak. Spooky!
Brit + Co
Jem
We are as obsessed with our '80s cartoon characters as we are with wig costumes. For bright pink tresses, Jem is an absolute must!
Brit + Co
Cruella de Vil
This fierce villain oozes style, even if she is totally evil. Use spray hair dye on half of your head, then top off the look with red gloves, a faux fur coat, cigarette holder and a little Dalmatian. Oh, and that evil cackle is essential.
Brit + Co
Kitty
Every girl's backup costume is also the perfect Zoom costume. We made our ears by attaching black foam ears to a headband, but you can easily find a readymade option at just about any store this time of year. Get the full Black Cat makeup tutorial right here.
Brit + Co
Witch
Don a black witch hat and follow this makeup tutorial for this spooky cool green witch.
Brit + Co
Black Swan
The hair hack here is that slick top knot and the crowning tiara, though the key to the whole scene is obviously those crazy eyes. Here's a great tutorial right herefor gals who want to go all out.
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Katy Perry circa 2014
Or go for any of Katy Perry's Dark Horse video costumes with these Brit + Co DIYs.
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Brit + Co
Mad Hatter
This Mad Hatter costume is pretty easy to replicate. Grab a brown jacket from your closet, orange wig and top hat. The thread holster is made by stringing thread spools onto yarn and draping it over the shoulder. The makeup is an understated version inspired by the original, but really easy to recreate. And yes, those are fake eyelashes as eyebrows!
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Mime
You can just stay on mute!
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Barbie
Your co-workers will immediately get the idea once you show up with your pink visor, watercolor swimsuit and bike shorts outfit! They may even get a little jealous!
Brit + Co
Poison Ivy
"That girl is poison" best describes former botanist turned green seductress Poison Ivy. See how you can DIY this costume here!
Brit + Co
Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy
Maybe you prefer to be a bada**, take no prisoners green goddess like Gamora from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. For fun, you can try your hand at method acting by acting like her during your virtual Halloween party. Just try to keep the sarcasm on the lighter side.
Brit + Co
Minions
To make things more fun, you and a few co-workers can dress up as Minions! It's a DIY-costume that's inexpensive and funny.
Brit + Co
The Sanderson Sisters
Hocus Pocus is basically life for the Brit + Co team so it only makes sense to show up to your virtual Halloween party wearing one of the above costumes!
Planning any virtual Halloween gatherings? Share your costumes with us @BritandCo!
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial
Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry
On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."
He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."
To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."
Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"
The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"
Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"
The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."
Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.
November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA
Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."
After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."
Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."
Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.
And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations
On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:
After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again
Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.
I figured it was about time I released it.
Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.
Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.
High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"
@ihatebriannachickenfry Sometimes all you need is a nyc sunrise and some good pals
♬ I Can Do It With a Broken Heart - Taylor Swift
November 15, 2024 — Brianna Alleges Zach Bryan Picked Out Engagement Ring For Her
It goes down in the DM, according to Brianna (& Yo Gotti). In a TikTok caption, Brianna explained that her "biggest celeb crush tried to slide [in her DMs] a few months back" but that she denied it given her relationship with Zach. Then, in the comments Brianna elaborated that she continues to learn more about Zach's alleged infidelities — and how deep they really go. She wrote, "Been finding out he was cheating the whole time lol. The week he showed me my engagement ring he was DMing girls hahahahha.” OOF, that's tough.
November 17, 2024 — Brianna Posts TikTok With A New Man... & Threatens To Post Alleged Abuse From Zach Bryan
After going through Taylor Swift's entire anthology (girl, we've BEEN there!), it's clear Brianna Chickenfry isn't about to let her breakup with Zach Bryan bring her down. The podcast host posted a TikTok on November 17, 2024 with the caption, “Sometimes all you need is a nyc sunrise and some good pals." And while that message is sweet, we noticed something else pretty sweet — the man she's seemingly cuddled up with throughout the 42 second clip!
Commenters were quick to notice, too — one person even writing, "That was fast." Brianna responded, “Well I was cheated on my whole relationship so yeah," clearly proving she doesn't care what anyone thinks right now. And good for her!
That same day, Brianna threatened to share videos of alleged abuse from her relationship after Zach kept posting pictures of her cats, according to Page Six. She said the videos depict “whipping s–t at my face," but her reps have yet to respond to Page Six for comment about this.
Definitely a whirlwind of a day in the life of Bri...
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We have a serious appreciation for all things creative, like these plus-size Halloween costumes, and we have a hunch you’ll love some of our newest finds, too. Afterward, if you still haven’t decided on which costume to wear this Halloween, gather your group of besties and get their opinion — or, better yet, pick out a group Halloween costume, and you can all dress up together! Here are 40 of the most curve-lovin’ (and seriously hot) plus-size Halloween costumes you’ll find out there this season.
Yandy
Cruella de Vil
Cruella de Vil will always hold a special place among our most-feared villains, right alongside Voldemort and Ursula. After all, she’s going after puppies! But on Halloween, the celebration of the gruesome and morbid, this evilness equates to fabulousness, and we’ll more than forgive you for dressing up like her… just this once.
Walmart
Maleficent
Channel your deepest, darkest powers and channel your inner Maleficent this Halloween. “So you see, the story is not quite as you were told.”
Amazon
Cozy Deer
Wait, so we can look cute *and* be toasty-warm?! We’re sayin’ yes to this fuzzy zip-up.
Yandy
Sexy Stewardess
Get ready for liftoff in this flight attendant costume. If you’re a travel-lover, this is the perfect way to bring your passion into your costume.
Brit + Co
DIY Jessica Rabbit Costume
This has to be the ultimate curvy bombshell character to channel on Halloween. The dress, gloves, hair, and makeup are bold and will definitely put your bangin’ bod front and center. (via Brit + Co)
Amazon
Sexy Kitty
Frisky attitude not included. This plus size Halloween costume might look simple, but it’s anything but basic.
Amazon
Flapper Girl
There’s nothing as fun — and a little dangerous — as the glitz and glamour of the ’20s. Throw on a long string of pearls or do your makeup to look like a ghostly flapper for that extra creative edge.
Brit + Co
DIY Ursula Costume
We’ll always be a sucker for classic Disney costumes. And if you want to give Ursula that extra-special take, you can follow this relatively simple DIY for the costume contest win! (via Brit + Co)
Halloween Costumes
Sea Siren Mermaid
This is — hands down — one of the best mermaid costumes we’ve ever seen. From the form-fitting metallic mermaid “tail” to the bustier top, this is for sure a look to emulate if you want to flaunt your curves.
Yandy
Storybook Alice
Down the rabbit hole you go this Halloween. You never know what’s going to happen when you channel this fairytale classic!
Halloween Costumes
Sea Siren
You had us at gold, sequins, and tulle. Oh, and we’re always down to rule the sea!
Amazon
Beauty And The Beast Belle
We’ll always love our classic Disney princesses, especially this beauty.
Amazon
Minnie Mouse
You don’t need a Mickey to look fly as heck in a retro-inspired Minnie Mouse getup.
Amazon
Empress Divine
One of the best reasons to dress up as an ancient Egyptian is obviously the cat-eye makeup.
Amazon
Goth Red Riding Hood
Pay homage to one of your favorite fairy tales with a sexy twist. Plus, if you haven’t worn a cape before, you truly haven’t lived.
Amazon
Flirty Cop
It may be illegal to impersonate a police officer, but no one ever said a flirty cop was off-limits!
Halloween Costumes
Cinderella Fairy Godmother
We could all use a fairy godmother, albeit notthis scheming one from Shrek. Still, this is a hilarious costume, and we’re definitely eyeing that wand and wig combo.
Amazon
Harley Quinn
We’re impressed with the mismatched thigh-highs and color-coordinated armbands on this plus-size Halloween costume.
Amazon
Cozy Bat Costume
The name of this costume says it all. If you’re in the mood to prioritize comfort, you’ll feel extra-snuggly in this cozy bat costume.
Amazon
Ghostbuster
If you loved the all-female Ghostbusters as much as we did, grab your friends and go as the whole crew. The best part? On Halloween, there will be plenty of monsters to bust, which makes a great conversation-starter!
Amazon
Queen Bee
Everyone at this year's Halloween party will be buzzing about you in this flattering bee costume. You are the queen, after all!
Amazon
Oktoberfest Fraulein
The beer maid costume is always a safe choice. It’s cute and classic, and you get to wear pigtails.
Amazon
Snow White
If you’re going to wear this outfit out on the town, you’ll definitely have at least seven admirers following you wherever you go.
Amazon
Pinup Sailor
Sail the open seas with this cute and comfy sailor costume. This retro getup is all about the accessories!
Yandy
Miss Muerte
Another way to celebrate Halloween is to celebrate the dead. Do it in style with this awesome costume.
Amazon
Cozy Skeleton
If you’re into traditional bones, this comfy number will surely scare the living dead out of you.
Amazon
Grease Pink Lady
This is the perfect Halloween costume for when you don’t really want to dress up. Flats? Check! Awesome jacket to keep you warm? Double check!
Walmart
Supergirl
No one is going to mess with you in this costume, and you just might feel faster than a speeding bullet.
Halloween Costumes
Spanish Senorita
With plenty of sass and a whole lot of ruffles, this costume will have you dancing for joy.
Amazon
Mrs. Incredible
Be your own superhero with this sleek Elastigirl costume. You would look totally incredible in it.
Amazon
Dark Alice
We wouldn’t drink the tea that this Alice serves. While we do love the original blue that Disney’s Alice wears, we are really digging this all-black dress too.
Amazon
Batgirl
Trick-or-treat in the name of justice! Grab Superman and bring him along too, because you two are friends now, remember?
Amazon
Hippie
Keep this Halloween totally tubular by donning this adorable retro dress with go-go boots and a fun '70s eye makeup look!
Amazon
Friday The 13th Miss Voorhees
If you’re team Jason, then you need to buy this sexy number. While we’re not sure who would ultimately win this fight, we’re sure this outfit is already winning our hearts.
Walmart
Justice League Wonder Woman
While Superman is cool and all, we are particularly fond of Wonder Woman. She’s a badass chick that we are ready to represent. Flying an invisible jet doesn’t hurt, either.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.
Jennifer Lawrence announced she's pregnant, and we couldn't be happier for her! Though she and her husband, Cooke Maroney, aren't known for being in the public eye too much, it seems like this is one piece of news they don't mind sharing! Sorry, but we haven't been this excited about baby news since Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson became parents — excuse us while we celebrate!
Here's everything we know about baby number 2 so far.
November 17: Jennifer Lawrence Glows On The Red Carpet Again
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Not only is Jennifer Lawrence glowing during her second pregnancy, but she's also showing how stylish moms can be! According to WWD, she wore a gorgeous brown Bottega Veneta gown to the Governors Award event and looked like a goddess on the red carpet. The dress and its gold hardware complemented her skin beautifully along with her matching clutch!
It seems like maternity style gets better every year and it gives this mama hope that the world sees that life doesn't stop just because we have kiddos in tow!
Has Jennifer Lawrence debuted her baby bump yet?
Anna Webber/Getty Images for AFI
YES! Jennifer Lawrence's baby bump was the star of the Zurawski v Texas premiere (via PEOPLE). She wore a structured white dress with a black belt around her waist that accentuated her cute baby bump and appeared to be glowing.
According to Deadline, she's one of the executive producers of Zurawski v Texas, a documentary that sheds light on the "restrictive abortion laws" that put women's lives in danger in Texas. Alongside producers Hilary and Chelsea Clinton, Jennifer's involvement in the documentary as a pregnant woman makes a pivotal statement during a time where mothers' mortalities aren't always considered during their pregnancies.
When did Jennifer Lawrence announce her second pregnancy?
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI
Leave it to Vogue to get the exclusive scoop about Jennifer being pregnant again! According to the publication, an official "representative for the actor confirmed" the news yesterday, October 20. So exciting!
When is Jennifer Lawrence's second baby due?
Kevin Mazur
Jennifer Lawrence hasn't announced her due date yet, so we can't be quite sure! However, if she's out of her first trimester, Jennifer could have her baby around April 2025!
What have Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney said about their family?
John Phillips/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
It seems Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney were open to the idea of having another baby as recently as this summer! An unknown source told Entertainment Tonight, "Jennifer and Cooke are doing very well and are super in love. They make each other laugh and have the best time parenting together. They would love to have another kid and expand their family."
When was Jennifer Lawrence's first baby born?
Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
Jennifer and Cooke's firstborn son, Cy, was born February 2022, which means he's almost three years old!
The actress later explored her feeling about becoming a mom in another Vogueinterview. "It’s so scary to talk about motherhood. Only because it’s so different for everybody. If I say, It was amazing from the start, some people will think, 'It wasn’t amazing for me at first,' and feel bad. Fortunately I have so many girlfriends who were honest. Who were like, It’s scary," she said.
What has Jennifer Lawrence said about being a mom?
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
It seems like Jennifer found her stride because she's apparently embraced being a mom. She hasn't said anything recently, but she did speak with Entertainment Tonight last year during the promotion of No Hard Feelings about her parenting habits. "Of course, the urge to stop anything from ever hurting or negatively affecting your baby..." she said.
However, co-star Andrew Barth Feldman had nothing but positive words to share about Jennifer as a mom. "Jen is an amazing mother, for real. That was kind of one of the incredible things about doing this with you is seeing just how much of a priority being a mother is for you and how deeply you care about that over everything," he said.
We can't wait to see how Jennifer's second pregnancy develops and hope she's willing to give us a little sneak peek of how she's prepping to have two young kids!
Follow us on Facebook to stay tuned for updates!
Have you ever wondered why it seems some women always have the best friendships? We're talking about on the level of Sex and the Cityor Insecure. It's debatable whether some of those friends are toxic or not, but that's another story. The point is, it seems like some women have the best luck when it comes to building fun and supportive platonic relationships.
Are there unique qualities women in this position share? According to friendship coach Zoe Asher and licensed therapist Nicolle Osequeda, the answer is yes! Asher is host of the top-rated Accidentally Intentional podcast while Osequeda is the owner and founder of Lincoln Park Therapy Group, giving them an inside look at how people tend to approach all types of relationships!
Let's dive in!
Here are the unique qualities women with lots of friends share.
1. Women with a lot of friends value connection & community.
The one thing everyone with a solid group of friends can agree on is how it feels like you've built your own supportive community. Friends are often the first people we turn to with good or bad news, or the ones we simply want to go on adventures with. Osequeda says, "Women with strong friendship circles often value connection, community, and the power of vulnerability."
There's a realization that women in this unique position are able to "recognize that life is richer with a support system," says Osequeda. This involves "people who will listen, validate, and be there through both the highs and lows" she adds. From the friend who stayed up with you all night after a bad breakup to the one who cheered the loudest at your graduation, women who have a huge friend circle know that life feels better when we can connect with others.
Based on her experience as a therapist, she's "observed how women start friendships by gradually sharing layers of themselves." This can look like "having children at the same school or bonding over shared interests," she adds. This vulnerability is important because it creates a foundation that signals to women they've found their tribe.
2. Women with multiple friendships are open to vulnerability.
Like Osequeda mentioned, vulnerability can deepen our friendships. "These women are open to sharing the 'messy' parts of themselves which builds a deeper, more authentic bond." Also, she notes women with a lot of friends "aren't afraid to shed layers and be real" because "this vulnerability strengthens their sense of community." The more this happens over time, the more it "helps foster the connections" women with a lot of friends "cherish," according to Osequeda.
Honestly, she says "we’re all wired to seek out connection, and friendships provide that sense of community, validation, and belonging." She believes we truly "crave spaces where we can share our thoughts and feelings about what truly matters to us."
Asher believes women with lots of friends are "usually drawn towards one another in friendship" based on two levels:
- Level 1: Shared interests, appearance of confidence, a positive energy that they feel (smiling helps with this!)
- Level 2: (When in conversation) the safety they feel when speaking to another person, [emotional compatibility], how engaged the person is in conversation, and a desire to learn more about them, ultimately to find shared values.
This determines how women move forward in friendships. The approach is often led with "a deep sense of authenticity and care," according to Osequeda. "This is because women want relationships where they can be themselves, sharing hopes, dreams, and frustrations without judgment."
3. Women who have a lot of friends like other people they're friends with.
Again, the fact women with lots of friends actually like the people in their chosen circle is monumental. Asher says, "An interesting Yale study done in 2003 sought to look at 'popularity' in high schools to see if they could find something that all of the most liked and most popular kids had in common (outside of being a jock, etc.,)."
The common thread? "THEY liked the highest amount of people," Asher reveals. I talk about being a people pleaser a lot, but genuinely liking others isn't the same as that. IMO, it's actually admirable when people can respect others regardless of their race, religion, socioeconomic status, or sexuality.
She knows you're likely asking, "How does this apply to women having a lot of friends?" Her answer? "Across the board, the principle here is that women with the most friends are continuously on a hunt to find good and likable things about others."
However, this isn't based on a selfish need or want. "They've determined that the time invested in others is of mutual benefit," says Asher because "the biggest coast in adult female friendships is time — the most finite resource we all share in common."
4. These women also don't mind making new friends.
While making friends as adults shouldn't be hard, it definitely doesn't mean it comes easily. From overthinking to social anxiety, there's so many reasons why we struggle. Also, this idea we're doing fine without friends isn't exactly helpful or positive. Asher says, "The CDC has said that the impacts of loneliness on our bodies are more harmful than smoking 15 cigarettes A DAY! Making time for quality friendships (and the pursuit of it) is just as important for your physical state as working out is."
Where should you start if you want to forge new friendships? Osequeda says, "Start within communities that already resonate with you — whether it’s your child’s school, your workplace, a gym, dog park or a shared hobby. Places where you already belong create natural opportunities to connect." She even suggests giving "apps like Bumble BFF or local meet-up groups" a chance because they "can also help you find like-minded friends." But don't think you're limited to this!
Though Asher agrees that women tend to approach "friendships by trying to find commonalities right from the beginning," she says you don't have to confine yourself to this formula. "The reason I don't think this is best is because we are boxing ourselves in when we do this. The greatest friends could be on the other side of the stereotypes we're creating," she notes. Taking it a step further, Asher shared her own experience with this. "I watched all 3 of my best friends get married and have kids all before I ever got married. On the outside, most women would think 'They don’t have anything in common.' But on the inside, the character traits and values we each were looking for were mutual, and that became a more important compass for our friendship than the stage in life we were each in."
She was even surprised she'd become close to her best friends because of how things looked externally. "We had nothing in common, but I'm so glad I didn't box myself in," she says excitedly.
Here Are Even More Ways To Make New Friends!
Asher has three ways you can open yourself up to new adult friendships if you're interested.
- The most important place to start is our mindset. We have to first decide “I don’t want to be lonely anymore, and I’m worth having meaningful friendships.” When we make that decision, then we give ourselves permission and the courage to step out and take action in that! Important note about this: there was a study done at Stanford that revealed that people are 1.5x MORE likely to accept us than we think they are! So don’t let the fear of rejection hold you back!
- Go first. Make the ask, and then make the plans! Saying “We should hang out sometime” is ineffective because “sometime” isn’t a day on the calendar! We cannot wait for other people to want to pursue a friendship with us, because most of us are in this same boat — not knowing where to start! We can pursue connection, get plugged into a community (examples: book club, fitness class, church, etc), or create our own connections by just inviting someone over to our house/apartment. The biggest thing we need to remind ourselves of that is to stop making excuses, or pre-determining how we think people will respond!
- Again, don’t box yourself in. Don’t let your preconceived notions of what you think your archetype of a friend will look like stop you from spending time with others who don't fit that label. As addressed above, the friendships we’ve been looking for our whole lives could be right behind the stereotypes we’ve created! It’s more about character traits than it is about the external compatibility of hobbies or stages of life.
Osequeda's last piece of advice? "If you already have a friend group, meeting friends of friends is another great way to grow your circle. They key is taking that first step with a little bit of vulnerability — start a conversation, ask a question, and show interest." She's sure "it's these small moments of openness that create lasting connections!"