7 #OOTDs That Will Make You LOVE This New Plaid

Nov 09, 2015

Nothing says fall quite like a little plaid, but there’s another print that’s giving the iconic pattern a run for its money this season. Grid check, a more pared-down version of plaid, boasts clean lines and modern appeal, making it perfect for the minimalist or the girl that wants to diversify without totally abandoning tradition. If grid check doesn’t quite strike you as exciting, these on-point #OOTDs will show you what’s up.

1. @walkingcanucks: This definitely isn’t your average grid check. Splashes of funky bright color and abstract lines take the sleek and chic style to the next level. Dig it. (via @walkingcanucks)

2. @jessakae: This girl has layering on lock. A mix of colors and textures paired with a bold print makes for an eye-catching look. Now this is how off-duty dressing is done. (via @jessakae)

3. @rantiinreview: Get a little mix-and-match going by rocking a check piece with a standout print in a similar hue. Balance the look by pairing up a neutral-colored top with bright, cheerful bottoms. (via @rantiinreview)

4. @fashionandfrills: When you want to make a statement, don’t hold back. Channel a little check from head to toe, layering patterns in different colors and weights. There’s no way you’re going unnoticed. (via @fashionandfrills)

5. @taliaamy: For those who like to keep it classic, make cream-colored versions of this understated pattern your new go-to. A poncho or cape in said print adds a sophisticated edge to of-the-moment pieces like culottes and high-neck sweaters. (via @taliaamy)

6. @stylebyada: Statement outerwear is a must-have no matter where your sartorial allegiances lie. While bold color and funky textures reign supreme in this category, grid check can be just as impactful, especially when paired with masculine silhouettes and edgy accessories. (via @stylebyada)

7. @itsnotheritsme: Double up on windowpane prints for a healthy dose of style. Neutral shades will keep the look more on the subtle side, while vibrant hues will serve up some serious look-at-me vibes. (via @itsnotheritsme)

What Insta style stars do you follow? Do you do an #ootd on the regular? Tell us in the comments below, and be sure to tag your pics with @britandco for a chance to be featured in next week’s post.

3 Stylish Ways to Nail The Perfect Shirt Tuck

With the ever-increasing popularity of the high-waisted jean, it’s no wonder fashion girls want to show off their flattering contours by testing out every creative way to tuck in their tops. But even those that have masted the trend need a little guidance every now and then. So, as per usual, we’re here to help. Scroll on to learn a few simple tricks for conquering the cute tuck and seriously upping your personal 2018 style game.

The Front Tuck: Perhaps the most difficult to tackle, the front tuck is best achieved by tucking in your top completely and then untucking everything *except* the front quarter — about midway between your first and second belt loop from the front. This is a great way of highlighting a special belt buckle or embroidery or denim embellishments. Try this method with anything from a simple tank to a bulky (and oh-so-cozy) cable-knit sweater. There’s really nothing you can’t front tuck.

The Half-Tuck: Probably the most lazy-girl-inspired of the tucks, the half-tuck looks relaxed yet intentional and is pretty much just an all-around dope decision. As with the first method, tuck in your shirt completely before pulling out just a front eighth. Clearly, this looks works best with button-up blouses and more structured tops, but we challenge you to try anything! Pair with a cardigan or blazer to pull off a perfect blend of professional with a dash of messy.

The Full Tuck: We know, we know, it seems simple but somehow it doesn’t always feel simple to integrate into your outfit. Tuck your top tightly into whatever you’re sporting — be it a pencil skirt, trousers, or skinny 501’s — and then lift your arms up and hop on one leg. JK! But seriously, imagine you’re seeing Queen Bey slay the stage and she’s just asked you to put your hands in the air and then voilà, perfect full tuck look achieved!

Follow us on Pinterest for more trend-inspired tutorials!

Illustrations: Marisa Kumtong

Everyone's Losing It Over This "Horrifying" 'Severance' Season 2 Theory: "I'm Gonna Lose My Mind."

If you can't stop talking about Severance season 2, you're not alone. The Apple TV+ show has totally taken over the internet (and all my group chats) and as the mysteries at Lumon continue to unfold, there's one heartbreaking, viral theory surrounding this week's episode, and Gemma, that has the internet in a tizzy.

Keep reading for the most insane Severance season 2, episode 9 theory on the internet.

Has Gemma been an innie the whole time?

Apple TV

TikTok user @msauroraalice made the connection that Severance season 2 episode 9, "The After Hours," has the same title as a specific Twilight Zone episode in which a mannequin, well, forgets she's a mannequin. And now we're all wondering whether Severance is going to reveal a very similar plotline with Gemma.

"Could Gemma have been manufactured at Lumon and all of her experience with Mark is just a severed version of herself," @msauroraalice says, theorizing that "there is no Gemma."

"I bet this next episode, Gemma or Helly has a horrifying discovery about themselves just like the mannequin realizing she's not even alive," she continues.

Clearly, this Twilight Zone episode has a ton of similarities to Severance, with the split identities of it all. And as one Reddit user just made it even more heartbreaking by saying, "She could be an experiment from the very start which is why they went as far as to fake her death and recruit Mark to work for them. That would be heartbreaking. It would mean Mark and Gemma 's relationship was manufactured from the beginning."

"The After Hours" is sure to set us up for a crazy 'Severance' season 2 finale.

Apple TV

After everything Mark has been through, this would truly be a heartbreaking turn of events and I don't know if I could handle it! I'm not alone, either. TikTok users flooded the comments of the post (which has over 900K views).

"If Gemma was never a full person to begin with I'm gonna lose my mind," one user said, while another theorized, "I think Gemma is real but she actually died. Lumon had plans for her to begin with so they revived her body because they effectively own it and now she's stuck in purgatory testing."

But if this Severance theory breaks your heart as much as it breaks mine, there's a silver lining. "The next episode after 'The After Hours' from TWZ is called 'The Mighty Casey' and is about a robot who becomes more human I believe," a third TikTok user says.

But honestly, emotional devastation — and peeling back a character's insecurities, fears, and heartbreak to get to their core — make for really good TV because of how relatable those moments can be. So we'll just have to see what the Severance season 2 finale has in store.

Here are 10 Questions I Need Severance Season 2 To Answer — let us know on Instagram what kinds of questions and theories you have.

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You Can Now Hire an Instagram Husband (Or Wife!) Just in Time for NYFW

Sometimes, you get dressed and you want the whole world to see your super on-point outfit — not just those you come across on your commute. However, a simple selfie might not capture your whole look, and a mirror pic might not do the trick, either. That’s where an Instagram Husband or Wife (or, y’know, partner, for those of us who are non-binary) comes in — they’ll take a full-length picture for you to post across all your social media platforms to rack up all the likes you truly deserve. And now, for a limited time (September 7-15, to be exact), you can hire your very own Instagram Husband or Wife from Task Rabbit!

Task Rabbit is a service that allows you to hire people to do all the chores you don’t want to do — pick up your laundry, move your office supplies from your old building to the new one, hang your shelves and more. But this Fashion Week, they’ve gotten super creative with their offerings and have decided that what we all really need is some help taking #OOTD photos — and how can we argue with that? Your Instagram Husband or Wife will take photos for you, carry around extra clothes (and who knows, maybe even a Tide pen, just in case), edit photos for your liking and even press “Share” if you’re too busy to do it yourself. What a dream.

If you want to take advantage of this special offer, you’ll have to do it soon — Instagram Spouses are only available from September 7 through 15, and you know you wanna give this no-commitment relationship a shot.

What do you think of this deal? Let us know @BritandCo!

(Photos via Taskrabbit)

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Doom Scrolling Is Making You Even More Anxious — How To Curb Your Bad Habit

I didn't know I was doom scrolling on social media until I had a nightmare I was being chased by oddly-shaped thought bubbles filled with conflicting ideology. It was enough to make me set screen limits for myself, but I wondered if other people were still struggling with the same thing I'd been doing.

According toDr. Dr. Mikki Lee, Psy.D.,Manhattan-based psychologist at Clarity Therapy NYC, she works "with many people with ADHD who struggle specifically with doom scrolling." If you're doom scrolling, it doesn't necessarily mean you're neurodivergent, but she's seen this phenomenon enough to know it's not another trendy word that'll come and go.

So Here's what these professionals know about doom scrolling — and how they wanna help you stop doing it!

Scroll to learn what doom scrolling is, how to recognize it, and steps to take to curb your new habit!

What does "doom scrolling" mean?

Monstera Production/Pexels

"Doom scrolling" is exactly what it sounds like — an incessant amount of staring at social media feeds. From Dr. Lee's perspective, it's "when we continuously and compulsively scroll through negative news or distressing content on social media or news sites." The worst part is that she says "we often continue to do so even when it makes us feel progressively worse over time!" It's almost like we're in a toxic relationship with it 👀.

Also, the news is much more accessible than it used to be. I vividly remember my grandmother being glued to the morning and evening reports growing up, but now we don't have to look far for a breakdown of what's going on. Because of this, Dr. Lee believes "breaking ourselves out of this cycle is especially difficult because much of the news today is presented in a way that keeps us 'hooked.'" How?

Why are more people talking about it?

MART PRODUCTION/Pexels

Based on her observations, Dr. Lee feels "social media algorithms often prioritize content that is engaging and gets reactions (often fear-based)." If you've ever used the word "rage-bait" in a conversation then you're already familiar with what she means. As a result, this "makes it easy to get stuck in a loop of distressing information," according to her. "In fact, with world issues such as climate concerns and political polarization, there seems to be an endless stream of negative news," she adds.

As much as I haven't wanted to talk about them, it's hard to escape concerns and opinions related to topics such as politics, reproductive health, or celebrity PR disasters. They have a way of showing up in conversations because almost everyone I know has access to a smart phone, where news is readily available at our fingertips.

What are negative side effects of being on social media or news sites 24/7?

Antoni Shkraba/Pexels

If you've been feeling on edge or skittish lately, Dr. Lee wants you to know there's a connection between them and doom scrolling. "There are plenty of negative consequences of doom-scrolling. It can increase our feelings of stress and anxiety, lead to feelings of depression and hopelessness, disturb our sleep (if doom-scrolling late at night), and eat up our time during the day when we’re trying to be productive and engage in positive life activities," she says.

However, some good has come out of an increased awareness about doom scrolling. According to Dr. Lee, "we are becoming more aware of the effects of screen time, especially doom scrolling, our our mental health." I didn't know it at the time, but going into my phone settings to create boundaries for myself was the right thing to do!

How can I curb this habit?

Blue Bird/Pexels

If you're ready to stop being so attached to your phone, Dr. Lee has a few tips to help you make this necessary change.

Create screen limits: "Set time limits on how much news you consume. I like to keep it around 30 minutes a day of news exposure."
Review your notifications: "Remove news notifications from your phone to remove the constant barrage of 'breaking news' so that YOU can decide when to check in."
Try listening to a podcast: "Subscribe to a news podcast such as The Daily or NPR News Now. Podcasts automatically have a time limit and often discuss the most pressing news of the day. PLUS, you can listen while doing something stress-relieving, such as working out."

How can I tell if I'm doom scrolling or casually looking at social media?

Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels

It can be confusing when you're not sure if you're casually scrolling on social media, or succumbing to doom and gloom. But Dr. Lee doesn't want you to stress yourself out even further! Here's how she says you can tell which one you're doing:

Stay curious: "Pay attention to your mood during and after scrolling. Are you feeling anxious, drained, or exhausted? Do you keep scrolling bad news and struggle to stop even though it makes you feel progressively worse? These are signs that you are doom-scrolling."
Pay attention to content you're consuming: "On the other hand, if you are engaging with a variety of content (not just bad news) that makes you feel informed, entertained, or inspired, you are likely just casually scrolling. Casually scrolling often feels easier to stop than doom-scrolling."

You don't have to stop using your favorite social media apps, but it does help to limit how often you're online. If it's been more than two hours since you've gotten up to eat, use the bathroom, or work, you need to break up with doom scrolling ASAP.

Visit the rest of our site for even more self-care tips!

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25 Crazy Good St. Patrick's Day Desserts That Will Be Your Lucky Charm

St. Patrick's Day in America is known mostly as an excuse to have a day-long marathon of drinking green beer (we'll take some green cocktails, too), but if staying in is more your jam, you'll need some epic DIY party favorsand a slew of adorable St. Patrick's Day-themed treats! In this collection of St. Patrick's Day desserts, you'll find everything from rainbow cupcakes and Lucky Charms pancakes, to Leprechauns made out of Nutter Butters and boozy green fudge. Yum.

Throw on your best “Kiss Me, I'm Irish" apron and have some fun with these 25 delicious St. Patrick's Day desserts!

Brit + Co

St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Donuts

This adorable DIY requires no cooking and is a blast to make with friends. At the end of this rainbow you may not find gold, but you will find a fluffy cloud of coconut just waiting to be devoured. (via Brit + Co)

Sarah Anderson

St. Patrick's Day Dessert Shots

These cute, tiny shots are sweetened with flavors like dark chocolate, vanilla, and peppermint extract — and they even have a bite-sized brownie on the bottom. Now that's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, amiright? (via Sarah Anderson forBrit + Co)

Brit + Co

Lucky Charms Ice Cream

This one isn't a specific recipe per say, it's more of a how-too... but arguably the most useful how-to you'll learn this month. This overview of how to make Lucky Charms-infused ice cream can be put to use this St. Patrick's Day and beyond! (via Brit + Co)

Grandbaby Cakes

St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Pizza

Deep dish pizza should always have a sugar cookie crust and a Bailey's Irish Cream chocolate filling. Top with green sprinkles, green tinted white chocolate and chopped chocolate mint candies for that extra festive feel. (via Grandbaby Cakes)

Brit + Co

Double Rainbow Cake

Labor intensive? Maybe. Totally worth it? Absolutely. Grab a partner or your kiddos, and settle in for a fun afternoon of food coloring and multi-colored M&M decorating. (via Brit + Co)

Sweet Recipeas

Drunken Grasshopper Fudge

This is definitely an adults-only fudge. Made with both Crème de Menthe and Crème de Cocoa, this fudge has a boozy flavor that bites back. Throw on a handful of shamrock sprinkles to really drive the theme home. (via Sweet Recipeas)

Home Made Interest

St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Cookies

These little guys would be so cute to make for your kiddo's school St. Patrick's Day party. Plus, they double as a fun activity to do with them at home. They're almost too cute to eat… almost. (via Home Made Interest)

The Cake Blog

Leprechaun Hat S’mores

Obviously a large marshmallow on top of a cookie makes the perfect top hat. Once it's covered in chocolate and adorned with green decor, you have the perfect edible s'mores hat that any leprechaun would be happy to wear. (via The Cake Blog)

Classy Clutter

St. Patrick’s Day Rice Krispie Treats

You may have to go digging for marshmallows in a box of Lucky Charms to make these, but it's totally worth it. The pretty pastels in the marshmallows also looks perfect with the light green of the Rice Krispies. (via Classy Clutter)

Takes Two Eggs

Matcha Roll Cake

This sponge-y roll cake is packed with matcha whipped cream, and it looks just as good as it tastes! (via Takes Two Eggs)

Averie Cooks

Irish Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

The batter these cupcakes are crafted with is spiked with Guinness and Jameson for a bit of booziness. (via Averie Cooks)

Barbara Bakes

Mint Chocolate Chip Pie For St. Patrick’s Day

You don't have to have a lot of time and ingredients to make a great St. Patrick's Day dessert. All you need for this freezer pie is a pre-made Oreo pie crust and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Whipped cream and chocolate shavings optional – as if! (via Barbara Bakes)

Created By Diane

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

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