The following is an extract from Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights by Juno Mac and Molly Smith

In the weeks leading up to Christmas 2006, sex workers in the small British town of Ipswich feared for their lives. The bodies of two sex working women had been found in the previous week, and the killer was still at large. Out in the quiet streets, a local news film crew approached a young woman named Paula Clennell, one of the few who remained waiting for clients in the usual spot. When asked why she was risking her life out on the streets when a murderer was on the loose, she explained, "I have to work. I need the money."

Paula, a mother of three in her twenties, had been selling sex for some time. After her children were taken away from her, she became depressed and began using heroin. By the winter of 2006, her dependency on drugs had reached a stage where she needed an income of around five hundred pounds a day to support herself. For Paula, as for so many people in similar situations, selling sex was the only viable way to obtain this kind of money. A friend encouraged her to try indoor escorting in the hope it would be safer – as well as legal under British law – but in her situation, that level of organisation and financial overhead was unrealistic. Street work, though criminalised, meant she could sell sex whenever she wanted and return home with instant cash. She had no partner and no manager to split her money with.

A few days after her appearance on the news, Paula vanished. By Christmas, her body had been found, along with those of four other women.

A few days after her appearance on the news, Paula vanished. By Christmas, her body had been found, along with those of four other women. Steve Wright, a local man, was later found guilty of all five murders.

Nine years later, Daria Pionko’s smiling face jumped out of news reports. Daria was just twenty-one and had moved from Poland to Britain ten months before. Daria’s mother, Lydia, described her as a kind-hearted and joyful girl who was always eager to help others. A few days before Christmas 2015, a young man named Lewis Pierre kicked Daria to death in Holbeck, Leeds, in order to steal eighty pounds from her. Daria’s body was discovered by her housemate and friend Karolina, who was also a street-based sex worker.

Daria had been working in the Holbeck 'managed area'. This is a place where street-based sex workers and clients can meet without fear of arrest, an arrangement the only one of its kind in Britain. (In most of Britain, sex workers who wait for clients in public places may be charged with 'soliciting' or 'loitering with intent to commit prostitution'. Their clients may also be charged with 'kerb crawling'.)

Daria had left the managed area with Pierre, as was compulsory: although sex workers can meet clients without fear of arrest in the Holbeck zone, sex there is not permitted – they are forced to leave the managed area and find a dark alley or patch of woodland where they can conduct business in secrecy. In doing so, sex workers risk arrest. They also, of course, are at risk of attack in these hidden spaces. When Lewis Pierre reappeared in the lens of the same CCTV camera that caught him walking away from the managed area with Daria, he had blood on his steel-capped shoes.

In responding to such horrific stories, it is easy to make them purely about male brutality and the disposability of prostitutes. These themes have resonance for us, too, as they surely do for any sex worker who has stepped into a car or a hotel room with a stranger. The emphasis on male violence as the conceptual framework through which to understand these murders allows non-prostitute women – who may themselves be survivors of male violence – to empathetically and discursively 'enter into' the experience of the prostitute.

While this empathy is welcome, there is a danger that this sands away the specifics of Paula and Daria’s lives and the lives and experiences of prostitutes as a whole, which then become draped around the figure of the 'everywoman'. As Beth Richie argues, the 'everywoman' victim/survivor concept was created in the 1970s as a strategic rhetorical move on the part of the nascent feminist movement to demand attention for the epidemic of male violence. But this has transmuted over time into something closer to a focus on the 'default woman' – and the 'default woman' is certainly not a drug user or a sex worker. Nor is she a survivor of state violence. Daria and Paula’s lives were shaped by specific realities, including the ever-present threat of criminalisation. These young women were acting rationally in a system designed to harm them at every turn.

Instead of asking questions about how the state makes women like Daria and Paula unsafe, media coverage tends to channel the worldview of their aggrieved neighbours. The fact that selling sex is technically not a crime in Britain does little to render sex workers as relatable – or grievable – in the eyes of police, residents or journalists. Sympathetic perceptions of sex workers are readily tossed aside for something more callous. Mike Veale, chief of the Wiltshire police, indicated that when a prostitute reports a crime, he takes her less seriously than other victims: "If you have a six-year-old girl who has trauma in her vagina or anus you would expect me to believe her. If you have a drunken prostitute, making allegations regarding a bad debt, you have to make more of a judgement."

Judgements of this type are not in short supply. A few years after the Ipswich killings, one journalist wrote, "The girls killed in Ipswich were not working in the stupidly PC term 'sex industry'; they were junkies ... Can we afford rehab for the girls in Ipswich – and everywhere else? Speaking as a taxpayer, I’d say: erm, well, um. Good question. " Indeed, it seems the Ipswich killings, and the questions they raise, drew a particularly vicious strain of rhetorical cruelty into the public arena, suggesting that hatred of sex workers and collective guilt about social neglect are closely bound together. Another journalist called the five Ipswich women "disgusting, drug-addled street whores" and bridled at what he considered excessive mourning, writing, "We do not share in the responsibility for either their grubby little existences or their murders. Society isn’t to blame ... death by strangulation is an occupational hazard."

Who, then – or what – is to blame? Why didn’t Paula and her friends have access to a flat that they could have taken turns using with clients instead of being driven away, alone, in a car? Why was she paying five hundred pounds a day for opiates that the National Health Service could have provided in a safe version for a fraction of the cost? Why was she stuck trying to manage her trauma through street heroin instead of through more sustainable support services? Instead of being supported to be the loving parent she desperately wanted to be, Paula was left depressed and in profound poverty. For Daria, too, these questions bubble up painfully. An evaluation of the Holbeck managed area had already noted, months before Daria’s murder, that the "most notable time of risk for sex workers is away from the Managed Area". Women like Daria and Paula need so little – some basic safety and resources — that it is easy to imagine society meeting those needs. Yet, at the same time, they needed so much – in that to imagine a society that takes their safety seriously is to imagine a society profoundly transformed.

Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights by Juno Mac and Molly Smith, £11.34, published by Verso Books.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

8 Erotic Photos That'll Change The Way You See The Fetishised Female Body (NSFW)

Get Amped For The Best Books Of November

Do Horror Writers Believe In Ghosts? And Other Burning Questions

If you regularly browse the wellness pages of the internet, it's likely you'll have come across more than a few mentions of essential oils.

Essential oils are lovely. They are the very essence of a plant, its purest scent; they diffuse beautifully in oil burners, go great in baths, and we're at the beginning of some interesting research into whether essential oils can be used to help treat different medical issues.

Please note the 'at the beginning of" part of that sentence. NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) classifies aromatherapy (using oils to improve physical and mental wellbeing) as a complementary medicine, which means that it shouldn't be used as an alternative to traditional medicine, just as a possible addition.

One thing we do know about using essential oils is that you should definitely not be putting them up or in your vagina. This, my friends, is a very bad idea indeed.

To some of you, this may sound like a given: the vagina = not a part of your body to play silly buggers with. In fact, though, there are a huge number of blogposts advocating the use of various oil concoctions for vaginal odour, for yeast infections (thrush), bacterial vaginosis, vaginal dryness... and that's just on the first page of Google. You can even, if you really hate having money, buy this ready-made mixture of oils named Holy Yoni (for topical use only) for $48 (£37). For the non-Goopers out there, "yoni" is Sanskrit for "womb" but has come to mean vagina, vulva or uterus.

"I don't recommend [using] any oils at all!" says Shazia Malik, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist practising in London. She believes the essential oil craze is a side-effect of the digital evolution. "There is an increasing trend to Google and try to self-manage problems, and to look for so-called 'natural' remedies," she tells me. "Unfortunately, there is a lot of unregulated information which can be misleading and even harmful."

The vagina is not a part of your body to play silly buggers with

Sadly, thanks to poor education and other cultural factors, many women feel under pressure to have a 'perfect' vagina. To be clear, such a thing doesn't exist; vaginas are all fine, just as they are. Refinery29 recently reported on the dangers of unregulated vaginal 'rejuvenation ' procedures, a demand for which has stemmed from an unrealistic idea of what form, shape and colour the female genitals 'should' take. According to Malik, myths like these may be behind the current interest in vaginal oils. "There has been a cultural shift in what is perceived as normal or beautiful. [This] has meant that what really is normal may sometimes be perceived as otherwise, for example feeling that a normal and natural odour isn't or needs to be masked."

Tea tree oil seems to be a particularly popular choice of vaginal oil across the blogosphere, especially for treating thrush and odours. Malik tells us it's because it's known as an antiseptic (an unnecessary addition as a vagina should have millions of healthy bacteria already in place). Worryingly though, tea tree oil appears to be the reported catalyst for a number of hospital trips, including claims of a woman left with permanent scarring after soaking a tampon in the stuff. It's important to remember that any essential oil should be heavily diluted before it comes into contact with the body anyway but putting it inside yourself can be very dangerous indeed. Malik lists pain, scarring, the killing off of healthy bacteria, burning of the skin and creating a predisposition to infection as just some of the potential dangers.

So it's a no on the essential oils. Even if you think you need it. "The vagina is a self-cleaning and moisturising organ and does not need extra oils, moisturisers or deodorants," states Malik firmly. "The only time moisturisers may be needed is in some sexual disorders, while breastfeeding, when the vagina can be less lubricated, and after the menopause."

"Wear cotton underwear, change daily – more often if exercising or heavy discharge – and don't wear underwear at night," Malik continues. "Do not use vaginal hygiene products and don't douche. Wash with warm water and/or unscented products for the vulva."

Basically, no matter how high maintenance you are, your vagina's the opposite. Leave it alone. It'll thank you.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

11 Things No One Tells You About Going Off The Pill

"I Will Never Be Able To Thank Her Enough": The Joys Of Female Friendship Over 50

8 Period Tracking Apps To Make Your Time-Of-The-Month A Total Breeze

Sustainable luxury fashion brand Maiyet has made its name by partnering with global artisans and advocating slow, fair and eco fashion. Having set a precedent for responsible consumption, it's now opening a pop-up concept store – The Maiyet Collective – playing host to the brands producing the most exciting sustainable pieces (which we actually want to wear).

Located at 40 Conduit Street in London, the store will feature new brands on a rotational basis and include everything from fashion and jewellery to beauty and homeware. Open three days each month, always running from Thursday to Sunday, there will also be a programme of panel talks, workshops, book signings, performance art and film screenings.

Ahead, we choose five of our favourite ethically minded eco-conscious brands, from incarcerated knitwear makers to those tackling denim's water waste. Click through to shop The Maiyet Collective's best brands.

The Maiyet Collective is open 1st-3rd November, and 29th November-1st December. Visit themaiyetcollective.com to request an invitation to The Maiyet Collective concept store and receive details of upcoming events.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

This Expert's Guide To Vintage Will Change The Way You Shop

Zara's Making A Case For Wild Prints This Winter With Its New Collections

The Autumn Wardrobe Swaps Our Editors Are Making

When it comes to vitamins in skincare, there are two in particular that skin experts will always sing the praises of: vitamin A – this is what retinol is derived from and it has the ability to increase cell turnover, boost collagen and minimise fine lines, acne and hyperpigmentation – and vitamin C – a skin-brightening antioxidant that protects against environmental aggressors such as pollution and infrared light.

A good, solid skincare regime should consist of both of these elements (vitamin C in the morning and vitamin A in the evening, alongside a slathering of sun protection in the AM, of course) but if our Skin Deep series has taught us anything here at R29, it's that skin is complex, and often calls for something more. Enter: vitamin K. Not as well known as A or C, it's a bit of an unsung ingredient in the skincare sphere, but if you suffer with parched patches and skin inflammation, it might just be worth incorporating into your routine. So what exactly is it?

"Vitamin K is essentially a group of compounds found in many things including food, such as leafy greens, liver and eggs," explains facialist Michaella Bolder. "Following research, this particular ingredient was found to be just as important as A, C and E, mainly because of its anti-inflammatory properties," something Kirsti Shuba, cofounder of skincare brand Katherine Daniels, expands on.

"Vitamin K is for skin recovery," says Kirsti. "In topical application, it is often used for bruising, swelling and is sometimes applied to cuts and grazes to aid the healing process – surgeons often prescribe a vitamin K cream to aid healing after surgery, for example." Michaella seconds vitamin K's wound healing properties but explains that it has the potential to go a little further. "Topical application is even beneficial for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis," she says, as recent research suggests it plays a significant role in inhibiting the inflammation typical of these skin conditions, such as redness and swelling. "In turn, vitamin K strengthens the skin's natural barrier function, enabling it to grow stronger and to retain hydration for longer," says Kirsti, which makes it a great one to incorporate into your skincare routine come the winter months, when skin can get much drier.

Of course, it's best to visit a dermatologist or GP for help with symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. In fact, Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and author of The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide To Great Skin advises not to rush out and buy products which contain vitamin K as a sole agent, as other, more researched ingredients show clinical benefit, too. But if you're looking to combat the odd patch of dry skin, you can find vitamin K in many skincare products, such as Summer Fridays' Overtime Mask, £39, and Kat Burki's PH+ Enzyme Essence, £92, which also boasts vitamin C for protection against pollution and other environmental issues.

Research also suggests that vitamin K can minimise broken capillaries under the skin, something Michaella and Kirsti both acknowledge, which could be why you're likely to find the ingredient inside many eye creams. R29 rates Goldfaden MD's Bright Eyes, £48, and Clark's Botanicals Anti-Puff Eye Cream, £70, especially for hydrating taut skin and minimising fine lines, but whether vitamin K or any other ingredient in eye cream is able to penetrate the skin deep enough to target dark circles is still up for debate, according to dermatologists.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Glossier Just Dropped A New Lipstick Formula — & This Is How It's Made

Meet The Newbie Victoria's Secret Model Rocking Her Buzzcut & Gap-Tooth Look

2018 Makeup Trends You'll Actually Want To Wear

Living an ethical, plant-based, vegan life – though rewarding – can be tricky. And never trickier than at 5pm on a Friday when reaching for a well-earned glass of wine. Because it’s a sad and sorry fact that not all wines are vegan. We know.

But why is this? Surely grapes + sugar = vegan-friendly? Well, apparently it’s just not as simple as that. We asked Isabelle Legeron, a Master of Wine and founder of RAW WINE to explain…

"Some winemakers use what are called 'processing aids’ to ‘fine’ their wines in order to remove residual cloudiness. The aids can be made from clay or pea protein but can also be derived from egg, milk and even fish. This is why some wines are not suitable for vegetarians or vegans."

Okay, so how can we tell if a wine is vegan-friendly?

"Unfortunately you can’t always tell from the label if a wine is vegan-friendly. I would say most artisanally made, low-intervention wines are suitable, but the best way to be sure is to buy wine from an independent wine store with knowledgeable staff. At RAW WINE we require full disclosure from producers and we share this information with visitors."

We’d also add that a spot of online shopping can make your vegan wine hunting a tad easier too, with outlets like Ocado and Waitrose enabling you to search specifically for vegan wines. In the meantime, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite vegan-friendly wines so you can make a toast to wine time, without the worry.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

London's Best Bottomless Brunches

3 Boozy Hot Chocolate Recipes That Will Warm Up Your Bonfire Night

9 Things Vegans Find Annoying

Happy World Vegan Day. It’s 2018 and veganism has really taken off. From restaurant menus to the clothes on our backs, more and more industries are making an effort to meet consumer demands and support animal welfare by going cruelty-free – and the beauty world is no exception. According to the NPD Group, in the past year alone there has been a 38% increase in the sale of vegan beauty products in the UK, as a growing number of us cast aside the notion that vegan products are restrictive or second-rate.

Smaller brands like Axiology and Arbonne led the way in vegan beauty, swapping animal-derived ingredients for the plant-based variety. Nowadays, myriad big-name brands like Hourglass and Charlotte Tilbury are getting on board, ditching animal byproducts, such as lanolin and beeswax (which typically make up beauty must-haves like foundation and mascara) for vegan alternatives. Admittedly, I was sceptical. Would vegan offerings feel watered down? Would they work as well? And would the packaging be as #shelfie-worthy as my other buys? But that’s exactly why I accepted the challenge of swapping all my usual products, from skincare to makeup, for vegan versions for a whole week. Here’s how I got on...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 👑 Amira (@amira58) on Aug 22, 2018 at 12:10pm PDT

Skincare

I usually buy Elemental Herbology’s Vital Cleanse Facial Cleanser, on repeat because of how bright my skin looks after using it every day, but it contains manuka honey – first fail! A quick search for 'vegan skincare' turned up Peter Thomas Roth’s Water Drench Cloud Cream Cleanser; I bought it straightaway because of the rave reviews. It left my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated, thanks to the hyaluronic acid which quenches thirsty cells and marshmallow root extract – an ingredient which is quickly gaining popularity in vegan skincare for its skin-softening properties. It also eradicated every single scrap of makeup. So far, so good.

I’m a toner advocate because I’m convinced a quick once-over keeps my skin clear and primes it for any skincare I apply on top. I discovered a really cool brand called Kypwell, whose products are all cruelty-free, void of parabens and mineral oils, and of course, vegan. Their Signature Flower Mist Toner, swaps glycerin (sometimes made from animal fats and oils and a staple in many face mists because it attracts moisture) for an army of herbs as well as rose petals, chamomile and elderflower. After a couple of spritzes my face felt much cleaner. I later found out that the combined ingredients have antibacterial and anti-pollution properties, which is a total win. I think I might have to stockpile this one.

I can’t leave the house without applying moisturiser, but I know a lot of products contain things like lanolin (derived from sheep’s wool) or beeswax. I returned to my friend, Peter Thomas Roth, and his 10% Glycolic Solutions Moisturiser. Anything that aims to reduce dullness, kickstart collagen, banish breakouts and restore my uneven skin tone gets my vote. It went on smoothly and there was no irritation thanks to the addition of aloe vera. Ten percent glycolic is quite high, though, so if you have sensitive skin, be cautious. I’d also suggest following with an SPF – Glossier’s Daily Sunscreen SPF 30, is vegan.

I also picked up Tata Harper’s Restorative Eye Crème, because everyone from Caroline Hirons to beauty editors raves about it. I know it’s incredibly expensive, but I decided to treat myself because I absolutely adore the philosophy behind the brand. Tata is known to grow most of the vegan ingredients on her farm and the eye cream is made in small batches using minimal preservatives. The glass bottle is also recyclable. It felt satisfyingly refreshing on the first application. I’m still using it because it's great at smoothing puffiness and I hope to say goodbye to my dark bags soon, too.

My skin likes consistency so I kept my morning routine the same until the end of the week, when I started to add Bio-Extracts' Clean to Clear Boost – a plant-derived exfoliating treatment – to my moisturiser to combat some spots that creep up every now and then. It’s an under-the-radar vegan brand that deserves so much more recognition and at that price, this product is a pretty good deal, as you can get up to 50 'shots' out of it.

Hair

Many haircare products I’ve used in the past contain cashmere (wool from the Kashmir goat) or allantoin – uric acid from cows. Without these, I was worried that my hair would feel a bit dry or look really dull. But I’d spotted vegan Aussie haircare brand Mr. Smith all over Instagram, so I headed into Salon 64 and picked up the Hydrating Shampoo and Hydrating Conditioner; my hair is super thick and there’s a lot of it – thank you, Persian roots. The monochrome bottles looked so chic in my bathroom and dispelled the myth that vegan beauty products have questionable packaging. Impressively, the shampoo lathered up a treat. I’d never tried haircare containing neem seed and marula oil before, but they made my hair feel silky and a little easier to brush. I always go sulphate-free anyway, but this is the first time I’ve immediately felt a positive difference in my hair.

Two days later, I discovered Trevor Sorbie had launched a vegan, cruelty-free haircare range at Superdrug so I snapped up the Tame & Define shampoo and conditioner duo, which, amazingly, resulted in a hell of a lot less frizz than I’m used to. With 95% natural ingredients, no silicone, mineral oil or sodium chloride, it promised to define curls, not straighten out movement. This swayed me, because I always want to embrace my natural texture. For a brand that emerged from a hair salon, the vegan products are surprisingly pocket-friendly. Sold.

Body

I picked up Yope’s Coconut & Sea Salt Shower Gel, as it doesn’t contain animal-derived fatty acids like some body washes do. Instead, it employs natural mineral salts, coconut, proteins and vitamins. The bottle is huge for the price. It doesn’t have a pungent scent like others and it only takes a single pump to lather up. After a week of using this every morning, my skin felt so nourished and my body breakouts virtually disappeared. This has to be my favourite buy of the lot.

On the first day, I realised I couldn’t use my usual body cream (thanks, royal jelly – that one comes from bees) so I ran out to grab Vita Coco’s Coconut Oil, which I’ve used before as a body oil and loved. It’s literally cold-pressed coconut oil and nothing else. It really hydrates my skin – better than a cream, in fact – and having it in the shower means it doubles up as a shaving product. I wouldn’t use it on my face, though, as I’m prone to spots and it can clog my pores.

I wasn’t worried about finding a vegan perfume, even though I like musky scents, because this component is now typically derived from synthetic ingredients. Still, this was a chance to treat myself. Elizabeth & James’ Nirvana collection is vegan and I picked White Nirvana for the mix of sweet and smoky notes. It’s slightly more grown up than my usual Dior Hypnotic Poison, but it’s good to try something new, right?

Makeup

It’s not hard to find vegan makeup. Brands like Kat Von D, Hourglass and Chantecaille are all on board; in fact, I’ve been using some of their vegan products already. On Thursday evening I had casual drinks with my colleagues, so chose light makeup. I opted for The Body Shop’s All In One BB Cream, and was pleased to find that it covered my blemishes and lent my skin a dewy, radiant finish. I then added a touch of MUA’s Bronzed Shimmer Bronzing Powder, a vegan bargain at £4. At the start of the week, I had to put aside my usual brush collection, as many of them are made from animal hair, so I applied most of my makeup with my fingers or Chantecaille’s Cheek Brush. The synthetic bristles felt great on my skin but I can’t get over how pricey it is for a brush. I made a mental note to pop to Boots to pick up some EcoTools brushes, which are vegan and affordable. To finish, I applied Axiology's Instinct Lipstick. I loved the unique honey-caramel nude and how moisturised it made my lips feel – plus I received so many compliments! I’m currently checking out their other products, too.

On Saturday, I went out out, and I’m pleased to say that the vegan beauty industry is totally there for my need for full coverage makeup. I started with Charlotte Tilbury’s Wonderglow Primer, listed as vegan-friendly on the website. It’s more expensive than my usual Revlon Fill & Blur, but I wasn’t disappointed by how it looked on my face so it’s worth the investment. When it came to foundation, I grabbed Hourglass’ Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick – it’s actually always been one of my favourite foundations because I love how weightless but long-wearing it is. It offers maximum coverage, falling midway between a matte and dewy finish. My vegan friends champion this brand, too.

I also tried RMS Beauty’s ‘Un’ Powder. It's been touted as one of the best vegan face powders around, but in all honesty, I prefer Laura Mercier’s Translucent Powder, as it’s non-cakey and non-comedogenic, so won’t block pores. To add colour, I used Chantecaille’s Cheek Gelee Hydrating Gel-Cream Blush in Lively – the only vegan blush in the range – and loved how natural a stain the creamy formula lent my cheeks. To my surprise, it lasted the whole evening. Another win.

Kat Von D is my go-to for eyeliner – she’s a huge advocate for veganism and you only have to scroll through her Instagram to realise how much it means to her. I’ve been using her Tattoo Liner (yep, the one that went viral for lasting through a car accident) for some time now and would never go back, so I was incredibly excited to try some of her other products. Scouring Debenhams, I picked up the Brow Struck Powder in Walnute. I was really impressed with how bold my brows looked after a once-over with a brush.

The verdict

I was a little worried about an entirely vegan beauty regime, especially because I had a carefully selected arsenal of products that worked well for me. However – while there are certain things I was happy to go back to using – I would now readily swap the majority of my products for vegan alternatives. In fact, some of the products I sampled over the past week have firmly replaced others in my beauty regime. And even though I splurged here and there, this challenge didn’t burn a hole in my pocket like I thought it would.

I don’t follow a vegan diet in everyday life, so I have to admit that I’d never given much thought to vegan beauty products before this week. Now I understand that people go vegan – in all aspects of life – for heaps of reasons. Many have emotional attachments to animals, lots want to prevent their exploitation, while others believe that they have a right to life and freedom – all of which I respect.

Refinery29's selection is purely editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items we love! As part of our business model we do work with affiliates; if you directly purchase something from a link on this article, we may earn a small amount of commission. Transparency is important to us at Refinery29, if you have any questions please reach out to us.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Secret To Getting Longer, Stronger Hair In 90 Days

Are You Applying Your Skincare Products Correctly?

In 2018, Why Are We Still Obsessed With Looking Young?

Happy Vegan Day! In case you hadn't noticed, being vegan is very "in" right now. Of course, food choices shouldn't ever be "in" or "out". You should eat what makes you happy. But it is noted that avoiding animal products is a positive thing you can do to help with the sustainability issues our planet is facing. So, if veganism is for you, wave goodbye to eggs, say adios to steak. Set fire to mountains of brie and manchego. Do what makes you feel good.

Just because your vegan lifestyle is making you feel good though, doesn't mean it comes without its own set of issues. In this age of the vegan fad, it can get a little tiring answering things like "IS QUORN VEGAN" on a daily basis (answer: some is, some isn't), or getting yet another eye roll from Aunty Carol at Christmas dinner when you explain once more for the cheap seats in the back that no, your veganism isn't a phase.

To help everyone be more mindful of the vegans in their lives, I lured two Refinery29 vegans (Nina Joyce, PR Director and Sadhbh O'Sullivan, Social Media Editor) into a conversation using a packet of seitan and asked them what they find most annoying about being vegan. Click through to find their answers.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

London's Best Bottomless Brunches

3 Boozy Hot Chocolate Recipes That Will Warm Up Your Bonfire Night

7 Of The Best Vegan Wines

As we move into the colder months, the planets ebb and flow through their paths, both direct and in retrograde. Venus, our planet of beauty and charm, will end her retrograde and return to her usual path on the 16th. Have you been waiting to pull the trigger on a new beauty ritual? You may learn more about an up-and-coming mask before it’s all over Instagram.

On that same day, our speedy communication planet, Mercury, enters his third retrograde of the year. When one area of your life regains speed, another must hit the brakes. Prepare yourself for intense internal change at the beginning of the month when the new moon arrives in Scorpio. Guard yourself against reacting too quickly or severely to loved ones during this time. On the 22nd, the Sun enters Sagittarius and the full moon enters Gemini the next day. Everyone will be ready to share their ideas, no matter how wild.

Get R29 Horoscopes direct to your calendar, every week with two simple steps!

1. Click this link to download to: Apple / iOSGoogle / Android

2. Make sure you're notified about new horoscopes by switching on event alerts! Apple/iOS: Switch on 'Events' notifications under 'Alerts' in 'Preferences'. Google: 'Add Notification' under 'Event Notifications' in R29 Horoscopes calendar settings. Is there a webcal/iCal feed I can use to subscribe directly? Yes! Here

I subscribed to the calendar on my iPhone but it isn’t showing up on my computer or tablet. How do I fix that? You will need to add an iCloud Calendar subscription. Use the webcal link mentioned above.

Can I subscribe if I use Outlook? Yes. Using the webcal link above, you can add the calendar to Outlook.com or an Outlook desktop client.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Your Horoscope This Week

How To Talk To Ghosts, According To A Medium

What The Halloween Moon Means For You

View this post on Instagram

Makeup for @marni by @patmcgrathreal

A post shared by @ jessmaybury on Oct 10, 2018 at 6:04am PDT

Jess Maybury was 17 when she booked her first modelling job, alongside older sister Reba Maybury (a writer, publisher and dominatrix), for the respected fashion and culture magazine, AnOther. It was an auspicious start and Jess quickly became a regular face on the arty London fashion scene, known for her statuesque figure and unique beauty. With a mix of Pakistani and Welsh heritage, Jess is tall with long, dark hair, an angular jaw and the bored but beautiful almond eyes of a Pre-Raphaelite muse.

Initially, Jess appeared on the catwalk and in photoshoots for emerging designers such as Claire Barrow and Marta Jakubowski, and then more established brands including Gareth Pugh and Acne. Autumn Winter '15 brought her first campaign, a gothic vision for Lanvin, and she recently appeared in the Autumn Winter '18 Vivienne Westwood campaign with Reba. After becoming embedded in London’s art and fashion communities, and working on her own eccentric shoots with partner Joshua Gordon (a filmmaker), Jess has become well known in the industry here.

This past fashion month, however, Jess burst onto the international fashion stage in a major way. Cast for the Spring Summer '19 Marni show in Milan, Jess was given the prestigious role of opening the show – an honour usually bestowed on a model the designer believes epitomises the mood of the collection, and the current moment in fashion. Having walked for Ashley Williams in London, Jess then finished fashion month walking for Kenzo and Sonia Rykiel in Paris.

Refinery29 caught up with Jess over email to hear about her first major fashion month, and also found out why she quit college, how she came to love her unique beauty, and how she copes with freezing cold modelling shoots...

Where are you from, and what’s your background?
I grew up in a small village called Woodstock which was quite boring and full of old people, and moved to London to do a degree in illustration at Camberwell but didn’t like it – it definitely wasn’t worth £9,000 a year. Since then, I’ve been experimenting with my own work and doing projects with my boyfriend. Working a boring job to pay rent and modelling when something comes up, which makes life far more exciting.

What’s the best thing about being a model during fashion month?
I can get time off work from my job, and love meeting interesting designers and stylists who I respect and adore, like ASAI and Fran Burns, who have really supported me.

What is the biggest misconception people have about modelling?
That it’s all glamour the whole time. A lot of my shoots have been outside in the middle of the freezing winter or swimming in icy water, but I can’t complain because they’re generally amazing experiences with people I love working with, and the benefits outweigh any bad points. I got to hold a fox called Cherry for Print magazine, which was really incredible.

You opened the Marni show in Milan, which is a huge deal. How did that come about? When did you find out? And what did it feel like?
It was really amazing and surreal. I was asked to go to Milan for the weekend to visit them and found out I was opening the show the night before, which was so shocking. I kept thinking why would they want this big buggy woman to open their show?

How do you relax after show season?
Because I’m not a full-time model I’m not as busy as other models so I don’t feel too drained by it all, but when I am away I miss spending time with my boyfriend, so I try and squeeze in some day trips to galleries or to a farm to see some piggies with him.

How would you describe your personal style?
Well, my favourite colour is brown so any look with an array of chocolate and caramel tones is right up my alley. Me and my sister have been collecting and sharing vintage Jean Paul Gaultier for years! My style icons would range from Grace Jones to my mum and her collection of Indian and Afghani tribal jewellery.

And what about your beauty routine?
I don’t really have one, I’m quite the lazy pig. I just wash my hair every day and put it in a plait, that’s my only daily ritual. I love a body oil but usually have to steal one because they’re quite expensive.

Have you always been confident in your looks?
Oh, definitely not. I looked like a big tall worm my whole life and then cut my hair into a bowl cut (accidentally) when I was 14 so the teenage years were quite hideous, but I think kids and teenagers need to look like freaks. If you peak when you’re young then the rest of your life is downhill from there. I love being tall now and making men on the Tube feel really small, but I also love that my boyfriend is shorter than me, it’s a perfect combination.

There’s an increasing crossover between models and influencers. What are your feelings about being an influencer, or street style personality?
I suppose it depends on the 'influencer'. It’s only a term that’s existed in the last few years and has little meaning because none of these people do anything and aren’t actually very interesting. But I suppose models and influencers alike are both desired because of their physical appearance. I just wish the younger generation didn’t care about putting all their efforts into street style and selfies and actually had knowledge of art history, literature and good films. People just praise the rich kids of celebrities now, it’s boring.

As well as a model, you’re also a photographer. How would you describe your style and practice?
Jean-Paul Goude and Cindy Sherman have been favourites since an early age. I’m only getting to grips with what I want to do; I often feel pressure to say "I’m a photographer" but I just want to create art that’s not just for Instagram as that doesn’t hold any value to me. I want to work on meaningful projects until I’m happy to put it all out there, no matter how long it takes.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

This Magnificent 86-Year-Old Just Put Two Fingers Up To 'Mutton Dressed As Lamb'

Shop The Entire Alexander Wang x Uniqlo Collection

Why You (Still) Won't See Any Size Diversity At This Year's VS Fashion Show

It's World Vegan Day, an annual celebration of the benefits of a plant-based diet for our health, animals and the planet, and in 2018 more people will be clinking a glass of (vegan) champagne than ever. One in eight Britons is now vegan or vegetarian, while more than a fifth claim to be flexitarian and only eat meat occasionally, according to new figures. Which means a third of the population have reduced their meat intake or cut it out completely. The fact that veganism is "in" right now probably has something to do with it.

But despite its popularity and a growing awareness of the benefits, veganism still incites loathing and even rage among many meat-eating people. Coincidentally, just this week the editor of Waitrose Food magazine quit his job after it emerged he'd suggested a series on "killing vegans, one by one" in response to a freelance journalist who had pitched features on plant-based recipes.

Back in January, there was the chef who was forced to resign after she threatened to spike a "pious, judgmental vegan's" meal; and who could forget the Dublin café that went viral in 2015 for barring vegans and threatening to kill them? Extreme examples of anti-veganism abound – and it's an attitude that people who avoid animal products are forced to endure daily.

As with everything else, there is undeniably a very small minority of holier-than-thou vegans, but the vast majority just want to be left alone to eat their Vego bars in peace. Ahead, six women reveal the abuse they receive just for being vegan.

Melissa, 19, Manchester

"I grew up surrounded by agricultural communities in mid Wales where veganism wasn’t the norm and I've been called 'inbred', 'stupid', 'an idiot' and 'bacon'. I've also had abuse during protests and activism. I protest outside a slaughterhouse and have had untold abuse shouted at me from passing cars. I also get trolled on social media. I've also had cigarettes thrown at me in the street. It happens at university too, as some people in my class are from a farming background – I was once called a 'vegan extremist' in class.

"I always respond with peace – veganism is a peaceful movement – and I ignore the social media trolls. In person, if the person is sensible I'll engage in conversation and am happy to discuss the ethics of veganism."

Beth, 21, Newcastle upon Tyne

"I've been vegan for nearly two years and the bullying was relentless at the beginning. I don't think people realise they're doing it – they've all seen vegan jokes on the internet and think it's funny to repeat them. People often make jokes, like 'How do you know someone's vegan? They'll tell you' but when the piss-taking is constant it can really get you down. Especially when, in my experience, most vegans won't mention it until it's relevant, namely, when food is being offered. It's usually the vegan's friends and family who will introduce them as 'the vegan'.

"We tend to be a really compassionate bunch and when we're constantly seeing death around us and then having people making fun of us, it's so tiring. When I first went vegan I used to laugh it off in the hope that they'd stop. They didn't. We can't really win – I have a sharp tongue so if someone takes a jab at me I'll say something back, but then I'm labelled as an 'angry vegan'. The worst is when people call you 'triggered', a 'snowflake', or when they say you don't care about anything else, or that you care about animals more than people. Most of us have heard it all.

"The abuse online is far worse than in person. People think they can hide behind a screen and scream about how much they hate vegans. My Twitter friends are great though and we all stick up for each other. Thankfully we can just block the trolls – my block list is huge. It's shit we have to put up with it, but animals go through much worse. I'll always fight for them even if it means people being mean to me."

Natasha*, 29, London

"As a vegan, people will constantly call you a hypocrite and say you're being difficult. They'll say things like: 'but do you know how bad soya is?', 'what's the point?', 'oh, I imagine you eat meat when you're drunk, don't you?', or, my personal favourite, 'go on, no one will know if you just eat some cheese'.

If you want to be vegan, you need to have a bit of a sense of humour or at least a thick skin.

"If you want to be vegan, you need to have a bit of a sense of humour or at least a thick skin. People do see it as open season to say things and it's just awkward for everyone if you can't try and laugh it off. I had one friend who used to mercilessly take the piss at every opportunity when I first went vegan, but she's since done a bit of research herself and now she's gone vegetarian totally of her own volition."

Janet*, 52, Kent

"I've been vegan for seven years – vegetarian since 1987 – and I still get stick for my diet every day, even from my family. People laugh in my face when I ask for the vegan menu and I'm constantly asked why I’m vegan. My worst ever experience was when an ex-partner spat kebab meat in my face. I normally try to educate people who say things, but most of the time they don’t listen. It’s like talking to a brick wall."

Amy, 21, Essex

"I’ve been vegan for two years and three months and most of the mocking I've received has been online. Random trolls always say stuff to vegans just to wind them up. They'll send GIFs of meat, call them stupid, say they’ll die from deficiencies, call us 'stupid liberal hippies' or just try to attack us as people, purely because they 'hate vegans'. Some people say really horrid things, so when I get a troll I normally just block them. I've had to block over 100 accounts of people who follow people just to abuse vegans.

"In real life I don’t normally get a lot, because I have supportive friends who aren’t really bothered by how I live as long as I’m happy and healthy. When I first went vegan, I made a point of using people’s insults in my favour, so before people made comments I’d already have said them. I'd joke about it. I’ve found being relaxed and having this approach helps me have proper conversations with people about veganism and be able to even spread the message better."

Kate, 39, Glasgow

"In the 18 months I've been vegan I've had all the typical comments that any vegan gets – 'but bacon though,' etc, etc – and am often introduced as 'the vegan' whenever I go anywhere. Luckily I've got a pretty thick skin though, and I know being vegan is the best thing for me and the environment. That's what I usually say in response. My dad particularly struggles with it but I've had a word with his wife and she knows that as long as she buys me a vat of hummus for when I visit, I can survive."

*Some names have been changed

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Michelle Obama's London Talk Sold Out In Minutes & Twitter Has Lost It

Twitter In Disbelief As 17-Year-Old's Underwear Is Used Against Her In A Rape Case

Amnesty's New Women's Rights Tees Are Here & We Want To Wear Them All

In September 2017, the London-based Turkish designer Dilara Findikoglu was accused of hosting a satanic orgy in a church. Outraged headlines screamed from the pages of the Daily Mail and the mouth of apoplectic American alt-right presenter (and noted conspiracy theorist) Alex Jones of InfoWars. "Now they have fashion shows with people dressed up as you'd dress up for a Satanic orgy right out of Eyes Wide Shut," Jones raved. "This itself is an act of Satanism, to carry out a Satanic ritual in a church," he opined, adding, with brilliantly camp ostentation: "The only thing better is to kill a child."

Reader, I was at that show. I’m sad to inform you that there was no orgy, and happy to confirm there was no infanticide; what did take place was a really great fashion presentation. Dilara showed a collection inspired by archetypes of the physical, metaphysical and spiritual realms. Characters included the Queen, King, Pope, Virgin, Justice, Shamash (the Mesopotamian Sun God), the Prime Minister, twin agents, a witch, God, the Devil, a nun, and the Forty Elephants ("a 19th and 20th century all-female London crime syndicate who specialised in shoplifting... notable for its longevity and skill in avoiding police detection," according to Wikipedia).

Known for her rock star tailoring, historic references, mystical iconography and concern with the spiritual realm, Dilara has gathered a wide range of fans. Bella Hadid was spotted wearing her Mick Jagger jacket; Madonna opted for the Garden of Eden coat; Adwoa Aboah had a whole custom suit made; Jazelle went for a silver cut-out mini dress to cuddle Kate Moss in; Rihanna was taken with a pink corset; Xtina went for bondage-influenced stage wear; Marilyn Manson got her to make his tour merch; and these cool cats commissioned custom suits for their wedding.

When Dilara’s most recent invite arrived on my desk, over a year after the non-satanic non-orgy, it had instructions to brandish it with an open flame to reveal details of her Spring Summer '19 presentation. Having decided not to show during London Fashion Week – to allow visitors time to take in the elaborate world she has created – Dilara opted to show on Samhain (the original Celtic festival that Christianity adopted as All Hallows' Eve, or Halloween). Held within Dennis Severs' House, a cramped townhouse museum in Spitalfields with wooden spiral staircase and rooms decorated extravagantly in 18th century style, the show was titled "May the Darkness Light the Way" and curated into seven existential, conceptual or personal 'conflicts': Sinful and Innocent; Natural and Synthetic; Modest and Provocative; Mind and Matter; London and Istanbul; Good and Evil; Future and Past.

"It grew out of thinking about conflicts in society, concepts like being modest, and being provocative, and being labelled as those things," Dilara explains, standing at the foot of a four-poster bed, where a virgin bride lies, watched over by an angel and a devil, in the topmost room of Dennis Severs' House. "Or [the concepts of] sinful and innocent – that connects to the idea of child marriages and girls being pushed to get married when they are children in the Middle East," Dilara says. She has noted the fluidity of these moral concepts before, telling LOVE magazine: "Whilst in some societies women are judged if they have sex before marriage, it’s permissible for girls of a young age to be forced to become child brides."

To help address this abusive practice, Dilara has been working on an exclusive T-shirt to benefit the World Human Relief Project focused on girls’ education and preventing child marriage in Turkey, her parents’ homeland. The charity built a school in the most populous region of Turkey, which has the lowest rate of education for girls, marginalised communities, and high rates of child marriage and female deaths.

Moving into the next room, Dilara explains that the model standing among plants growing inexplicably from the floor represents the future, situated within a room that looks to the past. "It’s my own conflict, [but it’s] everyone’s conflict. I’m quite nostalgic, but I’m also curious about the future and how I can develop my own work with more futuristic and modern things," Dilara explains. The model is wearing a voluminous baby blue bubble dress with ruched sleeves. So is the future kind of big, and blousy? I ask. "I want the future to be maximalist!" Dilara says. "If you look at historical references and photoshoots from the '20s and '60s, [where] they imagine the 2000s, it looks incredible, futuristic, and big! But we just wear jeans and T-shirts now, which is quite upsetting. My future is [maximalist]!"

In other rooms (dressed with moss and twigs, piles of fresh fruit, trays of Turkish delight, and a ouija board by set designer Jabez Bartlett), there are characters attempting to imitate nature and become one with the environment; four women involved in a seance to address their demons, watched over by a ghost; and a dancer trying to reconcile the dual parts of herself under British and Turkish flags, representing Dilara herself. The full looks, when staged among mystical artefacts and in such a historic setting, can imply that the clothes are costume-y, but, as Dilara’s many customers know, when you break the collection up into separates, there is a wealth of subversive tailoring, decadent party wear, and, yes, even wedding attire. If your budget doesn’t stretch to this demi-couture, look out for the charity T-shirts (arriving on Dilara’s e-store in the next week or so) to look good and do good, too.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Shop The Entire Alexander Wang x Uniqlo Collection

H&M x Moschino Has Landed!

Marc Jacobs Is Reissuing The Grunge Collection That Made Him Famous (& Got Him Fired)

After productions in Shanghai, Paris, and London, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is returning to New York for its annual holiday spectacle. And, as usual, you can bet that an estimated 190 countries will be watching when the show airs on December 2nd (1opm/EST).

Ever year, a swarm of Angels walks the coveted Victoria's Secret runway in the retailer's latest fashions (add in some couture-style pieces for added production value that won't be sold en masse), and we gather around our televisions to see who's earned their wings, and which music mega-star will croon alongside them. (Past performers have included Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 and Justin Bieber.) The event, now 23 years strong, has become something of a highlight to the holiday season, and this year will not disappoint.

Via press release, the lingerie monolith revealed the names of which Angels would be returning to the catwalk and the star-studded lineup of performers they'll be strutting to. For the Angels, Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo (who is back following a three-year hiatus), Candice Swanepoel, Kendall Jenner, Elsa Hosk, Jasmine Tookes, Josephine Skriver, Lais Ribeiro, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Martha Hunt, Romee Strijd, Sara Sampaio, Stella Maxwell, and Taylor Hill will walk this year's stage, among a slew of newbies and up-and-comers.

And the performers are even bigger. Chart toppers like Shawn Mendes, Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Kelsea Ballerini, and English rock band The Struts will provide the soundtrack to this year's show. "Only one show brings together the biggest names in music and the top models around the globe for an exciting hour of entertainment and style," ABC's senior vice president of alternative series, late night, and specials Rob Mills said. "We couldn’t be happier to work with this iconic brand and bring The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to ABC."

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is indeed the most televised fashion event of the year, so naturally, we'll be tuning in. In addition to the aforementioned talent, designer Mary Katrantzou lent her talent to a section of the show, so be on the lookout for those, too. See you in December ( *winks, turns*).

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Why You (Still) Won't See Any Size Diversity At This Year's VS Fashion Show

How Writer-Activist Susan Sontag Inspired Next Year's Met Gala

Fondazione Prada's Latest Exhibit Celebrates Black Culture

And on November 1, God gave us Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles in conversation.

Four of the sharpest cheekbones in Hollywood spoke on the phone to discuss social media, masculinity, and that peach scene in Call Me By Your Name for i-D Magazine, and the resulting article (along with the grimiest — in the best way — photos of Chalamet) confirms that Styles and Chalamet are two of the purest boys in the biz right now.

Fans have been waiting for Chalamet and Styles to meet for a very long time, and their long-distance interaction (if they did a photoshoot together, the internet would surely combust) did not disappoint. Styles and Chalamet are a part of a new front of young, sensitive, and sensible actors, who don't really resemble the rough-and-tumble all-American movie stars of years past. They know it. They love it. And they discussed it.

First, Styles asks Chalamet about how the concept of masculinity has changed for him over the years, and Chalamet admitted he was waiting to ask the singer the same question. "I was going to ask you a version of that question but I worried it would be giving myself too much credit to think I could make a change like that," he says. "But, if you are giving me that license then I would say absolutely. It’s one of the reasons I’m so happy to get on the phone with you because growing up we did have some people to look up to, but it wasn’t as obvious...I would be so thrilled to know that the roles I’m playing are instigating change in some way."

He goes on, struggling to define what exactly it is about him, and Styles, and even Chalamet-counterpart Lucas Hedges, that makes them stand-out. "How do I phrase this? I think there’s something to be written about this by someone way smarter than I am... I want to say you can be whatever you want to be. There isn’t a specific notion, or jean size, or muscle shirt, or affectation, or eyebrow raise, or dissolution, or drug use that you have to take part in to be masculine. It’s exciting. It’s a brave new world."

Styles agrees, adding that he believes his relationship with his mother and sister directly impacted his ability to be vulnerable, and not shy away from the more feminine constructs in life (this is an idea Jonah Hill also touched on in an interview with Refinery29 when talking about his new movie, which coincidentally stars Hedges). "You have this idea of what being masculine is and as you grow up and experience more of the world, you become more comfortable with who you are," he replied. "Today it’s easier to embrace masculinity in so many different things. I definitely find — through music, writing, talking with friends and being open — that some of the times when I feel most confident is when I’m allowing myself to be vulnerable. It’s something that I definitely try and do."

And if you're not already standing up on your desk cheering on our two beautiful, good boys, Chalamet is here to knock it out of the park. "It’s almost a high to be vulnerable," he says. "I really get that. I think it can be achieved in art, but also in intimacy. It’s the craziest feeling to achieve that vulnerability. If us having this conversation, in any infinitesimal way, can help anyone, a guy, a girl, realise that being vulnerable is not a weakness, not a social barrier. It doesn’t mean you’re crazy or hyper emotional, you’re just human, which I think is something your music gets at and hopefully my movies do too. Humans are complex; we need to feel a lot of things. We are not homogeneous."

Yeah, he said "infinitesimal." Such good boys!

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Subtle Connection Between Timothée Chalamet & Lucas Hedges' Oscar-Bait Boy Movies

Shrek Is Getting A Reboot & We're Definitely Not Ready For It

16 Things You Didn't Know About Bohemian Rhapsody, But Need To

If you're experiencing the type of temperatures we've had over the past week or so in London, then you've likely had to break out those winter coats and sweaters. It's gotten a little chilly, hasn't it? And while we're thankful for the switch in seasons (our summer dresses got a little too much wear), there's just one problem: we kind of skipped autumn.

Since we have a feeling November might be a bit of a gamble — it's supposed to be 70 degrees tomorrow, but could easily snow in three weeks — we're giving you a variety of ways to wear your cold-weather staples. Your favourite thigh high boots? Wear them with a mini skirt to replace pants or tights. That denim jacket you wore all summer? Pile your sweaters underneath. We’re welcoming November with open arms. It's fluffy jackets and patent trench coats galore from here on out.

With unpredictable temperatures, your wardrobe is going to have to pull double-duty. Let these 30 outfits ahead help your closet hit its full potential.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

This Magnificent 86-Year-Old Just Put Two Fingers Up To 'Mutton Dressed As Lamb'

Shop The Entire Alexander Wang x Uniqlo Collection

Why You (Still) Won't See Any Size Diversity At This Year's VS Fashion Show

Fallen Hollywood titan Harvey Weinstein has made headlines yet again for another sexual misconduct accusation.

According to a report from People, a new lawsuit accuses the film producer of sexually harassing a Polish model and aspiring actress — referred to as Jane Doe in the lawsuit — over a 10-year period, beginning when she was just 16.

This claim is part of a class action lawsuit against Weinstein, filed by multiple women who accuse the Shakespeare In Love producer of engaging in various degrees of sexual misconduct.

Per the new lawsuit filing, according to CBC, Weinstein allegedly lured the actress to her apartment days after meeting her under the guise of a business lunch. He then allegedly instructed her to take off her clothes.

"Terrified and struggling to hold back tears, Jane Doe said she would not and resisted his demands," the filing states, per CBC. "Jane Doe was a virgin, and had no intention or understanding when she agreed to a business lunch that she would be put in this alarming position."

Weinstein allegedly continued to "emotionally abuse" and "sexually harass" the unnamed accuser for the next decade.

Per People, court documents state that Weinstein promised the accuser work in the entertainment industry but never followed through "because she would not give in to his sexual demands."

The court documents also claim that Weinstein threatened the accuser to engage in sexual acts and forced the woman to touch his genitals. This alleged misconduct reportedly continued until the woman severed all contact with Weinstein in 2011.

Weinstein vehemently denies previous rape allegations. Weinstein's lawyer denied this particular claim to People, stating:

"This claim is preposterous and eventually, just as others have been exposed to be liars, this uncorroborated allegation that is almost 20 years old will be shown to be patently false."

This allegation is just one in a slew to come out against Weinstein. In October of 2017, a New York Times piece on the former co-chair of Miramax detailed multiple accusations against Weinstein, including from Hollywood stars like Rose McGowan, who claims Weinstein raped her. A New Yorker piece by Ronan Farrow on Weinstein's alleged survivors followed shortly after.

In May, Weinstein was indicted by a grand jury on two charges of rape as well as a criminal sexual act in the first degree. He pled not guilty and is currently out on bail.

Refinery29 has reached out to Weinstein's lawyer for comment.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Why Are We So Obsessed With Breaking Up The Last Great A-List Couple?

10 Hollywood Actresses On The Beauty (& Reality) Of Getting Older

Netflix's Newest Thriller Is The Americans Meets Bodyguard

Balmain's creative director Olivier Rousteing has been incredibly transparent about wanting to bring fashion to the masses. In fact, he's structuring his entire business around it. Rousteing — one of three Black men to ever helm a major fashion house — has made good on his promise of promoting inclusivity by helping Black actresses challenge racism at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and designing Beyoncé’s iconic Coachella costumes. In September, Rousteing introduced a next level army — using virtual reality to democratise the runway in a groundbreaking partnership with [Facebook] Oculus to allow a new audience from around the world join in for an exclusive 360 view of the collection. And now that the world is watching, Rousteing is taking the French fashion house back to its roots.

On Wednesday, he announced at WWD's Retail & Apparel CEO Summit that he wanted to "bring back the Parisian DNA" to his brand. For the first time in 16 years, Balmain will make couture again, and it could be on the fashion calendar as soon as next January. We knew something was up earlier this year, when Rousteing decided it was time to outfit his #BalmainArmy in more than bandage dresses and sharply-tailored blazers. He launched a 10-piece collection of evening wear dubbed 44 Francois Premier (the location of Balmain's atelier), calling it a "palette cleanser."

As Rousteing put it, the move is "a chance to return to the beginnings of this house, with the single driving goal being that of creating unique and exquisite pieces, far removed from editorial and runway pressures." Last January, the designer told Vogue that, to prepare, he dug through the house's archives with the aim of paying tribute to both Pierre Balmain himself and as well as the rock & roll aesthetic of Christoph Decarnin, Rousteing's predecessor.

We're excited to see what Couture Fashion Week brings come January.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Shop The Entire Alexander Wang x Uniqlo Collection

H&M x Moschino Has Landed!

Marc Jacobs Is Reissuing The Grunge Collection That Made Him Famous (& Got Him Fired)

Ivanka's schedule has not been made public, so each week, we will do our best to cover the public events and forums she attends, the meetings she has with lawmakers and government officials, and her social media presence.

Saturday, October 27

After a gunman opened fire inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 people, Ivanka took to Twitter to send a message of solidarity. "America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite. All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh," she wrote. "We must unite against hatred & evil. God bless those affected."

America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite.

All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh.
We must unite against hatred & evil.

God bless those affected

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 27, 2018

Sunday, October 28

Ivanka shared a picture of the White House's American flag flown at half-staff to honour the victims of the synagogue shooting, following a proclamation from her father President Donald Trump.

As a mark of solemn respect for the victims at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA, POTUS issued a Proclamation that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff at the White House, at all military posts & naval stations & on all naval vessels of the Federal Govt pic.twitter.com/ltA3Lemd3u

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 28, 2018

Monday, October 29

Four investors filed a lawsuit against the Trump Organization, alleging the Trumps violated federal anti-racketeering law.

The first daughter retweeted a post from the official White House account including a story about her visit to Kentucky last week.

.@IvankaTrump on the American Dream: “There are multiple paths and we want to celebrate and equally honor those individual paths.”

More on her visit Friday to Morehead State University and job centers in eastern Kentucky: https://t.co/T4iWO20grw

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 29, 2018

She also touted the final report of the Canada-United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, an initiative she championed in February 2017, before officially joining the White House as a senior adviser to the president.

Page Six reported Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner attended the 50th birthday party of Hugh Jackman. The actor said: "I’ve been friends with them for 15 years so I am sure they were happy not to talk politics for a night."

Tuesday, October 30

The first daughter celebrated her 37th birthday.

Thank you all for yesterday’s warm birthday wishes! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aQgkvQDcRy

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 31, 2018

Ivanka and her husband also traveled with President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to Pittsburgh, despite opposition from city officials and members of the Jewish community. There, they paid respect to the victims of Saturday's shooting and met with first responders.

The New York Times reports that Kushner, the grandson of Holocaust survivors, and Ivanka, who converted to Judaism before marrying, worked behind the scenes to shape the president's response to the tragedy. Last year, his failure to condemn white nationalists and anti-Semitism after the violence in Charlottesville, VA was heavily criticised.

Today, I traveled with the President, First Lady, Secretary Mnuchin and my husband Jared to Pittsburgh to pay our respects at The Tree of Life synagogue and visit with first responders.
We saw firsthand a community that has suffered the unimaginable but remains united and strong.

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 31, 2018

Wednesday, October 31

Ivanka helped host an event at the White House related to the administration's Pledge to America’s Workers campaign.

.@IvankaTrump has worked alongside the President on the Pledge to America's Workers, resulting in over 6 MILLION new opportunities in just over 3 months. pic.twitter.com/kn2mKM9Lz4

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 31, 2018

Thursday, November 1

Ivanka tweeted about the economy. She also traveled to Reno, NV to campaign for Sen. Dean Heller, who is locked in one of the most competitive races this midterm election. If Rep. Jacky Rosen defeats Heller, it would help Democrats get at chance at regaining control of the Senate.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Verdict Is In: The Youth Vote Shaped The US Midterm Results

These Are The Victims Of The Thousand Oaks Shooting

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospitalised After Falling & Breaking 3 Ribs

Mary Austin was 19 years old when a 24-year-old Freddie Mercury walked into Biba, the posh London department store where she was working. He swerved the course of her life towards one marked by great love, stadium tours, devastating loss, and inheriting a 28-room London mansion (but that's for later). At the time, Mercury was a year away from founding Queen, one of the 20th century's biggest rock bands. Five months after meeting, Austin and Mercury moved into together; they remained a couple for six years, but friends for life.

The movie Bohemian Rhapsody, out November 2, memorialises the relationship between Mercury (Rami Malek) and Austin (Lucy Boynton), which continued to evolve even after Mercury came out as bisexual and their romantic connection ceased. Austin was there when he was dying of AIDS. She was there for it all. "It's fair to say she was the love of his life," Mick Rock, one of the couple's friends, said in the documentary Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story.

Now, Austin lives a private life in Garden Lodge, the mansion she inherited from Mercury when he died at the age of 45 in 1991. Though Austin once regularly greeted mourners and interacted with fans, she's since stopped. In 2017, Austin angered Mercury's fans when she repainted the shrine to Mercury had gradually built up on the gated walls outside the Kensington mansion. But the home itself is a shrine to Mercury. Austin hasn't changed the decor of Mercury's dream home much at all. Because for Austin, Mercury's death was tremendous. "I lost somebody who I thought was my eternal love. When he died I felt we'd had a marriage. We'd lived our vows. We'd done it for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. You could never have let go of Freddie unless he died — and even then it was difficult," she told OK.

Until she met Mercury in 1969, Austin's life hadn't been positioned towards the extraordinary. Her father was a wallpaper trimmer. Her mother worked as a maid. Both of her parents were deaf. Though Austin's job in PR at Biba allowed her to brush shoulders with the elite, like Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger, she actually met Mercury through Queen's future lead guitarist Brian May, whom Austin briefly dated. After visiting the store a few times, Mercury asked Austin out on his 24th birthday. She said no. He persisted. So, they went out the next night instead.

Within the year, while Mercury and Austin were living in a tiny London flat, Mercury's newly formed band, Queen, would begin to see success. Austin recognised Mercury's star power during a small showcase at his old college. She also recognised that she was coming along for the ride. "That night, I realised that I had to go along with this and be part of it. As everything took off I was watching him flower. It was wonderful to observe," Austin told OK.

To their friends, Austin and Mercury seemed like the epitome of young love and happiness. "They were very sweet. They were like a married couple. This was obviously true love,” Queen's Brian May said in Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story.

Mercury proposed to Austin in 1973. “He gave me a big box on Christmas Day. Inside was another box, then another and so it went on. It was like one of his playful games,” she recalled to Daily Mail in 2013. “Eventually, I found a lovely jade ring inside the last small box.I was shocked. It just so wasn’t what I was expecting. I just whispered, ‘Yes. I will.’” The scene is recreated in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.

Though Mercury referred to their relationship as a marriage, the two never formally got married. Their relationship changed as Queen experienced more fame, and Mercury began to sleep with men. Austin suspected Mercury was "not one with himself." Eventually, Mercury came out as bisexual, as Austin had suspected. "It was a relief really, to actually hear it from him. To know that I had guessed more less right," she said in Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story. "I was supportive of him becoming gay because it was part of himself. It was nice to see Freddie at one with himself. It was more than nice. It was wonderful."

Their physical relationship ended, but their connection only grew. Mercury bought her a flat near his apartment, and employed her as his personal assistant. Their history with one another clouded all other romantic partnerships. In a 1985 interview, Mercury said, "All my lovers asked me why they couldn't replace Mary, but it's simply impossible. I couldn't fall in love with a man the same way I did with Mary."

That said, they both did have other long-lasting relationships. After their split, Mercury — born Farrokh Bulsara to conservative Parsi parents — remained single for some time. He dated other women (like actress Barbara Valentin) publicly, and men privately. Mercury was with Jim Hutton (played by Aaron McCusker in Bohemian Rhapsody) for seven years, until the time of his death. Hutton was a hair dresser and kept his job even after moving into Mercury's mansion. Hutton died in 2010 of cancer.

Austin, meanwhile, was married twice. First, to painter Piers Cameron, with whom she had two sons. Then, to businessman Nick Holford, whom she divorced after five years.

When Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS, Austin was one of the people who took care of him, along with Hutton. “I lost my family, really, when Freddie died,” Austin told The Daily Mail. “He was everything to me, apart from my sons. He was like no one I had met before.” Upon his death in 1991, Mercury left her and her sons his 28-room house and half his $75 million fortune, inciting jealousy among his former bandmates. Mercury also gave Austin the responsibility of burying his ashes in a secret location. “He didn’t want anyone trying to dig him up as has happened to some famous people. Fans can be deeply obsessive. He wanted it to remain a secret and it will remain so," Austin told The Daily Mail.

Catch the fictionalised depiction of their simply unclassifiable relationship in Bohemian Rhapsody, out now.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Subtle Connection Between Timothée Chalamet & Lucas Hedges' Oscar-Bait Boy Movies

Shrek Is Getting A Reboot & We're Definitely Not Ready For It

16 Things You Didn't Know About Bohemian Rhapsody, But Need To

A few minutes before 11:10 a.m. EST on the morning of 1st November, the warm autumn sun beat down on the facade of Google’s New York City headquarters. A silent sea of reporters surrounded the gold entrance, watching as the first Google employees began to trickle through the front doors, walking out in solidarity with thousands of colleagues from Google offices around the world.

One woman, who works in Google’s engineering department, marched down West 15th Street carrying a large white sign that read “Happy to quit for $90,000,000 — no sexual harassment required.” When asked her reasons for walking out of work today, she requested to remain anonymous, but did not mince her words: “I want transparency in sexual harassment cases and how they’re handled,” she said. “They’re slashing a lot of perks and benefits for employees and then we find out that they’re paying a $90-million payout to somebody who was known to be a sexual harasser. It strikes me as unfair.”

The Google walkout comes on the heels of a New York Times article that exposed the tech behemoth’s history of discrimination, sexual harassment, and support of abuse and abusers at the company. One of the most shocking anecdotes in the story was of Andy Rubin, the creator of Android, who reportedly received a $90-million exit package despite a history of sexual misconduct.

While the exposé destabilised many perceptions of Google’s culture, the aftermath tells, perhaps, the more crucial story. A group of seven core organisers — who decided they’d had enough of this toxic culture — took matters into their own hands and organised a walkout. They are asking Google executives to respond to five specific demands: An end to forced arbitration in harassment and discrimination cases; a commitment to end pay and opportunity inequity; a public sexual harassment transparency report; a clear and inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct safely and anonymously; and to promote the chief diversity officer to answer directly to the CEO and make recommendations directly to the board of directors. In addition, they want an employee representative appointed to the board.

These latest incidents at Google are not isolated. In fact, the tech giant has a long history of problematic incidents pegged to sexism and inequity. The company has previously come under fire for pay inequity, accused of systematically underpaying women workers, and even facing discrimination charges for unequal pay. In August 2017, Google engineer James Damore published a viral memo filled with sexist rhetoric and complaints about Google's diversity policies, claiming the company suffered because it's an ideological echo chamber. And in the summer of 2015, Erica Baker, who then worked as a Google engineer, made headlines after she shared she organised an internal spreadsheet documenting employee salaries to highlight the company's pay gap.

As of yesterday, roughly 1,500 individuals had planned to walk out of company offices around the globe, according to the New York Times. But, judging by New York City’s turnout, this was likely an underestimate. By 11:15 a.m., a steady stream of Googlers carrying signs and donning branded Google apparel began pushing down Eighth Avenue. The vast majority of the men and women remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on their motivations for participating. As they rounded the corner onto West 15th Street, the throng advanced toward Hudson River Park's 14th Street Park where a massive crowd convened. The park was quickly at full capacity and attendants diverted the protestors into an overflow area adjacent to the park.

Inside the park’s gates, a throbbing mass of Google employees gathered around a small group of women organisers. They stood on chairs and shared their views through a loudspeaker. Among them was Meredith Whittaker, one of the walkout’s core organisers.

“I am here because what you read in the New York Times are a small sampling of the thousands of stories we all have, the thousands of stories we carry for each other, the thousands of instances of abuse of power, discrimination, harassment, and a pattern of unethical and thoughtless decision-making that has marked this company for the last year and that has marked our culture and scarred so many of us,” Whittaker said to the crowd. “This is it. Time is up. We’re just getting started, and we want to bring all of you along with us.”

As the speeches concluded, the crowd erupted into a chant — “Time is up, time is up, time is up!” — before beginning to disperse. And, indeed, the words “time is up,” are very much in line with the crux of the countless movements and protests that have taken place in the last twelve months. One year after the #MeToo movement first destabilised U.S. and global status quo around sexual misconduct in the workplace and in society at large, Google is now experiencing perhaps its largest scandal to date. The question is: How will this tech company respond to their employees’ concerns and will there be any real change?

Google declined to comment on the walkout, saying "it’s a grassroots movement,” and at time of writing, Refinery29 had not yet received comment from organisers. But, inside Hudson River Park, Demma Rodriguez, head of equity engineering, had no shortage of words to share. Rodriguez said today’s numbers suggested that people care and want to usher in progress. But it’s not enough to participate in a single act of solidarity and protest, Rodriguez made it clear that what she hopes for is long-lasting, structural change.

“Everyone at Google should be able to stay safe,” Rodriguez said. “I said in my remarks, and I meant it: Every single person who shows up to work at Google is an equal member of our community and deserves to be respected, protected, and safe at work.”

Rodriguez went on to speak of complacency, specifically that the power of a few executives should never eclipse the safety of all. She added that she hopes the public knows that there are many members of the Google community working hard to fix, bring attention to, and prevent these abuses of power from reoccurring.

“We have very clear values about respect. It’s absolutely critical that the world understands that we take those values seriously,” Rodriguez said. “We want to make sure and make clear that our communities within Google want this to change, expect it to change, and in many ways demand it to change.”

As she spoke candidly about Google’s problems, colleagues began to gather around Rodriguez, nodding along with her words. Though she was the one to speak these words, it was evident that she spoke not just for herself, but also for the many who chose to — or felt they had to — stay silent: “We’re going to have to get it right,” Rodriguez said. “Because that is what the world expects of us. And most importantly, that is what we each should expect of ourselves.”

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Michelle Obama's London Talk Sold Out In Minutes & Twitter Has Lost It

Twitter In Disbelief As 17-Year-Old's Underwear Is Used Against Her In A Rape Case

Amnesty's New Women's Rights Tees Are Here & We Want To Wear Them All

Whenever awards season rolls around, I start playing a little game while watching movies featuring truly great performances: Which scene will yield the clip that is inevitably played before that actor's name is read out at the Oscars?

When it comes to Carey Mulligan 's stunning turn in Wildlife, the answer is clear.

Based on a novel by Robert Ford, the film tracks the demise of an all-American family unit in early 1960s Montana. When Jerry Brinson (Jake Gyllenhaal) decides to find himself as an ersatz firefighter, volunteering to help stave off the wildfires raging in the mountains, Jeanette (Mulligan), his long-suffering wife, starts questioning her own life decisions. In plain view of her 14-year-old son, she launches into an affair with a local businessman, Warren Miller (Bill Camp), a move that's part vindictive, part desperate attempt at self-preservation.

The exclusive clip below catches Jeanette in a nostalgic mood. She's wearing clothes from her youth as a "shoot beauty," when she used to stand behind the bull shoots at rodeos, confident in her beauty and men's admiration. As Joe sets up the soup cans he's just bought to make dinner, Jeanette prowls around the kitchen, preening and posing for her son's benefit, desperately clinging to whatever sense of self she still has. It's a tragic reminder that not so very long ago, a woman's entire identity was dependent on male desire or her marital status. With Jerry gone, she's no longer a wife, so she must be a mistress. It's only starting to occur to her that she could be something else — something for herself alone.

Mulligan is phenomenal in this movie, but in this scene in particular, she infuses a woman who could flatly be deemed unsympathetic (and in fact was called "reprehensible" by an audience member during a post-screening Q&A) with pathos, emotion, and an aura of nihilistic despair. It's hard not to sympathise with her, even as she's vastly oversharing with her son, who watches, wide-eyed and bewildered.

See for yourself below:

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Letitia Wright & John Boyega To Star In Sci-Fi Romance

Netflix's Psychological Thriller About Cam Girls Looks Almost Too Dark

The Subtle Connection Between Timothée Chalamet & Lucas Hedges' Oscar-Bait Boy Movies