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        <title>Evie Magazine</title>
        <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com</link>
        <description>
          Focusing on women and celebrating what makes them so unique, Evie Magazine helps women seek truth and find beauty...the kind that really matters.
        </description>
        <language>en-us</language>
        <copyright>© 2021 Evie Magazine</copyright>
        <pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 02:44:27 GMT</pubDate>
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          <title>Evie Magazine</title>
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      <title><![CDATA[I Posed As A Pregnant Teen To Test Abortion Pill Sites. What I Discovered Horrified Me.]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/i-posed-as-a-pregnant-teen-to-test-abortion-pill-sites-what-i-discovered-horrifie</link>
      <dc:creator>Dr. Christina Francis</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Imagine you’re a scared 13-year-old girl who just found out you’re pregnant. You don’t want to tell your parents, and you’ve heard about abortion pills on social media and from your friends. You’ve even heard that they're safer than Tylenol, which you take any time you have a minor headache, and that no one has to know that you’ve taken them.]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Also imagine that you have an intrauterine device (IUD) in your uterus that was supposed to prevent you from getting pregnant, but now that it failed, it puts you at higher risk that this pregnancy is an ectopic pregnancy (where the embryo implants outside of the uterine cavity)—a life-threatening condition. Anyone with even a modicum of medical training would immediately flag your case as needing in-depth follow-up. They would want an ultrasound to confirm how far along you are and that you do not have an ectopic pregnancy (both of which impact the risks of abortion pills). A girl who is 13 and pregnant also needs to be screened for sexual abuse. Necessary evaluations like these are exactly why Michigan urgent care doctor Viktoria Koskenoja claims that “all” abortion patients she sees “want to talk to someone in person.” Dr. Koskenoja’s patients clearly realize what many Americans are realizing: the lack of guardrails on mail-order abortion drugs, as well as ongoing medical care for women, is incredibly dangerous. As a board-certified OB/GYN who is well-versed on this issue, even I was shocked to see how poorly abortion drugs, now available online with no prescription, are monitored and regulated and how any medical supervision or support for women and girls is truly nonexistent. Just recently, I posed as a pregnant 13-year-old with an IUD to test the guardrails of a “Plan C” abortion drug site. The site should have immediately referred me to the nearest medical professional for an in-person appointment and ultrasound. Such an appointment would have protected me from potentially taking the drugs with a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, would have been critical for ensuring I wasn’t a victim of domestic or sexual abuse, and would have confirmed my baby’s gestational age. Instead, the site allowed me to proceed after answering a few questions indicating that I had a host of potentially life-threatening contraindications to the abortion drugs. All I had to do was acknowledge (as a young, scared teenager) that I was willing to accept the risk (which was not even accurately described). The experience revealed that the current situation in this country with abortion drugs, which now account for nearly two-thirds of all abortions, is far more dire than even I had imagined. Thanks to the FDA’s reckless actions, which it seems to want to continue, frank medical malpractice is occurring under the guise of “telehealth.”  Make no mistake: this online shopping experience doesn’t even come within a mile of being telehealth. The site allowed me to proceed after answering a few questions indicating that I had a host of potentially life-threatening contraindications to the abortion drugs. The website took no steps to verify that I was ordering the pills for myself. At no point was I required to produce identification proving that I was who I said I was, a legal guardian of the minor allegedly purchasing the drugs, or even a female at all. I imagined several disturbing scenarios that this lack of guardrails or in-person medical evaluation enabled—forced or coerced abortions, enabling sexual abusers or traffickers. In situations like these, a medical visit is often a woman or girl’s first and best chance to get help. And that chance at help has now been ripped away in the pursuit of abortion access above women’s safety. The stories of women like Catherine Herring and Rosalie Markezich, along with so many others, confirm that this is not a theoretical risk. No-visit dispensing of abortion drugs does not empower women. It empowers their abusers, with no accountability. Throughout the “screening” process, the website failed to warn me about serious potential risks or side effects commonly associated with the abortion drug mifepristone other than bleeding. It didn't even clarify until the final acknowledgements that mifepristone can cause life-threatening infections (which led to a black box warning on the drug that is still in place). I know from my own practice and research that almost one out of every ten women suffers a severe complication due to mifepristone—including heavy bleeding, infections that can lead to sepsis, incomplete abortions, and the need for surgery. Much of the information on potential risks on the website was either incomplete or inaccurate. It wrongfully claims the pills work 96-99 percent of the time. The lower end of this range is only accurate very early in pregnancy (at less than eight weeks gestation). For every week beyond that, the risk of an incomplete abortion increases. For example, at 13-14 weeks gestation, women face a 33 percent chance—one in three—they will need a surgical completion of their abortion or even emergency surgery. Fully informed consent for women to be able to make a decision based on information tailored to their specific situation is impossible under the current dispensing regime, and does not even seem to be a goal of those pushing these drugs. Though the website encouraged women with irregular periods to seek an ultrasound to confirm their gestational age, and warned women that getting pregnant despite an IUD means they might have a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, it did not require proof that women had done either. Neither did it adequately describe the risks when these things are not known, especially in language that a 13-year-old would be able to understand. Almost one out of every ten women suffers a severe complication due to mifepristone At the very least, the website could easily require women to upload their ultrasound results to screen for potential red flags that an abortion provider would catch in person. This would not replace in-person medical evaluation, but without at least this requirement, there is zero proof that a woman is even pregnant, no confirmation of her gestational age or whether she has an ectopic pregnancy, or even if she is the one ordering the pills herself. Without these things, informed consent is impossible. This is medical malpractice that is actively endangering the health and lives of women, not to mention that it has drastically expanded the number of preborn children’s lives that are being ended in every state in the country (including those who have passed laws restricting abortion). Any medical professional who saw a pregnant woman with the risk factors I entered would perform an ultrasound before giving her mifepristone. The website just let me move on and pay them $150 to get the pills. They got their money, had no liability for any harm they caused, and I would have been left abandoned to my local emergency room when I experienced complications. While I knew that mail-order abortion had flimsy guardrails, I was unprepared for the fact that these abortion drug websites have zero medical oversight, even for women or girls with multiple reasons why these drugs could be life-threatening. The website only warned me once of the risks of the drug and let me continue after merely acknowledging I’d read the associated warnings. It's easy to see how desperate young women or abusive men would ignore these warnings with potentially deadly consequences. The few warnings I was given were woefully insufficient, especially because they just allowed me to move on every time (or go back and change my answers to falsely lower my risk) and ultimately receive the drugs, even in a state where abortion is illegal. Informed consent is impossible. The entire process took less than 30 minutes. Despite being told that my information would be reviewed by a healthcare professional once I submitted it and I would only receive payment information if I was approved by said professional, less than two minutes after submitting the form, I received an email requesting payment and my address. My heart broke imagining the countless dangerous scenarios where desperate young women, including girls as young as 13, might be tempted or coerced into purchasing drugs online in a moment of panic. Girls like the one I posed as have been repeatedly fed the lie that mail-order abortion is “healthcare” and are left to discover the truth in isolation. This is not “telehealth”—it’s an online shopping experience that empowers only those selling the drugs and abusers. Women and girls deserve better than this. Just because a woman might be contemplating abortion doesn’t mean she deserves a lower level of medical care or a complete lack of follow-up. Michigan urgent care doctor Koskenoja (an abortion supporter) seems to agree. “It annoys me,” Koskenoja told NPR in a recent interview, “That telehealth is considered an acceptable thing in rural areas.” Dr. Koskenoja is right to be annoyed, and women are right to want better guidance and stronger guardrails on such critical decisions. In a time when our country is deeply divided on many issues, including abortion, we should all be united in this. Women deserve better than what the current abortion drug scheme offers them.]]></content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Health</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[Why Every It-Girl I Know Is Still Dressing Like A Coastal Grandma In 2026]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/why-every-it-girl-i-know-is-still-dressing-like-a-coastal-grandma-in-2026</link>
      <dc:creator>Emilee Janitz</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Americans are tired of cheap, classless lifestyles, and our enduring obsession with the coastal grandma aesthetic proves it.]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Fashion is one of the greatest signifiers of culture. It’s the canary in the coal mine, visually indicating a population’s current collective mental state and priorities. During the COVID pandemic , American women were obsessed with Y2K. We missed the easy pre-smartphone days. After COVID, we were all about capsule wardrobes and dressing in businesscore 24/7 as we finally returned to the office . And, for the last several years, the American population hasn't been able to get enough of coastal grandma. Let's take a look at why that is. What Is the Coastal Grandma Trend? If you need a refresh on the coastal grandma trend , allow me to break it down. At the crux of it, it’s an aesthetic that’s all about channeling the style and general vibe of (you guessed it) an elderly woman who lives by the sea. She is wealthy, classy, and always put together. Her favorite fabrics are linen, cotton, and seersucker and she can’t resist a good straw hat or bag. She loves the seaside (obviously), interior design, gardening, cooking, and reading. She’s affluent without being stuffy. Well-rounded and interesting without being hurried or burned out. She lives a life of elegance and leisure. As you may have already assumed, age is irrelevant when it comes to hopping on this trend, as is social status. I.e., you don’t have to be elderly or rich. It’s about embodying a state of mind, and finding a way to emulate the lifestyle realistically. In everyday fashion, this means wearing linens during the summer months and gravitating toward a specific color palette (a lot of summer whites, navy, light straw, and rich leather). The most common motifs include nautical stripes, microflorals, and on-the-nose sea-inspired imagery, from anchors to crustaceans. The trend first became popular in 2022 and, unlike most other microtrends, has actually stuck around. With new coastal grandma-esque designs hitting shelves for summer 2026, it’s clear that being a coastal grandma is still an enviable achievement. Americans Are Seeking Substance and Class The coastal grandma movement is all about being polished and put-together. Not just in one’s style but in one’s life. It’s about living intentionally. A coastal grandma is thoughtful and classy. She has interesting hobbies and impeccable taste. It’s not coincidental that this aesthetic has had many of us in a chokehold for several years running. Our society has reached an inflection point. We’re tired of notification-spurred dopamine hits and surface-level relationships and are, instead, pursuing meaningful lifestyles. We’re chasing affluence, developing hobbies , and taking our appearances seriously. The rise of traditional values has spurred this movement forward. We’re not just trading fast fashion leggings for linen trousers. We’re replacing narcissistic tendencies and shallow goals for faith, family, and purpose. We’re practicing discretion and tact in our daily lives. We’re placing value in humility and authenticity. We want the American dream: a husband, children, and a white picket fence to boot. And, sure, we’ll take the beach house, too. TLDR: The longevity of coastal grandma has been upheld by a shift in values, vision, and purpose. Coastal Grandma Pieces We’re Eyeing for Summer 2026 Whether or not you agree, it’s hard to deny the appeal of this trend. It’s chic, practical, and—while it can be channeled year-long—has a way of embodying the things we love best about summer. I’ve been a self-described coastal grandma for as long as I can remember. While I live in New York (not technically a New England state), my family and I take a New England beach vacation every summer. Even before coastal grandma was a covetable aesthetic, my summer style is one that has always gravitated toward coastal Americana . If you, too, are still loving the coastal grandma aesthetic (Or are new to it! That’s cool too.), here are some of the best fashion pieces to shop for this summer. Dresses & Bottoms Everlane Tie-Neck Dress in Stretch Linen The stretch linen construction and dreamy sky blue hue make this an elegant, on-theme selection. Bonus: the fashion-forward necktie sets it apart, allowing for two separate ways to wear it. American Eagle Back Bow Smocked Midi Dress Simple and elegant—dress this piece up with block heel sandals for oysters by the water or keep it casual with flip-flops and a straw hat for walks on the beach. Everlane Lace Knit Mini Dress If fishing nets could inspire a delicate feminine dress, this would be it. Its 100% organic cotton construction makes it a wardrobe piece you’ll hold onto for years. Style it with lace-up sandals for a cool-girl ‘fit. Lulus Jaliyah White Collared Button-Front Mini Dress This summer dress would be perfect for brunch with friends or a Saturday morning stroll. Its high collared neckline also makes it Zoom-friendly. Hill House Home The Ophelia Dress This dress is an easy one-and-done outfit you can wear on repeat from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Frank & Eileen Rory Maxi Shirtdress There’s nothing more spectacular than a casual summer day—when the sun is shining and you have nowhere to be but outdoors. Whether your plans include reading a book, going for a walk, or wading at the shore, this shirt dress is the perfect casual coastal grandma grab-and-go outfit. Everlane Utility Pleated Mini Skirt Finding a pleated skirt that's fun without being revealing can be difficult. The length on this one is absolute perfection. Style with sweaters, t-shirts, and button-downs. J. Crew Pleated Midi Skirt in Sailor Stripe The cut and pattern of this J. Crew skirt screams casual elegance. Pair it with your favorite white tanks, tees, and blouses for an effortlessly chic outfit formula. Quince Linen Wide Leg Pants Linen pants are a trend non-negotiable. Style with a favorite white tee or linen button-down. J.Crew Soleil Pant in Linen Or, try a solid blue pair for an easy pop of color! Tops & Jackets Lulus Seasonally Lovely White Scalloped Button-Front Poplin Top Pair it with a white midi skirt, denim shorts, or linen pants and you're guaranteed to feel both feminine and classy. J. Crew Quarter Zip Sweater Between the oversized collar and mariner stripes, this nautical sweater is coastal grandma epitomized. It’s eye-catching without being overstated. Style with a pleated skirt, linen pants, or jeans. Quince 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Boxy Cropped Cardigan The perfect blue cardigan for summer. Throw it over your shoulders or cozy up on the beach with it in the evenings. Quince Linen Shirt Linen shirts are a summer wardrobe’s workhorse. They’re incredibly breathable and can be styled up or down depending on the occasion. Add jewelry and tailored pants for an office look or throw over top of a bathing suit for a day at the beach. Gap 100% Linen Oversized Shirt Want something a little unexpected? Try this butter yellow oversized linen shirt and watch the compliments roll in. Banana Republic Factory Linen-Blend Vest Vests are a versatile summer top that help you feel posh without sweating to death. Dress up with trousers or down with a pair of denim shorts. Quince European Linen Relaxed Double Breasted Blazer Blue pinstripe is a core coastal grandma attribute. This linen blazer hits on the trend with both its pattern and material. Wear over a chic white dress or with linen trousers. Everlane Oversized Blazer Again, coastal grandmas adore linen. Add a linen blazer to your wardrobe for office days or the many end-of-the-year school activities that require more than jeans and a t-shirt. Accessories Old Navy Straw Sun Hat Hard and fast rule: All coastal grandmas must have a straw hat at the ready. No exceptions. Banana Republic Factory Straw Bucket Hat If you prefer a richer color to add some dimension, this bucket hat is grandma-approved as well. J. Crew Thin Woven Belt With Leather Trim A belt goes a long way in making an outfit feel complete. This thin woven belt would pair well with other themed accessories (from straw hats to leather sandals) without feeling too matchy-matchy. Sézane Farrow Bag I’ve had this bag for years and it’s the one I come back to time and again as my go-to during the spring and summer. It’s elevated, casual, and the perfect size for day-time essentials. Madewell The Lexington Small Tote in Raffia Whether it’s full of diapering supplies, office essentials, or beach accouterment, this durable yet chic bag is a summer accessory you’ll reach for day in and day out. Frances Valentine Sweet Pea Raffia Perfectly oversized, this blue striped bag is easy to carry and will pair seamlessly with all of your summer staples. Tuckernuck Accessories Navy Raffia Audrey Lady Bag For the coastal grandmas tired of neutrals, this navy raffia bag is sure to be a standout. James Michelle In The Pearls Bracelet This ultra-feminine bracelet is an eye-catcher without breaking the bank. Brinker and Eliza Montauk Necklace I’ve been coveting this necklace for several years. It’s a piece that completes an outfit (think elevating a simple sun dress or adding drama to a plain tee) and garners compliments every time it leaves the house. Target Sea Life Print Scarf Universal Thread™ Ready to tie your hair back in a convertible off the coast like one of those it-girls you saved on Pinterest? Snagging this lightweight scarf is the first step. Shoes Larroude Maya Cyprus Boat Shoe If you love the idea of boat shoes but can’t quite see yourself in the usual variety, look no further. This trendy pair from fashion-forward brand Larroude is on theme while serving up a unique aesthetic. It also comes in a wide variety of colors. Abercrombie x Sperry Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoe The crème de la crème of boat shoes—the classic Sperry. As someone who wears red, white, and blue almost exclusively during the summer months, I’ve been loving this offering from their collaboration with Abercrombie & Fitch. Rothy's Casual Clog Aside from strolling the beach, coastal grandmas also appreciate a visit to the farmers market or the chance to get her own hands dirty in soil. A casual clog is a shoe she’ll reach for almost every day. Sézane Aubade Low Babies Woven textures are always on theme. The low heel makes this shoe a polished option without sacrificing comfort or practicality. Altar'd State Raffia Sandal Raffia is another core coastal grandma material. Slide sandals are an easy shoe that can be worn to the pool, coffee shop, farmer’s market, beach, and everywhere in between. Tkees X J. Crew Sandal Everyone needs a pair of practical flip-flops for the pool and beach. This Tkees x J. Crew collab pair comes in four beautiful color combos—all of which any coastal grandma would swoon over. Quince Italian Leather Slingback If you were to pick one word to describe the coastal grandma it would be classy. So where would she be without a pair of classic heels? Matching Sets & Swim LAKE Switch Skirt Set As a mom, I’m always hunting for easy outfits that are both comfortable and put-together. This daywear set from acclaimed pajama brand LAKE is the epitome of just that. This versatile set would also make for a great suitcase addition for seaside vacations. LAKE Skirt Set Made from 100% cotton, this set is one you’ll reach for endlessly on hot summer days. Why wear grubby athleticwear when you could look cute instead? Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love A&F Marina One-Piece Swimsuit In addition to seersucker and sailing motifs, coastal grandmas also love gingham. Throw a white linen button-up over top and you're ready for a good book on the beach, no questions asked. Cupshe High Tide Heat Striped One-Piece Swimsuit Go full nautical with this navy striped swimsuit for a classic look. Minnow Women's Oasis Blue Gingham Bandeau Bikini Top / High Waist Bikini Bottom Or, if you're more of a two-piece girl, this gingham set is equally as worthy of an aesthetic summer afternoon.]]></content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Style</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[Here’s What’s Really Going On With The Alleged Tyla And Rihanna Feud]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/why-does-the-internet-pin-rihanna-and-tyla-against-each-other</link>
      <dc:creator>Meredith Evans</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[All it took was one Met Gala clip, and suddenly, social media had decided Rihanna “hated” Tyla. ]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[There’s something oddly inevitable about the internet turning Tyla and Rihanna into rivals, even though neither woman appears interested in competing with the other in the first place. The Met Gala Clip That Sparked Everything The viral moment itself was surprisingly mundane. In footage from the 2026 Met Gala, Tyla appeared to linger near Rihanna while Rihanna was speaking to someone else, leading viewers online to interpret the interaction as a cold shoulder. Within hours, people were dissecting Rihanna’s facial expressions, Tyla’s body language, and even A$AP Rocky’s presence nearby. The moment went viral, and Tyla later addressed the situation on TikTok. She explained that she’d met Rihanna before, that Rihanna had been busy both times, and that she personally struggles with approaching people when they seem occupied. She even mentioned that Rihanna once told her, “My baby daddy’s calling me,” before leaving a conversation early. Now, do I feel bad for Tyla knowing that she's a fan of Rihanna? Sure. But does that mean there's bad blood between them? No, of course not. Maybe the mom-of-three just wasn't feeling social that night; she seemed low-energy on the red carpet. That has absolutely nothing to do with Tyla. Still, by the time Tyla clarified things, the internet had already committed to the narrative. The rumors were only fueled after fans claimed that Tyla had unfollowed Rihanna (spoiler alert: she didn't). Then the internet started comparing the two artists and pitting them against each other. One of the reasons this comparison keeps resurfacing is visual, in my opinion. Tyla occupies a lane that people instinctively associate with Rihanna: fashion-forward, globally influenced pop music, Caribbean and African musical inspirations, effortless cool-girl energy, beauty campaigns, and an ability to make almost anything look aspirational. The parallels are aesthetic before they’re musical, which is important because musically, Rihanna and Tyla are in very different places. Rihanna built one of the most dominant hit catalogs of the 2000s and 2010s. Even people who claim she “can’t sing” can recite entire choruses from “Umbrella,” “Needed Me,” “Work,” “Diamonds,” “We Found Love,” and “Stay” from memory. Rihanna’s appeal was never about being the most technically gifted vocalist in pop music. It was about tone, charisma, instinct, taste, and an almost unmatched ability to turn songs into cultural events. She made records feel cool before TikTok existed to manufacture virality. Tyla, meanwhile, arrived during a completely different era of celebrity. Artists now become global stars in fragments: dance challenges, moodboards, festival clips, fancams, and aesthetics optimized for short-form content. Her breakout success with “Water” introduced millions of listeners to amapiano-inspired pop, and she undeniably has presence. Even critics of the Rihanna comparison usually admit Tyla is magnetic onscreen. The Jay-Z connection probably adds fuel to the comparisons, too. Rihanna’s rise is closely tied to Jay-Z, who famously signed her to Def Jam as a teenager and helped shape her early career. Tyla, meanwhile, has drawn attention from many of the same industry circles that historically embraced Rihanna: luxury fashion brands, crossover pop markets, and executives eager to find globally marketable stars outside traditional American pop molds. Why Female Celebrities Always Get Turned Into Rivals The issue is that once the internet notices any similarity between two women in entertainment, especially if they’re both young, stylish, and attractive, the conversation turns into succession politics. People immediately want to know who’s replacing whom. Even Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo fans were convinced that Taylor Swift was threatened by their talent and star quality. Because of one viral clip, Rihanna is deemed “jealous,” “washed,” “rude,” or secretly threatened by younger artists, despite the fact that Rihanna has spent years largely detached from the music industry rat race entirely. Ironically, Tyla herself seems far more interested in meeting Rihanna than competing with her. In every explanation she’s given, she sounds like a nervous fan trying not to interrupt someone she admires. There’s also a generational element to all of this. Rihanna represents a kind of celebrity that feels increasingly extinct: untouchable, elusive, impossible to overexpose. Tyla belongs to a newer ecosystem where artists are expected to constantly explain themselves online, respond to rumors immediately, and remain accessible to fans at all times. When those worlds collide, people project intentions onto both women. None of this would have become a major conversation if the internet didn’t already love framing women as rivals before they’ve even had a proper interaction. Fans do it with actresses, influencers, athletes, and musicians constantly. Every new female artist gets positioned as the “next” someone instead of being allowed to exist independently. The Internet Usually Prefers The Narrative Over Reality The funny part is that the actual footage people obsessed over mostly looked like two celebrities at a chaotic event trying to get through an exhausting night. Even outlets reporting on the moment later noted that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were likely just tired after a packed Met Gala schedule, despite online speculation that they’d been fighting. Still, once social media decides there’s tension between two women, the truth almost becomes irrelevant. The narrative is more entertaining than reality.]]></content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Culture</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[The Lie Women Were Sold About Leadership]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-lie-women-were-sold-about-leadership</link>
      <dc:creator>Natalie M. Alvarez</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Recently, I was sitting in a leadership session led by a former Navy SEAL. The framework was clear: start with a plan, build discipline through discomfort, take a cold shower or cold plunge every morning. Control your environment before it controls you. ]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[This is the kind of leadership that leaves very little to chance. But that rigid protocol doesn't feel like me. Not because I can’t do it, but because I know I would have to override something instinctive in order to sustain it. He lost me at cold plunges daily. To be fair, there’s real science behind cold exposure. It can support mood, inflammation, and resilience. But it’s also a stressor, and women’s physiology doesn’t respond to stress in a one-size-fits-all way. Studies show that hormonal shifts across the menstrual cycle influence cortisol response , particularly in the luteal phase. If the body is already in a quiet boxing match with itself, it doesn't need a cold plunge to step into the ring for added volatility. This may be great advice for guys. But does this actually apply to women? Every Day I’m Hustlin’ If you came of age professionally like I did in the early aughts, you were shaped by hustle culture. Andy from The Devil Wears Prada taught us that competence meant emotional restraint, endurance, and proving you could keep up without breaking. Lean In , by former Facebook exec Sheryl Sandberg, taught us to claim a seat at the table but didn’t fully question the structure of the table itself. The cultural zeitgeist of the time was consistent. Be efficient and unemotional (keep your tears in the bathroom, ladies!), be composed at all times, and be excellent, but never messy. Dedication was demonstrated by working late and wearing it like a badge of honor. Millennials were so committed to this that business casual clubwear became a genre. We didn’t learn how to lead. We learned how to perform leadership in a way that mirrored masculinity. We learned how to perform leadership in a way that mirrored masculinity. Around the same time, Anne-Marie Slaughter’s " Why Women Still Can’t Have It All" surfaced a harder truth: women could have it all, just not at the same time. I was redder than the bottom of a Louboutin after reading it. My whole life I had been fed the first part of “women can have it all,” but no one had warned me about the latter. We could have children, we could have careers, and we could lead, but the structure wasn’t designed to support all of these things at once. “Having control over your schedule is the only way that women who want to have a career and a family can make it work,” she writes. But really, in what industry does that path to leadership allow for that kind of control? She contends, “The best hope for improving the lot of all women… is to close the leadership gap… to ensure that women are equally represented in the ranks of corporate executives and judicial leaders. Only when women wield power in sufficient numbers will we create a society that genuinely works for all women.” Yet, it’s hard to achieve those lofty goals when we're competing in a structure we can’t change. Leaning Out As time progresses, the appetite around hustle culture seems to be shifting. The conversation has started to move from leaning in to leaning out. In 2025, that shift became more explicit, as the Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey & Company and Lean In showed women reporting lower interest in promotions than men for the first time in a decade. An emerging ambition gap is “sharpest at the extremes,” where only 69% of entry-level women want a promotion vs. 80% of entry-level men, and 84% of senior-level women vs. 92% of senior-level men. To add insult to injury, Sandberg’s Lean In nonprofit shed a quarter of its staff in the last year. The zeitgeist is shifting. And now we're seeing a rejection of the traditional corporate ladder and the version of leadership it requires. An Evie article recently captured the shift: “We leaned in until our backs broke, and now a growing number of women are standing up straight, looking around, and saying, 'Actually, I’d rather lean into my family.'” Have we misappropriated feminine leadership as “soft skills,” as if they're optional? Working in finance, I go to events all the time and meet women who mean well, but feel rigid. When I hear a finance bro delivering elite acronyms, with that air of confidence and circumstance, I expect it. But when my female counterparts match that energy, it feels cringe. I’m willing to be 1% wrong about my observation. However, I can’t help but wonder who these women are when they’re not at work. Many of them are mothers, partners, full people with depth and range, so where does that go? Do they feel it too, that quiet constraint, that rigidity of expectation? Performing masculinity works. It builds credibility and gets results. But when we operate within the structure provided without taking the time to check in with ourselves to ask, "Is this how I want to show up , or how I think I need to show up ? " we start to disconnect from our core. Over time, that disconnection creates a cold distance within ourselves, like we’re cutting off parts of who we are. No wonder some women in the workplace get labeled “hard to work with.” These women are likely just trying to operate within the guidelines they believe they have to. In my early 20s, I was called a bull in a china shop. A lot. I was a little forceful and moved fast, but I also got results. I wanted people to be brief, be bright, and be out of my way. Indeed, those were actual results from a professional aptitude test I took. The headline in every review was that I was “difficult to work with,” “too direct,” and needed to be “nicer.” Yet, I felt that I was just doing my job (and doing it well). I remember asking myself, if I were a guy, would someone tell me I was too direct? I’m not sitting here crying gender bias. But I did start to wonder, was there something about not leaning into my feminine nature that was actually hurting my trajectory? I had always thought leadership meant you had to be a certain kind of way. At some point, the question shifts from "Can I succeed like this?" to "Do I even want to?" A few years ago, I earned a Women’s Leadership Certification through the Yale School of Management. The program set out to challenge traditional power structures and expand how leadership is understood, placing emphasis on empathy, nervous system regulation, communication, and sustainable performance. It reframed leadership not as constant output, but as something that requires awareness, presence, and the ability to work with (not against) your own physiology . It raised a sharper question: have we misappropriated feminine leadership as “soft skills,” as if they're optional? We’ve treated these leadership skills as secondary, nice to have, but not essential. In reality, maybe that’s what we should be leaning into. Feminine Leadership Feminine leadership traits like emotional intelligence, intuition, collaboration, and guidance without force don’t sit beneath the hierarchy of masculine leadership traits like mission, authority, or execution. They shape how those tools are applied. In practice, feminine leadership can be working in a rhythm and flow that feels aligned with our internal state, not in constant opposition to it. For example, she can walk into a meeting with a clear point of view while still leaving space for what emerges in the room, for better ideas, for shifts, or for opportunities she didn’t plan for. For years, women have been told explicitly or implicitly that to be taken seriously, they need to operate within a masculine framework, and many have done that exceptionally well. But at some point, the question shifts from "Can I succeed like this?" to "Do I even want to?" Because I don’t just want to lead. I want to lead like a woman. Not a softened version of leadership, not a rebranded set of soft skills, but something fuller, something that integrates intuition and logic, structure and creativity, discipline and depth. We already know women can succeed by performing masculinity. The better question is: what becomes possible when we stop performing and start leading as ourselves?]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-lie-women-were-sold-about-leadership</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Living</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[25 Ballet Flats To Shop (When You Can't Afford Chanel)]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/25-ballet-flats-when-you-cant-afford-chanel</link>
      <dc:creator>Anna Hartman</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Like any fashion girl with a working internet connection, the Chanel ballet flats have been infiltrating my feed for the last several years. They are everywhere. I cannot escape them. Every It-girl I follow is wearing them, every street style photo from Paris features at least three pairs, and somewhere out there, my algorithm has decided that I am a woman who will eventually crack and put a pair on her credit card.]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[She isn't wrong. She just hasn't won yet. Like any mom with young children, I'm fully aware that splurging on a pair of ivory white Chanel ballet flats is not exactly a feasible feat right now. They would be wrecked by 10am the following day, the moment my oldest decides to launch himself into the largest, dirtiest puddle in the city on the way to school drop-off. That's just the math. Still, the fantasy remains. They are the ultimate It-girl shoe, the silhouette is undeniably the most perfect feminine flattering shape ever invented, and they pair with literally anything. Matching workout set and a trench in the fall? Yes. Slip dress in the summer? Of course. Real jeans and a white tee on a Tuesday? Obviously. If, like me, your Google search bar is filled with queries that look something like "how much are Chanel ballet flats new," "how much do used Chanel ballet flats cost," "how much can you get if you sell a kidney," and "Chanel ballet flat dupes," then welcome. You've come to the right place. I've done the searching for us (fine, mainly me, but who's counting) and I'm thrilled to report back that I have found 25 pairs of ballet flats that are, dare I say, cuter than Chanel. Or, fine, let's be real: more affordable. But also genuinely cute. Below, the 25 pairs I'm eyeing this spring. Pair them with a slip dress, a matching set, real jeans, or a trench, and accept the compliments graciously when someone asks if your shoes are designer. (You don't have to lie. You also don't have to clarify.) This article may contain affiliate links or paid partnerships. We may earn a commission or compensation at no extra cost to you. All products are chosen independently by our editorial team and reflect our genuine recommendations.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/25-ballet-flats-when-you-cant-afford-chanel</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Style</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[How To Keep Sexual Tension Alive When You’ve Been Together Forever]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/how-to-flirt-with-your-husband-without-cringing</link>
      <dc:creator>Margaux Reid</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[My husband and I have known each other since we were 14 years old. Let that sink in. He's seen me with full braces, the world's worst side bangs, and an outfit my 14-year-old self thought was "edgy" (it was not).]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[He's seen me give birth three times. He's heard me puking my guts out at 3am after a bad oyster situation in 2019. He has, on more than one occasion, been the one I'm short with after a long day when my last nerve has been sliced thinly and served on a charcuterie board. We've been together for over a decade, married for six years, and three kids deep. He knows me, and I mean truly knows me. Which is why, when I open my phone to text him something like, "I can't wait to f*ck you later," and then catch a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the microwave (bare-faced, in a workout set that has seen things, scrubbing a sippy cup), I have a small out-of-body experience. The vibe I'm going for and the vibe I am giving are not, shall we say, in alignment. But here's the thing: I really, really want to flirt with my husband. Once a month, we get a real date night. The kind where I actually do my hair and put on something that isn't covered in toddler fingerprints. The flirting on those nights is heavy, the chemistry is undeniable, and it usually ends with us in the backseat of his Range Rover like we're 17 again before we drive home and tiptoe inside to kiss our sleeping babies goodnight. Those nights are amazing. The other 29 days of the month are a different story. By the time we've made dinner, done bath time, read three books, negotiated with a four-year-old about his pajamas, taken showers, and finally collapsed into bed for the five minutes of a show we'll watch before falling asleep mid-sentence, sex feels less like a romantic crescendo and more like a task we're being asked to complete after running a marathon. I love my husband, and I am also exhausted. Flirting with the person who has watched you push out three humans is a different sport than flirting with a stranger at a bar. But here's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. There's this concept called responsive desire that explains a lot of what most women already know intuitively but can't quite put words to. Spontaneous desire is the version we've been sold our whole lives in movies and TV, where you're suddenly hit by a wave of "I need to rip your clothes off" out of nowhere. Responsive desire works the opposite way. The desire shows up in response to something, like a touch, a moment of connection, a flirty exchange that builds throughout the day. Most women operate on responsive desire, especially women who are running on the fumes of motherhood and a full-time job. Which means if nothing has been happening between us all day, expecting myself to suddenly be in the mood at 9pm is wildly unrealistic. There's nothing to respond to. That's why I've started thinking of flirting during the day as the entire point. If I can give myself little moments of connection with him throughout the day, by the time we're crawling into bed, my body has had a chance to actually catch up. We're picking up where we left off rather than starting from zero in the dark with the baby monitor humming next to us. The problem is that flirting with the person who has watched you push out three humans is a different sport than flirting with a stranger at a bar. With a stranger, you get to put on your hottest, funniest, most mysterious self. With your husband of six years, the man already knows your pin number, your skincare routine, and the exact face you make when you're constipated. Mystery is dead. The flirt has to come from somewhere else. So here is what I've figured out, and what I'm still figuring out, on how to flirt with your husband without cringing yourself off the face of the earth. Lean Into the Fact That He Knows You The first time I tried to send my husband a sultry text, I typed it, deleted it, retyped it, and finally sent something so watered-down it might as well have been a grocery list. I was worried about being perceived. By the man I have lived with for years. The man who knows what I look like when I cry. What finally cracked it open for me was realizing that flirting with him doesn't have to compete with the hot-stranger-at-the-bar version of me. It gets to be its own thing, and honestly, a better thing. He's not flirting back because he's intrigued by some mystery. He's flirting back because he loves me, and the familiarity is the whole point. So instead of trying to be someone I'm not in a text, I started leaning into who we actually are. Inside jokes are a flirt. A reference to something we did last weekend is a flirt. A "remember when" text in the middle of his workday is a flirt. It's lower stakes than "I'm wet thinking about you," and infinitely more our brand. Texts You Can Actually Send Without Wanting to Disappear Working up to "My panties are wet thinking about last night" is a journey. You don't have to start there. In fact, you probably shouldn't. Here are some texts that have a much lower cringe ceiling and still do the job: "You looked so hot in that gray shirt this morning. You should wear that color more. ;)" "Counting down to the kids being asleep." "I bought new underwear today. Your favorite color." "Don't get too tired today, I have plans for you." "I'm so distracted from work today thinking about (insert something sexy he did in the bedroom recently)." "I'm in the mood. Just so you know." A weirdly effective one is sending him a photo of something completely mundane (your matcha, your lunch, a cute pic of you on the sidewalk) with the caption "wish you were here." It's flirting disguised as a normal text, which is exactly the energy you want when you're in line at Erewhon. If you do want to go bolder, lean into specifics. "I want you" is fine. "I want you on the couch the second the kids are down" hits harder. Specificity is hot while vagueness reads like a group text. Send the Cringe Text Anyway Okay but sometimes you do want to send the bold, almost embarrassing text. The "I want to do (insert extremely specific, graphic act) to you" text. The one where you have to physically resist the urge to delete it three seconds after sending. Send it. Yes, you are bare-faced scrubbing dishes. The visual gap between what you're typing and what you currently look like is comical. He doesn't care. Honestly, he's probably not even thinking about that. The idea that his wife is thinking about him in the middle of her day is hot to him regardless of what you're wearing while you do it. The cringe is yours, not his. Touch Him Like You Mean It Most of the touching that happens in our house is functional. Pass the baby. Hand me the wipes. Move, you're in front of the fridge. By the end of the day, my husband has been touched a thousand times, and almost none of it has been romantic. It's a low-effort, ongoing reminder of "I want you" that doesn't require either of us to perform. I started intentionally adding small, non-functional touches throughout the day. A hand on his back as I walk past, a kiss on the shoulder while he's making coffee, five seconds of holding his hand while we're standing in the kitchen for absolutely no reason at all. It costs nothing and it shifts the entire tone of the evening. It's a low-effort, ongoing reminder of "I want you" that doesn't require either of us to perform. Flirting Moves That Work in Real Life In-person flirting after years together is mostly about doing small, deliberate things that say "I'm choosing you" in a room full of distractions. Here are some that actually work: Hold eye contact for three seconds longer than necessary when he's telling a story at dinner. Three seconds is the difference between "I love you" and "I am about to ruin you." Catch his eye across the room when something funny or annoying happens with the kids. The shared look that says "are you seeing this" is a love language. Put your hand on his thigh under the table at dinner and leave it there. Compliment something specific. Not "you look nice." Try "your forearms in that shirt are insane" or "you smell so good right now." It's the detail that makes it land. Sit next to him on the couch instead of across from him, and put your legs across his lap. Walk past him and graze his lower back with your fingertips without stopping. Lean against the doorframe while he's getting ready, watching him for a second longer than necessary, then walk away. Pull him in for a real kiss before one of you walks out the door, not the dry peck on autopilot. The thing I've noticed is that flirting in person is mostly about pausing the regularly scheduled programming for half a second to acknowledge that you are two people who are still wildly into each other under all the parenting and the laundry and the calendar invites. Get Ready for Him Sometimes Not every day. I'll be the first to admit that I don't have the energy to do a full beat daily as a WFH mom. But every once in a while, before he gets home from work, I'll change out of my workout set, swipe on a little lip mask, run a brush through my hair, and put on something that makes me feel like myself before kids. It's nothing crazy. Sometimes it's just a silky pajama set that's a little too short, or a flowy dress instead of sweats. The point is that I feel different in my own skin when I take the extra 30 seconds of effort, and that translates. He notices, I notice that he notices, and suddenly we're flirting before he's even put his keys down. Stop Performing and Start Playing The biggest unlock has been giving up on the idea that flirting has to be sexy in a polished, rom-com-coded way. The flirting that actually works in our marriage is playful. Teasing him about how tight his shirt looks on his biceps. Looking him up and down in the mirror as he steps out of the shower. Telling him he looks hot when he's playing with our kids because, frankly, he does. Playfulness is the bridge. It's the version of flirting that doesn't require us to pretend we don't know each other. It uses what we know about each other as the material. It says, "I see all of you, and I still want all of you." The truth is, the man has heard me puke. He's seen me at my most frustrated, my most exhausted, my most unhinged at 7pm on a Tuesday. And he still looks at me like he did across the table on our very first date. So maybe the goal isn't to flirt despite being known. Maybe being known is what makes the flirting work so well in the first place. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a slightly cringe text to go send. Want more relationship advice? Order our latest print magazine now: The Sex Issue!]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/how-to-flirt-with-your-husband-without-cringing</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Sex</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[I Rewatched New Girl As An Adult And Realized That The Show Spent 7 Seasons Selling Us On Marriage]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/i-rewatched-new-girl-as-an-adult</link>
      <dc:creator>Jaime Smith</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[I first started watching "New Girl," the darling and sometimes raunchy sitcom beloved by American Millennials, with friends during my senior year of college. ]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[As a fairly sheltered girl who didn’t grow up watching sitcoms, I was scandalized by the profuse references to sex and the characters’ nonchalant attitude about pretty much everything I take seriously. Initially, we only watched a couple episodes a week, but when my best friend and I moved in together after college, we started watching it together in earnest. As we moved through the series, I fell in love with the characters, their growth, and the way the show felt increasingly wholesome as it progressed. Fast forward a handful of years, and I'm rewatching New Girl (this time with my husband) and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The show has a ridiculously high rating on Rotten Tomatoes , and I can see why it’s stood the test of time. New Girl is witty, awkward, and adorable, much like its protagonist, Jessica Day. The show follows Jess, her best friend, and her three male roommates who she lives with in apartment 4D (affectionately known as “The Loft”) through their late twenties to their mid-late thirties. The show centers heavily on themes of friendship and love. While New Girl resists showing any explicit material, there is a lot of crude talk about intimacy, and many scenes are cut before and after implied sex. But as I watch through the show a second time, I've been struck less by the flagrantly secular sexual ethic of the characters and more by how deeply they crave stable, faithful love. Every road in New Girl , no matter how chaotic, leads back to commitment. Even though many of the characters act blasé about their romantic flings, the frequent admissions of longing for love and connection have caught my attention. Throughout the show, various characters insist they want to be able to have meaningless sex, while Jess is self-conscious about always feeling a deep connection to anyone she sleeps with. Yet when the characters do have casual sex, the encounters are portrayed as vapid and disappointing, even when they convince themselves in the moment that they're living life to the fullest. The show is making its case from the very beginning: casual sex doesn't deliver, and the characters know it, even when they pretend not to. It often takes a while for the lesson to fully land, but it always lands. Schmidt, for example, realizes he loves Cece after an awkward and emotionless liaison with his boss, who doesn't want to keep sleeping with him because she desires a real connection. Even that realization doesn't stop Schmidt from making many more foolish decisions before he eventually settles down and builds a life with Cece, but the trajectory is clear. Every road in New Girl , no matter how chaotic, leads back to commitment. The show could have ended with any of them single and "thriving," or chasing the next fling, yet it doesn't. Every main character lands in a committed relationship, and the show treats that ending as the reward rather than the resignation. Cece and Schmidt, arguably the two most licentious main characters, are the first to choose marriage, which feels significant. The show makes a conscious effort to move them out of their initial immaturity and into a strong, loving, and committed marriage. If the writers were trying to convince us that marriage is the goal worth working toward, putting the wildest characters there first is a pretty good way to do it. Additionally, Jess and Cece worry about their fertility, and when Cece realizes she has a low ovarian reserve, she starts to become serious about settling down and having a family. Even though she and Schmidt don't end up getting married until later in the show, watching Cece's heartbreak over her potential inability to have children is beautiful, especially given the target audience of the show. Cece seems to have it all. She's cool around the guys, she's attractive, confident, and an "it" girl by all appearances. This flies in the face of a cultural narrative that tells women they can have it all with no limits. Cece is forced to reckon with her humanity, and the sensitive way the show handles her internal struggle is actually quite moving. By taking infertility seriously, the show implicitly takes motherhood seriously too. The audience is meant to feel her grief, which means the audience is meant to understand that family is something worth grieving over. New Girl also deals with themes of family trauma, and importantly, the show takes those wounds seriously. All of the main characters come from homes that are broken in some way. Jess and Schmidt are children of divorce, and we see them overcompensating in various unhealthy ways. Jess tries desperately to reunite her parents, even decades after they have divorced. Even though her scheming is portrayed as comedic, it's ultimately devastating to watch her brokenness over the fracture in her family. Schmidt's lonely childhood is perhaps even more pitiable. Much of Schmidt's ridiculous obsession with his physique and sexual prowess is downstream from the fact that he had an unhealthy relationship with food through most of his childhood and college years. Once he rebrands himself as hot and successful, he's still Schmidt, desperately needing to be liked by everyone. New Girl pulls no punches when it comes to the deep trauma left by irresponsible, absent, or selfish parents. But divorce is not the only dynamic explored here. Winston's father abandoned their family when he was young, Cece's dad died when she was in elementary school, and Nick's parents were together, but his father was a fraudulent businessman and Nick was often left shouldering the family burdens and responsibilities. These childhood wounds (particularly father wounds) follow the characters far into their adult lives and are explored many times on the show. New Girl pulls no punches when it comes to the deep trauma left by irresponsible, absent, or selfish parents. The show's argument is hard to miss when you're paying attention. Broken families create broken adults, and the only way through is to build something better than what you came from. For these characters, building something better looks like marriage and a family of their own. Infidelity is another area where New Girl minces no words. Cheating is portrayed as weak, unattractive, and deplorable. Cheaters are seen as selfish and morally deficient. Instead of glorifying infidelity in the name of love, New Girl applauds honesty in relationships and ultimately condemns unfaithfulness. This is a refreshing change from the endless media that codes cheating as an exciting, even enviable experience, so long as it brings a happily ever after. In real life, unfaithfulness is ugly and rarely ends well. In this regard, New Girl is refreshing in its attitude towards loyalty and love. The show takes the position that the marriages it has worked so hard to build are worth protecting, and that anyone who would damage one is not the hero of the story. Beyond romance, the show is famous for its portrayal of deep friendships. The characters form lasting relationships and support one another through joy and sorrow. They often hold each other to a higher standard (or sometimes choose to join in the trouble), encourage one another to be brave, and remind one another of their worth. Friendship is central to New Girl , and arguably, the successful romances in the show are formed out of deep friendships. The romances that last are the ones built on years of knowing each other, watching each other fail, and choosing each other anyway. The show seems to argue that this is the foundation worth building a marriage on. Ironically, New Girl ultimately undermines the modern sexual ethic it portrays. Instead of a cynical approach to love, we see it depicted as the ultimate dream come true for those lucky enough to find and protect it. New Girl is worth the watch, and even if you (like me) cringe your way through some of the dialogue, our culture could learn lessons about friendship, faithfulness, and love from those 2012 dreamers living in 4D. They spent seven seasons making the case that real love, real family, and real commitment are worth showing up for. Two decades into the era of swipe culture and casual everything, that case feels more radical than ever.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/i-rewatched-new-girl-as-an-adult</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Culture</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[Everything New Moms Wished They Knew Before Having A Baby]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/everything-new-moms-wished-they-knew-before-having-a-baby</link>
      <dc:creator>Anna Hugoboom</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Every baby is a miracle, but for first-time moms, the transition into motherhood can feel anything but magical in those early days. Between the sleepless nights, emotional highs and lows, and the steep learning curve of caring for a newborn, many women find themselves thinking: Why didn't anyone tell me this?]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Maybe you read all the pregnancy books, did your birthing classes, wrote your ideal birth plan , stocked up on raspberry leaf tea and ate the dates . But many, if not all, first-time moms (and dads) find themselves unequipped mentally and emotionally for the learning curves that come with nurturing a tiny human that's completely dependent upon them for everything. The newborn stage and postpartum is its own ballgame, in addition to the whole birth scenario. As a doula and a sister with expectant sisters, I've seen enough newborn mamas to know that firsthand. So, we gathered honest reflections from new moms to give some genuine and realistic guidance. This way, whether you're currently expecting or just want to be informed for the future, you can feel a little more prepared for what lies ahead. The Surprises No One Warns You About You can read every book and still be caught off guard. Often what surprises new moms most isn't the logistics, but the intensity of everything. The sacrificial love of parenthood isn't often glamorous. Many mothers didn't expect challenges like illnesses, hormonal rollercoasters, or how unpredictable a newborn's schedule can be: "Juggling postpartum self-care while taking care of a baby is brutal even with family to help!" "Colic. I was not prepared and didn't know anything about it or how to help my baby." "How your schedule is never your own again. You can't even poop when you want you want to." Then, there's the emotional side: the overwhelming love, yes—but also the fear, self-doubt, and constant questioning. And changing hormones don't help! "That you actually really have maternal instincts and it's crazy. But also being scared and not knowing what the best thing is." "It's surprising to realize truly how much your baby will need you." "How easily he fits into our lives." "Gosh how much you love them the MOMENT you see them. What a GIFT." "How much love you could have for a tiny little baby." "How much stronger I instantly became once they put her on my chest." Postpartum: The Part We (Still) Don't Talk About Enough While much of pregnancy focuses on preparing for baby, many women felt unprepared for their own recovery. From night sweats and physical healing to "baby blues" and anxiety, postpartum can be intense. Several readers even shared how the loss of bladder control was a hiccup they had to adjust to. And that's just your body, not accounting for your baby who doesn't yet register it has a separate body from yours. Add in sleep deprivation and the pressure to "do it all," and it's no wonder so many moms feel overwhelmed. As one mother lamented: "I was so prepared for baby girl and not well enough for myself and my own postpartum recovery." Another shared: "My postpartum hormones made me very emotional for a bit—like one time I literally looked at a doorknob and broke down crying, haha—so I took some herbal supplements like passionflower to help calm my nervous system and some like omega-3s and Vitamin D3 to balance my hormones." The isolation is something that many mothers mentioned as a very real and difficult part of the new-mother phase. One stated: "Gets a bit lonely when you can't just up and meet up with friends like you used to." What helps most? Accepting help—from your husband, family, or friends. Eat enough nutritious foods so your moods stay balanced (especially if you're breastfeeding and burning a lot of fuel). If you have people who are willing to contribute, a meal train helps a ton. Staying connected helps as well (even daily calls can make a difference). Carve out small moments for yourself, like a shower or a short walk (even better if your baby can fall asleep in the stroller so you can still have some quiet time). Several mothers said going on a walk and taking a shower every day really makes a difference and helps you feel more like yourself. Another added: "Doing a little bit of my fav hobby for about 30 min a day helped keep me grounded." One mother said, "My husband and I have an arrangement where I have Saturday mornings to myself for some me-time, so I can go to Pilates, get my nails done, or meet up with girlfriends, and he has time with the baby. Honestly, it's been so good and it's so necessary." A mother of eight stated very matter-of-fact: "Your life changes forever once you become a mother. Your focus is your baby. Your friend group changes. I didn't have family living nearby for my first few babies, so it was really nice when I could meet young moms and we'd go on walks together in the park with the strollers." Leaning on faith or personal grounding practices proved to be a comfort, because motherhood is indeed a whole new level of sacrifice which pairs with the overwhelming love that comes with the territory. Multiple mothers mentioned how praying during difficult feedings or night shifts helped their morale and shifted their perspective. One mother shared: "Reflecting on Christ on the cross who gave His body for us as I am for my baby." Sleep: Letting Go of Perfection Sleep quickly becomes the most talked-about topic for new parents, and for good reason. Some moms swear by strict schedules and wake windows, while others follow their baby's cues more intuitively. Techniques like swaddling, babywearing, or nursing to sleep are common tools. Later on, some couples found gentle sleep training helpful. To quote directly: "Sleep training is actually compassionate (despite how stressful it may seem for the baby)." "Light exposure during the day and keep it dark at night. Tummy time during the day." "CIO as soon as the 4-month sleep regression hits…gave us 11 hr. night sleep stretches." "I used earplugs when we eventually sleep trained, otherwise I'd hear her and feel guilty then not sleep." "Turn off the WI-FI at night and it helps quality sleep, and don't use your phone near the baby's head! The EMF waves are so harmful for their tiny developing brain." "Following wake windows and sleep training when baby is old enough." "A snuggle me lounger made the transition from our room to her crib soooo much easier." "Sorry not sorry but kind sleep training is the move for the whole fam's sake. Also nursing to sleep and naps in baby carriers 100%." "Nap schedule and infant lounger. Nap time also on me was great lol." "Staying on a schedule and watching for baby's cues." "Once the baby is old enough you just have to sleep train, otherwise the baby gets super clingy and won't sleep when you're not with them and you never get a break." "Nursing to sleep! We had the bassinet next to my side of the bed and then moved her to her crib at around 3 months. I read a lot of sources saying it would create bad habits but honestly, it's biology! My baby was sleeping long ranges or through the night." There seems to be no one-size-fits-all solution. But the most helpful mindset seems to be to stay flexible and do what works for your baby, and your sanity. What Are Some Handy Tricks? "You can never have enough baby wipes and paper towels." " Swaddling helps the baby feel secure." "Learning your baby's language and skin to skin is always a safe bet for a crying baby." "Get a wipe dispenser lol." "If baby gets upset, he/she probably just wants the nipple, haha." "My Montessori Topponchino (baby mat) and my Breast Friend nursing pillow ." "The 5 cries!" This one is interesting, but you might not be familiar with it. We know that babies cry to communicate their needs , right? Well, as it turns out, a baby gives five specific cries , each with its own little sound. Here's what they sound like: "Neh." This cry is often associated with hunger and comes from the baby sucking and pushing their tongue into their mouth, indicating they might be hungry and looking to feed. "Owh/Oah." This cry resembles a yawn and often means that your baby is tired or sleepy and ready for a nap or bedtime. "Heh." If a baby is feeling uncomfortable, itchy or burning, they might use this cry to indicate a need for a diaper change or that they're too hot or too cold. "Eairh/Eargghh." This cry often signals gastric distress, such as discomfort from trapped gas or indigestion. "Eh." When babies need to burp, they may make this noise to indicate that there's trapped air in the chest that needs releasing. On Feeding Strategies Breastfeeding can be beautiful, but it can also be demanding, both physically and emotionally. Several readers said nursing felt "so draining, literally." One mother shared with me how she just felt like a cow, always tied to pumping or nursing, and how it sometimes was emotionally hard having it dominating so much of her focus and energy. Mothers shared experiences that range across the board: "Babies might not immediately latch after birth and that's ok." "She had a tongue tie, and I almost gave up over it…perseverance is really the key. It'll get to a point where it clicks, and the dedication was 100% worth it." " Combo feeding from the start makes mom's life WAY easier." "The physical challenges of breastfeeding—latching, clogged ducts , nipple injuries." "The silver nipple shields truly help with cracked nipples." "I actually liked breastfeeding! I did natural births and the babies usually latched well, and I loved the bonding connection I felt with my baby." "My baby had acid reflux and spit up constantly. I couldn't eat dairy or drink wine or coffee." "Nursing in the bathtub is a handy trick!" "I couldn't produce enough for my baby, so I ended up having to supplement." "Using a nipple shield is sometimes necessary at the beginning… and staying calm." "See a lactation consultant. Sometimes latching issues can signal a deeper issue." "I just found it so demanding, especially cluster feeding." "It was so interesting to find out that the breastmilk actually changes in composition if baby gets sick—it literally becomes the medicine the baby needs to get better." "When my milk coming in, it was actually pretty painful, and I didn't want to pump." "Breastfeeding was my favorite thing about having all three of my babies. For me, at least, it wasn't nearly as 'painful' as everyone warned me it would be. It helped me feel so connected with my babies and I really cherished every feeding. Don't feel like you need to write down every time you feed your baby, or keep a specific schedule. I found that that just stressed me out and made it way less enjoyable. Just stay plugged into your baby's cues and feed on-demand, wherever, whenever. Lastly, please don't call yourself a 'dairy cow,' it's not only degrading, but will just make you view yourself as a perpetual victim of this beautiful, natural process. Resist the urge to complain and just be grateful that you have this ability to breastfeed and provide these incredible nutrients to your baby (so many women can't)." "Even if you can't breastfeed for some reason or another at first, don't give up! I was hospitalized for a month following the birth of my son (as was he) and tried (unsuccessfully) to pump several times in the hospital between surgeries. I was so discouraged that it wasn't working that we eventually gave into using formula when the hospital told us they couldn't give him any more donor milk. When I was reunited with him a month after birth, I was encouraged by my pediatrician to try to latch him anyway. I didn't think it would work, but to my surprise, he latched right away and I started dripping milk. From there, we were able to wean him off of formula and solely onto breastmilk until he was one year old. It felt like a miracle." One mother urged: "Don't get the epidural! Babies latch better from the get-go when the mom doesn't receive it." Granted, everyone goes on a different birthing journey, where some opt for natural, others welcome the epidural, and some have complications arise that were not in the birth plan. However—and don't shoot the messenger—there are medical studies that show that the epidural can affect the baby's ability to latch and suck in the beginning, possibly because the epidural slows the baby's reflexes and response time. Here's an important note for nursing nutrition (from a naturopath mother): "I had to remember to eat every few hours. This is not the time to go on a diet or calorie deficit so you can lose the 'baby weight.' That will happen, and breastfeeding will actually help with that. You have to eat more when you're nursing than when you're pregnant so you can make enough breastmilk. Not empty calories like potato chips, but nutritious and fresh-cooked foods with solid protein, fiber, and natural fats for baby's brain health. And it's so important to drink a lot of fluids and eat enough fruits and vegetables and things like sourdough bread. You can't nurse a baby on the carnivore diet. And if I or my baby got bound up, I ate a can of pineapple (in its own juice) so the natural enzymes helped bowel movements, and it always did the trick. I did at one point have mastitis, so I drank comfrey tea for the vitamin C and took hot showers." The Small Things That Make a Big Difference Sometimes it's the simplest tips that save your day, as these moms discovered: "A bit of time in nature makes everything better." "Sitz baths were so helpful for vaginal healing after the birth trauma." "Shower every day, you'll feel so much better." "Getting outside is the cure for anything." "Don't ever do something during nap time you can do while the baby is awake." "Learning your baby's language and skin to skin is always a safe bet for a crying baby." "When the baby sleeps, you sleep or at least try to rest so you can recharge." "Keep easy, nutritious snacks on hand." "Peanut butter protein bites and meal train!" "Setting up a meal train is so helpful!" "Mute, unfollow, or block any negativity surrounding motherhood online. It's so incredibly unhelpful to see moms complaining about their babies or their new identities. Even if you don't feel that way initially, the negativity has a way of creeping into your subconscious, reminding you in moments where you'd usually be grateful and happy that you should feel like a victim of your circumstances. It quickly leads to resentment and dissatisfaction where there was none." And perhaps the hardest, but most important, lesson: learn to accept help. If you have family nearby to help, you are blessed! If you don't, try to set up a system of some kind with your husband so you don't crash and burn. Your baby needs you, but don't forget that you also need some time to recharge as well. The Hardest Parts (And Why They Matter) Many mothers described feelings of isolation, especially when far from family or adjusting to a new routine. Others struggled with mom guilt, loss of independence, or worries about whether they were "doing it right." "The hardest thing was my whole birth—it was miserable! It's important to not compare and read too many birth stories and get intimidated and feel like a failure in comparison to another's birth story. I was so unprepared for the pain. After the birth, it burned so bad to pee so I had to use comfrey compresses." "The hardest things for me were my birth and the constant feeling that I wasn't good enough or a good mom." "Natural labor and a cracked nipple that took almost a full two months to heal." "Birth was the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my life, but it was also so empowering and so incredibly primal. I think not having the epidural helped my body and muscles stayed more in touch with the process, and I think that helped prevent me tearing. I also exercised all before and during pregnancy." "We didn't have any family nearby to help support and our whole friend group changed, so it was really helpful once I was able to meet young moms I could relate with more. It was a huge help having meal trains set up and my mother-in-law came in town for a week." "Gotta rest especially the first 6 weeks—you rest when the baby sleeps. And meal trains were so helpful!" "I felt unprepared with meals for postpartum." "The postpartum night sweats!" "The isolation, not being near family, not having mom friends." These feelings are more common than you think. One mother told me: "It took me a while to get back to being myself. I was close to postpartum depression and anxiety but once I started eating better and moving my body more, it helped." Motherhood stretches you in every way—physically, emotionally, and mentally. But within those challenges, many women also discovered a strength they didn't know they had. Another Factor For PP Depression This is a delicate topic, but necessary for enlightenment and awareness: if a woman has had an abortion and later has a birth, it's often common for her to have (increased) postpartum depression and/or anxiety. A medical study found higher levels of depressive affect in women with past abortions in months 1, 6, and 12 after birth than the women without this history. This is because the woman in this situation might suffer from a delayed sense of anxiety and depression; the reality of seeing her baby born live might trigger and solidify the realization that her past baby was killed in the abortion . This is not the rule, however, especially if she has experienced healing and obtained help and support through counseling ( Rachel's Vineyard is an example of an organization that provides wonderful support and healing after abortion). But it's a factor to be aware of, if applicable, and it's something that's not usually talked about. Support Changes Everything Whether it's a husband, family member, or doula, support can make all the difference. One mother emphasized: "My mother-in-law was a huge support! I thought I wouldn't want any help outside the hubby but boy was she our saving grace." Partners who showed up, especially during the night, with meals, or emotional reassurance, were described as lifesavers. One mother said of her husband: "emotional support and getting up with me in the middle of the night so I wasn't alone." Another: "He was there for so much—[guys], just be present emotionally to your wife." Speaking of support, almost every mother who participated in our poll wished she had a doula , and those who didn't only said so because their husband rocked at being her "doula." A few mothers had their sisters help them through their births. I know it was so special for me to be my sister's birth doula . One mother mentioned, "I regret not having a doula, especially since I did a hospital birth. Next time I want to have one." It can be extremely daunting to have a baby for the first time, especially if you're the first out of your friends or siblings to experience it. Don't underestimate how valuable that extra guidance and care can be! Also, just because you hear the phrase "women have been squatting in fields for millennia," doesn't mean you shouldn't set yourself up to have a birth and postpartum that's as empowered and supported as possible to minimize trauma and burnout. Women are incredibly strong, but we do need support. Here's what the contributing mommas had to say about their husbands: "The biggest help from him was taking the night shift so I could sleep." "Helped cook, held baby to give me a break/on nights when baby wouldn't sleep." "He refilled my water 10000x, made food for me, and held the baby so I could shower." "Emotional support and getting up with me in the middle of the night so I wasn't alone." "Providing protein heavy snacks and encouraged healthy eating." "Taking early morning shift so she could sleep, doing extra chores, making meals." "Thoroughly taught himself about birth and postpartum, physical/mental/emotional toll." "Offering support and steadiness when I was in baby blues, getting the things to keep the house afloat handled." "My husband is a deep sleeper, so sometimes he slept through everything, but then he'd watch the baby in the morning so I could sleep. Eventually he sometimes had to sleep in the guest room so he could get sleep before the work day, but still would watch her in the early hours so I could rest." "It's so necessary for your husband to do his research and learn about the birth and recovery." "My husband was so encouraging and helped me know I could get through the pain of the birth labor, and he was really good about massaging my back." From a mother of 8 and wife of 42 years: "Good communication is key—men are often clueless and have no idea how painful or exhausted the baby process is, during and after birth. They just can't understand it and will never experience it themselves. You often have to ask for what support or understanding you need. So, I went through things with my husband so that he knew what to expect or what I was going through. This is especially important for things like not having expectations with intimacy, so your husband understands and doesn't feel neglected." Intimacy On that note, let's talk about intimacy—sexual and emotional. The newborn and postpartum phase is quite the rollercoaster, and it's common for couples to experience intimacy issues because of the lifestyle changes, sleep deprivation, and the sex abstinence period after birth. It's medically recommended that a woman wait 4-6 weeks postpartum before having sex so that her vaginal area and any tears (if applicable) have time to heal. This can be difficult, and men can often feel neglected while most, if not all, the attention is going to the baby. This is when good communication—about feelings, presence, and appreciation—is key. Men want to feel needed and appreciated . A man who doesn't feel affirmed in his efforts will start to feel invisible, which is especially easy to slip into during the newborn fog when most of the attention is going to the baby. A genuine "thank you," a sweet pet name, telling him he's doing a great job too, that he looks hot holding your newborn, all of it lands more than you think. And if you find yourself needing some affirmation back, ask for it. Words of affirmation might not be his love language, so don't wait for him to read your mind. It's also worth remembering that intimacy is about so much more than sex. While you're navigating the abstinence window, there are still plenty of ways to feel close to him. Send him a flirty text in the middle of the day. Wrap your arms around his waist from behind while he's cooking dinner. Snuggle up on the couch after the baby goes down. A quiet night in with takeout and a show counts as quality time. Sex isn't the only way to stay connected, and during this season, it physically can't be. The good news is your marriage was never built on that alone. Practicing good, loving communication also creates a calm environment for the baby. Babies absorb your emotions, and your stress management affects them more than you realize. One wife shared some marriage wisdom: "I know that as the woman, I am the heart of the home and how I talk to my husband sets the tone for our marriage and how he will respond to me. So I have to remember to be patient, affirming, loving, and respectful instead of reacting to something emotionally." Another simply said: "Remember that, above all, you're a team. You're both navigating this new season together for the very first time. Give a lot of grace." A Final Word to New Moms If there's one thing these mothers want you to know, it's this: You will figure it out. Not all at once. Not perfectly. But little by little, day by day. There will be moments of doubt, and moments of deep joy. There will be exhaustion, but also a kind of love that reshapes you entirely. And somewhere in the middle of it all, you'll realize this: you're stronger, more capable, and more intuitive than you ever imagined. Because while no one can fully prepare you for motherhood, you are more ready than you think.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/everything-new-moms-wished-they-knew-before-having-a-baby</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Relationships</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[35 Feminine Workout Sets That Are Cuter Than Your Actual Outfits]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/35-feminine-workout-sets-that-are-cuter-than-your-actual-outfits</link>
      <dc:creator>Anna Hartman</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Some girls have a five-step morning routine. Others have a matching workout set. ]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[The math is simple. Whether you're sprinting to class, meeting a friend for matcha, or genuinely making it to reformer pilates (proud of you, babe), a matching set is the closest thing to a cheat code that exists. Throw on your sunglasses, a pair of mini hoops, a fresh blow-out, and call it a day. The only update for spring? Skip the black. This season is all about butter yellow, ivory, baby blue, and pink. The soft, feminine palette that makes you look extremely that girl. Here are 35 of the prettiest sets to grab before they're gone. This article may contain affiliate links or paid partnerships. We may earn a commission or compensation at no extra cost to you. All products are chosen independently by our editorial team and reflect our genuine recommendations.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/35-feminine-workout-sets-that-are-cuter-than-your-actual-outfits</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Style</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[When Did Motherhood Stop Being Sacred?]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/when-did-motherhood-stop-being-sacred</link>
      <dc:creator>Lisa Britton</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[We’re living in one of the most advanced eras in human history. Smartphones connect us instantly across the world, medicine has extended our lifespans, and women have shattered “glass ceilings” in boardrooms, labs, and government. Yet beneath this progress lies a pervasive illness.]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[In the name of “economic parity” and “female empowerment,” we’ve reframed womanhood itself as a “burden.” Motherhood, once the crown of feminine power, has been made out to be an obstacle to status, income, stuff, and self-actualization. We tell young women that to matter, they must become more like traditional men: relentless competitors in the workplace, unencumbered by pregnancy, nursing, or nurturing, when in actuality it’s the beautiful foundation of life itself. This isn’t liberation but, like I always say, a unique, insidious form of misogyny dressed up in progressive clothing. The symptoms are everywhere. Fertility rates are plummeting in the western world. Young women report record levels of depression and anxiety, many of them admitting in therapy sessions or late-night conversations that the promised fulfillment of career-first, stuff-seeking living feels hollow. Boys, meanwhile, are lost in a culture that offers them little belief of masculine purpose, raised in homes where the sacred work of motherhood is sidelined or outsourced. The gender wars rage away on social media and in political debates, pitting men and women against each other as rivals rather than teammates. We’ve devalued the very thing that makes women uniquely powerful: the capacity to create and sustain life, to try to reach “parity,” and I’m sick of it. Motherhood, once the crown of feminine power, has been made out to be an obstacle to status, income, stuff, and self-actualization. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can (and must) give women freedom to make their own paths. Some will thrive professionally, others in the arts or in family life. But society as a whole must once again glorify womanhood and motherhood with the reverence it deserves. We don’t need to return to the past. I believe we simply need to recover ancient wisdom that understood motherhood not as limitation but as the beating heart of civilization and work that into our thinking today. Across time and geography, certain cultures elevated the feminine, honored mothers as sacred vessels of life, and built societies around matrilineal strength. Their examples remind us that valuing women as women creates harmony, not hierarchy. Perhaps by studying them, we can start to heal the rift in our own chaotic time. Let’s begin by looking at ancient Egypt which offers one of the clearest examples of this balance. Far from the oppressive patriarchy we often imagine throughout history, Egyptian women possessed remarkable legal autonomy. They could own and inherit property, initiate divorce, and even be doctors, scribes, or priestesses. Royal succession frequently traced legitimacy through the female line, underscoring the belief that a queen’s blood carried divine continuity. This kind of respect wasn’t an accident. It flowed directly from the culture’s reverence for motherhood. Goddesses like Isis embodied fertility, protection, healing, and the nurturing force that sustained the cosmos. Human mothers were seen as earthly reflections of these divine figures, life-givers whose role connected them to the sacred order of Ma’at, the principle of truth and harmony. Far from being sidelined by childbearing, Egyptian women were honored precisely because of it. Their capacity to bring new life was understood as a holy power , not a “professional detour.” Travel farther back to the Bronze Age civilization of Minoan Crete, which is often described as woman-centered. Excavations at sites reveal a society where the primary deities were female: the Great Mother Goddess, the Snake Goddess symbolizing fertility and authority. Art and religious iconography showed women in positions of high status like priestesses conducting rituals, elegant ladies participating in public ceremonies. Motherhood was visually and spiritually central to their living. Figurines of women in childbirth or nursing babies suggest that the natural power of the female body wasn’t hidden but celebrated. In this culture, the feminine wasn’t an afterthought; it was the spiritual and aesthetic core to them. Scholars debate whether Minoan society was fully matriarchal, but the evidence is clear: womanhood and motherhood were sources of prestige and divine connection, not obstacles to be minimized like they are today. On the other side of the world, Vedic India in its early traditions showed women as living embodiments of the divine mother goddess. The texts portray the mother as the highest guru, worthy of reverence a thousand times greater than the father. Shakti, the feminine creative energy, animated the universe, and women were seen as her personification, the essential source of life and creation. Women composed hymns, debated philosophy, and held intellectual status alongside men. Motherhood wasn’t just a domestic chore but a cosmic act linking each family to the eternal rhythm of birth, sustenance, and renewal. The epics reinforce this: devoted sons like the Pandavas and Duryodhana have their mothers’ counsel above everything else. In the Vedic worldview, honoring the mother was honoring the very force that sustains human existence. Womanhood and motherhood were sources of prestige and divine connection, not obstacles to be minimized like they are today. Indigenous North America gives another noteworthy model to look at. The Iroquois Confederacy operated as a matrilineal society in which women held real authority. Clan Mothers (respected elder women) nominated and could remove male chiefs, making sure leaders remained accountable to the community. Women controlled agricultural land, managed property, and shaped the political and spiritual norms of the tribe. Descent and inheritance passed through the female line. Motherhood here was explicitly tied to leadership and sustenance. Iroquois mothers had power that was both practical and sacred. Their role was foundational. Closer to me personally, let’s look at the Mi’kmaq in eastern Canada. I grew up in Nova Scotia and I have Mi’kmaq in my ancestry. In the Mi’kmaq worldview, woman and man are not rivals but the fulfillments of one another, bound by shared duties and a deep harmony. Yet women carry a sacred obligation to the Holy Spirit as keepers of the unknown, and they view them as gifted to see the ordinary with wonder and to “shape tomorrow.” To them, each woman becomes the primal path that draws her man past the grind of daily life into the unknowable future. They are wisdom on earth, helping guide their men and communities. Even deeper in prehistory, the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük in Anatolia (modern Turkey) hints at a world saturated with female divinity. Among the thousands of artifacts they found, the most iconic is the Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük, an 8,000-year-old clay figurine of a female figure on a throne between two leopards, possibly in the act of giving birth. Hundreds of similar goddess figurines suggest a culture that placed the Mother Goddess at the center of spiritual life. While interpretations vary, the overwhelming emphasis on mature, fertile female forms points to a society that glorified the life-creating power of women. Motherhood wasn’t a burden; it appears to have been the organizing principle of their worldview. These patterns happen even in the modern era. Among China’s Mosuo people, often called the “Kingdom of Women,” society remains proudly matrilineal. Women head households, manage property, and pass inheritance directly from mother to daughter. Children belong to their mother’s line. The system prioritizes female authority in domestic and economic affairs without diminishing men’s roles in other spheres. Another group, Indonesia’s Minangkabau (the world’s largest matrilineal society) trace descent and property through the female line. Women control ancestral lands and big houses, while husbands are welcomed as honored guests. Despite being devout Muslims, Minangkabau culture has kept this structure for centuries, showing that matrilineal respect for motherhood can coexist with faith and the modern day. What unites these cultures? Three powerful themes stand out. First, matrilineal inheritance: property, lineage, and authority flowed through mothers, grounding society in the undeniable reality of maternity. Second, goddess worship: a central Mother Goddess, whether Isis, the Snake Goddess, Shakti, or the Seated Woman, symbolized fertility, creation, and spiritual power. Third, and most importantly, a profound respect for motherhood itself. It was never viewed as a limitation on a woman’s worth. Instead, it was the way of leadership, sustenance, and cosmic order. Motherhood elevated women rather than diminishing them. Imagine a culture that once again crowns motherhood. We don’t need to copy these societies exactly. I’m in no way saying that women should be more important than men or have all the authority. Balance and respect for both sexes is most important. And these past civilizations’ imperfections—like slavery in Egypt, ritual sacrifice in some of the Minoan groups, or the real challenges of matriliny—remind us that no human culture was ever flawless. But what we can recover is the underlying wisdom: men and women aren’t interchangeable, nor are they rivals. They’re complementary. Masculine and feminine each carry universal significance. When we honor both equally without pretending they’re the same, we create space for harmony . Imagine a culture that once again crowns motherhood. Young women would feel less pressure to delay or forgo children out of economic desires or “betraying women.” Mental health would improve as the sexes wouldn't be encouraged to compete and the lie that fulfillment comes only from corporate ladders and material things would dissolve. Boys would grow up witnessing moms valued as powerful, not victims, giving them clearer models of family and their purpose. The gender wars might quiet down as we stop forcing women into male molds and instead celebrate the unique glory of the feminine. Men and women were never meant to compete for the same crown. We’re on the same team, designed to thrive together. By looking honestly at our past, not through the distorted lens of modern ideology but with open eyes, we can regain the ancient truth that motherhood is not a burden to be managed but a sacred power to be honored. When we give womanhood its crown again, I think everyone wins, and our children, our families, and our civilization itself will be the richer for it.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/when-did-motherhood-stop-being-sacred</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Relationships</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[Having Kids Didn't Ruin My Mental Health. It Fixed It.]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/having-kids-didnt-ruin-my-mental-health-it-fixed-it</link>
      <dc:creator>Hadley Heath Manning</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Sometimes, like any mother, I think: “These kids are driving me insane!” But what if my kids are the very reason I’m still sane?]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[In a world where people are increasingly isolated, removed from nature, deprived of physical touch, and filled with negativity, one thing has forced me into a more mentally healthy lifestyle. And that thing is motherhood. This Mother’s Day, I’m examining the mental health effects of motherhood—a subject of hot debate. And I’m dwelling on how motherhood has changed my life, directionally and daily. Most people are familiar with the sleeplessness, isolation, guilt, and stress that accompany motherhood. On the other hand, some surveys have found that married moms are the happiest group of people. Much of the commentary on these apparently conflicting messages posits that while the day-to-day stresses of motherhood are a negative , this stress is more than offset by the deep sense of satisfaction that moms derive from their families. But this analysis misses how the motherhood lifestyle, specifically, benefits moms, even in the here and now. Kids correlate with better mental health and daily happiness, largely because parenting forces behavioral changes you might not choose otherwise. Childless people can certainly adopt these same habits, but they have to decide to. Parents often don't have that luxury, and sometimes that constraint is exactly what they need. Physical Connection One of the biggest differences between moms and childfree women is how little time and space moms have to ourselves. This is often depicted as a negative for moms, but what about the positives? Mothers, especially those of us with young children, are in physical contact with small bodies frequently. We hug, cuddle, and carry our kids so much that cultural commentators describe the phenomenon of being “ touched out ” or smothered by so much physical affection. Although the baby phase can be very physically intensive, life with little kids is more balanced. My elementary-aged kids still hug me and hold my hand, and if I’m lucky, cuddle up for movie night. Touch (when it’s welcome and comfortable) is good for mental health. A 2021 study found that touch frequency during COVID-19 lockdowns predicted better mood and lower loneliness. On the other extreme, people who live alone are at greater risk for “ skin hunger ” or a lack of physical affection that is associated with depressive symptoms. People who live alone are at greater risk for “skin hunger” or a lack of physical affection that is associated with depressive symptoms. Similarly, while moms sometimes feel annoyed or overwhelmed with young kids who say “mommy” one thousand times each day, the truth is that deep down, it feels good to be wanted, to be the center of someone’s universe. The pop-culture narrative focuses on how children’s needs are often a drain on moms. But this attachment is healthy for kids and moms . Moms know our lives have value. What would our kids do without us? Too Busy to Spiral Conversely, sometimes I wonder: what would I do without my kids? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey , employed parents of kids under 6 have the least leisure time of any adult subgroup. We devote about 3 hours per day on average to leisure compared to 4.5 hours for childless employed people. Understandably, we spend more time on caregiving and household tasks. But is that all drudgery and hassle, or is it fulfilling purpose? Earlier in my life, before I had kids, I often struggled with my mental health. Particularly, I wrestled with questions around my value and the direction of my life. These questions weighed on me. Sometimes, it was even difficult for me to get out of bed in the morning. I remember sharing something about these feelings with a stranger on an airplane ride. He commiserated, and said he used to feel the same way before having kids. After having kids, he told me, “I don’t wonder what I’m doing in the morning. I’ve got to get up and pour the Cheerios.” Pouring Cheerios might not sound like a roaring good time, but it’s better than wallowing in bed. People who engaged in small, creative projects (like cooking or crafts) reported higher daily well-being and more “flourishing” the next day. While my parenthood experience has included plenty of monotonous caregiving tasks like changing diapers and cutting up grapes into smaller pieces, the kid-oriented activities are getting more fun as my kids get older. I enjoy attending Little League games, building model castles, and racing Hot Wheels around the house. My days are full, and so is my heart. A growing body of evidence shows that even the menial tasks of motherhood can hold mental health benefits. A 2016 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who engaged in small, creative projects (like cooking or crafts) reported higher daily well-being and more “flourishing” the next day. In sharp contrast to my career-oriented work (much of which is done at a computer desk), motherhood is a job that requires working with my hands. And working with my hands anchors my mind. It provides sensory engagement and visible progress, which counteract the abstraction, overstimulation, and anxiety that define much of modern life. Offline by Necessity Let's be honest, if I wasn’t spending so much time with my kids, I’d likely be watching Netflix or scrolling on my phone. There have been many times that I’ve put my phone down or have avoided checking it altogether because I’m with my kids. I don’t want to be rude to them by looking at my phone during our time together, and I want to model healthy limits on phone use. As an increasing and unavoidable body of research shows, heavy, passive, or comparison-driven social media use correlates with higher rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and body image concerns . So each time I can’t reach for my phone (because I’m helping someone across the monkey bars), I have my kids to thank. I literally “touch grass” daily. Protecting my kids’ innocence keeps me from perseverating on events outside of my control. Many people struggle to stay emotionally and mentally healthy today under the weight of the 24-hour news cycle in a world that often feels out of control. In addition to pure rage bait, our non-stop media diet also includes legitimately disturbing news at times. But being a mom helps me put even these events into perspective. I know that as my kids get older, I will have to talk to them more about current events, including wars, school shootings, assassinations, and other evil things. But protecting my kids’ innocence keeps me from perseverating on events outside of my control, and that’s healthy . I focus on what I can control: doing my best to give my kids a good life. Purpose Disguised as Carpools Another healthy habit that's more common among parents than childless adults is church attendance. Thirty-six percent of parents (with kids under 18) attend religious services at least weekly, compared to 27% of non-parents. Many people re-engage with religious practice when kids enter their lives, often after a period of secular drift in their 20s. The mental health benefits of church are strongly established: In a large, longitudinal study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, regular (weekly) service attendance was linked to a 30–50% lower risk of depression and five-fold lower risk of suicide , even after controlling for baseline health and social factors. Religion offers people a sense of belonging, ritual, and truths to guide us through hard times. This has certainly been true for my kids and me. Fifty percent of college-educated moms and 42% of college-educated dads say they volunteer at least a few times a year, compared to 28% of all Americans. Parents, especially mothers, also volunteer often, particularly through schools, religious groups, and community sports. Fifty percent of college-educated moms and 42% of college-educated dads say they volunteer at least a few times a year, compared to 28% of all Americans. Volunteering is good for the soul, and also good for the mind. According to the Mayo Clinic , volunteering lowers the risk of depression and anxiety. Volunteering also boosts self-esteem and social connectedness (and lowers blood pressure). But, as I sometimes remind myself, all of motherhood is volunteer work. So while moms might clock some hours at the local rescue mission or school fundraiser, we never really stop feeding the hungry or clothing the naked. Motherhood Fixed What Therapy Couldn't There are many ways that motherhood can put a strain on our mental health. Of course, we worry about our kids, we lose sleep, we manage the mental load of family activities and finances, and we miss out on some work or social opportunities when our kids need us. These stresses are much heavier for single moms or families facing financial insecurity. But even moms with the best possible social and economic circumstances experience a rough day, week, or month from time to time. Some readers might think that my perspective is skewed by my relative socioeconomic privilege. It's true that I'm blessed in many ways. But it’s worth noting that, perhaps counterintuitively, socioeconomic status has an inverse relationship with self-reported enjoyment of parenting. Lower-income parents are more likely to say they find parenting enjoyable and rewarding than middle- and high-income parents. The presence of stress doesn’t have to mean the absence of joy. In the big picture, motherhood offers (and perhaps even demands) a lifestyle that is others-focused and that points us toward what is best for our kids. My kids keep me active, honest, and intentional. And that's a good thing for my mental health, not just in the long run, but also in the here and now. Of course, people without kids can find other ways to prioritize mentally healthy habits, but for me, motherhood is a life hack. Like any mom will tell you, there are still days when I want to pull my hair out, but most days, I just pull it back in a ponytail and pour the Cheerios.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/having-kids-didnt-ruin-my-mental-health-it-fixed-it</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Relationships</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[How Dating Became A Cycle Of Aesthetic Consumption]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/how-dating-became-a-cycle-of-aesthetic-consumption</link>
      <dc:creator>Hannah Bruck</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Your type isn't a person anymore. It's a product.]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Timothée Chalamet is a rat boy. That’s why women loved him. “Loved,” because, like many leading men who rise quickly in public attention, his cultural moment has cooled. What’s a rat boy, you might ask? It’s a boy who has angular features, expressive eyes, a certain wiry unpredictability, or “rat-like,” as the internet so generously labeled it. The archetype remains today, but Chalamet is no longer the one carrying it. It can be difficult to track the constant ebb and flow of male figures elevated as representations of the “ideal man,” but it's safe to say that Chalamet has been replaced. Most recently, public fascination has returned toward a more classically yearning figure, more reminiscent of older romantic archetypes, such as Paul Anthony Kelly’s portrayal of John F. Kennedy Jr. in the television series “Love Story,” in which longing and restraint replace boyish eccentricity. Like fashion and art, the “ideal attractive model” rotates through cycles of popularity. Dating back to early cinema, the scene was dominated by figures like Paul Newman and Gregory Peck, men defined by effortless masculinity, a quiet confidence paired with physical presence. Over time, this singular model fractured into a range of more specific archetypes. The internet accelerated this fragmentation, generating new language for increasingly niche categories: the “golden retriever boyfriend,” the “sad boy,” the “soft boy,” with each featuring a micro-adjustment of tone, posture, and emotional availability. Each iteration does not erase the last, but layers over it, compounding expectations of beauty, femininity, and performance. The evolution of leading ladies follows a similar trajectory, from Clara Bow to Angelina Jolie. Each era ushered in its own model of desirability. The flapper of the silent film era gave way to the polished glamour of mid-century bombshells like Marilyn Monroe, which in turn evolved into the sharper, more controlled allure of figures like Sharon Stone and Michelle Pfeiffer. Today, these archetypes have splintered into hyper-niche identities, such as the “black cat girlfriend,” and the “manic pixie dream girl.” Each iteration does not erase the last, but layers over it, compounding expectations of beauty, femininity, and performance. By 2024, the culmination of hyper-focused, idealized “hot guys” adapted into the somewhat absurd and yet entirely predictable “summer of the hot rodent boyfriend .” This era brought with it the rise of figures like Timothée Chalamet, Josh O'Connor, and Jeremy Allen White, men whose appeal lay not in conventional symmetry but in something slightly off-center. Women, half-seriously and half in jest, began “setting traps” for this new wave of desirable men, men who felt accessible yet elevated, flawed yet magnetic. But as quickly as the archetype rose, it began to shift. Today, only two years later, the landscape of desirability continues to evolve at a dizzying pace. There now exists an informal but widely recognized system for tracking who is “in” as the “white boy of the month.” Like any popularity index, it is inherently unstable. Today’s obsession is tomorrow’s afterthought. What’s different now is that these preferences do not remain confined to online discourse; they manifest physically. The emergence, and re-emergence, of lookalike contests is perhaps the clearest example of this translation from digital to real life, and of a growing desire not just to admire archetypes, but to inhabit them. Men gather to embody a particular ideal, dressing and styling themselves to match the current template, competing until one is declared the closest approximation. While lookalike contests are not new , their recent resurgence can be traced to an October 2024 Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest, where the actor himself unexpectedly appeared. That moment sparked a kind of renaissance. Since then, contests have been organized for Jeremy Allen White , Paul Mescal , and a rotating cast of internet-approved figures. The point is no longer simply resemblance; it is participation in the cycle itself. You are no longer simply yourself; you are a category, a type, a reference point in a larger aesthetic vocabulary. In this sense, the “rat boy renaissance” of 2024 was less a passing trend and more an inflection point. It marked the beginning of a more fully realized ecosystem of archetypes, one sustained by the chronically online and deeply commercialized nature of modern dating and identity formation. From there, something subtle but consequential happens: individuals begin to pursue archetypes rather than people. They shape themselves to fit a mold, and in turn, expect others to do the same. You are no longer simply yourself; you are a category, a type, a reference point in a larger aesthetic vocabulary. The internalization runs deep. Style, posture, and even personality traits become curated outputs. Consider Justin Bieber. At the height of his early fame, his signature swooping hairstyle became a cultural shorthand for a certain kind of boyish appeal. It was widely imitated, copied in middle school hallways, suburban barbershops, and across social media profiles. Today, that look reads as dated, even as Bieber himself remains widely admired, evidenced by his massive following at events like Coachella, where he broke records for sales . The affection persists, but the archetype has moved on. The lesson is about the disposability of the form. The result is a culture in which people see not whole individuals, but fragments, pieces of an ideal self, pieces of an ideal partner. Attraction becomes less about discovery and more about recognition: Does this person match the template I have already decided I want? The cyclical nature of attraction to archetypes is not new. What is new is the speed, scale, and commercialization with which these archetypes are produced, distributed, and internalized. Women and men alike are no longer limited to the cultural icons of their immediate environment. Instead, they can access, remix, and idolize an endless stream of curated identities, each one optimized for attention and replication. We have muddied the waters to the point where a coherent philosophy of getting to know another person, without first requiring them to fit a highly specific mold, feels almost radical. Are we dating people, or are we dating ideas? What is needed in this modern ecosystem is not a rejection of desire or imagination, but a recalibration—a willingness to see people not as archetypes to be matched or assembled, but as individuals to be encountered. If attraction is increasingly mediated through archetypal templates, then the work of building relationships requires something deliberately countercultural. It asks for a posture that resists the ease of categorization and instead returns to something slower, less legible, and ultimately more human. In practice, this begins with humility. As people contemplate what it means to find partnership and build relationships, they must do so with a willingness to recognize both the limitations of the self and the limitations of others. Not as a form of resignation, but as a corrective to the inflated expectations produced by a culture that treats people as assemblages of traits rather than whole, imperfect individuals. It is only through the lens of these imperfections that real intimacy becomes possible. Two people, neither of whom has been optimized to meet a curated ideal, are forced into a different kind of honesty. They are no longer performing toward an imagined standard of desirability; instead, they are learning how to meet each other in the unpolished space of reality. This requires an active rejection of entitlement to a particular combination of aesthetics, behaviors, or personality traits. It also requires a loosening of the belief that compatibility should feel immediate or visually intuitive in the way archetypes condition us to expect. As attention becomes increasingly mediated through screens, so too does the temptation to curate both self and other into something more consumable. But intimacy cannot be sustained through curation alone. It depends on transparency, on the gradual permission to be seen beyond what is filtered or protected. And it requires extending that same permission outward. Because while the rat boys will come and go, the underlying question remains: Are we dating people, or are we dating ideas?]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/how-dating-became-a-cycle-of-aesthetic-consumption</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Relationships</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[The Childfree Dream Is A Scam]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-childfree-dream-is-a-scam</link>
      <dc:creator> Johanna Duncan</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[I don’t have children and my algorithm knows it. I'm constantly fed high fashion and travel content, and it’s my fault. I’ve trained my FYP by saving this type of content for inspiration on my nights out in the city and I'm prone to booking last minute vacations. And while this by itself is harmless, more recently it’s taken a dark turn. ]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[There’s a particular kind of video that keeps finding its way onto my screen. And if you're riding the childless-women algorithm like me, you’ve probably seen it, too. It’s usually a stylish woman listing off the things she enjoys specifically because she doesn’t have children. She brags about her sleep, her travel, her designer bags, her Botox appointments scheduled without interruption. The list goes on to include wine and spa visits on a random Tuesday. Sometimes the tone is playful and funny. Sometimes it’s defiant and a shameless brag. But almost always triumphant. The subtext is clear: Look at all I have because I didn’t choose motherhood. As a woman without children myself, I must admit that I do enjoy the flexibility in my schedule and the extra funds for clothes and other fun things. So while I should be the kind to resonate and feel affirmed by these types of videos, instead I find myself deeply unsettled by them. Sometimes, I'm even embarrassed by this community that I fall into. Not because there’s anything wrong with enjoying your life or your freedoms, but because of what this trend is celebrating: a life centered entirely on the self. When Selfishness Becomes the End Goal Let’s start with the obvious: there's nothing inherently wrong with not having children. Some women can’t. For others, the time simply hasn’t come yet, or they aren’t ready. Some women may never feel called to motherhood at all. Life unfolds differently for everyone, and reducing a woman’s worth to whether she has children is both unnecessary and unfair. But what's emerged online isn’t just a defense of childless living, it’s a rebranding of it as a superior and luxurious lifestyle. One defined by leisure, consumption, and the absence of obligations. In this framework, selfishness is disguised as freedom; it becomes the highest good. While freedom is undeniably valuable, it was never meant to be turned into a self-centered lifestyle. When it does, it creates a life that looks full on the outside but feels strangely hollow on the inside. It may work for a while, especially because you’re always distracted and entertained. But at some point, the question creeps in: free for what? When you’re the center of your own world, your world gets uncomfortably small. The Emptiness of Self-Absorption A life organized entirely around personal comfort and material luxuries has a ceiling. There are only so many brunches, purchases, and self-care routines that can sustain a sense of purpose. What begins as indulgence slowly morphs into repetition, and repetition, and since it lacks meaning, breeds dissatisfaction. This isn’t a moral judgment as much as it is a human reality. I'm not criticizing anyone for enjoying an expensive bag, but let’s not fool ourselves: We are not wired to exist solely for ourselves. We are not wired to exist solely for ourselves. Self-absorption, despite how glamorous it’s made to appear online, has a way of collapsing in on itself. It narrows your world to the point that it makes your problems feel larger than they are. It disconnects you from the very things that bring joy. Ironically, the pursuit of a completely self-directed life often results in a kind of comfortable loneliness. Not the dramatic or cinematic kind, but the subtle, persistent awareness that something or someone is always missing. The False Divide Between Mothers and Childless Women Part of what makes this trend so troubling is the way it frames the conversation as a competition. Mothers versus childless women. Who is doing better? Is it the women waking up early and wrangling their children through morning drop-offs or the women savoring their breakfast and putting on precisely the right amount of blush while listening to a podcast? These videos pit a world of chaos and sacrifice against one of calmness and indulgence. Mothers are often portrayed in TV shows and movies, and even on social media, as exhausted, overburdened, and resentful. They're often the ones that have "let themselves go" and look twenty years older than they are. Childless women, in contrast, are depicted as carefree, polished, and perpetually relaxed. They're youthful, energetic, and happy. Each side becomes a caricature of the other, and the result is a growing cultural divide that benefits no one. The truth is far more nuanced. Motherhood is a source of profound meaning, but it also comes with real challenges. And not having children (or not having them yet) can offer flexibility and opportunity, but it can also come with its own questions about purpose and legacy. These experiences are not in opposition. They are different expressions of the same underlying human desire: to live a fulfilling and beautiful life. Rather than competing, these two groups of women have far more to offer each other than they might realize. A Personal Shift in Perspective I've always wanted kids and I still do. But these past few years, I've felt a shift. Those late nights out no longer appeal to me the way they used to. Now, even when I go out, I'm wishing I was home with a family instead. When I share this with my friends who are mothers, they often mention how much they envy me just because I'm able to sit down and watch a movie or my favorite show without interruption, or because my Instagram showcases a lifestyle they miss at times. Whichever path you choose, no woman gets to have it all. The point is that while going through it, we can have each other. Recently, a close friend of mine had her fourth child. Shortly after, she was placed on bed rest. Her husband was doing everything he could, but managing a newborn and three young children is not exactly a one-person job. She was one of those friends I had enjoyed plenty of Chicago nights with, but we had lost touch somewhat since she got married and became busy with pregnancies, infants, and family life. But she was still my friend nonetheless, and when I reached out to congratulate her for her fourth child she told me about how she was struggling. Without hesitation, I started going over to help. Sometimes, I’d play and make dinner with the older kids. Other times, I’d simply sit and talk with her. Compared to our late nights out after concerts, it was decidedly unglamorous. I could’ve chosen to stay home with a face mask and watch Netflix (one of my top favorite post-work rituals). But being present for her and her family was not only nice for them, it was also nice for me. It brought me out of my bubble and in doing so, gave me an opportunity to love and be loved. Isn’t that what it’s all about? It reminded me that my time, my energy, and even my freedom aren’t just assets to be spent on myself. They’re resources that can be freely shared. And giving, it turns out, is far more satisfying and fulfilling than consuming. Redefining a Meaningful Life We often talk about meaning as though it’s something you stumble upon or something you need to travel to exotic places to acquire ( Eat, Pray, Love. I love you, but I’m looking at you.) Or something tied to major life milestones or dramatic turning points. But more often, meaning is built quietly, through consistent choices that orient your life outward rather than inward. It’s a habit of thinking and caring for those around us and choosing to give a hand when needed. For some women, that will absolutely include raising children. For others, it might look different: mentoring, volunteering, supporting friends and family, building something that serves others, or simply showing up where you’re needed. It’s defined by your willingness to invest yourself in something beyond your own immediate desires. The specifics matter less than the posture. A meaningful life is not defined by how much you can accumulate or how little you’re obligated to others. It’s defined by your willingness to invest yourself in something beyond your own immediate desires. And while that investment is sacrificial in the sense that it costs you something, it's also enriching as it gives you what money can’t buy: meaning. Both Women Need Each Other One of the most overlooked aspects of the moms v.s. childless women conversation is how much women, across different life stages and conditions, rely on each other. Mothers need support. They need friends who can step in, offer relief, and remind them of the world beyond their immediate responsibilities. Childless women, in turn, benefit from being integrated into those family dynamics. There’s a lot to be gained in relationships, perspective, and a sense of connection that can’t be replicated through solitary. This isn’t about obligation in the rigid, burdensome sense. It’s about choosing to give and the joys of what we receive. A healthy society isn’t built on individuals maximizing their personal comfort in isolation. It’s built on networks of people who show up for one another, who share the weight of life, and who recognize that their well-being is interconnected. A Different Kind of Aspiration What if, instead of asking how much we can enjoy our freedom and independence, we asked how we might use it well? What if the measure of a good life wasn’t how uninterrupted it was, but how meaningful? This kind of shift doesn’t require abandoning everything we enjoy or taking on responsibilities that don’t fit our circumstances. It simply asks us to expand our perspective. It demands of us to look for opportunities to contribute, to connect, to be useful in ways that extend beyond our own immediate gratification. I don’t want to look back and realize that all my freedom was spent avoiding responsibility rather than embracing purpose. I don’t have children. Maybe I will someday, maybe I won’t. But I do know this: I don’t want a life that revolves entirely around me. I don’t want my greatest victories to be my luxury purchases or my most meaningful moments to be my uninterrupted mornings. I don’t want to look back and realize that all my freedom was spent avoiding responsibility rather than embracing purpose. I want a life that feels full; not just in schedule, luxury, and entertainment, but in substance. And increasingly, I’m convinced that fullness doesn’t come from having less asked of you, but from choosing, willingly, to give more of yourself where it matters. That might not make for the most glamorous social media content, but it makes for a better life. And in the end, that’s what actually matters.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-childfree-dream-is-a-scam</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Relationships</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[Pragmata: A Video Game About Fatherhood Just Outsold Every Major Release. Here's Why It's So Popular.]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/pragmata-a-video-game-about-fatherhood-just-outsold-every-major-release-heres-why</link>
      <dc:creator>Brooke Brandtjen</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[A game about protecting a little girl and teaching her about the world just became the most-played game among young men. And it's forcing a reckoning about what masculinity actually is.]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Pragmata is an action-adventure video game released in April 2026 by the legendary Japanese studio, Capcom. Within just two days of its release, Pragmata sold more than one million copies worldwide, a massive achievement in a growing gaming landscape. Thousands of players have praised the game since its release. It currently has an astounding 97% rating on Steam , and a 96th percentile ranking on OpenCritic . It's acclaimed not only for having quality graphics and excellent gameplay mechanics, but also for having a strong emotional center. The game follows the relationship between a systems engineer, Hugh Williams, and a young android girl whom he names Diana. The pair work together to take on an evil AI robot, IDUS, that's controlling the mining outpost on the moon where they're stranded. Together, the two work to fight robots and make contact with earth in the hope of making a safe return. Throughout the course of the game, players take on the role of Hugh, and slowly develop a relationship with Diana. The relationship between Hugh and Diana has garnered a lot of attention from players because it looks a lot like a father-daughter relationship. In many films and television series, children are often depicted as annoying and burdensome. Video games, despite the hate they've received by critics, have typically taken the opposite stance. One famous example can be found in The Last of Us. When Joel loses his daughter in one of the most painful openings in a video game or TV series, he finds his redemption story in a young girl named Ellie. Ellie is his daughter's age and immune to the infection that's killing people all over the world. Because of this, the doctors want to use her to create a cure to destroy the infection. But when Joel realizes Ellie will have to die in order to create the vaccine, he chooses to save her. Their father/daughter relationship is much like his with his own daughter and he's given a second chance to save his daughter's life. In The Witcher , we see another non-biological father/daughter relationship with Geralt and Ciri. Although theirs is more destiny than redemption-based. Geralt trains Ciri and she, who's lost everything, relies on him to protect her. She's strong in her own right, having trained like a witcher. In Pragmata , although Hugh is initially hesitant to let her accompany him, their relationship is noticeably happy. Diana is frequently helpful, being the one who initially revives Hugh after a dangerous moonquake. She is also eager to fight alongside him, using her special abilities to take down antagonistic robots. When players level up, Diana will cheer for them. She even has a cute but silly 'happy dance' that anyone with kids will instantly recognize. She brings the optimism of childhood joy to an otherwise dark game. Her goal of returning to Earth stems from her dream of seeing a tropical beach in real life. Pragmata is special because it shows players that there is beauty in appreciating a young life. Modern media has built an entire ecosystem around the idea that children are life-ruining. Television shows and movies exclusively focus on the difficult aspects of parenthood, such as temper tantrums, sleepless nights, and messy houses. For many young people, the prospect of having children is frightening because that's the only way they've ever seen it portrayed. Video games are the medium that portrays men as protectors. Men want to protect their own. In the U.S., a growing number of young people are unlikely to have children , with the number of adults under 50 who believe they won't have children rising from 37 percent in 2018 to 47 percent in 2023. Some of the primary reasons they cite include concerns about affordability and fears about the state of the world. They're hesitant to become parents because they're nervous that their circumstances will make parenthood too difficult. However, studies consistently show that parents, especially fathers, report higher levels of happiness and fulfillment than childless people do. Regardless of a family's financial situation, the result of having children is living a happier life. Pragmata sets out on a mission to prove to players that fatherhood is a powerful mission, not burdensome and draining. Throughout the game, Hugh increasingly enjoys being around Diana, with the two forming a special relationship even in the midst of chaos. Writer and artist George Alexopolous praised it for weaving together the gameplay with their relationship: "The game celebrates and reinforces their relationship at every turn… the Player is incentivized to go out of their way to find presents for [Diana] not simply because it earns rewards that can buy upgrades, but because it makes her happy." It's clear that players are feeling it , too. A 30-year-old reviewer wrote that the game "gave me a feeling of what it means to be a father, deep within my bones"—something he'd never experienced before. For him and countless others, the impact was immediate and undeniable: "Damn, I wanted to become a father now." Another player warned others: "You will want to have a daughter after this game, so be aware!" The praise for the actual experience was equally emphatic. One reviewer who completed the game reported: "Having played the game fully I can wholeheartedly say it is worth every penny. The puzzles are short and simple, the gunplay is nice and smooth, and the girl is the most adorable thing on the planet. 10/10 story 10/10 game." For another, the combination of mechanics and emotion was the real draw: "This game is heartwarming, action-packed, and a dad simulator all in one. So far this is my favorite game this year." Video games themselves are a perfect example of how something that is challenging can also be enjoyable. They often encourage players to be more responsible, even if they don't realize it. Many require players to think critically, make bold decisions, and multitask. If gamers want to make progress, they have to plan ahead and make well-informed decisions. These skills transfer to the real world, too. Players can use what they've learned and apply it to situations like holding a job, buying a house, and dealing with everyday obstacles. Pragmata 's central message is simple: men are guardians. The relationship between Diana and Hugh is distinctly paternal. As the game progresses, players don't merely grow to tolerate or simply 'like' Diana; they feel the need to protect her. Men have an innate instinct to protect what they care about; they defend their homes, their parents, their wives, and their children. One of the reasons why Pragmata has resonated with so many young men is that it allows them to become protectors. Although they're defending a fictional little girl, it might be their first time experiencing that kind of paternal strength. Men are bold, selfless, and sacrificial. When they're given the opportunity to meaningfully become protective, they find fulfillment. Pragmata shows men the unmatched joy they achieve by becoming protectors of children and being good fathers. Despite the game's overwhelmingly positive reception, it has also drawn criticism from niche communities and websites like Reddit. Some have stated that the game is an attempt for men to "prove" their masculinity, while others have accused it of being "creepy." Yet, the game is incredibly wholesome and much of this criticism is an attempt to mischaracterize a positive father-daughter relationship. Playing a video game won't teach you everything about fatherhood, but it could be the beginning of something truly wonderful. The fact that one million young men bought this game in two days says something. It says they're hungry for permission to want what their culture told them to reject. Men don't need to be fixed. They don't need to apologize for wanting to protect what they love. Pragmata understands that. And so, it seems, do a million young men.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/pragmata-a-video-game-about-fatherhood-just-outsold-every-major-release-heres-why</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Culture</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[The Devil Wears Prada 2 Is A Love Letter To Print And A Warning About Its Fall]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-devil-wears-prada-2-is-a-love-letter-to-print-and-a-warning-about-its-fall</link>
      <dc:creator>Jaimee Marshall</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[The Devil Wears Prada’s gravitational center is arguably not even about fashion; it’s about fighting for humanity in a digital world gone rogue. That’s why it works.]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[The long-awaited sequel to a beloved cult classic for the girlies, The Devil Wears Prada , is finally here. I’m thrilled to report that despite the online discourse surrounding the declining quality of film lighting and color grading since the early 2000s, as well as Anne Hathaway gloating about pressuring the production to hire more size-inclusive models (later clarifying this did not result in the firing of slender models and purportedly created more jobs), this movie was a surprising delight. It’s a sequel we all thought we didn’t need, and maybe we didn’t, given the first film’s reputational upgrade from glossy chick flick to cult following to cinematic perfection, with time. Looking back, it was like lightning in a bottle. An arguably perfect film. Many will continue to insist this second entry was redundant or worse, regressive, because its gravitational center is arguably not even about fashion. That’s because it has loftier messaging. All my doubts were dispelled once I saw what the film was really saying, and boy, does it have a lot to say about the modern world. About what’s been lost, about the futile resistance of creative human enterprise, and the value of raging against the dying of the light. That is, the tension between tradition, the Platonic ideals of art and beauty, and the demands of modernity. The film explores this through a dialectic of values: tradition and modernity, analog and digital, human creation and automated content, perfection and human fallibility. The film doesn’t know if this fight is futile. In fact, it gives us every indication that it might be. Nevertheless, it asks us to try anyway. To harness the human spirit and refuse to go gently into that good night. It explores this tension through many different sub-contexts: Andy’s fight for journalistic integrity versus the industry’s push for clickbait and engagement retention, Miranda as evil visionary supergenius versus being squeezed by changing cultural and HR standards, and being held budgetarily hostage by tech bros who want to do away with human artistic creative integrity in favor of streamlining and replacing everything with AI. Out-of-touch billionaire tech mogul Benji Barnes, who is clearly modeled after the likes of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, gloats about this vision. These Silicon Valley tech bros are attempting to acquire everything with their outsized buying power and reducing fashion magazines like Runway to its spare parts, gutting everything that made it what it once was in favor of a soulless, bare-bones copy. In between his delusions of grandeur (he wants to build a rocket to fly to the sun and name it Icarus, failing to see the irony), bizarre health fads (he’s “not doing water these days” because he believes it’s poison and there are health benefits to be reaped from operating at an “aqua deficit,” he fails to value Runway for what it truly represents: “a commitment to beauty, artistry, the very best in human innovation.” Rather than attempting to jump right back into the atmosphere of the first movie, set in the optimistic haze of 2006—a world so jarringly different from the one we exist in today, it might as well be a fantasy—this new installment addresses the elephant in the room incessantly. Print is dying. Real journalism is beholden to social media clicks and engagement. The entire fashion industry now hinges on an ethos of ‘I scratch your back, you scratch mine’ via product placement and glowing “objective” profiles for advertisers just to stay afloat. Fair warning: Below, I'll be discussing the plot’s more intimate details, which may contain spoilers. “No us, no you,” Miranda is reminded by advertisers after her pending promotion from Editor-in-Chief of Runway to Global Head of Content across all Elias-Clarke publications is put in jeopardy thanks to a PR crisis. We’re thrust into the inciting action of the movie when Miranda and Nigel are walking a red carpet for an event, just as a scathing story breaks, threatening to ruin Runway ’s reputation. The headlines read “Miranda Priestly FOOLED: Runway publishes glowing article about sweatshop clothing brand.” The brand, called ‘Speed Fash’, which is a bit on-the-nose, but nevertheless, “tricked” Runway ’s reporters by lying about their working conditions, Miranda claims (but context clues indicate Runway ’s reporter failed to do their due diligence). We get an adrenaline-rushing inside look at what it must be like for the higher-ups who have to take the fall for these PR scandals, and at the complexities entailed by going into full damage-control mode. Having to be all smiles for the cameras and circling sharks, with little more than subtle body language, Nigel indicates to Miranda’s assistant that she must bypass the press tonight. Once they’re within ear’s reach, Nigel informs her that the story is live and a disaster. “It’s gone completely viral,” and “you’re getting blamed for absolutely everything.” The panopticon of social media is its own character in this movie. Miranda’s entire career and planned promotion hinge entirely on how the public responds to her online and whether they can successfully navigate the scandal with the proper optics. She must appease the online mob eviscerating her enough to keep advertisers happy. Social media is awash with TikToks calling her out-of-touch and irrelevant, memes photoshopping her as Pinocchio and AI images of her as a fast food worker with the text, “Would you like some lies with that?” This latter image was actually painted by a real commissioned artist to pass for convincing AI—an important detail to the film’s throughline that safeguarding human artistic creation is a good in itself. It becomes clear rather quickly that the film’s main antagonist isn’t one character but an industry. As Nigel and Miranda are saving face while the internet is going feral, Andy Sachs is winning a journalism award. Only, she and her entire table are fired by text just before she goes on stage. She takes the opportunity to air out her grievances in place of her acceptance speech, ranting about the changing media landscape. Here, the film sets up what this story will really be about. She tells the room of journalists, “We understand journalism is changing, but it’s still devastating when something like this happens to you.” Irv calls Miranda to rip her a new one, “We are getting killed online, I am getting angry emails from ad buyers for top-level designers.” Miranda says she’s already been on the phone with advertisers and is meeting with them in the morning, and plans to have a very direct conversation with ‘Fash.’ He tells her not to bother; he’ll fix it, he says, before delivering the veiled threat. “This is abysmal timing. I’m pondering this huge move for you, and this happens.” Irv and Miranda are both scrambling to take control of the narrative. Irv, because he’s chairman of Elias Clarke, has to figure out how to claw back any shred of credibility with advertisers pulling out, and Miranda, because without fixing this crisis, her upward career move might be at jeopardy. Irv’s tech bro son, Jay Ravitz, (because there are a lot of tech bros in this movie and they all talk like they're in an episode of Succession ), shows him his phone, displaying a viral clip from Andy's impassioned speech, "Because some things still matter more than money. Journalism still fucking matters!" It’s a lightbulb moment—a fittingly plausible inciting incident to get Andy back at Runway to reunite with our principal characters. Not just because she’s being offered double the salary to run the features department and promised a real budget to tell stories and hire real writers, but because she’s proposed as the random whim of a nepo baby tech bro whose attention is just as easily piqued as it is diverted. Nigel is still Miranda’s right-hand man. Emily left Runway under mysterious circumstances for Dior. Miranda is still Miranda, only with the rise of workplace HR culture, her biting remarks are blunted by the disapproving sighs and tone policing of her assistant, Amari, and she’s no longer permitted to throw her coat at people. Andy is shocked to see Miranda hanging her own coat, who is seemingly winded by the effort. Miranda is still venomous and apathetic, referring to body positive models as “body negative” and making inappropriate remarks about models looking like they came from a methadone clinic in New Jersey, or threatening to kill herself when people pitch their uninspiring ideas. That being said, she’s also being neutered by the changing world and the new people who rule it. The film explores so many modern ills, including the tension between journalistic integrity and the attention economy, which Andy struggles to navigate. The tension between old and new. We get evocative monologues from Nigel about the fall of print and the rise of digital. “ Runway stopped being a magazine years ago.” While they still have a book, no one buys it (which is very much the real situation Vogue and virtually every legacy magazine are dealing with as they shift to modern digital tastes). Nigel says, "We are digital, we are downloadable, we are streamable, we're in the ether." Besides a shift to digital, he also describes sad budgets compared to the resources he used to have for dream shoots. "Now I'm lucky if I get two days at Milk Studios to shoot content people scroll past whilst they pee." It becomes clear rather quickly that the film’s main antagonist isn’t one character but an industry (technology, specifically AI) and its avatars: tech bros. They represent moral nihilists who will welcome humanity’s demise in the name of “inevitable innovation” and efficiency and who have no regard for beauty. It’s a dichotomy of tradition versus modernity, masculine versus feminine, but the film’s conclusion doesn’t seem to be that we ought to value one at the expense of the other. Rather, they are in symbiosis. Andy wants to write highbrow intellectual fodder about climate change and other elitist progressive issues, but they aren’t getting clicks or engagement because no one finds them interesting. She confides in her assistant that she's spent her whole career reporting what people need to know, and now she needs to figure out what people want to click. Jin tells her maybe she needs to reconcile the two and figure out how to do them at the same time, "the smart stuff and the fun stuff." If only there were a magazine that did that! Miranda chides her for failing to “move the needle” with her pieces. Desperate to keep Miranda happy, she lies about scoring an interview with Sasha Barnes, a famous and elusive woman who’s recently divorced from Silicon Valley tech billionaire Benji Barnes, making her one of the richest women in the world. Consequently, following her divorce, she has not agreed to any press in years, making Miranda suspicious that she’s lying about scoring the “holy grail” of exclusives. With Andy’s resourcefulness, persistence, and many tangentially related contacts, she finally gets Sasha to agree to sit for the interview, and they break the story of her new engagement. It proves to be a huge win that earns Andy an invite to Miranda’s home in the Hamptons for the weekend. Before going, Andy tells her Australian boyfriend that she hopes this role is just a stepping stone to doing real journalism because, as proud as she is of the Sasha story, she’s had to do eleven other stories that day about (what she sees as) trivial trends like coconut water and enzyme peels. This push-and-pull dynamic is alluded to repeatedly throughout the film. When she first meets the Australian hunk, she’s touring a luxury apartment she can now afford at the convincing of her friend to check it out. She dismisses it as “everything that’s wrong with the world,” not realizing the man she’s talking to owns the building. With some playful back-and-forth banter, Andy learns that he's a contractor, "not a greedy developer," and the city was planning to knock the building down, so he really saved the building, foreshadowing the lengths they’ll have to go to in order to fight for the preservation of what is right, good, and beautiful, within the corporate structures that confine them. The film is winking and nodding at what we're fighting for: not just magazines, but full artistic integrity, human creativity, art itself. In the backdrop, Andy’s friend is also trying to convince her to write a tell-all book about what it’s like to work for Miranda Priestley. Andy at first outright rejects this notion, but throughout the film, the temptation grows, and she sends over some pages, though she insists she won’t do the trashy tabloid version—only if it’s “elevated and rigorous.” Just before Irv is set to announce Miranda’s new role at Elias-Clarke, he unexpectedly collapses and dies. When they all attend the funeral, we become acquainted with one of the film’s main antagonists, Irv’s nepo baby tech bro son, Jay, who does not share Irv’s reverence for fashion or Runway . This guy is the antithesis of Runway , in his “head-to-toe synthetics.” He’s a badly dressed Kendall Roy who talks in bro-speak, is too touchy, and too casual. He’s constantly throwing his proverbial dick around the place, seemingly to overcompensate for the fact that Miranda has largely known him as this little child his father would bring to the office. Jay represents cold, calculated, utilitarian efficiency, but also a masculine energy that doesn’t quite care for refinement, elegance, or taste. He immediately brings in McKinsey consultants to talk shop with Miranda, in the cafeteria of all places—a place Miranda amusingly has never heard of. Jay and the consultants bring a “bro” culture with them. One consultant attempts to compliment Miranda by telling her they call her “Miranda Beastly” around the office, because she’s a beast. Meanwhile, Jay is constantly fist-bumping Miranda and keeps referring to everyone as “the guys” before correcting himself: “people.” Mainly, though, he just doesn't value Runway as a creative enterprise; he's in the business of profit. He tells Miranda the consultants are here to “weigh in on our organizational alignment” and introduces their roles: “operational strategy, financial architecture, digital transformation, user experience, everything.” Miranda, disturbed to be sitting in on such a drab affair, mockingly affirms, “everything,” representing how the tech class is overly concerned with optimization at the expense of craft. He slashes Runway ’s budgets, leaving departments no room to do their jobs, and implements new company policies that prohibit unnecessary expenses, such as flying first class or ordering private cars. All employees, including Miranda, now have to ride Uber and fly Economy. The company can also no longer afford any employees who have been at Runway for longer than five years, jeopardizing Nigel’s longstanding devotion to Miranda and Runway , at the expense of his own ambitions. Andy is devastated when she learns of the planned cutbacks that will effectively decimate Runway . "I can't just accept that, we can't just keep sucking the soul of everything and gutting it and then repackaging it. To what end?” She decides to do something about it by cooking up a secret scheme with Emily, who is romantically involved with recently divorced tech mogul Benji Barnes. Every time Benji opens his mouth, he betrays what an out-of-touch member of the elite tech class he is. He’s constantly out of place, inappropriately giggling, lacking any knowledge about fashion, and generally embodying a sort of goofy, “Quirk Chungus” persona. He’s characterized as a dorky, socially awkward guy (who was once quite ugly but is now passably “mid” thanks to aesthetic enhancements) who never got any girls in high school but whose wallet is helping him make up for lost time. The plan is for Benji to offer to purchase Runway from Jay, but Andy doesn’t realize Emily has unfinished business with Miranda and, still feeling slighted from being pushed out of Runway all those years, secretly plans to acquire the magazine for herself and replace Miranda as Editor-in-Chief. This betrayal is foreshadowed by Miranda discussing a painting of The Last Supper with Andy, dropping hints that she knows someone is going to betray her, as she comments on the nature of humans, "at once glorious and fallible,” that we inevitably “deceive and betray one another, let each other down. It's what we're built to do." Andy is under the illusion that they’re saving Runway and preserving it for Miranda, but Emily is the secret Judas among them. Miranda charges her with being a vendor, not a visionary. The whole ordeal leaves Andy’s moral conscience so shaken that when she receives a phone call from her friend offering her $350k to write a juicy tell-all book about Miranda, she objects with righteous indignation. The third act takes place, fittingly, in Milan, Italy. As one of the fashion capitals of the world, it feels like an obvious choice. But deeper than that, Italy represents the birthplace of the Renaissance : a cultural, political, and artistic “rebirth” that came out of the rediscovery of classical antiquity and a philosophy of humanism, the unlimited potential of human beings as an end in themselves. The film is winking and nodding at what we're fighting for: not just magazines, but full artistic integrity, human creativity, art itself. The final runway show and pre-show dinner will be held in Italy’s Brera district. At this dinner, Miranda is prepared for Benji to make his announcement, but he informs her they’re still ironing out the details. As she sits down, hoping to find some common ground in the form of some Runway traditions being permitted to remain, he responds with disturbing fatalism. "Who knows? The world is changing so fast that sometimes I can't even comprehend it. So tradition? I think the day is coming, perhaps very soon, where Runway won't need models or locations or even designers. It'll all just, you know, be AI.” It feels like we’ve come full circle following the first film’s more trite girlboss brand of feminism. This is when Miranda, horrified, searches for some silver lining. "Well, surely some things will stay, she pushes. A commitment to beauty. Artistry. The best in human achievement, maybe." “Maybe,” Benji says, “But look around you. We’re in an ancient city that was one part of the greatest empires that the world has ever known, and now there’s just little traces of it left. The world is about change. That's what human beings don’t understand. The future just comes rushing at us like the lava of Pompeii. And our job is just to let it take what it wants to take. One day, it’s going to come and smother us all. And maybe that’s the way it has to be.” Miranda, with tears in her eyes, just says, “maybe,” and excuses herself to walk around Brera in the middle of the night, absorbing the sights of artistry—the shops and architecture—all around her, as it’s all built on a house of cards. Like their fate is so precarious, this might be her last chance to take it all in. This is by far the most moving segment of the movie. A cinematic villain humanized, made to seem like peanuts compared to what we’re up against. Tears filled my eyes, and I felt a sense of common struggle. In the end, Miranda and Andy manage to pool together their passion and resourcefulness to save Runway , if only temporarily, with the help of a benevolent billionaire, Sasha Barnes, who believes in their vision, making good on Miranda’s long-anticipated promotion. It’s ultimately Jay’s lack of sentimentality that causes him to let go of not just Runway but all of Elias-Clarke in one fell swoop, blindsiding Emily and Benji. It’s a happy ending, for now, but they’re really only biding their time, with Sasha promising to be hands off “for now.” In the car ride home from scoring the deal, Miranda lets slip that she knows about the speculative book deal Andy was mulling over and tells her she should write it. Only, she asks her to keep in all the juicy bits about how demanding, impatient, and imperious she is, how much of her children’s lives she’s missed. “Just put it all in there, because people should know there’s a cost,” she says, before adding that she loves working. It feels like we’ve come full circle following the first film’s more trite girlboss brand of feminism, in which Andy dismisses criticism of Miranda as sexism and Miranda laments that the tabloids will eviscerate her for yet another divorce, which will affect her children, rather than expressing any regret about her lack of presence in their lives. This time, the film doesn’t champion or moralize Miranda’s career choices. It just stops participating in the illusion that there are no trade-offs and consequently feels more mature. Andy is incredulous that Miranda believes she would dare write such a scintillating book now that they’re a team. Miranda tells her that, in reality, she just wanted to save herself, and Elias-Clarke happens to be her lifeboat right now. Any ideas to the contrary are just a nice story she tells herself. It’s tonally in keeping with the first film. Miranda bursts Andrea’s bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, rose-colored glasses to give her a reality check. Andy insists they can still do good work together. “We have to,” Miranda affirms. They’re in a battle larger than I could have possibly anticipated going into this. It’s an existential battle for human dignity and beauty. They might be destined to fail, but they will die trying. There’s a lot to nitpick about this movie, but what it lacks in narrative coherence and loose ends, it makes up for in its conviction in the indomitable human spirit, and in its quintessentially Evie ethos that humans ought to seek truth and find beauty.]]></content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Culture</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[Childbirth Shouldn't Be Scary, It's Romantic]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/childbirth-shouldnt-be-scary-its-romantic</link>
      <dc:creator>Artemisia Leclair</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Birth is romantic. Your biology and ancient mythology prove it.]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[There are some things so deeply etched into human biology that they cannot help but echo through the psyche until they are written down. Thoughts, beliefs, and observations that bubble to the surface in the form of stories and myths that must then be interpreted like dreams. Ancient, shared visions that span centuries, continents, and cultures, yet the same thread of truth weaves them all together. Birth is an event that occurs on the threshold between life and death. It’s a liminal space, a thin place. Birth is transformative. Birth is dangerous. And birth is romantic. The Biology of Birth Maybe you've heard the phrase before: what got the baby in gets the baby out , and maybe you haven’t, but either way, it’s true. Just as the baby will leave via the same path it took to get in, the same hormones, even the same actions, in some cases, will help birth the baby. Once the body is physiologically primed for labor (uterus has increased its oxytocin receptors, the cervix has ripened, and baby has descended into the pelvis), certain actions and even the environment itself can help influence when labor will occur. Mood Lighting There’s a reason most labors begin at night. Melatonin increases the uterus's sensitivity to oxytocin and therefore helps to strengthen and coordinate contractions. This is why many women find their contractions stop or slow under the bright lights of a hospital room. Dim lighting at home or in the hospital, such as candles or twinkle lights, can help sustain melatonin levels and therefore contractions. His Touch Your husband's touch is particularly powerful during labor. His hands, scent, voice, and presence all serve to help stimulate oxytocin release, support the production of endorphins (the body’s natural pain-relieving neuropeptides), and modulate the stress response by lowering circulating stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. His presence signals to your nervous system that you are safe, held, and loved. It's the exact messaging your body needs to initiate the hormonal cascade that aids in creating smooth, shorter labors with lower levels of perceived pain. The same principle extends even to the beginning of labor. Sex near term can support the body’s existing readiness for labor. Prostaglandins (compounds commonly used in medical induction and found naturally in semen) aid in further softening the cervix. And oxytocin released during arousal, nipple stimulation, and orgasm can cause mild contractions that transform into active labor. Love Bomb Yourself Listening to music during labor has been shown to reduce perceived pain, reduce anxiety and stress, and improve overall birth experience satisfaction. Love songs, specifically, help generate a calm, peaceful atmosphere and serve as a sweet reminder that you are about to meet the love you and your husband share, given physical form. Home is Where the Heart Is A familiar, low stimulation environment supports the parasympathetic state necessary for labor. When a woman feels observed, unsafe, or unstable, her body will release stress hormones which can stall labor. An extremely useful reaction to have on the occasion that running from a threat becomes necessary, but not usually needed in our developed world. However, the body doesn’t know this. It can’t tell the difference between a nurse you’ve never seen before and a possible threat. Noise, bright lights, and unfamiliar people can all be controlled for while at home and interestingly enough, low-risk women who give birth at home have lower rates of intervention than hospital births. There’s something highly romantic and protective about intimacy, and your body won’t let that fact be forgotten. The Anthropology of Birth But what actually happens during birth? Our world in the West places a heavy emphasis upon the physiology of it all, demanding that its other aspects, despite age-old wisdom, be declared unimportant or altogether false. And much to our detriment, westernized medicine has gotten its way. Yes, birth is no longer the deadly advent it once was. That’s something to be thankful for. But what if the lack of biological death has blinded us to reality? What if in killing death, we have lost sight of the very nature of woman? We will turn to the old stories to answer these questions, and we’ll begin in ancient Mesopotamia. Inanna was a goddess, the queen of heaven and earth. Champion of love, fertility, and kings. One day, she gathered her maidservant close and instructed her in how to make funeral arrangements, for she desired to journey into the underworld, and so she would go. But she did not know if she would return. Her maidservant begged and pleaded with her to stay above, to not risk her life, but Inanna could not be dissuaded. She dressed herself in her royal regalia. She layered herself in jewels. She arranged her hair. She made up her eyes. And she girded herself in armor. Seven things she took and prepared herself with. Her divinity and power shone forth. On her way to the underworld, she instructed her maidservant. When she arrived at its gates, she sent her servant away. Inanna knocked on the door and demanded entrance. She demanded to see her sister, the queen of the underworld. She was permitted to enter, the door was opened. But the seven gates of the underworld were lowered, and only a sliver of opening could be seen between the ground and the bottom of each gate. Inanna had to bow low to pass through each of the seven gates, and at each gate, she lost an item she had so carefully prepared herself with. Each time she questioned this, and each time, she was reminded that the ways of the underworld were perfect, to be quiet, to not question them. Finally, after all seven gates, Inanna stood before her sister in her throne room. She was bare and naked. As Inanna stood, judgment was passed. The sacred words were said. And the queen of the underworld stepped down from her throne and slew Inanna. Up above, three days and three nights passed, and Inanna's maidservant began the funeral arrangements. She cried out in the ruins. She beat the drums. She tore her skin. She dressed in rags. And she begged the assistance of the father Gods. Only one answered. The God of wisdom fashioned two creatures from the dirt under his nails, gave them the food of life and the water of life, and instructed them on how to bring Inanna back to the land of the living. What if in killing death, we have lost sight of the very nature of woman? The dutiful creatures entered the underworld like flies, just as instructed, and found the hell queen incapacitated with labor pains, just as they were told. Her breast was bare and her hair was in disarray. She cried out, “Ohh! Ohh! My inside!” The creatures cried, “Ohh! Ohh! Your inside!” She moaned, “Ohh! Ohh! My belly!” They moaned, “Ohh! Ohh! Your belly!” She groaned, “Ohh! Ohh! My back!” They groaned, “Ohh! Ohh! Your back!” The queen of the underworld stopped and examined the creatures, “Who are you, here commiserating with me? I will give you a gift. What is it you wish?” “We wish only for the corpse that hangs from the wall.” They replied. “The corpse belongs to Inanna, you may have it.” The queen waved in dismissal. Together, the creatures sprinkled the food and water of life onto Inanna and she arose. Inanna was about to ascend from the underworld when the judges of the dead stopped her. “Halt Inanna! No one rises from the underworld unmarked. If you wish to return, you must provide someone in your place.” Inanna ascended accompanied by a procession of demons. At each city, they encountered a servant or a son of Inanna’s. All were dressed in soiled garments. All were mourning. All threw themselves at Inanna's feet when they saw her. All were spared from taking her place. Then the horde came upon the husband of Inanna. He was dressed in splendor. He was sat upon his throne. He was playing his shepherd's pipe. And at the sight of Inanna, he did not move. The demons seized him. Inanna demanded they take him away. The demons destroyed his temple and beat him. Inanna's husband cried out to the God of justice. The God heard him and turned Inanna's husband into a snake and he escaped. Wherever you turn in mythology, culture, and time, you cannot escape women journeying (or being taken) into the underworld. You also can’t escape the themes of birth and wombs that usually accompany such tales. But what makes this romantic? How does one go from meeting the reaper itself, to “ oh my gosh that’s literally the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” Without being accused of being completely delusional? I’ll give you a hint, it’s because a man is involved. The concept of man as a guide and savior from the underworld is not as foreign as some modern critics like to suggest. Woman may journey into the underworld, the bowels of the earth may be her domain, but man has always been positioned to retrieve her if she is so willing, and if he is worthy of her. There are two main categories these male figures fall into: failed guides, and successful ones. Orpheus (from Greek mythology), King Admetus (from the Greek play, Alcestis) and Inanna's husband are prime examples of failed guides. This is what we can learn from them. Orpheus went to retrieve his wife, Eurydice, from the underworld after she was bitten by a snake on their wedding day. He manages to get Hades and Persephone to agree to hand her over after he impresses them with a moving musical performance on one condition, while guiding her out, he cannot look back. Just as Orpheus is nearing the end of his journey out of the underworld however, he allows himself to become overwhelmed by doubt and anxiety and looks back. Due to this indiscretion caused by his lack of self-mastery, his wife is forever lost to him. Orpheus, gifted as he was, did not deserve Eurydice. Next we have Admetus, also a failed guide. King Admetus was fated to die unless someone volunteered to take his place. His wife, Alcestis, volunteered, and he allowed the trade. She spends her last day praying, purifying herself, and setting her affairs in order. Admetus spends her last day pitying himself. On the day of Alcestis’s funeral, Hercules arrives at the castle and asks for lodging. However, he notices Admetus has shorn his hair and is wearing mourning robes. Hercules states that he does not want to impose and will stay somewhere else. Admetus, determined to save face, suggests the person who has died is of little consequence to the household and that it would not be an imposition if Hercules stays. Hercules takes his friend at his word and stays, only to find out later that it was the Queen herself who had passed. Embarrassed, and without prompting, Hercules goes to retrieve Alcestis from the underworld and succeeds. What’s more romantic than being accompanied to the threshold between life and death? Admetus displays an angering type of impotence throughout the entire play in which he does absolutely nothing to change the fate of his wife and thinks only of himself. He does not support her. He does not own his fate. He falls into useless despair and fails to see how it’s his own fault. As the maid states in the opening of the play, Admetus does not deserve his wife either. However, we also see successful masculine guides who are worthy of their feminine counterparts. Hercules himself is one (though he is not partnered with Alcestis, he is still a successful guide). And we find more in folk tales such as “Skeleton Woman,” where an Inuit fisherman unwittingly catches a skeleton with his hook. He is terrified at first and tries to discard and outrun her. But she is tangled in his line and he only succeeds in dragging her along all the way into his igloo. Once he calms, he looks over and feels a sort of sympathy for the skeleton, so he begins to untangle her and set her bones right. Once she is all laid out, the man falls asleep and a single tear falls from his eye as he dreams. The skeleton woman crawls over and drinks it. Then she takes the man’s heart and beats it like a drum. She beats herself muscle, sinew, hair, and skin. She places the man’s heart back in his chest and crawls beside him once more, but this time as a fleshed woman. He wakes and they become one together. From that night on, neither is alone ever again. From these tales we learn that in order to successfully guide woman back to the land of the living, man must face his deepest, most existential fear. He must stare death in the face, unblinking, and bear witness as his beloved embraces it. As she cries more passionately in its throes than she ever did for him. He must become as brave as she is in these moments. He must hand her over, knowing full well that she may not come back. Knowing she may leave him on that threshold he is not permitted to cross. Leave him completely and utterly alone. Yet he must face it. Must become intimately aware of his lack of power in the face of something so terrible and primordial, and continue to serve her, to keep the pathway between the two worlds open with selfless love and devotion. He must face the fact that even if she does come back to him, his lover will never be the same. No one comes back the same after touching death's cloak. How could you? It would be wrong, a fallacy of nature, to remain unchanged. So he must face that too, and be prepared to embrace whatever new creature comes back to him. He must not fall into impotence. He cannot allow himself to succumb to doubt, fear, or despair. Nor can he allow himself the bluster of false bravado or hubris. He must simply accept, and support, and accompany his wife to the gates. To life’s great door, and bear witness. Only then, can he prove himself worthy. So, what’s more romantic than being accompanied to the threshold between life and death? Being loved unflinchingly as your soul is bared and forged anew? What is more romantic than facing death alongside a soul just as brave and steadfast as your own? Nothing. The Return Even those who admit postpartum depletion and emphasize the need for nutritional restoration, even those who crow that birth is just as metaphysical as it is physical, have forgotten that postpartum recovery is spiritual and energetic as well. They have remembered the death of the woman during birth, but have neglected to resurrect her. And in so doing, the West has abandoned the mother. Is it any small wonder we have epidemic rates of postpartum depression and anxiety? We’ve left the mother in liminality, a place between life and death, a state she was never meant to traverse on her own. In large part, this is due to the breakdown of tribal society and close-knit community. No one in particular is to blame, but the question must be asked, in this new world, who can solve this old problem? Who can become the old-new guide of the mother? What would this look like? China has Zuo Yuezi or “sitting the month,” a postpartum tradition with its roots in Chinese medicine, where a woman is said to be depleted of blood and qi. Post-birth, the balance of Yin and Yang in her body is thought to be skewed too heavily towards Yin, the feminine, cold, dark, wet, death aspect of Yin/Yang, and as such, balance must be restored through the opposite of this condition, or the Yang aspect: rest, warmth, and dense nutrition. If not, some practitioners believe a woman can be cursed to remain cold for the rest of her life. The mother-in-law or mother were the typical caregivers during this process of restoration, but today, many women go to postpartum centers to receive care, if they go at all. Birth is arguably the most intimate experience of a woman’s life. In parts of Latin America, some traditional communities still practice what is often called “Closing the Bones,” a postpartum ritual typically performed in the weeks following birth. During it, the mother’s body is wrapped in long strips of cloth called rebozo (the same type of cloths these women use during childbirth), applying firm, sustained pressure to different areas in sequence beginning with the head. In some traditions, this is preceded by a warm oil massage and accompanied by heat in the form of warmed blankets or stones in a well heated room. This ceremony is done to re-seal the mothers energy, to close her off and stabilize her once more. It takes her from the thin place of transition and places her solidly back within the physical realm. While mothers and other women in the community would typically oversee these postpartum traditions, most women today no longer have that option. The fact that many work traditional corporate jobs only complicates the issue further. However, this opens the door for men. And perhaps the door has always been open; an ancient solution for a modern problem, the room was just too crowded to see it. Birth is arguably the most intimate experience of a woman’s life, by inviting the husband, the good masculine, in, it can be transformed from shallow Hollywood Horror into something spiritually profound and binding between two souls. And perhaps when we removed the masculine guide and traditional protector of the sacred feminine, the collapse and profaning of birth and the postpartum period after was inevitable. But it’s this meeting and joining in the deep loamy place that has the potential to restore and dignify the culture surrounding birth once more and therefore elevate the children that come from it. Perhaps it’s time to romanticize birth.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/childbirth-shouldnt-be-scary-its-romantic</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Health</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[The UN Is All About Equality, Except When It Comes To Men]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-un-is-all-about-equality-except-when-it-comes-to-men</link>
      <dc:creator>Lisa Britton</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[As we toast the United Nations for reaching its 80th anniversary, let’s raise a glass to its noble pursuit of global harmony, and then, perhaps, spill a little for the boys and men it seems to have quietly forgotten. ]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[The UN, the grand institution of peace and equality, has a blind spot when it comes to half the world’s population. And no, it’s not the half that gets 16 dedicated days of recognition , including International Women’s Day, Girl Child Day, and even Rural Women’s Day. Boys and men, it appears, get the short end of the stick, or rather, no stick at all. So we’ll start with the calendar. The UN proudly champions gender-specific days, with all spotlighting women and girls. That’s fantastic—empowering women is great. I’ve volunteered in areas of the world where girls and women are in dire need of support. But where’s the love for boys and men? International Men’s Day, observed globally since 1999 to address issues like male suicide, father’s rights, and boys’ education, gets zero official acknowledgment from the UN, and I believe it’s a missed opportunity. Instead, we get World Toilet Day. Yes, you read that right: November 19th, which happens to be International Men’s Day, is also the UN’s chosen date since 2013 to celebrate... toilets. I’d like to think this wasn’t a deliberate jab, but the irony stings. Nobody is arguing against improved sanitation which has saved millions of lives. I myself got sick on a volunteer trip to Africa and had to be treated in the U.S. But it feels like a snub. If the UN can find room for World Bee Day , surely they can squeeze in a moment for boys and men. International Boy Child Day, May 16th, the equivalent to Girl Child Day, is also not yet recognized by the UN. Reminder: these are children . But the oversight runs deeper than dismissed calendar entries. For years, the UN has championed gender equality through initiatives like UN Women, a dedicated agency for women’s empowerment. It’s a worthy cause, but where’s the equivalent? Boys and men face unique challenges globally: higher suicide rates, lower life expectancy, homelessness, overdose, educational disparities, child soldiers, war crimes, and workplace deaths that overwhelmingly affect them. Yet, the UN’s focus remains lopsided. There’s no UN Men, no task force for boys’ education, no global campaign addressing male-specific health crises. It’s as if their struggles are invisible, or worse, irrelevant and dismissed. It’s as if their struggles are invisible, or worse, irrelevant and dismissed. Again, I've traveled to regions like Africa, Central America, and the Middle East. I’ve volunteered in communities where girls and women (as well as boys and men) face significant challenges. I’ve seen it firsthand. As the UN continues to discuss critical global issues, gender equality remains a key focus. But the conversation is one-sided, overlooking the serious issues affecting boys and men. The seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in March. Maybe it’s time to have a parallel session on the status of our boys? These are some of the most pressing issues of our time, and a balanced perspective is needed for meaningful progress. But dig a little deeper, and the picture gets even more concerning. I spoke with two senior UN officials in New York City, in town for the UN General Assembly in September, who revealed a troubling reality: the UN’s obsession with one-sided gender equality has morphed into systemic discrimination—against men. Within the organization, hiring and promotion decisions right up to the top are increasingly driven by identity rather than merit. If you're a young man today hoping to secure a job in the UN, there's no doubt that it will be difficult. Gender parity has already been reached and maintained since 2018 (50% women) in senior-level roles, and 60% of field staff are women today. Yet when there’s a selection process, those hiring must indicate that women have received due consideration and, in the case that a man is preferred, explain why. As a woman myself, I find this infantilizing. It suggests that women need a handicap to compete, undermining the very equality the UN claims to champion. Ignoring men’s issues while mandating justifications for hiring them isn’t equality. That's bias and sexism dressed up in progressive jargon. For their 80th anniversary, the UN declared it’s time for change, to listen to other views, and find new solutions. Secretary-General António Guterres wants the UN to review its role with the launch of the UN80 initiative , a system-wide push “to streamline operations, sharpen impact, and reaffirm the UN’s relevance for a rapidly changing world.” Here’s a great start: acknowledge International Boy Child Day on May 16th. It’s a small gesture that could signal a broader commitment to inclusivity and true gender equality, one that includes men and boys. It’s a simple way to show the boys and men of the world that we care. Then, hopefully, we can also acknowledge International Men’s Day on November 19th following that. The UN could lead by example, showing the world that equality means lifting everyone up, not pushing one group down to balance the scales. Create a task force and work with leading experts to address male-specific issues, like mental health and education disparities globally. And, please, stop justifying hiring men as if it’s a crime. The UN could lead by example, showing the world that equality means lifting everyone up, not pushing one group down to balance the scales. I’m honored that the phrase I coined in 2019, “The Future is Everyone,” has been chosen as the official theme for IMD 2026. This must be the year where we recognize that ‘inclusion’ means everyone, including boys and men. Men and women can work together to bridge the divide and build a more harmonious world where no one is left behind. I’m thrilled the UN is open to new perspectives on how to better address the issues of our time and create a more harmonious and inclusive world. Those frustrated with the UN’s approach to boys and men aren’t asking for pity; they’re asking for fairness. The UN has the chance to prove it's listening—not just to women, not just to toilets, but to everyone. I hope they take it. The boys, men, and fathers of this world matter, too.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-un-is-all-about-equality-except-when-it-comes-to-men</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Culture</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[36 Feminine Ways To Romanticize Spring]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/36-feminine-ways-to-romanticize-spring</link>
      <dc:creator>Emilee Janitz</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Spring is the season that makes you believe in beauty again. The world greens overnight, the air smells alive, and for the first time in months, you want to get dressed up just to feel the sun on your skin.]]></description>
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      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Although it’s become a bit of a buzzword, romanticizing is a very authentic, feminine, and effective way to achieve more joy and fulfillment in the everyday. To romanticize is to optimize your lived experience by adding novelty and occasion. It helps you make the most of what you have and appreciate the beauty of your day-to-day life. Whether you consider yourself a romanticizing pro or are new to the concept, here are some seasonally inspired ideas for adding excitement, romance, and glimmers of joy to your spring. This article may contain affiliate links or paid partnerships. We may earn a commission or compensation at no extra cost to you. All products are chosen independently by our editorial team and reflect our genuine recommendations. 36 Ways To Romanticize Spring Pick Wildflowers Put down your phone and go touch grass. Walk through the countryside and pick wildflowers along the way. Put them in a mason jar full of water for a nostalgic centerpiece. Make a Spring TBR List and Keep a Book Journal Warmer weather means “take your book outside” season has officially begun. Grab a journal and make a list of the books you’d like to read this spring . Take time to reflect as you go. Make notes on what you enjoyed, your favorite takeaway lessons, and which books you’d like to read again. Buy: Rifle Paper Co Embroidered Book Journal, $34 Visit the Library With a new TBR drafted for the season, grab your favorite tote bag and hit the library. Bonus points if you walk there (or if you sewed the tote yourself). Go For a Picnic Whether it’s with your kids, your husband, or your best girl friend, picnicking is a seasonal experience that can invite a lot of joy. Make it as simple or as elevated as you’d like. If the picnic consists of PB&J cut into fun shapes and sitting on a couch throw blanket in the backyard with your kids, that still counts. Wear Pastel Colors While we can’t control the weather, we can always control what we’re wearing. Leave the sad beige of winter behind and reach for color while getting dressed in the morning. If you're looking for inspiration, these colors are this season’s favorites . Buy: Madewell Smocked Boatneck Tank, $58 Buy: Altar'd State Oaklee Wide Leg Pants, $88 Clean Out Your Closet I recently took a day off of work to clean out my closet. I wrote the event in my planner and made it an experience to look forward to. As I tried on pieces between school drop off and pick up, sorting them into discard piles as I went, I listened to an audiobook and enjoyed the cleansing frenzy I had created for myself. Truthfully, it was hard work. And while that may not sound romantic, I’ve felt so much lighter and happier since. Don’t stop at a handful of sweaters and old tees. Really scrutinize every piece hanging in your closet and sitting atop your shoe rack. If it doesn’t bring you joy, it has to go. The more ruthless you are, the better you’ll feel after the fact. Take One Day Off From Social Media There’s nothing more freeing than untethering yourself from your phone. And you may find that by restricting social media for a day you’ll spend less time on your device in the days that follow. Time apart can provide perspective on how much social media tempts us to compare ourselves to others or draws our attention away from more important and interesting aspects of our life, including our children and our hobbies. Hack: Try treating your smartphone like a home phone . Cook With a Seasonal Ingredient Shake up the usual dinner rotation by using the season as your inspiration. Seasonal ingredients to reach for right now include asparagus, peas, spinach, berries, cherries, and parsley. Search for recipes that use these ingredients as the main characters. Learn How to Make a Latte You could buy a daily latte or you could learn a new skill and make one. Use your usual coffee pot to create a strong brew or invest in a home espresso machine which will not only elevate your daily routine but add some class to your countertop. Buy: Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium Creamy White Gold, $133 Buy: Ninja Luxe™ Café Premier Espresso Machine in Oat Milk, $600 Reserve One Weeknight for Fun Living for the weekend can feel bleak. Use the warmer weather and extra hours of sunlight to change up your weekly routine by designating one recurring evening to novelty. Try a new restaurant, grab a drink with a friend, host a game night, or finally watch that movie that’s been sitting in your queue for the last four months. Make a Homemade Mother’s Day Gift I love purchasing the perfect Mother’s Day gift . But making one is entirely more fun and is sure to be especially appreciated. Try illustrating a card, sewing a set of coasters, painting a flower pot, or collaging a bookmark. If there’s one good way to use social media, it’s for mining craft ideas. Watch some crafty reels and reset your algorithm for the better. Start Planning Your Garden Start planting or, if it’s still too cold where you live, start making garden plans for the months ahead. Decide what you’re going to grow, sketch your garden layout, and purchase seeds. Buy: Papier In Your Words Pine Leather Notebook, $34 Buy: Burgon & Ball Gingham Garden Gloves, $34 Adventure Out on a New Walking Trail Enjoy the influx of sunlight. Whether you map a new route around town or visit a new-to-you park, get your steps in while embracing a sense of adventure. Buy a New, Pretty Umbrella For most of us, spring brings its own fair share of rain. Stop dreading it and start owning it with feminine rainwear . Who knows—you may even start to wish for grey skies. Buy: Rifle Paper Co. Umbrella Dahlia, $40 Buy: LoveShackFancy Heirloom Print Marima Umbrella, $75 Embrace Whimsy Look for rainbows. Hunt for four-leaf clovers. Make a fairy house. Wear a fancy dress for no reason. Look for opportunities to take your day and yourself less seriously. Trust me, all the it-girls are doing it . Start Junk Journaling Low stress and low cost. As simple as it sounds, dedicate a notebook or sketchbook to housing sketches, collages, and little mementos that catch your eye. Keep ticket stubs, cut out magazine images that inspire you, write poems in the margin—there are no rules, only possibility. Write a Letter to a Loved One Take the time to slow down and draft a letter to someone you love. Whether it’s a relative you’ve been out of touch with, your spouse, or a close family member, you’ll never regret taking the time to share your love and tell someone how much they’re appreciated. Writing the letter by hand adds intention. If the contents are lighthearted, add stickers and drawings for whimsy. Try a New Lip Shade If you want to change your whole look on a budget with minimal effort, try a new lip shade. Bright colors are always on trend for spring. Look for hydrating products for a vibrant, just-kissed appearance. Buy: BISOU BALM Sheer Matte Lipstick, $30Buy Buy: Saie Glossybounce™ High-Shine Hydrating Lip Gloss Oil, $22 Plan Special Outings With Your Kids Unplug and create special moments with your kids. If you have more than one child, make sure they each get their own time . Take them to the park, out to eat, or to buy something they’ve been needing for school or sports. The one-on-one time will nurture your relationship and leave you both feeling refreshed and loved. Listen to Music While You’re Getting Ready in the Morning Make your morning routine more enjoyable by listening to music as you get dressed, brush your teeth, pack lunches, and do the one million and one other things that are required to get the day started on the right foot. Try a new album each day to keep the routine fresh. Paint Your Nails in an Unexpected Color Low effort, low cost, maximum mood boost. Buy: OPI Sunny Bunny, $12 Buy: Olive & June Shades of Seersucker, $10 Wash Your Hair and Makeup Brushes Freshen your routine by taking 20 minutes to clean your brushes. Your hair and complexion will thank you all season long. Unsubscribe From Marketing Emails Romanticize and simplify by freeing yourself from the barrage of e-commerce messages hitting your inbox every other minute. Put on your favorite podcast and be ruthless as you hit “unsubscribe.” Try a New Fitness Class or Video It’s easy to get stuck in a fitness rut, repeating the same types of workouts over and over again. Go outside your comfort zone and try something new, whether it’s an at-home barre workout, a kettlebell class at your local gym, or a run club. Plan a Summer Getaway Heighten your anticipation for summer by planning a trip. This can be a multi-week tropical vacation or a night away at a cute Airbnb. Give yourself something to look forward to. Go Back to Church Spring is a season of renewal. If you’ve been feeling the pull to go back to church , do it. If you’re already a regular attendant, look for new ways to deepen your spiritual connection and grow in your faith. Practice Gratitude Take time each morning and night to practice gratitude. Doing so can help you feel happier, reduce stress and depression, improve focus and immunity, and a whole slew of other incredible things . Buy: The Five Minute Journal, $25 Have Afternoon Tea This can be a new daily ritual or something fun you plan for the weekends. It can be an event you put on yourself or an experience you enjoy at a restaurant. Break out of the midday slump with hot tea, finger sandwiches, and scones. Pretty tea set optional but encouraged. Buy: LoveShackFancy Rose Porcelain Tea Set, $71 Plan a Craft Session Block out time to get crafty. Invite friends over for group crafting or plan the best solo date you can imagine. Have your favorite snacks at the ready and enjoy making an occasion out of getting creative. If the mental load of finding a craft idea and purchasing all of the necessary supplies has been holding you back, look for pre-assembled kits like these. Buy: BaubleBar The Ultimate Bead Kit, $48 Buy: Uncommon Goods Wooden Flower Bouquet Building Kit, $40 Seek Out One Good Deed, Every Day Hold the door. Pay for someone’s coffee. Donate items to those in need. Look for opportunities to do good deeds. Output goodness and it will come back around tenfold. Visit a Local Agrotourism Hotspot Fiber workshops, baby animal visits, a romp around a tulip farm—taking advantage of agrotourism is a great way to feel more connected to nature and enjoy the best the season has to offer. It’s also a great way to support small, local businesses. Spray Lavender on Your Pillow Before Hitting the Sheets Spritz your pillow with lavender spray to elevate your bedtime routine and grant yourself better sleep . Try the Hobby You Keep Putting on the Back Burner This time of year grants us a break from major holidays and events that tend to take up a significant amount of time and energy (i.e., back-to-school season, Christmas, etc.). Use the respite to say “no more excuses” and pick up a hobby you’ve always wanted to try. Whether it be horseback riding, knitting, Mahjong, pickleball, or writing that novel that’s been living rent-free in your head for the last eight years. Swap Pants for a Dress Embrace your femininity, and the warmer weather, by swapping leggings and jeans for skirts and dresses. Getting dressed will be more fun (it will feel like an occasion) and you may just be surprised at the effects it can have on your mindset ( or even your marriage ). Buy: A&F Emerson Puff Sleeve Midi Dress, $91 Buy: Quince 100% European Linen Corset Midi Dress, $92 Watercolor Paint Outside As a former studio art major, I can vouch for watercolor as an ideal outdoor art medium. And you don’t have to be Claude Monet incarnate to enjoy creating something beautiful en plein air. Grab paints, paper, brushes, and water and take inspiration from your surroundings. Buy: Paper Republic Watercolour Book, $45 Buy: Amazon 48 Colors Washable Watercolor Paint Set, $8 Have a “Staycation” Satisfying your adventurous spirit doesn’t have to mean spending thousands of dollars on theme park tickets or jetting off to another country. Try out a staycation, whether it be a day trip to a nearby town, a home spa day, or playing tourist in your own city. Interested? Explore more spring staycation ideas . Not every moment of every day can be romantic. There is work to be done, bills to pay, and errands to run. But when you put the time and energy into romanticizing whenever possible, you start to find these other, more monotonous components of life not quite so draining. You begin to approach each day with optimism, knowing that even the simplest of things—from music in the morning, to lavender on your pillow at night—can sprinkle your daily routine with joy.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/36-feminine-ways-to-romanticize-spring</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Living</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[The King Commands A Crown. Harry And Meghan Sell One.]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/you-cant-fake-royal-authority</link>
      <dc:creator>Emily Osment Davis</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[You could hear a pin drop as the esteemed guest articulated each word and tapped his ‘R’s as he orated in the Queen’s English.]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Hall of Congress was packed with U.S. Congressmen and women, Supreme Court Justices and even the Vice President as all listened intently, then jumped to their feet in roaring applause. There was bipartisan respect, which is rarely seen in U.S. politics today. But who were they all cheering on? Rewind to thirty minutes earlier, when in a loud booming voice, the U.S. House Sergeant at Arms announced, “Mr. Speaker, Their Majesties King Charles the Third and Queen Camilla.” And just like that, the U.S. welcomed, for the second time ever in our country’s history, a British monarch to address Congress and the nation. California’s Rival Court Nearly 3,000 miles away, tucked in the mountains of Montecito, a different type of court was being held. The rival California court of King Charles’ estranged son and daughter-in-law, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle . Years ago, the couple opted to quit the working royal life and trade it in for the glitz and glam of American high society. Instead of Buckingham Palace, a palatial estate hours from Hollywood. A real Citizen Kane’s Xanadu situation. Opulent, sprawling, remote and irrelevant. Together, the former royals established a celebrity-ized version of royal life. One teeming with staffers who pen press releases, stage social posts, pitch reporters—all the essentials to run a high-impact Comms shop. The two molded their post-royal court in their image, trading in duty for dollars and mission for a multi-million-dollar memoir. The subtlety-free Sussexes found a way to commercialize almost everything in their lives, all branded with their U.K. royal connections. Netflix deals on their private lives and confessions, podcasts with celebrities , even hawking their wares from candles to jams. Meghan ‘Marketing’ Markle and Prince ‘Product Placement’ Harry have found a way to commercialize their connection to the Crown. And I’ll give it to them…in a way that is very American. But that’s exactly why we’re less enamored with every passing product launch. It’s because it's common. Harry and Meghan can monetize ‘royalness,’ but they cannot recreate royal authority. And nothing exposes an imitation quite like the original standing next to it. Contrast is the Mother of Clarity Recently, when Americans were asked who their favorite royals were, the answers were illuminating. As one article put it , “We can’t seem to resist the allure of royalty …that is why, even in a land that rejected monarchy, public sentiment favours hands down the Prince and Princess of Wales over the rogue runaways who swapped Buckingham for Beverly Hills.” And speaking of great contrast, look no further than this recent visit of the royals to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. A remarkable feat, if you think about it. 250 years ago, our two countries were killing each other. Today we’re celebrating America’s independence alongside our former sovereign ruler. It’s a beautiful symbol of forgiveness and friendship. As the King said in his address to Congress, “The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is at its heart a story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership.” Spoken like a true unifier and leader. Compare that to what his son said on national television on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert . Harry took direct aim at President Trump referencing the ‘No Kings’ rallies by saying to Colbert, “I heard you elected a king.” Stately, dignified? I think not. The non-working royal should take some diplomacy cues from his father, especially since Harry is living as a guest in this country. If President Trump really wanted to act like a king, he could kick Harry out of the U.S., especially given the accusations that he lied about illegal drug use to get his current visa. To further highlight the contrast, during their recent travels, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the White House, Congress, and Native American tribes. They visited the 9/11 Memorial to honor the memory of its victims. They even squeezed in a meeting with Anna Wintour and Martha Stewart. But guess who they didn’t meet? Harry and Meghan. One palace insider leaked that Harry's meeting with the King is a nonstarter: “Harry’s concern isn’t family. It’s branding.” No reunion on the horizon. But if it’s attention Harry is after, it’s attention he will get…or else. The Sussex Attention Playbook When it comes to PR and getting media attention, there are no rivals to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. We must give the masters their due. They appear to have developed a PR tit-for-tat strategy that operates a genius-level call-and-response whenever they see positive coverage of the British royals. When Prince William came to the U.S. for the Earthshot Prize, he was bumped from the front pages for the Sussexes’ Netflix trailer release. When Princess Catherine announced she had completed chemotherapy , the media’s focus went to another dropped Sussex Netflix trailer. And the list goes on. Sensing a trend? Take the King and Queen’s recent U.S. state visit, for example. Around the same time frame, the Sussexes: 1. Released new social posts about their kids, Archie and Lilibet 2. Announced the launch of a new candle product using their kids’ royal titles. 3. Announced an exclusive plan for a royal-style charity tour in Africa. 4. Harry showed up unannounced in Ukraine and gave his attempt at a geopolitical speech, taking aim at the President of the United States . The only thing we’re missing is another Netflix trailer. Suffice it to say, it appears they understand the mechanics of media cycles better than almost anyone. Heavy is the Head That Wears the Crown Being a working royal is not glamorous most of the time; it’s repetitive, disciplined, and your every move is pre-planned. It's mostly consistency over excitement, duty over personal branding, service even when there are no cameras. It was that model that constrained Harry and Meghan, and they chose to leave. Harry even declared that he never wanted the job of working royal because it “killed his mum.” He’s framed it as deeply damaging. But soon after, in what sounded like a statement of divine right, Harry declared that he is a working royal: “I will always be part of the Royal Family, and I am here working, doing the thing I was born to do.” But all-things-royals reporter Kinsey Schofield isn’t buying it . “He reminds me of Hunter Biden…he was literally there because of who his daddy was…Harry, being invited into rooms, not because of anything he personally contributes, but because of who his father is. But if he wanted this life, he should’ve stayed within the royal family, but he quit his job.” Harry rejects the institution while still claiming its authority. And sure, he may always be royal by blood, but working royalty is not an identity—it's a job. And it's one he chose to leave. In the End, One Has a Crown. The Other Has a Content Strategy. And that, ultimately, is the Sussex dilemma. For years, Harry and Meghan worked tirelessly to build an American court, complete with branding, carefully orchestrated headlines, and all the trappings of royalty, minus the inconvenient parts. But when the actual King and Queen step onto American soil, the contrast is unmistakable. One side offers duty, diplomacy and institutional weight. The other offers content, commerce and an endless quest for relevance. Harry and Meghan can sell the aesthetic of royalty, but they cannot replicate its substance. They can launch products, drop trailers and dominate a news cycle, but they cannot command bipartisan standing ovations in Congress simply by walking into the room. That kind of authority cannot be manufactured in Montecito, no matter how many staffers are drafting press releases. Deep down, they understand exactly like the rest of us, that there is a profound difference between being adjacent to the Crown and actually wearing it.]]></content:encoded>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Culture</category>
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      <title><![CDATA[The Devil Wears Prada 2 Fashion Moments We'll Be Copying All Year]]></title>
      <link>https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-devil-wears-prada-2-fashion-moments-well-be-copying-all-year</link>
      <dc:creator>Julie Drake</dc:creator>
      <description><![CDATA[Our favorite characters have returned for another season of Runway, but now they’re in their prime. A sequel to Hollywood’s love letter to fashion.]]></description>
      //
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[Hollywood loves the fashion world. There are no shortage of movies and shows dedicated to the industry, like Coco Before Chanel , Project Runway , and Phantom Thread . But there’s one movie that stands out among the crowd, not to mention the test of time. It was the sleeper hit of 2006 starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, The Devil Wears Prada . The film follows a young journalism grad, Andrea “Andy” Sachs, looking to make it in the big city. She lands her first job as second assistant to the most formidable editor in the business: Miranda Priestly (played by Streep), of Runway magazine. Priestly’s character is loosely modeled off of real-world publishing titan Anna Wintour, former editor-in-chief of Vogue. Like Wintour, Priestly is no-nonsense, tough as nails, and has a supernatural ability to spot trends years before they become mainstream. Priestly is an uncompromising boss who demands excellence from everyone around her, especially her assistants: Hathaway’s character Andy, and Emily Charlton, played by Emily Blunt. The job, to put it mildly, is a challenge. Fast forward 20 years, and a more experienced Andy is returning to Runway as features editor after a hiatus “chasing stories” for the fictional New York Vanguard . She will work once more under Priestly, and occasionally with Charlton, who is now a senior executive at Dior. But this time, Andy is accomplished, professional and more self-assured than ever. With two more decades of experience under their belts, this may be the best era of Runway yet. The plot is delightful, but the real star of the franchise is the fashion. In both iterations of The Devil Wears Prada , the wardrobe department steals the show. Full of models and industry insiders wearing (impeccably styled) designer head-to-toe, the costumery is a feast for the eyes. Patricia Field, of Sex and the City and Emily in Paris fame, designed the unforgettable wardrobe for the original film. In it, Field showcased Y2K fashion: peep toe heels, wide belts and plenty of tweed. The fashion in the sequel, designed by Field’s mentee Molly Rogers, however, is elevated, upgraded and looking to the future. The Runway girls still love a pinstriped suit, but in 2026 the looks are more modern and relaxed. There’s less flash, more poise. Quiet luxury has arrived on the scene, and has completely taken over. With the dream team now fully in their prime, everyone has arrived, so to speak, and so has the fashion. Breaking down all the best looks from The Devil Wears Prada 2 for you here: Quiet Luxury Just when you thought quiet luxury was dead, The Devil Wears Prada 2 revives the opulent aesthetic, and serves it cool. Relaxed trousers and silk blouses abound, as do full monochrome outfits in muted tones. It really makes you want to go out and buy some cashmere, or a long wool camel coat. Costume designer Molly Rogers got the memo that the characters are all grown up now, and it kind of makes you want to grow up, too. Loud Prints When they’re not doused in quiet luxury, the Runway girls are not afraid of a loud print, and they sport spectacular varieties throughout the film. One of the most memorable is a gorgeous Gabriela Hearst patchwork maxi dress that Andy wears to a party in the Hamptons. Later, she arrives at a show in Milan in plaid Chanel couture, and steals the whole scene. Sheer Genius Sheer pieces also abound in the film, via everything from black tie evening gowns to chic office wear. One of the most memorable pieces is a checkered top from Acne Studios over a black bustier, paired with a pleated Fendi skirt worn by Andy after she writes her first defining feature upon returning to Runway . Feminine Menswear Did we mention the suits? Again, the high-powered magazine moguls love a luxe three-piece suit, but these hit different. They’re chic, relaxed, and distinctly feminine. Also a bit unconventional. One of the best iterations is a black and white pinstripe trouser/corset combo with a graphic Dior button up underneath worn by Emily. The Devil Wears Prada 2 office wear could take you from swanky brunch, to meetings, to happy hour, looking 10/10 the entire time. In soft tones, this is not your general boys club attire. Another showstopper is Andy’s vintage pinstripe Jean Paul Gaultier waistcoat and trousers. The chef’s kiss of business casual. Layered Jewelry The clothes aren’t the only thing that have grown up in The Devil Wears Prada 2, though. The jewelry has as well. Compared to the chunky, flashy accessories seen in the first movie, the sequel displays simpler, more elegant, industrial pieces that whisper instead of shout. A favorite jewelry styling moment is a gold T-bar necklace layered with a pearl choker, and worn by Andy in the vintage Jean Paul Gaultier. It feels like sifting through your mom’s jewelry drawer and realizing she has truly iconic taste. High Shine The wardrobe often sparkles as much as the movie itself, especially when the crew is in Milan. Visiting the stunning Italian city for Fashion Week, almost the entire cast is seen in a sequined, rhinestoned or otherwise bedazzled look at least once during the festivities. Sparkly jumpsuits are standard fair, as are rhinestone tops and sequin dresses. One particular standout is a blue sequin Rabanne dress worn by Andy to the birthday party for the owner of Runway , Irv Ravitz. And Scene The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a constant juxtaposition of old and new. It honors the nostalgia of the first movie, while centering today’s aesthetic, and showing us where fashion is headed in the future. But it also highlights the struggle of a dying empire (print media) attempting to adapt in order to keep pace with the industry. Fighting for relevance in a digital age is a major theme throughout the film, and you find yourself torn between a longing for the past, and a desire to move toward modernity. It’s conflicted, wistful, and also hopeful. The film reminds us that when it comes to fashion, the past is important, but what really matters is what’s happening now, and what is just around the corner. Fashion, like media, is inescapably forward-facing.]]></content:encoded>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.eviemagazine.com/post/the-devil-wears-prada-2-fashion-moments-well-be-copying-all-year</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Style</category>
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