Tag Archives: languages

Can You Match Up These Blurbs With Each Designer?

Leonora EpsteinAugust 4, 2010 //

It’s not easy to describe a piece of clothing or the mood of a collection for someone who has never seen it. As an example, take the most complicated item in your wardrobe: Can you recall all the technical details, like a sweetheart neckline, a tiered skirt, a ruched waist? Can you find a few words to recount the overall feeling of the garment? We can’t tell you how many hours we’ve spent thinking, It’s kinda like … um, fashion-y? I mean it’s pretty and cute … What makes this even harder is when designers can’t provide you with specific information to base your analysis off of. It’s pretty common to find terms like “feminine” and “chic” in a designer’s bio. One particular fashion blogger has a strong dislike for the term “effortless fashion,” (we must agree) and Teen Vogue pointed out that Baby-G described its watches as “tough yet feminine” (contradiction city).

Here, we’ve rounded up blurbs from six designers/labels: Theory, Tory Burch, Elizabeth & James, Alexander Wang, Rebecca Taylor, and Cynthia Vincent. Can you match up the description with each designer? Play our game, after the jump. Keep reading »

Girl Talk: Dating In A Second Language

Laura KusnyerFebruary 3, 2010 //

Seven years ago, I was doing an internship in Mexico and attempting proficiency in Spanish. One night at a club with some friends, I nearly broke my face after slipping on the booze-soaked floor. Had I been with English-speaking friends, I would have dusted myself off and uttered with a sly smile, “Well, that was embarrassing.” Instead, I looked at my Mexican buds and pooed a clumsy “Estoy embarazada.” Their jaws dropped. I’d forgotten for a moment that “embarazada” does not mean “embarrassed.” It means “pregnant.”

It’s hard to be cool in your second language. But it’s even harder to be sexy. Keep reading »

Does He Use Pronouns In His Text Messages? That’s A Good Sign

Catherine StrawnJanuary 23, 2009 //

As IMs, text messages, and emails have become the predominant way for guys to ask us out on dates, I think it has gotten easier to figure out whether someone is actually interested in you. It’s true, you can’t hear his tone of voice or see his facial expressions when you read his message on your iPhone, but his language can say a lot. Simply put, if he’s leaving out personal pronouns in his texts, he’s just not that into you. Keep reading »

Quickies!: Guys May Hate Uggs, But Women Don’t Care

Annika HarrisOctober 20, 2008 //
  • Guys hate Ugg boots, but women hate cold feet, so these shoes are here to stay. [College Candy]
  • The blog Christian Nymphos provides advice and tips to couples looking to spice up their sex lives while staying within the tenets of the Christian faith. [Tango]
  • This woman claims to have the largest natural breasts in Britain. Whoa, mama! [Candy Kirby]

    • Keep reading »

    Lost In Translation: A Yeast Infection Abroad

    Colleen KaneSeptember 9, 2008 //

    This summer, I met up with my fiance in Europe for a well-deserved vacation. He had been studying there for a month before I arrived, and sometimes, when a man and a woman love each other very much in a short period of time, soon after comes a very special gift from God, known as a yeast infection.

    Awesome. Exactly what you want to have on a vacation, while walking around all day, right? I knew I had to face the problem head on, even though we were in Italy and I don’t speak-a Italiana. But I also saw this as a cultural investigation: Knowing there are all sorts of alternative and natural methods for combating such unspeakable problems, I was curious to see if any different treatments were on the market in Europe. Keep reading »

    My Neurons Could Beat Your Neurons Any Day

    Catherine StrawnMarch 14, 2008 //

    When it comes to language skills, girls have a neurological advantage. Boo-ya! According to research from Northwestern University and the University of Haifa, girls may be able to pick up new knowledge by hearing it, while guys may need to be taught visually and verbally. The study was of boys and girls between nine and 15, however, this tidbit might come in handy in your own life. For example, instead of telling your boyfriend that it’s his turn to take out the trash, you might want to say “Please, will you take out the trash?” while miming. [Scientific American via NYTimes.com] Keep reading »