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It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

…for online shopping! The deals are outrageous right now, so I decided to round up my top picks from Amazon Fashion.

Happy Black Friday {And Cyber Monday!}.

Favorite Jackets and Sweaters

‘Tis the season. There’s nothing cozier than a long knit sweater. It’s the perfect transitional piece from around the house to outside on a chilly day. Super loving this structured jacket t00.

Favorite Tops

You know I’m a sucker for a classic white button down. Everyone needs one {or two…} in their closet. It’s a true staple. Also mock necks are totally where it’s at. I like them better than turtlenecks and this one is a great season-less item. Really into the cut on it too.

Favorite Accessories

The lining in these boots is EVERYTHING. Such an elevated look to a weather boot, but still very easy and casual.

Favorite Dresses and Jumpsuits

Can’t get enough little black dresses. These are so affordable and always great to have on hand in your closet for a last minute outfit. I also love this jumpsuit styled with the sneakers {Vejas for the win}. So chic.

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Outfit Details:
Blazer, Jeans, Skirt

Thomas and I have been trying to work through our shopping lists early this year, turning to some of our favorite brands that make it easy to shop during this busy season. We continue to rely on Amazon for a super convenient and easy way to stock up on everyday fashion for women, men and littles. Today Amazon is offering a wide variety of Black Friday specials in just about every shopping genre. Seasonal clothing for the whole family, home decor, kitchen and cooking, yard and garden, tech items and games, toys, movies, books and more. Perfect for gifting to family and friends near and far!

Current Amazon Favorites:

The post Amazing Amazon Black Friday Finds appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.

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I’ve been lucky this year that so many outerwear collaborations have come to fruition - no delays, no problems, everything fulfilling my expectations. That doesn’t always happen.  This next one is no less exciting than the others, but I shou... > Read more

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"Saved By The Bell" was one of the most iconic TV shows of the 90s, making mega-stars out of its young cast members. Now a "Saved By The Bell" reboot is premiering on NBC's Peacock streaming service, featuring much of the original cast alongside a new generation of charismatic high school students. 

Belmont Cameli, an up-and-coming actor from Chicago, is one of these new cast members destined for stardom. He plays Jamie Spano, captain of the high school football team and son of Elizabeth Berkley's original series character Jessie. Like his character, Belmont played football in high school, but the similarities end there. Jamie is a lovable jock whose first scene features him reading a textbook upside-down; Belmont, by contrast, says he's always taken his studies very seriously and didn't even realize he wanted to act until after a year of business school.

Belmont grew up with a tight-knit family and is proud of his Italian heritage. He believes he inherited much of his acting talent and his sense of humor from his dad, who used to speak at every family function. Belmont's unusual name is also a family legacy: when his grandfather Belmondo immigrated from Italy years ago, his name was Americanized to Belmont.

22-year-old Belmont has appeared in student films and a 2018 episode of "Empire," but the "Saved by the Bell" reboot is his major television debut. He began his career by modeling to become comfortable on sets and make connections, but acting, writing and directing are his ultimate goals. Belmont moved to Los Angles a year ago to start auditioning, which he says he loves because it gives him the opportunity to practice acting. A hard worker to the core, Belmont appreciates any chance to work on his craft.

We were excited to ask Belmont some questions about his journey from Chicago to "Saved By The Bell."

How would you describe yourself the man and the actor? And when did you first perform?

I was in plays as a kid, but it wasn’t until I had finished my first year of business school that I realized I was about to spend a lot of time and money doing something I had no interest in doing. And so I turned again to acting. Since then I’ve been immersing myself in the craft; I have so much to learn. That’s my favorite part, there’s always more to do.

What is the biggest lesson learned as an older brother?

Setting a bad example works.

How connected are you to your Italian roots? Any experiences that come to mind?

I was raised predominantly by my nuclear Italian family. South-side Chicagoans. They are my soul. My father used to speak at every family function. Holidays, weddings, funerals, you name it, he was up front making everybody laugh. He used to write me bits and impressions to do. Those were our prime years as writing-partners.

I read that you said goodbye to the “green machine”, what can you say is your dream car?

An old dark green jaguar with a gaudy interior, maybe. I don’t know a ton about cars and I like old, weird shit.

How is this pandemic treating you? Any new hobbies that you have taken up?

I’ve dabbled in new and old hobbies and my creativity has certainly benefitted from isolation, but mostly I’ve found myself on the phone with my family and friends more and more often.

What are some of the things you do to keep yourself active between projects?

I actually really enjoy auditioning since it is my primary form of practice, and this year especially it’s been my only opportunity to play outside of working on the show. I’m also learning a lot as a screenwriter by way of trial and error, and I’ve been getting back to my musical roots as well.

Let’s talk about “Saved By The Bell”: How was the process like in landing this role?

I taped the audition in my moms basement with my best friend. He was incredibly nervous, it was hilarious. We ended up having so much fun with it that I left a blooper at the end — I couldn’t get through one of the lines. Then I met Alycia and Elizabeth at the next auditions, and they were both so wonderful. The whole experience was such a blessing.

What do you love about Jamie Spano?

Jamie has a great big heart and he’s not afraid to spill it all over. He maintains this weird balance between a laughable lack of common sense and a firm grasp on the complexities of being in high school. His loyalty is admirable, plus, I just think he’s so funny.

How familiar were you with “Saved By The Bell” and the iconic original cast?

I hadn’t watched the show growing up, but it was very cool watching the show during auditions, and then eventually meeting and working with the original cast. I feel very lucky to be a part of the new show.

What’s going to surprise people about this show?

I think people will be pleasantly surprised by the conversations had on screen. Our show-runner Tracey Wigfield did a wonderful job composing a show that isn’t afraid to discuss real issues, while still being able to poke fun at itself.

How was it working with your on-screen mom Elizabeth Berkley? Any particular moment that stands out?

Elizabeth has been a joy. There was one day on set where we were chatting amongst crew, seated at the monitors. All of a sudden it was hours later, everybody had moved themselves and their gear to the following scenes, and we were just two people sitting in chairs in the middle of an empty room having a heart to heart.

Which castmate did you connect with the most? Why them?

Every member of the cast is truly exceptional, but I just gotta say, Alycia Pascual-Peña is an absolute treasure. I’ve had the privilege of becoming quite close with her over the year. She belittles me like family, and I love her for it. I’d go to war for that girl any day.

With the original sitcom being so loved, what are you speculating about this reboot? What feelings come up?

I’m just excited to see how people respond. Reboots can be touch and go these days, but I really think our show got it right. I’m proud of that.

If you could cast yourself in a show, which would that be?

Succession is uncanny. I love a series where all the characters are the smartest in the room. I’d also love to play in peculiar worlds, universes akin to say, American Horror Story. I’m a big fan of anthologies. Euphoria is charting new territory too.

Lastly, what is the dream?

Ooooh, profound. I’d be happy if when someday people look back at my life, they’ll exhale out of their nose a little and go, “nice.”

Belmont loves acting, with writing and directing on the horizon, but he also still enjoys modeling and fashion. An avid thrift shopper, he has his own unique retro sense of style that always reflects his mood. He says he's inspired by Harry Styles and other modern icons who prove that men's fashion can be anything we want it to be.

But Belmont isn't just any handsome up-and-coming model and actor. He also has a heart even bigger than the "Saved By The Bell" franchise, with a deep love for his friends and family. A few years ago, Belmont even donated a kidney to a stranger.

More than anything, Belmont is excited that "Saved By The Bell" can open doors to other exciting projects in the future. We can't wait to see what this talented young actor will achieve next.

 

Words by Sonia Webber

Photography by Adrian Martin

Grooming by Joanna Ford

Produced by Eff Ulloa

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On September 2, Marcela Alemán, the mother of a four-year-old girl who was sexually abused in San Luis Potosí, tied herself to a chair for more than 12 hours inside Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission building. Alemán occupied the offices after a meeting with the human rights ombudsman, where her demand for the detention of her daughter’s abusers yielded no real support. Alemán isn’t alone in her struggle; her daughter is among the one in four girls and one in five women who face sexual violence in a country where 10 women are murdered every day. 

Erika Martinez arrived at Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission the following day along with local activists to support Alemán, carrying photos of her young daughter, who at seven-years-old was sexually abused by a family member. For three years, Martinez has advocated for her daughter, demanding the detention of the perpetrator, but has only been met with institutional indifference and violence. A year after filing the criminal complaint, and still not detained by authorities, the alleged abuser attacked Martinez, fracturing her nose and continuing to harass her. Alemán ended the sit-in and eventually left the building after reaching an agreement with authorities on her demands but on September 4, Martinez, along with a handful of activists from feminist collectives including Mexico’s Ni Una Menos and the Bloque Negro (or Black Block), decided to seize control of the human rights commission office. Having read their list of demands, they entered peacefully asking workers to vacate the building and the occupation grew to include several dozen activists and families. For Martinez, occupying the human rights commission would apply pressure to a government reluctant to confront a country in the throes of a gender violence crisis. 

“I was sick of waiting for answers from institutions that never came,” Martinez told Refinery29. It’s been nearly three months since activists first occupied the building, and although only a few dozen women and children remain, Martinez said she plans to stay until all demands are met, including a commitment by the federal government to eradicate gender violence in the country. “We need authorities to meaningfully enforce laws already put in place against gender violence,” she added. 

Mexico has struggled with a femicide epidemic for decades, and every year an interminable series of vicious murders of young girls and women shakes the country. In February, the murder of 25-year-old Ingrid Escamilla in Mexico City shocked the country after pictures of her skinned body appeared on the front page of a local paper and on social media. A week after Escamilla’s murder, Fátima Cecilia Aldrighett Antón, a 7-year-old girl, was found dead inside a plastic bag after she was kidnapped outside of her school and sexually assaulted. These are just two stories from ongoing horrific murders that have sparked protests across the country and fueled discontent among women exasperated by the femicide crisis that makes every day a struggle for survival.

Among the women that joined the occupation was Yesenia Zamudio, mother of 19-year-old María de Jesús “Marichuy” Jaimes Zamudio, a Mexico City university student who died after falling from a fifth floor window in 2016. Her death was classified as a femicide, and Zamudio says Marichuy was murdered.  

“What I know now, from the experts’ analyses and investigations, is that Mary was a victim of gender-based violence. She was assaulted,” Zamudio said in an interview earlier this year. “She fell. No one helped her. Then, they left her to bleed out.” Mexican authorities haven’t made arrests in connection with Jaimes Zaumudio’s death, while Mexico City’s Human Rights Commission found that the case was poorly investigated. Zamudio, leader of the Ni Una Menos group, has since left the occupation after disagreements with Bloque Negro about the administration of donations and leadership of the action. 

Femicides in Mexico have increased by 145% in the last five years, and only about 8 percent of cases get prosecuted. Under a sweeping gender law passed in 2007, every murder of a woman must be investigated as a femicide and officials must investigate for circumstances that include sexual violence, domestic violence, and whether the victim’s body was exposed or displayed in public. Femicide is a crime in Mexico that carries a 45- to 65- year prison sentence. The federal penal code also says any public servant that delays or hinders the prosecution or administration of justice will be sentenced to three to eight years in prison. This law also extends protections to women and girls that experience sexual violence. But in practice, more than 90 percent of all crimes and about half of femicides last year were unsolved, according to a study released this month. 

“Many women have suffered violence, they have followed the legal channels, but they also get tired. They are not listened to. They are not attended to. Their demands are ignored,” says María Salguero, creator of the National Map of Femicides in Mexico database. 

Using news alerts and local news sources for reports of femicides, Salguero started the database four years ago, and it has since become an important source for understanding the scale of femicide in the country. From her findings, Salguero says gender violence has only gotten worse. “When I started, between six to seven women a day were murdered according to official figures and now it’s almost 11. The violence has grown.”

Though Mexico has passed laws against gender violence, Mexico’s president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has downplayed the severity of the crisis in recent months as women and relatives of victims grow impatient with the country’s failure to adequately address gender violence. As violence against women has surged, Obrador has slashed the budgets of agencies charged with addressing gender violence. The government administered a 75% budget cut this year for the National Institute for Women, which is responsible for promoting gender equality in the country. Lopez Obrador has also repeatedly minimized the issue of gender-based violence. In a press conference earlier this year, he said that 90% of calls to the emergency services over domestic violence were “false.” In a press conference in July, when asked about the budget cuts in light of the femicides, Lopez Obrador has said that “women in Mexico have never been so protected.” When asked about the brutal murder of seven-year-old Fátima Cecilia Aldrighett Antón, Lopez Obrador blamed femicides on what he called “neoliberal policies,” a response that garnered frustration from feminists who consider the administration insensitive and condescending in the face of femicide. 

Martinez echoes other activists who have said government inaction is an open invitation for more violence. “It’s easy for them to ignore us, to silence us, to say victims of gender violence don’t exist, but this leads to more violence,” she said. “Because abusers see the president himself opening a door, by ignoring the severity of femicide statistics and of the violence, who’s to say the government will do anything to stop it?” 

Mexico’s inadequate response to rising femicides has led to a surge in protests against gender violence this year. On March 8, for International Women’s Day, at least 80,000 women in Mexico City joined together to demand an end to gender violence. Feminist collective Brujas del Mar called for a national strike on March 9, and hundreds of thousands of women across sectors stayed home to protest violence against women. Protests, including a march for the legalization of abortion in September and the occupation of the human rights commission building, have continued during the coronavirus pandemic. For Dia de Muertos (or Day of the Dead) protestors, including many relatives, mounted altars calling attention to femicide throughout the country — adding an entirely new conversation to the traditional holiday. 

“These actions and marches are a reflection that we’ve had enough.”

María Salguero

This surge of protests have been met with police repression in various Mexican cities. The occupation inspired activists in other cities to take similar actions, but in nearby Ecatepec in Mexico State, activists were violently evicted and harassed by police. Earlier this month, police opened fire on protesters at Cancún’s City Hall during a demonstration against the murder of 20-year-old Bianca “Alexis” Lorenzana. Two journalists suffered gun wounds and some protesters were beaten by the police. Silvia C., a member of various feminist organizations in Cancún, was at the protest and recalls the terror of having to flee when shooting ensued. “We went to ask for justice and they welcomed us with bullets,” said Silvia.

“The repressions of the demonstrations and protests of women have been increasing in their brutality and forms of repression,” she adds. “It’s not by chance that this is just another form of institutional violence against women.”

In Mexico City, Salguero said the occupation of the human rights commission is a condemnation against institutional inaction in the face of intensified gender violence. “The takeover of the CNDH is historic because who should be protecting women has failed to do so,” said Salguero. 

Having emerged spontaneously thanks to the action of a small group of relatives of gender violence victims, the occupation has since dwindled in numbers because of rifts and internal disputes among groups. In October, Bloque Negro said they no longer welcomed transgender women, and LGBTQ+ organizations publicly withdrew their support. Representatives from the human rights commission have met with Martinez and other activists to negotiate an end of the occupation, promising to turn the building into an institute for women, but weeks have passed since they’ve last communicated with officials. While officials seem to cater empty promises, and rifts emerged among protestors,  the occupation reflected the frustration of living in a country where gender violence is perpetuated with impunity. 

Relatives of gender violence victims and feminists continue to demand action from a government that so far has fallen short to provide any justice through the legal system. “The violence is unstoppable,” says Salguero. “I can’t go one day without receiving news about a femicide. The government says it’s protecting women while femicide numbers spike. We are simply demanding that the law be followed. We’re not asking for special treatment.”

Martinez said she doesn’t plan to rest until there’s justice for victims of gender violence. “Justice for me previously meant seeing the person who harmed my daughter, who stole her childhood, imprisoned. But today, after three years of fighting, the meaning of justice has changed for me,” she said on her 77th day in the occupation. “Justice is seeing all women have lives free from violence.” 

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Everyone’s natural hair journey is unique, and Carly Danner, the star of the latest Hair Me Out episode, would best describe hers as an “emotional rollercoaster.” Danner, who has natural curls, went through a series of phases that included hot tools and chemical treatments. “I got perms and all of these chemical treatments, but it took me all of these years to finally accept my hair,” she explains. “I told myself I would let it grow out and live the natural life, and then I started experiencing hair loss.” 

Danner’s experience with hair loss resulted in scarred self-esteem but piqued her curiosity to try out wigs. “I never viewed wigs as an option or alternative for my hair issues,” she says. “Back in the day, it just seemed taboo. But now it’s all over Instagram, and I’m hopping on the bandwagon.” Danner went to Daily Green, the owner of H2 Salon Brooklyn, to get a customized unit tailored to her face and style. “I got into custom wigs ten years ago,” Green explains. “A lot of women were transitioning out of relaxers, and instead of doing weaves, I thought a safer approach would be doing wigs.”

To prepare Danner for her new style, Green braided her client’s hair loosely into two plaits. “I don’t like tension or tightness, and for her texture, I don’t think there needs to be this braid down that needs to happen,” she explains. “I also want her to be able to take the wig off and wash it and put it back on when she wants.” She then fit the custom-colored unit on Danner’s hair and trimmed it to create a natural-looking finish. “One of the most important aspects of getting a wig is cutting it to the person’s face and style,” Green explains. “It’s important to have a bespoke experience and tailor it to the need of the client.”

‘While hair loss is a deeply personal experience that is different for everyone, it’s safe to say that Danner’s final results are proof that a dope wig can be a great confidence booster. Click play to see her complete transformation.

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