After a year of sweatpants, we’re now seeking out alternate ways to wear elastic pants when our surroundings aren’t the four walls of our homes. As we transition to seeing people and getting outside, we’re craving something that’s not loungewear, yet isn’t denim, either. According to Veneda Carter — a stylist who works with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and Virgil Abloh, among others — parachute pants are the way to go.

One swipe through Carter’s Instagram feed, and you’ll find the Copenhagen-born, L.A.-based creative donning the ultra-lightweight, drawstring track pants on a number of occasions, pairing them in an effortlessly curated way that makes them appear both casual and stylish. According to tags, her pair, which are military pants from the ‘90s, is from 194 Local, a London-based vintage men’s clothing shop. That said, like most vintage pieces that come back in fashion, these roomy numbers aren’t just available on the secondhand market. We’re now seeing them pop up in new collections, too.

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The modern-day take on parachute pants — that earned their name thanks to their billowy shape and parachute-like material — has appeared in Dion Lee’s latest drop and Aeron’s resort ‘21 line. Streetwear brands like A. A. Spectrum and Paper Plane sell versions of the silhouette, too. According to digital shopping platform ShopStyle, search for “parachute pants” has increased by 40% compared to 2020. Meanwhile, search for “nylon pants” and “track pants” is up 22% and 15%, respectively. “This time last year, we saw searches for loungewear skyrocket as we all went into lockdown, and now, with the end of the pandemic in sight, we’re seeing a shift back to traditional shopping habits for this time of year,” Alison Stiefel, ShopStyle’s general manager, tells Refinery29. “Consumers are ditching their sweatpants and shopping for bottoms that are still nearly as comfy as sweats — like parachute pants and nylon pants — but more fashionable.”

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Unlike the parachute pants of years past — balloon pants featuring an exaggerated drop crotch (also known as Hammer pants thanks to MC Hammer) — the versions available today are more elevated and polished. Paired with ballet flats or loafers and combined with cool, vintage jackets or structured blazers, they appear put-together — even if they’re held up by an elastic waist and made from sporty material. Even better, with drawstrings at every entrance point, parachute pants are versatile in that they can be changed from wide leg to fitted at the ankle, and can be worn high- or low-waisted. 

If anything, opting for a loose and airy pair of parachute pants every now and then will give your previously toasty gams a chance to breathe; that is, unless you’d prefer short shorts for that. If that’s the case, we can’t so much blame you. Either way, we rounded up a few worthy pairs to try, below. 

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Venus, the Planet of Love, is about to head into one of its favorite signs — dependable, hardworking Taurus. From April 14 until May 8, we’ll be getting some new, refreshing energy, prompting us to soak in the luxuries of life and put ourselves first.

“Venus is at home in the sign of the Bull, as it is one of the two signs it naturally rules,” explains Narayana Montúfar, senior astrologer for Astrology.com. “In this earthy territory, Venus can work at her best and bestow gifts our way, making the next few weeks some of the best of the year for romance, flirting, and even practicing self-love as well.” This positive transit will have all of us focusing on love, money, and relationships, so prepare for good things to come in those specific areas of life.

Venus in Taurus is known for being indulgent and pleasurable, which is why Lisa Stardust, astrologer and author of Saturn Return Survival Guide and The Astrology Deck, says “it’s a time to embrace one’s hedonistic sentiments and embrace sensual desires.” This time is all about you, your wants, your needs, and your wishes, so don’t let anyone else get in the way of you fulfilling your desires over these couple of weeks — especially in the bedroom.

Montúfar agrees, and says that since Taurus is one of the most sensual signs of the zodiac, “this planet-sign combo is all about opening ourselves to a more sensorial experience.” She points out that Venus in Aries was more interested in quickies and fervent sexual escapades, but “Venus in Taurus wants us to take our time luring, undressing, and teasing our partner.” The vibes of this transit make for the perfect opportunity for you to take things slow and experiment in the bedroom, with or without a partner.

The “pleasure first” energy of Venus in Taurus is extending outside of the bedroom too, according to Madi Murphy, astrologer and founder of The Cosmic Revolution. “During this transit, you might be feeling extra luxurious, grounded, and more connected to your five senses,” she says. “Taurus rules earthly delights, and while Venus is in Taurus your job is to make pleasure your top priority.” In other words, Murphy says that the time to treat yourself is now.

Nina Kahn, astrologer and author of Astrology For Life, agrees, saying that it’s a good idea is to focus on pampering yourself during this time instead of worrying about pleasing others. “Venus in Taurus is a great time to indulge in lots of pleasure-centered self-care,” she says. “Think hot bubble baths, luxurious massages, and cozying up for naps between some high-thread-count sheets.”

There are a couple of dates to look out for during this transit, including April 22 when Venus aspects Uranus. Stardust says we can expect to let our “freak flags fly” while Montúfar notes that surprises may come up in our personal relationships during this time. Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer for Keen.com, says that this can be an unusual day. “You may feel restless and desire to do or try something different, and many unexpected things can happen involving your social life, love, and money,” she warns.

Then, on April 25, Mercury will meet Venus in Taurus, which Montúfar says will “bring the opportunity to openly talk about our feelings, as well as the opportunity to express devotion, affection, and trust in our most important relationships.”

Although this transit may sound like it’s a tad overly self-serving, it isn’t all about being selfish — Venus in Taurus just wants you to prioritize your own happiness and pleasure, which in turn may make you a better friend or more attentive lover. The decadent, lustrous energy of this transit may also be the push we need to propel us into what could be the Horniest Summer Ever — that is, if you’re ready for it.

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Celebrated a little this past weekend.

Got my spring shower outfit on and no complaints here!

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13

Le Specs

Hermes

And the cottagecore trend continues… On Monday, Zoë Kravitz shared a glimpse of her morning routine with her 6.1 million Instagram followers, which included coffee, red lipstick, and an eyelet nightgown. “Hey man, it’s totally normal to put on lipstick before you drink your coffee,” the High Fidelity star captioned the backyard selfie. (Kaia Gerber quickly commented back: “Same.”) 

Los Angeles-based Dôen is the brand responsible for her on-trend frock. After launching in 2016, the brand quickly became a favorite among Instagram’s fashion influencers. It has since become known for its vintage-inspired dresses. And, with cottagecore being one of the year’s top trends, Dôen’s flowy, often floral-printed dresses have only grown in popularity. Resharing the photo on Instagram, the brand wrote: “Pinch me moment! Zoë Isabella Kravitz morning vision in our Nymphea Nightgown! Dream dream dream!”

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The Nymphea Nightgown, which is made of organic cotton, features a keyhole neck tie and a ruffled hem that hits right below the knee. The dress is currently available in all sizes — the brand offers sizes XS to XL — and costs $178 — a far cry price-wise from Kravitz’s usual Saint Laurent getups. So, before the actress’ many superfans overload the site, get your Kravitz-approved nightgown (and a few other, equally covetable alternatives), below. 

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration recommended that the United States pause its use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine after multiple instances of “rare and severe” blood clotting were reported. 

There were six reported cases of blood clots; to compare, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the United States, making this an incredibly rare reaction. But because we’re dealing with new vaccines and a novel virus, health officials are being extremely cautious, and have concluded that it’s best to stop vaccinating people with the one-shot vaccine for now. Which might leave people who had an appointment to receive the J&J jab wondering: What now?

I have a J&J appointment in an hour, and if I don’t get a vaccine because 6 people out of 6 million got blood clots after I was allowed — nay, encouraged — to take hormonal birth control for DECADES, you will be hearing about a tiny little one woman riot.

— Emily Dagger (@AbbottRabbit) April 13, 2021

All federal health channels — such as mass vaccination sites and community health centers — are immediately halting administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, for the time being, reports CNN. The CDC and FDA are recommending that states do the same; however, it will be up to each individual state to make that decision, as they are given separate allocations of doses.

Right now, all states have halted the use of J&J until there is more information available. But because each state has a different vaccine rollout strategy, they will likely have different ways of dealing with the pause, too. In New York State, for instance, people with appointments to get the J&J vaccine will instead receive Pfizer, according to a statement from Howard Zucker, MD, the NYS Department of Health Commissioner. Many other states seem to be following suit, and plan to give people with existing appointments the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine instead.

Today our Public Health team will follow CDC guidelines and pause Johnson & Johnson distribution. If you’re scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine today, please **do not cancel your appointment** We will offer you Pfizer at NRG and Moderna at our mobile sites instead.

— Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) April 13, 2021

But some locations are having to reschedule or cancel existing appointments now that the J&J vaccine is temporarily unavailable. In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced: “J&J vaccine appointments will be canceled or put on hold at all New Jersey vaccination sites until further notice. The New Jersey Department of Health will work with all vaccination sites to make arrangements for the administration of an alternative two-dose vaccine.” But many sites that are distributing vaccines throughout the state have said that they won’t be canceling appointments and will be offering alternate vaccines instead.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting commissioner of the FDA, said in a news conference that the pause is expected to be short, only “a matter of days,” depending on on what they learn from thoroughly investigating each of the cases. The CDC is expected to convene an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to review all six instances before deciding whether the vaccine should continue to be distributed to all adults, or certain age groups or populations. Currently, there are approximately nine million more doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that have been shipped out to various states, according to data from the CDC.

In a statement sent to Refinery29, Johnson & Johnson said: “We are aware of the extremely rare disorder involving people with blood clots in combination with low platelets in a small number of individuals who have received our COVID-19 vaccine…We have been working closely with medical experts and health authorities, and we strongly support the open communication of this information to healthcare professionals and the public.”

If you have an appointment to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the coming days, keep an eye on your email and your phone to see if you receive a cancelation or rescheduling notification. You can also call your state’s vaccine hotline or your vaccine site, if you have the number, to ask for next steps. But for now, it looks like there’s a good chance you can still show up to your appointment and receive a two-dose mRNA vaccine instead of the J&J one-shot.

Additional reporting by Molly Longman.

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