The Checklist

rah rah teen spirit.

The Curator: Yasmeen Gharnit, Digital Editorial Assistant

The News: Charli XCX Covers Sam Smith's "Stay With Me"

First, we saw FKA Twigs cover Sam Smith's breakout song, "Stay With Me." Now, fellow Brit Charli XCX takes a stab at the song, giving it her own laidback spin. Watch below.

The Look: Karen Walker Fall '14 

In the midst of fashion week, hopping from one spring '15 preview to another, it's pretty easy to forget that we're only just now actually approaching fall '14. So I'd like to take a minute to remind everyone that it is okay to focus on "last" (read: this) season's collections despite whatever antiquity feel they may now have. Aside from some skilled meditation, Karen Walker's fall '14 is the perfect collection to bring you back to the present time. Filled with deep burgundy velvets, boxy blue suede shifts, and black and white printed layered collar dresses, it's essentially my dream wardrobe of the moment. And if you take a chance to stop and look, I'm sure you'll feel the same.

The Face: Nanette Lepore's Spring/Summer '15 Beauty Look

I could wax poetic about Nanette Lepore's spring/summer '15 show and its accompanying beauty looks (swoon), but I'll save us all some time. Instead, I'll just say that this look is exactly what you need in your life: It's fresh, it's fun, and it's sophisticated without taking itself too seriously. Just swoop some white liquid eyeliner across your upper lashline and wing out, repeat below your lashline, and apply tons of mascara for a Twiggy-meets-Millennial-Cleopatra vibe. It's that easy.

The Inspiration: Ashley Smith's "Teen Spirit" Spread for NYLON October 2013

Ahh, high school: the glory days, the best time of your life, etc., etc.... While I'm not quite convinced that those cliches are 100% accurate (or any bit right in the slightest sense), I'm still totally digging Ashley Smith's "Teen Spirit" spread from our last October issue. Why? 1.) Because Ashley is the bomb. 2.) Because a little teen spirit never hurts. 

The Song: "Breathe (Cover)" by Years and Years

As I've previously mentioned, I'm essentially always on a Years and Years kick. And for the past week or so, the only song that I've had stuck in my head is their rendition of Sean Peaul and Blu Cantrell's "Breathe." If Olly Alexander's voice doesn't take you to a sweet, sweet place, I don't know what will.

photo by bella howard via atlantic records

The News: Charli XCX Covers Sam Smith's "Stay With Me"

photo via getty images

The Look: Karen Walker Fall '14

photo via getty images

The Face: Nanette Lepore's Spring/Summer '15 Beauty Look

photo by silja magg

The Inspiration: Ashley Smith's "Teen Spirit" Spread for NYLON October 2013

photo by silja magg
photo by silja magg
photo by silja magg
photo via years and years facebook

The Song: "Breathe (Cover)" by Years and Years