Side bangs first became popular in the 1960s, later making more appearances in the ’80s, ’90s, and the 2000s. And now the same side bangs are making a return in 2024.
Even legendary actor Meryl Streep says side bangs are back. And you know what? She’s not alone. The 2023 Academy Museum Gala was a side-bang festival, and all your favorite stars were on the bandwagon. Let’s have a closer look.
The Celebrity Stamp of Approval
At the star-studded gala, celebrities like Dua Lipa, Keke Palmer, Christina Ricci, and Natasha Lyonne took side bangs to the red carpet.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen side bangs lately, but this was different. Black-tie-event different. Like, “Did we just step into an alternate universe where everyone has side bangs?” different!
Side Bangs Reinvented
Cara Delevingne (below) and Keke Palmer also gave the humble side bang a modern twist. Blunt bobs, lobs, honey blonde hair—2024’s color of the year—all paired with those chic side parts. Keke Palmer, with her fresh honey blonde locks and Old Hollywood waves, was like a walking trendsetter’s guide.
Judging by the red carpet photos from the gala, the debate on the return of side-part bangs is settled—they’re back. As we enter 2024, it seems that side bangs might be just the beginning of a resurgence of iconic trends. Who knows, maybe skinny jeans, heavy eyeliner, and concealer lips will make their red carpet debut soon too!
Research Shows How Drinking Coffee Before Shopping Leads to Overspending
The holiday shopping season is now in full swing. But the holiday season is also the season of controlling yourself by shopping wisely and knowing the trick to scoring big deals while sticking to your budget. Want to know what can come between your strong resolution and a frenzied shopping splurge? A quick cup of coffee! New research shows that caffeinated coffee gives you an instant boost of energy, making you shop until you drop, leading to significant overspending.
The Retail Research
The Journal of Marketing has published a recent study that examines the influence of caffeine consumption on immediate spending tendencies. A research team from the University of South Florida has conducted four experiments on this subject, three of them in selected retail stores, and one online. One departmental store in Spain and two national home goods stores in France were selected for the in-store tests. An espresso machine was placed at the entrance of each store, and approximately 300 willing participants were offered a complimentary drink in each store before they entered. In each case, half of the cups were filled with caffeinated coffee and the remaining participants were given decaf. The shoppers drank their beverages before they started shopping and then shared their receipts afterward with the researchers.
The Startling Result
The result revealed that shoppers who consumed caffeinated coffee went on to spend more money and purchase more items than their non-caffeinated counterparts. They also bought more non-essential items like fragrances or scented candles than the rest of the groups. The online experiment also yielded a similar result. Here, 200 college students were divided into two groups based on the coffee type they were given to consume, decaf or caffeinated. Then, they were asked to select items they’d like to buy from a list of 66 diverse products. The students who drank caffeinated coffee showed higher impulsive purchases by choosing non-essential items like a massager. While the rest of the group primarily focused on practical purchase products like a notebook.
The Reason
Dr. Dipayan Biswas, PhD., the lead author of the research paper, revealed the reason behind this correlation between caffeine intake before shopping and a higher rate of spontaneous spending. He explained in a recent press release that, as a powerful stimulant, caffeine releases dopamine in our brains. This neurotransmitter element can instantly excite our mind and body. That’s why caffeinated coffee leads to a much higher energetic state, decreasing self-control and enhancing impulsivity. So, next time, enjoy your coffee after your shopping trip!