Britney Spears reveals story behind iconic matching double-denim moment with Justin Timberlake
Britney Spears has reflected on the iconic double-denim outfit she wore alongside her then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake in 2001. Spears and Timberlake – who were dating at the time – attended the American Music Awards together and quickly made headlines with their showstopping outfits. The pair wore matching head-to-toe denim looks, including a blue denim cowboy hat on Timberlake. The instantly recognisable double-denim moment has gone down in sartorial history, with many people replicating the look for Halloween couple costumes. Reflecting on the starry fashion moment, Spears writes in her new memoir The Woman In Me that she initially suggested the idea to Timberlake and their stylist as a joke. “I still can’t believe that Justin was going to wear denim and I said, ‘We should match! Let’s do denim-on-denim!’’” she explained. “At first, honestly, I thought it was a joke. I didn’t think my stylist was actually going to do it, and I never thought Justin was going to do it with me. But they both went all in.” Spears continued: “The stylist brought Justin’s all-denim outfit, including a denim hat to match his denim jacket and denim pants. When he put it on, I thought, Whoa! I guess we’re really doing this!” At the time, the pop star was a newly famous pop sensation and Timberlake was an international heartthrob as the frontman of boy band NSYNC. Together, they would attend multiple red carpet events in the years they dated, from 1998 to 2002. “Justin and I were always going to events together,” Spears said. “We had so much fun doing the Teen Choice Awards, and we often color-coordinated our outfits. But with the matching denim, we blew it up.” Spears explained that the denim corset she wore to the event was so tight that she thought she might fall over on the red carpet. “I get that it was tacky, but it was also pretty great in its way, and I am always happy to see it parodied as a Halloween costume,” she said. Spears went on to address the criticism that Timberlake faced for wearing the matching outfit. “I’ve heard Justin get flak for the look. On one podcast where they were teasing him about it, he said, ‘You do a lot of things when you’re young and in love.’ And that’s exactly right. We were giddy, and those outfits reflected that,” Spears wrote. The pair began dating after meeting on the set of the All-New Mickey Mouse Club in 1992. Elsewhere in the memoir, Spears wrote about her decision to get an abortion after she became pregnant while dating Timberlake. “It was a surprise, but for me, it wasn’t a tragedy. I loved Justin so much. I always expected us to have a family together one day. This would just be much earlier than I’d anticipated” she said of the pregnancy. “But Justin definitely wasn’t happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young.” Spears appeared to imply that she decided to get an abortion because it was what Timberlake had wanted her to do. “I’m sure people will hate me for this, but I agreed not to have the baby. I don’t know if that was the right decision,” she wrote in the memoir. “If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it. And yet Justin was so sure that he didn’t want to be a father.” “To this day, it’s one of the most agonising things I have ever experienced in my life,” she said. The Independent has contacted representatives for Timberlake and Spears for comment. The Woman in Me is out now. You can read The Independent’s four-star review of the memoir here. Read More Britney Spears announces engagement to Sam Asghari Britney Spears’ fiance responds to fans calling for star to get prenup Britney Spears reassures fans after deactivating Instagram account Everything we know about Britney Spears and Sam Asghari divorce A timeline of Britney Spears and Sam Asghari’s relationship What is Sam Asghari’s net worth?
2023-10-24 17:25
Jack Stein’s Cornish mussels with spinach and cider
For National Seafood Month (October) this year, I’d like to celebrate Cornish rope grown mussels and encourage more people to cook them at home. Juicy, sustainable, and nutritious, they are a lower-impact species but often consumed less than industrially caught seafood such as prawns, tuna, cod and salmon. They’re grown on long ropes out in St Austell Bay, and the best thing about them is they’re incredibly sustainable – feeding off the nutrient-rich water before being harvested, which means there’s no damage to any reefs or the shoreline. This also means they’re super clean with hardly any beards to cut off before cooking. They’re also great value at around a tenner for two decent bowlfuls, of which you can do so many recipes. I love classic moules marinière with onion, white wine and parsley, or, as below, mussels with spinach and cider – perfection! Mussels with spinach and cider Ingredients: 1.75kg mussels Handful of spinach leaves (when in season, these could be swapped for wild garlic) 2 shallots, finely chopped 15g butter 100ml Cornish cider, or your favourite local equivalent Plenty of crusty bread to soak up the sauce Method: 1. Wash the mussels under plenty of cold, running water. Discard any open ones that won’t close when tapped on a board. 2. Pull off any tough, fibrous beards attached to the tightly closed shells. Give the mussels another quick rinse to remove any little pieces of shell. 3. Soften shallots in the butter in a large pan. 4. Add the mussels and cider, turn up the heat, then cover and steam them open in their own juices for 3-4 minutes. Give the pan a good shake every now and then. 5. Add spinach and remove from the heat and allow to wilt. 6. Spoon into four large warmed bowls and serve with plenty of crusty bread. Jack Stein is chef director at Rick Stein Restaurants. You can buy Cornish rope grown mussels from Rick Stein online for £10. Read More Dear Pret, this is what a £7 sandwich should look like Pub grub: Three recipes from Tom Kerridge’s new cookbook From Nepal to Tibet: Eight warming dishes from the coldest places on earth Two seasonal stews to keep the chill off this autumn Farmers’ markets in autumn are a cornucopia of colour Spice up your life: Three recipes from Nadiya Hussain’s new book that bring the heat
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10 Halloween costumes that sum up 2023
Halloween is next week (or this weekend if you're celebrating early) and so many of us will be trying to scramble a last-minute costume together. From Barbenheimer to Taylor Swift, this year has been jam-packed with pop culture moments and so there are a number of options to choose from that are relevant and fresh. And with TikTok being a great source for all things Halloween-inspired, the possibilities are endless. Here is a rundown of the costumes that best represent 2023 - if that's the vibe you're going for: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce @nfl gonna see a lot of these costumes this year 😭😂 #traviskelce #taylorswift #halloween #nfl (via kidsuper/IG) With pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce making headlines with their rumoured romance, there's no doubt this will be a popular couple's costume. Meanwhile, one couple was ahead of the trend as Makayla and Nick Stephens dressed up as the celebrity couple back in 2020 - years before Swift and Kelce got together, and now their holiday photo has gone viral. Or Taylor Swift (from any era) @baileylovestayl0r 2 more months!! 🎃 part 2? #fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #taylorswiftedit #halloween #halloweencostume #ideas If you wantfell to dress up as Taylor Swift for Halloween, then the internet is full of inspiration thanks to Swifties dressing up in singer's different album eras when attending the Eras Tour live shows. Whether, it's debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, reputation, Lover, Folklore, Evermore or Midnights, there are costume tutorials and guides out there for every single one. AI-generated Pope in a Puffer Jacket Artificial intelligence has improved in recent years, so much so this realistic photo generated by AI of the Pope Francis in a white puffer jacket had people scratching their heads, unsure on whether it was real. The image quickly became a viral meme, so this would be a great 2023 meme to recreate for Halloween - and you'll be kept warm wearing a puffer jacket. Carmy from the Bear @sofia.silerio yes jeff #fyp #thebear #jeremyallenwhite #halloween #halloweencostume Season 2 of The Bear was released in June this year, and viewers love Jeremy Allen White's character the intense award-winning chef - a costume that is easy to put together with a white t-shirt, black trousers and a blue apron. Daisy Jones & the Six @ecovi ahead of my time @daisyjonesandthesix #halloween #halloweeninspo #halloween2023 #fyp #foryou Channel the 1970s by recreating looks from Daisy Jones & The Six, after the TV adaptation was released back in March - this could make a great group costume. Some of the different elements include flared trousers, crochet tops, kimonos, and florals while not forgetting the knee-high platform boots. Kendall Roy from Succession @remyedenmaria My boy squiggle cooked up this beat for me #kendallroy #halloween #ltotheog #succession #successionhbo #jeremystrong #fyp #foryoupage Viewers were devastated when the final season of Succession aired back in May this year, but fans can recreate one of the show's most iconic moments - Kendall Roy displaying his rap skills with his song 'L to the OG'. To channel Kendall, you'll need a pinstripe NY Yankees jersey, and a white shirt with a black bowtie. Rihanna at the Super Bowl @lifewithvikki best couple’s costume if you ask me #halloween #couplescostume #rihanna #rihannasuperbowl #rihannahalftimeshow Rihanna playing her biggest hits while pregnant at this year's Super Bowl was one of the musical highlights of 2023, so there was no doubt it would also be a go-to costume for Halloween. And if you're looking for a group costume, then other pals can dress up in white as the backup dancers - which inspired plenty of memes. Barbenheimer @noodlesn16 #greenscreen Barbenheimer will be the number 1. Count it ONE. Couples Halloween cotume this year. You heard it here first. #barbie #barbenheimer #oppenheimer #halloween #couplescostume With the release of the Barbie movie and Oppenheimer on the same day (July 21), 2023 was truly a Barbenheimer summer, and so this will no doubt inspire many looks this Halloween. For those who want to dress as Barbie there are a number of looks to choose from - roller-skating Barbie, cowgirl Barbie and disco Barbie etc, while with Ken you have surfer Ken, cowboy Ken, or the white fur coat look with the bandana and glasses. While bright and bold colours are seen in Barbie, those dressing up in an Oppenheimer look should be suited and booted in muted tones from the 1940s - with a porkpie hat and a cigarette or smoking pipe. Justin and Hailey Bieber @biebersgoodside.2 “Another one. Thank u!” 🤣 #justinbieber #haileybieber #jailey #halloween #couplecostumes #bieberfever #costume Justin and Hailey Bieber became a meme this year for their different styles, with Hailey dressing up when attending events while Justin goes for the more casual and relaxed look. This is a pretty easy couples costume as you can recreate the look with clothes from your own wardrobe. Paris bed bugs @thatblonderebel Easy Halloween costume: Parisian bedbugs video inspo: @Danielle Pinnock #halloweencostume The news of bedbugs infesting public transport in Paris soon became a viral concern as videos circulated of the critters on TikTok so what better way to reference a recent trend than by dressing up as a bedbug for Halloween? (After all, Londoners have been petrified of bugs arriving on the tubes and trains). Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-10-24 00:29
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