Transforming how people work

Are you looking to boost your productivity during the work week? The pandemic, demographic shifts, technological advancements, and societal changes have dramatically disrupted the work landscape. These transformations affect how we organize and approach work. Globalization Partners conducted a global survey of 8,000 professionals worldwide to identify this year’s top workforce trends. Key findings include the rise of a worldwide team mindset, the potential of AI for teamwork through upskilling, and the growing importance of soft skills. Dive into the emerging changes in the work environment and new work models below!

Video conferencing platforms & AI redefine the workplace

Zoom Workplace, one of the most significant global video conferencing platform tools, recently came out with key statistics about the importance of collaboration. According to their research, 71% of work leaders report increased employee happiness and satisfaction with hybrid and remote work options. Interestingly, 80% of employees believe remote work collaboration works as well or better than in-person collaboration. Using the available communication tools for collaboration can result in 41% happier customers, 70% of employees believing a boost in productivity and saving time, and ultimately 21% higher profitability. In terms of the role of technology in workplace collaboration, 75% of leaders find AI helpful. At the same time, they realize the need to upskill their workforce. Fortunately, Webex, Cisco, and LinkedIn Live recently hosted an event, “How AI is Redefining the Workplace Experience.” LinkedIn Learning also offers AI courses with certifications to upskill quickly!

Rehumanizing work

Human soft skills add to the options AI offers and are becoming increasingly valued collaboration assets in 2024. Forbes offered 11 Essential Soft Skills in 2024: communication, leadership, teamwork, creativity, time management, adaptability, problem-solving, work ethic, critical thinking, conflict management, and emotional intelligence. LinkedIn rated flexibility as a crucial part of adaptability because the job you were hired may differ from the one you will be performing as industries evolve. Taking the time to invest in professional development and staying curious remains crucial.

Collaborative goal setting

Appinfluence offers a solution for collaborating through shared goal setting with a Priority Matrix. Crestron also provides thoughts on modern workplace trends and opportunities to connect and interact more effectively through new technologies. Fast Company suggests a three-point approach to turn the typical “drudgery” of connecting into a transformative experience. With 85% of work time spent in meetings, emails, phone calls, and messaging apps like Slack, people get connected without truly connecting. Their three-point approach suggests eliminating inefficiencies (30 minutes can be the new 60), acting more intentional (e.g., turning agendas into questions), and “shaking it up” (e.g., bringing a +1 from another business unit or outside the company to meetings). Also significant knowing when a brief remote meeting or call would be more fruitful than 20 back-and-forth emails! 

Coworking spaces continue to thrive

Are you finding working from home distracting or motivating? While remote work comes with perks, coworking spaces offer variety and stimulation, especially for digital nomads. Coworking can bring value by locating a reasonably priced spot to do your work and finding connection and productivity. A shared space offers many collaboration opportunities with artists, entrepreneurs, freelancers, innovators, and others. Symrise nurtures collaboration and a strong team ethic and works with partners to deliver sustainable solutions. Comment below on your favorite ways to work better together!

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Perfect your pout

Lipstick has captivated people for thousands of years, with early versions made from ingredients like gemstones and crushed bugs. The first commercial lipstick, introduced by French cosmetic company  Guerlain in 1884, paved the way for today’s vibrant beauty industry. Social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube are brimming with makeup tutorials and “get ready with me” videos showcasing must-have shades. On Monday, July 29, join the global celebration of  National Lipstick Day, honoring the timeless allure of stained lips. With the average woman spending $1780 on lipstick in her lifetime, discover more about this iconic beauty essential and its special day!

How to celebrate

As we eagerly await National Lipstick Day, Sephora is set to launch a unique online destination, ‘Lifetime of Lipstick: Trends Over The Years.’ MAC Cosmetics, renowned for its iconic lipsticks and Viva Glam initiatives, often marks the occasion by gifting lipsticks and showcasing best-sellers on their global websites. This day presents a perfect opportunity to indulge in a new shade and step out of your comfort zone with a bold choice. Share your new look on social media and embrace the excuse for a selfie. How about hosting a makeup party? Invite your friends to bring their favorite shades and celebrate together!

Why love National Lipstick Day?

Lipstick can go beyond a mere beauty product; it may truly boost your confidence. Studies show that wearing lipstick can enhance your posture and self-assurance. Men, for example, stare at bare lips for an average of 2.2 seconds and are captivated by red lipstick for 7.3 seconds. In the 1920s, red lipstick symbolized the Suffragette movement and flapper independence, showcasing its powerful impact. Flaunting red lipstick symbolized pushing boundaries and embracing your unique energy. This National Lipstick Day, celebrate the confidence and power that lipstick brings to your life!

Fresh new formats

Coco Chanel, an epitome of red lipstick, has inspired Chanel’s new Rouge Allure Velvet Nuit Blanche. This limited-edition lipstick, designed to mirror the darkness of night, promises to stay vibrant from dusk till dawn. Infused with jojoba oil and shea butter, it ensures your lips stay comfortable and hydrated. The collectible black-and-white click case adds a timeless touch. From the heritage of Guerlain, lipstick forms an iconic symbol of French beauty, and Dior’s Rouge Dior Couture Colour Lipstick encapsulates this essence perfectly. A 24-hour wear formula enriched with hydrating botanicals pairs beautifully with the matching Rouge Dior Contour Lip Liner Pencil. Let’s celebrate the legacy and allure of French beauty with these exceptional lipsticks.

Lip oils are trending, and YSL’s new Loveshine Lip Oil Stick offers a must-have hybrid. Combining six oils and rich fig pulp provides 24-hour moisture and protection. British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury has expanded her Pillow Talk range with Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm, featuring oil and cayenne pepper extract for instant lip plumping. Another anticipated launch, Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick, uses Hydro-Suede Technology with hyaluronic acid and kaolin clay to keep lips hydrated and prevent feathering. Try Bisou Balmrom VIOLETTE_FR, a lipstick-balm hybrid for that “just bitten” look for a diffused effect. Lastly, ILIA’s new Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon combines the creamy comfort of lipstick with the precision of a lip liner and a soft-matte finish.

Symrise will celebrate National Lipstick Day by highlighting its powerful and confidence-boosting properties. Please share your favorite shades and formulas below!

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Aquaphile: summer’s calming must-have color trend

Move over Barbie Pink and #Barbiecore. A hip and calming color trend makes us feel blue. French forecasting firm NellyRodi cites “peace” as the season’s overall theme. Their Spring-Summer book “fresh respiration” features blues strongly inspired by the ocean and air. Using colors directly derived from nature form vital elements of the theme. The Extra-Muros and Lightlab stories offer aquas and turquoise, taking cues from lagoons, biophilia, and lab-developed variations. Care to learn more? Read on!

Mermaidcore aesthetic

Edited a global analytics leader, reported that pre-release of The Little Mermaid, TikTok witnessed over 357M views for high Pinterest searches and Mermaidcore. Along with watery-inspired blues and details, #mermaidhair, cosmetics, and application techniques have been uptrending. A viral TikTok video of a “mermaid” supposedly washing up on a beach in South Africa fueled the phenomenon. More recently, a haunting mummified “mermaid” got discovered in Japan!

Water inspires aqua fantasies

If you search Tagwalk “The Fashion Search Engine ” with the keyword “Mermaid,” 852 results appear. Many of them are featuring shades of aqua and turquoise. In the firm’s report, Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 Key Facts & Data, called “water” a “micro-trend.” They noted a +37% of oceanic looks vs. Spring/Summer 2022. Botter’s collection made it all about water and underwater. Cécilie Banhsen’s called their collection “We Are Water,” with a set featuring glasses of water. Vaillant called its first runway show “Aqua Love, ” featuring looks with water prints. Bluemarine features a mermaid look on the Spring/Summer 2023 collection website, and their advertising campaign explores the “underwater universe.” Models posing in blue-hued fashions pose on furniture while a mermaid swims in a tank behind them.

Pool and beach perfect

Miami Swim Week kicked off the summer in early June. It showcased some of the biggest emerging swim trends ahead of the beach season. Brands like Luli Fama and Sigal played into shades reminiscent of the ocean with cerulean blue, teal, and aqua. The perfect pool or beachside palette? Colors pulled from the sea themselves. According to Harper’s Bazaar started to cover the trend in 2022. They noted resort collections drenched in shades like “sea glass” and “ocean.” They predicted the decline of hot pink and quoted Bloomingdale’s fashion director, Arielle Siboni, saying, “Sunset colors have been really popular, but people have had enough of that – now they’re migrating toward blues again.” Siboni said she’s anticipating a wave of aquas, ceruleans, and cobalts for upcoming resort season.

Trending ahead

How prolific, as the recent Louis Vuitton Resort 2024 Isola Bella Collection continues fashion’s current obsession with mermaid-core. They showed it on Isola Bella, a tiny private island in Lake Maggiore. This marks the first time the French house has exhibited in Italy. Designer Nicolas Ghesquière took inspiration from mythical underwater fantasies, lending an ethereal feel. To the press, he explained, “We started with the idea that the girls were coming from the water, like mermaids of the lake, and they’re transforming to something else.” Scuba fin collars, water droplet details, and mermaid scale-like sequins underscored a fantastical collection. Frilled gowns (one particularly memorable version in aqua) closed the show, conjuring mermaids finding their legs. “By the end, the mermaid becomes a flower.” WGSN x Coloro recently named Aquatic Awe for 2025 “a transformative turquoise that celebrates the strange and wondrous aspects of nature. It also comes with a synthetic quality that connects with digital themes.” The color aligns with wellness and a growing focus on bio-synthetic and lab-grown materials. The Coloro partnership highlights “bioluminescent sea life, fragile ocean ecosystems, and immersive virtual spaces.”

Watch for aqua and watery-inspired colors to continue to trend for this summer and beyond. Let us know how you intend to make it like a mermaid and add some relaxing blues to your wardrobe in the warmer months ahead!

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From field to fashion: Make strawberries your pick of this summer.

Can you imagine a world blanked of the allure of the mouthwatering strawberry that has captivated our senses for centuries? Here comes the good news: While the warmth of summer surrounds us, strawberries enter their prime season. They are tempting us with their sweet, tart, and juicy essence.

The history of strawberries traces back to the 1300s. At that time, farmers in France first cultivated the tiny red delicacies. Ever since, people have been immersing themselves in the appealing charm of this delicious berry. 

Fragara ananassa, the Latin name for the modern strawberry, came about through a fortuitous accident. A Chilean strawberry cross-pollinated with a Virginia strawberry. This chance encounter birthed the strawberries we know and love today. 

Let’s dive into the wealth of experiences strawberries offer – savoring their exquisite flavor, cultivating them in your garden, and even incorporating them into your fashion and home decor. 

Deliciousness Defined

Eating strawberries equates to a unique sensory feast. As the warmer months approach, food brands celebrate the strawberry summer. They are offering delicious options, from refreshing beverages to decadent candy.

To truly relish the best strawberries, look for them during late spring and early summer. Then, locally grown berries are reaching their peak and offer the most exquisite taste. When selecting fresh strawberries, bright-colored, aromatic, firm, and plump berries with fresh-looking green caps taste the best.

Food and beverage purveyors, too, have recognized the key to a customer’s heart. It lies in a strawberry treat, with nearly 37% of restaurants offering strawberries on their menu. For instance, Monster launched the Strawberry Dreams. The zero-sugar beverage perfectly balances tartness and sweetness. Dr. Pepper added Strawberries & Cream to its permanent lineup. While Wendy’s brought back the Strawberry Frosty, an iconic way to beat the summer heat. McDonald’s too stands on the trend, introducing the Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry. 

Interest in strawberries hits peak season too

Strawberries have experienced a resurgence in popularity recently. Social conversations about berries have risen by more than 17% in the past year. How come the sudden fascination with these ruby-red gems? One reason could relate to recent innovations in strawberry cultivation. 

We got introduced to the world of the Omakase Berry. The rare and exquisite strawberry variety grows in the picturesque Japanese Alps. Traditionally exclusive to Japan, these berries have made their way to New York City thanks to state-of-the-art indoor farming techniques. Oishii, a renowned name in the strawberry world, also introduced a berry called the Koyo Berry. It closely resembles the Omakase Berry, and brought a delightful twist of increased firmness and tartness. 

What sets these berries apart? Their unique cultivation method. Compared to conventional berries, Omakase and Koy Berries grow on vertical farms. This allows for year-round production and the freedom to enjoy these fruits at any time. 

A Recipe for Fun: Strawberries in Fashion and Home Decor

Strawberries bring the sunshine indoors in their own unique way. Trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson from Etsy suggests that fun motifs like strawberries bring playfulness and joy into our spaces. The strawberry-themed home has gone viral on platforms like TikTok. It is captivating millions with videos showcasing strawberry-themed vases, mugs, pots, puzzles, and more. 

And we have to include the fashion and beauty world, where strawberries have found their place of influence. Strawberry accessories and clutches make a fruity statement, adding flair to any summer ensemble. 

The latest beauty trend features strawberry milk nails. According to celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce, chic strawberry milk nails exude the same creamy elegance as milk bath nails with a sheer pink strawberry twist. 

The strawberry season has come upon us! Why resist? Let strawberries captivate your senses and infuse your life with sweetness and joy! Share your favorite strawberry inspirations in the comments!

The strawberry season is upon us! Why resist? Let strawberries captivate your senses and infuse your life with sweetness and joy! Share your favorite strawberry inspirations in the comments! 

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