2018 was compiled of royal weddings, celebrity separations, pregnancies, and secret nuptials that we all had to read up online about. Google tends to be our first source for gossip, but gossip aside, what we really want to know is – what was the most searched fashion brand of 2018?

Google released its 2018 Year in Search findings earlier this month, revealing the top trending fashion searches of the year. Amongst its usual suspects were Louis Vuitton, Versace, Givenchy, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Fashionphile, Dior, and Moschino. However, the most popular fashion brand this year reaching the number one spot and topping them all, was rapper Cardi B’s favorite fast-fashion retailer… Fashion Nova.

This goes to show that successful clothing brands don’t need to be the most expensive, have celebrity-filled campaigns, or need to lead in fashion magazines. Instead, it seems the secret to the brand’s success lies with them working with influencers.

InfluencerDB, a marketing software company that highlights the best performing brands and influencer marketing campaigns on Instagram, found that Fashion Nova engaged more with social media users than their competitors. Fashion Nova cleverly works with women who look like their target customers and more often than not this is women of color, like Cardi B.

The rapper has even taken to Instagram to share her love of the brand. “Still on a budget hoe!!! I could never stop wearing my @fashionnova! Ima wear it till the day I die!!!” she posted. And it looks like Cardi B has stuck to her word. She repeatedly wears the brand when posting on her Instagram, strategically places products in her music videos. and even makes a shout out to Fashion Nova on her debut album.

When it comes to the company’s particularly private CEO, Richard Saghian, Fashion Nova is the house that Instagram built. It produces clothing faster than Zara, resulting in its huge success.

Have too many problems in life? No worries. You can always blame it on Mercury retrograde. This unfortunate event of the planets brings bad luck, so why not use it to make excuses when things don’t go according to plan? In case you have no idea what that means, it’s an optical illusion that makes it look as if the planet is moving backward from our view here on Earth. Of course, if you hear someone say that “Mercury must be in retrograde,” it means something has gone completely wrong in their life.

What’s the best solution to all your problems? A nap, definitely a nap! No matter what the issue is, you can always just sleep through your problems until they’ve disappeared for good. When Mercury is in retrograde and nothing in life is going right, you can sleep your way through all the hurdles, regardless of your star sign.

People with different astrological signs may not react to situations in the same way, but they surely have this one thing in common. After all, there’s nothing that a little cat nap can’t solve, right?

Have you ever wondered what you could do during the period of Mercury retrograde? Since Mercury moves backward, maybe you could try it too, like Twitter user @justjogleason. It’s that time of year again — when you type an entire tweet or post before deleting the whole thing, and closing the tab.

Acting like Mercury sounds fun, doesn’t it? Well, maybe it’s not half bad. Maybe things would have gone worse had you actually posted the tweet. It’s better to backspace than to wish that you could go back in time, isn’t it?

When your mood is not in your favor, who do you blame it on? If you’re a woman, you’d most likely go with, “It’s that time of the month.” What if it’s not, though? What if it’s actually Mercury retrograde?

Well, here we’ve reached the ultimate face-off between PMS and Mercury retrograde. Which one do you think should win? If absolutely everything is going wrong, perhaps it’s both.

Mercury retrograde ain’t a good thing, people. It brings so much bad luck that you’re bound to mess something up in your life. So, when Mercury is in retrograde, you should be very careful.

Something could go wrong if you decide to go on a new adventure during this time of the year. It’s better to stay home and prevent that bad luck than to go out and instantly regret it. We’re simply just warning you — the rest is up to you anyway. Just don’t tell us we didn’t give you the heads up.

If you think it’ll take the whole period of Mercury retrograde for past lovers to reunite, you’re surely wrong. You don’t need a planet to prove your worth to your lover. In fact, a single Instagram post of your fabulous self can make your past come crawling back to you on any regular day.

There’s nothing that can steal your thunder and stop you from shining. You are amazing, and so are your Instagram pictures. Don’t let a planet decide your reunion.

People who study astrology observe and believe that certain movements or relative positions of the planets and stars can control the events happening in our lives. Well, does that include your member, too? This Twitter user posted about the fact that his special friend decided to give Mercury a standing ovation once it entered retrograde.

We can’t even begin to imagine how these two events could be related. Seeking answers from our astrology enthusiast readers out there. Please let us know!

During Mercury retrograde, the planet is known to move backward in its orbit. Does that mean events in our lives move in reverse as well? This witty Twitter user posted how her fart goes inside her body rather than coming out of it.

And honestly, the more we think about it, the more it seems like a possibility. How else can you justify everything going south in your life during Mercury retrograde? This might just be the answer.

Do you believe in astrology? Do you think the stars and planets can control events in your life? While there are a lot of people who would call it a bluff, there are plenty who actually cast their faith in it.

Some of these believers on Twitter have posted a question for the rest of the world to answer. It seems like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram tend to be down every time Mercury is in retrograde — which makes sense to astrologers considering that they believe technology and communication could get disrupted during this shadow period.

For those who believe in it, Mercury retrograde can undoubtedly mess everything up in your life. Are you tired of this planet ruining all your plans? This notorious Twitter user has come up with a solution to show Mercury retrograde who’s boss — sabotage your own plans before Mercury has a chance to do it. It’s the equivalent of breaking up with someone before they break up with you, ya know, to save face.

Why wait for a planet to start revolving backward to ruin your plans when you can simply do it yourself? So, who’s the winner now, dear Mercury? That’s right. It’s me.

As if Mercury retrograde by itself isn’t enough — imagine facing it at the same time as an eclipse. If disaster had a face, that would be it. Life, however, doesn’t wait for things to settle down or get better. It just keeps moving forward.

To cope with such circumstances, you don’t really have a choice other than to put a big smile on your face and go wherever the wind blows you. It’s like pretending as if everything’s cool even though your whole house is on fire.

It’s no wonder that things go wrong when Mercury is in retrograde. Not only does it put a damper on your mood and ruin lots of your plans, but it also just makes it way harder to deal with certain individuals.

Arguments during these shadow periods really don’t help your case. Therefore, you keep your mouth shut and practice patience. After all, if you stay calm and stop yourself from fighting with people, then you win. So just hang in there, friend. This Mercury retrograde is just momentary — or at least we hope so.

As Mercury retrograde approaches, everything and everyone seem to start testing your patience. And with that, people’s moods begin to sour as the first day of retrograde arrives.

You just have to bear with it, until it’s all over. This Twitter user pointed out that when that day approaches, she has to mentally prepare and remind herself that everyone around her will inevitably annoy her. But, that’s okay, because she’s the true Queen.

With the internet being so accessible from just about anywhere, pretty much anyone can post and share how they’re feeling. And while it’s awesome that we have this outlet, sometimes it can get to be a little too much. The more time you spend on your phone, the more time you have to deal with everyone else’s stress. And a gal (or guy) has gotta protect their own mental health, right?

Here’s a technique that you can use. Switch your phone off until Mercury is officially out of retrograde. Tuck that phone away and focus on some self-care. What a win!

While Mercury retrograde is stressful for most people, it can actually be a blessing in disguise for the socially awkward lads. Indeed, it’s best to avoid people and all the chaos that comes with that, at least during this time of the year — that is, if you want to stay sane.

Even if you don’t know what Mercury retrograde is, it can definitely save you from having to meet people and make small talk. Sounds like an introvert’s dream, don’t you think?

Have you ever forgotten to reply or text someone back, or perhaps you knowingly didn’t respond? That’s understandable — people can really be a lot to take sometimes. At least we can say that for ourselves and if that’s the case for you too, we have good news.

You can always use Mercury retrograde to excuse your delayed response or to get out of any conversation you don’t wish to continue. Who wouldn’t want to stay away from dealing with people when Mercury is in retrograde anyway?

Are you panicking over a pile of problems? This Twitter user posted about how long Mercury would be in retrograde for — ya know, just in case you need something to blame all your issues on.

We should all thank @caseyjoloos for her public service announcement. Now that you’re all aware of the shadow period, you know what to blame everything on.

What’s the use of Mercury retrograde if you can’t blame it for the fact that you’re a lazy bum. Perhaps you haven’t left the house in two days… or two weeks. Well, Mercury retrograde is there to help you out. So, if you’re really not in the mood to go out and meet up with friends, well, it’s your lucky day — or shadow period.

Take as much time as you want to be lazy, binge-watch your favorite series on Netflix, and pig out on all types of junk food. Just don’t forget to take the dog for a walk…

While all those believers can easily escape or avoid their problems in the name of Mercury retrograde, that doesn’t seem like an option for someone who doesn’t actually believe in astrology. If you’re one of those opinionated people that believes astrology is fake, it might cost you.

Or, you could be like this Twitter user here — they might not believe in astrology as a whole but they certainly do take advantage of Mercury retrograde, by staying inside and avoiding people.

When Mercury is in retrograde, its influence depends on which of the 12 zodiac signs the planet is in when it goes retrograde. Now, since this Twitter user referred to Leos during the Mercury retrograde period of 2019, it only seems fitting that we tell you guys what happened. During this particular retrograde, Mercury moved back from Leo to Cancer, then from Cancer to Leo again, according to astrologer Lisa Stardust.

This means that Leo was in for some drama during this period. Stardust even warned the sign to “expect big declarations of love and fiery arguments, followed by emotional manipulations with the aim to control others…”

Provided how many unlucky things happen during Mercury retrograde, it’s no wonder that people would want to avoid it at all costs. Just like it’s hard to get rid of life troubles, Mercury retrograde won’t leave you alone so easily.

This Twitter user explained how much she wanted to shoo the Mercury retrograde away, but it kept coming back to buzz in her ear some more. We really hope this gal was eventually able to swat the gnat away.

Since we’re bound to face Mercury retrograde during certain times of the year, we might as well take advantage of it. Come on, ladies. This is our time to act however we want and blame it on the fact that Mercury is in retrograde.

Then again, we don’t know why this is only limited to women. We guess men can use this excuse, too. At least there are some perks when it comes to the whole shadow period.

In today’s world, with all the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget to take care of ourselves. Amid the mountain of schoolwork or office work, you hardly remember the last time you ate.

Add that to the fact that you haven’t slept properly in days — and haven’t kept hydrated — and what do you get? You get sick. But, don’t worry. You’re not to blame for this downfall. Why? Because Mercury is in retrograde, of course.

Once you get out of a bad relationship, you’ll likely never want to get back together with that person — unless you have a habit of self-sabotaging. Mercury retrograde is unfortunate, and so is past lovers showing up at your front door.

On top of that, when the two events overlap each other, your day can turn into an absolute nightmare. Stay clear, folks — and don’t answer the door for anyone who knocks.

Mercury retrograde is hard to bear on its own. But, getting reminded of the event repeatedly doesn’t help either. If anything, that just makes it worse. When nothing goes according to plan due to Mercury retrograde, the only thing to do is run away from it — that’s what we would do, at least.

And with that, being reminded about it over and over again really doesn’t help. Let’s just hope people have learned…

It’s always easier to blame your behavior or bad luck on Mercury retrograde than to actually take responsibility when things don’t work out. While we human folks are constantly blaming Mercury for our bad luck, the poor planet is just floating around in space.

If only Mercury itself knew just how much it gets blamed on a daily basis. Oh, poor Mercury! We have nothing against you; you’re just an easy way out.

Since nothing goes right when Mercury is in retrograde, it’s quite normal for people to be enraged over the simplest things. Therefore, it’s actually better to stay calm and talk less during this time, in order to avoid further chaos.

As this Squidward meme demonstrates, it can be incredibly uneasy and awkward to communicate during Mercury retrograde. Petition to reduce awkward socializing when Mercury is in retrograde!

Imagine getting hit by a car, only to hear that Mercury retrograde caused it — instead of getting proper justice. Nobody wants that, right? This Twitter user shared her experience in which she was hit by a car, and the cop simply blamed it on the fact that Mercury was in retrograde.

Excuse me, sir. Please ticket the guy driving the Subaru Outback instead of making excuses for him. These blame games are getting a little out of hand.

Let’s face it — pretty much all of our lives are a mess, no? What do you think is the reason behind this? Well, we don’t know how to budget properly, we haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep in years, and we don’t eat enough vegetables.

There are numerous plausible reasons that can be cited for our imbalanced, miserable lifestyle. Do we pay heed to that? That would be a hard no. Because hey, the root of the problem is actually due to Mercury retrograde, are we right?

The time in which Mercury is in retrograde is truly terrible. Between travel issues, communication mishaps, and technological difficulties, it’s just not a fun period for anyone. And although people go crazy during Mercury retrograde, many of them don’t even understand what that actually means.

Take this Twitter user, for instance. She may not understand exactly what Mercury retrograde means but she’s certainly happy to use it as an excuse as to why she can’t get it together. We support you, Genna!

It’s one thing when one or two events don’t work out, but what to do when trouble has followed you throughout your entire life? If that’s the case, then it sounds like Mercury has been in retrograde for a long, long time.

This Twitter user posted about the fact that Mercury has been in retrograde her whole life, essentially implying that trouble and bad luck have followed her since the beginning of time. Hang in there, gal.

This Twitter user woke up from a bad dream only to get comforted by her sweet and loving (half-asleep) boyfriend. He held her and consoled her by saying that it was nothing to worry about — just Mercury retrograde.

Oh, wait. He said that the planets are in Gatorade. Ha! While this sweet guy may not have gotten the term totally right, we can’t help but find this post super endearing.

It does not matter how technologically advanced we become or how much we progress as a society — there’s one thing that’ll keep coming back every now and then. If you thought about Mercury retrograde, you’re absolutely correct.

This Twitter user exclaimed how Mercury was back in retrograde when his life began to fall apart. And that’s how you know that — as hard rock band Thin Lizzy says — “the boys are back in town!”

All of us want to get our lives together but Mercury keeps going back into retrograde, and thus things fall apart all over again. Or at least that’s what we’d like to believe, instead of actually trying to fix the mess.

Once Mercury is out of retrograde for Kendall, though, everyone better watch out. This gal isn’t messing around, and she’s totally about to get her whole life together (we hope).

This Twitter user posted something highly relatable. She wanted to blame her whole mess of a life on Mercury retrograde, but then she remembered that this may not be the most accurate of excuses. Why? Because life is terrible anyway, with or without the Mercury retrograde.

That just sums up our entire lives, doesn’t it? It’s high time all of us realize it and start working on fixing the gaps in our lives.

While we face Mercury retrograde and wait for it to pass us by, the reality speaks for itself. The fact of the matter is that it never really gets any better, unless you work for it.

You’re going to face many obstacles and hardships in your life. It’s when you realize that Mercury will always be in retrograde that you can officially consider yourself an adult. Welcome to adulthood! Ain’t it fun?!