How Do You Find a Boyfriend? This Dutch Designer Knitted Hers

April 22, 2013 at 1:47PM By Anna Breslaw |
What is it about foreign cultures that make them more open to creating innovative solutions to romantic loneliness? In Japan, for example, there are "boyfriend pillows" and interactive posters that kiss you back. Meanwhile, stateside, we consider these kinds of things "creepy." Instead, the lonely and single among us go for Ben & Jerry's Phish Food, Sex and The City reruns, and porn. (The closest we get to Japan's innovations, really, is vibrators.) What's actually the better option? Who knows, really?

To that end, Dutch illustrator and designer Noortje de Keijzer decided she needed a man in her life ("I could say that's a joke, but it is partly true") and painstakingly put her needles and thread together to create a "knitted boyfriend," a life-size wool-crafted adult male likeness complete with stubble, nipples and a happy trail. (Perhaps one of the only instances that knitting would actually help you get a boyfriend.)

They come in two models — the dark-skinned "Steve" and light-skinned "Artur" — and you can see a heart-rending series of illustrations by Keijzer detailing their life together. Here's what she said about her project and the inspiration behind it:

My Knitted Boyfriend is a cushion with a story. A cushion with a personality. A cushion to kiss! Or, well… to cuddle, to caress, to hug, and to smile with. Because this man is always happy. And he is flexible as well. He will have a mustache if you prefer mustaches. He will wear glasses if you prefer glasses. He likes to sit on your floor, on your couch or at you dinner table. But most of all he likes to lay down next to you in bed. With your head on his chest and his arms wrapped around you. This way you will never feel alone ever again. With this man you can be sure, he will never leave you.

He also won't take out the trash, and I'm pretty sure he is lacking some essential parts, but I've been on so many bad dates that I can get down with this. You?

Follow Anna on Twitter: @annabreslaw

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And the Latest Kohl's DesigNation Designer is...<br />Catherine Malandrino!

Korin Miller
Korin is the site director for Cosmopolitan.com. She loves uncovering cool new research and learning more about what makes guys tick. Outside the Cosmo office, you can find her running with her dog, trying to convince friends to go to karaoke bars, and watching as much reality TV as humanly possible. Hit her up on Twitter: @korinmiller
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Michelle Ruiz
Michelle is the news editor for Cosmopolitan.com. She's obsessed with interviewing celebrities and spotting the latest pop culture trends. Her life highlights include chatting with Ryan Gosling about sex dolls, dancing on stage at the Oprah show, and shopping with her mom on Long Island. Tweet her: @michelleruiz
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Dara Adeeyo
Dara is the associate web editor for Cosmopolitan.com. She's intrigued by all things digital. Dara loves playing with html and discovering new studies. When she's not reading up on the latest cocktail recipes (for work, of course), she can be found breaking it down on the dance floor or watching the Investigative Discovery channel. She also has a sick obsession with nail polish, elephants, and most importantly, Nutella. Dara basically lives on Twitter, so tweet at her and say hey: @dadeeyo.
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Elisa Benson
Elisa Benson is the senior editor of social media for @Cosmopolitan?so, yes, she tweets about sex for a living. Elisa grew up in Ohio, attended Colgate University, and wrote love and relationship advice for Seventeen before graduating to Cosmo. She lives for girly things (weddings and eyelash extensions and Pretty Little Liars?) and frequently tweets about all of the above: @elisabenson.
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Meet the Beauty Bloggers

Carly Cardellino: I'm the beauty and fashion editor here at Cosmopolitan.com. I'll try just about anything once (I have the crop cut—my hair used to be super-long—and body wave to prove it) and then report back. I'm obsessed with hair products, like volumizers and salt sprays, as well as mascara, nail polish, a good foundation (right now I'm using Tom Ford Beauty Traceless Foundation SPF 15), and blush (it literally changes the way you look in seconds)—hopefully you can see why I'm in this business. I also love picking out head-to-toe outfits for friends whether they're going on a date with their guy or a black-tie wedding—so feel free to click on that "contact" link below and send me a question.

Leah Wyar: Ladies, I’m the DIY beauty guru. My specialties? Spray-tanning and mastering the at-home manicure. I’ve tried dozens of spray-tanning formulas and have mastered the art of the self-tan (don’t worry, I’ll share!). Plus, I paint on the hottest nail trends every week (currently I’m obsessed with the glitter and dark polish trend). Follow me as I branch out and perfect my DIY skills (up next: waxing!).

Marta Topran: I’m obsessed with making my skin as glowy as possible. That means trying out every anti-aging potion out there and never leaving the house without some sort of shimmery highlighter on my cheekbones. I’m also the resident brow and lash addict. Right now, I’m rocking super long lash extensions that I can’t believe I ever lived without.

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Want a Free Designer Dress?

February 17, 2012 at 10:55AM By Korin Miller |

Selena Gomez looks amazing on the cover of our March issue (if we do say so ourselves). She wore slightly smoky eyes, flowing hair, and a gorgeous floral Nanette Lepore dress with a flirty neckline.

Like it? It could be yours if you follow us on Twitter at @CosmoOnline and tweet, “I want #SelenasCosmoDress by @nanettelepore” today. (And while you're at it, follow @NanetteLepore too!) No need to have the same build as Selena—if you’re the winner, we’ll give you the dress in your own size.  

You only have today to win—what are you waiting for?

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Kim Kardashian's hen's night... and wedding dress designer revealed!

Curvaceous Cosmo covergirl, Kim Kardashian has let it slip that A-list designer Vera Wang will be creating her wedding dress. 

"Vera has been a close family friend for a long time and we had talked about this moment for years," Kim blogged. “When it came to picking my wedding dress designer she was the first person I thought of. No one designs gowns the way she does!”

The Kardashians certainly like to keep it in the family - Vera Wang also designed little sister Khloe's stunning wedding dress when she tied the knot with Lamar Odom.

Wedding plans have certainly kicked into overdrive for the August 20 ceremony, with Kim and her famous family partying over the weekend at Las Vegas hotspot, Tao. Kim celebrated her last days as a single woman in true hens night-style: drinking out of penis-shaped straws, downing shots and even getting a saucy lap dance from a dwarf. However, the 30-year-old star broke bridal tradition when she paid a surprise visit to fiance Kris Humphries who was celebrating his bucks at nearby club Lavo.

Wedding jewelry here