The 25 Most Important Things BuzzFeed Shift Learned This Year

From the silly (terrible music festival fashion) to the serious (Marissa Mayer on women in computer science), we learned — and laughed — a lot this year.

1. We figured out why women like "Fifty Shades of Grey" so much.

Because the book is about a lover who does everything the heroine wants without having to be asked.

2. We worried about what everyone would wear to Coachella.

And suggested people wear things like cats and cool moccasins instead of flag print and troubling feather accessories.

3. Festivalgoers disregarded our advice.

Fringed crop tops also ran rampant.

4. Fashion disasters were just everywhere.

We even published a second installment of them.

5. The writing team of "Girls" addressed one TV executive's statement that we've reached "peak vagina" on television.

"Just as every show created by and starring men on television fills its own niche, so do Whitney, 2 Broke Girls, and New Girl, and so will our show. It's frustrating to hear the inevitable comparisons because it suggests that there's only room for a certain number of 'shows for women.' To me, these are all just television shows, trying to do very different things from each other and yes, succeeding," said one.

6. Pinterest became unavoidable, and we started a conversation about its assault on feminism.

It's the number-one social network and website for women on the Internet right now. We love it — most of the time. But a troubling amount of the user-generated content is about dieting, exercise, and perfectionism.

7. We figured out how prom dresses got so revealing.

This is the dress that started it all.

8. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand told us she hoped Hillary Clinton would run for president in 2016.

"I'm going to be one of the first to ask Hillary to run in 2016," Gillibrand told us in March, in her then-most-explicit endorsement of a 2016 Clinton ticket. "I think she would be incredibly well-poised to be our next Democratic president. I think she's extremely well prepared. Her experience as Secretary of State has not only elevated her stature and experience, but she's proven she's someone who can get things done and I think she'd be an outstanding candidate."

9. We discovered that the Amazon reviews of Bic's pen "for her" were particularly inspired.

"I bought it for all my female friends and relatives. It enabled them, finally, to write things," read one.

10. We figured out how to stop doing 22 everyday things, like eating cupcakes, so very wrong.

Do not even get us started on eating popsicles.

11. Beyoncé's manicurist did our nails.

However, the mani did not include the minx of Jay-Z's face, because only Beyoncé is allowed to have that.

12. We found new ways to make gifts look gorgeous.

Via poppytalk.blogspot.com

Like dipping the boxes in confetti, and other cute gift-wrap DIYs.

13. Priscilla Chan became the Kate Middleton of Silicon Valley.

Her secretive wedding to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg reignited the frenzy for lace bridal wear.

14. And Chan was recognized as every Tiger Mom's dream child.

A BuzzFeed Shift essayist explained: "Her résumé reads like every immigrant mother’s dream: bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a medical degree from University of California San Francisco Medical School (one of the top five in the country); soon she’ll begin her pediatric residency at UCSF."

15. Shortly before becoming Yahoo's CEO, Marissa Mayer told us that she hoped more women entered her field.

"We haven't achieved the gender balance that we should but it's still so early," Mayer said. "I think one of the things that really inspires people to go into an industry or practice in a field is being able to understand its impact. One of the things that studies have shown is that women are concerned with the impact of their work more than men are."

16. The strongest woman in America inspired us all when she went to the Olympics.

Sarah Robles went from Arizona to the London Olympics while living in poverty. "You can get that sponsorship if you’re a super-built guy or a girl who looks good in a bikini. But not if you’re a girl who’s built like a guy," she told us.

17. Ryan Lochte shamelessly flaunted his fashion sense.

"Barely there" pink Speedos? Check.

18.

s3-ec.buzzfed.com

Green glitter sneakers with ribbon laces? Check and check.

19. We learned the virtues of fabric softener as a hair product.

Via dizzysplayhouse.com

And many other ordinary objects that can be repurposed in surprising ways.

20. The queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, and we learned how to celebrate it properly.

Decorate your castle or other stately home with Union Jacks. Be sure to wear them too.

21. We talked to fashion models who are fighting for things as basic as payment for their work.

Runway show models in New York often just get clothes in exchange for show appearances.

22. We found DIY projects so simple that even we can do them.

Hangers for flip-flops, and so many more.

23. We found out why some kids hate Halloween.

Via pinterest.com

Because their parents dressed them up in these costumes.

24. We noted that not as many women are as into facials as it seems.

Facials meaning, when a man ejaculates on a woman's face. Just because it's the standard in porn, that doesn't mean it's the standard everywhere else.

25. We laid Navajo print, fringe, and peplums to peaceful and final rest.

Fringed peplums? You have HAD YOUR DAY.