T LOunge for May 19th, 2023

Zuma Restaurant, Bar and Lounge – Mykonos, Greece

Here’s your slice of sea and sky, just as you ordered. It is FRIDAY, darlings. Let’s plunge into the weekend now. To hell with the real world. Grab a seat.

James Marsden Refuses to Take Himself Too Seriously
The Jury Duty star on surviving three decades in Hollywood and why a little kindness goes a long way.
That dedication to a sense of self-deprecating humor is part of the reason why he took a leap of faith and signed on to Jury Duty, the Amazon Freevee mockumentary that explores the American judicial process as seen through the eyes of a jury. However, as the show tells us from the outset, this is not a normal trial. Everyone involved is an actor, except for one person: Ronald Gladden, an out-of-work solar contractor who applied on Craigslist to be a part of what he thought was a straight-faced documentary about jury duty. No one, most of all Marsden, expected the show to be the breakout hit that it’s become—there’s even Emmy chatter. But that’s largely been Marsden’s modus operandi for the last thirty years: not breaking expectations so much as avoiding them altogether.

Sophie Turner Debuts An ’80s Makeover (And A Bleach-Blonde Bob) For Her New TV Project
Joan, due to air on ITV’s new streaming service ITVX, is inspired by the unbelievable true story of Joan Hannington, a prolific diamond thief who became known as “the Godmother”. As a fiery and uncompromising twentysomething, her life takes a turn when her violent husband goes on the run, leaving her behind with their young daughter. Determined to make a home for the two of them but clear-eyed about the fact that the odds are stacked against her, Hannington vows to do whatever it takes – namely, to use her fierce intelligence, charm and talent for impersonation to transform herself into a formidable criminal mastermind.

My Sari, My Self: A Personal Review Of The Design Museum’s The Offbeat Sari Exhibition
As The Offbeat Sari opens at The Design Museum, Billie Bhatia reflects on the sari’s past, present and future.
So I assumed that The Design Museum’s new exhibition, The OffBeat Sari, curated by Priya Khanchandani over the course of two years, would put that history and tradition front and centre. Instead, what I discovered during an intimate preview was wholly different. “There’s a thousand stories that could be told about the sari; it’s one of the most ubiquitous garments in the world,” explained Khanchandani. The Offbeat Sari, though, homes in on the contemporary sari, and the designers, wearers and artisans transforming it into a garment associated with the 21st-century zeitgeist. “What I hope is that, when you walk in here, you see the sari with fresh eyes, as an empowering image of womanhood and progressiveness.”
Angelina Jolie is launching her own fashion brand
The Hollywood actress and humanitarian has founded Atelier Jolie, an initiative with social justice and sustainability credentials
Angelina Jolie is the latest celebrity to launch her own brand. Yesterday, the actress and humanitarian announced that she would be heading up Atelier Jolie, a fashion-focussed initiative with a difference.
While many details are being kept under wraps for the moment, she has revealed that Atelier Jolie will have both a social justice and a sustainability element to it.
The company aims to democratise the fashion industry, allowing consumers to partner with a network of tailors, pattern makers and artisans around the globe, to create their own unique designs. The brand will also work closely with refugees and give support to other under-appreciated groups.

Alexandra Roach: “Acting can take its toll on your mental health”
The actress has launched a new venture, Resting, to offer support and respite to those in her profession
“This industry can be incredibly tough and demanding,” says Alexandra Roach of being in film and television. She should know: the actress has been working in the sector since the age of 11, having started her career on a Welsh soap opera before moving to London to train at Rada aged 16; she appeared alongside Meryl Streep and Olivia Colman as the young Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, and her numerous television credits include episodes of Black Mirror and Killing Eve. But despite her success, Roach remains keenly aware of the impact that being in the public eye – not to mention dealing with the constant risk of rejection – can have on actors’ mental health. Hence the motivation for her new venture, Resting, co-founded with the actress Amy Wren, which consists of a website, Instagram feed and event series designed as a source of support and creative rejuvenation for her professional peers.

Dua Lipa Is The Ultimate Versace Girl
A bona fide Versace muse, Dua Lipa has become a permanent fixture on its front rows, a face of its campaigns and even modelled collections on the runway (she opened and closed the spring/summer 2022 show). And now, the singer has co-designed a womenswear collection with Donatella Versace, entitled “La Vacanza”, which will debut at an intimate fashion show in Cannes on 23 May.

At 75, Grace Jones Is Still The Most Fabulous Beauty Icon We Have
It’s hard not to feel delighted while perusing photographs of Grace Jones, who turns 75 today. Born in Jamaica, she quickly rose to prominence in the ’70s as a singer, model and actress, working with everyone from Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin to Yves Saint Laurent – and famously frequenting Studio 54. With a powerful, disco-led aesthetic – from those wonderfully striking Philip Treacy headpieces to her lurex, sharp-shouldered suits and all manner of shine – she also pioneered a beauty look as fantastical, directional and uniquely her as her ensembles. She is, to put it simply, the epitome of fabulous.

How the ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ Hair Department Paid Homage to ‘Bad Sandy,’ Rizzo and Frenchy
“Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” hair department head Jaala Leis Wanless had the tall order of preluding the Pink Lady look that was to come in the “Grease” world. While the original Pink Ladies were defined by permed, pink, 1980s-inspired hair, Wanless tells Variety that her muses for the prequel were real-life people from the 1950s.
“When I’m entering into a creative process, I do tons of research,” Wanless told Variety. “Especially when dealing with ‘Grease,’ going back into the 1950s.”
Like showrunner Annabel Oakes, Wanless did extensive research surrounding the demographic of real people living in the time period set by the prequel series. “I tried to [fully] immerse myself into what I was seeing,” Wanless shared. “I went through a lot of print, advertising [and] movies from that era…I was trying to [make] our version swing right into [the 1950s].”

Why Short Hair and Wispy Bangs Make for a Gorgeous Combo
The power duo you didn’t know your hair needed.
There are some pairings that are just meant to be together. And, when it comes to hair, few duos work quite as well as short hair and wispy bangs. From Michelle Williams to Rihanna, our favorite celebs have been wearing this stunning combo to give off that natural cool-girl effect.
“They work perfectly for short hair and can be used — based on the placement and length — to either soften or sharpen facial features,” says Balmain Hair Couture master educator Glennda Rommelaere, “This combo gives an effortless chicness to the hairstyle.”

Eliza Scanlen Explores Faith, Power, and Desire in The Starling Girl
The actor on her new film, taking trips with Florence Pugh on Little Women, and landing Sharp Objects.
Since her breakout role in HBO’s Sharp Objects, Eliza Scanlen has been building a stunning and eclectic body of work. Parts in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women and M. Night Shyamalan’s Old followed, as did the role of a young Eleanor Roosevelt in The First Lady.
Now, Scanlen is taking the lead in The Starling Girl, a dreamy coming-of-age drama with a dark undercurrent. She plays plays Jem, a teenager growing up in a fundamentalist Christian community, whose own desires—and passion for dance—challenge her experience of God. When twenty-something, married youth pastor Owen (Lewis Pullman) returns to the church, Jem is confronted with a burgeoning sexuality that completely contradicts the strict religious rules she’s been taught to follow. “She really does go down a very destructive path, and you as an audience hope that she’s going to stop and think for a minute before she makes a mistake,” Scanlen tells ELLE.com. “But she’s too young to do that.”

Priyanka Chopra Jonas Serves Up a Dynamic Brunch—And Shows Off Her Knife Skills
Cooking might not be her “strong suit,” as Citadel star Priyanka Chopra Jonas forewarns, but she can sure make a strong (and spicy!) Bloody Maria.
That’s her aperitif of choice—swapping a traditional Bloody Mary’s vodka out for tequila, and topping it off with a very generous helping of Tabasco sauce, retrieved from her purse—as she prepares a queenly brunch for Vogue’s Now Serving series. The other components? A “cereal spectacular” (more on that shortly) and one delicious-looking stuffed omelette. “Now that I have this,” she quips, drink in hand, “I have the courage to get on to the serious cooking.”

Dr. Jill Biden Sports a Traditional Alaskan Native Design for Her Latest Appearance
Given the state is home to a large Alaskan Native population—including the Yup’ik, Tlingit, and Haida people, among others—Dr. Biden thoughtfully used her choice of attire to pay homage to Indigenous culture. The First Lady wore a Qaspeq in a patriotic red, white, and blue colorway; It’s a modern take on the traditional Alaskan Native jacket, which were first made of animal hides, gut skins, or feathered skins to keep the wearer warm and dry. Today, Qaspeqs come in an array of colors and finishes—hers appeared to be a cotton-canvas—but they often bear the signature graphic trims and pull-over silhouette (the styles can vary per tribe or community). While the garment was likely a gift to Biden, her choice to wear it in Alaska perfectly highlighted the beauty of Indigenous culture, and it intentionally paid respect to the first peoples of the state.

Why Lupita Nyong’o Adorned Her Newly Shaved Head With a Mesmerizing Henna Tattoo
What is a shaved head if not a blank canvas? For the premiere of Mira Nair’s onstage musical, Monsoon Wedding, Lupita Nyong’o adorned her scalp in a henna art, the work of New York–based artist Sabeen Marghoob.
Along with its exquisite, eye-catching elements, henna embodies dedication, hard work, and a celebration of culture. “Many artists, like myself, make all of their henna paste and cones themselves,” explains Marghoob, who has been doing henna for as long as she can recall. “We spend years practicing unique designs, adjusting our henna paste recipes, and coming up with our own distinct styles.”

King Charles Drives a Luxury Vintage Car That Runs on Leftover Wine and Cheese
“It smells delicious as you’re driving along.”
King Charles isn’t well-known for being a man of modesty. After all, he just hosted a coronation event that reportedly cost upward of $125 million, where he was dripping in rare (and extremely controversial) diamonds and swimming in furs. He’s also a somewhat well-known clotheshorse and is the proud owner of a fleet of luxury cars. And at least one of those cars highlights the King’s concern for the environment, too.
In 2021, then-Prince Charles revealed to the BBC his Aston Martin MK ii DB6 Volante, which he received as a gift for his 21st birthday, had been converted to run on E85 bio-ethanol, which he produces on his Duchy of Cornwall estate. And if you don’t know what E85 is, let Charles explain.

The staggering fine print of Texas and Florida’s new anti-trans bills
Two sweeping bans on gender-affirming care for trans teens could have devastating implications.
The Texas legislature passed a ban Wednesday on gender-affirming care for kids under 18, which includes hormone treatments and gender-affirming surgeries, though such surgeries are rarely performed on children. The ban allows trans teens already receiving hormone treatments to temporarily continue them. Still, it requires that they “wean” themselves off the treatments. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign the bill.

How your boss keeps control even when they’re no longer your boss
From non-competes to non-disparagement agreements, your employer has plenty of ways to lock you down even after you leave.
You’d think that when a job is over, it’s over. You quit or you’re fired or laid off and then that’s that. Except that’s not always what happens. A lot of the time, even after you’ve cut ties, your former employer maintains some control over what you can say or do. It’s like a toxic ex you can’t warn anyone about because they might sue you, and who gets a say in who you go out with next.
It’s true that at the current moment, swaths of workers are more in the driver’s seat than they have been in years, thanks to a hot labor market that’s driven wages up, provided some people mobility, and given workers more leverage against their employers. But work hasn’t changed as much as some more optimistic headlines might suggest, and many of the fundamental power dynamics remain.

Where have all the Disney villains gone?
The live-action Little Mermaid is a reminder of what movies like Encanto and Frozen II don’t have: a bad guy.
When Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is released on May 26, audiences will finally get to see Melissa McCarthy’s take on one of the most iconic villains of all time: Ursula. The sea-witch octopus, originally voiced by Pat Carroll and modeled after drag queen Divine, is the epitome of a classic Disney baddie: unabashedly evil and self-serving, with a campy anthem to boot. But with a new version of this character back on our screens, you might realize that it’s been quite some time since Disney has produced an antagonist as brazenly wicked as Ursula. That kind of unbridled villainy has become a relic of sorts in the animation studio’s latest original storytelling, which might have you wondering: Where are all the bad guys?
https://www.vox.com/culture/2023/5/19/23715887/disney-villains-little-mermaid-ursula-jafar-scar-frozen-ii
A History of ‘American Childhood,’ in Photos
From the 19th century to the present, the photos collected in Todd Brewster’s latest book offer glimpses into the lives of our nation’s youngest members.
“It is a fallacy to think we protect children from the world around them,” Todd Brewster writes in AMERICAN CHILDHOOD: A Photographic History (Scribner, $36). “Children suffered from slavery and racism, from the deprivation of the Great Depression. They marched during the civil rights movement and witnessed the attacks on Sept. 11.”
With the more than 200 images collected in this book, culled from flea markets and library archives across the country, the journalist and documentarian attempts to capture the experiences of the youngest members of our society, from the Civil War to today.

9 Ways to Make Your Home More Comfortable for a Senior Dog, According to Veterinarians
As your pet enters their golden years, home adjustments may be necessary in order to promote a better quality of life or decrease their chance of injury.
Being a dog owner is filled with a lifetime’s worth of joy, but one of the hardest parts of this rewarding responsibility is watching your canine grow older. Whether your pup has been a part of your family for years or you recently adopted an older dog, it’s important to make your home more comfortable as your pet enters their senior years.
If you notice that your dog has trouble performing tasks they normally complete with ease, it may be time to make some adjustments to your home.

Fabric Softener Can Make Clothes Last Longer—but You Should Never Use It With These 8 Items
Skip using fabric conditioner when washing cashmere, moisture-wicking activewear, and more.
Like detergent, fabric softener (aka fabric conditioner) is a laundry staple that many people rely on to keep their clothes in peak condition. Whether it’s liquid conditioner added to the wash, or sheets tossed in the dryer, the product is used to soften clothes and reduce wrinkles. But despite the many benefits of fabric softener, when used incorrectly it can wreak havoc on certain fabrics. From delicate cashmere wools to moisture-wicking workout clothes, the list is of fabrics you should never wash or dry with fabric softener is more extensive than you might think.

A Guide to Collecting Milk Glass—and How Much It’s Worth
Add these timeless, well-loved pieces, named for their opaque or translucent ivory hue, to your antique collection.
Antiques shops across America are lined with practical, vintage milk glass items in all shapes and sizes, items that your grandmother (and maybe even her grandmother) would have cherished: Tiny jewelry dishes for her nightstand, a milk glass reading lamp in the living room, or a tremendous white punch bowl that appears at every holiday gathering.
For generations, milk glass manufacturers made everything from hairpins to serving pieces in opaque white, blue, pink, and green shades. These vintage items, available at every price point, are easy to find and gorgeous to display, whether you’re looking for a minimalist collection of petite vases or a complete set of everyday dinnerware.

30 years ago Janet Jackson’s janet. album reinvented the modern pop diva
That’s the way legends go.
On May 18, 1993, Janet Damita Jo Jackson released her fifth studio album, janet., as in “Janet, period.”
It was a conscious separation from her famous family name, which had been cited as the reason for the blockbuster success with 1986’s Control and 1989’s Rhythm Nation 1814. Never mind that only two of the 10 Jackson kids were bona fide superstars, despite LaToya’s best efforts.
But the then-27-old singer had something to prove — and prove it she did. Her first album for Virgin Records under a record-breaking $40 million contract, janet. firmly brought Ms. Jackson, who was embracing her own nasty, into the ’90s, establishing her as a sex symbol and a grown-ass woman, and setting the template for every pop diva that followed in her wake. For better and for worse.

[Photo Credit: zumarestaurant.com, into.co.uk]

• T LOunge