T LOunge for May 2nd, 2023

Maison Jaguar Restaurant – Madrid, Spain

NO TALK FOR TIME, KITTENS!  We’re about to slam you with an avalanche of Met Gala coverage, so settle in for a long haul.

The Costume Institute Celebrates The Multidimensionality Of Karl Lagerfeld’s Vision
A man who adopted a persona to navigate his way through public life, Karl Lagerfeld was one of the most famous – and most elusive – people on the planet. He continues to be the subject of intense fascination, inspiring the Costume Institute’s much anticipated exhibition Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.
Though not organised biographically, the presence of the designer’s person permeates the exhibition. Entering the show, the visitor passes two dresses in nooks before turning a corner and coming face-to-face with a wall-sized projection of a clip from Loïc Prigent’s video documentation of Lagerfeld sketching. Each stroke made by the designer’s gloved hands on white paper has a sound. Together these gestures and noises form a staccato symphony that is as confident and precise as the designer’s own polished image.

Fragrance Helped Revive Lost Memories of My Mother
Her signature scent from my childhood has now become a Ouija board.
My mother, Kimberly, loved white florals: freckled limbs moisturized with plumeria body lotion, rooms filled with Pottery Barn furniture and Madonna lilies, and pulse points misted with her signature tuberose perfume before she walked out the door.
When she died of cancer in 2011, the wake was filled with her favorite flowers, giving me a decade-long aversion to the scents she loved so much. Until recently, I was still haunted by white florals—I would give away bouquets oversaturated with pungent lilies because the smell made me nauseous. At the time of her death, I was a naïve 21-year-old who assumed the memories of my mother would be permanently etched into my brain. The image of her long nails always painted the same shade of OPI red, the sound of her guawffish laugh, even the way she said my name in her sorta-Southern drawl, are all now fading as I grow older. In a panic, I scoured the internet to find a fix.

What’s for Dinner at the 2023 Met Gala?
Karl Lagerfeld loved throwing dinner parties. (“He’d take me to chaotically planned, totally glamorous dinners at his house, and those incredible nights often ended with dancing,” Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue and global editorial director of Condé Nast recently told the New York Times.) So, when choosing a culinary concept for the 2023 Met Gala, the Vogue special events department and caterer Olivier Cheng took their cues from one of Lagerfeld’s most famous soirées: the wedding reception he hosted for Paloma Picasso.

“Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” Offers a Detailed View of the Designer’s Legacy
Inside the Costume Institute’s exhibition dedicated to Lagerfeld’s extraordinary 65-year career.
Eight hours before the 2023 Met Gala, fans were already camped outside the New York City museum, hoping to get a front-row view of their favorite stars at fashion’s biggest night. (Some had taken off their shoes and sat on the sidewalk to get comfortable; others had bags of food with them for sustenance during the long day ahead.) Across the street, journalists; representatives from Chanel, Fendi, and the Karl Lagerfeld brand; friends of Condé Nast and Anna Wintour, and more insiders filed into the museum for a preview of “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” the Costume Institute exhibition at the center of all this Met Gala commotion. The show aims to capture Lagerfeld’s impact upon fashion—both the insular industry and the way folks dress on Main Street—his connection to pop culture writ large, and how he transformed the art of clothing design itself. Featuring nearly 200 items including sketches and garments from Lagerfeld’s 65-year career at the helm of the aforementioned houses as well as his time at Balmain, Chloé, and Patou, the exhibition is a thorough survey of Lagerfeld’s many spectacular looks.

Lizzo Shuts Down the Met Gala With a Shimmering Surprise Performance
After a red carpet rife with prim white pearls, big black bows, and plenty of nods to Choupette, Lizzo brought the juice to the Met Gala with a stunning surprise performance at the Temple of Dendur. Styled by Patti Wilson, the star was dressed in a Fendi coat covered in glittering mirrored paillettes, a silvery Yitty body suit, and over-the-knee boots from Piferi—to say nothing of her Fendi bangles, Swarovski rings, and vintage Saint Laurent earrings—delighting guests with a similarly dynamic setlist.

Diane Keaton: “You’re Gonna Pray to Get Off This Call”
Read the interview in which the THR Icon — one of Hollywood’s greatest comedians, dramatic actresses and style icons — sings inappropriate lyrics, reminisces about her career (from ‘The Godfather’ to Woody Allen to ‘Book Club’), and tries to avoid talking about herself.
In talking with Diane Keaton, you get the sense she is most comfortable discussing anything — her beloved mother, her impressive co-stars, the photograph she pulled from a coffee table book about poor dental hygiene she found at a flea market — other than herself.
If she were to talk about herself, there would be a lot to cover, beginning with an early career filled with New York theater, the Godfather films and a prolific partnership with Woody Allen. She has since accumulated four Oscar nominations — she la-di-da-ed her way to a win for 1977’s Annie Hall — with the films Reds and Looking for Mr. Goodbar proving her dramatic muscle, while titles like 1996’s The First Wives Club and Something’s Gotta Give cemented her as one of Hollywood’s greatest onscreen comediennes. Her most recent career arc has seen her in such features as Book Club (grossing $104 million globally), surrounded by other equally decorated Hollywood veterans of the Jane Fonda variety.

The Renewed Importance of the Texas Gay Rodeo
As conservative politicians try to control expressions of gender and sexuality, a rural haven from hostility offers competition and comfort.
These days, the number of competitors and spectators is a fraction of what it once was. “A lot of your population is in your big metropolitan areas, and kids just don’t want to do this anymore,” Mac said. He also theorized that, as gay culture has gone mainstream, there is less of a need for separate spaces: “Now you go to Round-Up”—a country-and-Western L.G.B.T.Q. dance club in Dallas—“and there are as many straight people as there are gays.”
But, at a time when the urban-rural divide is as politically polarized as it’s ever been, fans of gay rodeo have come to appreciate it as a place where rural signifiers—big hats, big trucks, George Strait songs—have a different valence. “People think, O.K., you’re country—you’re a white, conservative, small-minded person. And that’s just not how it is,” Aurielle said.

Where Does the British Monarchy Go Under King Charles III?
The looming question is whether the longtime sovereign-in-waiting can maintain public support for the royals across Britain and the Commonwealth.
At a moment when Britain has entered a period of official mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, and the former Prince Charles, at the tender age of seventy-three, has just delivered his first public address as King Charles III—a tribute to his mother—two potentially conflicting realities hold true. In this third decade of the twenty-first century, the idea of a hereditary monarch serving as the head of a large democratic state seems like an anachronism. And the British monarchy remains, on the face of things, a highly popular political institution in the U.K.

Rebranding the Great American Lawn for the 21st Century
The idyllic grass lawn is evolving.
Once the stuff of suburban legend, plush plots of perfectly mowed, manicured turf—enclosed by iconic white picket fences—stand in verdant opposition to new-age sustainability efforts that prioritize native plants and rewilding. Factor in the record-breaking droughts plaguing the nation, dwindling pollinator populations, new aesthetic trends, and a desire for lower-maintenance landscapes, and this truth becomes difficult to deny: Grass might not actually be greener on the other side of climate change.

Millets Are the Sustainable Super Grains We Should All Be Eating
It’s officially the year of the millet, according to the United Nations. Learn how to use this group of nutri-cereals—which includes sorghum, millet, teff, and fonio—in your cooking.
The United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets, so there’s a good chance you’ll be seeing more millet recipes and spotting millets on restaurant menus. Why have millets earned their own year? According to a statement by the UN, millets have been a key component of indigenous culture for centuries. They are traditionally eaten in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where independent farmers continue to grow the grain. What’s more, millets can thrive in droughts and heat, making their cultivation important for local communities.

What to Consider Before Painting Brick—and How to Do It Right
When done correctly, painted brick can last years before needed to be touched up.
Whether it covers the entirety of your property’s exterior or is just featured as an accent wall, you’ve probably wondered at one point or another if you can paint your home’s brick. While it’s often seen as timeless, sometimes brick can look dated in certain interiors or exteriors and painting it is a great way to bring an updated look to your space. Though it may work aesthetically, painting brick takes time—and may be difficult to remove in the future if you have a change of heart. But if you’re interested in taking the leap, there are a few things you should know when it comes to tackling this home project.

10 Types of Trim That Will Instantly Elevate Your Home
Learn how to use trim to accent picture frames, make a room appear bigger, and protect walls from damage.
Although it may seem like a minor detail when it comes to curating the perfect home, trim is an easy and affordable way to instantly elevate your space. Typically used to fill in gaps between two areas (like the wall and the ceiling), trim can also be highly decorative when used creatively. The material comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, and is often used to frame wall art, highlight door frames, and create an accent wall. To tackle these projects, it helps to first understand the difference between popular types of trim and how to use each to create unmatched beauty in your home.

Tiara of the month: the fascinating royal history of the oldest surviving crown of England
The Palatine Crown was first documented in the inventory of King Richard II of England, who ruled from 1377 to 1399
This Saturday, the eyes of the world will be trained on Westminster Abbey for King Charles’s Coronation. In a symbolic moment, the King will have St Edward’s Crown placed atop his head by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who will conduct the historic service.
The crown is steeped in history and dates back to the 1660s. But one royal treasure pre-dates this most important of artefacts by 300 years: the Palatine Crown, also known as the Crown of Princess Blanche or the Bohemian Crown, which is the oldest surviving crown of England.

Revealed: the aristocrats of history who’ve played a vital role in previous coronations
They’re the grandest of grandees who’ve helped usher in the new monarch. Will you recognise their titles among this year’s list of invitees? Dora Davies-Evitt delves into the archives in the June issue
A coronation is a hot ticket, an invitation-only event for the grandest of grandees. Since William the Conqueror’s coronation in 1066, the aristocracy has always fussed over a coveted front-row seat. But, for King Charles’s coronation in 2023, the lords, ladies, dukes and duchesses who would previously have had guaranteed roles in the ceremony had to apply online, and those who’d thought the crown or sceptre was theirs to carry were no longer sure. ‘Best born, first served’ might have been the mantra of old, but with the numbers slashed to just 2,000 (compared to 8,000 in 1953), rumours spread that once-gifted seats were going to a ballot. So which names will you recognise on King Charles’s coronation guest list?

[Photo Credit: maisonjaguar.com, milstudios.es]

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