T LOunge for September 11th, 2023

PinLes Jardins d’Épicure Restaurant – Bray-et-Lû, France

It’s MONDAY and we’re feeling the need for a lush LOunge and as little contact with the outside world as possible. Come join us! We have a ton of things to show you today, so slip into your judging pants and pick a cocktail to get the day started.

An intimate portrait of Gabrielle Chanel: the woman at the vanguard of modernist fashion
A new exhibition at the V&A sheds fresh light on the extraordinary life and legacy of Gabrielle Chanel – including surprising findings about her contribution to wartime Resistance efforts.
It is now 25 years since I first started researching Chanel, but she still has the ability to surprise me. In the course of her long life – which began in poverty and obscurity in 1883, when she was born the illegitimate daughter of an itinerant peddler, and ended in 1971, by which time she had become a fabled fashion icon – Chanel recreated her story many times over. She made herself almost impossible to pin down; yet her elusiveness and infinite capacity to astonish remain part of her continuing mystique.

Donyale Luna: Supermodel
Donyale Luna: Supermodel chronicles the remarkable life and career of Donyale Luna, the first Black model to grace the cover of both Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. Born Peggy Ann Freeman in Detroit, Michigan, Luna became a larger-than-life character who broke barriers in the fashion industry, challenged the prevailing ideals of beauty, and influenced culture — all before her untimely death at age 33. PREMIERES SEPTEMBER 13 AT 9 PM

Why The Wales Family Always Wears Blue
The Prince and Princess of Wales’s Christmas cards are always perfect, but in 2022, especially so. It showed the British royals and their three young children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – strolling down a country lane in slightly different shades of blue, with William’s button-down matching George’s shorts, which then corresponded perfectly with his little sister’s sneakers. The intended message of the colour coordination was obvious: they were a united family unit.

Here’s Kylie Jenner And Timothée Chalamet Enjoying A PDA-Filled Date At The US Open
After making out at Beyoncé’s concert on September 4 and attending a New York Fashion Week dinner together on Saturday, Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet had their third public date night this month at the US Open this evening.
The couple was spotted in the stands, both wearing black for the men’s singles finals. Jenner appeared to be stroking Chalamet’s hair in a clip shared on the US Open’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter. They were also photographed generally being affectionate with each other.

Citrus nails is the fresh manicure trending in the heatwave
When life gives you lemons, put them on your nails…
Is it just us who dictate our nail designs based on the weather? Winters are filled with blues, spring calls for florals shades and summer is reserved for citrus nails exclusively of course, to really get us in the spirit.
Although this summer hasn’t given us much in terms of weather, this week seems to have perked up. The perfect window of opportunity to add a burst of freshness to our manis. Going for oranges, yellow and green hues shades is a sure way of complimenting your newly tanned skin beautiful.

Start Saving Ribbons: This Hair Trend Is Already All Over Fashion Week
We’ve only seen a sliver of the spring 2024 runways, and one thing is clear: We will all be wearing ribbons in our hair come next March.
Perhaps over the past few months you’ve been squirrelling away some ribbons from a floral arrangement or a gift with purchase — waiting for the perfect moment to use them. All that time, the humble ribbon had been slowly inching its way into the beauty world’s consciousness.

Peter Phillips Is Building an Ice Rink at Kensington Palace for the Holidays
The skating rink will be built on Prince William and Kate Middleton’s former helipad.
King Charles’s nephew, Peter Phillips, announced he will open an ice rink at Kensington Palace this winter.
[…] He added, “Your options are slightly limited when you’re looking for event sites [in central London], having done an event here previously, I knew the various challenges that there are when putting an event on here but at the same time, what a success an event on here could be.”The rink, billed as the UK’s largest rink, will have the capacity to welcome 750 skaters a day, and will be built on the helipad formerly used by Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Coco Gauff Wins Her First Grand Slam Title at the US Open
At New York’s USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe (there had been some bad weather earlier in the day), sixth-seeded Coco Gauff, of the United States, and second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, faced off in a nerve-racking US Open final. But after a thrilling three sets, 19-year-old Gauff came away the victor, besting Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Marking Gauff’s second career major final and first Grand Slam title—she was the runner-up at last year’s French Open, losing to Iga Swiatek—today’s match also made her the US Open’s third American teenage champion ever, after Tracy Austin and Serena Williams.

“It Felt Really Scary”: Sia on Pulling Off Her Surprise Fashion Week Performance
Christian Siriano debuted his spring 2024 collection—a special moment for the designer, given he was celebrating his 15-year anniversary. “I’m proud of everything that we’ve done,” Siriano tells Vogue of the milestone. “It’s not for everybody, but I’m proud of who it is for. I wanted to go back to creating fantasy, dreamlike clothes.” A star-studded front row came out for the affair, including Janet Jackson, Avril Lavigne, Kesha, and Laura Linney. But it was the surprise musical performance by Sia that had the crowd buzzing with excitement. The elusive musician made a rare public appearance to sing two of her megahits, “Chandelier” and “Diamonds,” during the show’s grand finale. Turns out, Siriano and Sia have been friends for a long time.

A New Documentary Shines a Light on Legendary MakeUp Artist François Nars
Collaging film clips from more than 50 of his favorite movies with rare backstage footage from runway shows and shoots with Steven Meisel, Unknown Beauty: François Nars tells the story of the legendary makeup artist, photographer, and creative director of Nars Cosmetics. “Through this film, my intention was to offer viewers a glimpse into the very essence of what has fueled my creative journey throughout the years,” says Nars. “It was important to me to share the sources of inspiration—such as the time period between the 1970s and 1980s—that shaped my artistic vision.” Beyond that, the film is a celebration of the universal pursuit of beauty, one that still preoccupies Nars today.

Why Does McDonald’s Ketchup Taste So Different From Heinz?
A former McDonald’s chef spills the beans (or tomatoes).
Ever wondered why that McDonald’s cheeseburger seems to be on its own level when satisfying your cravings? It could all come down to its delicious, proprietary ketchup. But hang on. Why does McDonald’s ketchup taste different from brands like Heinz?
Mike Haracz, a former executive chef for McDonald’s, went on TikTok to answer that very question, posed by one of his followers, as well as debunk the theory that the fast food chain is putting honey in its ketchup.

He moved from Reno to rural Portugal, bought a house for $300,000, and makes travel videos for a living: How one American guy pieced together his dream life at 32
For Dave Alastair, an American man who had been living in Nevada, moving to a rural province 45 minutes north of Lisbon, Portugal, wasn’t exactly a planned decision.
Alastair, now 32, lost his job in the aviation industry when the pandemic hit. While he was out of a job, he started his own videography company, which eventually got him into making travel videos.
“Once Europe opened, I decided to come to check out Portugal. Pretty much it had been on my list of places to visit for a while,” Alastair told Insider.

Alba Baptista and Chris Evans’ Super Secret Wedding Included NDAs and a No Cell Phone Rule
These two got married at home among a ton of A-list guests.
Chris Evans is officially off the market! The “Captain America: The First Avenger” star married Alba Baptista over the weekend, Page Six has learned.
The couple said “I do” Saturday in an intimate ceremony that took place in Massachusetts at their Boston-area home. An insider tells us the nuptials were “locked down tight,” as guests signed NDAs and phones were forfeited.

How birthdays became week-long blowouts
If your friends have started throwing lavish, time-intensive birthday celebrations, here’s how to navigate.
Depending on who you talk to, birthdays rank as one of the most significant days of the year. Who better to spend it with than your closest confidantes? A YouGov poll of 1,000 Americans showed that 72 percent spend at least some of their birthdays with friends.
Among certain circles, however, birthday parties have ballooned beyond the standard dinner and cake. While lavish birthday celebrations give single and child-free adults an opportunity to bask in the spotlight for a day (or week) similar to the effect of weddings and baby showers, throwing yearly massive events can strain a relationship.

The 19th Century’s Most Scandalous Painting Comes to New York
“Olympia,” the brothel scene that birthed modern art, crosses the Atlantic for the first time in the Met exhibition “Manet/Degas.”
In 2013, for her 150th birthday, “Olympia” went to Venice and got to hang next to Titian’s “Venus of Urbino,” one of Manet’s main inspirations. In 2016, the picture was shipped off to Moscow and St. Petersburg as part of an inglorious Franco-Russian diplomacy effort. (“We’re less proud of that one now,” said Christophe Leribault, the Orsay’s director.)
And on Sept. 24, “Olympia” arrives in New York, as the focal point of “Manet/Degas,” the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s momentous fall exhibition of two city boys and the modern capital they painted.

The Long Life and Long Reach of George Balanchine’s Butterflies
Balanchine didn’t think his ballets would last. But many have become classics, the cornerstone of repertory not just at City Ballet but around the world.
While celebrating its 75th anniversary this fall, New York City Ballet is performing 18 ballets by its founding choreographer, George Balanchine. But to get a sense of the global standing of Balanchine, 40 years after his death, other numbers might be more telling. Last year, for instance, around 50 other ballet companies across the world performed his works, about 75 dances in total.

The Best Grape Jelly Is Homemade
Concord grape season is a short one, but you can extend it by making this delicious preserve, Yewande Komolafe writes.
In the summer of 2010, I worked at Pies ‘n’ Thighs, a Brooklyn restaurant focused on classic Southern comfort foods. One of my responsibilities was transforming that morning’s produce order into the basis for the day’s dishes. Over time, the fruits and vegetables that came my way helped me chart the changing season and experience the world outside our basement kitchen. And it was there that I first encountered Concord grapes, the deep purple fruit arriving in flats the very moment the season seemed to be peaking, the kitchen ovens making the mid-August humidity almost overwhelming.

‘Minx’ Costume Designer on Crafting a 1973 Fantasy Wardrobe, From ‘Porno Watergate’ to Joan Didion
Designing costumes for nude models sounds a bit like an oxymoron, but Marie Schley, the costume designer on Starz’s raunchy comedy “Minx,” says otherwise: “You’d be surprised how many clothes are in a nude photo shoot. How else are you gonna know they’re cowboys?”
Created by Ellen Rapoport, “Minx” is set in the early ’70s, and follows a team trying to keep their women-targeted porn-magazine afloat (think Ms. meets Playboy.) Originally debuting on Max in 2022, the show found a new home on Starz after Max scrapped it — its second season premiered in July.

The Right Way to Clean Velvet Furniture
From spot cleaning to steaming, here’s how to keep your velvet upholstery looking luxe over time.
As beautiful as velvet upholstery looks, caring for it can be tricky. Although it’s a luxurious and soft fabric, velvet is susceptible to stubborn stains and easily attracts dust and dirt. Without proper cleaning, velvet furniture can quickly take on a dingy, dull appearance. But the fabric can be restored to its original appearance when you’re armed with proper cleaning techniques and materials. Whether you’re cleaning a velvet couch, chair, or other furniture made from the material, these tips will help keep your velvet upholstery in mint condition.

Tapping Into Beer: A Guide to Brews for the Beer Curious
Open up a whole brew world by learning some beer basics.
If you’re beer-curious, how to get started or learn more? There is a pretty overwhelming ocean of suds to wade into. As of 2022 there were over 9,500 breweries and counting in the United States, according to the Brewers Association1, the not-for-profit trade organization representing American craft breweries. From that multitude of makers, comes a seemingly insurmountable pile of styles. How can a would-be beer drinker navigate the wide world of beer? We asked certified cicerone Anne Becerra of New York’s Treadwell Park to guide us.

The Best Times to Visit Quebec City, According to Locals
When to visit the Canadian destination for good weather, fall foliage, and more.
Nestled in the heart of French Canada, Quebec City is renowned for its historic architecture, lively festivals, and vibrant cultural scene. The historic district of Old Quebec looks like it is straight out of a fairytale, especially under a blanket of snow. And with a full calendar of events — including one of the world’s largest and oldest winter carnivals — the destination attracts travelers year-round. That said, certain months offer better weather and more activities than others.

[Photo Credit: lesjardinsdepicure.com]

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