T LOunge for September 29, 2023

PinKayuputi Restaurant at The St. Regis – Langkawi, Malaysia

Darlings the azure sea and sky await you, for it is FRIDAY and you’ve earned this view. Our view is decidedly less sunny in London, but you won’t hear us complaining. We’re dashing off to the palace, but we left you a few things to opinionate upon today. Talk (and judge) amongst yourselves!

What Does It Take to Decorate the White House? A New Book Reveals the Secret
Furnishing the White House chronicles the interior decor of the president’s home, from the moment Jackie Kennedy took the reins to the Obama and Trump eras.
Kennedy, 31 when she became the first lady of the United States of America, detested the fact that the White House she inherited lacked historical nods to those who came before her and got to work: Kennedy hired the first-ever White House Curator, created what, in 1964, became the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, and founded the private non-profit White House Historical Association whose mission is to acquire, preserved, and shared with the American people.

22 Vintage Photos Of French Beauty Muse Brigitte Bardot
She’s the doe-eyed French beauty muse whose bouffant hair and sun-kissed skin continue to inspire industry experts, and today Brigitte Bardot turns 89. Having arrived on screen in the 1950s, she swiftly rose to film-star fame and became one of the defining sex symbols of the mid-20th century. It’s easy to see why: those pillowy lips, the voluminous blonde mane (complete with stellar curtain bangs) and that arresting, wide-eyed stare. Not to mention her chic Riviera wardrobe.

A New Book Celebrates The Many Homes Of Ralph Lauren
A new book by Rizzoli, Ralph Lauren: A Way of Living, shows just how true that is. Chronicling the many houses of Ralph Lauren and his wife Ricky – from a New York City apartment to a Bedford Country estate, from a Colorado ranch to a Jamaican villa – it not only offers an unprecedented look inside the family’s impeccable homes, but how, in turn, they’ve influenced the evolution of his clothing designs.

Why The World Wants You To Marry
From government policies to social media, there’s a growing mood that tying the knot is good for us and good for society. Lotte Jeffs looks into what’s behind the great marriage conspiracy
From early childhood, society and culture conspires to present marriage as the happy ending. Facing the world as a couple, preferably one bound in wedlock is the best way to survive the perils of modern life. And despite a rise in conscious individualism and the centring of the self that we have experienced in recent decades, it remains an axiom of our time: being married makes childcare, buying or renting property, shopping for food, accessing healthcare and so many other expenses more manageable.

1920s Finger Waves are back for SS24 – Here’s How to Style Them, 100 Years Later
The classic style, made modern.
After a quick glance at the spring/summer 2024 shows, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d stepped back in time to the Jazz Age. From New York to London, designers including Giorgio Armani and Yuhan Wang sent models down the runway in unique iterations of the classic finger wave hairstyle, making one thing clear: the decadence of the 1920s is back.

96 Best Thriller Movies If You’re All About That Suspense
Thrillers that make you want to double check the front door is locked.
From 2010 Oscar-winning film Black Swan, which shows the dark side of perfectionism, themed around the competitive ballet industry, to 2021 erotic thriller The Voyeurs, which sees Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney as one half of a couple fixated on another’s sex life, there’s a range of plot lines to keep you hooked.
That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of the best thriller movies to watch that are sure to have you biting your nails throughout.

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding Brings the Vibrancy of Black Hair to Broadway
With an all-Black cast and a majority Black creative team, the show brings a new story to the American stage
Written by Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding invites audiences to observe an imaginary Harlem salon and its customers and hairdressers over the course of a day. The cast is Black, as is the majority of the creative team—a rarity on Broadway. I spoke with the cast and crew to understand how they worked together to bring this often overlooked world to life.

Alaïa’s Pieter Mulier Is Following a Legend—And Pushing the Storied House Into the Future
At 44, Mulier is at once a new arrival in the firmament of creative directors—Alaïa is the first house he has led—and one of fashion’s ensconced steady hands. For 16 years he served as Raf Simons’s deputy and sounding board, moving along with his mentor’s career as it rose toward ever-larger labels and distinguishing himself not only by his creative point of view but by his skill in managing large teams. When he was picked to succeed the Tunisian-born designer Azzedine Alaïa, who died in 2017 after reimagining the language of body-conscious tailoring, many wondered whether Mulier could finesse the transition, teasing forth the brand’s fragile magic while pushing his own fresher vision through.

How Affogato Became Fashion’s Favorite Dessert
Combining two of Italy’s most iconic creations, affogato is made by drowning scoops of vanilla gelato in a shot of strong espresso, creating the perfect blend of bitter and sweet. Although its exact origins are unknown, it is believed to have gained popularity in the 1950s after the industrialization of ice cream production. Quintessentially Italian, the dessert is abundant during summer and can be found on almost any cobblestone street. But outside of the country, affogato is becoming increasingly inescapable—and is now synonymous with the dream of a sun-soaked Italian vacation.

Hershey and Crocs Are Coming Together for a Sweet Collaboration
Yes, you need them.
The Hershey x Crocs kicks come in two versions: one is a deep chocolatey brown that conjures images of the OG Hershey chocolate bar, and the other is a Reese’s orange number that looks like …well, you get it. Both styles are available in a range of sizes for adults and children, and they can be further customized with a set of exclusive Jibbitz charms shaped like Hershey’s Kisses, Hershey Bars, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

These Pumpkin Praline Bars Are Our New Favorite Way to Use a Can of Pumpkin Puree
A can of Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree is the key to giving these bars their dense, cake-like texture.
Bring pumpkin to the table in these easy to make and eat bars topped with a decadent frosting inspired by the flavors of pralines — a classic Southern confection. Topped with decadent brown sugar frosting, these cakelike bars are loaded with fall flavor — earthy and sweet pumpkin, warm spices, and toasty pecans.

Mega Watts! From Kent to Hollywood, Naomi Watts is taking charge on the cover of the November issue
She might look every inch the Hollywood siren, but you could say Naomi Watts was an English rose. The actress tells Tatler about fame, glamour and growing up in the Garden of England
The performer, beloved by critics, is undeniably a world-class actor. She’s also a peculiar kind of movie star: the face everyone knows, but – by her own admission – they’re not quite sure where from. She’s an auteur’s actor (David Lynch and Alejandro González Iñárritu love working with her), a blockbuster leading lady (she starred in Peter Jackson’s King Kong) and, in The Watcher, a well-received addition to Ryan Murphy’s operatic television empire. Watts is also a woman who felt the ‘aloneness’ of experiencing early menopause in her late thirties, but was afraid that telling the world would crash her career. She’s the woman who then did just that anyway, with grace, relatability and a good sense of humour, founding the sophisticated holistic menopause beauty and wellness brand Stripes.

Thanks to Taylor Swift, Ranch Dressing Is ‘Seemingly’ Everywhere
After a photo of the pop superstar at an N.F.L. game last weekend went viral, snack and condiment companies raced to capitalize.
Can’t get enough of the budding relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce? Neither can ranch dressing.
Ms. Swift, a 12-time Grammy winner whose stardom has reached new heights this year with the stratospheric success of her Eras Tour, was attending the Kansas City Chiefs’ football game on Sunday — Mr. Kelce plays tight end on the team — when she was photographed next to a plate containing a piece of chicken and two dipping sauces. A fan-run Swift account on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, shared the photo and said one of the dips was “seemingly ranch.”

16 Dishes to Make for Someone Going Through a Hard Time
Divorce, death, a big move, illness: Food may not fix anything, but a lovingly prepared meal can bring some much-needed comfort and nourishment.
When your world feels like it’s falling to pieces — and just dragging yourself out of bed and into the kitchen to shove a few Oreos into your mouth can feel like a herculean task — shopping for and cooking something can feel downright impossible. If your friend or family member is going through a terrible ordeal, making something delicious and delivering it to their door with a sweet little note may not scare away the monsters, but it can provide sustenance for the hard (and hopefully healing) days ahead. These are the dishes New York Times Cooking editors, writers and more like to make for their loved ones.

The 8 Best Substitutes for Eggs in Baking—Plus Tips for Making the Swap
From carbonated water to ground flaxseed, put these pantry items to work the next time eggs are off the table.
Whether you’re following a vegan diet, serving a guest with an egg allergy, or are simply out of eggs, there are many reasons you might need to substitute eggs when baking. Fortunately, it’s possible to create delicious baked goods without eggs, so long as you keep a few things in mind. Not all egg substitutes in baking are equal, and the best replacement depends on the type of recipe. Learn about easy egg swaps and how to use each one.

7 Ways to Make Your Laundry Smell Fresh
Give your linens a scent boost with these laundry tips.
Few scents compare to the smell of fresh laundry. For many people, it’s a signal that their garments have been adequately cleaned. But if your laundry comes out of the washing machine smelling mildewy or has no smell at all, you may be wondering how you can achieve that fresh linen scent. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can enhance the smell of your garments. From cleaning your washing machine to changing your laundry routine, these tips will have your clothes smelling incredible in no time.

This 5.5-hour Vintage Train Journey Through New Hampshire Is One of the Best Ways to See Fall Foliage
Surround yourself in Mother Nature’s fall bounty.
The Crawford Notch train’s Mountaineer trip takes travelers on an epic five-and-a-half-hour journey through 60 miles of unforgettable natural landscapes in the Mount Washington Valley in New Hampshire right to its namesake, the Crawford Notch. And, if you go in the fall, you’ll ride right through a kaleidoscope unlike any other.

[Photo Credit: marriott.com]

• T LOunge