T LOunge for February 20th 2025

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PinParadiso Bar and Restaurant – Johannesburg, South Africa

Hello? It’s THURSDAY! Let’s celebrate that! We’re feeling the need to be a weensy bit extra today, so we need a completely over-the-top LOunge in which to do all of our swanning about and procrastinating. Grab a seat! Shout out something shocking! Lead everyone in a sing-along! Or just quietly sip your cocktail and judge everyone else for being so foolish. It’s all good!

Janelle Monáe to Play Tanya Smith, Con Artist Behind $40 Million Heist, in ‘Never Saw Me Coming’ Movie Adaptation
Smith, who will be involved in the movie as an executive producer, is the perpetually underestimated con-artist behind what’s been called “one of the single biggest threats to the entire United States banking system.”
Described as a heist thriller that becomes “a powerful examination of systemic prejudice and economic inequality,” the stranger-than-fiction story follows Smith’s journey from teenage hacker to financial system mastermind. By 18, she had already orchestrated a litany of heists, amassing millions of dollars while evading law enforcement in the process.

Zero Day is your next political drama must-watch – starring Angela Bassett as a female US president
Robert De Niro also joins the starry cast.
Get ready for your new Netflix political thriller obsession: Zero Day.
The series stars Robert De Niro, who plays “a hugely popular but complicated former US president” who is tasked with heading up the ‘Zero Day Commission’, an “unprecedented group of experts tasked with investigating a devastating global cyber attack”. He is recruited by Angela Bassett’s character, who happens to be the US President, and must carry out his mission while also dealing with his own personal demons.

Satin skin is the expensive and natural-looking finish that sits between dewy and matte—these are the best products
It’s a natural glow that’s never shiny
I’ve always been a dewy girl: I adopt a glowing skin routine every day and I rarely powder down my foundation. However, there are times when glowy finishes aren’t ideal, particularly given how much I travel in hot climates. Matte is just not for me, however; whenever I’ve tried a mattifying foundation or primer in the past, I end up looking pretty flat and dull.
But here’s the good news: these are no longer our only two options. It’s time to get to know the satin skin finish.

These top hair experts just revealed their 9 favourite hair colours for over-50s—they are the epitome of chic
Think rich coppers, creamy blondes and mocha mousse
At any age, hair colour and style is a personal preference and really, anything goes. It’s all about finding what makes you feel your best, be it embracing the greys or opting for rich coppers, creamy blondes or espresso tones.
With that said, I spoke with some of today’s top colourists to learn which hair colours look super stylish for over-50s. This list is great for ideas, but again, it’s completely up to you what you choose and whether you want to colour your hair. But who knows, maybe now is the time to experiment and have fun with your look.
Netflix’s 2025 comedy slate is fronted by amazing women – and it’s about time
2025 is the year for female-fronted comedy, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
While announcing their biggest upcoming titles, Netflix have let slip that some of the biggest 2025 comedy titles are led by women. And why wouldn’t they be? With the 2024 success of rom-com hit Nobody Want This – created by Erin Foster and fronted by the hilarious Kristen Bell – as well as the hype around Ali Wong’s stand up show Single Lady, it looks like women are claiming the comedy world for their own.

15 best tubing mascaras 2025, endorsed by makeup artists
Say buh-bye to smudges and smears.
Swapping your regular mascara out for one of the best tubing mascaras is definitely worth exploring, if you seem to always end up rocking raccoon eyes by the end of the day. Created from clever polymers that form little tubes around the hairs, tubing mascaras provide truly natural-looking lift, volume, and length to even the shortest and straightest of lashes.

How to use coconut oil for hair, according to experts
There’s a right way to apply it.
Touted as a multi-tasking wonder, coconut oil has been used as beauty staple in the east for over 4000 years. But it’s only in the past decade or so, that we’ve gone wild for it here in the west. Now considered to be the holy grail of natural beauty, coconut oil is used for everything from cleansing to teeth whitening.
The superstar ingredient has become heralded as something of a hair hero, too. Rich in fatty acids and vitamins, coconut oil is said to help moisturise hair cuticles and soothe the scalp. There’s also whisperings that it can help with healthy hair growth.

Brow lamination remains one of the most popular treatments for brushed-up brows
From flat and fine, to full & fluffy.
Eyebrow trends come and go, and the list just keeps growing. From overplucked skinny brows to microblading and microshading, our preferences are always evolving. Brow lamination, in particular, has skyrocketed in popularity over the past couple of years. The treatment uses chemicals to semi-permanently set eyebrow hairs in a vertical direction, creating a brushed-up, lifted look.

6 best curling irons for creating and holding every kind of wave
As far as hair tools are concerned, the best curling irons – or curling wands, as they’re otherwise often referred to – have always held a special place in my heart (and my haircare cabinet). I credit them for my ever-evolving hairstyling journey that dates all the way back to my teenage years.
Curling wands helped me create my first ‘tight curl’ ‘do for my first school dance, then beach waves for my university graduation and soft, classic curls for my first job interview. As contrary to popular belief, curling irons are more versatile than you’d think. Every one of them serves up a different type of curl – from mermaid waves to tightly coiled spirals, and big, bouncy ‘90s-influenced curls. And given that each curling wand also comes with its own settings and features, it makes the process of finding the best option for your desirable style even trickier.

The Scamanda podcast about a woman who faked her cancer is now a docuseries, and it’s coming to Disney+
Apple Cider Vinegar obsessives, this one’s for you.
It drops just as Apple Cider Vinegar is topping Netflix’s viewership charts, which tells the story of a slightly similar scam – of disgraced health influencer Belle Gibson, who also lied about having brain cancer and built a wellness empire around her stories of using healthy diet to beat her diagnosis.
The Scamanda docuseries – which deals with the real victims of the scam, and isn’t dramatised and scripted for the screen like Apple Cider Vinegar – definitely needs to be on all true crime addicts’ watchlists.

42 best animated movies that will let your imagination run wild
Get lost in the world of make-believe…
With animated movies, filmmakers can take risks and go where no human character has gone before with epic out-of-this-world storylines, bright, colourful sets that take our breath away and the lure of Hollywood’s elite voicing our favourite characters. Whether it was the world’s first feature-length animated film, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, back in 1937 or the most recent live-action remake of Pinocchio, or the newest flick on our list, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, we have greatly appreciated the ever-evolving modern technology that lets our imagination run wild.

Who will be the new James Bond?
The latest theory? Leo Woodall.
Now that the Daniel Craig era of the James Bond franchise is over, fans are still wondering: who will take up the 007 mantel next?
The latest theory? Leo Woodall. The Bridget Jones star has opened up about being open to “beating up some bad guys as Bond”. He hasn’t received a call yet, but after all the hype around his performances in The White Lotus, One Day and the Bridget Jones sequel, we wouldn’t be surprised if we got one soon.

40 For 40: The Women In Film And Television Power List
The women who’ll shape what – and how – you watch for decades to come.
In case you haven’t heard, 2025 marks a big year for ELLE UK; it’s our 40th anniversary. To celebrate, ELLE will shine a light on the women who will define the next four decades in film, fashion, culture and social change through a series of power lists, each featuring 40 women.
The first in the series is our Women in Film and Television list in partnership with Bulgari that we launch today. The list below spans established disruptors and emerging game-changers and marks a fresh era on screen, in which a diverse array of women’s stories shine.

‘I’m Platform Agnostic’ – Why The Key To Success On Social Media Is Disloyalty
The best-selling author Emma Gannon on trusting the internet with your career and making a living out of it.
In 2012, a woman I knew made six-figures as a ‘Vine’ star. Do you remember Vine? It was a short-form video app, bought by Twitter back in 2012, and allowed its users to stitch together a six-second video, known for its looping effect. This is of course pretty commonplace now, since the explosion of ‘the content creator’ (according to the Financial Times, there are over 16 million content creators in the UK alone) but back then it was quite a rare job to have. The app exploded in popularity, and then in 2016, Twitter suddenly shut it down. Overnight, it vanished and she was suddenly jobless with zero income.

Mary Ellen Matthews Is the Woman Behind Every Portrait on ‘Saturday Night Live’ Since 1999
The late-night show’s resident photographer shares her favorite memories and insights from shooting all the talent who come through Studio 8H.
Saturday Night Live follows the same schedule every week. On Mondays, the writers and cast pitch ideas to the host. On Tuesdays, they go heads down writing sketches. On Wednesdays, there’s a table read. Then, on Thursdays, Mary Ellen Matthews enters the picture.
Matthews has been the late-night show’s visionary resident photographer, tasked with taking the bumper shots (images that air before the live taping cuts to commercial) of the talent who comes through the halls of Studio 8H, since 1999. The 59-year-old’s shoots are energized and imaginative. They sometimes recreate classic works of art or iconic scenes from film and TV; feature elaborate costuming or props (think: martinis, miniatures, and mammals), and capture the essence of both celebrity and comedy.

Here’s How to Wear the ‘90s Comeback Baggy Jeans Trend
No need to be intimidated.
Baggy jeans are having an undeniable moment in the spotlight. The Spring 2025 denim trends saw the widest wide-leg jeans at Aläia and Bottega Veneta. Your favorite fashion creators are discussing big, barrel-leg jeans in their no-brainer outfit formulas—Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire’s editor-in-chief and Self-Checkout author included. Perhaps you’ve even Googled “how to style baggy jeans” recently, feeling equal parts intrigued and intimidated by the oversized denim that’s virtually everywhere you look.

The Divas of the Westminster Dog Show Know How to Serve
Dogs may be the stars at the prestigious sporting event, but they’re not the only ones serving looks.
The floor of the arena was a swirl of activity. Handlers dressed in everything from sequined blazers to sensible sneakers hastily moved about, each with a dog that looked as if it had just stepped out of the best salon. There were towering Great Danes, tiny, trembling Chihuahuas, and every shape of fluff in between. The people here came from all over too—a blend of small-town breeders, lifelong show pros, and juniors stepping into the ring for the first time, carrying on a family tradition. […]
Behind the scenes at the Westminster Dog Show, there was a mix of nerves and excitement, last-minute brushing, pep talks, and pockets full of treats. It was the best kind of chaos: poodles getting last-minute hairspray touch-ups, basset hounds sprawled out as though they own the place, and a handler pushing a stroller with a perfectly groomed shih tzu inside, completely unbothered by the commotion.
But in the ring? In the ring it was all serious focus. Glamour spoke to several women who invited us inside their world.

6 Ways to Upgrade Your Boxed Mac and Cheese, According to Professional Chefs
We’ll never follow the package instructions again.
Making boxed mac and cheese is an art. Sure, you can follow the instructions and wind up with a perfectly delicious meal, but it’s even better when you use this combo of pasta and cheese as a blank slate for culinary creativity.
There are so many ways to customize this classic late-night dinner. You can add seasonings, throw in some vegetables, or even double up on the cheese. To get you inspired, here are six methods for upgrading your mac and cheese from F&W Best New Chefs. (Yep, even professional chefs make boxed mac and cheese.)

Nathan’s Famous Wants to Help You Boil Your Franks the ‘100% New York Way’
The hot dog purveyor is shipping out a key ingredient and it’s not what you’d expect.
Nathan’s Famous, the iconic New York hot dog brand, wants to send you a taste of the city. Just not the way you may think.
On Thursday, the company announced that it’s bringing the “magic of New York tap water to selected states across the country — because if you’re going to boil a hot dog, why not try it the 100% New York way?”
The water, it added, is sourced “directly from the state’s most famous resource,” which the New York City official website explains comes from nine reservoirs and three controlled lakes spread across a 2,000-square-mile watershed upstate around the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains.

The Invincible Jack Quaid
With his movies “Companion” and “Novocaine,” the young actor is showing he can do comedy, pain and a mix of the two.
Quaid, 32, is the son of the actors Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan. (That DNA is strong. You can see his father when he smiles, his mother when he squints.) He grew up in Santa Monica, Calif., grabbing snacks from the craft services table on his parents’ sets and attending a private school with a common room where he could screen his camcorder movies. (An early magnum opus: “Bicycle Cops.”) Which is all to say that Quaid grew up with privilege, and he knows what privilege, unexamined and unacknowledged, can do to a person. He can turn that arrogance on for auditions, which explains why his first role was as a villain in “The Hunger Games” and why he can now be seen as a very bad boyfriend in the thriller “Companion” (in theaters).

Being George Clooney Is Harder Than It Looks
He is making his Broadway debut with a stage version of his 2005 movie “Good Night, and Good Luck.” He’s ready, but also terrified.
George Clooney has been sneaking outside to smoke.
Not like his friend Barack Obama used to, when he was running for president and his wife, Michelle, was after him to quit. Clooney doesn’t even like smoking.
“I had to get better at inhaling,” he said. “I go outside so the kids don’t see and smoke a little bit.” He plans to switch to herbal cigarettes when he makes his Broadway debut next month in a stage adaptation of his 2005 movie, “Good Night, and Good Luck.”
Smoking has been unpleasant, he said, because in his Kentucky clan “eight uncles and aunts all died of lung cancer — it’s a big deal.” He noted that his aunt Rosemary Clooney, the torch singer and movie star, was 74 when she died in 2002 from complications of lung cancer. “My dad’s the only one that didn’t smoke, and he’s 91.”

The dA-Zed guide to Leigh Bowery
To mark the upcoming Leigh Bowery retrospective at Tate Modern, we delve into the life and times of the provocative polymath
In his short but extraordinary life, Leigh Bowery (1961-1994) forged a truly unique path. Known variously as an artist, performer, club kid, model, TV personality, fashion designer and musician, Bowery took on many different roles, always refusing to be limited by convention. Thirty years after his death, his work remains as fascinating, shocking, comical and contentious as ever.
As Leigh Bowery!, the retrospective bringing alive his life and work, opens at Tate Modern, we present a dA-Zed Guide to this inimitable artist provocateur and polymath.

Patrick Schwarzenegger Tells Chris Pratt How He Became a Sex-Crazed Finance Bro
When Patrick Schwarzenegger learned he’d be heading to Thailand to shoot The White Lotus, he cried—a fitting reaction to landing Hollywood’s best gig. Now in its third season, the HBO juggernaut is both a star-making machine and a famously good hang. Schwarzenegger, who has been building his resume with roles in shows like The Staircase and Gen V, was handpicked by creator Mike White to play a Southern finance bro, which required the Cali-born son of Hollywood royalty to dig a little deeper. To unpack this pivotal moment in his young career, Schwarzenegger called up his brother-in-law Chris Pratt for a quick chat, from one parking lot to another.

Meghan Markle’s As Ever Logo Has Hidden Tributes To Harry And Her Kids
Meghan subtly incorporated her family into her new brand.
Meghan Markle recently unveiled her rebranded lifestyle brand, As Ever, and its new logo is packed with subtle nods to her family and personal history. The design features a palm tree encased by two hummingbirds.
Us Weekly reports that Markle purposely chose a palm tree to symbolise her Montecito, California home with her husband, Prince Harry, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

Meghan Markle Faces Backlash for Using Clothing Brand’s Name for New Lifestyle Venture
The Duchess of Sussex’s brand is called As Ever, the same name as an existing clothing brand in New York City.
Meghan Markle‘s new lifestyle brand As Ever is already wrapped up in controversy days after being announced.
The Duchess of Sussex has been called out by some on social media for using the same name as an existing clothing brand called As Ever, which works out of New York and New Jersey.
On Monday, Markle took to her Instagram to reveal her new venture, which is a lifestyle brand and will not be making clothing. “Some of you may have heard whispers about what I’ve been creating,” she wrote. “I’m thrilled to introduce you to As Ever — a brand that I created and have poured my heart into.”

13 Easy Upgrades to Make Your Home Feel More Spacious
Designers share their favorite tricks for making any room seem more expansive.
Maximizing your square footage requires a bit of strategy and a keen eye for balancing function and flow. This is true whether you live in a live in a cozy apartment or are working with a sprawling floor plan. Fortunately, you don’t have to throw yourself (or your cash) into a splurge-y home renovation. There are plenty of simple and affordable upgrades that’ll make your home feel more spacious and effortlessly organized—including some DIY projects you can knock out in a day or less. These small changes are guaranteed to make a big impact. Here’s how to make your home feel more spacious, with advice straight from expert interior designers and decorators.

12 Cleaning Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes
Avoid these cleaning mistakes to ensure your home stays free of dust, dirt, and other debris.
It’s natural to look for shortcuts when cleaning your home in order to get the job done quickly. But some of these habits can prevent the surfaces in your home from getting truly clean, leaving bacteria, dirt, and dust to multiply. Avoiding these common cleaning pitfalls won’t just ensure your home is properly cleaned; it will also make the process easier on you in the long run. Ahead, we spoke to cleaning pros to get the dirt on the cleaning mistakes they see the most.

How to Clean Vinyl Records So They Sound Great for Years to Come
Keep your collection pristine with these safe cleaning practices.
For many music lovers, no audio format comes close to the rich, warm sounds of vinyl. While it’s true that the quality is unparalleled, vinyl records can be extremely delicate—even the smallest scratch or piece of dust can alter its sound quality. To prevent your records from damage, proper cleaning is essential. If you use the wrong technique or abrasive cleaning materials, you risk shortening the lifespan of your records. Keep your collection pristine for years to come with these expert-approved tips for cleaning vinyl records.

How to Bring Stale Bread Back to Life, According to a Baker
These expert-approved methods can help revive any dried-out loaf.
We’ve all been there. You buy a loaf of bread, plans change and you don’t use it, then a few days later, it has dried out and stale. You might be surprised to learn that stale bread isn’t always a bad thing. Many recipes are better when made with stale bread, such as ribollita, pappa al Pomodoro, and the ever-popular French toast and bread pudding. But for everyday avocado toast and sandwiches you need fresh bread. We spoke with a chef and baking instructor, who shared her foolproof methods for salvaging a stale loaf.

[Photo Credit: kt-interior.com, paradiso-za.com]

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