T LOunge for May 15th 2025

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PinRuby Rose Bar and Restaurant – Utrecht, Netherlands

Happy THURSDAY, darlings. Let’s spend it surrounded by flowers – fake ones, naturally, because we’re spending it in a bar. Today’s LOunge is gorgeously inviting and we have much to discuss in the hours ahead, so settle into your seat and prepare to be distracted.

Pedro Pascal Interviews Dakota Johnson: ‘Loving Someone Is The Most Scary And Beautiful Thing You Can Do’
The Materialists co-stars discuss love, nomadic living and where they actually first met.
How does one explain the allure of Dakota Johnson, a woman the internet can’t get enough of? There’s the storied family (parents Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, stepdad Antonio Banderas and grandmother Tippi Hedren), and her roles in massive blockbusters The Social Network, the Fifty Shades trilogy and Madame Web, plus indie masterpieces A Bigger Splash and The Lost Daughter. Then there’s the rock-star boyfriend: Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Throw in a medley of sexy ease, wry humour and a shaggy fringe that tousles the eyebrows just so. Oh, and her friendship with one of Hollywood’s most major leading men, Pedro Pascal.

Kristen Stewart Waited Her Whole Life to Direct The Chronology of Water
From the moment she read Lidia Yuknavitch’s bold memoir, Stewart knew that she had to make it into film: “It became a sacred text for me overnight.” But it took her eight years to finally get there.
The film, which will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 16, is an adaptation of the eponymous 2011 memoir, by Lidia Yuknavitch, who writes movingly about her childhood trauma, alcoholism, and the transformative power of writing. The book, described in its logline as “not your mother’s memoir,” is full of fiery prose and devastating imagery. “There are voices that help you find yours,” Stewart says of Yuknavitch’s work. “It became a sacred text for me overnight.”
The film, which stars Imogen Poots as Lidia, honors the memoir’s intensity by honestly depicting one woman’s difficult journey. It’s made even more visceral by an intense editing style featuring quick cuts and imagery, along with an immersive sound design. The Chronology of Water was not an easy movie to get funded, thanks to its subject matter and firmly female perspective—examining bodies and rage and shame and redemption. But it was a movie Stewart simply had to make. “The woman in this movie—she’s pretty battered,” she says. “The movie has gotten fucking battered. It’s very meta.”

This perfume was created in 1872, and I wear it today—it’s musky, sexy and deserves a spot in your collection
It smells nearly identical, 153 years later
Fragrance is woven into the tapestry of all of our lives, whether we like it or not. As such, a single scent has the ability to carry whole worlds and histories inside—some can even operate as a time-capsule to bygone eras; a world, say, under the rule of Queen Victoria, when smog, sooty fog and coal dust swirled around the streets of London.
The year is 1870, and amidst the churn of the city was an oasis on Jermyn Street, a Turkish hammam, where aromatic, steam-like vapours cut through the detritus.

After years of harsh gel manicures, I’m on a healing journey—this new polish range is like skincare for nails
An antidote for brittle, peeling talons
It all started when I decided to get acrylics in Louisiana. That’s a sentence I didn’t think I’d ever write, and while nothing worthy of a Cormac McCarthy novel occurred during my time in the Deep South, irrevocable damage was done to my nail beds, and that, my friends, is something worth crying about.
You see, for the first time, but certainly not the last, a nail technician removed my gel manicure with a drill, whittling down my nails till they were more flat than sphere-like. While some removed them properly, using the soak-off method, the damage was done: I was getting gels and nail art applied nearly every other week, and what I was left with underneath was thin, brittle and peeling nails, which were incapable of growing without breaking off.

Watercolour blush is the dreamy trend that has me channelling my inner lover girl this summer
A wash of colour
The transition into warmer months brings blooms of colour, summer flings, and a whole new beauty aesthetic to match. It’s the time of year when formulas get lighter and skin takes centre stage, with make-up becoming less about concealing and more about enhancing. If you’ve been sourcing new-season beauty inspiration, chances are you’ve already become acquainted with watercolour blush, a look that adds soft washes of colour to amplify your face’s natural warmth and shape.

Short on time but keen to get strong? These are the best 15-minute full-body workouts coaches do themselves
Because getting strong shouldn’t have to take all day.
If you’re into strength training (and if you’re not, why not?) but your life feels busier than ever, you’re going to love this. Sure, in an ideal world, we’d have unlimited time to work out, meet our protein goals, work and catch up with friends and family, but the fact is that we are living in a perpetual cycle of busyness, struggling to do it all, all the time.
But we have good news: you really can get fitter and stronger without spending hours in the gym. In fact, studies consistently show that shorter, intense sessions of around 15 minutes offer the same (if not more) benefits than sweating it out for an hour on a run, although we totally endorse that, too.

How Do We Raise Our Kids in a Time of Misogyny and Intimate Image Abuse?
“We tend to ask more of schools when we perhaps need to ask more of ourselves”
Teachers are constantly stretched. And yet, when we collectively gasped at Adolescence and our children’s increasing vulnerability to misogynist grooming, we sought a solution in showing the drama in schools. But as Jaimi Shrive and Dr Jessica Taylor of VictimFocus made clear in their open letter to the Government opposing the use of the drama in the classroom, “teachers are not specialists in male violence, trauma, radicalisation or abuse, and they would be expected to handle disclosures, emotional distress, defensive and triggered responses, and controversial discussions following this content.”
The dramatic impact of Adolescence is evident in the number of conversations it provoked. For me though, while excellent, it was missing at least one episode. Where was Katie’s narrative? The empathetic lens focused so astutely on Jamie and his family that the story of his victim was mostly unexplored.

19 best long-sleeve swimsuits to wear to the beach this summer
Long-sleeve swimsuits have the Kim Kardashian stamp of approval.
Long-sleeve swimsuits have been on the sartorial radar of a plethora of fashion bigwigs and GLAMOUR-adored celebs for the past few seasons – serving a modest and versatile approach to poolside dressing.
Sydney Sweeney was spotted last summer in a long-sleeve black one piece on vacay, and we loved Anne Hathaway’s full-coverage yellow and pink tie dye all-in-one, as seen on her boat trip in Sardinia last year. Anne added flippers and goggles to hit the water and a white bucket hat when back on board. Sun protection but make it fashion.

12 Nighties To Swap Your Pyjamas For Immediately
This breezy cotton nightwear is comfortable and on-trend
Fashion’s current penchant for the nightie is hard to ignore. As the big boho renaissance took to the SS25 runways, so did ethereal, floaty dresses; romantic lace, gossamer chiffon and delicate cotton-gauze pieces courtesy of Miu Miu, Chloe, Vivetta, Fiorucci and Sandy Liang.
But long before the night gown became something to style with a cardi and ballet pumps, women were turning to this seemingly old fashioned piece for pure comfort at home.
When cult pyjama brands started challenging restrictive eveningwear and championing their comfy-luxe co-ords (often complete with feathers), soon tailored pyjama shirts and trousers felt too stiff for bedtime. Never one for an oversized T-shirt, I looked elsewhere for nightwear that felt comfortable enough to snooze in.

7 Electrifying Jennifer Lawrence Performances To Watch Now
It’s been a jaw-dropping 12 years – yes, really – since a 22-year-old Jennifer Lawrence tripped over her Dior couture on her way to the Oscar podium to collect her Best Actress prize for Silver Linings Playbook. Backstage, a reporter asked her if she, now with one Academy Award win and two nominations just a few years into her career, was worried about peaking too early. “Well, now I am,” the actor replied, laughing and looking faux exasperated. Reader, she hadn’t – though the Hollywood stalwart’s career has, in more recent years, settled into a steady rhythm following an incredibly rapid early rise.
That, however, may all be about to change: after scandalising the Croisette with her red carpet flip flops two years ago, the Kentucky native, now 34, is about to return to the Cannes Film Festival with a supremely splashy new release: Lynne Ramsay’s mind-bending thriller Die My Love, in which she plays a new mother battling postpartum depression and psychosis opposite fellow industry fixture Robert Pattinson. Should the stars align, it’s the kind of meaty part in the kind of prestigious arthouse fare that could see Lawrence back on the Oscar stage.

Repackaging Diet Culture: How ‘Functional’ Food Took Over the Snack Aisle
The ‘better-for-you’ snack market is booming. But do the health claims live up to the marketing?
The term “functional foods” was coined during the 1980s by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. In the U.S., “functional” isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but the term has widely come to define foods and drinks that claim to offer additional health benefits beyond fuel.
Many foods and drinks are functional by nature. Yogurt has gut-healthy prebiotics, blueberries are antioxidant-rich, and lion’s mane mushrooms contain adaptogens that can reduce stress. But wellness marketers have co-opted the term to include packaged foods and drinks engineered to allegedly have health benefits. Now you can find “adaptogenic” chocolate, high-protein potato chips, and even probiotic cookie dough.

The FDA Is Replacing Synthetic Food Dyes, and These 3 Just Got the Green Light
The shift to natural food coloring is officially underway.
In late April, Robert Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced plans to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors from the nation’s food supply. That includes Red 3 and 40, Blue 1 and 2, Yellow 5 and 6, and Green 3, all of which are used in thousands of products found on grocery store shelves.
Though Kennedy didn’t provide extensive details on how his department plans to completely phase out dyes, a press release from his department stated that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will establish a “national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives.” And now, it seems it’s making good on at least part of that promise.

In Santa Fe, Native Fashion Week Was a Celebration of Community
This past weekend, you could easily spot flocks of stylish Indigenous folks parading across Santa Fe, New Mexico—all decked out in their finest gowns, dentalium shell necklaces, and beaded earrings. The occasion for such peacocking? Santa Fe Native Fashion Week, a jam-packed weekend presenting new contemporary collections from Indigenous designers across North America. With tentpole events such as SWAIA Native Fashion Week and Native Fashion Week Santa Fe taking over the entire city, well-clad crowds gathered to celebrate and witness the innovative new shows—all of which stemmed from an exciting mix of artists from various regions and tribes.

Joan Collins transforms into Wallis Simpson alongside Isabella Rossellini in a first look at The Bitter End
The Dynasty star is sharing the screen with Isabella Rossellini in the biopic, telling the chilling true story of the last days of the Duchess of Windsor
From one Dynasty to another. Joan Collins has transformed into Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, in a first look at the upcoming biopic, The Bitter End. Joining the Dynasty legend is acting royalty, Isabella Rossellini, who is set to co-star as the headline-grabbing royal’s menacing lawyer, Suzanne Blum.
Penned by screenwriter and novelist Louise Fennell, mother to Saltburn and Wuthering Heights’ Emerald Fennell, the movie charts the shocking untold story of the final years of Wallis Simpson, revealing what really happened after the Duchess of Windsor after her husband, King Edward VIII, died. Fennell’s screenplay will delve into the sinister relationship between Simpson and Blum – one that left the once-glamorous Duchess of Windsor ensnared in Blum’s chilling web of obsession and coercive control.

36 Hours in Rome
Beneath the emotions of loss and reverence, and with a new pope in place, Rome continues its spiritual, cultural and gastronomic transformation.
“Roma si trasforma.” Translation: “Rome is transforming.” Trumpeted from signs all over the city, the slogan was developed as a proud declaration of the Italian capital’s urban-improvement projects — renovated public squares, refurbished historical churches, expanded transportation networks — in anticipation of this year’s Jubilee, a global gathering of Catholics held every quarter-century since the year 1300. The words have taken on a poignant dimension with the passing of Pope Francis and the appointment of Pope Leo XIV, but beneath the emotions of loss and reverence, the Eternal City continues its renewal — spiritual, physical, cultural, gastronomic. Famous fountains, notably the Fontana di Trevi, have been scrubbed clean, as have Bernini’s Baroque-era angel statues along Ponte Sant’Angelo. Upstart archaeological museums and long-shuttered ancient sites have opened and reopened. Toss in a bevy of major art exhibitions — Picasso, Munch, Dali, Kahlo and Caravaggio — and Rome’s transformation promises abundant rewards.

The Surprising Cleaning Supplies Experts Say to Never Use in Your Bathroom
And what to try instead.
Out of all the rooms in your home, the bathroom might earn the award for being the quickest to go from sparkling to filthy, which is probably why there’s no shortage of tips, tricks, and tried-and-true favorite products to help keep it clean. But it’s just as important to consider the harmful cleaning products and methods that could be setting you up to fail.
Here, our experts share what to avoid when washing up the washroom, and what to try instead.

How to Freeze Fresh Strawberries and Enjoy Them Year Round
Make the most of this berry’s fleeting season by extending its shelf life and correctly freezing any surplus.
Strawberries, in season from May through June, are fragrant, red, juicy, and sweet—they’re delicious on their own, sliced into fruit salads, or as the cornerstone of dessert favorites. But as much as we adore these berries, they aren’t the hardiest. Fortunately, you can freeze strawberries and preserve their juicy, sweet flavor, and enjoy them long after their season is over. We spoke to chefs and recipe developers to find out the best way to store them in the freezer and how to make sure they don’t develop ice crystals.

6 Everyday Items You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet, According to Plumbers
Avoid clogs, overflowing toilets, and expensive repairs.
What not to flush down the toilet is a list that should contain more than just “things that are too big.” In fact, your home plumbing system is much more sensitive than it looks. Flushing something not meant for its pipes can lead to seriously unpleasant consequences. Think: clogs, overflowing toilets, and damaged septic tanks or city sewer systems.
We chatted with a professional plumber who’s seen it all. According to our expert, avoid flushing these common items to keep things flowing smoothly and help you avoid costly repairs.

This Historic Building in Venice Hasn’t Been Open to the Public in 500 Years—Now You Can Visit
Procuratie Vecchie is now an acclaimed art center.
One of Venice’s most historical buildings is getting a new lease on life as a modern arts center. The second floor of the Procuratie Vecchie, a building running along one side of St. Mark’s Square, is now open to the public for the first time in 500 years in its new form as the San Marco Arts Centre (SMAC).
Venice is already a hub for contemporary art with its international biennale, but SMAC aims to do something that doesn’t exist in the city’s arts landscape: be a kunsthalle, a space that mounts regular temporary exhibitions but isn’t constrained by a specific curatorial focus or theme. “We want to be flexible, dynamic and reactive to what’s happening in the world,” co-founder David Gramazio told Travel + Leisure. That’s why SMAC isn’t limiting itself to modern art, but will also exhibit architecture, fashion, photography, and film.

[Photo Credit: rubyrose-utrecht.nl]

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