T LOunge for May 22nd 2025

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PinDear Lily Bar and Restaurant – Hong Kong, China

Everything in today’s LOunge is CAKE! And calorie-free. It’s THURSDAY and you look like you could use a total fantasy space in which to spend it. Settle in and let the decor distract you from… well, everything else.

Sophie Turner Talks Summer Food Hauls, Cocktails – And Why Her Planned Glastonbury Trip Will End In Tears
Spritz Girl Summer and SPF: it’s BST, by Sophie T.
Even the most well-travelled people can attest that there are few better places than London in the summer. And, just like the rest of us, you’ll find Sophie Turner either pubbing or picnic-ing when the weather works in our favours. ‘There’s got to be some M&S nibbles on the spread,’ states Turner. ‘You can’t go wrong with a Food Hall haul. Get some burrata, cherry tomatoes, a bit of pesto in there, bish bash bosh. And of course, everything gets washed down with some St-Germain.’
The actor has collaborated with the elderflower liqueur brand this summer, and for Sophie, it was an easy deal. ‘My collaboration with St-Germain felt really authentic for me because I genuinely use the product!

Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor Tell a Heartbreaking Love Story in The History of Sound
Oliver Hermanus’s stately Cannes drama is a fine acting showcase, even if it’s a bit frustrating.
How much stifled yearning can one gay period drama take? That’s a question confronted by Oliver Hermanus’s new film The History of Sound, which premiered here in Cannes on May 21. The film, based on a short story by Ben Shattuck, is about two young men who first meet in 1917, just before America heads to war. Those were certainly repressive times for queer people—yet music conservatory students Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O’Connor) fall into bed together rather easily, bonding over their shared love of American folk music and no doubt drawn to each other’s considerable good looks.

The experts have spoken: these are 7 jewellery trends you’ll be wearing in 2025
Time to sparkle
While I’m all about the general Spring/Summer 2025 fashion trends, I have to emphasise the importance of jewellery here. A good necklace or pair of earrings is sometimes all you need to elevate your whole look, and often a more budget-friendly way to tick off those all-important trends.
I saw some pretty exciting jewellery trends on the catwalks last fashion month, and just to be safe, I asked the experts – designers themselves – to confirm which pieces you should be buying this year…

They’re alluring, interesting and down right sexy—trust me, these are the 8 most seductive fragrances
*Perfect* for date night
The art of seduction comes in many guises and this is also the case for fragrance. Whilst one person’s seductive scent might be a soft ethereal musk that caresses the skin like silk, another might gravitate towards the heat of a spicy, smoky rose. There are the cooler fragrances that play hard to get, the ones that play games as they evolve from innocent to narcotic and there are of course the downright dirty ‘take me I’m yours’ scents.
Alluring, tantalizing and downright irresistible, seduction fragrances have the power to entice people within smelling distance of the wearer, drawing them in closer and closer until they can’t (and wouldn’t want to) escape.
Seductive fragrances are the ones that leave a lingering memory of you on a first date, the ones that people chase you down the street to ask what you’re wearing. And perhaps most importantly they’re the ones that give you insurmountable pleasure.

I just spoke to an expert hair stylist—the ‘cowgirl cut’ is *the* haircut of the summer
An effortlessly laid-back look
In the worlds of beauty, fashion and entertainment. All eyes are turned to the wild west. And I don’t know about you, but I am one Luke Combs song away from packing up and living on a ranch. Texas-core is everywhere, from Rodeo hair to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour. The latest hair trend riding into the spotlight? None other than the ‘cowgirl cut’.
This is the cut of the summer, just look at the It girls of now. Think Suki Waterhouse, Sabrina Carpenter, Alexa Chung, and Miley Cyrus, who have all been spotted wearing the chop. The layered haircut often sits at shoulder length or longer and frames the face just right, allowing for natural movement and a rebellious, free-spirited feel. The best part? It can be worn in more ways than one.
You don’t have to ask me twice to dust off my cowboy boots. I consulted a hairstylist to find out exactly what the look is all about, how it’s achieved, and whether it’s right for you. Saddle up.

Sleep Divorces Are Trending — Is Modern Life Making Us Too Tired to Be Together?
Peeling back the covers on TikTok’s solo sleeping obsession and what it says about intimacy in the age of burnout.
TikTok has turned sleep divorces from a retro sitcom quirk to a #wellnesswin. One viral video espousing the benefits of sleeping sans spouse has over 2.5 million views. Some of the top videos about sleep compatibility (another new internet obsession) on Sleeptok—the platform’s dedicated space for all things shut-eye-related—have upwards of 2.2 million likes. Google searches for “sleep + divorce” spiked by 478% this week. Clearly, we’re all looking to enhance our eight hours.

From Hailey Bieber to Dua Lipa, the Celebrity Lit Girl is upon us
It’s serving Kant.
Whatever you think of Hailey Bieber – a polarising love her or loathe her celebrity figure – you have to admit one thing: she is a trendsetter. Where she leads, we follow. If Hailey Bieber says it’s cool to wear jorts or do our make-up inspired by tiramisu, we do it. If Hailey Bieber says we need ‘glazed donut nails’, we get them. If Hailey Bieber tells us books are the new cool girl accessory, we dutifully head down to Waterstones.
Always at the forefront of a trend, in 2016 Hailey Bieber – then Baldwin – kicked off the Lit Girl era with a celebrity rite of passage. By which I mean she did a ‘What’s In My Bag’ video for Vogue. In the video, Hailey Baldwin Bieber, a woman who did not graduate from high school, even though she was literally home-schooled, revealed an odd item amongst the standard fare of lip-glosses and Stanley Cups and whatever else celebrities’ publicists plant in there for these videos. She was carrying around a medical textbook. “I might as well still be educating myself on something”, she said of the medical terminology short course material.

Meg Ryan and Mark Ruffalo join Natalie Portman in Lena Dunham’s new Netflix film Good Sex
It depicts a 40-year-old woman’s steamy fling with a young hipster.
Natalie Portman has been confirmed to star in Girls creator Lena Dunham’s Netflix movie Good Sex, which sees a 40-year-old couples therapist navigate the New York dating scene, finding herself in a sexy tryst with a young Brookyn hipster, as well as a more conventionally-minded man from Manhattan. We love a love triangle.
Now, we know a little more about the supporting cast, and it will include true rom-com royalty. When Harry Met Sally Star Meg Ryan is set to appear, as well as 13 Going On 30 star Mark Ruffalo.

Gen Z Loves a Freaky Little Accessory
This summer’s must-have fashion trend is a grinning gremlin. Yes, really.
Millennials get a bad rap for being nostalgia-brained. People love to point out the foibles of Disney adults and Harry Potter fanatics (that one avocado toast headline also comes to mind), but we aren’t the only cohort embracing adolescence. In the past year, childish, sentimental accessories have taken over purses everywhere, thanks in large part to Gen Z.
First, there were trinkets. When the charm boom began a few years ago, 20-somethings adorned their best beat-up hobos with adorable little keepsakes ranging from the ubiquitous cherry stems to bows, hearts, and Sailor Moon stars that embraced the trappings of girlhood. Next, boho and indie sleaze styles took over, as ropes, chains, scarves, and sweaters dominated runways, hanging off purses like they had been hastily tied on by an angsty Gossip Girl teen. Soon after, doll-sized bags-for-your-bag debuted as Prada, Baggu, and L.L. Bean released itty-bitty companions to put on their larger counterparts.

Ice Cream Nails Put a Twist on French Tips for a Soft and Subtle Serve
The colors just melt into each other.
The food-to-beauty trend pipeline is still flowing strong. There’s strawberry makeup, the elusive glazed donut nails, and now, the ice cream manicure. But unlike its sugary-sounding predecessors, this one leans more refined than literal. The secret sauce to this trend? A soft, subtle twist on the French tip.
Composed of a creamy white shade that melts into a sheer nude or pink, the ice cream manicure is one that is subtle yet impactful. Think of it as your nails on their best day, but dipped in whipped gelato. Sounds pretty delicious, right?

This Tiny Town in Pennsylvania Still Makes the Pierogi of My Childhood
I spent decades chasing down the Eastern European classic that defined my family’s celebrations. A chance encounter led me to the source.
When I was growing up, there wasn’t a single holiday or family get-together that was celebrated without pierogi and kielbasa. There was talk that we had the best pierogi connection in Pennsylvania and every member of our family always had a freezer stocked full. I remember the first time my uncle showed me how to cook them. It seemed easy; just chop up some onions and put them in a pan with butter and pierogi, which if you have never had the pleasure, are handmade potato dumplings that are often accompanied by cheese or onions, or filled with sweet ingredients. It was our “thing” I was being schooled on and despite being so young, I remember feeling appreciative, like it was something important to pay attention to.

Why ‘Dead Food in the Window’ Is Every Server’s Favorite Phrase
No plate of fries has ever made it to the table without a few having gone missing.
The most beautiful phrase a server can hear in the kitchen is “dead food in the window.” The “window” is where the food is placed after the cooks have fired it and before the server carries it to their guests. It’s usually a long stainless steel shelf, often warmed by heat lamps and it’s the bridge where front of house meets back of house, but is hardly ever crossed.
“Dead food” is a plate that is no longer needed, maybe a mis-order or cooked improperly. Once it’s decreed dead, the food is up for grabs, to be eaten by the server or servers who claim it first. It can be madness.

11 Cocktails That Belong at Every Memorial Day Cookout
These easy and refreshing drinks signal the start of summer.
The transition from spring to summer culminates in Memorial Day weekend. As the unofficial beginning of summer, Memorial Day is the perfect occasion to gather with friends and family and celebrate the coming warm-weather months and outdoor activities during the first long weekend of the season.
Whether you’re planning a low-key backyard barbecue or a big, rowdy pool party, Memorial Day calls for refreshing, simple, and people-pleasing drinks to help usher in the warmer months. Taking the easy route with a cooler full of beers is always a safe bet, but guests are far more likely to be impressed by creative cocktails that perfectly complement the mood and setting of the day.

How World-Building Took Over Television
From ‘Andor’ to ‘Severance’ to ‘The White Lotus,’ your series is nothing if doesn’t hint at a universe beyond the screen.
Television series these days have never been busier. Shows exist against a backdrop of sprawling storylines; they contain characters with indefinite spinoff potential. When Emmy voters start marking their ballots this season, they won’t just be weighing in on an episode, performance or even series. They’ll be evaluating a world — a set of interconnected characters and storylines that can extend far beyond the 30 or 60 minutes in front of them.
Andor delivers a new hope for Disney as it wraps up a stunning two-season arc for Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the apolitical pariah turned revolutionary who gives his life in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. That movie was initially a prequel to the original Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, but Andor sets the stage for it far better, essentially resetting the entire Star Wars narrative as the result of rebel factions operating in the shadows of a fascist, Orwellian state.

‘The History of Sound’ Review: Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor Bring Aching Poignancy to Restrained but Heartfelt Queer Love Story
In Oliver Hermanus’ drama, two music students form a profound attachment in early 20th century New England, reuniting years later to travel the Maine backwoods collecting traditional folk songs.
Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor offer more proof that they are among the best contemporary actors we have in The History of Sound, a resonant account of a tender but too-fleeting gay love affair interrupted by World War I. Adapted by Ben Shattuck from his jewel-like short story of the same name, the film’s romance and heartache are intensified by the intimate experience the two men share of traveling the backwoods of Maine in 1919, collecting traditional folk tunes and ballads from rural people, essentially the equivalent in music of an oral history.

35 Stunning Crochet Hairstyles to Try at Your Next Salon Visit
Some are even easy enough to try at home!
One thing Black women are never afraid to do is switch up their hair. From braids to twists to wash-and-gos and more, the versatility is endless. A great way to keep your styling fresh is to throw a few crochet hairstyles into your rotation.
The protective hairstyle typically consists of braiding down your natural hair or applying a braided wig cap and looping in hair extensions with a tool similar to a crochet needle. The result is a plethora of styles ranging from a fro to waist-length box braids. If you’re in need of a little inspiration for your next hair appointment, check out the cute curly styles below.

Paris Couture Week comes to Milano! Giorgio Armani celebrates 20 years of its haute couture line, Armani Privé, with a new exhibition in the Italian capital
Armani looks back at the past two decades of esteemed sumptuousness as he celebrates his landmark 20th anniversary year in his couture atelier
Back in 2005, Giorgio Armani debuted his inaugural Armani Privé collection. Having already dominated the worlds of women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, beauty, sports and interiors, the designer had firmly cemented his style ethos into the wardrobes of the worlds most elegant with his Giorgio and Emporio lines, counting real-life queens and Hollywood’s most beguiling doyennes among his most loyal following. Queen Letizia of Spain announced her engagement to Felipe VI in a white Armani suit in 2003, Julia Roberts had caused a stunning stir in an off-the-rack mens set at the Golden Globes in 1990, while the likes Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and Beatrice Borromeo are regularly spotted at his runway shows. He had already practically invented red caret dressing, creating moments that would stand the test of time on the backs of tinseltown’s premiere stars. So, his next challenge was to master the great masters of fashion itself, and to turn his hand to the art form of haute couture.

How to Travel Without a Phone
Leaving your device at home might seem daunting, but it can result in a deeper connection to a place and more authentic interactions with locals.
In today’s hyperconnected world, traveling without a phone seems impossible, or at the very least, pointless.
But for those who’ve done it, the experience can be rewarding and rejuvenating.
In January, Soraya Lemboumba, 40, a project manager in Switzerland, spent 10 days in Panama on a phone-free trip. “It was absolutely life-changing,” she said.
She said she awoke to the sounds of nature rather than an alarm and didn’t spend her time composing captions for social media in her head or use her phone to fill the silence. “I spent days immersed in pure presence,” she said.
Thinking of disconnecting for your next trip? Here are some steps to start.

“There’s an Unspoken Mind Meld”: When King Princess Met Christine Baranski
When King Princess landed in Munich to start filming Nine Perfect Strangers, she had one thought: “Fuck, I just signed up for this, and now I have to pull it off.” The singer-songwriter, born Mikaela Straus, wasn’t there to play a show, but to portray Tina, a classically trained, emotionally constipated lesbian pianist with rage issues and a very bad attitude when it comes to self-improvement. It’s the 26-year olds first major acting gig, a role that thrust her onto a set alongside established powerhouses like opposite Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, and Christine Baranski, with whom she’s developed a deep and intimate friendship. “Let’s give them something to talk about,” Baranski joked of their kinship. “We sat at the bar, ordered our martinis, and suddenly we’re talking about our grandmothers who deeply affected and influenced our lives. I think that’s where we profoundly bonded.” To mark her foray into the world of TV, King Princess got together with her co-star-cum-soulmate to reflect on their undeniable connection and riff on everything from “lesbian bed death” to their shared Buffalo ancestry and the psychosexual weight of being cared for by your girlfriend.

Paul Mescal Says Movies Are ‘Moving Away’ From ‘Alpha’ Male Leads, Calls It ‘Lazy and Frustrating’ to Compare ‘History of Sound’ to ‘Brokeback Mountain’
Paul Mescal reflected on masculinity in film during the Cannes press conference for “The History of Sound,” saying that he thinks cinema is “moving away” from alpha male roles. Mescal stars in Oliver Hermanus’ gay romance alongside Josh O’Connor, with the two playing musicians who travel to New England together in the summer of 1919 to record the folk songs of their rural countrymen.
“It’s ever shifting,” he said. “I think maybe in cinema we’re moving away from the traditional, alpha, leading male characters. I don’t think the film is defining or attempting to redefine masculinity, I think it is being very subjective to the relationship between [their characters] Lionel and David.”

Tina Knowles reacts to viral video of her appearing to scold granddaughter Rumi Carter: ‘Grandmas don’t play’
“People have written all kinds of narratives about it,” Knowles, 71, told Gayle King of the video.
Grandmas don’t play, especially if that grandma is Tina Knowles.
A video that appears to show Knowles scolding granddaughter Rumi Carter on stage at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour has gone viral.
“People have written all kinds of narratives about it,” Beyoncé’s mother, 71, told TV host Gayle King about the video during a recent stop on her Matriarch book tour. When King insisted that the moment was “very funny,” Knowles admitted, “It was real. It’s real life, you know. Grandmas don’t play.”
She continued, “No, it really wasn’t that. It was just that she was reaching for the mic because she wanted to say something, and I realized that, and she was pulling, and I was like, ‘Oh God, that’s all that needs to happen, is the mic hits her in the face.”

How to Set Up an Outdoor Buffet Table the Right Way
Help guests help themselves while streamlining your outdoor entertaining plan.
It’s hard to time everything perfectly when you’re feeding a crowd. That’s why we love serving meals buffet-style, especially for outdoor parties where guests may not sit together at the same time. But if you don’t set up your food service efficiently, it can be more work than a formal sit-down meal. A poorly set buffet will end up with long lines, overflowing plates—because guests didn’t know what was down the line—and food running out too quickly.
To help you stage your setup down to the last detail, we’re sharing expert tips on how to set up a buffet table to create a simple, effortless experience for you and your guests.

How to Make Cucumber Water for a Spa Experience at Home
Plus, the benefits of the popular bevvy.
There’s a reason why they’re a spa mainstay: There is just something wonderfully indulgent about adding a few slices of cucumber to a pitcher of water. And yet, it couldn’t be simpler. It’s the kind of quiet luxury that feels right at home next to linen napkins, a chilled carafe, and freshly baked sourdough.
“Fruit- and herb-infused waters are easy to make and offer a refreshing, natural alternative to processed beverages,” explains expert nutritionist Amrita Kalra. “There’s really no need to drink something with artificial flavors or added sugars when you can create your own spa water at home.”

I’ve Gone on 134 Dives and This Is My Favorite Snorkeling Spot in the Caribbean—and Its Turquoise Waters Are Like Nature’s Aquarium
Snorkeling here is like swimming in nature’s aquarium.
As a long-time scuba diver, I typically seek out the best scuba sites when I travel to the Caribbean. But in one destination, I didn’t have to strap on an air tank to experience the wonders of the local marine life.
In the Exumas—the sub-archipelago of The Bahamas comprising over 300 cays southeast of Nassau—I visited a magnificent site brimming with tropical fish. Known as “Thunderball Grotto,” this secluded, dramatic cave of jagged limestone, illuminated by sun rays peering down through natural holes in the ceiling, looks like a movie set. (And in fact, it was: the “thunderball” in its name comes from its appearance in the 1965 James Bond film starring Sean Connery, and it had made a few Hollywood cameos since.)

[Photo Credit: ashleysuttondesign.com]

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