T LOunge for June 17th 2025

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PinZoe’s Restaurant at Fairmont Château Laurier – Ottawa, Canada

It’s TUESDAY, the world is on fire once again, and those two sorry facts call for some soft, pretty eleganza in our surroundings. Plant your ass on pink velvet and shut out all concerns as you sip something fizzy and anesthetizing.

Rachel Brosnahan Gets Amanda Seyfried Ready for Superman Summer
Rachel Brosnahan was in the bathroom at Aritzia when the call came: She’d been tapped to play Lois Lane in Superman, James Gunn’s new take on the OG superhero. The 34-year-old actor is best known for her Emmy-winning turn as the title character in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel—but if Superman soars at the box office, that could all change. As she tells her friend Amanda Seyfried: no pressure at all.

Why Former ‘Gossip Girl’ Star Leighton Meester Is Suddenly Everywhere All at Once
With a slew of new projects — including NBC’s ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’ and an HBO series about clueless influencers — the 38-year-old actress is leaning into her second act and finally feeling “comfortable in my skin.”
Over the course of the past year, she’s joined season two of Apple TV+’s The Buccaneers, a loose adaptation of an unpublished Edith Wharton novel that filmed in Scotland, and is currently shooting an untitled HBO series from Zillennial comedian Rachel Sennott. It’s about a group of clueless influencers trying to make it in L.A. while completely unaware that they’re the butt of the show’s joke. “At least I hope that’s what we’re doing,” Meester cracks. “Because that’s what I’m doing.”
This fall, there will be even more on her call sheet: She’ll be appearing alongside Brody on the second season of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, playing a momfluencer. “It’s a show where everybody feels happy to be there,” she says, noting that most of the time she barely notices with whom she’s co-starring. “I truly do watch him and forget that I’m watching my husband.”

‘We’re Running Out of Mansions’ How The Gilded Age makes absurdly low-stakes period drama into must-watch television.
The series does take historical accuracy quite seriously — it has touched on union strikes, the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and battles over the most important opera company in New York City. Erica Armstrong Dunbar, a professor of African American studies at Emory and the show’s resident historian, finds inspiration in reading newspapers of the era, especially the gossip columns (this season deals with the then-newfangled social rules of divorce). “My fantasy is always that the audience runs and looks things up on Wikipedia and then reads books about it,” says Fellowes. […] The Gilded Age films at a rapid pace, often in many locations at once. The show has constructed a replica of an Upper East Side street, as well as standing sets at separate soundstages for the van Rhijn and Russell households, on Long Island and also on location in Newport. Over the past few years, in spring and fall, when the beach and sailing crowds aren’t overwhelming, The Gilded Age heads there to use historic houses with the enthusiastic support of Rhode Island’s film commission and the local preservation society.

Love Story, JFK Jr., and Carolyn Bessette: Release Date, Cast, and Latest News
After Camelot, before the brain worms, there was a stylish, tragic Kennedy love story that briefly captured the entire world’s attention. Money, sex, politics, power, death…of course Ryan Murphy is turning it into a TV show. After much speculation, it looks like Love Story (FKA American Love Story) is finally underway, and we just got our first glimpse of the lead actors in character (well, in costume, at least) as John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Read on for everything we know about the show.

Meghan Markle Wishes People Would “Tell the Truth” About Her
In an upcoming interview with entrepreneur Emma Grede, the duchess opens up about how her public image has changed since she was known only as an actor.
It’s been about two weeks since Meghan Markle ended the first season of her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, but the Duchess of Sussex isn’t planning on leaving the spotlight anytime soon. On Tuesday, she will join Emma Grede, CEO of Good American and a Skims founding partner, on a new episode of her podcast, Aspire With Emma Grede.
In an exclusive clip from the episode, Meghan explains that her public image is now “very different” from what it was when she was just known as an actor.
In response, Grede asks what she would change if she could do it all over again. “I want to say this to you in the best way, because I wonder: If you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch, is there anything that you would do differently?”

Soft Matte Makeup Is Trending — These Matte Blushes Make Achieving a French-Girl Inspired Flush Completely Effortless
Powder, liquid, cream — all have had a matte makeover
As a beauty editor I like to stay up to date on all the latest makeup trends, I must admit, I’m a complete sucker for a blush trend. Whether it’s TikTok-approved looks, like sorbet blush or cold girl makeup, the arrival of new blush formulas and textures (hello highlighting blushers) or simply a single blusher’s rise to cult status — I make it my business to know it all. So, when recently I saw a rise in matte makeup looks on the red carpet and social media, I knew there was one area in particular I had to get to the bottom of, the matte blush look, and in particular, how to achieve it.

Here’s What Nail Trend You Should Try for Your Next Manicure, According to Your Star Sign
It’s written in the stars
If you’re anything like me, every manicure appointment entails staring gormlessly at the wall of 200 nail polish shades, agonising over which one to choose. After entertaining the idea of a powder blue or even a forest green, I inevitably panic and default to Ballet Slippers or its equivalent. And while a milky pink is a failsafe option for chic everyday nails, it can start to feel a little…boring when it’s always your go-to, especially as we enter the warmer, more playful summer months.
If you’re in need of a little inspiration before your next salon visit, look no further than the night sky. No, we’re not talking about nail art in the shape of a crescent moon (although…). We’re talking about astrology and how it can be a celestial cheat sheet for determining your perfect cosmic manicure match.

Suede Sandals are Trending These Are Our 10 Favourite Pairs
I guess we’re going sandal shopping
Pedicures at the ready because I’ve got another sandal trend to introduce you to and you’re going to want to add it to your summer outfit rotation asap. After weeks of painstaking research (also known as scrolling my instagram feed), I’ve discovered all the cool girls are relying on one simple sandal style to look polished and put together this summer. I’m of course talking about the suede sandal — the expensive looking update that we can’t seem to get enough of.
So, why the suede sandal? Well, this is a trend that actually owes its origins to a few different places. First up, let’s look to the SS25 catwalks, where suede sandals made an appearance at Miu Miu, in the form of suede clogs, Isabel Marant, where models wore suede gladiator sandals, and 16Arlington, where each look was styled with a pair of suede lace up heels. Here in proves the versatility of this season’s suede sandal trend as there are no rules when it comes to the style, just as long as you stick to the soft touch fabric.

No Summer Outfit Is Complete Without Sunglasses—and This Label Has Made 2025’s Most Elevated Silhouettes
The Vivienne Westwood Sun Collection has it all
I tend to stick to overwhelmingly understated summer outfit formulas to avoid any discomfort-related meltdowns, which means I have come to rely on one accessory to make my monochrome looks feel distinctive: sunglasses.
Statement frames are the one thing I don’t think I will ever believe I have enough of. In my book, each outfit is deserving of a different glasses silhouette. But that doesn’t mean I’ll invest in just any—I’m extremely picky with the pairs I go for, needing them to be simultaneously singular, modern, but also something that will stand the test of time.

How to get rid of split ends and prevent breakage, according to hair experts
Time to break up with frazzled strands.
Noticing forked ends? Or strands that suddenly resemble a frayed rope? Consider these red flags that your hair has split ends.
As for what’s happening to the hair to cause this splintering effect? Put simply, the hair’s cortical cells have peeled away. These cells are a little like overlapping scales that protect the core structure of the hair so, when they become damaged, you get split ends.
We also put our hair through a lot. “Split ends are the result of wear and tear, dryness, hair colour and heat styling,” says hair colour expert and styling trend forecaster, Zoe Irwin. “The ends of your hair are also the oldest part of the hair shaft, so understandably they can get weaker over time and eventually splinter.”

17 best polka dot dresses for summer 2025, because, yes, they’re trending again
And not just at Zara…
Polka dot dresses are nothing new to those with their finger on the pulse – AKA, the people who (vividly) remember the viral Zara dress that caused nationwide domination in 2019. They are, however, having another moment in the spotlight, with A-listers, influencers and everyone in between adopting the symmetrical print once more.
As we well know in the world of fashion, time is a flat circle. It’s always a good idea, therefore, to keep a handful of trend pieces in your wardrobe that are likely to come back round again; polka dot dresses being one of them.
Luckily they’re not so obscure that you could even class them as a capsule wardrobe piece.

Brokeback Mountain Started as a Punch Line. 20 Years Later, It’s an Undisputed Classic
For years, no one would make it. When it came out, some celebrities refused to see it—or vote for it at the Oscars. Brokeback Mountain’s filmmakers reveal what it took to defy the odds.
“It was a laughing stock—the ‘gay cowboy’ script.” That’s how producer James Schamus remembers the reputation surrounding Brokeback Mountain as it first started making the Hollywood rounds in the late 1990s. An adaptation of Annie Proulx’s lauded short story, the screenplay by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry had long been languishing in development limbo by the time Schamus, then best known for producing the films of Ang Lee and Todd Haynes, acquired the rights in 2001. “A producer who shall not be named, but who’s currently on a rehabilitation tour, let the rights lapse,” Schamus says. (He presumably means Scott Rudin, who’d briefly backed a version of the movie to be directed by Gus Van Sant.) “But every single possible variation on this thing—everyone passed. And so the option lapsed.”
This was the aughts, of course—a different era for Hollywood and American culture. George W. Bush was president; same-sex marriage was outlawed at the federal level. “Gay cowboys” were an easy target. “I don’t think people got over the punch line,” Schamus says. Until they did.

The Best Lip Colours To Wear Based On Your Horoscope This Summer
Your star sign could hold the secret to your most flattering shade.
When it comes to lip colours, there are plenty of influences at play. Colour trends, celebrity looks and brand-new product launches all hold sway over what we reach for at the beauty counter.
But sometimes, it feels like there’s another force guiding our choices — something more instinctive. Why are we suddenly drawn to an unexpected new shade, or still loyal to a long-standing favourite that we just can’t let go of? Enter: the effect of your horoscope.

The Best Perfumes For Women In 2025, Plus A Guide To Finding Your Scent
From spring scents to just-landed aromas, discover the flacons that get the seal of approval from the ELLE UK beauty team.
As is the case with every category in the ever bulging beauty industry right now, finding the best perfume isn’t exactly a straightforward affair. Aside from the boundless scents to choose from, you have to consider olfactive categories, sillage, sustainability, suitability, among many other factors.
Those who have found their signature scent might be reluctant to venture into unknown territory, while others might go through flacons at a rate of knots unable to find the one that truly sticks. And for some, it’s a complete fluke when they do find the perfume that has people asking them ‘what are you wearing?’ on the tube (for me, that’s Diptyque’s L’Eau Papier). But there is in fact a learned art when it comes to finding the best perfume for you.

Smash Burger Secrets: The 6 Most Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Get crispy, caramelized edges every time.
Thin and crispy with caramelized, craggy edges, smash burgers have taken America by storm. From jalapeño-onion smash burgers to MSG and banh mi-inspired riffs, the flavor possibilities are endless, but the core technique remains the same.
If you’re a beginner, fear not: Making these lacy, restaurant-style burgers at home is easier than you might think. All you need is a ripping-hot griddle, a sturdy spatula, and a few essential tips. To help you get it right, we’ve rounded up the most common mistakes that stand between home cooks and smash burger success.

3 Tips That Will Instantly Level Up Your Sparkling Wine Game
It’s not all about Champagne.
As a non-expert wine lover, I have an almost formulaic process for buying a bottle of bubbly.
Many people might be familiar with the same situation: In anticipation of a brunch, birthday, or special occasion, you head to your nearest wine store in search of sparkling wine. Once there, all the bubbly options look strikingly similar. Faced with indecision, I inevitably choose the same thing every time: a bottle of Prosecco in an accessible price range, typically between $15 and $20. But the result of always opting for the familiar is that you miss out on the vast world of beautiful, bubbly wines, and you may not be getting the best value for your money.

Heinz Is Officially Rebranding Its Ketchup — Here’s Everything We Know
America’s favorite ketchup brand wants a seat at the breakfast table.
The age-old breakfast debacle: to add ketchup or not to add ketchup to eggs?
You never know when you reach for that ketchup bottle at brunch — whether it’s going to gross out people at the table or if you’ll find fellow ketchup lovers to relate to. While I’m definitely a hot sauce on my eggs kind of person, I’m also not one to judge. Breakfast is the first meal of the day, and condiments are a matter of personal choice. While some diners may tolerate the addition of ketchup on home fries, hash browns, or even eggs, most are particularly against ketchup on bacon.

The Best TV Shows of 2025, So Far
Returning hits like “Severance” and “The White Lotus” inspired plenty of chatter, but did they make our top TV list?
The first half of 2025 saw the return of strike-delayed hit shows, like “Severance,” “The White Lotus” and “The Last of Us,” that took turns dominating the cultural conversation. But only one of them made our top TV list.
Read on to find out which one and to see which other series, new and old, scripted and nonfiction, impressed our television critics the most (listed alphabetically).
A prequel series to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016) — and arguably the most acclaimed “Star Wars” story of any kind since that film — “Andor” offered one of TV’s deepest explorations of the political realities and human costs of rebellion. Its two-season run wrapped up in May.

A Sexy (Joke) Bakery for ‘Sex and the City’ Fans
An enthusiastic crowd turned up for an event in which a Manhattan cafe transformed itself into the Hot Fellas bakery from “And Just Like That …”
The fictional business became “a fan favorite story line from the moment it first appeared,” Dana Flax, a marketing vice president at HBO Max said in an emailed statement, citing the engagement and enthusiasm for the Hot Fellas on social media. […]
Over the weekend, that fictional cafe spilled into reality when Librae Bakery in downtown Manhattan was transformed into Hot Fellas, festooned with fictional branding, baguette-shaped light sconces sourced straight from the set and signage with quotes from the show, like, “He made my sourdough rise in the workplace.”

Kate Middleton’s Summer of Strength: ‘There Are Some Major Shifts Coming’
As the Princess of Wales privately rebuilds after a year of cancer treatment, she’s stepping out with fresh purpose — and the pose of a queen-in-waiting
It was a moment of quiet strength. Sitting tall in the open carriage at Trooping the Colour on June 14, Kate Middleton smiled at the thousands lining the Mall. She didn’t say a word, but the message was unmistakable.
Just a year ago, Kate, 43, had taken part in the same ceremony while undergoing chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer, her role more limited as she focused on healing. This time, she was present at every turn, including a significant appearance on the parade ground alongside King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, fulfilling her role as honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards.
“She projected the confidence of someone who has enthusiastically reconnected with her public duties,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.

What Is Kimchi? Here’s How to Use This Umami-Packed Superfood
This fermented vegetable dish deserves a spot in your refrigerator.
With fermented foods like kombucha and kefir gaining ground in our daily diets, now may be the time to add kimchi, another gut-friendly treasure, to your repertoire. What is kimchi, exactly? It’s a Korean staple that’s not only delicious and nutritious—it’s also astoundingly versatile. We caught up with culinary experts to learn more about this probiotic concoction and the best ways to enjoy its pungent flavors.

The Right Way to Wash Silk Sheets for Luxurious Softness Every Night
Luxury bedding deserves the VIP treatment.
There’s nothing quite like slipping into bed and feeling the cool, buttery softness of silk sheets against your skin. They’re the epitome of bedtime luxury—equal parts timeless and indulgent. But with that indulgence comes responsibility: silk is a delicate fabric that requires a little extra care. Treat it well, and it will reward you with years of comfort and a bed that is dressed to impress.
The good news? With the right know-how and a gentle touch, you can keep your bedding looking and feeling its best. Here’s how to properly wash silk sheets for long-lasting softness every night.

The Health Benefits of Yogurt and the Best Ways to Enjoy It
There are so many pluses to eating this popular fermented food.
As a fermented food, the benefits of yogurt are often associated with gut health, but the tangy ingredient offers so much more. It’s packed with essential nutrients and minerals, making it an excellent food for supporting overall health. Plus, yogurt is deliciously creamy and versatile—it can be eaten alone or used in recipes.
Typically, the process of making yogurt involves heating and fermenting milk with live bacteria. The bacteria consume the sugars in the milk, which produces lactic acid. This results in the thick texture and sour flavor that yogurt is known for. Most commonly, cow’s milk is used to make yogurt, but it can also be made with sheep’s milk, goat’s milk, and non-dairy milks. There are also different types of yogurt, including Greek yogurt, a popular alternative to the regular variety. If you’re not eating yogurt regularly, consider adding it to your diet. It has many impressive health benefits and culinary uses, as our experts share.

This Small City Is a Quieter Dupe for Florence—and It’s in Italy’s Iconic ‘Food Valley’
Parma is also famous for its Parmigiano Reggiano.
Have you ever stopped to think where the Parmigiano Reggiano you grate on your pasta comes from? If it is indeed authentic Parmigiano Reggiano—a product with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)—it was made in or around Parma, a charming Italian city about an hour from Bologna.
The cheesemaking process involves strict rules and regulations, including precisely where it can be produced, as I learned early one morning while watching cheesemakers work fresh milk into curds at Caseificio Montecoppe, a family-run dairy. True Parmigiano Reggiano must be made using a fully natural process, without any additives, the same way it’s been done for hundreds of years.

This Island off the Coast of Maine Has One of America’s Most Beloved National Parks—How to Visit
We arrived on Mount Desert Island just before Labor Day weekend, after which our sons, Louis and Gabriel, would be returning to school. The summer up until then had been built around extended visits to family and friends. This trip to Maine, my wife, Anne, and I had decided, would be a retreat for just the four of us, with as few distractions as possible. We pictured rocky, remote islands, pine trees, and tents under a night sky filled with stars. There would be days with no cell phones or computers, spent wandering around Acadia National Park, which covers roughly half of Mount Desert Island.

[Photo Credit: chateaulaurier.com, frankarchitecture.ca]

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