T LOunge for May 11th 2026

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PinLegend Restaurant at Wenzhou Lucheng Plaza – Zhejiang, China

Vistas and grandeur, darlings! It’s MONDAY and such things are called for in our daily LOunge, don’t you find? Find the best seat in the house and call it your own for the day. It beats the alternative: dreary old reality. Settle in for your daily distractions, which will be forthcoming.

Here’s Who Won Big at Last Night’s TV BAFTA Awards
Last night saw the 2026 TV BAFTAs, with the television awards with P&O Cruises celebrating the last year on screen.
And from British favourites Toxic Town, Amandaland and Film Club, to international offerings including The White Lotus and The Studio, this year’s nominees were truly star-studded.
Adolescence emerged as the big winner of the night, picking up four awards in the Best Leading Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Limited Drama categories. And not far behind were The Celebrity Traitors and Last One Laughing, picking up two awards each.

‘Adolescence’ Claims Top Honors at BAFTA TV Awards
‘Adolescence’ emerged as the unsurprising winner at the BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday night, ending a phenomenal run of honors for Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne’s acclaimed series.
More than a year after the groundbreaking show first aired and smashed records for Netflix, sparked global conversations and became an awards season darling in the U.S., the acclaimed one-shot limited series soaked up the love on home soil.

Eating More Fibre but Feeling Bloated? You Could Be Making These Common Mistakes
The training plan your gut’s been waiting for.
If there’s one word on the nutrition street this year, it’s fibre. After years of protein-dominated discussions, we’re suddenly realising that this long-forgotten nutrient – central to gut health, immunity and overall longevity – is something many of us have been neglecting. In fact, just 4% of us currently meet the recommended 30g of fibre per day, with fruit and vegetable intake, in particular, on the decline.

Why Sources Believe Taylor Swift Could Be Holding a ‘Decoy Wedding’
Sources have weighed in on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding preparation, reporting that the couple could even be holding a “decoy wedding”.
“The strategy being discussed is to hold one large, highly visible celebration with extensive security, which effectively acts as a decoy, while a second, much smaller ceremony takes place privately,” an insider close to the wedding reportedly told OK! magazine.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s nuptials are reportedly set to take place in New York City on Friday 3 July 2026.

I Didn’t Notice Becoming Invisible — Then I Hit Midlife
No one tells you the exact age it starts, just that one day, you stop being seen
There’s a scene in my novel, Turn Back Time, when my main character Erica is looking back on life as a midlife woman, now that she’s had the—fictional, I hasten to add—WULT® treatment to make herself look twenty years younger. “Middle-aged women are background noise”, she muses. “Unless you’re in a ‘role’, like being a mother, or doing your job, or you’re famous or something.”
When I was writing Turn Back Time, I became interested in exploring the different things invisibility can mean to us in midlife: whether we notice the moment we disappear, and what—if anything—we choose to do about it.

From Euphoria to The Drama, when did weddings become our biggest on-screen horror?
These bloodsoaked depictions of onscreen nuptials delve into how we wrongly perceive picture-perfect relationships.
Disaster on-screen weddings are nothing new. Think Ross saying “Rachel” at the altar in Friends, that horrendous cat fight between Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson’s characters at the end of Bride Wars and a bomb scare at Jake and Amy’s wedding in Brooklyn Nine Nine to name a few, as well as countless jiltings. But what’s currently very in vogue, apparently, is an on-screen wedding that reaches into the horror world for its drama.
Take Euphoria’s mortifying wedding episode as a recent blood-stained example. Nate (Jacob Elordi) and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney)’s nuptials are full of drama, particularly after the revelation that Nate went to a loan shark to pay for part of their eye-wateringly expensive wedding. When Cassie discovers that Nate has borrowed money off a wedding guest and friend, and is called out about it by his wife Heather, things get seriously ugly. Metaphorically and physically.

How to remove makeup properly and the one product you should never use to do it
Pro tips from an A-list facialist.
How to remove makeup properly may seem obvious, but if the foundation you thought you’d scrubbed off the night before mysteriously appears on your pillow in the morning and your lashes feel brittle, chances are you’re making a mistake somewhere in your cleansing routine.
Lifting away mascara and base isn’t simply a matter of window-wiping with a cotton pad and thinking the job’s done. A proper deep-cleanse requires a bit more attention and, trust us, it’s well worth the extra effort.

Why Ralph Lauren’s Iconic American Flag Sweater Has Stood the Test of Time
For the first time ever, the ‘Catwalk’ book series spotlights the history of an American designer. Of course, it’s Ralph Lauren.
From the streets of Sag Harbor to the beaches of Santa Monica, no matter where you are in America, there’s one sartorial guarantee for Memorial Day weekend. Someone’s going to show up to the function in a Ralph Lauren flag sweater.
You know the one. It’s been made internet-famous for its easy grace. It’s been worn by the likes of Gigi Hadid and Jessica Chastain. It’s often (rather unsuccessfully) imitated, but never replicated. It is, by all accounts, the perfect summer sweater. Because much like New England lobster rolls and sand in your Jeep, the iconic knit is eternal—more synonymous with orange ocean sunsets, summer Fridays, and effortless luxury than any specific time or place. So, where then did it all begin?

Ice cream nails are the sweet treat your manicure deserves this summer
I scream, you scream…
From mermaid glam to the renaissance of jelly sandals, this year is all about reclaiming what we loved as children. So it’s no surprise that ice cream nails are well on their way to becoming one of summer 2026’s biggest nail trends.
According to Juli Russell, Sally Beauty DIY nail expert, the sudden popularity of ice cream nails is to be expected. “One of the hottest trends this year has been 3D nail decor and charms,” she points out, which play a major part in most ice cream nail designs. “The drippy, delectable ice cream dream manicure features chunky, 3D glitter over velvety smooth creme polish for a summer manicure that looks good enough to eat.”

Braids Have Always Been About More Than Looking Fly
From vacation prep to major life milestones, let’s explore why getting braided up is so important.
A set of fresh braids means something. Black women don’t get them only because they’re cute, although of course they are that, too. We get them because we’re preparing for rest, romance, adventure, and reinvention. They’re a protective style but also an act of proactive beauty.
I still remember being a kid, sitting on the floor between my Aunt Elaine’s legs as she braided my hair and we laughed at a TV comedy marathon to pass the time. Many hours later, I stood up with waist-length box braids swinging down my back like I’d unlocked a new level of fly. I can now see this experience for what it really was: a lesson on patience and love that I didn’t even know I was learning. Braids are about endurance, care, and tradition. Somebody taking the time.
Braids also carry so much history, so many crucial reminders. Cornrow designs once mapped escape routes during slavery. Women braided grains of rice into their hair for sustenance on their journeys, literally weaving in what we needed to survive. Today, the stakes are different, but the symbolism remains.

How to wash makeup brushes, according to makeup pros
FYI, your dirty brushes might be causing you acne.
When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? If you can’t remember, do you even know how to wash makeup brushes?
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. In fact, according to a survey by Cosmetify, 37% of respondents only clean their brushes once every six months – and 26% admitted to never cleaning their brushes. Eeek! Whether you’re in the infrequent or never camp, knowing how to wash makeup brushes is necessary for all makeup wearers.

Is Netflix’s Legends based on a true story?
And who are the characters based on?
We all know Netflix can whip up a cracking documentary, from Should I Marry a Murderer? to Worst Ex Ever. But where the streamer really shines is in its true-story dramatisations, taking real-life events and turning them into gripping TV shows that leaves you gasping from start to finish. While recent Netflix hits Beef and Unchosen were fictionalised, its newest addition, Legends, is actually based on a true story.
Yep, the tale of ordinary customs officials in the 1990s taking down some of the era’s most notorious drug gangs — despite having little formal training — to stop heroin flooding into the UK is rooted in fact. More specifically, it’s based on the 2022 book The Betrayer: How an Undercover Unit Infiltrated the Global Drug Trade by Guy Stanton. Stanton worked in customs for 35 years and spent 11 years as one of the undercover officers depicted in the series.

How to style the little white dress for summer 2026
The perfect seasonal twist on the LBD.
We’ve all heard of the little black dress. And, yes, the wardrobe staple can successfully see through each and every season and almost every kind of event. But this summer, it might just be the perfect time to give your trusted LBD a little break and try out the summery twist on the classic look. Introducing, the little white dress.

What Is Tomato Soup Cake? How a Century-Old Recipe Started Trending on TikTok
A can of tomato soup is the secret to this spiced cake recipe.
We’ve successfully turned carrots and zucchini into the stars of two widely popular baked goods — few people will turn down a batch of warmly spiced carrot cake or chocolate chip-studded zucchini bread — but something about adding tomatoes to a sweet treat still feels off. Tomato soup cake is here to change that.
Clips of Campbell’s condensed tomato soup being poured into a bowl of cake batter have quickly gained traction on social media over the past month, thanks to their shock value and unexpectedly appealing results. Creator Rachel (@eatsbyrachel) makes her tomato soup cake look decadent by serving a frosting-lathered slice on a plate in a beam of sunlight. Rachel notes that she was inspired by fellow creators Joshua Godfrey and his mother (@joshandmomma), who, in turn, went viral for re-creating user Michael Averett’s (@michael_averett) recipe.

The ‘Butterfly’ Bob Is Trending For Summer 2026: How To Make It Work For Your Hair Type Now
It’s soft, polished and full of movement.
Now that summer is firmly on the horizon, the allure of a fresh, transitional haircut is undeniable. And when ringing in the warmer seasons, it feels both refreshing and practical to opt for a shorter style.
Take the ‘butterfly’ bob for inspiration – as seen on SS26 runways from Giorgio Armani to Zimmerman. Following the revival of the Italian bob and embracing elements of the choppy bob, it’s the latest trend to cross our radars. Defined by its gentle, face-framing movement and strategic layering, the butterfly bob is set to be one of the most versatile cuts for summer, suiting a range of hair textures.
Ahead, discover what makes the ‘butterfly’ effect so flattering, along with the must-know maintenance and day-to-day styling advice.

12 Easy Desserts You Can Make Make Without a Mixer, From Cakes to Cookies
A whisk, a spatula, and a little determination are all you need to make these sweet recipes come to life — no stand or hand mixer required.
A stand mixer or hand mixer can definitely come in clutch when you’re making cakes, cookies, or other desserts, but if you don’t own one or you simply want to whip up a dessert without unearthing your kitchen equipment, don’t worry. There are plenty of desserts that don’t need anything more than a bowl, a spoon (or whisk, or spatula), and some elbow grease. One trick is to look for recipes that feature melted butter or oil as the primary fat — these typically avoid the step of creaming butter and sugar, which is arduous without an electric mixer. We’ve gathered some of our top recipes for desserts that don’t require serious equipment to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Sicilian Sun And Statement Diamonds: The 5 Big Wedding Trends Defining Summer 2026
It’s official: weddings are back and they’re bigger and splashier than ever – prepare for outfits and get ready for hens. These are the tribes defining the season.
After an era in which boyfriends became embarrassing and romance was rendered low-key, it’s with great joy that I pronounce this The Age of Big Weddings. Because, in case you hadn’t noticed, love – and specifically saying ‘I do’ – is truly all around. In the past year, we’ve seen a flurry of fashion-crowd weddings, from Kristen Stewart’s back-garden wedding to screenwriter Dylan Meyer (see Back-garden baes), to dancer Patricia Zhou’s White Lotus-style celebration in the Sicilian villa featured in season two of the HBO show, and Charli xcx’s 365-partygirl wedding (part one) in Hackney Town Hall.
There are plenty of nuptials on our screens, too, including The Drama, A24’s film about an engagement gone awry, that stars Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, who, according to her stylist Law Roach, is rumoured to have married fiancé Tom Holland in a secret ceremony. Then there’s the latest season of Euphoria, in which Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi’s characters tie the knot. Meanwhile, we’re still playing Raye’s viral hit ‘Where Is My Husband!’ on repeat, while one of the most fêted books on our recommend-list is Alison Espach’s The Wedding People.

10 Retro Cocktails That Define Mid-Century Glamour
These cocktails capture a breezy, glamorous era of entertaining.
Mid-century cocktails occupy a distinct moment in American drinking culture — equal parts minimalist and playful, designed as much for ease as for glamour. Like the design and architectural movements of the mid-1940s through the late 1960s, the post–World War II era brought fresh optimism, along with more accessible spirits, vibrant colors and flavors, and a sleek, polished aesthetic to drinks.
Often built on just a handful of ingredients, cocktails from the broader time frame of the post-Prohibition years through the 1970s, reflect a time when home entertaining was both aspirational and unfussy. Creamy after-dinner sippers, citrus-forward highballs, and spirit-driven classics all share a certain charm: they’re straightforward to make yet unmistakably stylish.
We’ve gathered our favorite recipes that revisit this golden age, celebrating cocktails that feel as inviting and relevant today as they did decades ago.

The 11 Best Clean-Smelling Perfumes Are Like Fresh Laundry and Expensive Soap, Bottled
I could bathe in them.
The change of seasons has me acting like a brand new person, and to be frank, I’m living for it. My foundations? Skin-like and glowy. My lip liners? Long-lasting and transfer-proof. Even my hair routine is becoming as minimal as the rest of my routine. However, as a certified perfume obsessive, my layering combinations are still the cherry on top of a multi-step scenting routine. With that being said, the notes that I’ve been reaching for have definitely changed from the deep, resinous ones I was reaching for in the winter to something much fresher and clean-smelling.

5 Sneaky Problems Hard Water Is Causing in Your Home
All those minerals can take a serious toll on your dishes, clothes, skin, and appliances.
Water becomes “hard” when too much calcium, magnesium, and other minerals dissolve in it as it moves through soil and rock before ending up in municipal water supplies. That’s the basic science—but you don’t need a degree in geology to know if your home has hard water. There will be plenty of signs, which our experts in the Good Housekeeping Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab say can trigger a litany of problems, from bad hair days to a leaky water heater.
Here are the biggest warning signs to watch for, along with tips for dealing with the situation.

‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ Salaries: How Meryl Streep Landed a $12.5 Million Payday With Big Bonuses – and Shared the Wealth with Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt
The women of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” are clacking their stilettos all the way to the bank.
As the sequel to the iconic fashion film continues to rake in cash across the globe — $300 million in box office and counting — multiple sources told Variety what the triumvirate of leading ladies earned to return after 20 years.
Streep, who stars again as the fearsome magazine editor Miranda Priestly, was obviously the most crucial element for filmmakers and distributor 20th Century Studios. They came to the table with an offer befitting Streep’s pedigree and enduring market value, four sources said.

Music’s 10 Weirdest Alter Egos
There’s a long tradition of artists going incognito — from huge rock stars to hip-hop wildcards
This week there’s been escalating controversy over TikTok singer Mr. Fantasy and the Riverdale actor KJ Apa, who may or may not be using Mr. Fantasy as his musical alter ego. “Enough is enough,” Apa declared this week, in a social-media video attacking Mr. Fantasy for identity theft. He claimed the singer has “completely and utterly stolen my image.” Riiiight. But it’s a reminder of how much musicians love creating alter egos. There’s a long tradition of artists getting inspired by going incognito behind a new identity – especially when they lose perspective and go overboard. There’s grey area over what counts as an alter ego vs. what’s just a stage name, a side project, a costume, or a cute nickname. (Or in Madonna’s case, an English accent.) But here’s an unranked list of ten of the all-time weirdest — and best — music alter egos. As Ziggy Stardust would say, you can play the wild mutation as a rock & roll star.

Your guide to summer movies 2026: From Supergirl to The Odyssey
See all the biggest summer movie release dates in our handy calendar.
The summer season is nearly upon us, and with it comes an exciting new slate of movies for fans of every genre.
Whether you’re going to infinity and beyond or returning to a galaxy far, far away; sneaking inside the Trojan Horse or riding shotgun with a cigar-smoking biker alien; looking for love in a single night or braving a new close encounter with Steven Spielberg, there is no shortage of opportunities to escape the heat and lose yourself in a great story.
Hollywood is bringing the laughs with films including Scary Movie, The Dink, and Coyote vs. Acme; the scares with Evil Dead Burn, Leviticus, and Fall 2; the heart with Office Romance, Ladies First, and Finding Emily; and the action and thrills with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Masters of the Universe, and The End of Oak Street.

What Starch Really Does to Your Clothes—and When to Use It
When to spray and when to skip.
Sure, you’ve heard of starch. And you’ve seen what it can do to dress shirts. But what actually is it? And how does it differ from the starch in your food? In short, there is no difference. The same starch that you use in your recipes to thicken sauces can help clothing keep its structure.
So when is applying starch to your garments a wise choice? We went to fabric and laundry care experts to find out when to spray and when to skip.

11 Long-Lasting Cut Flowers—Plus, Bouquet Tricks Florists Use to Extend Their Life
Consider adding these blooms to your next arrangement.
Whether you get your fresh-cut flowers from the market or your backyard, they’re not all created equal. Each variety has its own lifespan; some stay fresh and vibrant for weeks, while others begin to droop after just a few days. According to florists Rachel Cho and Althea Wiles, certain blooms are naturally longer-lasting—especially when paired with thoughtful bouquet design and proper care. Here, Cho and Wiles share the cut flowers that hold up best, along with simple styling tips to help you extend their lifespan and enjoy your arrangement longer.

I Visited the Real-life Homes Behind Beloved Childhood Books—and Found a New Way to Read Them
The homes of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott, and Maud Hart Lovelace preserve the places that shaped their classic stories.
You never forget the first chapter books you read by yourself. Like many, I spent days getting lost in Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical rendering of her family’s westward journey and frontier life; Little Women, Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale about four creative sisters navigating the transition to adulthood in 1860s Massachusetts; and Maud Hart Lovelace’s beloved series Betsy-Tacy, considered among the first YA novels, chronicling two best friends growing up together at the turn of the 20th century. These authors decided that their lives were worth writing down—and, in the process, gave us a window into American history as seen through the eyes of young women.

I’ve Explored All Over Switzerland—This Is the No. 1 Thing Every Traveler Should Try When Visiting
This wholesome tradition gives farm-fresh foods and cheeses.
Whenever I’m asked why I’m so fond of Switzerland, I almost always say it’s the scenery. The snow-capped mountain peaks, the shimmering glacial lakes, and the tiny villages, known for their cobblestone streets and chalet-style buildings, are exactly how they appear on postcards. The truth is, however, that answer feels a bit too broad; it doesn’t touch on how immersive and singular the country is.
After my latest trip, a quick summer trip to the village of Andermatt, I tried to pinpoint Switzerland’s appeal further. Yes, I’m a fan of European sauna culture (which I participated in at The Chedi Andermatt), the famously efficient Swiss train system, and the general population’s dedication to an active lifestyle, whether it’s skiing, hiking, or mountain biking. But I also realized I have an affinity for Switzerland’s cozy, almost surprise-and-delight moments, which include, but are not limited to, the self-serve fridges scattered throughout alpine villages and tucked along hiking paths.

[Photo Credit:  AB Concept]

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