From the Group Chat: “Brat Girl Summer,” Team USA Uniforms, and the “Morning Shed”

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Sunday. What a week it was for extremely controversial trends. No sooner had I learned that Free People was selling a new version of those excessively puffy, worryingly squishy Floatie flip-flops, I also learned that Bogg bags — essentially, Crocs, but in the form of a tote — are apparently “summer’s hottest bag.” And don’t even get me started on the fact that mesh fishnet is now coming for your purse. While I process my feelings about…all of that, I’ll still be thinking about how Blake Lively wore $19,000 jeans (who even knew jeans could be that expensive), sipping on Pickle Brine Margaritas (I’m 100% the pickle friend), and enjoying my first hot dog of the season. But unlike the, frankly, scary number of people who top their hot dogs with mayo, I’ll be sticking with ketchup and mustard.

—  Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

👑 Prince William celebrated his 42nd birthday at Taylor Swift’s London concert — and took the lyrics to “Shake It Off” quite literally. Nothing could have prepared us for how hard he went.

👜 If you thought your college roommate was bad, wait until you read about this Anna Delvey-esque drama involving two New York University freshmen. Netflix, we’re waiting.

🧦 The latest controversy dividing millennials and Gen Z? Sock height. Jennifer Lawrence, we salute you for your courage. 

😬 “Eyebrow blindness” isn’t real — meaning, you did know how your pencil-thin brows looked in 10th grade. And plucked anyway. 

👀 Wondering what, exactly, is Jack Schlossberg’s deal? According to the 31-year-old grandson of John F. Kennedy, his particularly unhinged TikToks are “all part of a big plan.” 

Chuck Bass, is that you? Earlier this week, Ralph Lauren, which has dressed Team USA for the past nine Olympics and Paralympics, debuted its vision for Paris 2024 — and the internet had thoughts. Central to the opening ceremony outfit is yet another navy blazer, which the brand described as “distinctly modern,” but reads “Gossip Girl” meets 2000s J.Crew (or, as one X user put it, “the mean rich kids from the camp across the lake”). For the closing ceremony, athletes will don a moto jacket that’s drawn comparisons to NASCAR — or, more amusingly, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” All of which led one critic to declare: “​​Ralph Lauren must pay for his crimes against fashion.” 

That may be true, but these fits are hardly our worst. Consider the “swackets” of 1968, 1980’s cowboy-inspired look, and Ralph Lauren’s own 2012 berets, which would make even Emily in Paris cringe. That got us thinking about the best and worst outfits various countries have fielded over the years. Even though nothing can top the viral moment in 2016 when a shirtless Tongan flag bearer ignored Olympic officials by wearing his country’s traditional costume (10/10), other highlights from years past include Japan’s rainbow-colored capes (9/10), Great Britain’s ABBA-esque suits (8/10), and Canada’s Canadian tuxedo (we’ll let you be the judge on that one). And when it comes to sartorial competition at this year’s games, there’s an already obvious contender for Best Dressed gold: France. Can we get that jacket in our size?

Thought your summer playlist was locked in? Gracie Abrams said, “Hold my Strawberry Lemon Poppi.” On Friday, the Grammy Award nominee, certified Swiftie (she opened for her hero on the Eras Tour), and, yes, nepo baby (her dad is “Lost” co-creator J.J. Abrams) dropped her sophomore album, “The Secret of Us.” While the 13 tracks — which include a duet with Swift herself — contain the same introspective, angsty, late-night-drive vibe as Abrams’s debut, “Good Riddance,” they are also “sharper, hookier and more extroverted than ever.” (Just listen to the first single “Risk.”) Or, as Abrams puts it, the album’s energy is like “when you run home to tell your best friend every detail of your night.” Which, honestly, is the best kind of night. 

Remember when you used to feel proud of yourself for taking your makeup off before bed? According to today’s influencers, that’s no longer good enough. Now, they’re going to bed with sheet masks, lip serums, heatless curlers, eye patches, mouth tape, and so much more. All of which is removed, layer by layer, in what’s being called the “morning shed” or “daily shed.” Because, apparently, “the uglier you go to bed, the prettier you wake up.” Now, even if that were the case, first question: Who has the time? Second question: How do you fall asleep with heatless curlers in your hair and product upon product layered on your face? According to some sleep experts, all those extras “may provide a calming, grounding effect.” That, or you wake up looking — and feeling — even more tired.

Unless you live a life untethered to your phone (in which case, congrats), you’ve probably noticed the internet is suddenly identifying as a brat, with some even declaring this “Brat Girl Summer.” Now, to be clear, this probably isn’t the brat you’re imagining. It’s not spoiled, badly behaved Angelica Pickles or Regina George. It’s also not those doe-eyed, pouty dolls. Instead, it’s a vibe inspired by so-called “queen of weird pop” Charli XCX and her new album “Brat” — which, thanks to its very meme-able album cover, has also been everywhere. While there is an I-don’t-care-what-you-think aesthetic associated with said brat (think: smudged eyeliner, dark sunglasses, leather jackets, acid-washed jeans), it’s more an attitude. As Charli sings, it’s “666 with a princess streak, I’m everywhere, I’m so Julia” (which, for the record, is a reference to Julia Fox, not Roberts). Meaning, it’s about being fun, messy, and free — doing what you want, when you want, without apology. Even if that’s hitting up Dairy Queen on a Friday night instead of the dance floor.

Getting a life insurance policy can feel overwhelming, but it all starts with knowing what you want your coverage to do (replace your income, pay off your mortgage, create an inheritance for your dogs, etc.). That can help you come up with a ballpark figure and decide which policy is right for you. Of course, you’ll want to work with a company that’s financially strong enough for your needs. Bonus points if their agents can help guide you to make the best decision(s) for you and your loved ones. Hungry for more? These financial pros have your back.*

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