Tune In, Dress Up
Vol. 1 Issue 3 – 13th April 2024
Paint the town… 🧈?
Step aside Pantone’s 2024 Colour of the Year, Peach Fuzz, and move on from the reds and burgundy, there’s a new colour that you will be seeing everywhere this Spring and Summer. As Coldplay once said, it was all yellow. But not just any yellow, a pale shade akin to a pastel yellow that is being dubbed ‘butter yellow’. A seamless seasonal shift from the pop-of-red era we saw peaking in late 2023-early 2024, this is an apt change for the coming sunnier months (& our vacation wardrobes!).
Already seen on the Fall ‘22 and Spring ‘23 runway looks of Bottega Veneta, Coperni, Loewe, Isabel Marant, Louis Vuitton, and more, the butter yellow trend is more than a fad. The palest shade is neutral enough for the minimalists, while an experimentalist can work with a brighter look for something more out-of-the-box. There is a place for butter yellow in everyone’s closet! In fact, Jennifer Lawrence (in pic) combined an array of yellows in a single look! So how do you go about incorporating this in your personal style?
A halter or strapless top in butter yellow can be paired with any kind of bottoms, be it navy wash straight-cut jeans or wide-leg trousers in brown or black. They would even work with various lengths of skirts. And that’s the beauty of this shade, you can pair it with most of the colour palette and it would work. White linen pants would give effortless chic in an instant! Speaking of linen, you could also opt for a yellow linen shirt, which can be styled to look professional, tucked in with a belt, or thrown over a white tank for a lazy day. You could also combine butter yellow with another trend of the season– vests! Or opt for a tote bag for starters, if you don’t want to commit just yet!
Sound off
A bunch of new music was released this past Friday, notably by pop girlies Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa. Dua has dropped her third single ‘Illusion’ from her upcoming album, following ‘Houdini’ and ‘Training Session’. It’s a classic Dua Lipa dance track, echoing peppy and addicting sounds, similar to her previous work on Future Nostalgia. Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ on the other hand, I’M HOOKED. It is already a top contender for my song of the summer. Exploring a new, more subtle sound, Sabrina whisper-sings a catchy rhyme of a chorus. She told Apple Music that she wrote it while in France, and I don’t know how, but you can tell it exudes European summer energy. With Miss Carpenter’s Espresso and Hozier belting out “I take my whisky neat” on Too Sweet, I guess I’ll only be singing songs about drinks I don’t drink right now.
Also, Sabrina is set to perform at Coachella, which is taking place this weekend and the next. And even though we can’t be in the Californian desert ourselves, thanks to the festival’s partnership with YouTube, you can stream all performances live at home! The line-up is iconic, as always, with Tyler The Creator, Doja Cat, Bleachers, Ice Spice, J. Balvin, Justice, LE SSERAFIM, and of course, Sabrina Carpenter amongst many other artists.
As for more new music, it’s a great time to be an indie-pop stan as we got new albums from Maggie Rogers (Don't Forget Me) and girl in red (I'm Doing It Again Baby!). While the latter leans into a pop-heavy production and theatrics, Maggie Rogers has a stripped back, singer-songwriter throughline. Rogers’ album is ideal for a road trip while girl in red would be my hyping-myself-in-my-bedroom background score. My favourite track out of all the songs on both these albums has to be ‘The Kill’ by Maggie Rogers.
Another song that has caught my attention isn’t one I would particularly add to my playlist but if you’re looking for a sound for your fit check Instagram story or reel, might I suggest ‘MOTHER ATE’ by Jane Bell. You just need to hear the first line of the song to know what I mean.
Romance renaissance
It’s no secret that we are all yearning for rom-coms to make a comeback. There’s just something about meet-cutes, tried and tested tropes, conflicts-you-know-will-be-resolved, sappy dialogues, declarations of love, good-looking actors with way too much chemistry for their own good (Ahem, Anyone But You) and needless to say, happily ever afters. There is something eternally comforting about this genre. I mean, even when it comes to books, romance and its sub-genres are on the rise and topping best-selling charts. So as it turns out, Hollywood too is understanding this want and need, as a new crop of romantic comedies are releasing on streaming sites.
Here are some recommendations for your viewing pleasure (some new and some that may have flown under your radar), while we wait for the Anne Hathaway-Nicholas Galitzine starrer The Idea of You to hit Amazon Prime Video in May this year.
Música (Prime Video) - A coming-of-age, musical love story starring Camila Mendes and Rudy Mancuso, explores the Brazilian-American identity crisis of its protagonists, and the choice between following your passions or coursing through the well-trodden path amidst a confusing love life. The movie feels playful and fresh and I guess it helps that our main leads are dating IRL.
How to Date Billy Walsh (Prime Video) - The typical high school story where the boy is in love with a girl who happens to be his best friend, so he keeps it a secret but right when he decides to confess, the girl falls for the new guy in school. With consistent fourth wall breaks, keep your expectations low but hey, it’s cute. Starring Charithra Chandran, Sebastian Croft and Tanner Buchanan.
Upgraded (Prime Video) - Starring Camila Mendes (once again) and Archie Renaux, an art gallery intern meets a rich, handsome stranger on a flight (she was upgraded obviously) but she is pretending to be someone she is not.
Love at First Sight (Netflix) - Another airport meet-cute! This movie was released in September 2023, but I have not heard enough people talk about it so here it is. Starring Haley Ru Richardson and Ben Hardy, the characters are instantly likeable and you are rooting for them to be together from the get-go. With themes of fate and chance, it has just the right amount of whimsy for a cosy night in.
The Time Traveler's Wife (2022, Series) (Jio Cinema) - OKAY THIS. Criminally underrated. Very few know about this Steven Moffat adaptation of the famous novel of the same name, which was released on HBO. Now, the premise does remain weird even after all these years and isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but in my opinion, this series does a better job depicting it than the 2009 movie featuring Rachel McAdams did. Starring Theo James and Rose Leslie, it was cancelled after its first season itself, but the way Moffat ends the last episode wraps it up pretty neatly.
Emma (2020) (Jio Cinema) - Released right before the pandemic, this adaptation based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel, is a delight! Starring Anya Taylor Joy, Mia Goth, Johnny Flynn and Callum Turner, the classic period piece feels brand new with its charming performances, Autumn de Wilde’s romantic visuals and that one scene, where Mr Knightley confesses his feelings to Emma and she has nosebleed! Fun fact: that’s actually Anya Taylor Joy having a real nosebleed right on cue as the script demanded it! So the next time you are due for a Pride & Prejudice re-watch, give it a break and give Emma a chance instead.
For the ‘gram
Couple of Instagram accounts I have been loving lately:
Holding a bunch of random stuff between every crevice of our hands is simply ✨girlhood✨. Naturally, a page dedicated to just that? Count me in. I love seeing what selection of asinine items each girl is holding, it ranges from practical (keys, phone, wallet, glasses) to unhinged (1 value-sized bottle of ranch, 4 tubs of play-doh), and I’m obsessed.
I stumbled upon Carmen’s account when Instagram showed me a reel of her picking produce from her home garden to make a gift basket for her in-laws and OMG I wish I was on the receiving end of those goodies! It is, quite literally, so refreshing to see someone care for and grow their own fruits, herbs, veggies and flowers and curate them so thoughtfully for her loved ones. She also shares her recipes and while I haven’t tried making anything myself, it just looks so wholesome!
The IT bags and shoes this season
When the mini and micro bags were in fashion, I did wonder how long it would take for the general public to realistically, get over them. Because, let’s be honest, if you’re carrying a bag, you need to fit things in it! And the time has come. Well, we still haven’t quite made the jump to XL bags but we are getting there with shoulder bags. If not in length, then in breadth at least. Say hello to the East-West bag! Getting its name from the left and right directions, these bags are wider than they are tall. Want to get in on the horizontal bag trend? The likes of Mango and Zara have already caught up. Additionally, giving the girlies a little more space are the moon-shaped, curved, crescent shoulder bags that are also all over high fashion brands’ catalogues this year. You can grab one for yourself on Nykaa Fashion or Miraggio and film a reel to the trending ‘Luckily I have purse’ audio.
And for footwear to pair with your it-bags, look no further than some good old sneakers, because some things never go out of style. But specifically in trend right now, are the Adidas Gazelles and Sambas, in all the colours of the rainbow and then some. Now these have already been quite popular for a few years (& they are a Harry Styles’ favourite since he wore them all throughout his Love On Tour), but the three-striped classic is just that versatile and is not going anywhere, any time soon. But for a more feminine and elegant look, Mary Janes and ballet flats are back! In leather, velvet or suede, experiment with styles and pops of shades because colour & quirky is IN. And if you’re someone who still prefers heels over flats, slingback heels should be your go-to, especially the ones in metallics.
One for the books
Podcaster, designer and Harry Styles’ sister, Gemma Styles is becoming an author with her debut book ‘Why am I like this?’, releasing September 2024! An advocate for mental health and having been diagnosed with ADHD in her adulthood, Gemma’s book will focus on the questions that arise when dealing with mental health issues and neurodivergence, exploring the reasons for the same. If you’re looking for another such book for your current read, go for Me vs Brain by Hayley Morris. A funny and anecdotal take on stress, overwhelming thoughts, rumination, over-thinking and all that other fun stuff our brain comes up with, and tricks us into believing.
Looking forward to…
Mercury Retrograde getting over! - With Mercury going retrograde on the 1st of April and the Solar Eclipse taking place simultaneously on the 8th, it has been a tumultuous time in the cosmos. The Solar Eclipse gives rise to the selfish and narcissistic nature of humans, which can be a pain to deal with, and also forces us to delve deep into relationships (past and present). It marks endings, but also new beginnings. Whereas, Mercury Retrograde affects communication, technology and travel. Slow down, get some R&R and focus on your me-time until the 25th of April. Embrace monotony and protect your data and gadgets. We have already seen the Indian electronics company Boat facing a massive data breach, with personal information of 7.5 million users being leaked on the dark web.
Bridgerton Season 3 (Show)- The friends-to-lovers trope never looked this good
Joker 2 (Movie)- That shot of Lady Gaga drawing the red smile on the glass and Joaquin Phoenix aligning his face with it, UGH, poetic cinema!
We Were The Lucky Ones (Show)- Logan Lerman and Joey King showcase the story of a Jewish family separated at the start of World War 2
Challengers (Movie)- This trailer is enough of a reason TBH
The Tortured Poets Department (Album)- DUH
Very informative n trendy. Will keep you updated.
Here for the reccos! 🤌