Slice Of Life Summer

Quote of the Week By Kinnerith Din

“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames”

— Rumi, Jalal al-Din Rumi | The Poetry Foundation

Have we finally escaped the“sneaky link” era? 🙄

Can we cancel the ‘no face, no case’ elevator pose already?? Please? I beg. 

Gen Z coined the terms “sneaky link” and “situationship” to capture the disillusionment between intimacy and detachment. What once felt like a radical rejection of traditional dating norms has become a performance of acting nonchalant to mask real emotions. At its worst, sneaky link culture sustains misogyny, turning women into placeholders, expected to contain their love and internalize not being chosen.

Because Gen Z came of age during the COVID-19 pandemic, our world became mediated by digital intimacy, and we relied on social media to form relationships. DMs and soft launches numbed us to emotional depth, making it easier to ghost than to grow, and easier to post than to be present.

However, with the numerous hard launches fluttering my “For You" page—Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson, CoCo and Donovan, Azzi and Paige, and my personal faves, Nicolandria—perhaps we’re entering a new era: the soft-girl era. Black women are stepping into relationships where they can be authentic, expressive, and embraced, rejecting relationships where they feel invisible. 

So, before you spin the block with your situationship, remember that you are worthy of witness. Because being loved out loud is for you, with love.

For the Summer I turned Pretty Lovers😌

Are you Team Conrad, Team Jeremiah, or Team Belly? Whichever side you might take – and there is a correct one – the trends this summer totally reflect the different perspectives.

For my Conrad girls, lean into the dark reds of the season with Coach’s red mary jane flats. They’re brooding and mysterious, just like Connie Baby.

My Jeremiahs of the world: grab this Peppermayo summer set while it’s still in stock! Perfect for beach nights, summer kisses, and maybe one or two bad decisions.

And for my Team Belly members, American Eagle has the cutest, subtle fangirl boxer shorts that scream Cousins Beach.

Intern / work outfit inspo!🗽

While Andrea Sachs’ intern-era wardrobe definitely raised some eyebrows (just ask Miranda Priestly), her style in The Devil Wears Prada is a solid guide in what not to wear to your big-girl job.

Which is why I’ve linked some of my all-time favorite workwear moments from Hollywood’s most iconic rom-coms. Consider this your unofficial guide to dressing for the career you want (with just the right amount of cinematic flair).

1. Elle Woods in Legally Blonde as a Lawyer - Nothing says “objection, your honor” like a pink power suit

   

   
   Elle’s courtroom looks have been trending on social media as a Gen Z staple for “coquette corporate.” So yes, pink is still a power move.
   

2. Jenna Rink in 13 going on 30 as an Editor  in colors, charms, and fun prints that make us feel young again

   

Jenna’s whimsical wardrobe has made a huge comeback thanks to Pinterest nostalgia boards and Y2K revival videos. Growing up doesn’t have to mean growing boring.

3. Charlotte York in Sex & The City as a Gallerist in pearls, pastels, and pristine tailoring

   

This upper east side princess walked the streets of this city so the preppy girl aesthetic could run (in Chanel ballet flats, obviously).

Hot girls deserve to look hot–especially in their hot girl jobs. Whether you work within fashion or not, in business it’s always important to show that you never go out of style. 

Trompe-l'œil fruit desserts🥭

There’s a new dessert trend taking over TikTok called “trompe-l'œil fruit desserts,” or otherwise fruit pastries that look exactly like real fruit. There are so many variations including lemons, bananas, raspberries, mangos–really, any fruit you can think of. They're all perfectly shaped and almost too good to eat. Inside, they usually have a soft jelly or creamy filling with a subtle flavor that matches the fruit on the outside. 

Many credit the shop Aurora in LA as the original spot that made these pastries famous online. But actually, this style has been around for a while, especially thanks to French pastry chef Cedric Grolet, who’s been creating fruit-shaped desserts for years.

Since Aurora’s viral success, bakeries across the U.S. have started making their own versions, and they’re selling out fast.

If you want to try one, check your local bakeries – chances are, they’re already jumping on the trend. These pastries are one of the hottest desserts right now, and definitely worth a taste.

“Pearls” by Sade might sound like a soft, ambient track you’d play while studying, winding down, or–for some reason–soundtracking thirst traps on TikTok..…but it’s actually telling a brutal story. The song is about a Somali woman walking miles just to get water. The song was inspired by the harsh conditions and famine faced in many underdeveloped countries. It’s quiet, but devastating. The kind of song that sinks in slowly, if you let it. That’s the thing about the media that we consume and often miss a lot of the layers. Songs, films, and media we engage with is often rooted in real experiences, real pain, or history that gets glossed over when we’re just looking for a “vibe”. In a world where the media comes at us nonstop, learning to actually pay attention is undervalued. Not everything has a deeper meaning, but when it does, catching it can change how you see the world. If not the world, then at least how you hear a song.

Inside Charli XCX and George Daniel's Wedding After-Party💍

The newlyweds and their guests celebrated their nuptials with a post-ceremony meal at nearby Italian restaurant Dalla, as seen in photos published by The Sun.

The 32-year-old first shared news of her engagement back in November 2023 when she shared a picture on Instagram of a tea tray with an engagement ring on it with the caption, "charli xcx and george daniel f--king for life!!!"

The couple first met in 2021 while working on the song "Spinning" together, and Charli later opened up about the newness of being romantically involved with a collaborator.

She told the Spout Podcast a month after announcing their engagement, “It’s funny, I have never sort of been in a relationship with someone that I’ve worked with, so it’s like a whole new dynamic."

Ciao from the Coast 

Craving the coast in northern Italy? Head to Cinque Terre. As my mom says, “it’s the less expensive, less crowded version of the Amalfi Coast.” The region is made up of five towns that each hold their own charm and traditions. 

For affordable accommodation, stay in Riomaggiore. At night, join locals and travelers alike at the two popular bars facing each other in the town center, and mingle in between them. Locals are incredibly welcoming, and there’s a good chance you’ll end up talking with them all night. The town is also home to some of Cinque Terre’s most iconic views. 

Monterosso is where you’ll find the best beach day of your life. Rent an umbrella and chairs for €40 and swim in the crystal clear water. Being the biggest of the five towns, the nightlife here is also more vibrant. 

Traveling between the towns is easy, with €9 train rides allowing you to explore many villages in a single day. For a scenic route, take advantage of the hiking trails that connect the towns, offering nature lovers breathtaking views.

No matter what you want, Cinque Terre proves that paradise doesn’t need a hefty price tag. 

Welcome back to The Interlude–otherwise known as Quiet Parts, the Column–with art and poetry pairings for the busy patron. Each week, I’ll be sharing some things I’m reading, seeing, and the ways I’m staying invested in culture this summer. 

This week, I’ve been loving the poems of Frank Bidart especially from his Pulitzer-winning Half-light: Collected Poems. His poetry is expansive, imaginative, and innovative. Here are the last lines of “In Memory of Joe Brainard:”

the soul

learns once again the body it loves and hates is

made of earth, and will betray it.

And to pair, of course, If Nancy Was an Ashtray by Joe Brainard at Craig Starr Gallery in June last month. 

See you next week!❤️