Slice Of Life Summer

Quote of the Week By Kinnerith Din

““…because talent isn't genius, and no amount of energy can make it so. I want to be great, or nothing.” ― Amy March,  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Les Adore NYC Pop Up!💛🍪

We are hosting our first ever pop up with Thin Cookies - the healthier version of popular, Crumbl cookies. Come catch us tomorrow from 5-7 PM outside the Acne Studios Pop Up at 261 5th Ave from 5-7 PM!

RSVP for head count here! 🍪

“Business Casual”📉

That taut, in-between feeling when your internship ends, but school hasn’t started.

We’ve learned to be the intern versions of ourselves: performative, polished, polite. We made TikToks of our business casual OOTDs, filed papers, and drank exorbitant amounts of coffee, and soon we’ll be expected to morph into our default setting: our campus selves. How am I expected to go from wearing business casual to serving cunt at college darties?

Wearing business casual all summer taught me that it’s not about putting on a suit. It’s learning to wear different versions of yourself. How to code-switch. Business casual isn’t just a dress code, but a social code masked as professionalism. If I don’t wear business casual, regulate my facial expressions, or lead with “I go to Yale,” my credibility becomes negotiable. So I translate myself into a language crafted for ears that weren’t made to hear my truth. I become so fluent in this language that my own voice fades into silence.

Learning to show up as yourself and speak life into the spaces you embrace is one of the most radical acts of self-love. Whether it’s the office or a college darty, walk with intention—let the click of your steps declare that you’re here, and your voice affirm that you belong.

Taking up space is for you, with love. ❤️

GET READY TO DANCE, SEX, SWEAT!💦

Amaarae’s “BLACK STAR” – Where Techno & Afrobeats Collide

Afro beats star Amaarae dropped her sophomore album “BLACK STAR” over the weekend and we’re so here for it!

Her newest project is fun, experimental, clubby, and will definitely make you want to dance with features from PinkPantheress, Charlie Wilson, Bree Runway, and Naomi Campbell!

The album truly captures that feeling of dancing your heart out in the dark with strangers, the sweat cooling on your skin as the bass thunders through your chest.Just think if Charli XCX and Tyla had a baby, it would definitely be her!

My top picks so far are “ms60” (reminds me of “365”) and “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2” - I love PinkPantheress and their cute little chipmunk voices together!

“BLACK STAR” is all about going back to your roots and celebrating who you are, and being unapologetic about it. “I’m taking my culture and I’m synthesizing it in a way that feels unique and fresh to me… I wanted to take a genre that needs to go back home to its roots and merge that with my African roots and hip-hop and create a new world,” (via Rolling Stone)

In conclusion, new Amaarae just dropped one of the hottest albums of the year and it’s time for everyone to get sexy NOW!!!

A Carrie-Worthy Girls’ Night In 

Carrie girls: listen up. Sex and the City’s spinoff series, “And Just Like That…" will premiere its series finale next week. So as we say goodbye to the characters we’ve known, loved, and hated since 1998, let’s plan the perfect night of ins while the show goes out.

 Let’s begin with the Medicube Collagen Gel Mask for refreshing, bouncy skin. Go ahead and pair with the LoveShackFancy x PINK loungewear collab – channeling that West Village vibe Carrie’s curated.

And as you begin to wonder, pour yourself a glass of Poppi’s reformed root beer. And there you have it, the perfect girls’ night with our special girls in New York.

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Gingham Filter or Gingham Pattern?🍒

What was once Instagram’s widely used filter has now become the defining trend for summer 2025: the gingham. Unlike the desaturating colors and faded look of the filter, the pattern has a much more bright and flamboyant vibe to it. From pop icon Olivia Rodrigo lighting up Wimbledon to our style trendsetter Bella Hadid, the classic red and white checks happen to be thriving this summer. 

There are many different ways of styling this very fun and colorful pattern. Midi dresses and shorts are some of the most trending this season. Since the gingham pattern itself is very bold, minimal accessorizing would make it pop more. A pair of chic sunglasses, a white headband, and a classic white bag  paired together makes for the perfect finishing touches. 

So whether you’re sipping lemonade or chasing sunsets, gingham’s making sure this summer is anything but square.

A Sweet Stop at Din Tai Fung🪷

If you haven’t been to Din Tai Fung yet, it’s definitely time to check it out! This Taiwanese spot is known worldwide for its soup dumplings and comforting dishes. With locations all over, from LA to British Columbia, it’s become a go-to for anyone craving tasty, fresh food.

But lately, the real buzz isn’t just about the classic dumplings. It’s their dessert that’s stealing the spotlight: the Chocolate Mochi Xiao Long Bao. It’s exactly what it sounds like—sweet, soft, and totally unexpected. People have been raving about it all over social media, and honestly, it’s easy to see why.

If you’re looking for a reason to finally try Din Tai Fung or need an excuse to go back, this dessert will give you one.

Hidden Figures With Lasting Impacts🚀

Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is show up, even when the world tells you that you don’t belong. Hidden Figures isn’t just about three Black women working at NASA, it’s about the quiet revolution of existing in spaces built without you in mind, and refusing to shrink. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson don’t break barriers with just loud speeches or protests; they do it with brilliance, persistence, and grace, letting their work speak louder than prejudice. The film shows the weight of being “the first” and the isolation, the scrutiny, and the unspoken pressure to be perfect just to be considered equal. Stories like this are essential to look into and understand, because they reveal the hidden threads of history and the people who wove them despite the odds. What makes Hidden Figures powerful is how it uncovers the unseen labor behind history and demands we remember the names that textbooks left out.

Tourists?...Trapped. 🕳

Tourist traps are a dime-a-dozen in Italy, so knowing how to spot them will save you money and headaches. 

Firstly, if someone throws an electric microphone or fan in your face, you can have some fun. Speak into the mic or let them fan you in the heat of day, just don’t buy it. They’re overpriced and will find their way into your junk drawer. 

“Rose peddling” is the most common trap I’ve seen. If you’re offered one - don’t take it, they’ll immediately demand cash. The same applies for anything someone tries to hand you: dried corn, toys, trinkets. 

Beware of unsolicited photographers dying to snap your photo. Yes, you're gorgeous, but you’ll pay top dollar for unflattering photos. 

Any restaurant bearing hosts calling from the street, close to tourist attractions, and/or has huge English menus and giant bottles of Aperol is definitely not worth your time if you want authentic cuisine. As for gelato, stick to small shops with metal containers and lids. 

Getting an authentic Italian experience can be hard when it seems like so many are trying to capitalize off you, but don’t be discouraged. With a bit of intentionality, you’ll come out on top.

 Sentimental Late Summer🧺

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 have been spending a lot of time in historic cafes and writer bars around NYC, trying to take in the last of my summer before it ends. My favorite, Caffé Reggio, founded in 1927, was a hub of beatnik poets in the 1950s and is open until 3 am. This week I sat there, on a Medici bench, developing a book project and remembering Allen Ginsberg’s advice to writers:

“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness” 

See you next week❤️