From the Group Chat: A Week of Celebrity Hard Launches, “Backless Skirts,” and Farewell, Forever 21

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Sunday. I’m not a Sports Person, but you best believe I’ll be rooting for my alma mater throughout March Madness (it helps they’ve got serious star power). In addition to their First Round wins, a few other things had me cheering this week:

• Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wildly entertaining Hot Ones appearance (I promise, if you weren’t rooting for them before, you will be after watching). 

• A pitch-perfect Free People x L.L.Bean collab (that rugged, oversized tote bag seems ideal for beach days). 

• “Commuter Girl Hair” — the ultimate low-maintenance look if you’re constantly running out the door in the morning (*raises hand*). 

• The Yankees’ announcement that they’ll soon sell this decadent dessert (you’ll never guess what they’re serving it in). A home run, indeed. 

• And finally, one “genius” new couple (more on that below).

— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY

💪 Millennials, we still can’t do anything right, at least according to Gen Z. This time, they’re coming for how we wear…gym clothes.  

🐰 Who knows if the outrageously delightful bunny behind the “bunny bangs” trend is real, but we are absolutely, 100% here for it.

👀 If you thought you were scarred by “the butt mullet dress,” brace yourself for “the backless skirt.” People, we said backless. 

😬 Think you know how to apply moisturizer? Not to burst your bubble, but you’re probably doing it wrong.

🤨 Sorry, but of all the season’s biggest makeup looks, we refuse to participate in “browlicks.”

Spring is in the air and so is love, apparently. For those who’ve long been suspicious of certain are-they-or-aren’t-they? celebrity couples, it’s been an extremely validating week. First, Boygenius bandmates and patron saints of Sad Girls everywhere Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker confirmed what many already concluded: They’re an item (honestly, their terrifyingly good Pete-and-Ariana Halloween costume should’ve been a hint). That same day, USWNT soccer star Trinity Rodman (yes, that Rodman) and tennis player Ben Shelton also hard-launched their relationship, in peak Gen Z fashion — aka, Shelton posted a not-at-all curated Instagram dump.

Add to that: the recent debut of lovebirds that we truly — and we cannot stress this enough — did not see coming. Like Lucy Hale and Harry Jowsey, though, a source told People it’s “super casual.” Harry who, you ask? Harry Jowsey, a pro reality TV star (his resume includes three dating shows and Dancing With the Stars) and host of the aptly titled podcast Boyfriend Material. And that wasn’t the only couple to seemingly fall from the sky. So did a nearly tattoo-less Pete Davidson and model Elsie Hewitt, who were seen packing on the PDA (we cannot unsee those tongue-touching pics if we tried).

And good news for anyone very invested in the love lives of people they don’t know: There’s at least one rumored couple to still keep you busy. At Monday’s iHeartRadio Music Awards, the Queen of Christmas and Anderson .Paak were seemingly seated together — months after they were spotted holding hands in Aspen. But the same can’t be said for Jessica Alba and comedian Alex Edelman, who, according to E! News, are not dating…cozy-looking “pics” be damned. You should also probably cross Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas off your watch list — because, despite being photographed on numerous occasions, the pair has appeared as romantic as two siblings having lunch together. Perhaps they’re just talking shop ​​about their alleged “top-secret” project? Or swapping DIY stunt tips? Who knows, but don’t expect to hear wedding bells any time soon. 

Cate Blanchett is many things: an Oscar-winning actress, a mother of four, an alleged member of the “middle class” (respectfully, no), and the president of the Anti-Leaf Blowers Society. Turns out, Blanchett doesn’t just dislike leaf blowers, but as she recently declared on SubwayTakes, she staunchly believes they’re “a metaphor for what’s wrong with us as a species” and need “to be eradicated from the face of the Earth.” And just in case that wasn’t upsetting enough for suburban dads everywhere, a few days later, she doubled down on her stance, telling People: “They’re the most moronic invention.” Now, Blanchett’s vendetta against the lawn care tool isn’t entirely new. In fact, it goes as far back as 2007, when she first mentioned it to W magazine. Since then, she’s aired her grievances during red carpet interviews, at press conferences, and even on Hot Ones. But Blanchett is hardly the first celeb to have a truly inexplicable aversion to highly specific things. See: Gayle King’s feelings about buttons, Khloé Kardashian’s well-documented fear of whales (even her kids troll her), and Kristen Bell’s reason for wearing “pool gloves.” Ladies, we listen and we don’t judge.

We are gathered here today to mourn the demise of a millennial institution. That’s right, after decades of giving us cheap bodycon dresses, going-out tops that lasted less than 10 washes, and those iconic highlighter-yellow shopping bags, Forever 21 has (again) filed for bankruptcy, almost certainly signaling the end of an era. Partial cause of death? Competition from online fast-fashion retailers, like Shein and Temu, according to the company. But before it likely shutters some 350 US stores, let us pay tribute to the twinkly floors, excessively bright lights, and Kesha-fueled soundtracks. Sure, it had its flaws — actually, let’s be real, there were many, from “horrifying” graphic tees to cultural appropriation controversies to more copyright problems than you can count. But there were also few places in the early 2000s where cash-strapped teens and 20-somethings could sneakily eat Auntie Anne’s pretzels while browsing the racks of colorful bubble skirts, owl statement necklaces (you know the one), and seven different kinds of black leggings. So thanks for the memories, Forever 21. We’ll pour out a can of Four Loko in your honor.

Breaking news: Shondaland has returned to the White House. But this time for a series that’s less soapy, more silly, and just as scandalous — albeit, in a different way. In Netflix’s hammy whodunit, The Residence, Uzo Aduba plays Cordelia Cupp, a magnificently dry, exceptionally quirky, bird-loving detective, who’s summoned to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to investigate the murder of the White House’s chief usher during a state dinner. Described as “spiritually akin” to Clue and Knives Out, the eight-episode show follows Cupp, as she, along with bumbling FBI special agent Edwin Park (Fresh Off the Boat’s Randall Park), work through the list of 157 suspects, including party guests and staff members — uncovering plenty of upstairs/downstairs tension, petty grudges, and shady secrets along the way. Oh, and on the off chance you need further convincing, Kylie Minogue also makes a cameo.

Mejuri Tube Huggie Hoops

The quest for the perfect everyday earring ends here. Mejuri’s huggie hoops are the jewelry equivalent of your favorite pair of jeans: reliable, versatile, and unexpectedly comfortable. Plus, they probably won’t make you break out in a mysterious rash since they’re generally safe for sensitive skin, which was confirmed by an editor who’s prone to itchiness. Wear them while you sleep or anytime you need to look put-together without trying too hard — and don’t be surprised if you forget they’re even on. That’s the highest compliment we can pay a pair of earrings.

Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently.

At 111SKIN, mix and match amongst their selection of sheet masks and eye masks to create a personalized skin routine and get 20% off a set of seven. It's the perfect Sunday activity, if you ask us.

Hot take: Spring is the best season for jackets. Right now, Bernardo is running a flash sale of 30% off orders of $100+ with code SPRING30. We'll be in this cropped trench until future notice.

This baby shampoo and body wash from Honest is safe for sensitive skin, but effective enough to get all the mysterious gunk out of baby's skin and hair. Calming chamomile extract doesn't hurt, either.

Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.