From the Group Chat: The Olympic Hype Men, Gen Z OOO Messages, and "Intermission"

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Sunday. We may only be in August, but I’m officially ready for fall — and, specifically, fall shopping. As I fill my cart, I’ll be drawing inspiration from Zendaya (who somehow managed to make this asymmetric, “awkward” skirt look cool), ‘70s-esque ringer tees (of course, millennial style icon Jennifer Lawrence was ahead of the game), and Blake Lively, who effortlessly incorporated not one, but two deeply Y2K denim trends into an outfit. I’m also looking forward to trying Starbucks’ reported fall menu (“Raccoon Cake Pops” seem…interesting) and painting my nails “black cherry,” which is apparently all the rage on TikTok. Speaking of which, so are nail tattoos (yes, you read that correctly). Beauty is pain…I guess?

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

🐙 After TikTokers started using blush and concealer to fake tan lines, it seemed like beauty trends couldn’t get more chaotic. Then came “octopus eyebrows.”  

💻 Leave it to Gen Z to make a standard OOO message sound deeply…Gen Z. As in, “contact literally anyone else but me.” We could never be so bold.

👰 When it comes to posting wedding photos on Instagram, the limit does exist. And you’ve probably exceeded it. 

👀 The next chapter in the fight against pants? Bloomers are supposedly “the new underwear-as-outerwear look.” For an even bolder statement, try pairing them with a bolero, which is apparently making the comeback no one asked for.

Allow us to pay tribute to the unsung heroes of the Paris Games. No, not the Italian gymnast with a Parmigiano Reggiano sponsorship, the “Olympic Muffin Man,” or the dressed-down Turkish shooter — though, give them all the medals, s’il vous plaît. Instead, we’re talking about the athletes’ biggest cheerleaders. That includes young fans (if we were this girl, we’d never recover either), fellow athletes, and celebrities like Chris Meloni (who knew he was such a table tennis fan?) and Nicole Kidman with her “lookalike” daughters. Not to mention, Team USA’s hype men: Flavor Flav — who signed an “unprecedented” five-year sponsorship of USA Water Polo — and Snoop Dogg, who in addition to inspiring medal-worthy memes, has taken his role as NBC’s “ambassador of happiness” very seriously. Exhibit A: his patriotic drip. Exhibit B: his swim lesson with Michael Phelps. And Exhibit C: his commitment to dressage, despite his fear of horses. (Naturally, Snoop matched his equestrian outfit with Martha Stewart's.)

Of course, we couldn’t talk about unsung heroes without acknowledging the real stars of the sidelines: the family members. After being banned from the Tokyo Games due to pandemic restrictions, we now get to see parents and siblings in all their glory. And it’s undoubtedly better with them there. We’ve gotten moments that are super sweet (we dare you to watch this video without crying), extremely delightful (is anyone having a better time than Frederick Richard’s dad?), very intense (NBC, put your heart-rate monitors on Jordan Chiles’s parents next), and perhaps iconic (Ilona Maher’s sisters wore shirts so good, Jason Kelce nabbed one). Even Simone Biles’s husband — who caused an uproar after claiming he was “the catch” — had his own redemption tour, thanks to his custom Simone merch and diligent scorekeeping. And while we’re not giving him a medal, we will say: Très bien, Jonathan.

Maren Morris is hitting reset, both personally and professionally. Her EP, aptly titled Intermission, marks a “new chapter” for the singer, after her divorce from fellow songwriter Ryan Hurd and her decision to “take a step back” from country music — or, what she called “the dumpster fire that was my life last fall.” The result? Five equally raw and vulnerable tracks, from the tongue-in-cheek “Cut!” (lyrics include: “I’ve got clear skin from all the sleep, clear mind from therapy, yoga four days a week, how does she do it?”) to the heartbreaking “I Hope I Never Fall in Love,” a song Morris described as “the afterglow of a sh*tshow.” Fingers crossed a full album comes soon.

Just when it seemed like de-influencing would be the natural end to TikTok’s overconsumption era, in walked accessories for your…accessories. Now, TikTok users are trying another strategy: “underconsumption core,” which — sorry to be obvious — involves under-consuming. Or, appreciating what you already have and only buying what you need. That explains why creators are showing off their non-aesthetically pleasing refrigerators and Facebook Marketplace furniture, instead of posting videos featuring shopping hauls and piles of barely-used makeup. If all of this sounds like…living normally, that’s because, well, it is. Just with a cute name. Because, if you’re not giving your non-aesthetic aesthetic a rebrand, will people even care?

Apologies to the IOC, but we’re giving Sha’Carri Richardson — and her mani — gold.

One reason to say cheese: We’ve found a non-toxic toothpaste that whitens teeth, reinforces tooth enamel, and tastes delicious. Boka’s best-selling flavors (like lemon lavender and coco ginger) are formulated specifically for sensitive teeth — without any harmful chemicals. Another thing worth smiling about? Skimm’rs get 15% off with code GETBOKA15.*

Glad you asked. On our latest episode of Well Played, our hosts Amanda and Blake break down why the water at this year’s Games continues to be sus. They also introduce us to US women’s rugby’s newest fan (who’s even more unexpected than their first-ever medal win) and why Simone’s dominating the internet for everything other than her performance, like only the GOAT can. Give it a listen.

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These stable earbuds are so comfy you’ll forget you’re wearing them. And their open-ear design makes it easy to hear the world around you — without pressing pause.*

Not here to make assumptions, but you probably need new sheets. This Brooklinen set is one of our favorite options. The sateen weave hits the sweet spot between cooling and cozy, and prices start at just about $135.

One shopping writer breaks down how to style a pair of trendy Free People barrel leg jeans. This isn't goodbye to your skinny jeans — it's a see you later.

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.