Gucci has announced actor, producer and entrepreneur Alia Bhatt as the first Indian Global Ambassador for the House. Gucci Appoints Indian actor and producer Alia Bhatt as their Latest Global Brand Ambassador Alia Bhatt has established herself as one of the most loved and talented actresses of her generation, ascending the Indian Film Industry consistently and winning over the hearts of fans all over the world. Following her debut as a producer for Netflix’s movie « Darlings » and after an acclaimed performance in the movie RRR, nominated for best picture – non-English language at the Golden Globes 2023, Alia will star in Netflix’s Heart of Stone. Among the multiple acknowledgements to her flourishing career, in 2022 Alia Bhatt received the prestigious Time100 Impact Award for her contribution to the entertainment industry and beyond. Her advocation in favor of self-expression and inclusivity in contemporary society speak to the House’s core values and encompass the brand’ motif of fostering cultural empowerment within the next generation of creative talent. Gucci welcomes Alia Bhatt and looks forward to her first appearance as Global Brand Ambassador in occasion of the House’s upcoming Cruise 2024 fashion show in Seoul, at Gyeongbokgung Palace, on May 16, 2023. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy Of Gucci

Here is what is happening at The Wolfsonian in Miami. Always free for Florida residents! Located in the heart of the Art Deco District in Miami, The Wolfsonian–FIU is a museum, library and research center. Simon Chaput: Miami Beach Art Deco Architecture On View Through May 28 A bold, black-and-white, photographic celebration of the neighborhood that serves as Simon Chaput's muse, our lobby installation is on view through the end of the month. In Memory of Sam Gross 1933–2023 The New Yorker bids farewell to legendary cartoonist Sam Gross, whose work is celebrated in Tyrants and Terrorists: Satirists Bite Back!, now on view in the Wolfsonian Library. Miami Beach Culture Crawl Thursday, May 18 @ 6–9pm Stop by during the city's monthly evening of à la carte culture for art and design, as well as ever-changing specials in the Design Store. Visit mbartsandculture.org for further details. Discovering Design Free Family Day: PrintFest Sunday, May 21 @ 10:30am–1:30pm Learn about an array of printing techniques with IS Projects residents, explore different forms of printmaking with the kiddos, and come away with a one-of-a-kind colorful print. Video Spotlight A gift from Dr. David and Linda Frankel, the extraordinary BMW R 60/2 motorcycle with sidecar roared onto Front Lines: A Wolfsonian Blog, along with a special video documenting its arrival. Linda Frankel’s passing in January has been deeply felt by not only The Wolfsonian, but also within the greater arts community she supported and championed. For more information visit https://wolfsonian.org/. Address: 1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States By ML Staff. Images Courtesy Of The Wolf

ISG World, in partnership with Mayor Francis Suarez, hosted ISG World’s annual Miami Report event. ISG World, in partnership with Miami’s Mayor Francis Suarez, celebrated Miami’s thriving real estate culture at their annual Miami Report event in Brickell Key. The event featured special remarks from ISG World’s CEO Craig Studnicky, who provided insight into Miami’s elevated standing in the real estate world. Additionally, Studnicky conducted a Q&A with Mayor Suarez, highlighting the ‘Miracle Miami’ and how Miami is experiencing an astronomical transformation, becoming a national hotspot for people to live, work and play. Guests were welcomed with light bites and refreshments. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy Of ISG World

In an effort to support the ongoing fight against drunk driving and drugged driving, over 1,000 runners, walkers and residents of South Florida participated in the 12th Annual UKG & The Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K presented by the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County and UBSon May 7, 2023. The event raised over $225,000 to benefit MADD Broward & Palm Beach’s community education, victim support services and youth prevention programs. Event fundraising remains open until June 7 to support these critical programs offered free of charge throughout South Florida. Participants gathered for the in-person race near Huizenga Plaza in Fort Lauderdale. Alcohol-related traffic deaths jumped to more than 13,000 for the first time since 2006. 13,384 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes in 2021 – that’s one person every 39 minutes and 37 people a day killed by someone’s choice to drive drunk. The annual Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K is a community-driven 5K that raises awareness about drunk driving and underage drinking while uniting community members around MADD’s mission. Since it was established in 2011, this event has raised more than $3.7 million that stays in the South Florida community to save lives and support victims of drunk driving, making it the most successful grassroots fundraiser in the history of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Every dollar donated remains in South Florida to provide victim services and prevention education at no cost. At the race, which was emceed by Kristi Krueger from WPLG-TV Local 10 News, guests enjoyed children’s activities, an awards ceremony, and vendor/educational booths. Shay Palmer, founder of Mission Yoga, led a warmup before runners and walkers hit the starting line. The event was attended by dignitaries including Walk Like MADD Fort Lauderdale Founder and Honorary Chairperson Heather Geronemus, Broward County Sheriff Tony Gregory, Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine and Major Robert Chandler from Florida Highway Patrol. “We are tremendously grateful for everyone who joined us for Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K and who are committed to making strides in the continued fight against drunk and drugged driving. This impactful event helps us continue to raise funds and awareness and provide free victim services and prevention education in South Florida,” said Geronemus, who is also the immediate past chairwoman of the MADD National Board of Directors. “Drunk driving is a 100% preventable crime. Every 39 minutes, someone in this country is killed by a drunk driver but we all have the power to stop that from happening.” Geronemus’ late father, Dr. Robert Perry Geronemus, was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2009. Event sponsors included Signature Sponsors UKG and The Salah Foundation; Presenting Sponsors Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County and UBS; Road Guardian Sponsor Weinstein Legal; Corporate Champion Sponsors Sheriff’s Office of Broward County, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Aetna, BBX Capital, Broward Health, Durée & Company, JM Family Enterprises, Memorial Healthcare System, and Miami Dolphins Foundation; and Spotlight Sponsors LaCroix, Office Depot, Publix, Rotary Club of Weston, Thomas & Pearl Injury Attorneys and Westway Towing. Donations will continue being accepted at www.walklikemadd.org/fortlauderdale through June 7. For more information about Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K, please visit www.walklikemadd.org/fortlauderdale. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of MADD

CURIO from Faena District in Miami, Opens in the Hamptons for their First Summer-Long Residency This summer, CURIO, the famed retail concept store located in the Faena District in Miami, is partnering with Project Hamptons to launch their first-ever launch their first-ever “summer residency” in the heart of Bridgehampton (located at 2183 Montauk Highway). Founded in 2019 by industry veterans Jeff Lasota and Danielle Licata, CURIO has a particular affinity for scouting and growing new brands, serving as a business partner to new and developing talent. The PROJECT HAMPTONS retail space spanning 3,000 square feet indoors and 5,000 square feet outdoors, offers an unparalleled retail experience. It brings together luxury brands and retailers under one roof as a standalone shopping experience, complemented by pop-ups with other brands and designers, weekly trunk shows, runway shows, celebrity book signings, bi-monthly charitable events that benefit local charities/organizations, as well as daily fitness classes prior to opening hours. “Our overall vision is to continue the joy we have brought to the Miami shopping scene with a new curation with a Hamptons twist, bringing men’s and women’s clothing you can rarely find or have only seen online into a physical space in the heart of one of the top communities in the United States. We see the bulk of our clients during the winter months in Miami and view this as a way to service a large group of them who migrate to the North East over the prime summer season” shares Jeff Lasota and Danielle Licata, founder of CURIO. The store’s brand roster will include over 100 men's and women’s brands ranging from Dolce & Gabbana, Alberta Ferretti, and Silvia Tcherassi and Etro to menswear staples from Officine Generale, Orlebar Brown, and HyperNatural. CURIO’s current clients consist of a range of transient weekend warriors, snowbirds, and Miami locals. Since their opening, the store has seen notable shoppers from around the world, many of which summer in the Hamptons, such as Martha Stewart, Beyoncé, Shakira, Michael Kors, Rick Owens, Bethany Frankel, Kelly Bensimone, and David Guetta. CURIO has hosted previous successful weekend pop-ups, including several visits to Topping Rose House and Casa Del Sol. “The Hamptons has been on our radar as our next growth stepping stone since our Miami opening in 2019,” and has been a recurring request of some of our top shoppers.” “We are ensuring this curation will be a mix of brands and products that speak to the Hamptons women and men with a range that can take you day to night - ‘pool to party.’ This includes brands only sold at Curio, exclusive styles and color-ways from the best in class brands, and the most diverse selection of international designers the Hamptons has under one roof.” Although CURIO has a large selection on their namesake website (www.shopatcurio.com), their in-store curations often feature a much more robust and diverse offering. CURIO is partnering with Michael Catalano and Toni DeMauro, co-founders of PROJECT HAMPTONS, who will operate and activate the space. This duo is experienced in marketing with a retail focus and entrenched in the Hamptons community. “We are thrilled to partner with Jeff and Danielle to introduce CURIO at Project Hamptons.The mission of PROJECT HAMPTONS is to combine luxury retail with a series of entertaining shopping experiences for the consumer and the local community. Bringing CURIO’s expertly curated collection to The Hamptons is sure to provide an exceptional shopping experience unlike any other out East.” says Michael Catalano. Just some of the confirmed shopping-adjacent offerings include a shopping fundraiser event to benefit Children’s Museum of the East End on May 11th, a series of resident fitness classes offered daily before the store opens including sought-after trainers from Physique 57, CoreBarreFit and The Formula by Meredith Shumway. The diverse selection of entertainment and shopping offerings also includes a rotation of trunk shows from new and exciting designers, curators, artists and artisans. MORE ON PROJECT HAMPTONS PROJECT HAMPTONS, co-founded by Michael Catalano and Toni DeMauro, with resident fitness designed by Carol Scott combines luxury retail with a series of entertaining shopping experiences for the consumer and the local community. Follow along at @CurioVibe and @ProjectHamptonsNY By ML Staff. Images Courtesy Of CURIO

Rarely have we heard an artist’s debut single touch so many chords in mood, emotion and intensity as that of Too Far Gone, the first track released by European artist, Nastiya Kai. The song is rich with velvety texture and moodiness. It opens with an ethereal buildup that bleeds into Kai’s smokey and guttural vocals which form a powerful backdrop for its lyrically rich journey. Her second single, Liar, goes further with blended rock, funk and dance up tempo beats as a backdrop for Kai’s palpable storytelling prowess and uncanny interpretation of deep human emotion. We caught up with Nastiya Kai to discuss her musical inspiration, creative process and what’s coming up. Your debut single, Too Far Gone, is impressive. Tell us about your create process when it comes to writing, recording and producing music. Thank you! However, there is a team of amazingly creative people helping me. I come up with the lyrics and the melody, figure out the chords, draft some references and ideas and then send it off to the music producer I am working on a track with. We then work collaboratively in bringing my idea to life. There are always a lot of very talented people involved in the music making process, and yes I do want to give myself credit for the lyrics and the vision behind the song, but I couldn’t do it without some very talented producers. In terms of lyrics, it’s different every time. I always try to immediately write down or voice record anything that comes to mind. There isn’t a specific time or place, but it is always triggered by a thought or an emotion. I’m in my head a lot, most of the time I’d say. When I was a teen I would always write down little poetic notes expressing how I felt about something, or a thought that I wanted to remember. At some point these turned into songs Do you use live instruments or are the sounds produced digitally? It depends on the song. But mostly, it’s a combination of both. I do want to incorporate a lot more live instruments though. I feel like this makes the song more authentic and emotionally palpable. You’ve lived quite a colorful life for a young woman. You grew up in Moscow, eventually making your way to Paris and London, and you have recently moved to New York City where you are now recording new music. How have these different cultures influenced you as an artist? I always say that I don’t really have one cultural background because I left home for boarding school at the age of thirteen. Even as a kid, I traveled quite a lot with my family. I grew up with people from all over the world, celebrated very different holidays, watched different movies, listened to different songs… the list goes on forever. As a result, I feel at home in most countries. Even when it comes to my comfort foods, it isn’t just something from home; it’s from everywhere really. It also influenced my musical tastes, for sure. People say they are into all kinds of music, but I go beyond that. I actually like traditional music a lot. Lately, I’ve been studying Russian folk music to try and go back to my roots. Let’s see where that takes me. Tell us about the music you have recently recorded that is soon to be released, and what are you working on now? I’m in an era of letting out all the stories and emotions I’ve kept in my head over the years. There are so many things I want to say and share with the world, and I feel like I need to let all of this out before I move on to an EP or a full album. So, you can expect some more emotionally driven singles from me in the near future. My next single, Liar, that’s set to release very soon is about a relationship that turned my life around and made me seek therapy for my BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder). It involved theft, abuse and stalking. I really needed to put all of that into a song and close that book forever. I will be able to hopefully talk about this experience more once the single is out. You are quite the renaissance woman. You’ve gotten a lot of press coverage in Europe for your environmental activism when it comes to the fashion industry, and you were an early adopter of upcycling materials rather than creating waste. How does that activism transfer over to your career in music? My music is me. It is the culmination of the upcycling within the fashion industry, the travels, the mix of cultures, my mental health journey, my experiences. All of this makes me who I am. I am an activist by nature. I’m an extremely open and honest person, and I stand up for the things I believe in. I believe in love, kindness and beauty. I believe in peace and respect. I will always find a way to be an activist by living my truth and singing about it. Sustainability in fashion is all about respecting the earth you live on. It’s about being at peace with yourself. And all of the above are about raw honesty and raw emotion for me. That is what I think translates in my lyrics a lot. I say things like I mean them and I never sugarcoat anything or make it sound pretty. I hope people will relate to that You have not been shy about discussing your mental health challenges, even placing some of it in your lyrics. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, what would you like people to know about your mental health journey, and how are you feeling these days? I’m still figuring it out. When I got out of therapy, I let my BPD define me. For a time it felt like I was walking on needles, and I was doing everything I could not to trigger myself or make a mistake. Now I’m finally in a place where I can confidently say that I am a lot more brave and a lot stronger. I’m finally learning to allow myself to live with my emotions and not to ignore them. The journey is ongoing. My message is to seek help, not solely when you need it, but when you are ready to allow people to help you, as this is probably the hardest part. Eventually there will be more good days than bad days, but it will take some time and that is okay. Always know that you are your own support system and you are also your most important relationship. That is very “Pinterest” of me, but also very true. Where can people find your music? Pretty much on every single platform out there, but mostly Apple Music and Spotify. I have spent a lot of time personalizing my Spotify, so make sure to check that out! People can also find me on TikTok and Instagram, of course. Connect with Nastiya Kai Instagram TikTok Linktree Interview by Allison Kugel. Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment journalist and host of the Allison Interviews podcast, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow on Instagram @theallisonkugel.

Actor, director and New York Times bestselling author, Andrew McCarthy is best known for coming of age movies like St. Elmo’s Fire, Pretty in Pink and Less Than Zero that made an entire generation feel heard and seen, and cementing his place within the pop culture zeitgeist as part of a larger than life group of then famous young actors known as The Brat Pack. The notorious moniker coupled with sudden fame in his early twenties, made McCarthy retreat and re-think his place in the world. Attempting to defy expectations, he went on to try his hand at comedy in quirky films like Mannequin opposite Kim Cattrall and the Weekend at Bernie’s movies with co-stars Jonathan Silverman and Terry Kiser who played the title role. Still restless in spirit, ultimately, McCarthy opted to make the bold move of traveling to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago trail, which extends clear across the northern border of Spain. It was on that trip in his early thirties, that he was able to put his sudden fame into perspective as he experienced an awakening and a sense of personal accomplishment that eluded him in the height of his movie stardom. In his 2021 memoir, Brat: an ‘80s story (Grand Central Publishing), McCarthy revisits signpost moments from his childhood, through his early years in New York, the sensational movie stardom of the Brat Pack years, his journey to sobriety and complicated family dynamics; particularly with his father. Enjoying a renaissance in his acting career, the celebrated actor, television director and New York Times bestselling author, revisits the Camino de Santiago in Spain with his eldest son, Sam, and chronicles the life changing experience had by father and son in his new book, Walking with Sam: A Father, A Son and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain (Grand Central Publishing), out now. Allison Kugel: In the prologue of your new book, Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain, you talk about your first time walking the Camino de Santiago Trail in Spain in your younger years and how it was sort of a spiritual re-balancing for you after living through the Brat Pack years of your career. You say that at the time you felt you hadn’t earned your accomplishments, meaning your early movie stardom. Why didn’t you earn your accomplishments? Andrew McCarthy: Good question. I didn’t know it was a spiritual rebalancing [at the time]. I never phrased it like that, but I think that is actually what happened, and I was aware that I needed something, I guess. I’m not sure what it was. I’m not sure how I ended up at the Camino back then, but I guess I was young and I became very successful very quickly; and I felt what people now call “Imposter Syndrome,” or something like that. Allison Kugel: Yes, there’s a buzz term for everything these days. Andrew McCarthy: Exactly. I guess I felt unprepared and I felt unseen. I was seen in a certain way, and I wasn’t sure that’s who I was. When you’re young, you’re not sure who you are yet, so to be seen and pegged in a certain way, I thought, “Wait, this isn’t quite accurate to who I am.” Once the Brat Pack stuff came about and I was lumped in with a group of people, I initially didn’t like it. I didn’t want to be labeled and stigmatized, or pigeonholed. I think when you are young and an actor you don’t want to be grouped into anything. You want to be an individual. In the decades since that time, it’s become an affectionate term, “The Brat Pack,” for a moment in pop culture in the ‘80s when I became this avatar for people’s youth for a certain generation. But when I was young, I think I felt like “What just happened? I don’t even have my feet under me yet.” Allison Kugel: Yes, you hadn’t processed it yet. Ironically, “The Brat Pack” the young actors that were lumped into that group were all really, really talented people. I mean, you were all really talented young actors. I would take pride in that. Andrew McCarthy: It has certainly become that over the decades, but at the time we did not view it that way. And there are a lot of talented people who are still, all these years later, still chugging away at it. Allison Kugel: So, decades later, in present day, you decide it’s time for a full circle moment, and you take your eldest son, Sam, to do the same walk across Spain that you initially did as a young man. How old were you when you took this first walk across the Camino de Santiago in Spain? Andrew McCarthy: I actually wasn’t so young. I think I was in my very early 30s. I survived that early thing called fame and was not sure what I was looking for, really. Then I came across a book at a bookstore about the Camino de Santiago [trail], which I’d never previously heard of. The book was about the ancient pilgrimage route of Spain for 500 miles. There was something in that, that just spoke to me. I read the book, and a week later I said, “I’m going to Spain.” I wasn’t sure why, but I did find it to be a life changing experience. I think in a way, and I mention it in the book, there was a moment about halfway through the walk where I was in a field of weeds, and I had this sobbing tantrum. I had a revelation of how much fear had been so dominant in my life in a way that I hadn’t realized before, and it was quite a liberating moment and changed my place in the world. Allison Kugel: And in the book you chronicle your experience walking this same trail with your son, Sam, who was how old at the time? Andrew McCarthy: He was 19 when we went, which was a year and a half ago. Allison Kugel: I’m sure you’ve regaled him with stories over the years of when you did this walk for the first time decades ago... Andrew McCarthy: I tried not to regale because there is nothing more boring than, as my daughter calls it, “Here comes a dad story.” (Laugh) They had known about it their whole lives. On occasion I mention the Camino, and they know how big of an experience it was. I’ve encouraged many people, through the years, to go do it, and everyone that has done it has also had a big life changing experience from it. I would recommend it to anyone in a moment of transition in their life. My son was just becoming a man, and my relationship with my own father basically ended when I was 17 years old and left that house. That was the end of our relationship and I didn’t want that to happen with my kids. I wanted to figure out a way to transition our relationship to two adults, as opposed to the dominant parent talking to the kid; to sort of be equals in the world. I thought this trip would be a way to begin the transition to that happening, and it was a big experience for the both of us. Allison Kugel: There is a funny moment in the beginning of the book where you say something to the effect of, “I think every young American really gets something profound when they visit Europe for the first time. I really hope that Sam has that same profound epiphany.” He then turns to you and says, “How come there are no Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in Europe, dad?” (Laughs) Andrew McCarthy: These are the big questions we need answered (laugh). That was sort of an example of how expectations are going to lead to disappointment every time. You have to let people have their own experiences in their own time. We can lead them and try to force an experience on them, but people can feel that, and they are going to resist it. They need to have their own experience in things. We have no idea what their experience is going to be. Allison Kugel: Would you say that early fame is a trauma to your system that one has to overcome and heal from? That’s kind of what I got from reading your earlier memoir, Brat: An 80s Story. Andrew McCarthy: Trauma is a big word. There are people who do experience real trauma and being famous in movies in your early 20s doesn’t quite qualify as a trauma. It was life-altering and certainly wonderous in many ways, and overwhelming, but I don’t think it was traumatic. It took me a long time to recover from it and sort of come down and sit with it, and kind of find who I was. When you’re in your early 20s you are still trying to figure out your place in the world and who you are, and I think that sort of rocked that boat for a while. It certainly altered who I would become. But in many ways, it was a blessing, really. Allison Kugel: You made another comment where you said that your early fame “blew up your dynamic with your siblings, and it was never the same from that point on.” How does fame blow up family dynamics, exactly? Andrew McCarthy: It depends on the family. Certainly, it can bring you closer together and you can go to family for security and council, and things like that, and it can be a place of solace. That was just not my experience. My dad was having a hard time in his life when I was getting famous, so my fortunes were rising and his were falling, and that was difficult for him. With my brothers, when we were growing up, I was never the star of the family. My older brother was the baseball star. The other one was the smart one, and I was the little sensitive kid. Then, I’m in movies and they are in their mid-twenties. They are trying to figure out their place in the world, and suddenly there goes me and I’m suddenly now American royalty. That is what movie stars were and have been; America’s royalty. I’m now this thing, and I don’t know that they ever really recovered from that. Allison Kugel: I think it’s hard as human beings, in general, not to fall prey to the disease of comparison. Andrew McCarthy: Yes, and drugs Allison Kugel: Your son Sam is a working actor. He was recently on the Netflix show Dead to Me with Christina Applegate, and your daughter has appeared on Broadway. It seems you were never completely comfortable in your own skin on red carpets and in front of flashing cameras. Did you want your own kids in show business? How did that come about? Andrew McCarthy: I would say that in many ways I was more at home in front of the camera than anywhere else. I found the attention on the red carpet very nerve wracking, but I always instilled in my kids that I didn’t want them to be actors. And then God is cruel and gives us these things (laugh). In reality, acting saved my life when I was 15. I had been cut from the high school basketball team and my mother suggested I try out for a play. I didn’t want to try out for the play. I wanted to be the point guard! But I did try out for the play and was cast as the Artful Dodger in Oliver, and it changed my life. I walked out on a stage and suddenly I knew what I was going to be. I knew that it was a profound experience because I told nobody. It was mine. I didn’t want someone to squash that before it had taken root. Because acting really saved me, if my kids want to do that, then they should. What they’ve gotten from seeing me do it is knowing it’s not a glamourous thing. You go to work, you figure out how to do it, you get up early. It is a great job, but it’s a job like other jobs, so it’s not perceived as particularly glamourous in my house. Although it is a wonderful life and career. It’s like a family business in a certain kind of way, so why shouldn’t they? After getting away from acting for a long time and recently going back to it, I felt like myself again. It they feel like themselves when they do it, fantastic. Allison Kugel: Throughout this book, your son Sam is also very open with you about smoking cigarettes and about trying different substances. You, yourself struggled with substance abuse as a young man. And as you have explained it, you were kind of using those things as a way to kind of emotionally regulate yourself in those days. What was going on there? Andrew McCarthy: What was I thinking there (laugh)? Of course, the first thing you feel as a parent is fear, because drugs and alcohol almost destroyed me. Of course, you’re afraid for your children in that moment. Drugs and alcohol are a slippery slope that everyone has to navigate, and everyone will experiment with and try. To pretend it’s not going to happen is foolish and sticking your head in the sand. I have just been honest with my kids since the beginning. I said the only thing that can derail your life, and it derailed mine, is drugs and alcohol. I’m a broken record with that. “But,” I’ve said, “You are going to do it, and you have it in your family, so just know that.” But again, information will never keep anybody clean and sober. Information does not stop people from doing drugs and alcohol. I’m very grateful that he would share that with me and communicate. All you want to do with people you love is to be able to communicate and connect. When you can communicate, you connect, you create intimacy, and then you have a bond. I’ve expressed, “If that is what is going on and that is what you are thinking about, talk to me about it. Obviously, I’m going to respond, because I’ve had my own history, so I have a fearful reaction when you tell me that, but I hear you, and I did have some great fun when I did it.” Nobody can smell truth and lies like your kids and it’s for them to discover. Allison Kugel: I want to touch on Orange is The New Black, because I don’t think a lot of people know that you were a director on that series. It’s the series that really catapulted Netflix into the original content space and into what it is today. Andrew McCarthy: That was an interesting experience. A friend of mine was a producer on it, and they couldn’t get any directors, because at the time it was on this thing called Netflix that no one understood, like doesn’t Netflix mail you DVDs? Oh, they’re doing a show? I asked, “Where is the show going to be on?” They said, “Well, they are going to stream it.” I said, “Okay fine, but what channel is it going to be on?” (Laughs) No one could understand what was going on and they couldn’t get any actors for it, because who is going to see this thing? I said, “I’ll do it.” I directed a bunch of them, and I remember the day I was in the producer’s office and they said, “They are going to put them all out on the same day.” I remember being the wise one in the room and saying, “That is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard.” Allison Kugel: Wisdom of the ages (laughs). Andrew McCarthy: And of course, they all come out and Netflix takes over the world. It was a wonderful and exciting moment to be part of something like that. It caught everyone, it certainly caught me and everyone I know who was involved in it, by total surprise that this happened. The first few years of Orange is The New Black were very exciting. I think it was a very good show until the end, but after seven years it kind of settles in to what it is, and kind of loses that electric spark. But for a time, it was certainly quite something. Allison Kugel: What was your favorite part of directing many episodes of Orange is The New Black? Andrew McCarthy: Working with the actors in that most of them were very raw and very green and new. They were just thrilled to be there. Helping to sculp that and work with them was fun and exciting. There is a moment in acting, particularly when you are young and doing something for the first time; it’s that moment of discovery and that blossoming happens in real time in front of your eyes on the screen. I look back at some of my early movies and I can question some of the acting, but I certainly did have that in St. Elmo’s Fire and in Pretty in Pink. The ladies in Orange is The New Black had those moments when we were doing show. You look back at James Dean in East of Eden or Leonardo DiCaprio in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and you see that moment on screen. All actors experience it; this moment of blossoming is the only word I can think of. Allison Kugel: In the acting part of your career you made movies that so many people attach to their own coming of age memories or just lots of laughter and enjoyment. With that being said, what was your favorite moment on a movie set? Andrew McCarthy: You don’t always just remember the one’s you loved (laugh). Allison Kugel: Well, we can talk about the ones you hated, but… Andrew McCarthy: I loved doing the Weekend at Bernie’s movies for some reason. I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to do comedy like that and it was really fun, and there was so much of those movies that we made up as we went along. You can feel the excitement in what we were doing. It was like, this is so stupid, ridiculous, and anything goes. Let’s just do it! I also loved making St. Elmo’s Fire. That was the third or fourth movie I did, and I felt very comfortable and relaxed and was doing what I wanted to be doing. I was having a moment there, and that was nice to feel. Those two movies stand out to me for the pure joy of doing of them. I felt very present and very alive in the creation of them. Allison Kugel: You’re also an acclaimed travel writer. This new book, Walking with Sam, is kind of a hybrid memoir and travel book. Tell me about your passion for travel and travel writing. Andrew McCarthy: That all began with the first Camino I walked 25 or so years ago. After I walked that first Camino, I kept traveling and alone. I think traveling alone is an important thing. The farther from home I got, the more at home I felt. I kept traveling and I started writing stuff down in little notebooks. I would write down things people said to me and I did that for years and years for no intent with it except to enjoy it. One day I did have intent with it and then I met an editor of a magazine and said, “You ought to let me write for your magazine.” He said, “You’re an actor dude (laugh).” And I replied, “Yes, but I can tell a story. That’s what I do.” I wrote a travel story and it did well, and I wrote another and another and it became this sort of accidental career. I became successful at it for two reasons: I knew travel was deeply important and had a value, not something you do for Instagram photos, although they didn’t exist back then, or for bragging rights or bucket lists. Travel is a meaningful thing that can change who we are in the world, and in mind and spirit. I also knew how to tell a story, rather than selling a destination. If you love what you are doing it always shows. I felt that when I was travel writing the same way that I felt it when I was acting when I was very young. Then I started to feel it again when I was directing the ladies in Orange is The New Black. I’m helping these people create this thing. They are all kind of the same thing in my mind. Then the books grew out of all of that. Allison Kugel: There is a quote in this book, Walking with Sam, that I just love. Towards the end of your journey you write, “Although the greater world might reasonably argue that this walk has no real purpose, that it achieves no practical goals and so it is of no merit or consequence, there is a growing awareness among us without being able to quite name it yet, that what we are doing is somehow of importance and meaning.” The reason I love that quote is because in our western culture we prize accomplishments that lead to lots of money and lots of recognition. But we don’t always value things that make our soul feel alive or help us grow. I think we need to place more emphasis on those things. Andrew McCarthy: I think that is all true. There is no better feeling than that. I forgot about that quote, but I’m glad you bring that up, because that feeling I had was exactly that. We want money and things because it gives us a high, but that other feeling that you are quoting there is one of deep resonance internally that can’t be beat. Allison Kugel: You’ve made no secret about the fact that you and your father did not have the best relationship. You loved your father, but your father was, as you described him, a very angry man, often brooding with mood swings when you were growing up. Do you still carry the fear of being the “bad father” with your own kids? Andrew McCarthy: You are right in all of that. My relationship with my dad healed when I went to go see him when he was dying. I sat with him for those few weeks. My wife was the one that said, “You need to go see your dad.” I went because I wanted to be a better parent to my kids. I went selfishly, and to sit there with my dad and tell him I loved him and I was sorry that I wasn’t the son he wanted. To just be there and to see the fear in him that he always masked with anger, because anger feels better than fear, right? With anger you feel in control. Anger is always a mask of fear. Always. To see the fear in him was so liberating for me and to hold his hand while he was dying was a profound experience. We did not solve our past. We just dropped it and discarded it. Since he is gone, I’m very free to love him in a way that I wasn’t when he was alive, and I was so afraid of him. With my own kids, I think the Camino [trail] had a lot to do with it. Walking with Sam, both the book and the action, it freed me a lot from that. During our walk across Spain, I risked just being who I am in front of my son, as opposed to being the dad who’s got it all down. I had moments in front of him of not knowing and being a bit of a mess at times, being reactive at times and then apologizing and being vulnerable and saying, “This is who I am son.” To let him see me and I think he appreciated that, and I appreciated him perceiving me in that way, so it altered things. I feel less fear or anxiety of our relationship disintegrating the way mine did with my father. That was the whole intent of the that journey, and then consequently the book. Has it completed the job? No, but it has begun to do it to a larger degree. Allison Kugel: You were raised a Catholic, right? Andrew McCarthy: I was raised Catholic, but I have long walked away from it. I find it shocking that the Catholic church is still in business after all of this. If any other business had done what the Catholic church did, they would be long out of business and in jail. Every one of them. Allison Kugel: They have not fallen prey to cancel culture (laugh). Andrew McCarthy: No. They bought their way out of that. Allison Kugel: Organized religion aside, in quiet moments do you pray? And if so, who or what do you pray to? Andrew McCarthy: I pray every day. But in certain ways, who or what I pray to is none of my business. I feel like if I could understand it, there wouldn’t be the thing I’m praying to. I don’t think that matters, particularly. I just feel like there is some sort of connection to something and I know it when I feel it. I’ve had moments of it in my life where I have experienced the sensation of grace. When I walked the Camino the first time and I had that moment of weakness and sobbing and realized how much fear I had in my life, it was a moment of grace that I received. There have been other moments in my life where I’ve had that happen and that didn’t come from me, or maybe it came from me. I don’t know what the difference is, but yes, I do pray. I understand why [organized] religion is valuable to people. It is just not something I find solace in. I’m not sure I’m looking necessarily for solace, anyway. I’m looking for a connection to something; to be a part of something. I often feel like I’m stumbling in the dark with it, and that is fine. Allison Kugel: And lastly, what do you think you came into this life as Andrew McCarthy to learn, and what do you think you came here to teach? Andrew McCarthy: The answer would be the same for both, and that is that fear is a phantom. Andrew McCarthy’s new book, Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain (Grand Central Publishing) is out now and available wherever books are sold. Follow Andrew McCarthy on Instagram @andrewtmccarthy Listen to or watch the extended interview By Allison Kugel | Watch and listen to the extended interview with Mario Cantone on the Allison Interviews podcast at Apple Podcasts and on YouTube. Images courtesy of Andrew McCarthy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the world’s first vaccine to prevent the respiratory infection RSV, short for respiratory syncytial virus, on May 3, 2023. The new shot represents six decades of starts and stops in the hunt for a vaccine to curb one of the most common winter respiratory viruses. RSV leads to around 14,000 deaths in older adults every year and can cause severe illness in infants and children as well. The long-awaited vaccine is a necessary tool in the fight against the most common respiratory viruses. angelp/iStock via Getty Images Plus The vaccine, called Arexvy, made by the biopharmaceutical company GSK, is approved for use in adults ages 60 and over. Now that it is FDA-approved, it must still be endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a move that’s expected in summer 2023. The Conversation asked Annette Regan, an epidemiologist and vaccine specialist, to discuss the significance of the first vaccine against RSV and the other RSV vaccine candidates that are in the pipeline. 1. How does the new vaccine protect against the virus? The vaccine targets a protein known as RSV F glycoprotein, which is found on the surface of the virus. The F protein enables the RSV virus to enter host cells. By stimulating antibodies against this protein, the vaccine should protect against infection. Clinical trial data suggests this is the case, since Arexvy was 80% effective at protecting against RSV-related disease and 94% effective at protecting against severe disease. The vaccine also includes an adjuvant, a substance that helps amplify the effect of the vaccine by boosting the immune system’s response. 2. When and for whom will it be available? The RSV vaccine has been developed for and tested in adults age 60 and older. While the FDA has approved the vaccine – which means it has deemed it safe and effective – the shot will not be administered by health care professionals until it is reviewed by an independent expert group coordinated by the CDC called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice, which makes vaccine recommendations to the CDC. The committee’s recommendations will cover how the vaccine should be used – including the ages at which the vaccine should be given – the number of doses needed, the time between doses and precautions and contraindications. The committee is expected to meet in June 2023 to make a recommendation on the new RSV vaccine, after which the CDC would officially endorse it. The vaccine could be rolled out to the public as soon as late summer 2023, well before the typical RSV season, which usually starts in the fall and peaks in winter. It’s hard to say what the committee’s recommendation will be. It could recommend the vaccine for all adults 60 and older, or a subset of older adults. While the clinical trial showed the vaccine was 81% effective among adults ages 60 to 69 and 94% effective among adults ages 70 to 79, it was only 34% effective among adults 80 and older. Given the lower efficacy for adults ages 80 and older, the committee could place an age cap on the recommendations. More than 14,000 older adults die every year following RSV infection. 3. Why has the first RSV vaccine been so long in coming? A vaccine against RSV has been in the works for decades. One problem that has plagued vaccine manufacturers is the difficulty of identifying an antigen – the piece of the virus that the vaccine targets – that doesn’t change, or shape-shift. The F protein of the RSV virus is notorious for changing its shape once it fuses with a host’s cell. In 2013 and 2014, the National Institutes of Health worked out how to “freeze” the F protein into a fixed shape before fusing with a cell so that a vaccine could target it well. This was a game-changer that allowed the development of effective vaccines using this target. In addition to challenges in identifying a good antigen, there were earlier setbacks. Early attempts to create an inactivated RSV vaccine in the 1960s were stalled after they caused an enhanced form of RSV disease. Children who had never had RSV before and received the vaccine experienced very severe illness when they encountered the virus in the community, and two children died. This tragic outcome sidetracked vaccine development for decades, as researchers needed to investigate the cause and ensure that the problem wouldn’t occur again for future vaccines. 4. What other RSV vaccine candidates are coming down the line? In addition to Arexvy, many other promising RSV candidates are under development, some of which are likely to become available later this year or in early 2024. The next RSV vaccine under review with the FDA is Pfizer’s RSV vaccine. It is similar to the recently approved vaccine except that it has no adjuvant and is bivalent, meaning that it targets both RSV A and RSV B – the two strains of RSV. This vaccine is meant not only for adults ages 60 and older, but also for pregnant people – with the aim of protecting young infants through maternal antibodies. Data from a phase 3 clinical trial – the last stage of clinical trials before a company would apply for a license – shows that when given during pregnancy, the Pfizer vaccine was 82% effective in protecting infants less than 3 months old against severe RSV infection. The FDA will be making a determination on the Pfizer vaccine for older adults later in May 2023 and for pregnant people in August 2023. The CDC advisory committee is scheduled to discuss vaccine recommendations in October 2023, making this the likely next possible vaccine available. A few other biopharmaceutical companies have developed alternative RSV vaccines, some of which are in phase 3 clinical trials. For example, Moderna has an mRNA vaccine against RSV with promising preliminary results. Regardless of which companies make it to the finish line next, it is clear that in the near future there will be a variety of new tools to help protect against RSV infection. Words By Annette Regan Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of San Francisco. Special Thanks to The conversation. Top image courtesy of Unsplash

This Saturday, May 13th, join Gulfstream Park in the race to the Royal Ascot where winners from the Royal Palm Juvenile (2-year-old horses) and Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies (female horses) compete for an automatic entry to compete in the Royal Ascot taking place June 20-24 at the Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, UK. Ten Palms at Gulfstream Park will feature a special Endless Dining Saturday Buffet ($50 per person + tax/gratuity) featuring special British fare and its endless seafood, salads, carving stations, and desserts. Wager from the comfort of your seat while you watch the excitement of live racing and real-time simulcasts worldwide. Following brunch, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at Carousel Club, the open-air gathering spot for cool cocktails, delicious eats & exciting entertainment. The Royal Palm Juvenile, a five furlongs turf stakes for 2-year-olds, and the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-old fillies, will each provide its winner with an automatic berth into one of six stakes during the June 20-24 Royal Ascot meeting, as well as a $25,000 equine travel stipend for shipping from the U.S. to England. The FTBOA (Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' & Owners' Association) will offer a $25,000 bonus, above and beyond purse money won, to a Florida-bred winner in addition to the winner’s share of the purse. Ten Palms Reservations and More Information: Click here to purchase tickets. By Ml Staff. Images Courtesy Of Gulfstream Park

PARAISO Miami Beach, the official industry platform of swim week, is thrilled to announce the return of what it is to be “the biggest swim week” to date at its renowned tent at Collins Park on Miami Beach, Esme, W South Beach, 1 Hotel Beach Club, and Soho Beach House, with satellite events throughout Miami Beach, including Plymouth Miami Beach and The Standard Spa. The Resort 2023 season will gather mass appeal with new initiatives such as partnership between PARAISO and VOGUE MX on the exclusive launch of Espacio VOGUE Swim, a curated pop-up space open to the public focused on resort wear and swimwear collections. Karla Martinez, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Mexico and Vogue Latin America will officially open the pop up and attend the ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, July 14. Guests can expect to shop divine pieces by Escvdo Peru, MITA sustainable eyewear, NUA swim all while enjoying refreshing cocktails, music, and exciting pop-up salon by HydraFacial. “Since its inception, the focus of PARAISO Miami Beach has been the growth of the swimwear, beachwear, and resort wear industry. Shaping up the platform into a lifestyle cultural sphere was organic, unexpected, and exciting to watch as it introduced brands to a new audience in genuine and unique ways while providing designers an opportunity to bring their creative visions to life. The best collaborations we see now at PARAISO seamlessly integrate partners into the event in new and innovative ways—such as designer partnerships, custom content, and on-site activations.”, said Natalija Dedic Stojanovic, Co-Founder and Creative Director of PARAISO. Coinciding with the start of swim week, the exhibit Endless Summer by Frederic Pinet will open on Thursday, July 14 at the lounge of PARAISO Tent. “Endless Summer” features subjects submerging themselves in water – specifically swimming pools. It is a moment entirely relatable, but at the same time, Pinet’s lens captures the timelessness and stillness of these moments of escape. On Friday morning at the Soho Beach House, we will be speaking about the creative evolution of the Miami fashion scene with MANA Fashion, the newest platform focused on empowering the fashion community, one creative visionary at the time. Panelists include: fashion designer Naeem Khan, director of Istituto Marangoni Miami Hakan Baykam, director of MANA Fashion Martu Freeman-Parker,Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Mexico Karla Martinez, and more. Following the panel discussion free to public sip and shop Swim Souk will open their doors at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach featuring a selection of swimwear and wellness brands popping up Friday-Sunday in the Gardens. This season PARAISO welcomes back Acacia, Sinesia Karol, and Beach Bunny and new names such as VDM Label, Riot Swim, Azulu, One One, Peixoto, Abyss by Abby Swim, and Icon Swim. Kittenish by Jessie James Decker will be debuting its first Miami Swim Week show and Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman will introduce the rebranded MONDAY, direct-to-consumer, online swim brand they founded in 2014. Returning to PARAISO are swimwear veterans, Luli Fama, Neena Swim, and Maaji and who will present its upcoming collection for 2023 at the Plymouth Miami Beach. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit marks its return to W South Beach this year with a high-energy runway show, and series of talks, brunches, and wellness activations. Procolombia, the Colombian government agency and PARAISO will kick off the week of events, hosting the third annual DESTINATION Colombia runway show at the PARAISO Tent at Collins Park presenting ten Colombian swimwear and resort wear brands to watch. Bahia Maria, Palmacea, Bahama Mama, Mola Mola, Alma Arena, Punta Mar, Praia, Pily Q, Mar de Lua, and Smeralda will present their Resort 2023 collections to an industry audience of press and buyers at Tent at Collins Park where attendees will be able to connect with designers one on one. DESTINATION Colombia celebrates thriving fashion, cultural community, and supports the expansion of Colombian brands in the US market. PARAISO welcome dinner and party in collaboration with SELECT Model Management will kick off swim week events with their models, naturally, in style at the W South Beach. Bridget Halanski, CCO of SELECT included on her guest list notable guests such as Sofia Resing, Stefania Roitman, Breck Gambill, Amanda Murphy, Micah Plath and Izabel Goulart. To further the fun PARAISO partnered with one the city’s favorite after hour speakeasy style venues, ‘Floyd’ as the official After Party Host for Saturday and Sunday nights with DJ Sofia Kourtesis. KEVIN MURPHY RETURNS AS OFFICIAL HAIR PARTNER OF PARAISO MIAMI BEACH Global beauty brand Kevin Murphy continues its collaboration with PARAISO as the Official Hair Partner of PARAISO Miami Beach. Kevin Murphy’s state-of-the-art products will provide creative inspiration and artistic vision for more than ten PARAISO designers including. KEVYN AUCOIN BEAUTY JOINS AS THE OFFICIAL MAKEUP PARTNER OF PARAISO MIAMI BEACH Kevyn Aucoin Beauty is a visionary collection of cosmetics and tools that reflect artistic expertise and philosophies, which is deeply rooted in values of empowerment, originality, and inclusivity. Kevyn Aucoin made it his mission to share his techniques with anyone willing to learn them, and his brand accessible by way of innovative, easy-to-use and beautiful formulas for anyone and everyone. FASHION MEETS PHILANTHROPY Each year PARAISO Miami Beach supports non-profit organizations and their focused efforts to address various issues. Amid the global pandemic and recent acts of racial injustice, the organization Models of Color Matters started the conversation and an initiative to increase diversity and equity in fashion and media. The organization is focused on being a confidence booster, a safe place, a wealth of knowledge, and a connector for fashionistas of color. This July, MOCM will support reputable swimwear brand Bfyne, by Nigerian American designer Buki Ade. The creative agency Fika and Miami Design District will partner up to presentSegunda Mano, the second annualrunway show benefiting Lotus House Women'sShelter to bring awareness to their mission of improving the lives of women, youth and children experiencing homelessness. PARAISO ANNOUNCES BEAM SUNTORY AS THE OFFICIALSPIRITS PARTNER FOR 2022 Among the top-shelf brands being poured at all of PARAISO’s official events this season are: On The Rocks, House of Suntory, and Tres Generaciones. Guests must be 21 or older to consume and as always, a reminder to please drink responsibly. PARAISO X IMAGE SKINCARE PARAISO's ultimate vacation packing list for this summer includes IMAGE PREVENTION+ line by IMAGE skincare. This July, IMAGE skincare will host a gifting hub for media and VIPs at the Plymouth Miami Beach where guests will be able to enjoy mini facials, POM’s wonderful antioxidant cocktails, and take home the latest IMAGE skincare goodies to try. Don’t sweat if you are not on the list as IMAGE skincare and POM will meet you at Collins Park at their sunblock garden lounge, July 14-17. CUPSHE, THE GO-TO FASHION BRAND FOR SOCIALLY IMMERSEDGEN-Z’S & MILLENNIALS GLOBALLY, WILL BRING THEIR VERY OWN FASHIONPARTY TO SWIM WEEK The most exciting part of every swim week season is connecting the industry in one place IRL. For the first time, the mega-retailer Cupshe will celebrate summer lifestyle and an inclusive take on fashion with the fun show more reflective of the world and how people look in it. SWIM WEEK SPEAKEASYVIP HUB If you get the invitation for this Private Invite Only hub get ready to disconnect and relax! Guests will start the day with sunrise pilates classes, vibroacoustic electro-magnetic infrared therapy, and mini facials and cap off the day swim week style with glam bar, bubbles, and picking out favorite products to take home. MIAMI MAKEUP ACADEMY TEAM, THE OFFICIAL MAKEUP ARTISTS OF PARAISO 2022 Miami Makeup Academy’s exceptional team of educators and graduates will join PARAISO this year to help execute makeup looks for all fashion shows using Kevyn Aucoin Beauty products. PARAISO AND ISTITUTO MARANGONI MIAMI PARTNER FOR THE SWIM-UPCYCLE CHALLENGE Reputable swimwear brands Bondi Born, Chromat, Beach Riot, Maaji, and Gigi C will donate deadstock fabric and mentor five student designers from Istituto Marangoni Miami who will present their looks at Paraiso Miami Beach on Friday, 7/15. The 3rd edition of the Paraiso Swim-Upcycle Challenge, created to raise awareness on fashion sustainability by upcycling deadstock fabrics from international swimwear designers — will include an exclusive partnership with Istituto Marangoni Miami (IMM), one of the nation’s top fashion and design schools. The goal of the challenge is to teach students how to reduce the negative environmental impact and be encouraged to implement the process in their future work, in an industry where sustainable practices are becoming the new normal. MBVCA X PARAISOMIAMI BEACH Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority is the city's primary vehicle for promoting economic growth and image locally, nationally, and internationally as a vibrant community and superb tourist destination. MBVCA strengthens the city's competitive position through partnerships with events, festivals, programs, and innovative, high quality, activities. About PARAISO MIAMI BEACH | In July 2018, PARAISO opened its doors in Miami Beach to unveil a brand-new experiential festival that creatively united the world’s favorite fashion, wellness, beauty, and lifestyle brands. A multi-day fashion platform centralized in Collins Park and stretching to all surrounding areas of South Beach, PARAISO champions the core values of innovation, originality, and discovery through must-see events, imaginative activations, exclusive launches, runway presentations, and collaborations in design, music, wellness, art, and social media. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Paraiso Miami Beach

This season, LAFAYETTE 148 further expands its multi-faceted womenswear wardrobe with the introduction of L148 Swim – a vibrant collection of elegant one and two-piece swimsuits presented in sun-kissed hues. Reflecting the brand’s longstanding commitment to flawless quality, and luxurious and sustainable materials the L148 Swim collection is created in partnership with Italian swimwear master craftsmen. Each piece is consciously crafted from ECONYL, a 100% re-generated nylon yarn developed from reclaimed ocean plastics. This sustainable fabric, usually known for its sporty technical performance, has been elevated and transformed into effortlessly modern silhouettes. Thanks to the LAFAYETTE 148 signature construction, the collection includes reversible swimwear pieces, adding a natural versatility that lets the wearer evolve their style from city to beach, and everywhere in between. Crop tops introduce a new layer of streamlined sensuality to the range, designed and worn with a lightness of touch and understated chic, as befitting of the brand’s for-women-by-women approach. The L148 Swim collection, which is completed with the double-layer terry beach-towel bearing the signature 8-knot nautical motif, is the perfect vacation addition to LAFAYETTE 148’s timeless wardrobe. A sophisticated mix of cutting-edge design and construction, exquisite and sustainable materiality, versatile dressing and self-expression. To learn more visit www.lafayette148.com By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Lafayette 148.

Simbi, a female-founded, Haitian-based fashion accessory brand with the mission of improving lives one accessory at a time, is pleased to announce its latest line of accessories for hair. The collection, called Swimbi Scrunchies, are lightweight, non-bulky, and sewn out of quick-dry swimwear fabric. A sleek version of a retro trend, Swimbi Scrunchies are an essential accessory for summer, keeping hair in place for sports, swimming, hitting the beach or for styling that perfect messy bun. Simbi enables positive change for Haiti through clean water, job creation and business opportunities for its local partners. Made from quick-drying material, each Swimbi Scrunchie’s surface produces less friction on damp or wet hair by design. They dry eight times faster than a traditional cotton scrunchie. Because they are made from swimsuit fabric, they are resistant to shrinking and chlorine. Crafted to be the same size as a hair-tie bracelet, Swimbi Scrunchies will not bend, break, rip, or crease hair. The individual scrunchies are priced at $6 each and available in a multitude of colors with fun patterns including Solid Gold, Farrah Yellow, Disco Purple, Fantasy Island, Jordache Blue, Hot Pants Pink, Tie Dye and Fiorucci Floral. Additionally, there are three-piece sets available for $18 each, called Strawberry Fields, Tribe Vibe, Coral Reef, Indigo and Preppy Kelly. “Our original Swimbi Scrunchie is perfect for a day at the beach, a long run, or a soak in the tub,” said Birgit Grossmann Coles, co-founder of Simbi. “They are all hand-sewn, made from quick-dry swimwear fabric, and have a retro feel from the 60s combined with a colorful splash of the 80s.” Simbi’s best-selling Inspiration Charm Bracelets have put the socially conscious, eco-friendly company on the map with expanded product offerings that include bracelets, necklaces, hair accessories, and more. Relying solely on solar-powered energy provided by NRG, Simbi’s manufacturing facility in Haiti has a zero-carbon footprint. The company uses organic, biodegradable products and follows a philosophy of up-cycling. This falls directly in line with Simbi’s commitment to corporate social responsibility efforts that support charitable and environmentally conscious organizations. Every Simbi product sold provides funding to purify at least one gallon of water per day. Through its affiliation with Dlohaiti's Watering Minds, a for-profit venture providing safe drinking water to underserved areas of Haiti through a decentralized water purification and distribution model, Simbi is able to bring awareness and give back to the local community. In keeping with its purpose of to improve lives, Simbi aligns its product development and operations with universal principals on human rights, labor and environmental justice, and takes actions that advance societal goals. Simbi’s products may be found on simbihaiti.com, Amazon, EVEREVE and approximately 1,000 retailers nationwide. For more information, visit https://simbihaiti.com/. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Simbi