Must-See TV?

Hi friend,

Every show or film about the wealthy these days is a morality tale wrapped around a midlife crisis. Like in the very odd limited Netflix series Sirens, where Julianne Moore plays Michaela "Kiki" Kell, a bird-obsessed socialite married to Kevin Bacon as a distant hedge fund billionaire. Kiki comes off as a larger-than-life cult leader, but is revealed to be as vulnerable to the pressures of age, gender, and class as anyone else. Or in Apple TV+’s Your Friends & Neighbors, where we see how shallow the pleasures of top shelf-liquor, designer handbags, expensive cars, and fancy watches can be. (And how quickly this kind of over-leveraged life can fall apart.)

So what kind of moral teachings will the third season of And Just Like That, which is out Thursday on HBO, bring? Likely none, right? Is that why the show has remained compelling and yet inscrutably strange, because there’s not much to dig your teeth into? All the ingredients are present, including an eclectic cast of characters in a well-seasoned period of life. Rich and complex stories should follow.

Here is how Sarah Jessica Parker sums up the season:

“The stories are big, it’s a lot about love, and sorting your place out in the world, and deciding that home is not defined — it’s sort of all those nice big adult themes — but told with frivolity and seriousness and beautiful costumes and the city we love and great actors…and yes, Aidan makes an appearance.”

How about Miranda, who in midlife came out of the closet and changed her career? Here’s how Cynthia Nixon explains her character’s new arc (we watched a lot of morning-show clips to research this intro, FYI):

“Miranda is back on the dating scene and she is very concerned that her son Brady is not going to college at all. In her work world — she’s working for Human Rights Watch — she’s an activist and she’s doing important work and becoming a more public-facing person on television for them and speaking about crises across the world. So that’s progressing nicely, but the dating, she’s kind of in the dark, and with the kid and the college…she’s in a panic.”

Don’t get us wrong: No matter how cringe or contrived, we’ll watch this show. After all, Carrie’s in that fabulous new apartment, and she’s attempting to write fiction now. It’ll also tackle parenting, dating, relationships, and career challenges, while somehow keeping everything rather surface-level. 

Speaking of diving below: This week, we’re exploring a surprising fashion trend pulled from the ocean’s depths. Scroll on for that, plus a few recommendations for your week.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

We love the swimsuits from Left on Friday. The material is substantial but also buttery soft, and the cuts are sexy without being too revealing. They offer plenty of coverage options, and the color choices are great.

We have the double-scoop suit, and the Sunday suit — both have held up to a lot of wear and washing. In our carts: this teeny Plunge top in red to pair with these sporty bottoms that fit like short-shorts.

Shop it all here. #partner

The fashion industry has vacation on the brain. Just take a look at all the sea creatures showing up on jewelry and handbags. Or check out this Chloé tee, which is emblematic of the brand’s latest collection. There are crustaceans aplenty, too – Bode has lobsters, Louis Vuitton has crabs. After digging through a pile of shell and fish adornments, we found 10 compelling options — below!

• This is a very cute sweater. Staud Giada Sweater, $375. Size XS to XL.

• We like the mix of beads and shells on this necklace. Anni Lu Seaside Necklace, $192.

• A cool, but impractically expensive, hand-painted pouch. Mansur Gavriel Pascucci Pouch, $195.

• This embroidered jacket is adorable. We the Free Madison City Embroidered Jacket, $198. Size XS to XL.

• A pretty little jangle of charms. Chan Luu San Sebastien Necklace, $175.

• Teeny, gold-toned shells. H&M Seashell-Shaped Earrings, $9.

• A floaty, caftan-y dress. Natalie Martin Fiore Maxi, $293. Size XS to XL.

• L.L.Bean bag vibes, but a bit more playful. Kule Lobster Tote, $98.90.

• We’re obsessed with these adorable, tiny fish. Clare V. Sardine Stud Earrings, $55.

• Ridiculous and fun. Zara Shell Clutch, $99.90.

Shop the Story

TO STREAM In HBO’s latest season of And Just Like That, out Thursday, Carrie & Co. continue to explore new horizons in complicated outfits and heels. If that’s not your taste, maybe a murder mystery starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks is more your speed?

TO DOWNLOAD We recently subscribed to this amazing executive assistant service powered by real humans and supported by AI. It’s helped us cross off so many tasks off our to-do list, like finally organizing thousands of photos into printed albums, meal planning (our least favorite thing), and making reservations for upcoming occasions like graduation and Mother’s Day. It’s been an enormous help. The offer plans starting at only $29 a month and they’re offering Gloria readers a chance to try it for two months at 50 percent off with the code GLORIA50 here. #partner

TO READ We love journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer’s work, so we’re curious to read her new book. Titled ⁠Hello, Cruel World: How to Parent with Hope in an Era of Anxiety and Doom⁠ (Bookshop, Amazon), it’s the result of conversations with experts across fields, including psychology, education, and technology. How helpful of her to collate their wisdom for us.

The winners of the male loneliness “epidemic” are nice guys with jobs. • Texas lawmakers are trying to restrict vibrator sales? • In praise of Death Becomes Her, the Broadway musical. • Siren’s showrunner explains that surprise ending.

You Deserve to Feel Better — Start Therapy Completely Free

BetterHelp is making therapy more accessible than ever this May. For a limited time, get your first week free and talk to a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home.

94% of users say they feel better after starting therapy on BetterHelp, and 93% are matched with someone who fits their needs. You can chat, call, or message your therapist whenever it works for you.

There’s no pressure, no commitment—just real support, on your terms.

Talk to a Therapist

_{*Gloria may receive an affiliate commission on purchases made through our newsletter.}