Something to Look Forward To

Hi friend,

Let it be known: We’ve entered the age of “New MILF cinema.” Bravely leading the way is Nicole Kidman, whose A24 project Babygirl is anticipated to be the hottest movie of 2024. In the film, which will hit theaters this Christmas, Kidman plays an executive married to Antonio Banderas that’s undone by an intern, with whom she has lots of kinky sex. There is, memorably, an erotic scene of her drinking a glass of milk.

“If 2024 has turned out to be the year of the cougar at the movies — Kidman herself has now been paired twice with a leading man over two decades younger — what Babygirl has to offer toward the trend is not a tale of punishment, but an adventure into self-discovery that’s unabashedly indulgent but always surprising,” says Vulture film critic Alison Willmore.

Kidman “knows what she’s doing,” writes novelist Jennifer Weiner for the New York Times. She lays out how Kidman, who started her own film company, has come up with a formula, “Option a piece of intellectual property from a best-selling female novelist…that has a part for Ms. Kidman to play, along with juicy roles for other women, not all of whom should be thin or white.” Then, “Commission women to write scripts and female directors to shoot them.”

To tide us over until Babygirl hits theaters, Netflix this Friday will release Lonely Planet, which stars Laura Dern as a novelist embarking on an “intoxicating, life-altering love affair” with Liam Hemsworth. If that looks too cheesy for you, Netflix also has the seductive Italian-language series Deceitful Love – about a wealthy 60-year-old woman falling for a much younger man – on deck this Wednesday. (We guess they’ve realized that there’s a market for these stories.)

For more of our recommendations for your week, plus a hit of our favorite fall patterns, just keep scrolling. We’ll see you back here on Friday.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

Stripes are year-round, but plaid and argyle come out when the temperatures drop. And we’re seeing lots of appealing options in both categories, from pretty dresses to warm sweaters. Below, a few recent favorites.

• A slouchy-cool sweater vest. Cos Argyle Wool Tank, $135. Size XS to L.

• We’re excited to explore this brand, which is from the owners of Uniqlo. Gu US Flannel, $30. Size XS to XL.

• Such a cheery color palette. Boden Clemence Wrap Skirt, $190. Size 0 to 22.

• A pretty, fluffy cardigan. Rails Runi Argyle Wool Cardigan, $218 (with code NMCIRCLE). Size XS to XL.

• Love the length of this soft plaid shirt. Lee Cropped Plaid Chore Shirt, $52. Size 1XL to 4XL.

• A very cool, plush velvety bag (we also want this little pouch from the same brand). Epice Tote Bag, $185.

• A classic color combo in an updated shape. Reformation Clara Cashmere Crew Cardigan, $248. Size XS to XL.

• The type of coat that makes us excited for coats again. Emerson Fry Thomas Coat, $388. Size XXS to XL.

• The snap buttons make this cute little cotton shirt. J.Crew Western Shirt, $69.50. Size 00 to 24.

• Very cozy, very fall. Pendleton Plaid Wool Skirt, $249. Size 2 to 18.

• We always appreciate a dress with sleeves. Doen Annika Dress, $298. Size XXS to XXL.

Shop the Story

TO STREAM It’s officially spooky season, and to celebrate, HBO Max is releasing a new M. Night Shyamalan-produced film with major twists. In Caddo Lake (streaming Thursday), the story of a little girl’s disappearance is woven together with an older story of illness and loss. There’s also Netflix’s new thriller It’s What’s Inside (a dark comedy where a group of friends use technology to swap bodies) which is getting a lot of buzz, with one critic describing it a “sharp little film that snaps into place with a satisfying click.”

TO LISTEN This fascinating and short episode of The Washington Posts’s Impromptu podcast profiles a man inside the IRS who tracks down global cybercriminals. (You can read their longform feature on him here.) Nice to hear about someone doing their job really well!

TO LOOK Lost Time, a new Phaidon coffee-table book of famed photographer Jonathan Becker’s work, showcases a range of his extraordinary images of people like Gloria Vanderbilt, André Leon Talley, and King Charles III. You can see some examples of them here.

TO LAUGH Ali Wong has a lot of material for her latest comedy special, Ali Wong: Single Lady, which is about dating in her 40s post-divorce. The trailer doesn’t quite do it justice.

“Her Face Was Unrecognizable After an Explosion. A Placenta Restored It.” • One woman’s reflections on leaving her marriage (love this audio format, btw). • Will it ever be possible to improve child care in this country? • Exploring the new medications upping women’s libidos. Wow, they’re auctioning off Senator Dianne Feinstein’s belongings.

Just toying with the idea.

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