Pop Culture

Taylor Swift’s DJ ex Calvin Harris wasn’t spared on her Midnights album, it seems. Swift painted a brutal picture of the end of their relationship, suggesting she did indeed leave him for another man with her “April 29” reference. Swift and Harris dated for a little over a year and had a very public relationship.On that date: On April 29, 2016, Swift and Harris’ song “This Is What You Came For” was released, though at the time, Swift was credited under a songwriter pseudonym, adding fuel to some controversy later....

A new Taylor Swift album isn’t just something to listen to; it’s a piece of work to discuss, analyze, and dissect. With its numerous Easter eggs, it’s ripe for examination, but with relatable, memorable lyrics, it’s also a vehicle for self-reflection. In other words, a new Swift original doesn’t just stay between you and your headphones; it must be pored over with others, posted about in excess, and in some extreme cases, embedded into your entire personality. With the arrival of Midnights, Swift’s 10th studio album, all of this was...

Close your eyes. Now imagine yourself sipping a piña colada on the beach as the waves crash and fall back. Crash, and fall right back. It’s the perfect day with the sun shining, and as you rush into the water, you can’t help but realize it’s warm like a bathtub—nothing the Atlantic Ocean could ever do. You, my friend, are in Hawaii. While each of its islands has something to offer, if you’re looking for a balance of pure serenity mixed with activities, as well as a place that also...

In 2018, Zarifa Ghafari became Afghanistan’s youngest female mayor. Below, read an exclusive excerpt from her book Zarifa: A Woman’s Battle in a Man’s World about her history-making mayoral appointment, fleeing Kabul after her father was assassinated in 2020, and returning earlier this year to a changed country. When I arrived in Kabul in February of this year, my first emotion was gut-twisting fear, tinged with joy. Soon after our escape from Afghanistan, my family and I had been offered asylum in Germany, in the same small town my aunt...

Less than four days before Midnights’ release, Taylor Swift and her partner of six years, Joe Alwyn, signaled to paparazzi and fans alike that their love story is still very much ongoing. Swift and Alwyn were photographed walking in New York City on Monday with their fall fashion on display. Swift wore a plaid mini skirt, long dark sweater, and dark Calzedonia tights with hoop earrings. Alwyn, meanwhile, wore a green sweater, jeans, and black-rimmed glasses. He also carried a notebook because why not?TheImageDirect.comIt isn't often that Swift and Alwyn...

What's more fun than a game of Song Association? A game of Song Association with a glass of champagne.Ellie Goulding sipped on a glass of bubbly as she sat down to play ELLE's musical guessing game, and despite being under the tiniest influence of alcohol, she still landed a perfect score, 15 out of 15. Her responses ranged from “Staying Alive” by The Bee Gees, to “Glamorous” by Fergie, “Good for You” by Selena Gomez, “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey, “Love on Top” by Beyoncé, and her own songs “Burn” and...

Meghan Markle gave her third interview since stepping back from her senior royal family role to Variety and addressed her experience mourning the Queen for the first time. Of all the royal family, she is the first to speak in-depth about her grieving and relationship with the late monarch. Of the mourning period generally, Meghan said, “There’s been such an outpouring of love and support. I’m really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What’s so beautiful is to look...

Amal Clooney went from spring green to autumnal red for her latest event appearance with her husband, George Clooney. After wearing a stunning green gown with George at the Academy Museum Gala on Saturday, Amal stepped out in a red printed sleeveless dress by Alexander McQueen for the premiere of George's movie Ticket to Paradise. George posed alongside her in a gray suit, no tie.Albert L. Ortega//Getty ImagesThe couple also held hands on the red carpet:Albert L. Ortega//Getty ImagesOn Tuesday, George appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show, where he told...

Welcome to Shelf Life, ELLE.com’s books column, in which authors share their most memorable reads. Whether you’re on the hunt for a book to console you, move you profoundly, or make you laugh, consider a recommendation from the writers in our series, who, like you (since you’re here), love books. Perhaps one of their favorite titles will become one of yours, too.Now 20% OffElizabeth McCracken’s eighth book, The Hero of This Book (Ecco) follows a writer reflecting on her late mother’s life and on their relationship as she wanders through...

Spoilers for season 1 ahead.With the first rings forged and the true identity of Galadriel’s boyfriend—er, sorry, mortal enemy—revealed, the Rings of Power is finally ramping up just as its first season draws to a close. But the fires of Mount Doom will wait for no man (or elf), and you’d better believe Amazon Prime Video plans to milk its Lord of the Rings IP for as long as possible. (There are still more J.R.R. Tolkien footnotes to explore!) Thus, another four seasons of The Lord of the Rings: The...

When I tell Hannah Logan Peterson that her short film, Daughter, moved me to tears, I’m not exaggerating. Chosen as the selection of The Spark 2.0—an initiative sponsored by Lexus and ELLE to showcase an original short film by a woman director—Daughter runs four minutes, but it reverberates with emotion, authenticity and gravitas. “That’s what I hoped this film would do,” said Peterson, whose goal was to create a reflective space where people might see themselves, and perhaps even meditate on how to navigate their world. In just two scenes,...

If you're wondering where She-Hulk could go next after the season 1 finale, so is Jen Walters. But the superhuman attorney already has a few ideas in mind, which she teased in the show's very meta last episode. “I do have some thoughts about the direction of season 2,” Jen (Tatiana Maslany) tells K.E.V.I.N., the AI bot who programs all the storylines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and a silly stand-in for Marvel Studios' actual, human president, Kevin Feige). But before Jen can indulge us in her plans, K.E.V.I.N. cuts...

On Friday, Kim Kardashian and ex-husband Kanye West avoided one another at their oldest daughter North's basketball game in Los Angeles, arriving separately and seemingly ignoring one another throughout the event. Kardashian arrived in all black except for the white stripes of her Balenciaga track pants. She wore them with tall black heels and left her long platinum hair down around her waist, accessorizing with an enormous pair of black sunglasses and a small silver handbag.Kanye arrived in a white graphic t-shirt and Levis jeans, with giant black rubber boots...

On Friday, October 14, model Gigi Hadid went hard on fall layering with her outfit in New York City. To match the gorgeous autumnal foliage, Hadid chose various shades of brown and green, the outermost layer being a tan oversized blazer. Beneath the blazer she wore yet another item that is technically an outer layer, a Guest In Residence Barn Jacket, part of her recently launched cashmere line.Hadid has been giving everyone great ideas for how to wear her new brand, and styled the jacket with a pair of matching...