The Lo Down: 8/7/25
Let's play a love game...
Movies
I watched Materialists and Oh, Hi! this week, and it was a tale of two romantic…horrors? One I absolutely loved; the other, I couldn’t believe made it to the big screen. Let’s start with the good one.
Oh, Hi! was an unexpected delight. A ridiculous, over the top scenario that somehow lands because at its core, it’s painfully relatable. It captured a dynamic I see too often: a woman begging a guy to just listen,convinced that if she can explain it all the right way, he’ll realize they’re perfect for each other. Meanwhile, he’s giving her full boyfriend energy while avoiding any actual commitment. It’s the push-pull dynamic dominating the modern dating scene, dramatized to absurdity, but still grounded in truth. Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed this one.
Materialists, on the other hand…where do I begin? And how much time do you have?
The movie tries to make a statement about love & values, but ultimately takes the lazy way out with a ‘love is enough’ ending that doesn’t hold up under any scrutiny. Lucy’s decision to go back to John, despite not working out in the past, is frustrating at best. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice…girl, do you even like yourself? (Probably not, she was truly insufferable and had zero redeeming qualities). Harry is framed as the more emotionally evolved option - someone who appreciates Lucy for who she is beyond surface-level traits. He’s stoic, respectful, and old-school in his courtship…but there is zero chemistry. Neither option she’s presented with feels fully rooted in mutual respect or compatibility. This movie portrayed finding love at a slightly ‘older’ age as choosing which version of settling feels slightly less depressing. And when *the* twist with Harry happens…I was shocked and left wondering: is that a thing now? Like, really? It was absurd and my mouth was agape.
Here’s where the movie actually does reflect something real: the way people approach dating today. Materialists skims the surface of something deeper - the way modern dating has trained us to assess people like products. App culture rewards snap judgements and top-level traits: job title, salary, hotness, followers. It’s reducing people to specs on a page and quietly warping our expectations of what a relationship and partner should look like. The film could’ve explored that more meaningfully, but instead gave us shallow characters with zero development and even less chemistry.
Fashion
I’ve been helping a few bride-to-be friends navigate the many outfit moments leading up to the big day: from the perfect shoes to the just-right accessories, the dream bridal shower dress, the bachelorette trip bikini, and beyond. Along the way, I’ve been keeping a running edit of every amazing find I’ve come across…think of it as everything except for *the* dress. There’s a lot of good stuff linked, but these are the standout picks I’m loving right now:
Fun & flirty engagement party dress
The perfect bachelorette bikini + pareo
Fun after party top + skirt set
And too many fun wedding weekend bags to count: current fave 1, fave 2, & fave 3
For more of what’s in my closet, what I’m currently obsessing over, shopping guides & more, check out my ShopMy. Looking for some personal style advice? Whether it’s for curating a flawless vacation wardrobe, hunting down the perfect shoes, or finding the best basics for your closet, I’m here to help—just reach out!
Food & Drink
I met my match in an equally tough food critic during some lunch outings last week (shoutout to Z!), and we made it our mission to explore a few new sandwich spots in our neighborhood.
First up: Counter Service. Both sandwiches we tried (the Green Goddess Chicken Club and the Banh Mi) were underseasoned. The bread was excellent (truly the highlight), but otherwise, it was giving…bland. We also split the chocolate chip cookie, which sounded promising but left a lot to be desired.
Then came Salt Hank’s - the new viral *it* spot. Is anything really worth waiting an hour in line for? I’m increasingly convinced the answer is no. Hype rarely lives up to expectation, and this was no exception. $72 for 2 sandwiches, some sad “fries” plus tax and tip? Absurd. The sandwich itself was a chaos of ingredients - a heap of caramelized onions, cheese, horseradish aioli - completely overwhelming the meat (and making us question the quality of the meat to begin with). The jus was solid, but honestly got lost in the noise. To their credit, the team inside kept things moving efficiently, and the space itself wasn’t overcrowded. Of course, the long outdoor line helps fuel the hype machine, so that’s probably by design.
All that said, it wasn’t bad, just…not the best. We both agreed that the french dips at Hillstone and 4 Charles blow this one out of the water.
I had a dinner at Maison Nur, and can confirm the spot is extremely skippable and not worth mentioning.
Current Obsession
The Coco Americana from Rhythm Zero (coconut water topped with foamed espresso - no milk or sugar)
On My Radar
Lucinda’s, a new ‘honky tonk bar’ in the East Village (not sure what that means or if that’s my vibe, but…it keeps coming up!)
Mommy Pai’s, a new chicken finger takeout counter from Thai Diner
The newly opened Dior Spa, their first in the US
Bar Tizio, a new-ish wine bar from the Barbuto team
Until next week -
xo
Lo
My toxic trait is I opened every link for bride to be 💅
I’ve never needed to try something more- a Coco Americana 😍