51 Iconic Met Gala Looks That Got The Whole World Talking

Posted on 05/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Every year on the first Monday in May, the world’s most famous people gather under one roof, dressed in their finest, for the Met Gala fundraiser event.

This means that on the first Tuesday in May, many of us here in the UK spend our mornings scrolling through social media, judging the A-list guests’ red carpet looks.

Well, folks, that fateful day is almost upon us. So, to prepare for this year’s event – co-chaired by Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, with the dress code “tailored for you” (in honour of the Met’s upcoming exhibit Superfine: Tailoring Black Style) – we’ve rounded up some of the best, most glamorous or, indeed, most outrageous looks in Met Gala history.

Expect repeat appearances from Met Gala staples like Rihanna, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Kardashian and Doja Cat (some of whom we’re expecting big things from at Monday’s gathering.

Happy scrolling…

Rihanna (2015 – China: Through The Looking Glass)

Doja Cat (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

Blake Lively (2022 – In America: An Anthology Of Fashion)

Jared Leto (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Zendaya (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

Kim Kardashian (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

Rihanna (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

Madonna (2013 – Punk: Chaos To Couture)

Chadwick Boseman (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

Cher (1974 – Romantic And Glamorous Hollywood Design)

Lupita Nyong’o (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Sarah Jessica Parker (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

Zendaya (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Gigi Hadid (2022 – In America: An Anthology Of Fashion)

Rihanna (2017 – Comme Des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between)

Kim Kardashian (2022 – In America: An Anthology Of Fashion)

Beyoncé (2016 – Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology)

Lana Del Rey (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

Jennifer Lopez (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

Zayn (2016 – Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology)

Naomi Campbell (1995 – Haute Couture)

Billie Eilish (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

Billy Porter (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Kim Kardashian (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

Ariana Grande (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

Bad Bunny (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

Sarah Jessica Parker (2006 – AngloMania: Tradition And Transgression In British Fashion)

Zendaya (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

Céline Dion (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Miley Cyrus (2013 – Punk: Chaos To Couture)

Demi Moore (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

Beyoncé (2015 – China: Through the Looking Glass)

Nicole Kidman (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

Helen Lasichanh (2017 – Comme Des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between)

Lil Nas X (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

Hailey Bieber (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Kim Kardashian (2013 – Punk: Chaos To Couture)

Princess Diana (1996 – Christian Dior)

Cardi B (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Jaden Smith (2017 – Comme Des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between)

Jared Leto (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

Janelle Monáe (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Taylor Swift (2016 – Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology)

Lil Nas X (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

Madonna (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

Tyla (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

Timothée Chalamet (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

Jennifer Lopez (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Rihanna (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

Doja Cat (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

Lady Gaga (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

Doing nothing on social care ‘untenable’, MPs warn

Posted on 05/05/2025 by Boris Clair

The report says failure to fix England’s social care system carries an unknown human and financial cost.

‘Unami Is Your Daddy’ – Home Cooks Reveal Their Secrets To Resaturant-Style Dishes

Posted on 04/05/2025 by Boris Clair

When you get into taking home cooking seriously, suddenly you are speaking about the joys of a ‘good, fresh lemon’, and having minor meltdowns over running out of onions – “but we always have onions!!”

The other thing that happens is you continue to challenge yourself. Yes, having a good meal rotation is the most important thing, but trying to reach gourmet-level is the real home cook dream.

Now, home cooks have taken to Reddit to share their ‘stupidly simple’ ingredients that have made their cooking taste more professional.

When it comes to cheese, choose quality when you can

Unsurprisingly, the cooks have a lot to say about cheese. User CompanyOther2608 says: “It’s a no-brainer, but blocks of good cheese instead of pre-grated or shredded”.

Breddy adds: “Good quality parmesan cheese.”

While Revolutionary-Bus893 changed my life saying: “I’m amazed how a few tablespoons of cream cheese can richen up sauces.”

When life gives you lemons, zest up your dishes

Sphinxyhiggins adds that they love to add lemon to spicy or savoury food, while crippledchef23 says: “I started adding lemon pepper to my spaghetti sauce and it changes things it a way I can’t describe. More tomato-y, but not acidic. Savory and deep and somehow sweet without any sugar.”

Revolutionary_Sir_76 is knocking the pineapple on pizza debate out of the park, saying: “Lemon on pizza or any kinds cheese sends me.”

As a fellow lemon fiend, I’m not writing it off.

MSG is almost always a good idea

Carpe-Bananum says: “A little MSG. Umami is your Daddy.”

If you’re not familiar, MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a flavour enhancer that’s common in Chinese cuisine but is also frequently used in tinned foods to enhance umamu flavours.

User BumblebeeNo3833 adds: “Came here to say this! MSG has made SUCH a difference in my cooking.”

Make the most of onions

Uncle_Rat_21 says: “Not really a swap, but I caramelise a bag of onions every other week or so. Add it to all kinds of things.

“Spaghetti sauce, mashed potatoes, omelettes. Made some quesadillas the other night with some leftover rotisserie chicken and some of the onions. So good!”

Dasookwat adds: “Most important one: time. take a bit more time for things to sear, onions to glaze etc.”

Joro65 advises: “In a lot of dishes, shallots, instead of onions will take it up a notch.”

Making white sauce? Add some mustard

Catfist says: “Not really a substitute, but I add a dash of mustard powder to pretty much every white sauce I make, it adds just a bit of depth and everyone seems to love it.”

Itsnotnews92 adds: “I add a dash of mustard powder to my mac and cheese. Not enough that anyone would say “this tastes like mustard,” but just enough to give it a bit of pop.”

Rcoop020 says it even works with boxed mac and cheese.

I can’t wait to try some of these.

A Reform UK Councillor Has Been Suspended By The Party 3 Days After Being Elected

Posted on 04/05/2025 by Boris Clair

A Reform UK councillor has been suspended by the party just three days after being elected.

Donna Edmunds faces an investigation after it emerged she had previously vowed to defect to another right-wing party in the future.

She became one of Reform’s 677 new councillors when she was elected in Hodnet, Shropshire, on Thursday.

But in a post on X today she said: “This morning I woke up to an email from Reform UK Head Office advising me that I have been suspended from the party ‘pending an investigation’. Why? Because I urged people here on X to lend Reform their support for the short term – for Thursday’s elections – even if they felt they couldn’t for the long term.

“According to Head Office ‘this has brought the party into disrepute and damaged the interests of the party’.”

She then went on to criticise the party for kicking out Rupert Lowe MP and ditching its former deputy leader, Ben Habib.

Edmunds also shared a screengrab of a post she made on X last week in which she said: “I’m a Reform candidate. I’m waiting for Rupert and Ben to give us a real alternative and then I’ll defect. I’m far from being the only one.”

She added: “This campaign has been a difficult one. For every resident in my ward who supported Reform, I found another who wanted an alternative to the failed Tories and vindictive Labour, but couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a party who would behave so shamefully toward their own.”

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Yesterday I woke up feeling very proud to be one of Reform’s 677 new councilors. This morning I woke up to an email from @reformparty_uk Head Office advising me that I have been suspended from the party \"pending an investigation.\"
Why? Because I urged people here on X to lend… pic.twitter.com/oiBFyeRh72

— Donna Rachel 🎗️ (@Donna_Rachel_) May 4, 2025

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Yesterday I woke up feeling very proud to be one of Reform’s 677 new councilors. This morning I woke up to an email from @reformparty_uk Head Office advising me that I have been suspended from the party “pending an investigation.”
Why? Because I urged people here on X to lend… pic.twitter.com/oiBFyeRh72

— Donna Rachel 🎗️ (@Donna_Rachel_) May 4, 2025

A Reform UK spokesman said: “The reason for her suspension is that she posted on social media that she intended to defect to another party. We will not comment further until the completion of the investigation.”

Here’s Why Lucy Powell’s Comments On Grooming Gangs Really Matter

Posted on 04/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Timing, as in good comedy, is vital in politics.

That’s why Lucy Powell’s comments on Friday night about the child grooming gangs scandal really matter.

The House of Commons leader lost her composure during an appearance on Radio Four’s political debate programme Any Questions.

It came after Reform UK campaigner Tim Montgomerie mentioned a Channel 4 documentary on the abduction and rape of vulnerable young girls by groups of men of mainly British-Pakistani backgrounds.

Powell interrupted to say: “Oh we want to blow that little trumpet now, do we? Let’s get that dog whistle out shall we, yeah?”

It didn’t take long for her comments to provoke a backlash on social media, with Reform and the Tories both piling in as well.

A spokesman for Nigel Farage’s party said: “Lucy Powell’s abhorrent comments truly demonstrate how out of touch the Labour Party is.”

Of course, Powell’s remarks – for which she later issued an apology of sorts – would have ignited a fierce political row regardless of when she said them.

Labour has been heavily criticised for rejecting calls for a national inquiry into the scandal, preferring instead to promote investigations at a local authority level.

But it was the fact that her outburst came just hours after Reform UK – which has campaigned heavily on the issue – had won the local elections in England that made them so politically toxic for Labour.

As well as taking hundreds of council seats off the Tories, the right-wing party also showed that they can pull off stunning victories in traditional Labour areas like Durham and Doncaster.

With Reform also breathing down Labour’s neck in many of the areas where the grooming scandal took place, Powell’s words could almost have been deliberately chosen to cause maximum reputational damage to her party.

No wonder one senior figure in No.10 called them “appalling”.

According to The Sunday Times, education secretary Bridget Phillipson will be sacked at the next cabinet reshuffle, with Lisa Nandy also facing the axe along with her Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Senior Labour figures are now openly speculating that Powell’s neck is also on the chopping block.

“She shouldn’t be allowed on broadcast,” one told HuffPost UK, while another said: “What a car crash.”

For now at least, Downing Street appears to be backing Powell to ride out the storm.

Health secretary Wes Streeting offered up a stout defence of her on the broadcast round this morning, saying: “We all make mistakes. I’ve made mistakes in the past, I’m sure I’ll make mistakes in the future.

“The important thing is when we make mistakes, we own it, we apologise. That’s exactly what Lucy has done.”

But it would not be a surprise if, come the reshuffle, Powell finds herself on the backbenches.

Teen mental health: When to seek help and what parents can do

Posted on 04/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Mental health problems are increasing in young people. How can their families support them? And when should professional help be sought?

UK Gardeners Urged To Take A Cotton Bud To Their Lawn

Posted on 03/05/2025 by Boris Clair

As the warmer spring rolls around, gardeners might be gearing up to mow their lawns.

But Timothy Greene at icanlawn.com has said that it might be a little too early for some lawns; and cutting them now can even cause some significant damage.

“People might be keen to get their gardens sorted in time for spring but mowing your lawn when the grass is too short can cause damage and stop it growing back properly,” he said.

There’s actually a specific height at which it’s safe to cut your lawn ― and you can find it by taking a cotton bud to your lawn, Greene says.

How?

“The ideal height for grass to be before you cut is around 5cm to 7cm, which is around the same height as a cotton earbud,” the lawn expert revealed.

“This height means the grass is growing well and is safe to cut. But you should also make sure there’s no frost and the lawn isn’t wet either,” he says.

It’s important to make sure that you have your lawnmower on its highest setting when lopping your lawn, Greene says. This will ensure you don’t accidentally harm your lawn by cutting its grass too short.

If your grass never manages to reach the cotton bud height, Greene warns, you could have an underlying problem in your lawn.

“Lawns have had to deal with frost, heavy rain, and other challenges over the winter so there might be areas that need extra care. Whether that’s a feed to battle any diseases or new seeds sowed to cover patches,” Greene said.

What’s the best time to cut my lawn?

Aside from waiting until your grass is tall enough to cut, you should also keep an eye out on the weather, Greene warns.

Mowing your lawn after a frosty night could weaken the grass, he suggests.

“Mid-March is a good time to give your grass its first cut of the year but of course, weather conditions vary so keep an eye on your local forecast to get the right grass-cutting conditions,” Greene explains.

“Your grass’ growth will have stopped over winter but generally kickstarts again when temperatures are around 10C,” he adds.

“You should also make sure your mower’s blades are not too dull as this could cause damage to your grass. And in turn, make sure your lawn is clear from debris so that it doesn’t cause damage to your mower.”

Once you’ve gotten your grass high enough, and the weather warm enough, to get strumming, you should keep a schedule, Greene says.

“After the first mow of the year, you should aim to cut your grass weekly. But do keep an eye on the weather as it can be unpredictable.”

Ah, the joys of a British garden…

This Hands-Off Parenting Trend Is Going Viral. Here’s What Experts Make Of It

Posted on 03/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Kylie Kelce recently shared on her podcast that she supports a specific style of parenting, and it’s raising some controversy.

The mum of four and wife of retired Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champ Jason Kelce explained she came across the term FAFO (“fuck around and find out”) on an Instagram post. “[It’s] the act of having your kids experience the natural consequences of their actions without getting too involved.”

It also happens to be a viral social media trend: there are now dozens of posts on MomTok singing the virtues of allowing your toddler to take a bite of a fiery hot chili pepper, all in the name of figuring things out for themselves.

Some of these mums claim they need to “out-feral their feral children” and one even shows her young son the door when he says he’s mad she won’t let him sleep in her bed (“You wanna go to someone else’s house? See ya!”). Despite the resulting tears and tantrums, the comments on these posts are generally celebratory (“Good job! Good for you! Yes, Mama!”).

I can relate to some of what these women are saying because I had that kid – the too-smart-for-her-own-good, fiercely independent middle schooler who told me she didn’t need to wear a hat in 20-degree weather. This usually resulted in me begging, pleading and threatening – then running after her, beanie in hand, until she grabbed it and furiously pulled it over her ears.

Today she’s 22, and little has changed. She has gone out in snowstorms in heels and insists that taking the subway at night is “perfectly safe.” I know, I know: she’s a full-grown adult living on her own and I need to hang up my helicopter mum cap and let her make her own mistakes.

Would I have been better off taking a more laissez-faire approach to parenting?

FAFO supporters believe that a child needs to confront consequences – even if they are uncomfortable or painful – to learn and grow.

Clinical psychologist Elina Telford agrees that it “supports the brain to learn, creating opportunities for resilience, independence and problem-solving.”

Still, to me and many other parents, it sounds scary, dangerous and a little mean. What about younger kids who can’t easily anticipate cause and effect? And what about outcomes that aren’t immediate? Do we really want our children to learn things the hard way and be subject to possible harm?

Experts say there are both pros and cons to this parenting style and aren’t surprised it’s trending.

“FAFO parenting appears to have emerged from the clash between helicopter parenting and gentle parenting,” explained Sean O’Neill, an LA-based licensed marriage and family therapist. “While gentle parenting focuses on empathy and connection, it often falls short on personal responsibility and accountability. FAFO fills that gap by allowing children to take on more responsibility while teaching them self-reliance. ”

“If you give them the power to choose and then retract it, it may have a negative effect. Your discomfort may send your child the message that you actually think they are incapable, which is the opposite of the desired result.”

– Trisha Sanders, licensed clinical social worker

Children need to be able to go out in the world to explore for themselves but they also need a safe place to come back to when they get scared, overwhelmed or tired, added Trisha Sanders, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Wholefamily Therapy and Wellness in New Jersey.

“A sense of competence is achieved when children can try things on their own, combined with caregivers giving grace when mistakes are made and help when it is requested. The downside can appear when there is a lack of appropriate caregiver support received by the child after they mess around and can’t quite figure it out.”

FAFO parenting can be tough on parents who tend to be anxious. “It can be hard to knowingly let something adverse happen to your child,” said kid empowerment coach Mark Papadas. “Many parents ‘shield’ their kids from any and all negative actions or consequences. But think back on your life. Which life lessons have had the biggest impact on you: What you learned from your own experience or something that someone told you?”

Ready to give FAFO parenting a try?

The best strategy is to ease into it. “Start on a small scale, giving simple options and enabling the child to encounter minimal consequences, like choosing not to wear a raincoat and subsequently getting wet,” O’Neill advised. “Parents need to explain risks and step back to let the child manage things.”

The idea is to do less, but not disconnect. Be clear in your expectations, communicate potential outcomes and let go when it’s safe. “FAFO can be a smart technique if it’s balanced with emotional availability and guidance,” said Eden Garcia-Balis, a Los Angeles-based licensed marriage and family therapist. “This parenting strategy is not about being completely hands-off, it’s about being strategically hands-off and allowing your child to slowly develop enough confidence and independence to take charge of their own actions and consequences.”

How much freedom you allow also depends on your child’s readiness to roam free — their age as well as their personal development. “This approach can be helpful with children from toddlers through teens,” Sanders insisted. “The differences will be largely about how much detail you provide about consequences of choices and what kinds of choices you allow your child to ‘fuck around’ with. The abstract thinking of long-term consequences may be lost on a little one. For older children and teens, you can use this approach for many decisions and you can empower them more and more as you both grow more confident with this process.”

Sanders also suggests not chickening out when you grant your child autonomy. “If you give them the power to choose and then retract it, it may have a negative effect. Your discomfort may send your child the message that you actually think they are incapable, which is the opposite of the desired result.”

In the end, for both parents and children, there is a learning curve to the FAFO technique.

“Hold on to the fact that learning does happen through trial and error and part of it is learning how to tolerate and navigate uncomfortable feelings,” Telford said. “With accurate information and a careful approach, you can feel free to explore FAFO, see if it fits with your identity as a parent and grow a sense of competence right along with your child.”

Assisted deaths could be more than 4,000 in 10th year after law change

Posted on 03/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Estimate included in official review of costs and impact of passing assisted dying law in England and Wales.

Are there more autistic people now?

Posted on 03/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Why is the number of autism diagnoses changing? And what does it mean for autistic people?