Barack Obama spotted at ritzy LA restaurant with daughters — but wife Michelle was absent as rumors of marriage problems swirl
3 Barack Obama was spotted at a chic Santa Monica restaurant.
Sandy / BACKGRID
Obama, 63, with daughters Sasha, 23, and Malia, 26, broke bread at upscale Japanese restaurant Hamasaku on Santa Monica Boulevard, which has been a favorite of the family since at least 2022, according to images of the dinner.
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3 The former president enjoyed dinner with daughters Sasha and Malia
Sandy / BACKGRID
3 Michelle Obama spoke frankly about her marriage on her podcast.
IMO Podcast/YouTube
Despite the conspicuous absence of Michelle, eagle-eyed relationship monitors noticed that the former president was wearing his wedding ring.
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The former first couple was spotted on a date night earlier this week in Washington DC as Barack has made headlines for repeatedly going to restaurants without his wife of 32 years.
Michelle, 61, hit back at those rumors, claiming on podcast 'Work in Progress' that she is simply exercising her own independence.
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Hypebeast
29 minutes ago
- Hypebeast
Guy Berryman's Love Affair With Vintage Is More Than an Obsession
If you look up the term applied art forms, you'll find the definition:artistic disciplines that combine aesthetics and functionality, resulting in objects that are both visually appealing and useful. In the case ofGuy Berryman's labelAPPLIED ART FORMS, the discipline in focus is garment design and construction, with the outcome being a portfolio of collections that straddle modern practicality and utilitarian style. This double-pronged approach to design – balancing form with function – has come more naturally to theColdplaybassist-slash-creative director than some might expect. Upon launching the label in 2020, Berryman had already built up a personal archive of one-of-a-kind vintage finds, which he had sourced over years of touring with the band. Through delving into his wardrobe and experimenting with alternative cuts, Berryman now creates collections that showcase how the look and feel of vintage garments can exist in today's fashion landscape, yet still age beautifully over time. It's taken time to get to this stage, but Berryman has paid close attention to every detail along the way. On a typical day, he can be found juggling hands-on tasks of conceptualizing collections and developing prototypes with his less preferred tasks of admin and paperwork. While he admits, 'some elements are not what [he] imagined would be a part of [his] life in fashion, it's become part and parcel of sustaining a fashion label in one of the most difficult industries.' 'I had become an avid collector of garments for around 15 years, and that archive started speaking to me as a library of ideas to create new things.' What has made the journey worthwhile, however, is running APPLIED ART FORMS in the heart of Amsterdam. Having moved to the Dutch capital after living in the UK his whole life, the creative director made the choice to base the design studio there, saying, 'It's a very creative city where opportunities and collaborations are waiting to happen.' As well as its vibrant arts scene, it's clear to see that Amsterdam's distinct style codes have come to influence the label's functional designs by weaving in a Dutch workwear edge. Hypebeast catches up with Berryman as he dials in straight from his design studio, where the team is preparing for the label'sParis Fashion Weekshowcase. Taking a short break from the chaos, he chats about his design processes, partnering withAudio Obscuraon the Highway Rave event, and looking forward to the opening of the label's first flagship store in Amsterdam. Hypebeast: Can you explain what APPLIED ART FORMS is all about? Berryman: It's a brand that is largely inspired by my vintage archive. I'm kind of a super-nerd when it comes to collecting vintage, whether it's utility clothing, military clothing, or workwear. The brand stems from that passion I have, channeled through modern silhouettes. In terms of style, my biggest influence is what I like to call 'Japanese street style,' so lots of oversized, wide-bodied fits and generally loose-fitting clothes. What inspired you to put your love for clothes into establishing a brand? My background was in engineering and architecture before I was led down a different career path in music. I was interested in all kinds of industrial design and craftsmanship, and I thought I would end up designing chairs or lamps. But, I think I had gotten to a stage where I felt if I don't do something in the field of design and manufacturing now, I'm never going to do it. By the point I'd made that decision, I had become an avid collector of garments for around 15 years, and that archive started speaking to me as a library of ideas to create new things. Which fashion movements have influenced the brand? Are there any that you constantly revisit in your research? For me, the primary source material is always original utility garments – mostly from the 1940s to the '50s and '60s. Everything was made very well back then, as soon as you get into the '80s and '90s, the quality started going down. I'm interested in the uniforms of the U.S Army, British Army, and British Navy – generally functional clothing, not from a style point of view, but more the level of craftsmanship. The process that I take when designing clothes is no different from that of other designers who I Ostiwas one of the biggest collectors of vintage utility clothing, which informed everything he did withStone IslandandCP company. All ofHelmut Lang's inspiration came from Army surplus. EvenMartin Margiela, the menswear is very different from the womenswear, with it being much more utility-focused. 'We're not following seasonal trends or playing to trend forecasts. I think that's a very dangerous game.' How important is functionality in your designs? I tend to avoid modern synthetic materials. For instance, a lot of our winter jackets will be made from a densely woven cotton, which isn't necessarily going to keep you super dry if you're walking out in a heavy downpour, but will have some water resistance. It's a balancing act between understanding how certain materials age, but keeping in mind that they might not have a functional quality that modern-day fabrics have. A lot of the vintage garments I have look so great because they're 70 years old and have got worn patches and random holes. Whenever we select materials, especially for outerwear, I think about what it's going to look like in 70 years' time. As you split your time between the band and running APPLIED ART FORMS, have you felt inclined to bring the worlds of music and fashion together through the label? At the moment, there isn't a huge link. We did have a playlist link on the web shop, but I've always viewed music and fashion as two separate parts of my brain. I like doing this because making and wearing clothes is a very physical thing, whereas making music is something that you don't touch, it's something you feel and listen to. It's a different process. Saying that, we are opening our first flagship store inAmsterdamlater this year. Being a music fan and also having a huge obsession with Japanese vinyl bars, my idea for the store is to make a space that engenders a community feel around the brand. It won't be designed for somebody to just buy something and leave. It'll be built around my passion for vinyl, soul music, jazz, and funk. Part of the store will have a listening bar that will invite people to come in and socialize or just have a coffee. You never know what ideas are going to be born out of bringing like-minded people together. Why did you choose Amsterdam as the city to base your brand in? I just fell in love with the city. I had been living in the English countryside for such a long time, and I wanted a new adventure. I found myself coming to Amsterdam quite a lot, and every time I was flying back home to the UK, I felt really sad leaving the city. I just kept thinking it was a magical place that has all of the culture you would associate with much larger cities – from the music scene to the art galleries and restaurants – but it's wrapped up in this beautiful small city. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site for a reason. You recently partnered with Audio Obscura, making a limited-edition t-shirt for its Highway Rave event. How did it feel to be asked to be part of an event celebrating Amsterdam? Well, when we were asked if we wanted to be involved in the event with Audio Obscura, they told us that they wanted to close down a highway and do this big rave. Big events in weird places are exactly what Audio Obscura is known for, so I was excited to be part of this one by making a T-shirt. In a way, the T-shirt designed itself. When you think about raves, the classic smiley comes to mind, and with this being a highway rave, I thought to incorporate a traffic sign in a sprayed-on effect. The run was limited to 750 T-shirts, and all the proceeds went to supporting the event. Beside the event, what else have you got coming up for APPLIED ART FORMS? Next week, we will be running a showroom at Paris Fashion Week Men's, where we will be presenting our new collections to all of our buyers and taking them through the collection piece by piece. As always, the new range is all about timeless clothing – we're not following seasonal trends or playing to trend forecasts. I think that's a very dangerous game. So again, everything's just based on me going through my archive, finding new things that I've been inspired by, and reinterpreting them in a modern way. We've also started working on our first women's collection, which will launch in Fall/Winter 2026. I was really nervous about it because I've always designed for myself. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it, but as I'm getting into it, I'm quickly realizing there's so much more you can do in women's than you can do in men's. I'm a bit worried that what we're doing in women's is now stronger than what we're doing in men's. To shop the latest collection from APPLIED ART FORMS, head to itswebsiteor partner retailers now.
New York Post
31 minutes ago
- New York Post
Idris Elba reveals shocking revelation about ‘The Wire'
Stringer Bell isn't a fan. Idris Elba rose to fame on the acclaimed HBO crime drama 'The Wire,' but he recently made a shocking admission: he's never seen the show, and refuses to watch it. 'If I'm really honest, I didn't watch 'The Wire,'' Elba, 52, shared on a recent episode of Amy Poehler's 'Good Hang' podcast. 'I didn't watch it. And I feel bad. It's not that I'm not a fan of it — I was there. I made a show that was, you know, so intense and so real, so important, even though we didn't realize it,' the 'Luther' star added. 'I didn't realize the importance of the show while making it.' 8 Idris Elba on Amy Poehler's podcast in July 2025. Good Hang with Amy Poehler/Youtube 8 Amy Poehler interviewing Idris Elba on her podcast in July 2025. Good Hang with Amy Poehler/Youtube Poehler replied, 'Rarely do we.' Elba added, 'I didn't participate in its celebration as a viewer, as a fan. And so I feel a little bit outside of the club.' 'The Wire' aired on HBO from 2002 to 2008, following various institutions in Baltimore, Maryland, and their intersections with law enforcement. It starred Elba, Dominic West, the late Lance Reddick, the late Michael Kenneth Williams, Wendell Pierce, and a pre-fame Michael B. Jordan. 8 Idris Elba on 'The Wire' in 2005. Moviestore/Shutterstock 8 Idris Elba on 'The Wire' in 2002. David Lee/Hbo/Blown Deadline/Kobal/Shutterstock Elba played the drug kingpin, Russell 'Stringer' Bell. The role was his big break in Hollywood – the Golden Globe-winning actor had previously been in British shows like 'London's Burning' and did small roles such as a 1 episode guest stint on 'Law and Order.' But 'The Wire' put him in the spotlight. Since then, Elba has become a global superstar, and his name has frequently been put forward as a public favorite candidate to be the next James Bond. 8 Idris Elba in 'Luther.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 8 Idris Elba with John Cena in 'Head of State.' Chiabella James/Prime Poehler told Elba that 'The Wire' was 'a series that changed my life' and told him that she's watched the show at least three times. When she encouraged him to watch it, he said, 'No, man.' 'You can't watch it now?' the former 'Saturday Night Live' star asked. 'But I bet, Idris, I bet you have a feeling about it that you might be kinder to yourself and [the show], watching it now.' 8 Idris Elba at Amazon's 'Heads Of State' World Premiere on Jun 24, 2025. Jackie Brown / 8 Idris Elba on 'The Wire.' Paul Schiraldi/HBO Elba explained, 'It's more that I feel the presence of it all, my life since 'The Wire,' in terms of its impact. So to me, it was almost a bit like I was Stringer Bell. I'm not Stringer Bell, but I also feel like when Stringer Bell died, there was a part of me that died with that character. It's weird for me to go back and watch it.' He added that he hates becoming 'overly conscious' of his performance. 'I like being in it rather than watching it.'
New York Post
36 minutes ago
- New York Post
Travis Kelce reveals how long Taylor Swift's surprise Tight End U performance had been in the works
Taylor Swift's performance at Tight End University in Nashville last week wasn't a surprise to everyone. During Wednesday's installment of the 'New Heights' podcast, star Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce explained that he and the 14-time Grammy winner pre-planned her on-stage appearance at the Tight Ends & Friends event, where she performed a rendition of her hit song 'Shake It Off' with country singer Kane Brown. 'We're in Nashville, she grew up in Nashville, she moved there when she was younger, and yeah, we had this planned for a while that we were going to have some fun with the tight ends, especially tight ends and friends, all the evening events,' Kelce told his brother and co-host, Jason Kelce. 3 Taylor Swift performed a rendition of her hit song, 'Shake It Off' at Tight End University in Nashville. X 'I'll say this, I won't say when the idea came up, but when we were there at tight end and friends, and we knew there was a professional like Kane Brown, who can figure it out, he's a pro, he's been on stage a million times he's not shy at all by any means, he's a true professional. 'Tay just kind of went up to him and the band and was just like, 'Hey, if you guys are down, I'll go up there and play a song and see if we can pop the roof of this place.' She's so good with everybody, just people and making people feel comfortable in it and rocked the stage yet again. It was awesome.' The three-time Super Bowl champ explained that Swift wrote sheet music for the band, adding she 'killed it,' despite not practicing before hitting the Brooklyn Bowl stage in Tennessee. Swift played the guitar while the crowd sang along to her 2014 smash single, including Kelce, who was seen backstage in social media videos. 3 Travis Kelce revealed that he and Taylor Swift pre-planned her performance at Tight End University, which took place in Nashville in June 2025. YouTube/New Heights It marked her first live performance since her blockbuster Eras Tour wrapped on Dec. 8, 2024, in Vancouver. 'Was this her first time in an event sponsored by Dude Wipes?' Jason asked. 'It has to be the first and only, I would assume,' the Chiefs star jokingly replied. 3 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce take in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. AP Swift joined Kelce at this year's TEU for multiple events, where she spent time with other wives and girlfriends of fellow tight ends, including Claire Kittle, the wife of 49ers' George Kittle. Kelce, Kittle and retired tight end Greg Olsen co-founded TEU in 2021 in Nashville as a means for other tight ends to train and bond over the position.
