For the Love of the Ampersand: 22 Objects for Folks Who Dig the “And” Sign

We may be all about the plus sign around here at Brit + Co., but we know a good ampersand when we see one. Celebrate a month devoted to you and me, she and him, us and them, and the like by giving a hearty hand of applause for the one and only ampersand. Here are 22 ways to show your love of that special symbol that binds :)

1. Ampersand Typography Print ($22): Love seeing all these different ampersands grouped together, and the ombre color move is perfect!

2. Ampersand Crewneck ($62): This pop art style makes for a pretty lovely sweatshirt.

Lucite Ampersand

clearly stylish ways. Love, Brit + Co.

4. Multi-Colored Ampersand Marquee Light ($209): We know a thing or two about a marquee, and dig the multi-colored bulbs on this fancy number.

5. Ampersand Letterpress Necklace ($37): How cool is this? It’s a letterpress block turned into a necklace!

6. Ampersand Cufflinks ($22): Cuff ’em, ladies!

7. Retro Graphic Ampersand Print ($55): This gorgeously graphic print screams ’60s mod style, and looks like something you’d see in the MoMA gift shop.

8. Ampersand Throw Pillow ($20): The curved stripes on this ampersand make our heads turn.

Premium Wood Ampersand Sculpture

and impress.

10. Fun & Games Ring ($12): This sweet gold ring would make for a great Valentine’s Day present.

11. Ampersand Coin Purse ($8): Cute, poppy, and the perfect place for all that spare change.

12. White Collage Frame ($90): Though we tend to like creating salon walls from scratch, this pre-fabricated collage frame is actually pretty darn cool.

13. Neon Ampersand Print ($22): This would look right at home at Brit HQ.

14. Blue and White Ampersand Wall Clock ($30): This vintage-inspired design looks like it came straight from a ’70s children’s book.

15. Woodblock Rubber Stamp ($15): Put an ampersand on it.

Building Block Ampersand Onesie

onesie and this would be a sweet option for a budding designer.

17. Ampersand Tea Towel ($15): This might be just what the Brit + Co. kitchen ordered! ;)

18. Elephant Ampersand Necklace ($28): A more modern take on the ampersand, this squiggly necklace is made from laser cut acrylic.

19. Ampersand Bottle Opener ($7): Brit Morin (the founder of Brit + Co.) totally gave me one of these for my birthday! #winning

Lampersand

Lampersand.

21. Multi-Colored Ampersand iPhone Case ($35): The design of this one mimics the layers you might see in woodgrain, but in many, many colors.

22. Ampersand Table (contact to order): And finally, a table we’ve been swooning over for months. A girl can dream, can’t she?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been plenty busy prepping for their May 19 wedding, with Kensington Palace taking us along for the ride as it offers up deets on everything from the couple’s cake (lemon elderflower, FYI), to their invitations, which publicly debuted this Thursday. While the cards were regal to be sure, with the three-feather badge of the Prince of Wales and gold ink featured in die-stamping, there was one detail in particular which had shrewd eyes doing a double take, as there seemed to be a typo, and a rather large one at that.

As those looking close enough might have noticed, the space allotted for Prince Harry’s name seemed to read as something else entirely: “His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales requests the pleasure of the company of ______ at the marriage of his royal highness Prince Henry of Wales with Ms. Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday, 19th May 2018 at 12 noon followed by a reception at Windsor Castle.”

Wait just a minute… Prince Henry?!

That’s right! Fret not, though, royal enthusiasts: Printmaker Lottie Small knows her stuff. The younger son of Princess Diana and Prince was actually given the name Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor at birth. Despite the fact that we’ve know him as Prince Harry since… well, forever, it’s merely a nickname that reportedly stuck in childhood.

Markle, by contrast, did NOT opt to use her real name, which isn’t Meghan at all, but rather Rachel (Meghan is her middle name). Her title was kept formal, however, with the “Ms.” reportedly chosen to reflect the fact that she is a divorcée.

Other chatter surrounding the invites seemed to stem from the fact that its tone differed slightly from that of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s.

As some have pointed out, Lord Chamberlain was commanded by the Queen to request guests’ presence, where Prince Charles merely requested it.

The reasoning is anyone’s guess, but some speculate it may have to do with the royal rank of the two princes.

Did you know Harry’s real name wasn’t Harry? Sound off over @BritandCo.

(Photos via Victoria Jones + John Stillwell/WPA + Chris Jackson/Getty)

No matter what kind of day you're having, Marissa Cooper's having a worse one. Mischa Barton's The O.C. character went through the ringer during the first three seasons of the teen drama (remember how she overdosed in Tijuana...and also saw her parents post-hookup after their divorce?).

And during her time on The O.C., Mischa Barton struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. She was arrested for a DUI in 2007 and eventually received involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in 2009 after allegedly threatening to end her own life. And in a new interview, Peter Gallagher (who played Sandy Cohen on the show) says he's "just so grateful" for "the fact that she’s still alive."

  • Mischa Barton starred alongside Peter Gallagher in The O.C. from 2003-2006.
  • The actress has revealed the "trauma" of being a star at that point in her life.
  • Peter recently opened up about how he's thankful "she’s still alive."


Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC/John Lamparski/Getty Images

The O.C. follows Ryan Atwood, who moves in with the Cohens after getting kicked out of his mom's house, and starts a relationship with Marissa shortly after. While Peter Gallagher played Adam Brody's TV dad instead of Mischa's, Sandy was a definitely father figure for Marissa, and it seems like Peter felt that same responsibility off camera.

"I’ve always felt very protective of her," Peter told The Independent. "First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you. She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful."

“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Mischa said in a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times. “There’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early twenties, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage revealed that season 1 overdose not only served as a cliffhanger, but gave “network executives an escape hatch on a performer they had been wary about” (via People). But Mischa Barton got her big break, becoming "how people knew the show," and (thankfully) Marissa recovered — only to die after a car crash in season 3.

As hard as that season 3 ending is to watch, Mischa did have the opportunity to watch it with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke for the first time on their rewatch podcast. "It needed to be a thing, after everything she's been through, but if it's here I'll watch it with you," Mischa says.

"I couldn't do it, Mischa, I couldn't do it," Rachel adds. "But I'm going to do it if you're going to do it."

Mischa says even though being written off the show "was a little bit of a bummer," it wasn't necessarily a surprise. "The character was just doing too much," she told Vanity Fairin 2023. "And I think they ran out of places for her to go. It was not the best thing in the world, [but] there wasn’t much you could do at that point. It was whether she could sail off into the sunset, or die. At that point, I guess it’s better to have the more dramatic ending.”
What did you think of The O.C. season 3 finale? Let us know on Facebook!

We are beyond excited that cursive is making a comeback in American elementary schools. As we fondly recall our younger years of diligently practicing our signature (and our crush’s), we thought we would challenge ourselves by trying to regain our skills in the art of lettering — whether that means trying our hand at fauxligraphy (AKA calligraphy without all the fancy tools) or even iPad lettering.

No matter if you’re a typography newbie or a seasoned lettering pro, one of our favorite things to do when we’re trying to learn a new skill is to follow a TON of experts on social media for inspiration. So whether you’re looking to make your mark in hand-lettering or prefer using digital tools instead, here are 12 beautiful typography-themed Instagram accounts that’ll inspire you to create.

1. @olgamuzician: This Ukrainian-born, Brooklyn-based designer is a lettering queen you *must* have on your Instagram feed. Although she started off as a painter, she has since transitioned into graphic design and lettering, and we couldn’t be more impressed with her work so far. Heck, she even does murals and chalkboard lettering throughout NYC!

2. @cre8tivesun: If you’re a fan of bold colors, you’ll want to check out this boss lady ASAP. We love that she posts a ton (sometimes multiple times a day!) of eye-catching, Pinterest-approved designs that are sure to inspire you to launch your own lettering side hustle.

3. @alilepere: Calling all Harry Potter fans! Ali LePere’s Instagram account is a great follow for lovers of the wizarding world. As a self-proclaimed Hufflepuff, she regularly makes stunning masterpieces out of wizarding phrases and often experiments with different styles, colors, and textures to keep things interesting.

4. @melowrites: While this hand-lettering enthusiast is known for her gorgeous watercolor wreaths, she also dabbles in new forms from time to time. If you love florals and beautiful hand-drawn typography, she’s definitely one to follow.

5. @featherparklettering: Join calligraphy and watercolor artist Gina from Feather Park Lettering on her inspirational creative journey to lettering bliss. She often plays with different mediums and themes to create her amazing designs.

6. @oraarts: Ora is a freelance graphic designer and lettering artist based in Bangkok, Thailand. She mostly works in black and white, and her inspiring designs often mix different lettering styles to create one cohesive piece. You can visit her Etsy shop for instant download prints of her awesome designs.

7. @nicoleydesigns: In need of a daily dose of cute type? Look no further! Nicole Yates creates digitally illustrated cards, notebooks, and prints, which are all for sale on her Etsy shop. We think her Instagram account is absolutely lit.

8. @atypecal: Graphic designer and lettering lover Monica Rojas may be relatively new to Instagram, but her awesome aesthetic is definitely #creativitygoals. We especially love her take on the 36 Days of Type series — she’s using everyday objects to give each letter and number it’s own ambitious makeover.

9. @lyssletters: With gorgeous lettering and illustrations popping up on her feed all the time, it’s no wonder why lettering queen Alyssa Robinson is majorly popular with the Instagram lettering community. She often participates in lettering challenges, so watch her bio for a sneak peek of what she’s going to be creating next.

10. @nsfwletters: WARNING! This Instagram account definitely includes its fair share of NSFW content. But with a tagline of “Pretty inappropriate words by a lady who letters,” that’s kind of the whole point. It showcases her gorgeous personal style and a seriously colorful aesthetic. We’re definitely here for this fearless lettering rockstar.

11. @marmaladebleue: Foodies, this one’s for you! Designer and lettering artist Danielle Evans has gained international recognition for her use of food typography. With clients including Target, Disney, and Bath & Body Works, she’s obviously a lady boss you need to follow. Just be warned: Evans’ Instagram account is almost guaranteed to make your tummy rumble.

12. @jamesllewis: James Lewis is a freelance lettering artist based in the UK. He often uses craft paper as a canvas to help his designs stand out from the rest. Combining his graphic design skills with his passion for letterforms, there’s almost always something new to envy on his feed.

Do you know of any typography rockstars we should be following on Instagram? Tweet us @BritandCo.

(Featured photo via @nicoleydesigns)

Former Disney Channel star Dylan Sprouse and model Barbara Palvin are certainly living the sweet life after tying the knot in Palvin's native Hungary. The couple, who have been together for nearly five years, have always been pretty low-key — except for the occasional and undeniably adorable Instagram post (and a stunning wedding!). We are simply ~obsessed~ with this celebrity couple, especially after they pulled out all the stops for their couple's Halloween costume. Keep scrolling to see some of their best moments :').

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Halloween Couple's Costume!

For Halloween Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin stunned as the Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera. Dylan wore a mask and a black cape, while Barbara wore a beautiful white dress. While the costume is obviously a nod to the musical, it also totally reminds us of their day as bride and groom.

"In Sleep He Sang to Me," Barbara said in a post, quoting the musical's titular number. "@dylansprouse my forever Phantom."

Who did Dylan Sprouse marry?

www.instagram.com

On the couple's wedding day (July 15, 2023), Barbara wore a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown to celebrate her Hungarian nuptials, bringing together their nearest and dearest for an intimate(-ish) celebration. Barbara and Dylan tied the knot on her parent's property, which conveniently doubles as an event venue, with plans to host an larger wedding in California in the fall.

"This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there," Barbara told Vogue.

When did Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin get engaged?

www.instagram.com

Barbara Palvin on Instagram: "♥️"

After months of speculation surrounding the couple's engagement, Dylan and Barbara confirmed their engagement in conversation with Sprouse's twin brother, actor Cole Sprouse, for V Magazine in June, sharing that they got engaged last September.

"We didn't necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement," Dylan said. "What we wanted to do with Stephen [Gan, V editor-in-chief] and the V team is make something that was kind of tongue-in-cheek about the nature of private versus public. We're playing with the idea of perception."

Barbara noted that the lovebirds wanted to announce the news "on our time," adding, "When some people leaked the information that we got engaged, our PR team was like, 'Hey, so you guys should do maybe a post about it or talk to this magazine or talk to that magazine…' That really annoyed me because I knew we were building this story up. So, I'm very happy that we ended up doing it our way."

When did Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse start dating?

Sean Zanni / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

According to People, the couple met back in 2017 after a party when the Suite Life On Deck star slid into the model’s DMs (and as they say, the rest is history). The duo made their relationship Instagram official back in 2018 with Barbara’s sweet birthday tribute for Dylan’s 26th birthday.

Let’s be real here for a second though, we all knew they were endgame the minute Dylan went above and beyond to support Barbara at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show that same year (remember this viral video?). Three days after the fashion show, the Hungarian model told Vogue Australia that she hadn’t had a boyfriend in six years, but had now found “the perfect guy” in Dylan (we aren’t crying, you are).

How old are Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse?

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Barbara Palvin was born on October 8, 1993, making her 31 years old. Dylan Sprouse was born on August 4, 1992, meaning he's 32 years old. So there's only a one-year age gap between them!

Stay up to date with all of Brit + Co's favorite celebrity relationships. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter!

This post has been updated.

2017's The Beguiled gave us one of the best groups of people of all time: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Sofia Coppola, and Kirsten Dunst just to name a few. And we're finally getting an Elle and Nicole reunion thanks to Apple TV+! "THRILLED to bring @rufithorpe genius hysterical heart-wrenching heartwarming book to your TV screens alongside a dream group of people!" Elle says on Instagram. Rather than having to test the success of its pilot, the series has already been ordered — even though the book it's based on isn't even out yet! Here's everything you need to know about the series.

  • Dakota and Elle Fanning will produce the upcoming Apple TV+ show Margo's Got Money Troubles.
  • The series follows Margo, who signs up for OnlyFans after learning she's pregnant.
  • The cast includes Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman.

Who's in the Margo's Got Money Troubles cast?

Amy Sussman/Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Margo's Got Money Troubles Cast

We couldn't contain our excitement when we learned Margo's Got Money Troubles will star Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, but knowing Michelle Pfeiffer is also joining the cast is too much to bear! This is the first time the actress will collaborate with her husband, TV creator David E. Kelley, so we can't wait to see the magic they'll create (via Deadline).

Nick Offerman from The Last of Us and Parks and Rec will also star.

When is Margo's Got Money Troubles coming out?

Ron Lach/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles Release Date

We don't have an official release date for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV show yet. I'm thinking if the TV show is in the early stages of planning, we could see it in 2025! Check out all of this year's best New TV Shows to hold you over until then.

What is Margo's Got Money Troubles about?

Amazon

Margo's Got Money Troubles Plot

Margo Millet is the daughter of a Hooter's waitress named Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex-wrestler (via Deadline). She's always had to make it on her own, even though she's not sure how. When she enrolls in her local junior college, she's totally unprepared to get swept up into a torrid love affair with her English professor — or to get pregnant.

Now at 20 years old, Margo needs an income and fast. She decides to experiment with OnlyFans and ends up taking some of her estranged father's advice from the world of wrestling to create a character users will fall in love with. You can order the book now!

What is Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's new TV show?

Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles is coming soon to Apple TV+ thanks to a bunch of different producers. A24 is backing the film, as well as Elle and Dakota Fanning’s production company Lewellen Pictures and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, to name a few.

What else has Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in?

Focus Features

Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in 2017's The Beguiled. The movie follows John McBurney, an injured Union soldier, who winds up at a female Southern boarding school after deserting the Civil War. But soon, as the women help him, tensions turn to rivalries and friends turn to enemies.

Are you excited for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV reunion? Let us know what other New TV Shows you're watching in the comments.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.