6 Insane Stories from Shopping the H&M x Balmain Collaboration IRL

On the other side of the country, our news editor Kim Wang set out to see how New Yorkers were handling the clothing chaos. We each talked to a handful of employees and shoppers — some who were still patiently waiting in line and some who had just made purchases — about what went down during the morning. Here’s what it’s like to actually shop Balmain x H&M.

SHOPPER JENNY HAN, 21

Beth Wischnia: You guys bought so much stuff. What did you score?

Jenny Han: Well, this is for four people. All of these bags aren’t just for me. We came last night from Berkeley at 2am. We were in the Westfield Mall first to hit up that H&M and also had a few people in line here. That was our strategy.

BW: What about this launch made you want to get in line at 2am?

JH: For me, it was more about the experience not actually the clothes themselves. All the hype — I wanted to understand why everyone was freaking out about it.

BW: What item are you most excited about?

JH: I only got one item! I wanted to take something back from the experience. It’s a blouse with black and white stripes and buttons on the sleeves.

SHOPPER EMILIO LUNA, 17

Beth Wischnia: What was your shopping strategy?

Emilio Luna: To get here right after I got off of work last night in Stockton which is almost a 2-hour drive from San Francisco. I got here at 11:30 last night. I was out here all night and made some friends. I didn’t sleep at all. I had a chair, some blankets, a lot of coffee and Rockstar energy drinks. Caffeine is an important component to this.

BW: What about this launch got you to come out here so early?

EL: The name Balmain did. You really you can’t go wrong with Balmain. Their stuff [in the H&M collab] is super cheap, their jeans were only $100 which is crazy compared to the $1,500 they usually are. I didn’t get any of those, even though that’s really what I wanted. I wanted the jeans!

BW: What time did you go inside the store?

EL: I went into the store at 9:45 this morning. They opened at 8am. When I went in the store, it was basically completely gone. All the jeans were gone. There were a lot of people that came in with larger groups that actually bought out all the stuff like they usually do. That kind of thing happens a lot with big collaborations like this. They took a lot of the stuff that I wanted.

BW: Have you done something like this before?

EL: Last year at the Alexander Wang x H&M collaboration launch, I did the same thing. I came a little later last year, though, at 6am, and didn’t end up getting anything that I wanted.

BW: What item are you most excited about having purchased today?

EL: The sunglasses. The case is awesome — it’s kinda like velvet. The best part of all is the gold on the glasses. I’m all about gold everything. The glasses are really nice and only $60. I also got a couple everyday shirts for layering and a beanie because I needed something to buy. I had an $800 budget and only spent $200 on four items so I was just looking for more stuff to buy toward the end.

BW: Would you say this was a successful shopping day for you or are you bummed?

EL: I’m totally bummed. I’m gonna go to Barney’s and spend the rest of my money right now.

SECURITY GUARD OTIS SANDERS, 57

Beth Wischnia: When did security for this launch start?

Otis Sanders: It started at 2am. People were out here lined up.

BW: Has anything gotten out of hand?

OS: Fortunately, nothing crazy has happened. We’re here to just basically help people stay in their places in line and keep things from happening. It’s been pretty disciplined.

BW: What is the process for getting into the store?

OS: They handed out wristbands from 6am — 9am and would let people go in groups of 20 at a time. It was very strict. You could only go inside for 15 minutes maximum. After that, everyone else would be let in groups of 10 at a time. Employees are enforcing the time limit as they monitor people coming into the store. They have it sectioned off upstairs with the fashions that are in demand right now.

BW: When did this store start prepping for this launch?

OS: Overnight. They started in the middle of the night and this morning it was ready to go.

SHOPPER MORGAN SCHAFFER, 22

Beth Wischnia: How long have you been in line?

Morgan Schaffer: Since 5:30am.

BW: Where did you guys come from?

MS: Santa Venetia, about 45 minutes away.

BW: What about this launch made it worth the trip?

MS: The fact that it’s Balmain. Also, the fact that it’s Kendall and Gigi and the group that they had repping it. I’m pretty excited. Hopefully there’s still stuff left. The price point is really good because it’s Balmain.

BW: Anything specific you’re looking for?

MS: That green sequined dress, the blazer in the window — it has pearl studs on the front. Those are my two big items. Tess, who’s our new friend who’s been in front of us in line since 5am, is also looking to grab the green dress. Everyone wants the green sparkly dress.

BW: How was the line at 5am?

MS: Cold! It was so cold but it wasn’t too, too bad. It’s been a long day. Everyone’s really nice in line, so we’ve made friends. You kinda have to.

SHOPPER MARINA PETRASINOVIC, 22

Beth Wischnia: Why are you here?

Marina Petrasinovic: Because I want the leather jacket from Balmain. It’s a leather jacket with gold studs on it.

BW: What about this collaboration made it worth it for you to wait in line?

MP: I love Balmain. I like his collection and his style. It’s militaristic looking; it’s unique.

BW: Where did you travel from to get to this store?

MP: I’m from Serbia but we were already in California. My friend and I decided that we should check the launch out because we knew it would be out today so we said that if we had time, we would go. We are here in California for one week. Even though I’m exhausted and jet-lagged, I’m hoping it’ll be worth it.

BW: What time did you get here?

MP: We got in line at 8am.

BW: What is your strategy when you get inside?

MP: We heard you can only have one piece of each item. You can’t take a bunch of different sizes. We have to think about that but I guess we’ll see when we get inside.

SHOPPER BECKY TU, 27

Beth Wischnia: You look like you were able to get a lot of stuff! You must have gotten here super early.

Becky Tu: Yep, I did! This is my first time ever camping out because Balmain is basically one of my favorite fashion brands. I camped out since 10pm last night. I was going to give up the first hour — I was like, this really isn’t worth it. But it was a good experience and maybe next time I’ll bring a sleeping bag.

BW: Were you happy with the items you purchased?

BT: I didn’t really get exactly what I wanted but I’m happy overall. I did get the sparkly green dress everyone is talking about, though, but it’s not the one I set out to get. I wanted the embroidered dress that has the gold and silver embellishments. It’s a long sleeved, short dress that Kylie Jenner wore. I knew it was going to be a best seller so I didn’t really get my hopes up. But I did get the thigh-high boots and those were one of the three items I really wanted so I’m happy I got at least one of them.

BW: Were you happy with the cost of the Balmain x H&M items?

BT: Definitely. The boots cost $300 but that’s nothing compared to the normal price tag that’d be around $2,000. I also got a green fur jacket, two embroidered blouses, another pair of gold sandals. I stocked up. I don’t really shop so once I do, I go all out, especially if it’s a good price. I’m planning to go somewhere really nice with my new clothes!

News Editor Kimberly Wang’s NEW YORK CITY EXPERIENCE:

According to the manager on duty at the Lexington and 59th store, people were lining up starting around 3PM *yesterday* and by midnight, the line had stretched all the way down the block. The staff had been preparing for weeks and they had a system in place allowing only 30 customers in the store for 30 minutes at a time. At that rate, all of the merchandise was sold out at noon — save for a few sad accessories they have stocked behind the upstairs cash register.

That didn’t stop the costumers from tearing into the stores when it was their turn. One of the employees still said people were “running and ripping the store apart” once inside. But H&M is a well-oiled machine now that they’ve had several major designer collabs under their belt — especially in a location as saturated with people as NYC — and by early afternoon, there were no more signs chaos from this morning and it was business as usual.

Did you hit up the Balmain x H&M launch? What did you experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Photography by Victoria Haas

Nicole Kidman is, as the kids say, mothering. She's giving fans plenty of movies and TV shows to pick from while we wait for the next seasons of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect StrangersA Family Affair, Expats, The Perfect Couple (and the AMC intro, of course). Her steamy drama Babygirl, which hit theaters on Christmas Day 2024, is mixing work and pleasure. Pour yourself a glass of wine for this one, folks.

Scroll down to learn more about Nicole Kidman's Babygirl — including when you can stream it on Max.

Where can you stream Babygirl?

A24

Babygirl will be streaming on Max starting April 25, 2025. That means you can watch THAT milk scene as many times as you want.

What is the plot of Babygirl?

A24

Babygirl Plot

In Babygirl, Nicole Kidman plays powerful CEO Romy, who's struggling to hold her perfect persona together. Her marriage to Jacob has never provided with much pleasure, despite the fact he's caring and artistic. But when Romy immediately feels drawn to a young intern named Samuel, the two begin a torrid affair.

Filming scenes with Harris Dickinson got so intense, Kidman said she literally had to take breaks. “There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more,'” she told the Sun. “Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life!”

But the fact the movie was made by women empowered Kidman — and gave her a sense of freedom. "Doing this subject matter in the hands of the woman that wrote the script, that's directing it and is a really great actress herself — we became one in a weird way, which I'd never had with a director before," Kidman says in a statement. "When you're working with a woman on this subject matter, you can share everything with each other.”

"I really decided in the beginning, I want to make a sexual film, just as sexual as all these films that I've always admired so much," adds writer-director-producer Halina Reijn, "but now I'm going to do it completely through female eyes. What does that mean and what does that look like?”

A24

In our Brit + Co exclusive, Nicole Kidman revealed she "spent a lot of time in bed" with Harris while filming. (TBH, a job that requires you to hang out in bed sounds like a pretty good job to me).

"As soon as he walked in, I was like, 'Oh good, here's somebody who's gonna play with me," she says. "We spent a lot of time in bed. Hours would go by, and it was like you would step out of there and you would say, 'What just happened?'"

"From the moment [Samuel] sees her, he's attracted to her. He realizes there's someone at the height of their power," Harris adds. "There was an element of mystique that needed to be there for the exploration of the relationship."

When is the Babygirl release date?

A24

Babygirl Release Date

Babygirl made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and then opened in theaters on December 25, 2024.

Who's in the Babygirl cast?

A24

Babygirl Cast

The cast of Babygirl includes Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, and Antonio Banderas.

What has Nicole Kidman said about making Babygirl?

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Nicole Kidman revealed Babygirl is the most "exposing" film she's done because she's “made some films that are pretty exposing, but not like this.”

“It left me ragged," she says. "At some point I was like, I don’t want to be touched. I don’t want to do this anymore, but at the same time I was compelled to do it...This is something you do and hide in your home videos. It is not a thing that normally is going to be seen by the world.”

“I felt very exposed as an actor, as a woman, as a human being,” she continues. “I had to go in and go out like, I need to put my protection back on. What have I just done? Where did I go? What did I do?”

What does babygirl energy mean?

A24

"Babygirl" is a term of endearment that's usually applied to a man (you've probably heard it describe Pedro Pascal or Paul Mescal). When someone is giving babygirl energy, they're kind, cute, and disarming. And considering Babygirl plays with power dynamics, we might just find ourselves guessing who the "babygirl" in question is up until the very end.

Watch The 'Babygirl' Trailer Here!

A24

There were SO many moments in the Babygirl trailer that made our jaws drop here:

  • The thumb in the mouth
  • The pink skirt moment
  • NICOLE CRAWLING ON ALL FOURS?!
Yeah, this is one you won't wanna watch with your parents, friends. 🥵 And even Nicole agrees! At the December 2 Gotham Awards, when People asked who moviegoers should bring to the theater with them, "Whoever you want to, but you can also watch it alone." Tea.

Are you looking forward to seeing Nicole Kidman onscreen again? We might have to wait until December to see Babygirl, but there are plenty of incredible Fall Movies coming our way.

This post has been updated.

Andrew Garfield's relationship status is always a swoon-worthy topic. Whether he's gushing about how Emma Stone is like a shot of caffeine, he's getting flustered talking to Chicken Shop Date's Amelia Dimoldenberg, or he's kissing Demi Moore on the hand, this man is always making me blush. But it looks like he might not be single anymore if some recent outings with Monica Barbaro are any indication — including a post-Oscars party!

While neither Andrew nor Monica have spoken on the relationship rumors, a People source confirmed "they've been really lowkey and have been spending time together quietly"...and Monica shared a pretty funny moment with Amelia on the Oscars red carpet.

Here's what we know about those Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro relationship rumors.

March 16, 2025 — Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro are seen grocery shopping.

This duo definitely fanned the flames of those couple rumors when they were spotted grocery shopping in Malibu. A very realistic, domestic, and relatable Sunday! I also went grocery shopping this day, so it looks like we were on the same page ;).

Andrew wore a white tee and jeans while Monica looks cozy in a white tank and green cardigan. Both wore baseball caps. "I like that they are humble and buy the same TP as me," one Instagram user commented. Same.

March 2, 2025 — Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro attend an Oscar afterparty together.

After the Oscars on March 2, Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield left the Vanity Fair after party together...and showed up to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's after party. No big deal! Monica wore a strapless gown with gorgeous teardrop jewel detail while Andrew looks dapper in a deep gray suit.

They also happened to arrive at the Oscars red carpet at the same time...and Monica was sitting in Andrew's eye line the whole night. What a coincidence!

February 2025 — Monica Barbaro & Andrew Garfield attend Jonathan Bailey's play.

The two went viral on February 20 when they showed up to Jonathan Bailey's Richard II at the Bridge Theatre, and I'm obsessed with how locked in he is on their conversation. This man is an attentive listener if I've ever seen one!

January 2025 — Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro are photographed together.

Andrew and Monica were first seen together at W magazine's Best Performances party, alongside Eddie Redmayne and W's editor-at-large Lynn Hirschberg, in LA. They were already getting cozy!

What do you think about Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro? I'm personally obsessed. Stay tuned for the latest news on this low-key couple! And check out Zoë Kravitz & Noah Centineo Fuel Dating Rumors After Leaving Another Party Together because Andrew & Monica weren't the only ones hanging this month 👀.

This post has been updated.

The blue zone diet is undeniably one of the best ways of eating for overall health and longevity. It draws culinary inspiration from the top blue zones around the world (Ikaria, Greece, Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, Loma Linda, California, and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica), where people tend to live longer (over 100 years!), often free of any heart disease, obesity, cancer, or diabetes.

Originally outlined by National Geographic Explorer and Fellow Dan Buettner, the blue zone diet is 95% plant-based, with beans, legumes, sweet potatoes, yams, fruits, leafy greens, beets, nuts, and seeds being the #1 priority. High-quality olive oiland whole grains like brown rice and barley are also a huge part of the diet. Blue zone diet recipes widely limit eggs, dairy, meat, added sugar, and processed foods.

The blue zone diet can be a helpful tool to guide your eating habits toward healthier, more beneficial choices for a longer life. These 20 blue zone diet recipes highlight whole foods, veggies, and fruits to make each meal work for you!

Heyday Beans

Chickpea Curry

This flavorful curry recipe loads up on lots of chickpeas to better suit the blue zone diet. Swap the basmati for brown rice, and you'll be set! (via Heyday Beans for Brit + Co)

Midjourney

Niçoise Salad

This dish is packed with so much goodness. From the bed of greens to the heart veggie toppings like olives, tomatoes, green beans, onion, and more, each bite is different from the next, which makes mealtime (especially with the blue zone diet) fun! (via Brit + Co)

Antoni Shkraba / PEXELS

Hummus + Veggies

Hummus is super easy to make at home, and it'd guaranteed to be healthy when you know exactly what you're putting into it. This recipe features a nice amount of lemon juice for taste and freshness. Serve with lotsa veg, as per the blue zone diet. (via Brit + Co)

Two Spoons

Spring Mix Salad + Lemon Tofu

Salads make some of the best blue zone diet recipes (remember that 95% plant-based rule?), but just because they're salads doesn't mean they have to be boring. This one earns some good zest from baked tofu, homemade dressing, and crunchy veggies. (via Two Spoons for Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Zucchini Fries

These veggie-laden fries actually taste like what you'd get in the drive-thru. So, if you're searching for blue zone diet recipes that'll fulfill your fast food cravings, this is it. Serve with a homemade sauce to amp up the vibes. (via Brit + Co)

The Real Food Dietitians

Greek Cucumber Salad

Greek and Mediterranean food often qualify for the diet since they're fresh and full of healthy goods. This Greek salad combines juicy cukes, tomatoes, onions, and chickpeas for a refreshing blue zone bite. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

The Edgy Veg

Oyster Mushroom Shawarma

Since blue zone diet recipes tend to limit actual meat, it's crucial to find ones that emulate the meaty, smoky flavors of the chicken, beef, and fish you might be missing. In this dish, oyster mushrooms form a very complex forkful with the help of a homemade marinade. (via The Edgy Veg)

Give Recipe

Beetroot Dip

Beets are one of the top veggies to eat on the blue zone diet, and this dip is probably one of the coolest ways you can prepare them. This recipe earns extra points for including pine nuts and/or pistachios! (via Give Recipe)

Blue Zones

Cornmeal Waffles

Blue zone breakfasts can range from granolas to fruit salads, but these waffles look like the tastiest option out there. Wheat flour and cornmeal make up the thick batter for a filling morning meal. (via Blue Zones)

Crowded Kitchen

Couscous Salad

Grains are golden in this diet. Follow this recipe that creates a heavenly blend of couscous and veggies! This would be an excellent option to meal prep so you don't have to worry about cooking down the line. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Earthly Provisions

Three Bean Chili

Beans always win for the blue zone diet! This hearty bowl of chili leverages three different kinds to fill you up and fulfill all your comfort food cravings. (via Earthly Provisions)

Half Baked Harvest

Sweet Potato Kale Salad

Dark, leafy greens are preferred over lighter ones for the diet because they usually hold more nutritional value. That's why this kale salad is a perfect blue zone diet recipe! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Blue Zones

Asian Stir Fry Noodles

This quick dinner doesn't skimp on flavor. You'll fall instantly in love with the blend of ginger, garlic, and sesame oil for the sauce that drowns these rice noodles. (via Blue Zones)

A Virtual Vegan

Almond Hemp Granola

This nutty granola is the ultimate addition to breakfast time yogurt bowls. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Hello Little Home

Roasted Squash

Virtually any vegetable is roast-able and fitting for the blue zone diet, but delicata squash is great for when you just want something a lil' different. (via Hello Little Home)

Vanilla and Bean

Citrus Carrot Ginger Smoothie

Wether it's for breakfast or a mid-day snack, this hydrating smoothie will never leave you unsatisfied. (via Vanilla and Bean)

The First Mess

Herby Whipped White Beans with Smoky Mushrooms

This share-worthy recipe expertly disguises white beans in the form of an herby dip topped with grilled 'shrooms. To make it more filling, use toasted whole grain bread as your dipping vehicle! (via The First Mess)

Blue Zones

Sweet Potato + Black Bean Burgers

Sweet potatoes and beans are some of the most recommended ingredients for blue zone diet recipes. In this meal, they team up with some oats and other crucial elements to form some super healthy burger patties. (via Blue Zones)

Half Baked Harvest

Roasted Cauliflower Hummus

Again, dips shine! This hummus is packed with veg – though you wouldn't know it if you didn't make it. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Blue Zones

Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad

Shaved Brussels sprouts are the star of this warm salad. Top things off with pickled onions and plenty of nuts for added deliciousness! (via Blue Zones)

Sign up for our newsletter for more healthy recipes!

This post has been updated.