su•per•la•tive
/suːpɜːlətɪv/
adjective
1. Of the highest kind, quality or order, surpassing all else, or others. Supreme.
No Manners wraps up every week with a finely curated list of fashion, entertainment and pop culture’s “most” and “best” moments—the world’s hottest news, biggest stars and anything that made headlines worldwide.
Oh, to be a fashion and pop culture enthusiast in May! The weather is lovely, global events unfold everywhere and the Cruise season is in full swing.
New music releases, art events and exciting collaborations marked the second week in May. The 78th Cannes Film Festival kicked off on May 13, bringing together the world’s cinema elite to celebrate and discover the biggest film projects of 2025. The same day, in Basel, the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest held its first semifinal. Elsewhere, the fashion and entertainment scene teemed with activity.
Read on as No Manners guides you through this week’s highlights, including the best style at Cannes (courtesy of Becky Armstrong, Hande Erçel and Natalie Portman), Lisa and Tyla’s new music video and the arrival of Kaws:Holiday in Thailand.
The Best Archival Fashion: Natalie Portman’s Mexico Gown
Leave it to Natalie Portman to revive some of fashion’s most emblematic pieces. Two years ago, the star made headlines when she took an iteration of Dior’s Juno dress to the Cannes red carpet. This year, the Dior ambassador repeated the feat at the Eddington premiere, sporting a replica of Christian Dior’s Mexico dress. First unveiled at the Dior Winter 1951 Haute couture show, the dress is a masterpiece of the highest level. As per Dior, versioning it for Portman took 700 hours of atelier work, including 450 hours of embroidery by the renowned Atelier Safrane Cortambert. Palm d’Or to the best archival fashion at Cannes! — so far.
The Most Viral: Emma Stone Vs. The Bee and Pedro Pascal
Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone turned the Eddington red carpet into this week’s most internet-viral moment. Stone’s unscripted encounter with a bee and Butler and Pascal’s attempt to protect her from it earned all sorts of social media reactions — namely, memes, slow motion edits and of course, viral TikTok videos.
While the moment was unserious and mostly entertaining, Pedro Pascal continued to make the rounds on the internet for different reasons. For one thing, the actor’s take on sleeveless fashion sparked another wave of internet virality. For another, and on a more relevant note, the actor made powerful statements against censorship and anti-immigration policies during a press conference on May 17. The Chilean-American actor encouraged creatives to keep expressing themselves regardless of the current political climate. “F*** the people that try to make you scared,” he stated. “Fight back. And don’t let them win.”
Most Empowering: Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women in Cinema Gala
As it does every year, the Red Sea Film Foundation hosted the Women in Cinema Gala on May 15. The event celebrated African and Asian female talent in cinema. In this edition, the foundation honored Saudi actress Elham Ali, South Asian star Jacqueline Fernandez, Arab icon Amina Khalil and Thai actress Engfa Waraha. Filmmakers Sarah Taibah, Rungano Nyoni and Gaya Jiji were also part of this year’s honoree cohort.
Talking about the event, Shivani Pandya-Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, reiterated the organization’s commitment to uplifting women’s voices. “This year’s spotlight honourees showcase the incredible talent that can be found across the Arab world, Africa and Asia – demonstrating how important it is to platform creatives from these regions,” said Pandya-Malhotra. “We’re proud to be highlighting them as role models for women both in front of and behind the camera – and creating connections across these vibrant film industries.”
The Most Exciting: Austrian-Filipino Countertenor Wins the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest
On May 17, Austrian-Filipino singer JJ gave Austria its first Eurovision win in more than a decade. The countertenor delivered a powerful performance with “Wasted Love,” an eclectic song that mixed Austria’s operatic tradition with techno music. Turning an unrequited love track into a club banger, JJ scored 436 points, becoming the competition’s undisputed winner.
Receiving the glass microphone trophy, the openly queer singer delivered a heartfelt speech. “Thank you so much for making my dreams come true,” JJ said. “Love is the strongest force in the world. Let’s spread more love.”
The Most Outdoorsy: Gucci’s 2026 Cruise Show
Tapping into history, Gucci returned to Florence — the cradle of the Renaissance and the city where Guccio Gucci established his eponymous brand in 1921 — for its Cruise show. The struggling Kering-owned label presented one of its last runways before designer Demna Gvasalia takes the reins as creative director.
Putting a spin on everything Gucci has previously done, the event took place between Palazzo Settimanni and the surrounding area. While A-list guests such as Viola Davis, Paul Mescal, Davika Hoorne and ZEROBASEONE’s Zhang Hao watched the runway from their VIP seats inside the palazzo, passersby and customers at nearby cafes enjoyed the show from the streets.
Was the venue selection a nod to the brand’s upcoming renaissance? Only time will tell. However, if the star-studded guest list is anything to go by, it’s just about time the Italian luxury brand returns to its glory days. Shout-out to Davika Hoorne, Zhang Linghe, and Zhang Hao for serving some of the best front row fits at the event.
The Best Team Up: Tyla and Lisa in “When I’m With You”
Pop icons Lisa and Tyla joined forces in the summer-leaning single “When I’m With You.” The accompanying music video dropped on May 16 and it was a visual fest. Directed by Dominican-American director Olivia De Camps, the video clip delivered fashion, hot-girl summer aesthetics and everything we learned to appreciate in a visual production featuring the biggest pop stars.
With subtle nods to the 2000s, Lisa and Tyla stunned with their Y2K fashion. Chain tops, denim micro shorts, crop tops and gladiator sandals belonged in their stylish wardrobe, channeling classic pop diva style. They even nailed the nail art — pun intended.
The Hottest Cameo: Mason Gooding, Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi
Lisa and Tyla’s team-up not only aced the fashion game. The singers also scored the hottest celebrity cameos for their music video. “When I’m With You” saw Scream star Mason Gooding join Lisa as she danced poolside. Meanwhile, Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi, from Love Island USA Season 6, chilled at Tyla and Lisa’s pool party. An A-plus cast, frankly!
The Best Cannes Style Book: Becky Armstrong and Hande Erçel
As per tradition, celebrities bring out their best style repertoire during the Cannes Film Festival. Seasoned attendants and Asian icons Hande Erçel and Becky Armstrong knew exactly how to dress the part. Both actresses displayed their style adroitness with every public appearance. On and off the red carpet, Erçel and Armstrong dived into the most fashionable dressing styles and trends, from modern takes on Barbiecore to summer-appropriate combinations.
Erçel, who returned to La Croisette as an ambassador for the Italian jeweller Pomellato, opted for a mix of Parisian Haute Couture and affordable Turkish brands. Of course, her looks allowed a slew of Pomellato pieces to take center stage, proving Erçel to be an ideal partner for the jewelry Maison.
Recap Hande Ercel’s best style moments at Cannes here.
Meanwhile, Armstrong, who attended as one of L’Oréal’s ambassadors, flaunted her fashion-savvy approach to casual style as she fulfilled her duties. She wore it all, from summer-friendly iterations of the suit to the most effortless pleated skirt and hoodie formula. On the red carpet, Armstrong’s style was just as effective and headline worthy.
Best Contemporary Art Display: Kaws:Holiday Thailand
After sojourning in more than a dozen countries, Kaws:Holiday — the art installation celebrating Brian Donnelly’s signature “Companion” figurine — arrived in Bangkok, Thailand. For the momentous occasion, KAWS partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, AllRightsReserved and Central Embassy. The installation, which portrays a big Companion figure seated on Earth and carrying a smaller Companion in arms, was set at Sanam Luang, with the Grand Palace as backdrop.
The grand opening night attracted Thailand’s finest. Entertainment veteran Mario Maurer and new wave icons Win Metawin, Bright Vachirawit and Freen Sarocha were part of the star-studded guest list. Win Metawin and Bright, in particular, sparked an internet frenzy with their style — fashionable takes on casualwear that mixed distressed denim, tank tops and light outerwear. Freen, on the other hand, opted for a trendy spin on the suit: a set featuring a strapless tailored top and matching pants.
Needless to say, Kaws:Holiday Thailand became a display of the country’s rising status as a cultural capital and home base of some of Asia’s brightest stars.
What was your favorite superlative of the week? Let us know in the comment section of our official social media channels and don’t forget to follow us for more pop culture and fashion content.
