Darrell Sheets’ son, Brandon Sheets, paid tribute to his father in an emotional celebration of life speech.

“He was like a pillar. [He was] stellar, he was strong. He reminds me of his father so much,” Darrell’s Storage Wars costar Laura Dotson exclusively told Us Weekly of Brandon’s presence at the memorial service held at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach, California on Monday, June 29. “He has a lot of the same anecdotes and funny things that he does. He also says, ‘That’s the wow factor, baby,’ and when he does that it sounds just like Darrell in the room.”

Laura, who attended the event alongside husband Dan Dotson, also shared that Brandon, 42, spoke about the impact that Darrell had on him.

“He got to talk about him being a wonderful father, grandfather and friend, and how much Darrell really helped him through his life, becoming the man that he is, and the father that he is,” Laura recalled.

Brandon shares two kids with his wife, Melissa. In addition to Brandon, Darrell was father to daughter Tiffany, who has a daughter named Zoie, 22. Before his death, Darrell helped raise Zoie, who was in attendance for the memorial.

“She seems to be doing really well. She has so much support,” Laura, 58, said of Zoie. “All of Darrell’s sisters were there, [his] brothers were there, family members were there, his cousins were there and they all kind of look like him. His friends look like him.”

Darrell’s ex-wife Kimber Wuerfel, whom was with from 2011 to 2016, also attended the service. According to Laura and Dan, Wuerfel was “right up at the front” and “so accommodating” with Darrell’s family.

“Everybody was so concerned for her and her health, but she looked strong,” Laura said of Wuerfel. “She was just attending to everybody, and just full of love and stories, and saying, ‘Share, share the story of Darrell,’ and [it was] bringing her comfort I could see, so that was really, really wonderful.”

Kimber also spoke at Darrell’s celebration, recalling the good times the pair shared together.

Related: ‘Storage Wars’ Cast Reacts to Darrell Sheets’ Death by Suicide at Age 67

The cast of A&E’s reality series Storage Wars has come together to mourn their late costar Darrell Sheets following his death at age 67 from suicide. Lake Havasu City, Arizona, police confirmed to Us Weekly on April 22 that officers responded to calls about a “reported deceased individual” earlier in the day and subsequently “pronounced […]

“I did see tears and breakdowns from all of them,” Laura said of all the speeches made in honor of Darrell. “Everybody would be hugging and praying and lifting Darrell up again, and then they would start laughing at something somebody would say, so it was tears of joy and happiness, and [they were] talking about, ‘We know that Darrell is with God. We know he’s in heaven,’ and just the feeling that you know that they know that he’s there, so they can have peace.”

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Earlier this year, Us confirmed that Darrell died at age 67. His death was ruled a suicide by the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office in Arizona.

“We are saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets,” A&E said in an April statement to Us. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

There isn’t a single defining quality that marks the difference between a great movie and an all-out masterpiece. The latter transcends the boundaries of its genre entirely, delivering groundbreaking truths about the human condition that remain timeless across generations. But often, no matter how much of a masterpiece a motion picture is, it’s still so heavy that it’s undeniably tough to get through.

Likewise, there are many factors that can make a cinematic masterpiece feel heavy. Whether it’s because it’s emotionally devastating, because it has a runtime and sense of pacing that demand patience, or because it’s bleak and pessimistic, a heavy film can nevertheless be counted among the greatest masterpieces in movie history. These ten gems, ranked from worst to best, prove it.

10

‘An Elephant Sitting Still’ (2018)

Image via KimStim

Nearly four hours long, the Chinese arthouse drama An Elephant Sitting Still is definitely not for everyone; but all those looking for an absolutely fascinating slow-burner ought to give this masterpiece a chance at least once in their lives. It’s also, however, one of the most depressing movies of the last 10 years, which adds another layer of challenge to an already impenetrable movie.

Even still, the inaccessibility of this slice-of-life anti-drama is the whole point, since the film is all about the suffocating sense of meaninglessness and isolation of life with depression. Directed Hu Bo, who was only 29 years old when he finished the movie, suffered from depression himself. Shortly after finishing the film, he took his own life. It’s a background that only adds further weight to an already incredibly heavy movie, but it also adds another reason to witness the incredible legacy that Bo left behind.

9

‘A Woman Under the Influence’ (1974)

Image via Faces Distribution

Though he was also an actor, Nick Cassavetes was particularly important as a director, one of the most important voices of independent cinema during the New Hollywood movement. His biggest masterpiece from that period is almost undoubtedly A Woman Under the Influence, one of Gena Rowlands‘ most essential movies, where she delivers what’s by far one of the greatest acting performances of 20th-century cinema.

It’s largely Rowlands’ powerhouse performance as a housewife exhibiting signs of severe mental distress that makes A Woman Under the Influence such an emotionally heavy film. Its depiction of mental illness, marital troubles, and the pressure of patriarchal societal expectations on both men and women is so raw, exhibiting Cassavetes’ usual commitment to realism, that it’s not an easy feat to get through all 2-and-a-half hours of this masterpiece’s runtime.

8

‘Incendies’ (2010)

Image via Entertainment One

By now, Denis Villeneuve is widely praised as one of the greatest filmmakers currently working in Hollywood, but even the greats have to start somewhere. In Villeneuve’s case, that was his native Canada. There, he made Incendies, one of the greatest Canadian movies of all time. It’s the country’s highest-rated film of all time on Letterboxd by a decent margin, and for good reason.

A harrowing exploration of the cyclical nature of violence and trauma, complete with one of the most shocking plot twists in the modern history of cinema, Incendies is not for the faint of heart. Far more than just a family mystery, it’s a thematically sharp and emotionally profound experience that you just can’t shake, one of the films that best depict the brutality of war.

7

‘Oldboy’ (2003)

Image via Tartan Films

Park Chan-wook is one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of South Korean cinema, and his Vengeance Trilogy is one of the best R-rated movie trilogies of all time. As phenomenal as its predecessor and successor are, however, there’s really no question regarding which is the best installment of the three: It has to be Oldboy, based on the Japanese manga Old Boy by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi.

This action thriller is packed with some of the most thrilling action set pieces and most shocking plot twists in the history of the genre, but one of those twists is particularly brutal. It’s a reveal that recontextualizes the entire film, making rewatches more of a daunting challenge—however tempting—than an inviting comfort watch. As brutal and emotionally heavy as the rest of the film is, it’s that final twist that really makes Oldboy such a relentlessly gut-wrenching experience.

6

‘There Will Be Blood’ (2007)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Paul Thomas Anderson has been making some of the greatest motion pictures of his generation for years, but when the conversation is about what his best work to date is, there tends to be agreement: It has to be There Will Be Blood, the period drama where Daniel Day-Lewis delivers what some still think is the greatest acting performance of the 21st century thus far.

Even aside of its exceptional cast, however, There Will Be Blood is one of the most perfect movies of the last 30 years, with some of the strongest writing and most impressive production values of any PTA masterpiece. But with its slow pacing, oppressively dark atmosphere, unrelenting misanthropy, and Day-Lewis’ terrifying performance, it may also very well be the heaviest movie in its director’s body of work.

5

‘Se7en’ (1995)

David Fincher is the modern Master of Suspense, and he has directed several of the greatest thrillers of any filmmaker from his generation—chief among which is Se7en. In almost 30 years, it hasn’t ceased to be deeply admirable that such a bleak and pessimistic movie became a blockbuster that grossed over $300 million dollars at the box office worldwide. Indeed, it’s one of the scariest mystery movies ever made.

It’s such a terrifying film, in fact, that some may even consider it part of the horror genre, placing it next to icons of the genre like The Silence of the Lambs as one of the best crime horror movies ever. At no point does Se7en give the audience room to truly breathe; on the contrary, it only keeps growing more oppressive and cynical as the runtime keeps progressing, concluding with one of the most harrowing third acts in the history of Hollywood cinema.

4

‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)

Image via Universal Pictures

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As well-known as he is for his work in the realm of blockbusters, which he pretty much brought to life, Steven Spielberg happens to have made his magnum opus in the form of a World War II drama that’s not a blockbuster at all. Because as enormous of a box office hit as it was, Schindler’s List was clearly not designed as a crowd-pleaser, and it still remains the most depressing movie that Spielberg has made thus far.

Nevertheless, it’s one of the best biopics of all time, with one of John Williams‘ most haunting scores and a phenomenal cast whose every member is at the top of their game. Films about the Holocaust are always incredibly heavy and harrowing movies, but Schindler’s List in particular is so raw and relentless in its depiction of the subject matter that it stands out among its peers. It’s not all doom and gloom, however, with Spielberg being able to find surprising amounts of humanity and hope even in such a dark story.

3

‘City of God’ (2002)

Image via Miramax Films

The world of Latin American cinema is one filled to the brim with underappreciated masterpieces, and Brazil’s filmography is no exception; but City of God is no underappreciated masterpiece. Rather, as one of the highest-rated films of all time on both Letterboxd and IMDb, it’s almost universally recognized to be one of those crime movies that are perfect from the first scene to the last.

City of God shows life on the slums of Rio with unparalleled rawness, finding ample shock value to barrage the audience with. At the same time, however, it never feels like it’s sensationalizing its subject, but rather treating it with all the sensitivity and realism that it deserves. As brutal as it is emotionally weighty, City of God is nevertheless one of those masterpieces that every film fan should watch at least once in their lives.

2

‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’ (1928)

Image via Société Générale des Films

Learning to understand and appreciate the silent days of cinema takes time and some degree of work; but once you get there, the window opens up to several of the most artistically gifted filmmakers in the art form’s history. One such artist is Carl Theodor Dreyer, whose The Passion of Joan of Arc is far and away one of the most intense silent movies of all time.

The story of the titular saint was already an incredibly dense, intense, and heavy story on paper, but the many ways that Dreyer finds to elevate all of those qualities in his 1928 masterpiece is truly admirable. Visually striking, perfectly paced, and anchored by Maria Falconetti delivering what may very well be the greatest female acting performance in cinema’s history, The Passion of Joan of Arc is unexpectedly moving for a movie that has no dialogue.

1

‘Come And See’ (1985)

Image via Sovexportfilm

Calling Elem Klimov‘s gut-wrenching Soviet masterpiece Come And See one of the heaviest World War II movies of all time would be kind of an understatement. The fourth-highest-rated feature film of all time on Letterboxd, this war drama is one of countless films that depict how war destroys innocence through the eyes of a child protagonist; but no movie with such a premise executes it with quite as much quasi-surreal horror as Come And See.

Indeed, this may not be a horror movie, but it sure feels like one more often than not. Loud, nightmarish in tone, and unrelentingly committed to the utmost realism, the film is absolutely relentless in its barraging the audience with constant noise, pain, death, and trauma. It’s definitely the kind of war movie that demands a strong stomach, but those courageous enough to watch it will be treated to one of the most admirable cinematic masterpieces in history.

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Come And See

Release Date

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October 17, 1985

Runtime

142 Minutes

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Director

Elem Klimov

Writers

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Elem Klimov, Ales Adamovich

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The iconic comedy that gave us “bend and snap!” lives on!

Released in 2001, Legally Blonde follows Reese Witherspoon‘s Elle Woods, a sorority girl who is dumped by her boyfriend who thinks he’s too good for her. In an effort to prove him wrong and win him back, she hits the books and is accepted to Harvard. Luke Wilson (Emmett Richmond), Jennifer Coolidge (Paulette Bonafonte), Selma Blair (Vivian Kensington), Matthew Davis (Warner Huntington III) and many more appear in the now-iconic film.

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Two years after the release of the original film, Witherspoon returned in Legally Blonde 2, which followed her character’s journey as an animal rights activist. A musical adaptation hit the stage in 2007 and Witherspoon coproduced a spinoff called Legally Blondes, starring twin sisters Milly and Becky Rosso playing Elle’s younger cousins.

Plus, Legally Blonde 3 is underway. Written by Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor, very little details are known about the future film besides the release date of May 2022. Witherspoon is set to return as Elle Woods once more.

Remembered for the optimistic protagonist and a message that digs below the surface, Legally Blonde has remained relevant for years. While waiting for the release of the third movie, keep scrolling to see what the cast has been up to since the original film.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 12 seconds ago

For most DC fans, the critical and commercial failure of Supergirl comes as quite a shock. After all, last year’s Superman was the breakout blockbuster of the summer, earning more at the box office than either of Marvel’s films (The Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps). It was directed by geek king James Gunn, the same man who runs DC Studios. He absolutely loved the script for Supergirl and pushed the movie’s production schedule up. With Gunn’s seal of approval, the spinoff featuring Superman’s cousin seemed destined for greatness. But as the opening weekend projections plummeted and the critical reviews came in, it soon became clear that this movie was a failure. 

What we didn’t know was how much of a failure. Now, we have the answer, and it’s actually much worse than you thought. According to Deadline, the movie is currently set to lose Warner Bros. a cool $125 million. That would be bad news for any blockbuster and in any circumstance. However, Supergirl bombing is that much worse because it’s not just losing the studio plenty of cold, hard cash; it’s also shaking confidence in Gunn’s ability to lead the DCU in its fight with Marvel for box office supremacy. Now, a sobering fact emerges: the DCU may implode long before we even see the new Justice League onscreen.

Playing The Blame Game

Right now, some of the film’s biggest fans are trying to make the movie into another culture war flashpoint. The more militant fans are claiming that Supergirl’s critics are misogynists and incels who just weren’t ready to see a strong woman on the big screen. However, it genuinely seems like Supergirl was doomed more by the forces of apathy than misogyny. The low opening weekend (lower than Morbius, yikes!) is an indicator of how few people actually bothered to see the movie. Plus, in a bit of Morbin’ (er, morbid) irony, Supergirl undermines much of its girlpower street cred because of a very prominent storyline about sex trafficking.  

But how did Deadline arrive at the conclusion that Supergirl will lose the studio $125 million? They looked at factors such as the production cost (somewhere between $170-$186 million) and the movie’s opening weekend box office ($68 million). They also considered how much the domestic publicity and advertising budget was ($120 million) and how much the movie needed to make in order to break even (about $315 million). Throw in the estimates for declining weekly box office, and you get a bleak conclusion: Supergirl is going to lose somewhere around $125 million, making this a very public, very expensive failure for Warner Bros.

The Canary In The Coal Mine

With this kind of box office loss, it’s unlikely that Supergirl will ever headline another future film in the DCU. However, there may be a downstream effect where this impacts larger projects in the future. For example, Supergirl is supposed to be a major character in Superman: The Man of Tomorrow; if audiences hate that film because of her presence, it could spell bad news for James Gunn. If that Superman sequel is a hit, then it will pave the way for Wonder Woman, The Brave and the Bold, and, eventually, a Justice League film. If it bombs, though, the DCU could die before the JL even team up onscreen.

All DC fans should care about Supergirl’s failure because this movie is effectively the canary in the coal mine for the entire cinematic universe. Considering how many skipped seeing Supergirl, how much worse will it be for future projects featuring even more obscure heroes and villains? DC Studios has already shot a Clayface film, and they are currently working on a Deathstroke and Bane movie and a TV show that pairs Jimmy Olsen up with Gorilla Grodd. These are big creative swings, and they might all connect. But even if they all turn out to be excellent, that won’t matter if hardly anybody is watching them.

It’s worth noting that while critics dragged the DCEU for years, it produced about five commercial flops before Warner Bros. pulled the plug. Therefore, it might not be the end of the world now that James Gunn’s DCU has only produced one flop. However, superhero fatigue is dragging down box office earnings, and Gunn is facing stiff competition from Marvel in the form of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. Supergirl losing $125 million right before WB gets new leadership potentially changes the game for Gunn, and not in a good way. He’s not going to get five strikes; in fact, he’ll be lucky to get more than one! 

Affordability isn’t just a political buzzword — it’s a reality we all have to live in right now. Everything costs too much, from gas to mortgages and even subscription services like Netflix.

You know what doesn’t cost a single cent? Samsung TV Plus. Less well-known than other free streamers like Tubi and Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus has a killer library of movies from different genres like action, thrillers and sci-fi.

This July, the platform added several cult classics that are worth watching, either for the first time or for the hundredth. From a haunting coming-of-age story starring River Phoenix to a ’90s comedy featuring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, these films are perfect to stream on a lazy July afternoon.

‘Stand By Me’ (1986)

We recently ranked Stand by Me as one of 1986’s best movies, and one could easily argue it’s one of the best films of all time. It’s that good, and it remains the picture the late director Rob Reiner is best known for to this day. While it’s set in 1960s Oregon, Stand by Me has a timeless quality to it that makes it universally appealing — and endlessly enjoyable.

Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’ Connell star as four childhood friends who hear about a dead body lying near some train tracks just outside of their small town. Believing they will be considered local heroes if they locate it, they set out on an adventure to find and retrieve it. But their journey brings them unexpected perils and surprising revelations, some of which will change their lives forever.

‘Father of the Bride’ (1991)

We all could use a laugh nowadays, and there are no two men better suited to do it than Steve Martin and Martin Short. The duo is currently killing it — sometimes literally — on the hit Hulu TV show Only Murders in the Building, but they’ve collaborated a few times before. Their best team-up occurs in Father of the Bride, a 1991 remake of the classic 1950 film starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor.

Martin stars as George Banks, a family man who must come to terms with the fact that his firstborn child, Annie (Kimberly Williams), is getting married. He also has to accept the fact that, as the father of the bride, he has to pay for her wedding, including hiring a very expensive wedding planner, Franck, who wants to spend George’s money to realize Annie’s dreams. Not everything goes according to plan, but George will do anything — including hold the wedding afterparty at his small Pasadena house — to make sure his little girl gets the send-off she deserves.

Diane Keaton stars as George’s exasperated wife, Nina, and Kieran Culkin appears as the Banks’ young son, Matty. Directed by Charles Shyler and written by Nancy Meyers, Father of the Bride is a heartwarming comedy about a dad saying goodbye to his child and welcoming the adult woman she’s about to become. It’s funny, it’s sweet and it’s perfect to watch during the idle days of the summer.

‘Molly’s Game’ (2017)

Jessica Chastain won an Oscar for her performance in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, but she deserved one for her terrific work in the poker thriller, Molly’s Game. Chastain stars as Molly Bloom, a former professional skier who gets involved with illegal gambling when an injury sidelines her athletic career. At first, she partners with Dean (Jeremy Strong) and helps him run his illegal side hustle, but soon, she’s operating her own backroom poker games that attract the enigmatic Player X (Michael Cera) and various members of the Russian and Italian mafia. Molly makes a lot of money very quickly, but she also gets into trouble with the FBI, who want to put her away for a long time. Is this one game she can’t win?

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Tubi might just be the best ad-supported streaming platform, with such an impressive library that you might start rethinking your Netflix and HBO Max subscriptions. In April 2026, Watch With Us has added three new selections to our list of the best movies you can watch for free on Tubi right now. Our first pick […]

Molly’s Game is a lot of things at once: a sports movie, a crime thriller and a family drama about an estranged father and daughter. Kevin Costner stars as Molly’s distant dad, and his scenes with Chastain are the best ones in the movie. The film was written and directed by The West Wing and The Social Network‘s Aaron Sorkin, and his screenplay has his signature quick wit that won him multiple Emmys and an Oscar.

Samsung TV Plus’ free July content isn’t just limited to cult classics. Below is a full list of all the movies available to stream this month at no extra cost:

Patriots Day
Midway
The Best of Enemies
La La Land
Tombstone
Father of the Bride Part II
Godzilla 91998)
The Descent
The Descent Part 2
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
The Internship
That Awkward Moment
Pride
Kick-Ass
Gremlins
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Reign of Fire
Underwater
Exodus: Gods and Kings

There’s a reason why Taylor Sheridan‘s television empire has become so expansive. The tentacles of Sheridan’s artistic vision, notably the various spin-offs of his crown jewel, Yellowstone, have ostensibly become the backbone of Paramount’s entire streaming library. Regardless of his political beliefs, Sheridan has tapped into the American Midwest in a way that is often ignored by prestige TV. One of his most recent triumphs on the small screen, Lioness, sees Sheridan tackling a familiar sentiment in American media throughout the century: the war on terror. Initially positioned as a new take on government intervention in the Middle East, Lioness, starring Zoe Saldaña as the leader of a CIA program to thwart terrorist plots, focused on the drug cartel and its intersection with government affairs overseas. Without trying to predict the future, Sheridan’s writing has eerily mirrored real-life headlines involving U.S. action against the drug trade.

‘Lioness’ Season 2 Inadvertently Predicted Real-Life Political Events

Season 1 of Lioness follows Joe McNamara (Saldaña) as she leads a covert CIA unit comprised of women to thwart terrorist groups in the Middle East — a familiar concept, given the typical Sheridan touch, that makes it feel fresh and revelatory about top-secret military operations. Now heading into its third season, premiering on August 2, Lioness has unexpectedly embraced a new kind of drama thanks to its timeliness. Centered around the international drug trade, Season 2 features the Lioness squad embarking on an extraction of a kidnapped high-ranking government official and infiltrating cartels to serve the interests of political forces domestically. The squad’s target is Alvaro Carrillo (Marcus DeAnda), who becomes the focal point of the government’s various espionage tactics and their broader attempt to control economic interests internationally.

Season 2 debuted on October 27, 2024, over a year before the United States launched a military strike in Venezuela and apprehended President Nicolás Maduro on charges of drug trafficking, a striking turn of events that has been one of the many political disputes dividing the nation. For those catching up with Lioness before its Season 3 premiere, Season 2 appears to be a dramatic reinterpretation of events ripped from the headlines, but Sheridan actually beat the political cycle to the punch.

Taylor Sheridan Taps Into the Heart of the Contemporary U.S. Military in ‘Lioness’

As a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, Sheridan discussed his writing process for Season 2. However, he denied any attempt to predict the future and said the decision to center the season around such eerily timely matters was purely coincidental. If anything, his scripts were merely an educated guess about the current state of political affairs overseas. Despite his prominence in television as a voice for middle America, particularly audiences in red states, Sheridan has vowed that he approaches his work without a political agenda, with Lioness meant to be a literal dissection of the relationship between intelligence agencies and the military.

There’s been plenty of discussion surrounding Sheridan’s alleged political beliefs and how they are reflected in his Westerns, crime and war thrillers, and dramas about oil tycoons. Regardless of where he stands or whether he sympathizes with his characters, there’s no doubt Sheridan resonates with the mainstream public, and his wealth of new shows on Paramount speaks to the demand for more of his stories. Although it has been proven to predict real news stories, Lioness is rooted in an understanding of modern U.S. history and the nation’s dealings overseas, as the series echoes 2000s-era media coverage of the Iraq War and the murky divide between patriotic vengeance and the protection of the oil trade.

Whatever your preconceived notions of Sheridan’s work, both seasons of Lioness end not with a sense of rah-rah jingoism, but instead with a sobering indictment of the American military-industrial complex. In Season 1, our idyllic heroes realize they’re only fighting over oil, and in Season 2, the grueling labor and hardships to overthrow the cartel are futile, as someone else on the ladder will take over Carrillo’s throne. Conservative or not, Sheridan has tapped into the cynicism of the American spirit in 2026.

There’s something undeniably classic about a denim button-down — but not when it feels stiff, bulky or boxy. If you’ve ever peeled off a rigid jean shirt after a few hours, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why chambray has become a wardrobe staple: it delivers the same timeless look with a softer, lighter feel that’s actually comfortable to wear.

Think of chambray as denim’s easygoing cousin. It layers effortlessly over tanks in the summer, under sweaters in the fall and even doubles as a lightweight jacket when the office AC is working overtime. Whether you style one with white jeans, linen pants or a breezy midi skirt, these versatile shirts make getting dressed feel refreshingly simple. Ahead, we’ve rounded up 11 comfortable chambray shirts that give you the denim look without the stiffness.

11 Comfortable Chambray Shirts to Replace Stiff Denim Tops

1. Our Favorite: Tired of denim tops that feel like cardboard by hour three? The soft chambray on this ruffled puff-sleeve top solves that, and the ruffled neckline does the styling for you.

2. Runner-Up: Stiff denim tops pull and pinch in all the wrong places. This soft chambray blouse keeps the western look but drapes like a favorite cotton tee, so you actually want to wear it.

3. Summer Style: Heavy denim shirts ruin a summer outfit faster than humidity. This soft jean alternative has a light, airy feel, so you can layer it over a tank in July without sweating through it.

4. Budget Pick: You don’t have to spend a fortune for the timeless denim-shirt look. This relaxed button-down delivers classic Western-inspired styling with a lightweight chambray feel, making it easy to wear tied over a tank, tucked into white jeans or layered with leggings for an effortlessly put-together outfit — all for just $14.

5. Editor’s Pick: This breezy button-down is what we’d call boho boutique perfection. With its sun-inspired embroidery, relaxed fit and lightweight feel, it looks like something you’d stumble upon in a chic beach-town boutique. Still, it’s versatile enough to wear open over a tank, tied at the waist or with linen pants all summer long.

Related: Yes, Cameron Diaz‘s Exact Birkenstock Sandals Are Still in Stock

Cameron Diaz has spent the last few years quietly perfecting what the rest of Us are still trying to figure out: how to look effortlessly pulled-together without trying too hard. For summer, we’re recreating her effortless vibe, starting with her beloved Birkenstock Arizona slides that she has been spotted wearing in California. Of course, she’s […]

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6. Hampton’s Chic: Skip the stiff trucker-style shirt that wrinkles if you blink. This collared denim top keeps the clean lines but moves with you, which matters when you’re actually wearing it all day.

7. Year-Round Staple: Need something to throw over a tank when the AC kicks in too hard? This western chambray shacket handles summer evenings and over-conditioned restaurants without committing to a real jacket.

8. Total Classic: Plain denim shirts can read a little tomboy. The ruffles on this frilly jean shirt keep the look easygoing while adding the softness that stiff denim never manages.

9. Center of Attention: If you’ve sworn off rigid jean styles that never soften no matter how many washes, this embroidered oversized shirt is the antidote. It’s drapey from day one, with embroidery doing the heavy lifting in terms of style.

10. Designer-Looking: If you’re after that effortless coastal-grandmother or Hamptons aesthetic, this linen button-down is an easy win. Crafted from breathable European flax linen in a soft chambray hue, this pick has the relaxed, borrowed-from-the-boys fit that looks just as chic with white denim as it does layered over a swimsuit or tucked into tailored shorts.

11. Everyday Essential: Every wardrobe needs an effortless denim shirt, and this oversized Madewell version checks every box. The relaxed silhouette, patch pocket and workwear-inspired details make it easy to style tucked into white jeans, layered over dresses or thrown on with shorts for an instantly polished look.

Related: I‘m Always Hot — These 15 Amazon Finds Keep Me Cool in the Summer

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I run hot. Like, fan-on-all-year-round hot. As such, after years of living in Pennsylvania (where July humidity hits like a wet wool blanket), I’ve gotten ruthlessly picky about what I’ll put on my body when it comes to summer clothes. The good news? I spend most of my days perusing Amazon, and the online mega-retailer […]

British pop star Lily Allen has a few words to say to her critics. 

The singer is defending her current live concert series against complaints regarding ticket prices and the total length of the event, making it clear that she put a lot of work into it. 

The singer has been traveling since the spring for a special concert series centered completely on her most recent musical release, “West End Girl.”

Allen is standing up for her live musical production after an audience member openly complained about her short set on social media. During the show, she sang all fourteen songs from the record back-to-back while delivering a solo dramatic performance on stage. 

However, a fan who went to her London arena show expressed disappointment over paying £86 for a seat to see a performance that lasted under an hour without any crowd interaction or an opening musical group.

The pop star quickly fired back online to clear up the misunderstandings. Taking to X, she clarified that the event has always been explicitly promoted as a full performance of the specific album and also explained that she was a few minutes late due to a wardrobe emergency. 

Addressing her silence toward the crowd, Allen noted that keeping the imaginary barrier up is a deliberate creative choice that helps her act out the emotional themes of the music. 

“It’s my artistic choice not to talk to the audience; the fourth wall helps with the storytelling,” she explained. 

The artist concluded, stating she never wants her audience members to feel cheated, writing, “I don’t want anyone to feel ripped off; everyone on this tour is working really hard to give people the best show we possibly can, and I’m extremely proud of it.”

What David Harbour Said About His Former Partner’s Newest Project

Allen’s statements came a few weeks after her former partner, David Harbour, broke his silence on how he feels about “West End Girl.” He addressed the public chatter surrounding the record, which many listeners believed directly detailed the breakdown of their marriage. 

Listeners quickly pointed out a specific track describing a distant and unfaithful partner, leading to internet rumors about the television actor. However, the star admitted that while the situation felt “weird,” every creative individual has the right to use their personal hardships to make art.

“I do believe that it is the privilege of every artist to use their experience to create art, and so I respect her for doing that,” he said, per The Blast. 

Lily Allen’s High Spending Sparked Fan Backlash

As Harbour defended Allen’s creative liberty, the singer found herself on the receiving end of more backlash from fans who shifted their criticism from her music to her spending habits. 

According to The Blast, a video surfaced showing the pop star pulling stacks of money directly from an expensive handbag to buy a $15,000 bracelet and $25,000 diamond earrings. 

This lavish shopping spree heavily frustrated social media users, especially since the musician previously confessed to entering professional therapy to treat a serious shopping addiction where she spent money recklessly.

Disappointed fans flooded the internet to label her behavior as deeply insensitive to regular working people given the tough global financial climate. 

Lily Allen Appreciated Fans For Supporting Her Newest Release

This financial controversy and the criticism of her shopping habits occurred just months after the performer openly expressed her appreciation to her followers for supporting her music during a deeply painful period in her life.

Late last year, she revealed that the massive public reception to her heartbreak project offered a true sense of comfort as she processed her emotional wounds, per The Blast. 

The singer confessed she felt overwhelmed and thankful for the viral success of the tracks, while also disclosing that the painful separation had originally driven her to check into an expensive recovery clinic that cost thousands of dollars per week.

David Harbour’s Alleged Fling Was Reportedly Booted From A Party

While Allen was focused on recovering from the emotional damage caused by her failed relationship, she was seemingly surrounded by close friends who went to great lengths to defend her even in her absence. 

According to The Blast, a woman associated with Harbour following his split from Allen was reportedly asked to leave a private party full of Allen’s closest friends. 

Although the pop star herself was not present at the gathering, her tight-knit circle of allies quickly recognized the uninvited guest, and she was reportedly told to leave.