What do we really talk about when we talk about stardom? That’s the question that drives The Nowhere Inn, a mockumentary written by and starring the Grammy-winning musician St. Vincent (Annie Clark) and Carrie Brownstein, of Sleater-Kinney and Portlandia fame. Part concert film, part comedy, and totally bizarre, the film follows a fictionalized version of Clark as she molds and remolds her public image while on tour. Meanwhile, Brownstein, also playing a fictionalized version of herself, tries to film a behind-the-scenes documentary about Clark’s life, forcing the singer to perform both on- and offstage. A hallucinatory trip down the rabbit hole of fame, Bill Benz’s feature directorial debut is less about music-making than about manufacturing a persona. Stop Making Sense meets Being John Malkovich, the film calls into question that ever-porous line between artifice and authenticity, truth and fiction. (thenowhereinn.com) —Sarah Nechamkin

It’s been 40 years since Robert Clergerie stomped onto the fashion scene with a lace-up oxford—for women!—that made the designer (who trained with the shoemaker Charles Jourdan) the hottest cobbler in Paris. To celebrate the brand’s anniversary, it has debuted a kicky collection of groovy, faintly retro fall shoes that remind us of less complicated times. We’ll pass on the platforms—for now—and opt for these patchwork Tresorco booties, whose seasonally appropriate colors will complement our sweater-trouser uniform quite nicely. While we can’t quite promise that these will last another four decades—we plan to wear them, after all—it’s easy to imagine that their appeal will endure. ($885, bergdorfgoodman.com) —Ashley Baker

On her 2019 podcast Dropout, Rebecca Jarvis of ABC News told the story of how Elizabeth Holmes went from the C.E.O. of the blood-test start-up Theranos, which had positioned her to be “the next Steve Jobs” and promised to fund her private-jet habit, to the subject of a criminal investigation. Now that the pandemic-delayed trial is finally in court, Dropout is back for Season Two. Jarvis covers Holmes’s trial in real time—from the jury selection to how her pre-trial escapades (getting married, having a baby, attending Burning Man) could figure into the defense. If you’d like to supplement those dispatches with Holmes history, Three Uncanny Four’s new podcast Bad Blood focuses more on the decade of deceit that might land Holmes in the slammer. While the host, journalist John Carreyrou, offers 15-minute bonus episodes about the trial, the highlight of the season is a 49-minute look at how, in 2014, Holmes tried but failed to make her bunk blood tests the go-to Ebola-detecting device. (podcasts.apple.com; podcasts.apple.com) —Jensen Davis

I’ve never been moved by a cleaning product, let alone moved enough to publicly sing its praises. But the Laundress’s Wash & Stain Bar is far more powerful than its pretty packaging would suggest. With a little water and a vigorous scrub, even stains that seem bad enough to ruin your best set of white sheets are soon forgotten. If you’re the proud owner of a puppy or child, I’ll venture to say this product is relief in a box. Small enough to fit in your pocket and scented like fresh laundry, the bar is also perfect for spot cleaning on the go. ($6.50, laundress.com) —Sarah Nechamkin

Do things right the first time and you won’t have to do them again. That’s why Saint Laurent’s leather-piped gabardine trench is such an irresistible proposition. Don’t start fretting about your monthly expenditures. Amortized over a few decades, the trench’s price becomes rather … digestible. There are plenty of excuses to just go ahead and plunk down the Mastercard, from the classic shape (with exceptional tailoring) to the reinforced edges (which stave off stains and wear) and the top-notch fabrication. It’s rare to discover something so good-looking, so full of promise for an eternally stylish future, and so devoted to piping (an AIR MAIL requirement for all good trenches). If there’s a fault with this beauty, we dare you to find it. Your wardrobe will thank you—and the most stylish people in your orbit will be mad with jealousy. They’ll eventually get over it. Maybe. ($3,600; matchesfashion.com) —Ashley Baker

Once considered the suburbs, the Salario district of Rome is now a mix of art-house cinemas, independent clothing stores, and attractive homes. The Hoxton, Rome hotel—which opened in the northern part of the district in May—is a natural fit. A boutique-hotel group first started in London’s Shoreditch in 2006, the Hoxton now has 10 properties across Europe and the United States that cater to design-focused millennials and young entrepreneurs looking for style at an affordable price. The rooms range from Shoebox (with a single bed) to Biggy (with a super-king-size bed and a lounge area) and offer laid-back interiors with a retro feel. The informal lobby doubles as a bar and attracts both locals and tourists, lending the hotel buzz and authenticity. There’s even a stylish communal kitchen space with all-day coffee, fruit, and pastries. (Starting at $116 per night, thehoxton.com) —Bridget Arsenault