Most winter days, I want to put on a chunky sweater so big that I might as well just wear a blanket out of the house. Sometimes, though, I would love to feel like I’m not being swallowed whole by oversized knits. I want something that’s refined, effortless and says “Hey! There’s a person under this sweater!” That’s where the twin set comes into play.
Modern iterations of the twin set — a coordinating sweater or cardigan and knit top — are a far cry from the originals that arrived on the women’s workwear scene in the 1950s. (Although, you can definitely still find that look, too.) We’re living in a post-Katie HolmesKnit Bra society, and now have plenty of alluring options from brands like Jacquemus and Khaite (think bralettes and barely-buttoned cardigans).
Easily layered under a coat when needed, the knit twin set is just enough to keep you warm in the cooler months. Plus, they’re just so versatile: Wear them together or separate, mix and match, adjust them to your liking for variety of settings. For example, you can button up for the corporate world, then bare it all for post-work happy hour drinks.
From recycled cashmere sets to affordable knit duos, shop 18 of this season’s best sweater sets in the gallery below.
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Reformation Frida Cashmere Tank and Cardi Set, $268, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Gap Cropped Skinny Rib Tank, $18 from $45, available here (sizes XXS-XXL) and Cardigan, $24 from $60, available here (sizes XXS-XXL)
Naadam Cashmere Baby Rib Cropped Cami, $95, available here (sizes XXS-XXL) and Crewneck Cardigan, $175, available here (sizes XXS-XXL)
Arch The Halterneck Knit Pullover, $190, available here (sizes 36-38) and Wide Organic Knit Cardigan, $440, available here (one size)
Blumarine Twin Knit Set, $890 (from $1,369), available here (sizes XS-L)
Tove Studio Nora Knitted Vest, $416, available here (sizes S-L) and Charlotte Knitted Cardigan, $717, available here (S-L)
Alessandra Rich Knitted Cardigan, $1,009, available here (sizes 36-46) and Knitted Bandeau, $580, available here (sizes 36-46)
Madewell Mapleton Crop Sweater Tank, $49, available here (sizes XXS-XXL) and Haskell Crop Cardigan Sweater, $89, available here (sizes XXS-XXL)
LHD Rocher Twin Set, $395, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Dion Lee Slash Turtleneck & Tank Top Set, $409 (from $610), available here (sizes 3XS-3XL)
& Other Stories Cable Knit Tube Top, $69, available here (sizes XS-L) and Knitted Bolero Cardigan, $99, available here (sizes XS-L)
Good American Collegiate Cable Knit Cardigan, $91 (from $130), available here (sizes XXS-5XL) and Crop Top, $60 (from $85), available here (sizes XXS-5XL)
Abercrombie & Fitch Mini Sweater Dress and Scuba Cardigan Set, $84 (from $120), available here (sizes XXS-XL)
Alice + Olivia Luetta Fuzzy Tube Top With Shrug, $279 (from $465), available here (sizes XS-XL)
J.Crew Cashmere Sweater-Tank, $84 (from $110), available here (sizes XXS-3XL) and Featherweight Cropped Cardigan, $99 (from $138), available here (sizes XXS-3XL)
Staud Aileen Cable Knit Tube Top, $195, available here (sizes XS-XL) and Norma Cable Knit Cardigan, $395, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Victor Glemaud Cropped Cardigan, $207 (from $295), available here (sizes XS-L) and Bandeau Top, $105 (from $150), available here (sizes XS-XL)
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way do either affect our editorial decision-making.
Florence Pugh‘s red carpet domination continues at an all-time high with her appearance at the 2022 British Independent Film Awards.
The “Don’t Worry Darling” actor got all the spotlight in a flowy, pink satin slip topped with a tulle cape, all by Rodarte. The look is from the brand’s Fall 2022 lookbook, which helped fuel the already-rising balletcore trend when it first dropped this spring.
On the beauty front, Pugh went for a soft-glam face featuring a nude pink lip and brushed brows by Alex Babsky. As for hair, her short honey-blonde locks were slicked back by Peter Lux.
Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images
Through her collaboration with Corbin-Murray, Pugh has become one of 2022’s must-watch style stars. You can add this to her greatest sartorial hits.
When Jason Chen coined the term gorpcore in The Cut back in 2017, he wasn’t discovering a new trend — he simply put a label on an aesthetic we were already familiar with: fashion that leans towards the outdoorsy, informed by what you might see on a hiker or a camper, with an emphasis on the utilitarian. But it occupies a gray area between technical apparel and something a little bit more zeitgeist-y, like normcore.
Gorpcore went mainstream in the mid-2010s when celebrities like A$AP Rocky and Frank Ocean started wearing Adidas Terrex AX3 GTX Men’s Trekking sneakers and Arc’teryx jackets. Demand for these brands skyrocketed, both from consumers and other players in the market: This ushered in a series of collaborations — North Face and Supreme, Columbia and Opening Ceremony, Fjallraven and Acne Studios — that continue to this day. (Just last week, Reformation announced a capsule with Canada Goose.)
Gorpcore has flourished into its own subcategory in the market. And in recent years, it’s evolved to intersect with the luxury world on a whole new level.
Nylon accessories on the Prada Fall 2019 runway.
Photo: Imaxtree
Dior x Birkenstock, Jacquemus hiking boots, Prada’s hit nylon accessories — okay, the latter technically is a re-issue, but still: All of these are a testament to gorpcore’s popularity among shoppers. (The Lyst Index of 10 hottest products for Q3 of 2022 included both the Birkenstock Boston Clog and the Patagonia Better Sweater fleece.)
“Essentially, gorpcore became the new luxury streetwear,” says Lorna Hall, director of fashion intelligence at WGSN. “Its active functionality was truly performative to those buying into it — hence the infamous TikToks demonstrating a jacket’s waterproof credentials [by] standing in a shower or throwing bottles of champagne at it.”
It’s only growing in resale, too: Searches for “gorpcore” have been on the rise on Depop among its loyal customer base of teens and twenty-somethings, according to Augustina Panzoni, the company’s trends and category manager. Brands like Arc’teryx, The North Face and Salomon are driving greater traffic than ever, especially for vests, rain jackets, technical pants and bags. But Panzoni calls out Prada, Dior, Jacquemus and Loewe as luxury brands that have crossed into the space.
Patagonia Fashion Week?
Photo: Vanni Bassetti/Getty Images
Gorpcore gives these younger consumers the opportunity to mix and match different aesthetics together and express themselves. They tend not to be loyal to a single brand, nor can they necessarily afford an entire luxury wardrobe. By jumping (and cashing) in on this aesthetic, luxury brands have provided more aspirational options to those able to afford them; but it’s an aesthetic that’s still attainable on a budget.
TikTok has also helped. Panzoni points to the viral trend of people wearing Arc’teryx’s Gore-tex jacket in the shower while listening to “Arc’teryx” by YG; searches for Arc’teryx rose almost 200% in the last quarter on Depop.
Meanwhile, for the brands that originated gorpcore, this recent trend is an opportunity to expand their clientele and stay relevant.
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In 2021, The North Face teamed up with Gucci on a collaboration of groovy backpacks, colorblocked coats, Gucci-North Face monogramed puffers and heavy-duty boots. Launchmetrics reported that in just four months, the collection accumulated a whopping $15.3M in Media Impact Value. That same year, Arc’teryx partnered up with Jil Sander on a line of jackets, bibbed trousers and one-pieces that marry aesthetics and utility. More recently, on Sandy Liang‘s Spring 2023 runway, models walked out in ballet-inspired outfits paired with Salomon hiking shoes, creating an interesting juxtaposition between the designer’s über-feminine style and tougher footwear.
Sandy Liang Spring 2023.
Sandy Liang Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Teva has seen a similar resurgence in the age of gorpcore, embraced by everyone from Kendall Jenner to Chloe Sevigny — and it’s only kept growing since the pandemic.
“We carved out this unique space for ourselves in the fashion market with our statement sandals, and now with our lifestyle boots, but we really saw an acceleration of comfy-casual trends winning during the pandemic” says Julia Feldman, associate product line manager at Teva. (The brand alluded to a luxury collaboration on the horizon.)
Also on the footwear front, Collina Strada — a beloved New York label that’s often inspired by nature and driven by sustainability — introduced a collaboration with Melissa that’s generated a lot of buzz. Their Puff Sandal is futuristic-style hiking shoe that’s both funky and sporty, inspired by founder Hillary Taymour’s own lifestyle.
When it came to designing the shoe, it was equal parts about the aesthetic and functionality. “We made it so you could literally hike up rocks and jump into an ocean — it’s the coolest water-functioning shoe I have ever seen,” Taymour says. “Wear it with a pair of socks in the fall, with cargo pants or a dress, and it’s still a statement shoe. I feel like anything that’s multi-functional and can be worn for different types of outings is very much the Collina way.”
Collina Strada Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
So what’s behind this new wave of gorpcore — one that toys with luxury — surging years after the trend first emerged? To a certain extent, it’s a reflection of our sociopolitical climate.
“In streetwear, the mood and mentality always fits the times, and there’s a very definite element emerging of ‘harderwear for hard times,’ which aligns the aesthetic and performance to the dark geopolitical and economic mood music” says WGSN’s Hall. “The narrative is less about outdoor pursuits and weather functionality, more about survivalism.”
As for what’s to come, some predict the next step for gorpcore is to go digital.
“Streetwear is also starting to respond to the meta economy, where we see performance streetwear increasingly being influenced by metaverse/gaming and fantasy aesthetics,” says Hall. “The question is: Should they lean into these shift, or is it a step too far from their true extreme/outdoor DNA and therefore too big a risk?” Only time will tell.
In late May, Amazon opened its first clothing store in a sprawling suburban mall outside Los Angeles. Like most physical retailers these days, Amazon Style, as it’s called, aims to bring a little something extra to the brick-and-mortar experience, as some might do with plush coffee bars or rotating art installations.
Amazon Style, though, has technology. Each clothing tag comes equipped with a QR code shoppers can scan to see more details about the garment, like sizing, colors and customer ratings. Rather than wrangle an armful of jeans into a fitting room, customers can curate a list of pieces the’d like to try on or rather purchase directly. Clothes bought online can be shipped in-store, where shoppers can try them on and begin the process over again.
It’s hard to argue with the convenience — but even more appealing, maybe, are those QR codes themselves, which supply consumers with a sea of information at their fingertips.
Retail analysts have been teasing digital product tags for years. London-based trend-forecasting agency WGSN, for one, began discussing them back in 2015, predicting they would hit the mass market by 2024. Amazon Style is the most widespread implementation to date, but slowly, fashion is catching on: Mulberry announced this summer it would be adding what’s called “near-field communication” (NFC) tags to all of its products by 2025, beginning with the pre-owned bags in its internal resale program.
Digital tags offer a whole host of benefits, from curbing counterfeiting to, in a perfect world, supporting transparency all throughout the product’s lifecycle. Yet this is technology that has to be implemented correctly, and with a commitment to use it in the long-term. In today’s supply chain turmoil, this may be easier said than done — but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying.
According to WGSN, there are two types of digital product tags that will reshape the retail landscape in the near future: radio-frequency identification, or RFIDs, which use radio frequencies to track and identify objects and will be a key tool for retailers’ back-of-house operations, like inventory tracking and real-time product location; and digital IDs, into which both Amazon Style and Mulberry’s efforts fall.
“We’ll see digital IDs really start to hit mainstream over the next few years, giving consumers highly detailed information about an item, from where the product has been and how it was manufactured, by simply scanning a QR code,” says Candice Medeiros, a strategist for WGSN Insight. “This could reshape current-day models and offer consumers more peace of mind.”
Inside the Amazon Style clothing store at The Americana at Brand mall in Glendale, Calif.
Photo: Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images
Consider Mulberry, which is rolling out its own NFC-enabled tags — powered by Product Cloud software platform Eon — as we speak. Its take on digital IDs enables customers to access a personalized digital guide about their item, featuring content and services around authentication, repair and resale. This, Mulberry believes, will create a direct and ongoing connection between the label and its customers for the entire lifecycle of the product.
“We take great pride in creating objects that are made to last, to be loved and passed onto the next generation,” said Mulberry’s CEO Thierry Andretta, in a statement. “Through the digital ID, Mulberry can offer customers increased transparency into the unique journeys of our products, deliver services such as lifetime repair, buy-back and resale, and ensure that every bag can have multiple lives.”
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Indeed, Mulberry is intently focused on sustainability. A member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative Fashion Task Force, Mulberry aims to achieve net-zero status by 2035. In 2021, as part of its 50th anniversary, the house announced its Made to Last Manifesto, an ambitious commitment to transform the business to a regenerative and circular model, encompassing the entire supply chain, by 2030.
Circularity, however, is fashion’s big white whale, the largest global logistics challenge the world over. Can digital tags help it get there?
Natasha Franck, Eon’s founder and CEO, created the platform in 2017 to help solve the most systemic barriers to sustainable business models in fashion retail. It became immediately clear, she recalls, that the underlying enabler to a truly sustainable — i.e., circular — industry was product identity: How could we turn physical products into intelligent assets that brands could monetize, increasing the profitability, intelligence and sustainability of each and every physical product?
“Today within fashion, brands are capturing a fraction of the value they possibly could from each product, and that’s why we’re seeing this tip of brands moving to uniquely ID each and every item for its entire lifecycle,” says Franck. “In a few months time, we’ll be looking back and thinking, Wow, I can’t believe that once upon a time, products didn’t have identities.”
Eon’s technology works fairly intuitively: When consumers are done with their Alexa satchel, they can tap their smartphone on the piece’s RFID tag and be presented with a range of resale options via the brand’s in-house Mulberry Exchange; that bag’s new owner will have access to the item’s past lives, including how it was authenticated or if and how it was repaired. This, Franck explains, will help foster a new kind of relationship between brands and their customers. Right now, this is entirely transactional, ending at the point of sale. But digital IDs like Mulberry’s shift that interaction into something more intimate, rooted in ongoing, personalized service for that customer and that customer only.
Digital tags have use cases beyond commerce. Adrich, a smart-label platform that’s considered the world’s first consumption tracker, monitors product usage in real-time to enable timely replenishments of consumer packaged goods, from body wash to olive oil. With Adrich’s technology, product labels are able to understand that a bottle of hand soap, say, runs out after 20 pumps, reordering you a new bottle after 15.
“The technology has evolved at the same time the use case has evolved,” says Al Sambar, a general partner at XRC Labs, a New York City-based venture-capital fund and startup accelerator focused on retail technology that invested in Adrich earlier this year. “Say you’re inside your closet and you realize your denim looks faded and you want to reorder a new pair — wouldn’t it be nice if you had a code that could automatically make reordering available?”
It would be nice. So much so that, for shoppers, digital tags may soon make the leap from a nicety to something of an expectation. In fact, WGSN forecasts that on-demand expectations are set to increase, making it essential for retailers to invest in tools that give consumers more transparency around the location and detail of their merchandise. And amid ongoing supply chain disruptions, forged by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, this technology is well on its way to becoming foundational for retail resiliency. The numbers don’t lie: New data from Adobe finds that consumers have seen over 60 billion out-of-stock messages in 2022 alone — a 235% increase compared to 2019.
“That’s done massive damage to consumer trust and loyalty,” says Medeiros. “Going forward, it will be important for retailers to invest in end-to-end inventory optimization.”
Aside from warehouses and fulfillment centers, RFIDs can be placed on cargo containers, which can ensure more precise visibility of their material flow. For mass retailers that have heavier fulfillment needs, Medeiros finds that these digital tags are helping to smooth unpredictable obstacles in the supply chain, as much as in consumers’ everyday wardrobes.
“In times of hardship, innovation thrives, and while a lot of this technology is not new, digital tags are providing tangible, real-time relief across the retail sector,” she says. “What’s great about these tools is that they take everyday touch-points and elevate the customer journey while also empowering them.”
Tune in above to watch a live stream of the Dior Men’s Pre-Fall 2023 runway show in Cairo, Saturday at 11 a.m. EST. Homepage photo: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images Stay current on the latest trends, news and people shaping the fashion industry. Sign up for our daily newsletter.
The age of self-regulation is over for fashion With many fashion brands’ emissions continuing to grow and more reports of labor abuses like wage theft and union busting since the pandemic, ethical fashion and climate activists are calling for mandatory government regulations on the industry. Though this level of regulation is not fully in swing, steps are being taken in that direction. The European Commission has recently proposed new rules to cut down on packaging waste, forcing brands to find alternative materials for things like beauty product bottles and online deliveries. {Business of Fashion}
Farfetch stock takes a 34.9% dive Despite José Neves, founder of Farfetch, declaring the company as being at a “tipping point” for significant growth this week, shareholders felt shortchanged and underwhelmed, driving the company’s stock down 34.9%. Neves maintains his positive outlook and said, “I believe this industry has the DNA and the structure to really recover very quickly from any such macro difficulty in the future.” {WWD}
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Ami Colé to be sold at Sephora The functional beauty brand Ami Colé will officially be entering Sephora on Dec. 30, on Sephora.com and in 277 stores. The brand will be part of the Clean at Sephora initiative, which highlights brands with products “formulated without certain ingredients that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment,” according to a statement. {Fashionista inbox}
Homepage Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
Pantone’s 2023 color of the year is a “a carmine red,” made in conjunction with an AI tool, named Viva Magenta. Per a press release, it is “an unconventional shade for an unconventional time.”
The hue is as exuberant as the feeling of coming “back outside” post-lockdown, which even Beyoncé sang in this year’s chart-topping hit “Break My Soul.” It’s inspired by cochineal, a precious dye that typically comes from a scale insect. But more than being unique in getting its inspiration from critters, Pantone’s 2023 color of the year is different than all the rest in a major way: It’s metaverse-ready.
“The last few years were transformative in many ways in terms of people’s sense of self, and the way well- being, priorities and identity are being thought about,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, via a press release. “As a result, space has been created where we are free to explore and be accepted for exactly who we feel we are, whether it be in a cybernetic universe, a conventional space, or a magical blend of both.”
Working with the AI tool Midjourney, Pantone is leveraging the bold magenta color to explore a “Magentaverse” ecosystem, which will include immersive experiences in the color world in partnership with interactive art exhibition company ARTECHOUSE. While the company has art spaces in Washington, DC and New York City, it will host the “Magentaverse” at its Miami Beach location. Beginning on Dec. 3, the immersive exhibition will be open to the public for the first time, with “immersive rooms with textures and interactions that plunge attendees into an array of visual, auditory, and tactile experiences.”
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Pantone prides itself on choosing its color of the year with an eye for upcoming trends and an appreciation for the future cultural landscape. Its punchy yellow-green in 2017 represented new beginnings, while last year’s “very peri” hue was inspired by the feeling of emerging from isolation.
When combined, Chanel’s latest camelia nail products are a power couple for nourishing your nails.
Photo: Andrea Bossi/Fashionista
Editors’ Picks are the Fashionista team’s true (#notspon) fashion and beauty obsessions, handpicked by professionals who see it all. Any beauty product you see here has been vetted and tested by the editor recommending it.
If you’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the magic of a gel manicure — one that can last weeks while failing to chip through your hand’s toughest trials — you also know how precarious removal can be. To take off gel polish, nails must be soaked in acetone to loosen the gel, then scraped clean of it. But this process inevitably weakens nails, dries out cuticles and sometimes damages nail beds.
Both formulas rely on camellia extract, known for its antioxidant properties. (It was also Coco Chanel’s favorite flower, hence the brand’s suite of camellia-infused products.) The cuticle oil oozes out of the applicator and then melts into cuticles. It’s loaded with camellia seed oil to moisturize skin and nails as well as skin-strengthening ceramides and hydrating glycerin. The base coat can be used under polish or on its own for sheer, brightening coverage. Like the nail oil, the base coat features the same bouquet of all-star ingredients to build strength and resilience.
I started applying the nail oil twice daily before letting any polish touch my nails. After a few days of sticking to this regimen, I felt ready to apply the strengthening base coat, which I used consistently for a couple of weeks. Despite all the things my hands were exposed to — washing my hair, opening lots of boxes, doing dishes — the polish had impressive staying power, lasting for a full week without chipping. (I also love the chic, minimalist appearance it gives my nails.)
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Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
More importantly, I watched my nails grow back out after keeping them wrapped in the camellia base.
Admittedly, this isn’t the first time I’ve fudged my nails post-gel mani. Accordingly, I have a nail repair rolodex including the Essie Strengthener Treatment ($11), Elle + Mila First Aid Nail Strengthener ($10) and Olive & June’s Strengthener ($14). As much as I like the treatment from Chanel, there are more affordable options on the market that are similarly effective. But the Chanel ones feel fancy, and sometimes there’s nothing wrong with fancy.
Chanel L’Huile Camélia Hydrating and Fortifying Oil, $32, available here.
Chanel La Base Camélia Fortifying, Protecting and Smoothing Base Coat, $30, available here.
Please note: Items were gifted. Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
A Gabrielle Union-Wade promo cycle is always a fun time. The actor, producer and multi-hyphenate Scorpio icon is a known lover and appreciator of fashion — she’s made that clear her entire decades-long career, building relationships with the biggest luxury houses in the world (Prada, Miu Miu and Valentino, to name a few) while also supporting emerging labels. (She’s worn Christopher John Rogers, Zankov and Puppets and Puppets, among others, in the last few weeks alone.)
For years, she’s been collaborating with stylist Thomas Christos Kikis on everything from press tours to #WadeWorldTours. Promoting multiple projects this fall, Union’s been out and about, with a dual focus on the animated Disney film “Strange World” and the A24 drama “The Inspection.” One’s a big-studio, fun-for-the-whole-family event; the other, an emotional awards season vehicle — “two very different projects,” as Christos tells me.
Because the schedules lined up, Union and her team found themselves working on both press tours at the same time. However, there was a clear delineation between the projects when it came to her style. The challenge, according to Christos, became: “How do you not have it all feel like one?”
Gabrielle Union in custom Prada at the 2022 New York Film Festival in October.
Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for FLC
The first look Christos worked on was the custom long-sleeved Prada gown Union wore to the New York Film Festival screening of “The Inspection.”
“I was in Bellport for the month of July, taking some time off — which, of course, means overthinking,” he says. “I immediately reached out to Prada because we’ve had a really, really long history with them. We were just there in June for the show and hung out with the team.”
Christos worked with the team on a design that married the brand’s current direction with key inspiration from the archives, specifically two looks from Spring 1993. “Yes, it’s yellow and sparkly, but it’s not too over-the-top,” he says. “Nothing about ‘The Inspection’ press tour was about the fashion — it’s about Gab and her performance.”
He was able to screen the film ahead of the press tour, which helped set the tone for the red carpet wardrobe. “As a stylist, you’re so excited and so eager to get the look and show the look, but this was a performance that I’ve never seen out of many actors, let alone Gab — I was just really blown away by it,” he says. “It’s in many ways very personal. So I really wanted her clothing to be a backdrop for her voice and her performance.”
Any appearances promoting “The Inspection,” then, were more muted — lots of black and white, tailoring and classic silhouettes. “Strange World,” however, was pretty much the opposite.
Union promoting “Strangle World” in a Loewe look that sent me straight to Thomas Christos Kikis’ DMs.
Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images
“It’s hyper reality, hyper fantasy, hyper colors — a lot of purples and blues,” Christos says. “She wore a Valentino Haute Couture dress with flowers that come away from her body, this Loewe dress with floating spheres all around it and fantasy stripes and the Elie Saab dress that they were so kind to pull from the archives that felt kind of trippy. It felt nothing like ‘The Inspection,’ which was the point.”
Having to dress a celebrity to promote various projects simultaneously isn’t unheard of; even if they only have one movie or TV show coming out, they might also be launching a brand or a product. With this, though, Christos made it a point to draw a distinct visual line between the films.
Union, wearing Valentino Haute Couture, at the L.A. premiere of “Strange World.”
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
“With ‘The Inspection,’ honestly, my job was to make her feel comfortable,” he says. “She’s so generous with being an advocate on so many levels and giving a performance that was beyond. It took a lot out of her, and I felt putting her in some wacky, zany look over and over and over would almost do a disservice to that. That’s not my job, to peacock over an actor’s work. It’s about the talent first.”
The tour kicked off with “The Inspection” at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Union wore black strapless Vivienne Westwood.
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Union kicked off the press tour wearing Vivienne Westwood at the Toronto Film Festival in September.
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
“She’s there not only as an actor, but as a collaborator on the film. [Editor’s note: Union is an executive producer on ‘The Inspection.’] I put her in that gown because I wanted her to feel beautiful,” Christos says. “It was really about her standing up there with the most talented creatives that she spent time with and went to a really dramatic place with. That was that feeling I wanted to evoke.”
A string of appearances in New York City followed, culminating in the custom Prada moment at the New York Film Festival. Then, there was a break (during which Union was filming, and Christos was accompanying Zaya Wade to her first solo Paris Fashion Week), before picking back up in mid-November. This time, “Strange World” promotion was in full swing, beginning with the aforementioned Valentino Haute Couture dress at its L.A. premiere.
Union in archival Elie Saab at the “Strange World” L.A. premiere
Photo: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
“I really wanted to continue the pattern and the excitement of the dress to glam and not have the dress come off as too formal or precious. I wanted it to be much more theatrical,” Christos says. “I suggested maybe doing something a bit more over-the-top and exciting with the hair. I showed a few references, and Gab and Isaac were like, ‘Oh, a hundred percent, let’s do it.’ Isaac took my seed of an idea and really brought it to another level.”
Typically, Christos will be on a group chat with the rest of the glam team for any given event. Usually, he doesn’t pitch ideas for hair and makeup “unless I have something specific in mind”; the group will collectively discuss and pick a favorite together. London was an exception.
“Gab is such a collaborator. She gives me the freedom to do what I think is right for that moment. She doesn’t really push back — she wants to share the vision together,” he says. “Hair, makeup and wardrobe really do their job, work together and are all in sync. She’s such an amazing supporter of artists on every level.”
Following the London red carpet, Union began bouncing back and forth sartorially between projects: a screening for “The Inspector” in Proenza Schouler followed by a custom Prada lace look (inspired by the house’s Fall 2008 collection) at the Governors Awards; a candy cane-striped bouncy Loewe dress and playful Batsheva LBD for “Strange World” promo; then back again with a Theory suit for late-night shows and a black Fendi Haute Couture gown at the 2022 Gotham Awards. There was also some Tibi, some Christopher John Rogers, some The Row, even some of her own line for New York and Company, which Christos works on as well.
Union wearing a look from her collection for New York and Company — in New York, appropriately.
Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images
“The thing with Gabrielle is — when she wears a Valentino dress, she’s like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so excited.’ Her and Pierpaolo [Piccioli] have had dinner together at Sunset Tower. It’s not like she’s wearing a dress by someone she doesn’t know or it’s a very anonymous experience. It’s quite personal,” Christos says. “She has a relationship with Mrs. Prada. Christopher [John Rogers] is probably going to DM her like, ‘You look amazing.’ The less anonymous or transactional the experience is, the more you wear it with a different sense of nuance and confidence. You really want to celebrate it.”
Beyond that, Union also seems eager to give credit where it’s due. “She’s always going to say, ‘Who designed it? I want to give them love,’” he continues. “She knows that if her 20 million-plus followers can in any way, big or small, impact a designer, she’s more than happy to do it. She loves fashion and she loves the industry.”
Union at the 2022 Governors Awards wearing a custom Prada look inspired by the brand’s Fall 2008 collection.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
The two-in-one promotional schedule may have wrapped, but the fun’s not over for Christos.
“Every time a garment bag arrives, if I’m in the office, I’m the one that unzips it. I’m the one that’s so excited,” Christos says. “I love the product so much. I genuinely love the job. I’m lucky that we have access to all of this.”
Welcome to “Splurge/Save,” a series in which we quiz beauty obsessives about the top luxury (“splurge”) and drugstore (“save”) products in their routines.
Amy Chang — the Los Angeles-based digital content creator known to her many followers on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok as @bondenavant — has some opinions when it comes to beauty products. She’s tested just about everything worth trying, and her fans know they can trust her for honest takes on formulas, treatments and trends. It’s Chang’s grounded, relatable presence, on social media platforms that can often feel overwhelming, that keeps fans coming back.
Born in South Korea but raised in Minnesota, Chang says her passion for beauty stems from her “Sicilian and French Canadian” mother.
“She always has a full face, even if we’re outside in the woods hiking,” Chang tells Fashionista. “She always has lipstick on — she reapplies it throughout the day, even when she’s home alone. This I still don’t understand, but she says, ‘Amy, I just apply it for myself.’”
At 19, Chang temporarily dropped out of college and got a job working at a Shiseido counter, where she recalls first falling in love with skin care. “That little seed of passion was there, it just needed another push,” she says. “When I went back to college, I got an internship at L’Oréal, at Shu Uemura in their PR department, and thought that this was going to be my path.” She spent years working in beauty and then hospitality public relations in New York City before experiencing burnout.
“My boyfriend at the time — now husband — asked me to move to L.A., and I was like, ‘Sure, let’s do it. Let’s go on another adventure,’” she says. “I knew I didn’t want to go back to an agency life, so I started a blog about beauty and wellness, things that I was exploring in this new world of L.A., like Botox and fillers and lasers and smoothies and juice cleanses.”
What initially began as a “passion project” eventually grew into a full-time career as a beauty content creator.
“I think I was just always searching for connection with other women, and my blog allowed me to have that,” Chang says. “I met so many interesting women along the way, and I had the best time talking with them and sharing what I’m exploring and what works and what doesn’t.”
Chang’s product vetting process is thorough and practiced, though it differs depending on the formula: “Cleansers, I can get a pretty good sense after the first couple of uses of how my skin is going to respond, so I feel like I’m switching out much more frequently than any of the other products. Serums, I give at least a month to see, ‘Okay, what is this doing?’ If I’m not seeing anything after a month of consistent use, I’m kind of like, ‘Okay, this is not happening.’ I need to be seeing something there, even if it’s just a little improvement.”
Whether she’s choosing to cover a product on her channels organically or deciding to partner with a brand, Chang always asks herself three questions: “Is this a product that I would spend my own money on if I didn’t already, if it was gifted? Is this a product that I would re-purchase? Is this a product that I would recommend to my sister, my mom, my best friend? If it’s yes to all three, then I bring it to my audience.”
Ahead, Chang shares her top “splurge” and “save” beauty picks across a wide variety of categories.
Photo: Courtesy of Amy Chang
Mascara: “I have non-existent eyelashes. You can’t even see them. This is just the byproduct of being Asian. They’re straight, thin, limp, short. My budget-friendly one that I love is No. 7 360 Waterproof Mascara in Dark Brown ($10.99). It does such a great job of lifting and providing a little curl. It doesn’t smudge. And dark brown is the thing — I feel like this past year, I’ve really opened myself to brown eyeliner and brown mascara, and it has been a game-changer. It’s such a soft look for daytime, and it makes me look like I don’t have anything on my eyes. Black is more dramatic; I wear that for nighttime.
“For high-end, I love the Tower 28 MakeWaves Mascara ($20). I don’t know if it’s because the founder is Asian and so she probably was creating this product for herself, but I love it. It builds up really well. It gives a nice curl, and it holds and lengthens my short lashes.”
Cleanser: “The ‘low’ is an OG in my household: the CeraVe Cream-to-Foam Cleansing Face Wash ($14.99). It works for everyone in my family. I’ve dealt with dermatitis. My kids have dermatitis and eczema patches. I use it on them, on myself, on my husband. I even use it as shampoo on my kids, and it’s phenomenal. I love that product.
“For ‘high,’ I really like the Philosophy Purity Foaming Cleanser ($27). At first, I was kind of like, ‘I don’t know about Philosophy brand.’ There’s something about the bubble baths. It seemed very… not serious skin care, right? But then I tried this cleanser, and it’s so good. I have sensitive skin, and it has salicylic acid in it. It’s extremely gentle. It helps to clear up clogged pores and blackheads. It’s one of my favorite cleansers now.”
Sunscreen: “Beauty of Joseon ($10.29) is a Korean SPF that went viral last year for a reason. I mean, it’s $10. It has the lightest texture. There’s no white cast. It’s just a beautifully crafted SPF. The only hesitation I have with it personally is that there’s no tint, and for someone like myself who’s dealing with melasma and pigment, wearing tinted SPF is really essential because it protects against that blue light which can stimulate the melanin production of pigment.
“On a day-to-day basis, I really do reach for the EltaMD Tinted SPF 41 ($36.50) for sensitive skin. I’ve been using it for years. I love it because it’s formulated to be used post-laser and chemical peel. That’s actually when I first got introduced to it — I had a Fraxel laser done, and my dermatologist recommended I use this SPF. I also really like the SkinCeuticals Fusion SPF 50 ($36). It also has a tint, so I feel good that I’m getting that extra protection from the blue light. It has more of a watery texture to it.”
Shampoo and conditioner: “The luxury one almost pains me a little bit to recommend it because it’s so expensive. Well, I love it. It’s the Augustinus Bader Shampoo ($55). The thing is that it’s a shampoo that the more you use it, the better your hair will get. Typically, shampoos are like a face cleanser: You want one that’s not going to be damaging, that’s going to be gentle — yeah, it can contribute some benefits, but because it’s a wash-off product, it’s not going to be as dramatic as a hair serum, so you really just want to find something that’s gentle that works for your hair type. But this, I actually notice improvements in my hair with continued use.
“For the budget-friendly one, I’m a really big fan of Kristin Ess Extra Gentle Shampoo ($11). I think there are five or six different surfactants in it. When you shop for a shampoo, one of the best indicators if it’s good or not is how many detergents they use, because if there’s two different types of detergents to get a foaming action, they need a lot of each of those two detergents. But if you have five or six different kinds and you just need a little bit of each one, there’s less possibility that you’re going to get an irritation or a reaction to that detergent. It also has a lot of film-forming humectants, which add moisture to the strands. When people think about hydration for hair, they’re always thinking butters and oils, which, yes, are great, but you really need things that will bind water to the strand, too. Butters and oils can really weigh down strands. It’s the film-forming humectants that really give that moisture that makes hair kind of flexible and bouncy.
“For conditioners, I love the accompanying conditioner for the Augustinus Bader [shampoo] ($55). I also really like the Briogeo Mango Cherry Conditioner ($30). If you have fine, thin hair, you want one that doesn’t have too many of these rich butters and stuff, because it’s going to weigh it down.”
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Retinoid: “I just recently got back on the retinol train after a very long hiatus. I’m using the SkinCeuticals 0.3 Retinol ($70), which I think is just one of the best if you have sensitive skin. It’s a targeted delivery system.
“For the budget-friendly one, I like the CeraVe ($20.99). I find that it’s a little intense. I go slower with those budget-friendly ones. I think they try to pack a little more punch into them.”
Eye cream: “For the ‘low,’ I’ve loved The Inkey List Caffeine Serum ($13.79) for years. The only drawback is that it doesn’t have anti-aging benefits to it, but it gives you that immediate payoff of helping with dark circles because that’s my problem. Caffeine is a vasodilator, so it helps with improving blood flow. And it’s $10 and it just brightens it right away.
“On the higher end, when I’ve been using nightly, I love the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye ($70). It’s so funny because I feel like this product has been around forever, but they recently reformulated it and added in this technology that has this antioxidant blend that helps block the blue light. With studies coming out and finding that blue light damages collagen and elastin and helps to stimulate that pigment, I think about all the time in the day I spend in front of a screen — I wake up, grab my phone, go to the Peloton screen, to the TV screen, to my computer screen, back to my phone screen at night and then I go to bed. There literally is no break. It’s very sad.”
Body scrub or wash: “The Kopari KP Volcanic Ash Scrub ($26) is hands down my favorite body scrub. That’s really good.
“I’d say on lower end for body wash, I really love the Raw Sugar Body Wash in Watermelon and Fresh Mint ($7.99). It’s really gentle, it smells great, it’s only $10 and you get this huge bottle.”
“I really love the Rare Beauty Eyeliner ($22). It’s really wet, so you have to be careful, but it’s amazing at getting that really sharp winged eyeliner look.”
Blush: “The one that I’ve used the longest and really stayed true — I feel like I always come back to it — is Nars Orgasm ($32). That’s just an OG. I love that one.
“For the ‘low’ pick, I like the W3ll People Stick Blush ($22). I just tried it the other day and it’s really nice.”
Foundation: “Kosas Revealer Foundation ($42). I like that it’s really hydrating. On days that I use it, I don’t use any moisturizer. I’ll just put my SPF on and then I’ll put my foundation on. I really like the Summer Fridays Skin Tint ($42). It’s super sheer. That’s for the days where I feel like my skin is looking great and I don’t actually want that much.
Essence or toner: “I love the SK-II Pitera ($185). That’s really great because it has that fermented yeast that has the B vitamins. It’s so expensive. And for the longest time, I was like, ‘Come on. Really? Why is this so expensive?’ But then I used it and actually noticed a huge difference in the redness on my face, especially around my chin and nostrils. And it did help with my pigment, oddly. I can’t deduce exactly what’s causing it, which really perplexes me because I’m like, ‘How could just the B vitamins and this fermented yeast do this?’ But I think it helps with the skin barrier, really strengthening it. That’s how it helps with the pigment and the spots and the redness.
“I really like the Cocokind Rosewater Toner ($17.99). I’m a big fan of rose water. I constantly spray it on my scalp, on my face; when my girls get itchy, I spray it on them.”
Highlighter: “Everyone is just obsessed with the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter ($46). I use it in a shade lighter than what they recommend for my skin because it really gives a lot of brightness to the face.
“There’s the viral dupe, and it works just as well — it’s called the L’Oréal Lumi Glotion ($15.99). It works just as well at giving that same kind of high beam, strobe light, really big brightness to the skin. The difference is the consistency: The Lumi Glotion is very thin and lightweight, and the Charlotte Tilbury one is thicker.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
Photo: Willy Vanderperre/Courtesy of Ann Demeulemeester
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Thursday.
Ludovic de Saint Sernin Named Creative Director of Ann Demeulemeester Ann Demeulemeester has announced that its new creative director will be buzzy Paris designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin. As part of the announcement, Ludovic de Saint Sernin released six images where he is seen wearing several archival Ann Demeulemeester pieces. The designer’s first collection for the label will be shown during the March 2023 season of Paris Fashion Week. {Fashionista inbox}
Ugg releases new collaboration with Shayne Oliver Ugg has collaborated with New York-based designer Shayne Oliver, best known as the founder and creative director of Hood By Air, for Fall 2022. The capsule marries the shape and comfort of the classic Ugg boot with Oliver’s futuristic aesthetic. “I like the idea of playing with tradition and pushing it to extreme levels and UGG is a huge part of the language that I’m extremely pleased with pursuing,” said Oliver in a press release. “Being able to put this very comfortable thing within the world that I’m building feels interesting.” The collection is available to shop now at Ugg.com. {Fashionista inbox}
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Fear of God to open its first flagship store As a result of tripled sales in the last two years, Fear of God will be opening its first flagship space next year in Los Angeles. In conjunction, the brand will also be entering the women’s footwear and bags space for the first time, which will be unveiled at its debut fashion show in 2023. Jerry Lorenzo, founder of the brand, has a specific hope for Fear of God’s first permanent retail space. “Our intention is that when you come into the store, there’s a shift that happens,” Lorenzo said. “We want to bring you into a space that’s beyond an environment; it’s an atmosphere.” {Business of Fashion}
Telfar and Moose Knuckles release second collaboration Moose Knuckles has released its second collaboration with Telfar. The new additions to the collection include 24 ready-to-wear pieces and an expanded shopping bag range in gold and silver colorways. In addition to the collaboration, Moose Knuckles announced it’s engineering and manufacturing Telfar’s debut outwear collection, set to debut later this fall. Meanwhile, the collaboration is available now at Telfar.net or MooseKnucklesCanada.com. {Fashionista inbox}
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
Each month, Fashionista editors try a *lot* of beauty products. And while not every formula we test is a winner, we’re constantly unearthing new favorites. Here, we’ve rounded up our latest hair, skin, fragrance, wellness and makeup discoveries — whether fresh-to-market drops or merely recent additions to our personal routines.
Some of us may still be eating Thanksgiving leftovers and paying off Black Friday purchases, but the abundant holiday decorations and Christmas music have spoken: It’s officially December. So before we venture too far into the winter wonderland that is the final month of the year, we’re taking a moment to look back at our favorite beauty discoveries from November.
Over the past four weeks, team Fashionista tried out an overachieving nude lipstick with a genius built-in mirror, some actually good at-home hair color, multiple winter skin saviors and a high-tech wellness gadget with life-changing potential. Scroll through the gallery below to see all of our latest skin, hair, makeup, nail, fragrance and wellness picks.
Highr Collective Lipstick in Blue Jeans, $32, available here: “Not only is this creamy, moisturizing lipstick the perfect my-lips-but-better pinky nude for my skin tone, but it also comes housed in the smartest little metal case with a hidden mirror for application on the go.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
BeautyStat Universal Moisture Essence, $40, available here: “If my skin is feeling dryer than usual, I’ll layer this squalane-based oil over or mix it in with my moisturizer at night. It adds that perfect boost of lasting moisture without the heaviness or greasiness of a typical face oil.” —Dhani Mau, Editor-in-chief
Pleasing Hand + Nail Balm, $25, available here: “Ever since the brand gifted me this hand cream, I haven’t been able to stop using it. As an obsessive hand-washer, keeping my hands moisturized is a priority, and this balm-like formula leaves them feeling soft without any sticky or oily residue left over.” —Brooke Frischer, Editorial Intern
Kristin Ess Hair Signature Gloss, $15, available here: “TikTok influenced me to try this color-enhancing gloss, and I’m so glad I did: It made my hair unbelievably shiny, like I had just stepped out of the salon.” —Liza Sokol, Sr. Audience Development Manager
Flawless by Gabrielle Union Repairing Deep Conditioning Masque, $10, available here: “The first time I used this mask from Gabrielle Union‘s hair-care brand, I was happily shocked with how defined my curls looked. And it’s no wonder: Ingredients like castor seed oil, shea butter, avocado oil, rice complex and biotin make for a powerful formula — and for the price point, that’s especially impressive.” —Andrea Bossi, Staff Writer
Youthforia Pregame Setting Spray, $36, available here: “I don’t usually wear face makeup because it melts away by the end of the day, but Youthforia’s setting spray changes that. I wore a light foundation while covering the CFDA Awards red carpet, and this lightweight mist kept my full face intact the entire night, sweat and all. It also left a subtly dewy finish.” —India Roby, Staff Writer
Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body Lotion, $12, available here: “In the winter, I need a heavy-duty body cream that will help trap moisture in my skin so I don’t wind up with scaly, scary lizard skin. This dense, shea- and cocoa-butter spiked, almost balm-like formula fits that need. Plus, it’s laced with retinol to gently deliver wrinkle-preventing, collagen-supporting benefits to skin that’s sometimes forgotten, like on arms and legs.” —SS
Stripes The Crown Pleaser Ectoine Densifying Hair Mask, $40, available here: “While this pudding-like hair mask was technically developed for those experiencing menopause (and the thinning and drying of hair that can accompany it), I’ve found my 32-year-old hair loves it nonetheless. Amino acids lend incredible shine, while ectoine helps target intense hydration where it’s needed most on the scalp and hair. I find that my hair seems stronger and smoother after I use it in place of conditioner. Plus, I’m obsessed with the the fresh, floral scent.” —SS
Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum with Hyaluronic Acid, $59, available here: “With winter and my furnace making my environment (and thus skin) dryer than usual, I’ve started incorporating this hydrating serum as a first step in my skin-care routine. It sinks right in, layers well under other products and makes me feel confident that the dry air won’t suck all the moisture out of my face throughout the day.” —DM
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer, $33, available here: “It’s rare that a concealer can expertly cover breakouts, undereye circles and hyperpigmentation while also leaving behind a natural, glow-y, skin-like finish sans creasing and caking. But that’s exactly what this lightweight, intensely pigmented formula does.” —SS
Mugler Alien Goddess Eau de Parfum, $123, available here: “I’m typically someone who finds a fragrance and sticks to it, but after I was gifted the latest iteration of Mugler’s classic Alien perfume, I’ve started switching it up. The scent is sweet but with a little edge, making it great for the evening.” —BF
Higher Dose Infrared PEMF Go Mat, $599, available here: “I’ve developed a fast obsession with this versatile, portable mat that combines infrared heat, pulsed electromagnetic frequency and crystals to provide benefits that include mental stimulation, relaxation, stress reduction, improved circulation and muscle recovery, depending on the settings you choose. You can read more about my new best friend here.” —DM
Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum, $38, available here: “This lightweight, fast-absorbing serum is so good, I’ve made my roommates try it. (And yes, they want more… but I can only share so much.) In less than a month of using it, it’s reduced redness, helped ward off breakouts and made my skin appear brighter.” —AB
Chanel L’Huile Camelia Nail Oil, $32, available here: “Ever since butchering my nails while trying to remove gel at home, I’ve been doing what I can to grow them back stronger. Oiling your cuticles is one way to do this, and I’ve found Chanel’s camellia oil perfect for the job.” —AB
Luxe Solutions by ion Luxe Supercharged Hair Dryer, $250 available here: “This is actually the first hair dryer I’ve owned (don’t @ me, I’m an air-dry girlie!), but I can confidently say it’s the best product I’ve been gifted for my hair. Not only is the tool lightweight, but I also love the magnetic attachments. On wash day, I usually go for the diffuser, which leaves my curls super bouncy.” —IR
La Roche Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream for Body and Face, $16, available here: “In the winter, my skin turns dry, rosacea-prone and easily irritated. This thick, coddling moisturizer is perfect for nights when I want to give my face a break from retinoids and exfoliators and just let it hang out in recovery mode. Shea butter and glycerin trap moisture in, and I wake up with a smooth, calm, hydrated complexion. I also really appreciate that the brand has smartly re-vamped the packaging to use less plastic.” —SS
Smiley x Touchland Mango Passion Hand Sanitizer Mist, $10, available here: “You know that popular TikTok audio that’s like, ‘It’s so cute, capitalism really popped off today’? That’s how I feel about this hand sanitizer. It’s super adorable, smells amazing and has aloe vera so it’s hydrating.” —LS
Gehwol Nail Care, $26, available here: “During a medical pedicure at Medi Pedi NYC (which I highly recommend), my pedicurist used and recommended this oil I’d never heard of to help with my brittle, often peeling finger- and toenails. Its ugly packaging covered in German only further convinced me of its effectiveness. It’s absolutely made my nails look and feel healthier and stronger with regular use, and it happens to smell great.” —DM
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum, $169, available here: “This vitamin C serum has been a serious game-changer for me. I’d taken vitamin C serum out of my routine for a few months to try and simplify, but after a facialist recommended this product, I’ve used it every day and seen a genuine difference in my skin’s evenness and tone.” —BF
Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty
Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Exfoliation Night Resurfacing + Brightening Serum, $79, available here: “I wrote a whole long-winded explanation about why I love this multitasking face serum — you can read that version here — but suffice it to say, this gentle exfoliator yields impressively smooth, glow-y, even results in just one overnight application. It’s impressive.” —SS
Bravanariz Muga Fragrance, $165, available here: “This scent is as captivating and irresistible as it is unique. Inspired by Spain’s Empordà region in the spring, it melds notes of rosemary, lavender and chamomile for a surprisingly sexy take on herbs. As much as I enjoy wearing some more widely popular perfumes, I also love standing out — and you can’t fly under any radar when wearing Muga.” —AB
Ranavat Brightening Saffron Serum Mini, $35, available here: “Apparently saffron doesn’t just work magic in food, it also has a ton of skin-care benefits, including serving as an antioxidant and reducing hyperpigmentation. The saffron serum from Ranavat, which makes ritual and Ayurvedic-based skin care, is a powerful product in a tiny bottle. I love rubbing a few drops onto my face for the smell and the glow that comes soon after.” —AB
Flamingo Light Hydrating Spray Lotion, $10, available here: “This super lightweight spray body lotion couldn’t be easier to apply. It also has the most gorgeous vetiver and bergamot scent, and I love how hydrating the squalane is.” —LS
Kayali Vanilla Royale Sugared Patchouli Perfume, $100, available here: “‘Vanilla, but intense’ is Liza-bait when it comes to perfumes, and the combination of sugary vanilla, golden rum, patchouli and oud makes for a sweet-and-spicy dry down that I can’t get enough of.” —LS
Mydentity MyRefresh Color Depositing Conditioner, $24, available here: “I’m quite experimental when it comes to my hair, so when I found out that colorist Guy Tang released a temporary hair color-depositing conditioner, I had to give it a try. I used the crimson shade on my dark brown hair, which resulted in a vibrant hue that especially shows up when the sun hits it.” —IR
Mediheal Teatree Trouble Pad, $22, available here: “These little treatment pads (they’re like tiny, super thin sheet masks) are great for focusing on certain areas of your face. I also love that the included hygienic tweezers clip into the lid so they’re difficult to lose. I like the tea tree one for zit-prone areas and the hydrating one for dry spots. Bonus: The packaging stacks nicely and is super #aesthetic.” —LS
Warning: Spoilers for the first two episodes of ‘Gossip Girl’ season two below.
“It’s faster, meaner, funnier,” says longtime “Gossip Girl” costume designer Eric Daman, ahead of the Dec. 1 premiere of season two of 2.0. “It has catfights and people gunning for crowns and … headbands. It just feels like a fan’s dream.”
The HBO Max reboot’s sophomore run picks up immediately after an eventful New Year’s Eve in Hudson, but the show’s return definitely feels much spicier. The dialogue is stacked with cackle-inducing, fashion-related rapid-fire jokes — largely quips between the scheming Monet (Savannah Lee Smith) and teen spin doctor Luna (Zión Moreno). Listen carefully for extortion involving Law Roach, shade at Diet Prada and New York City-specific retail burns. (Hudson Yards just cannot catch a break, huh?)
After six seasons of the original and one for 2.0, Daman keeps pushing the “Gossip Girl” envelope, taking the Constance Billard and St. Jude’s co-eds into their next stages, scandals, entanglements and, yes, personal growth. Ahead, the costume designer discusses fashion highlights from episodes one and two, as well as outfit (and plot) teasers to come.
Julien’s Zoya-Wannabe Overalls
Julien (Jordan Alexander)’s literally in a new place now, since downsizing and moving in with half-sister Zoya (Whitney Peak) and her cash-strapped father, Nick (Jonathan Fernandez). Refraining from her repeated attempts to reunite with snooze-fest ex Obie (Eli Brown), Julien is focusing on bettering herself.
“She’s more mindful, but she’s still Julien Calloway, so it’s a little misguided,” says Daman.
Of course, the main way influencer Julien expresses herself is through fashion (and ill-advised social subterfuge). As a sister is wont to do, she decides to “emulate” Zoya’s steadfast (if not sometimes sanctimonious) commitment to her values by copping her low-key aesthetic.
“I know they’re your thing, but I hope you don’t mind I augmented it a little bit,” says Julien, proudly debuting her new overalls at breakfast. She ends up inciting her half-sibling’s jealousy, as Nick marvels, “Everything you wear just works, doesn’t it?”
Zoya’s dad is right: Julien inevitably kicks off an overalls trend at at school, despite Monet’s and Luna’s snooty skepticism.
Daman rebuilt a Constance uniform into a “contemporary” Julien-friendly silhouette, while taking inspiration from Liz Hurley’s iconic 1994 safety pin-embellished Versace dress. “Julien cobbled it together [with Versace-referential] kilt pins as buckles, her little cropped shirt and her Dior scarf,” says Daman. “She’s teetering between the two worlds of good intentions, but slightly misguided and not really understanding what the bigger picture is.”
The luxury brand-loving Julien — via Daman, of course — is also making an effort to uplift and support BIPOC designers through her social platform and clout at school. As a cherry on top of her elevated Zoya ‘fit, Julien (with zero self-awareness) wears an “overly-embellished” Rhude Le Valley varsity jacket embroidered with: “How much can I get away with and still go to heaven?”
Julien’s Debutante Ball Gown
Julien (Jordan Alexander) in Pantora Bridal.
Photo: Barbara Nitke/HBO Max
As Julien attempts to step away from the spotlight, Monet readies to seize it. Cue a requisite “Gossip Girl” black-tie affair in a very public forum: a refresh of the antiquated debutante ball.
“It’s so strange to put all these young women in bridal dresses. It’s this really weird world that still exists,” says Daman.
He went to Andrea Pitter’s Pantora Bridal for one of the “Making the Cut” winner’s classic wedding styles from the “Honor” collection: a sleeveless, deep V-neck gown with an oversized bow. She made six versions of the dress in just a four-week period, since the evening ends with a full-on brawl between Julien and Monet (and a bunch of debs turning on each other).
“For Julian to go to a young Black female designer in Brooklyn is also a good storyline; she’s being mindful and trying to embrace Zoya’s ideology in a way,” says Daman.
In support of the New York City Garment District, which was battered by the pandemic, Daman custom-made Monet’s coming-out sequined mermaid gown with materials sourced from Diana Fabrics. “I had something very specific in mind,” he says, adding that he took color inspo from the runways: “I wanted to do a nude illusion with sequins and have it be this very impactful turquoise blue.”
The Julien v. Monet Fashion Face-Off
Give Julien the cover!!
Photo: Barbara Nitke/HBO Max
Luna — a.k.a. Constance Billard’s resident Samantha Jones — convinces Julien to vie against Monet for the “Most Influential Teen” cover of Spectator magazine, perhaps a stand-in for New York, since former staff writer Hunter Harris joined the “Gossip Girl” writers room for season two. Harris also makes a cameo as a Spectator writer (very meta) who obviously knows Julien already: “You look amazing. Who are you wearing?” she asks Julien, who responds with, “Theophilio.”
And Julien does look pretty amazing in a colorfully-striped body-con jumpsuit from designer Edvin Thompson’s “Homecoming” collection, which celebrates his Jamaican heritage. (For outside scenes, Daman perfectly paired it with a vibrant crochet back-paneled trench coat by Monse. *Chef’s kiss.*)
Luna (Zión Moreno), spin, spin, spinning, and Monet (Savannah Lee Smith) in Dolce & Gabbana, scheming.
Photo: Barbara Nitke/Courtesy of HBO Max
Monet’s thirst comes through in the extravagant, crystal-embellished gown.
“She’s covered in jewels,” says Daman. “Then, Julien is low-key, super downtown, high fashion — again, trying to be mindful.”
The costume designer needed to source a few of the opulent designer gowns, too, since Monet really commits to the manufactured conflict and throws herself in a fountain. But, again, Julien prevails.
“To have Theophilio versus Dolce, that’s a really smart moment,” says Daman.
Max’s Softer Side
A sensitive Max (Thomas Doherty).
Photo: Barbara Nitke/Courtesy of HBO Max
Hard-partying pleasure-seeker Max (Thomas Doherty) finds himself in uncharted waters: Now that longtime couple Aki (Evan Mock) and Audrey (Emily Alyn Lind) have extended their bond to include him, he’s exploring his unguarded side and experiencing feelings.
“[He has] a little bit more of a softer, romantic fey-ness to his costumes,” says Daman. “Everything’s just a little bit softer and more vulnerable.”
Max’s emotional maturation comes through in his chunky sweaters and cozy, tactile layers — think Burberry cardigans versus his sharp, tailored suits and ornate shirts of last season. “Just a little more like a cocoon,” Daman says. “Almost like a security blanket, as opposed to putting on a coat of arms of a super-tailored suit.”
Throuple Coordinated Style
Aki (Evan Mock), Max and Audrey (Emily Alyn Lind) attempt a coming-out dinner.
Photo: Barbara Nitke/Courtesy of HBO Max
Couples and best friends often start dressing alike — so does the official throuple that is Aki, Audrey and Max.
“They’re coordinating,” says Daman, noting how, in the original series, he would often match Blair (Leighton Meester)’s headband with Chuck (Ed Westwick)’s pocket square. “It really helped tell a story in certain scenes, when you want their energy to be connected.”
Daman points to the scene (above) when the three attempt to announce their triad romance with a dinner, which, in true “Gossip Girl” style, goes comically awry. As a composite, Audrey’s peach-toned Stella McCartney mini with delicate lace ruffles at the bodice, Aki’s monochrome gray Acne set and Max’s muted brown Lardini suit and graphic 73 London shirt all subtly mesh — “like a chalky softness and earthiness to the colors that they have on that feels very connected,” says Daman.
The move from couple to throuple (and anxiety of being the third wheel to Aki and Max) also influences Audrey’s Old Hollywood-referential style, which Daman describes as “a place between a Brigitte Bardot meets Diane Keaton in ‘Annie Hall.’”
Audrey’s daytime school looks veer toward a traditionally “menswear-inspired” vibe, like a stellar vintage Saint Laurent tartan hooded cape, white Simone Rocha shirt under a boxy cable-knit Princess Polly vest, and cropped J.W. Anderson pants. Her oft-strapless nighttime party looks skew more strapless “sex bomb evening-wear,” like a sultry vintage velvet Alexander McQueen dress worn to the “Kiss on the Lips” party (with which Max coordinates in a McQueen blazer).
The Return of the Headband
Monet and ‘The Help,’ as she refers to her groups of minions.
Photo: Barbara Nitke/HBO Max
In the premiere of 2.0 season one, Daman and the franchise effectively renounced Blair Waldorf’s iconic headband from the original “G.G.”: “She has a headband on,” sniffed Monet, throwing shade at then-freshman newbie Zoya.
“To be honest, there was a lot of pushback from fans about that moment,” says Daman. “Now we’ve flipped that with Monet, specifically, and have her gunning for the crown and emulating the O.G. Queen Bee.”
To foreshadow her hostile takeover of Constance Billard, Monet even dresses like Blair in checked bouclé skirt sets, lace-trimmed Peter Pan collars, designer ribbon ties and, of course, headbands — “just a complete echo of Blair Waldorf,” says Daman, who enjoyed reuniting with Jennifer Behr, purveyor of Ms. Waldorf’s headpieces, but also incorporating smaller independent designers, like Lele Sadoughi and Deepa Gurnani.
But Daman admits: “Monet is much more opulent and nouveau than Blair was.”
There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History,’ Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks.
As a reigning socialite and an early 2000s icon that practically grew up in the spotlight, Paris Hilton has been a red carpet regular pretty much since the noughties. During her golden years as the “OG” influencer (before that title even existed), she was known for her affinity for Juicy Couture tracksuits and Versace mini dresses. But at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, Hilton switched it up a notch with a stunning maxi moment, one that would become emblematic not only of her sought-after style, but also stand the test of time — so much so, that the brand is re-issuing it in 2022.
The then-23 year-old wore a silk turquoise gown from Esteban Cortázar‘s Spring 2003 collection, his debut show. It featured a twisted halter neckline, dramatic cutouts at the waist and a floor-hitting skirt. In true Hilton fashion, she paired it with a stack of diamond necklaces, silver metallic sandals. For glam, she went with a voluminous teased hairdo, smokey black eyeliner and a glossy nude lip.
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Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Eighteen (!!!) years later, Cortázar decided to reissue the style — and others from that collection, which was influenced by the bustling Miami nightlife and the club scenes of the ’90s and 2000s — in collaboration with Farfetch, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his namesake brand’s first-ever show. So, you can shop the exact same dress Hilton wore in 2004 right now, and channel your inner Y2K socialite.
Esteban Cortazar The Liquid Open-Back Silk Bandeau Maxi Dress in Turquoise, $1,704, available here (sizes XS-L)
Chelsea Paris Remy Heels, $395, available here (sizes 36-42)
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Wednesday.
Business of Fashion and McKinsey Release State of Fashion 2023 report Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Co. released their annual report, “The State of Fashion 2023,” containing insights for the upcoming year and 10 key trends that are set to shape the industry. Business of Fashion CEO Imran Amed cautions of an upcoming global “polycrisis” between the economy and fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Major findings include that a whopping 56% of fashion executives are bracing for an industry slowdown through 2023 amid various pressures. However, luxury sales are likely to carry the industry, expected to grow 10% over the year. The industry remains cautious on the dangers of greenwashing. {Business of Fashion}
Taylor Russell covers Dazed for Winter 2022 “Bones And All” star Taylor Russell covers Dazed in Loewe, telling Connor Garrel about her love of nature and Patti Smith in the cover story. Though portraying “a loping, heartbroken flesheater” in the film, Russell revealed her childhood dreams to leave Canada, which led her to trying ballet before acting. Dazed wrote Russell “has the warm, inviting disposition of an old friend.” {Dazed}
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Gucci opens applications for next Changemakers initiative Gucci announced applications are open for its fourth class of the North America Changemakers initiative on Giving Tuesday. These funds are intended, according to the press release, to “support talented students and non-profit organizations that amplify stories and opportunities within diverse communities inspiring solutions for a better future.” Gucci claims to have invested nearly $4.7 million in its scholarship programs to date. Applications are due on Feb. 3 and you can find more info here for scholarships and here for the impact fund. {Fashionista inbox}
Edie Parker is reaching younger shoppers with ‘Weedie Parker’ line Where the brand may be known for pricy evening clutches, there are now handbag options under the Weedie Parker line, like the $150 customizable Bodega Bag, that help expose the brand to younger consumers, founder Brett Heyman tells Glossy’s Sara Spruch-Feiner. As cannabis is increasingly decriminalized, so is fashion increasingly taking inspiration from the magical plant. {Glossy}
Homepage photo: Carlijn Jacobs/Courtesy of Dazed
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
“Standing on the edge of the sixth mass extinction, fashion might seem a small player in the emergency,” Safia Minney wrote in the opening pages of her latest book, “Regenerative Fashion.” But, she goes on to argue that it’s anything but small.
“We can put nature and people central to creating beautiful product. What my book is trying to do is show that we can redesign the fashion industry,” she tells Fashionista, “that these solutions already exist and that it’s really now up to us to learn what the solutions are to start.”
The British social entrepreneur and writer has spent decades committed to ethical change in fashion. She founded the Fair Trade brand People Tree in the ’90s and served as its CEO for over two decades. In 2022, she launched grassroots campaign Fashion Declares, which aims to mobilize the industry on issues relating to the climate, ecological and social crises.
In “Regenerative Fashion,” Minney takes on the mammoth task of breaking down the complexities of today’s fashion ecosystem. She highlights the implications of its waste, the toll on biodiversity, the human cost of it all. She teases apart why certain fabrics, like wool, may be better than their synthetic alternatives. Most importantly, she emphasizes the hope and power consumers hold to shape a better future, and proposes regenerative fashion as a path forward.
“Regenerative Fashion: A Nature-Based Approach to Fibres, Livelihoods, and Leadership” by Safia Minney, $40, available here.
Regenerative fashion is a multi-pronged approach to finding and implementing circular solutions to problems that have historically led fashion to extract natural resources from the environment, rather than give back to it. It’s a practice inspired by regenerative agriculture, and to Minney, it presents a solution to everything from pollution to poor working conditions. It means mapping out the supply chain, building better relationships with farmers, introducing legislation that ensures accountability — things that allow for more transparency throughout the process and uphold ethical practices.
Despite the role fashion has played in environmental destruction, there are plenty of people “who passionately care about changing the industry and changing the way we think about workers and the supply chain,” she says. “We can’t not have hope.”
Garment workers are still heavily exploited
Fashion is the fourth biggest manufacturing industry. Behind the massive quantities produced are actual people sewing, cutting and packaging your clothes. And those people are especially vulnerable to mistreatment and exploitation.
“Because [fashion manufacturing] is accessible to low-income countries, it can generate employment opportunities and is often described as ‘an engine for global development,’” Minney wrote in the book. “Yet modern slavery, trafficking, sexual harassment and wage theft are endemic.”
That has only exacerbated in recent years due to the Covid-19 crisis, which saw brands cancel massive orders, many of which had already been created and even shipped but would go unpaid. More recently, high inflation and economic uncertainty have also trickled into deferred orders and conditions “worse than in the pandemic” in places like Bangladesh, the world’s third-largest apparel producer.
Garment workers have repeatedly gone on hunger strikes in Bangladesh due to unpaid wages.
Photo: Allison Joyce/Getty Images
The human cost of the fashion industry goes beyond the assembly line: It also affects farmers and their soil, the environments where people live. It implicates people who aren’t even a part of the chain.
“Farming fibres regeneratively, alongside crops and livestock, protects the land from contamination by synthetic pesticides and insecticides and actively works to improve soil health, habitats and ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and resilience,” Minney wrote.
Even donating clothes — seen as a more noble way to get rid of used garments — comes at the expense of others, particularly along colonial lines.
“When second-hand clothes started flooding into Ghana in the 1960s, people assumed they came from dead foreigners, since excess was not an indigenous concept,” OR Foundation founder Liz Ricketts told Minney in the book. “Colonial power dynamics persist in many ways across the second-hand economy.”
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The way we think about pricing has to change
The fashion industry is currently “one of absurdity,” London fashion professor Dilys Williams said in “Regenerative Fashion.”
To build its wealth, it has created inherent “sacrifice zones” — areas made to be disposable in the interest of economic gain. For example, companies increase profit margins by underpaying garment workers and allowing for poor working conditions. That’s what lead to catastrophes like the 2013 Rana Plaza Collapse that killed thousands.
Low prices should be a red flag to consumers on the ethics of the product they’re purchasing.
Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
“Capitalism is a broken concept,” Minney wrote. “It promotes endless growth, but ignores the fact that natural resources to support it are finite.”
Making changes — like setting pricing to reflect the cost on nature, expanding the slate of stakeholders, having uncomfortable conversations and corporate activism — contribute to longevity.
Though we may not see an end to capitalism anytime soon, Minney is hopeful, thanks to the work of activists and advocates within the industry. “There’s some really exciting legislation coming through in terms of modern slavery,” she tells Fashionista. “I think the Remake Report also gives some really clear indications as to what kind of transparency civil society is now expecting. There are lots of different levers pushing for change.”
There is a path forward
“Fashion is a unique human construct and, as such, has a powerful role in promoting awareness of equality, sustainable living and solidarity in the face of climate breakdown,” Minney wrote in the book. “Regenerative fashion brings us together through close working partnerships… and promoting a decolonialized trading system.”
“Regenerative Fashion” is a powerful read because it reminds us of the practices — largely established by Indigenous cultures — that have existed for a long time and support harmony between us and our ecosystems, and that it’s vital to return to them and step away from the hyper-capitalist, consumption-driven path we’ve been on. We have the power and ability to rethink how fashion operates and potentially undo some of the damage we’ve caused.
“The next evolution of fashion design,” she wrote, “will be triggered by talented individuals reaching even greater heights of creativity and systems thinking, while reducing their ecological footprint and increasing their social impact. Anything less will go out of fashion for good.”
Minney is hopeful based on the energy and creativity people in the industry dedicate to building a better future.
Photo: Adam Berry/Getty Images
Regenerative fashion, she argued, is important not only for the health of the planet, but for that of all people, especially in the Global South.
“It’s not just a matter of reining in the worst excesses,” Minney wrote. “Fashion must have a future in which it creates a positive impact, both socially and ecologically.”
“Regenerative Fashion: A Nature-Based Approach to Fibres, Livelihoods, and Leadership” by Safia Minney, $40, available here.
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
Happy Sag season, y’all! After a tumultuous few weeks of eclipses and a sneaky Scorpio season, the long-awaited ~good vibes~ are finally in order. The planets have swiftly shifted from the somber, emotional water sign into the fun and free fire sign Sagittarius (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21), putting the collective into more uplifting spirits just in time for the holidays.
If you need a sign to: send those risky texts, wipe those tears, leave your room, splurge on those woven Bottega Veneta boots you’ve been eyeing since last year… This is it.
Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, a planet of abundance, luck, expansion and optimism, which is why (for the most part) a Sag will always have their best foot forward and a cheeky smile on their face.
The New Moon in Sagittarius early last week was one of the luckiest days of the year for manifesting and setting intentions post-Eclipse. The moon in Sagittarius aligned with the two benefics in astrology — a.k.a. the luckiest planets in the sky, Venus and Jupiter. It made a trine (i.e. harmonious aspect) to Jupiter, the planet of abundance, and joined Venus in Sagittarius, the planet of love and beauty. If you have a project you’ve been wanting to bring to life or been wanting to move somewhere new, harness the revitalizing energy of the next two weeks to make those plans.
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After moving in retrograde since July 28, Jupiter — in its home sign, Pisces — is now stationed directly. Jupiter rules over freedom, expansion and visions beyond our wildest dreams; to be in retrograde is to have limitations and restrictions — a big fear for Jupiter. The direct motion of Jupiter should clear away limiting beliefs surrounding faith in the house that you have Pisces in and usher in some much-needed abundance for the next month, before it moves into Aries right before the New Year.
Now for what you’re actually here for: the fashion stuff! First, let’s do a roll call of my favorite Sagittariuses in fashion, which include Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler and (I’m getting teary-eyed writing this one following his recent departure from Gucci) Alessandro Michele — or what I like to call, The Holy Trinity of Maximalist Fashion™. Always over the top, these fashion designers have never been afraid to think outside the box and bring their larger-than-life Sagittarian fantasies to the runway.
In honor of Sag season, I’ve compiled a gift guide for everybody’s favorite comedians. Being the fab fashion writer/astrologer/detail-oriented Virgo I am (the credentials are obviously there), I’ve curated the list so every item has some kind of astrological, Sagittarian connection to it. Enjoy!
Christian Dior Vintage Saddle Bag Denim Medium, $1,430, available here: This timeless purse, created by John Galliano for Dior in 1999, found her fame strapped on Carrie Bradshaw‘s shoulder in “Sex and the City,” before being revived by Kim Jones and Maria Grazia Chiuri in 2018. It’s been a staple in the most fashionable of closets since — but, instead of spending thousands of dollars on a new one, opt for one from a secondhand retailer like Rebag. (This gorgeous denim version, for example, will go with any outfit.)
Now how on earth does this relate to Sagittarius? Not only does Sagittarius rule over horses, but Galliano is also a Sagittarius himself. (Fun fashion fact: Emilio Pucci is a Sagittarius rising, and in his biography “Pucci: A Renaissance In Fashion,” his lifelong friend Susanna Agnelli describes him as “tall, thin as a skeleton, with the long, sad face of a horse.”)
Alchemy by Leeor Alexandra The Bliss Amulet, $130, available here: Religion, philosophy and faith are all ruled by Sagittarius, a sign constantly on the path towards spiritual truth and enlightenment, alongside its cousin Pisces. Spiritualist Leeor Alexandra’s jewelry brand Alchemy makes amulets that aid in manifesting love, healing, prosperity and happiness.
These sentimental amulets, or “segulas,” serve as a “protective and benevolent Kabbalistic charm,” according to Alchemy. The front features three of the 72 sacred Kabbalah words that are aligned with the manifestation of your choosing. The Bliss Amulet is meant to promote positive energy, diffuse negative energy and encourage peace of mind and tranquility.
Stack your amulet with a chain-link necklace or two — the more, the merrier. If TikTok muse Hailey Bieber (fellow Sag) is doing it, so should you!
Béis The Convertible Mini Weekender, $108, available here: If there’s one thing a Sag is going to do, it’s book a flight whenever they want to.
Sagittarius is the ruler of the ninth house in astrology, and besides spirituality and higher education, this house rules over foreign travel and exploration. In stereotypical fire-sign fashion, Sags are always catching both flights *and* feelings, so it’s only fair for them to be gifted a chic weekender from Béis, for when they need to look extra cute meeting their future spouse at the airport.
Designed by Shay Mitchell, Béisluggage is large enough and filled with enough compartments to carry all kinds of baggage — emotional and otherwise.
Assouline “Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh” (Classic Cartoon Cover), $120, available here: It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the fashion world lost creative visionary Virgil Abloh. I want to do my part in keeping his legacy alive by pre-ordering “Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh” by Assouline, which features a beautiful cartoon cover referencing the designer’s Spring 2021 show for Louis Vuitton and personal images and words from Abloh’s inner circle. It’s the perfect colorful addition to a Sagittarius’ already-colorful coffee table, and a pick-me-up from fashion’s most innovative creative, to satiate their inquisitive minds.
Pipenco Lorena Kaki Furry Sunglasses, $250, available here: On behalf of glam, fashion and Sagittarian maximalism: Furry sunglasses are in, and small pets as an accessory are out!
As a mutable sign, Sagittarius is prone to spontaneity and change. Keep your wardrobe fun and fresh with New York-based designer Lorena Pipenco’s furry sunglasses. The emerging designer uses upcycled yarn and a Romanian embroidery technique she learned from her mother to create the eyewear. You can DM her on Instagram for custom work. (Supporting small fashion designers is also very much IN!)
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti® Cabochon Ring, $1,175, available here: If you find a shiny, blue topaz cabochon ring from Elsa Peretti‘s Tiffany & Co. line laying around, please return/give it to your dearest Sag friend. Blue topaz is the sign’s most special birthstone; the calming energy of these semi-precious gems is used to heal your throat chakra, relieve any stress and help you express the truth.
Cushioned on a sterling silver metal, the blue topaz stone here is set in Peretti’s iconic fluid shape — a classic piece of fashion history on your finger.
Dion Lee Wave Quilted Mini Skirt, $325 (from $760), available here (sizes US 4-18): The Miu Miu mini-skirt saga continues, but this time the silhouette is rewritten by Dion Lee in the form of a quilted asymmetric wrap skirt embedded with latch hardware.
In astrology, Sagittarius is the ruler of our legs, more specifically our thighs. Embrace what the stars gave you with a mini skirt made by Australia’s most refined designer, which happens to be 50% off and come in three colors.
Miron Crosby Margretta Caramel Boots, $2,795, available here: City Girl meets the Countryside. If you’re going to commit to the whole western vibe of Sagittarius, you can’t do it without a pair of cowboy boots from Miron Crosby, a brand founded by sisters and inspired by their experiences living between a Texas cattle ranch and New York City. These celestial caramel calfskin shoes are appliquéd with champagne metallic leather stars and crescent moons, so trust me when I tell you I screamed when I found them. They’re perfect. Buy them.
Hanifa Myra Knit Maxi, $369, available here (sizes XS-3XL) and Manolo Blahnik Elsaka Sandals, $1,645, available here: Looking for the perfect birthday dress? Figure-hugging and anchored with buttons on the sleeves, this incredibly flirty Hanifa knit style will have your confidence sailing through the roof. Purple is Sagittarius’ lucky color, after all.
Pair it with a strappy embellished Elsaka sandal from Manolo Blahnik, who’s a Sag king himself!
Hermès Passport Holder, $540, available here and Oscar de la Renta Black Croc-Embossed Passport Case, $320, available here: Because a Sag loves traveling so much, their passport is probably (certainly) falling apart. Protect their most valuable asset and fuel their jet-setter lifestyle with a chic passport holder. This baby blue calfskin one from Hermès, lined with printed silk twill, or this black croc-embossed one from Oscar de La Renta, topped with an iconic brass gardenia flower, imbues first-class regality even from the back of the plane.
Christopher John Rogers Bergdorf Goodman Embellished Oversized Sweatshirt, $375, available here (sizes XS-XL): The superlatives are in, and for the power couple of the year we have: the holidays and Bergdorf Goodman. Christopher John Rogers collaborated with the iconic department store to bring this vibrant, sequined “BERGDORF GOODMAN!” sweatshirt to life in none other than Sagittarius Purple.
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Tuesday.
Cuyana partners with Smart Works and Meghan Markle For Giving Tuesday, Cuyana is donating 500 of its Classic Structured Totes to the UK-based charity Smart Works in partnership with its patron, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. Smart Works aims to empower women who need help getting into the workforce. Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex said in a statement, “I am proud to bring [Cuyana and Smart Works] together to further our shared mission of uplifting and empowering women all around the globe.” {Fashionista inbox}
Shannon Abloh gives first interview since Virgil Abloh’s passing A little over one year after her husband’s passing, Shannon Abloh sat down with The New York Times to discuss her plans to take charge of his legacy. She said, “After his passing, so many people came up to me and said, ‘Virgil was my best friend’ […] A lot of his collaborators, or even people who maybe weren’t that close to him, feel ‘I can do this to help his legacy, or I can do that to help his legacy.’ It’s like this train that’s going 500 miles per hour, and I just thought: I have to stay on this train, because if I don’t, I don’t know where it’s going to go.” {The New York Times}
Photo: Courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics
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Benefit Cosmetics launches EmpowHERment Post initiative benefiting Planned Parenthood For the holiday season, Benefit Cosmetics has launched the EmpowHERment Post initiative, which encourages the brand’s community to send a postcard for free to someone who empowers them. Benefit will donate $5 for each card sent to Planned Parenthood. You can send a postcard to someone who empowers you at BenefitCosmetics.com. {Fashionista inbox}
Coach launches re-issue of the Demi Bag The new silhouette is a re-imagination of Coach‘s original Demi Bag, a popular style in the early 2000s. The new bag comes in a variety of colors including pink, green and blue. The signature jacquard is made from a blend of organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles, and the leather is produced from leather shavings and scraps at Coach’s tannery. You can shop the bag now at Coach.com. {Fashionista inbox}
Forbes releases its 30 under 30 list for 2022 Forbes has released its annual 30 under 30 list and it includes a number of fashion and beauty founders like Olamide Olowe, cofounder of Topicals, Francesca Aiello, founder of Frankies Bikinis and more. You can view the full list at Forbes.com. {Forbes}
Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute
Ever since Taylor Russell came onto the scene, she’s gotten a lot of attention for her breakout performances — and just as much for her outstanding fashion.
The actor is currently promoting “Bones and All” in everything from Schiaparelli Haute Couture to fresh-off-the-runway Alexander McQueen, styled by Ryan Hastings. She’s also landed a Loewe ambassador contract and opened the brand’s Spring 2023 runway. Her sartorial versatility has cemented her as one to watch on the red carpet — and she kept that energy going at the 2022 Gotham Independent Film Awards on Nov. 28, where she was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance. But instead of Russell’s usual risk-taking glamour, Russell opted for something more casual: a vintage Tom Ford-era Gucci top, a pair of straight-legged jean and strappy sandals.
Sourced from Aralda Vintage, the cropped bolero is from the brand’s Spring 2004 collection, and provides the perfect amount of provocation. Russell paired it with a straight-leg, mid-rise jeans, imbuing the overall look with a degree of ease. The rest of Russell’s outfit was relatively understated: a pair of metallic heeled sandals, some chunky silver rings. As for her hair, Russell rocked her signature cropped bob in a slicked-back style; on the makeup front, she went with a peachy lip.
Though they tend to fall in and out of favor, kitten heels are queen.
Of all the heels you can wear, they rank high in comfort and versatility and give a slight boost in stature without the infamous pain of stilettos. The style options are also endless: These tiny-but-mighty shoes have been worn with wildly opposed aesthetics, from summer maxi dresses to colorful ’80s-inspired windbreakers to newly-trending “motorcore” looks. They’ve also stood the test of time, with celebrities like Audrey Hepburn wearing them in the 1960s, Princess Diana sporting them in the late ’90s and Chanel sending them down the Fall 2023 runway.
Still, they remain underrated, especially during peak party season. Our favorites are the ones with details that take them a notch up from basics, like a pink velour that’s perfect for the holidays or an easy mule you can pack for vacation. Shop 23 of the coolest kitten heels you can buy in the gallery below.
