Also up for auction is her Versace ombré gown worn to the 2010 CMA Awards. A more sober black suede dress by Christian Dior that she wore in 1999 is also up for sale.
Gwyneth Paltrow aux Country Music Awards de 2010Jon Kopaloff
But why part with all these symbolic pieces? “I have all this great stuff that doesn’t go anywhere. I wish I could just have a huge garage sale,” Paltrow explained to Vogue. She decided to hold the auction after selling her Los Angeles home and losing some of her possessions to a fire in one of her storage units. The actor added that she also appreciates giving objects a second life. “It’s nice for those things to live on,” she said. “It’s nice for things to accrue value through different provenances and different owners.”
Luhrmann’s film doesn’t quite square with Bangs’s counterman source there. After the screening, he tells Vanity Fair that Elvis at this point of his life was completely co-opted by his questionable manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who only let him tour in America and sometimes made him play up to three times a day.
Parker had him in Las Vegas, playing nightly, for close to a decade. “He’s fatter, he loses his spirit. He’s deteriorating, that’s what you’re seeing. Imagine wanting to tour overseas and doing that for seven years?” Luhrmann says. “But Clive Davis told me to this day he still has never been to an opening night as great as that Vegas show was.”
Indeed, while some moments of the film show Elvis sweating, sluggish, and struggling to get through his set, others show his once-in-a-lifetime performing prowess, like when he belts out Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water.” For those of us who weren’t alive when Elvis was, it feels like an a-ha moment: where you finally get why the generations of the past were obsessed with the guy. (As well as the artists of the present: there is no Mick Jagger or Harry Styles without Elvis.) Oh, and his costumes? Bejeweled and amazing. “Elvis didn’t have a stylist,” Luhrmann notes. His stage costumes felt like a forebear for Alessandro Michele’s Gucci, with its flamboyant colors and ornamentation. And, frankly, they probably were the reference.
Amy Fine Collins and guest.
Kristina Bumphrey
Why, after the success of his dramatized Elvis film, did Luhrmann decide to do another? Part of it was the richness of source material—in a speech to the crowd, he describes going to the MGM archive and discovering 67 boxes of negatives. Another part of it was, well, artistic duty. At one moment in the documentary, Elvis, blue eyes wide, tells the crowd that one of his life wishes is to perform in New York or Britain. He never got to do so in his lifetime. “We’re giving Elvis the world tour he dreamed but never had,” Luhrmann says, gesturing around the crowd at The Crosby. Indeed, EPiC opens worldwide on February 27, bringing The King and his rich baritone to the global masses. Who knows, maybe it’ll start a new wave of Elvis fervor too.
Together with Kelly, Calvin Klein took his eponymous brand to the next level. She was the one who came up with the idea of adapting men’s underwear for women. From the casual comment “there’s something sexy about wearing your boyfriend’s underwear” came one of the brand’s best-sellers and iconic designs, generating $70 million in 1984. Kelly Rector became a true reflection of the Calvin Klein woman, one who encapsulated glamour and sophistication in a simple cashmere knit dress. The couple married in 1986 while on a business trip to Rome. She wore an ensemble of silk pencil skirt, matching blazer, and a lace bodice, designed by Calvin. They were married until 2006, when their divorce was made official, although the couple had separated 10 years earlier.
Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images
But beyond being Calvin Klein’s wife or his muse, Kelly now defines herself on her Instagram account’s bio as a “designer, photographer, interior designer, author, ceramacist, and mother.” She has edited seven photography books. The first one, Pools, launched in 1992 at a party in New York where all the personalities of the moment were present. In 2015, she published a retrospective of her own photographs, many of which have been published in magazines such as Vogue and Interview. In an interview with Equestrian Living, she credited her parents with helping her develop her aesthetic sensibility. “I think both of my parents were quite stylish,” admits Kelly. “My dad was a film director, so he was quite creative, and mom was an antique dealer who collected art and antiques. She’s had many stores, so I think I got a lot of my art background by growing up with ‘50s and ‘60s furniture in the house, and maybe that inspired me for my modernism background. I was surrounded by the arts growing up, so yes, they definitely had an influence on me.”
A complete visual glossary to the other half of a watch’s appearance.
A watch strap does more than hold a case to your wrist. It shapes the personality of the watch itself. Swap the strap and you change the entire feel, sometimes more dramatically than changing the watch.
By their very nature, watch straps are often considerably cheaper than an entirely new watch, so it is often more cost-effective to expand one’s collection of straps over splurging on another watch.
Building a small rotation of straps gives you far more versatility than adding another watch to the drawer. Leather for the office, rubber for the water, nylon for weekends, steel for something sharper. One watch can cover a surprising amount of ground.
There are dozens of strap styles, each with its own backstory and use case. Below is a breakdown of the most important types, where they came from, and when to wear them.
There is an absolutely humungous amount of watch straps available to you, and I will do my best to document the best watch straps here. Each strap has a fascinating history, so if one of them jumps out at you, the accompanying text will surely be an interesting read. Finally, be sure to check out the lists of available retailers; they should help you find exactly what you’re looking for, regardless of your price range. Don’t be afraid to spend a bit extra to get exactly what you want!
Without further ado, let’s get started!
What is the Difference Between Watch Bands, Watch Straps, and Watch Bracelets?
These terms are often used interchangeably, though there are small distinctions.
Watch band is the broad umbrella term. It includes anything that secures a watch to your wrist, metal or non-metal.
Watch strap usually refers to non-metal options such as leather, nylon, rubber, sailcloth, or fabric.
Watch bracelet refers specifically to metal constructions such as stainless steel, titanium, or precious metal link designs like Oyster or Jubilee.
While these distinctions exist, it’s common to find these terms used interchangeably, especially in casual conversation or online retail. The nuances are often more recognized by watch enthusiasts and collectors who appreciate the subtle differences in material and design.
In the end, whether it’s a band, strap, or bracelet, the choice often comes down to personal style, comfort, and the occasion for which the watch is worn. Understanding these terms adds a layer of insight for those looking to explore the diverse world of watch accessories, allowing for a more informed and tailored selection.
How to Measure a Watch Band
Watch bands are sold in sizes measured in millimeters based on the interior width of the watch lugs. If you’re lucky, the size may be printed on the back of the current watch strap.
To measure, use a metric ruler or a free printable template like this one to find the distance between the lugs of the watch case or the spring bar end of the current strap. Do not include the spring bar in the measurement. As a refresher, there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter.
The Evolution of Watch Straps: A Timeline
The journey of using a strap to attach a clock to your wrist is a fascinating story, interwoven with history, fashion, functionality, and innovation. Here’s a glimpse into the key milestones that shaped the world of watch straps:
Straps in the Late 1800s: In the rugged terrains and disciplined routines of military life, soldiers began wearing pocket watches on their wrists with leather straps known as “trench watches”. A practical solution that marked the humble beginnings of a trend.
Women’s Fashion in the Early 1900s: Watches transcended mere timekeeping as women started treating wristwatches like jewelry, attaching them with ornate metal chains and bracelets. A fusion of elegance and functionality was born.
Wristwatches Become Fashionable: The fashionable wave reached the shores of the United States, and in 1912, The New York Times reported the burgeoning trend of wristwatches among working women and leisurely socialites alike.
World War I Influence: The trenches of WWI further propelled the trend, as soldiers relied on wristwatches, replacing delicate chains with rugged leather straps, turning a fashion statement into a symbol of utility and resilience.
Luxury Wristwatches: From soldiers to celebrities, wristwatches evolved with initially produced leather straps, but soon metal bracelets like the Oyster, President, and Jubilee by Rolex became iconic, synonymous with luxury and prestige.
Casual and Durable Options: As times changed, so did the straps. Rubber straps and nylon NATO straps were introduced for specific functions, also offering casual and durable options for everyday wear.
Changing Straps: A trend emerged, changing straps became more than a necessity; it became a way to enhance appearance, functionality, and even breathe new life into old timepieces.
Modern Watch Customization: Today, changing the strap is an easy way to update a watch’s look. Whether a DIY home adjustment with spring bar connections or professional assistance for integrated metal bands, the possibilities are as varied as the straps themselves.
This historical panorama sets the stage for understanding the multitude of strap options available today, from the classic NATO to the avant-garde Milanese. The watch strap, once a mere practical accessory, has become a canvas for style, identity, and a reflection of the times.
Watch Strap Types
Table of Contents Click on each to jump to its section
NATO Strap
Originally developed for British Army soldiers in the 1970s, the NATO strap originally debuted under the name “G10”, a title taken from the form for requisition. Although similar styles can be traced back to World War II, this was the first appearance of the strap under its contemporary title.
It quickly grew in popularity throughout the military, and over time, the general public gradually began to appreciate the strap for its numerous features and abilities. When the Cold War ended, G10 straps were sold in military surplus shops around the country, and they were all branded with a unique NATO Surplus Number. Surplus stores sold out quickly, but watch strap retailers sprung up to take advantage of the surge in popularity. The veritable storm of NATO straps never quite ended, and they are sure to remain popular for decades to come.
The most notable feature of a NATO strap is its single-piece construction; most other straps are composed of two separate pieces, and can only be applied by removing both of the spring bars that attach to the watch. Switching out straps is normally a time consuming process, but NATO straps are simply woven underneath the spring bars, so they can be removed or applied in a matter of seconds.
Finally, the addition of a watch keeper strap ensures that the watch case will remain firmly on your wrist even if one of the spring bars snaps. James Bond has famously worn NATO straps across films and actors. All of these characteristics make NATO straps an excellent choice for nearly any situation, and their low price is a boon to those on a budget.
Retailers:
One Piece Slip-Thru & Zulu
Timex Slip Thru Strap
Trademarked by Maratac, Zulu straps have surprisingly little background for such an interesting name. Although obviously inspired by NATO straps, there are a few minor differences that separate the two. Firstly, they are composed of thicker materials, be it nylon or leather. This slightly increases their strength and durability, but they also might not fit between the spring bars of some watches. Secondly, Zulu straps have larger, more rounded hardware to accommodate their increased girth.
In contrast, NATO straps have small, squared-off buckles and rings that better suit its reduced volume. Finally, the watch keeper strap is an optional inclusion on Zulu watch bands, so they are available in both 3- and 5-ring configurations. Either way, there is almost no aesthetic impact, so just go with whatever you find to be the most comfortable.
Thinner straps more akin to a NATO but without the keeper strap are also commonly found labeled as one piece or slip-thru, such as the Timex in the photo above.
What’s the difference between a NATO strap and a Zulu strap?
The generally larger dimensions Zulu straps make them especially good for large watches, since the face is more comparable to the hardware in terms of size. Conversely, NATO straps are excellent for small watches; the thinner material is more likely to fit through the spring bars, and they have a more proportionate appearance. Zulu straps also take a bit longer to break in, but at the same time, they will most likely last longer than a NATO.
In the end, it comes down to personal preference – some people can’t handle the extra bulk a Zulu provides, but others find NATO straps to be too flimsy. I recommend picking up one of each type and deciding which you prefer in-person!
Smartwatches operate on a different attachment system than traditional watches. Most mechanical and quartz watches use spring bars and standard lug widths, usually measured in millimeters. Apple Watch models and many other smartwatches use easy-to-swap but proprietary slide-in connectors instead.
This means traditional straps will not attach directly without an adapter. Thankfully, adapters are widely available and allow you to use standard 20mm or 22mm straps on an Apple Watch case.
Apple’s own bands fall into several broad categories:
Sport Band, a flexible rubber-like option for workouts
Sport Loop, a lightweight woven nylon with velcro closure
Milanese Loop, a magnetic mesh bracelet
Link Bracelet, a metal bracelet with removable links
Leather options, including modern magnetic designs
If you prefer the look of traditional straps, third-party adapters make it possible to wear leather, NATO, rubber, or even metal bracelets on an Apple Watch. Just make sure the adapter matches your case size.
Inspired by old school racing gloves, Rally straps can be easily recognized by the three or more large perforations punched out below the lugs. Automotive racing is primarily a test of speed, and weight plays directly into the maximum achievable velocity – as such, many early race cars were constructed of parts with holes drilled through them. This decreased the overall weight, so just about everything made of metal was perforated to some extent. To remain aesthetically consistent, driving gloves (and later, rally straps) were perforated, too.
Some might argue that the perforations existed primarily for ventilation and breathability, but it’s difficult to tell the true reason. Race cars are notoriously warm, and perforations helped to reduce both heat and weight, so it could have been either one!
Regardless of their origin, Rally straps are a great choice for summer wear. Even if it wasn’t the original intention, the perforations do substantially increase ventilation, which can be useful in the summer heat. Furthermore, there’s no better choice of strap to pair with a vintage chronograph, since they were frequently used to time races. If the style or history of the Rally strap appeals to you, I highly recommend picking one up.
Introduced by Rolex in the 1930s, the Oyster bracelet is an absolute classic in every sense of the word. The Oyster is characterized by its long and thick three-piece link design, and is by far the most popular bracelet model available. It has premiered on nearly every Rolex model to date, and has gained a massive following as a result.
While its storied history is one reason for its success, many people swear by it for its sheer functionality. The wide center bar makes each link strong and less prone to stretching, so the bracelet is exceedingly durable. Furthermore, the relatively small number of links reduces the number of possible break points. This does come at a cost, however; the reduced number of swivel points makes the strap feel a bit stiff in comparison to other bracelets.
Aside from this minor problem, the Oyster bracelet is a great choice for nearly any watch. The hefty links are often more proportionate on a large watch, but it looks great on a smaller one, too. The Oyster has a vast and interesting history, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. If you’re interested in experimenting with bracelets, this is a great first step!
Originally worn on the Rolex Day-Date in 1956, the President bracelet received its name from its close association with Dwight D. Eisenhower. As the story goes, Rolex offered Mr. Eisenhower the company’s 150,000th certified chronometer as a token of respect, which he gladly accepted. The relative width of each link piece is similar to that of the Oyster, but there is a drastic difference in the number of total links. The President bracelet is markedly denser than the Oyster, so each link is much shorter in comparison.
This eliminates the problem of stiffness, but it does present a potential problem in terms of durability. The increase in total links also leads to a direct increase in probable failure points, but this should not be a major concern. You might notice a small amount of stretching after extensive wear, but this depends entirely on the quality of the strap, not its link construction.
The President bracelet is considerably more formal than the Oyster due to its compact links. This also increases the strap’s versatility, since it can be dressed up and down more easily. For this reason, it is an excellent choice when versatility is a primary concern. It typically works best with small- to medium-sized watches, but this comes down to personal preference.
The Jubilee bracelet was first introduced in 1945 for Rolex’s 40th anniversary – it premiered on the Datejust, one of Rolex’s most renowned dress watches. Though it was at first only available in gold, steel and two-tone versions were released soon after. The Jubilee is characterized by three narrow, highly polished links situated between the thick, matte finish side links. The total number of links is identical to that of the President bracelet, but the central portion tends to appear narrower due to its triple-wide construction.
When placed on a watch, the Jubilee draws attention to the center of the watch face, minimizing the footprint on the wrist. The two-tone variations exacerbate this effect, especially when the central links are a different color than the watch case. As such, a Jubilee bracelet (be it of mono- or duo-tone construction) is an excellent choice for large and small watches alike, since it brings out the best qualities in both.
The only true problem with the Jubilee is its propensity towards stretching over long periods of time. Just like the President, the Jubilee’s small links reduce its structural integrity. After a while, the pins holding each link together tend to expand and loosen, gradually extending past the wearer’s true wrist size. Thankfully, modern construction capabilities have fixed many of the structural problems, so the slightly decreased durability is only visible on vintage models. Unless you put it through some serious abuse, you should never have to worry about a Jubilee strap wearing out.
Retailers:
Engineer
Designed to be extremely chunky, Engineer bracelets have a notoriously large wrist presence. Believed to have been created by Seiko, the Engineer is a perfect match for hefty dive watches due to its proportionally sized links. Even though these links are quite large, they are stacked to a width of five total links, so they appear quite visually dense. The links themselves are often cut in a pseudo-hexagonal pattern, which makes them angular in a way that few other bracelets can match.
The sheer size of the Engineer bracelet also causes it to be exceedingly heavy and thick, so you might experience a bit of wrist fatigue when you first start wearing it. Of course, the Engineer does make up for its unwieldy volume with its incredible durability, so it’s an excellent choice for a beater watch.
While its bulky appearance might at first steer small-wristed folk away, one must consider that proportions are more important than physical dimensions. As stated previously, Engineer bracelets have an undeniable wrist presence, but this makes them perfect to pair with large divers like the Seiko Monster. The bracelet itself matches the width of the watch case, so it has a surprisingly low profile when worn on the wrist. The surprisingly small lugs help with this, too, since they are unlikely to hang over the edge of the wrist.
Regardless, the Engineer bracelet can work with any size wrist as long as it remains proportional the watch it is attached to.
As its name suggests, the Aviator watch strap was popularized by the German air force during World War II. The first iterations were incredibly long so as to fit directly over the pilots’ flight jackets, and one or more rivets were added directly below the lugs to prevent the watches from flying off of their wrists. The watches themselves were also oversized (sometimes upwards of 55mm in diameter) for the sake of clarity in intense situations. Both of these items were greatly reduced in size when they reached the general population, but the basic features remained: the final result is an austere, black watch face with white Arabic numerals, attached to a leather strap with large rivets located below the lugs. While these rivets are now non-functional, they do add an interesting aesthetic flair with a fascinating backstory.
Due to their history in the air force, Aviator straps work best on pilot watches, especially those made by Stowa, IWC, Laco, and Hamilton. The stark contrast between the black dial and brown Aviator strap exudes a particularly militaristic essence, and the rivets act as a subtle detail harkening back to the watches’ original purpose.
This strap also pairs excellently with chronographs, which were introduced to pilots at a later date to help time flight durations. Either way, the Aviator is a beautiful strap that makes for a compelling conversation starter.
Like Aviator straps, Bund straps were also invented for German pilots in World War II, albeit for a slightly different reason. The single largest hazard in the event of a plane crash is the ensuing fire, and anything composed primarily of metal would quickly become superheated. Watches are always in direct contact with the skin, so a standard strap would allow the watch to scald the wrist.
Bund straps, on the other hand, are constructed with an extra layer of padding beneath the back of the case, therefore preventing it from burning the wearer. This was also useful in high altitudes where the temperature would drop dramatically, since the extra layer of leather would prohibit the metal from freezing to the skin. One final use of the Bund strap was its ability to absorb perspiration; early watches were not very water resistant, so sweat could easily enter through the case back and destroy the internal mechanisms of the watch. Servicemen led a very active lifestyle, so the Bund strap helped to drastically improve the lifespan of government-issued watches.
It is important to note that Bund straps are not for everyone – they are typically quite warm, which makes them difficult to wear in the summer, and they are often too large for small-wristed folk to wear on a regular basis. Still, they’re an excellent choice for those afflicted with a metal allergy, since they prevent all contact between the watch and the wearer’s skin. If your wrist is large enough to support this strap proportionally, you should give it a try, especially if you own a pilot watch or a chronograph! Remember, though: the Bund’s padding should trace the outline of the watch as closely as possible.
Retailers:
Shark Mesh
The name of the Shark Mesh bracelet might immediately conjure images of the fierce oceanic predator, but the strap itself has almost no physical relation to the vicious beast. The famous title was derived from a popular advertising campaign launched by Omega for their new ground-breaking dive watch, the Ploprof 600. Intended for professional use, this watch was built to withstand extended operations at extreme depths.
This watch was one of the most rugged and robust divers’ watches ever made, and its strap lives up to the hype. Although it is not literally “shark-proof” as the advertisements claim, it is more durable than a standard bracelet due to the lack of pins between links. Since the entire strap is held together by intertwined loops, there are drastically fewer break points. The loose and chunky chainmail design provides a flexible and snug fit to anyone’s wrist, and the easily removable links allows the wearer to remove all excess material.
While the strap is relatively heavy, it retains a high level of breathability by means of the large gaps between the interwoven links.
The most noticeable feature of the Shark Mesh strap is its comparatively large links. Most other mesh bracelets tend to be tightly woven with small links, but the Shark Mesh is the complete opposite. As such, many people tend to view it as the most comfortable option, since the relaxed nature of the links allows for a smooth drape around the wrist. I recommend pairing this strap with a vintage 1970s diver, but as long as the proportions are right, you can attach it to just about anything!
Retailers:
Milanese
As their name implies, Milanese watch straps were originally developed in Milan, Italy. The Milanese mesh design can be traced all the way back to the 13th century, where it was used as a special kind of chainmail. The manufacturing process was completed entirely by hand, and remained an Italian specialty for over 500 years. Renowned German watch strap specialists Staib and Vollmer renewed production of these rare straps in the early 1920s, causing a skyrocket in popularity. This demand lasted late into the 60s, so Milanese straps are a common appearance on vintage dress watches.
The straps themselves are easily distinguished by their extremely dense and tightly woven mesh construction, which makes them some of the smoothest metal straps on the market. This does come at a slight cost to durability, but these straps are frequently worn in more formal environments, so resistance to the elements is less of a concern. Some people also may find that the tightness of the mesh causes a certain degree of rigidity, which might feel a bit less comfortable than looser weaves.
Regardless of these minor problems, Milanese straps are an excellent choice for all-around wear. Although some might view them as somewhat antique, they work just as well with contemporary watches as they do vintage ones. Remember to keep proportions in mind – the extremely thin links might appear disproportionate when worn with a large watch, so I recommend keeping the watch face under 40mm.
Tropic straps were originally developed in the 60s as a cheaper alternative to the metal bracelets used on sport-based Rolex and Tudor watches. Metal bracelets were certainly practical for underwater excursions, but they were very heavy and expensive to replace; luckily, rubber straps served as a solution to both of these problems.
The Tropic strap was the first rubber strap ever released, and it quickly began to corner the dive watch market. It was easily recognizable by the characteristic basket weave pattern stamped into the outward-facing side of the strap, in addition to the numerous perforations running lengthwise from tip to lug. This gave the strap a unique texture in addition to a copious amount of breathability, which was unexpected out of a strap built to be waterproof. Early models were somewhat stiff and brittle, but by the 70s, Tropic straps had been further improved to retain their supple qualities even after years of use.
One of the most amazing features of the Tropic strap was its incredible longevity – even though it was marketed as easily replicable, many models are still in use today (over 40 years later), and they feel and function just like when they were first commissioned. Furthermore, they managed to possess this durability while maintaining a very slim profile, which is rare even for modern variants.
Tropic straps tend to work best on vintage divers due to their shared history, but they also work exceptionally well with contemporary timepieces.
Retailers:
Perlon
Like Tropic straps, Perlon straps were also popularized in the 60s. Perlon straps are easily recognized by their tightly woven basket weave pattern, which is similar in appearance to the surface of a Tropic strap. Instead of being a stamped pattern, however, it is an actual weave composed of thick nylon-esque threads. This characteristic gives Perlon straps a magnificent three-dimensional texture while simultaneously providing extreme amounts of breathability.
One of the most unique features of the Perlon strap is its infinite resizability – there are no predetermined holes, so the buckles prong simply slides through an opening in the weave.
This makes the strap a perfect choice for peculiar wrist sizes, since any circumference can be reached exactly. Perlon is also very abrasion resistant, so it rarely fray from continued use. Finally, Perlon dries quickly and does not stretch when wet, so it is an excellent choice for diving when rubber is unavailable or unwanted.
Perlon straps were invented in Europe, and they never quite managed to cross into American culture. As a result, very few continental retailers offer these straps, so you might have to look into international sellers to find specific colors and styles. Perlon straps peaked in popularity in the 60s and 70s, so they tend to look best on vintage divers.
Regardless of their original purpose, they work beautifully with all manner of watches, from chronographs to dress watches. Their extreme breathability and durability makes them a summer favorite, and their cheap price makes them easy to invest in – I highly recommend picking up a few of them!
Premiering on the 6105 Diver in the early 70s, the Waffle strap is an iconic Seiko invention. This watch is widely regarded as the single most important diver in the companys history, and was a common choice for Vietnam servicemen. While the original army-issued watches failed in the humid jungles, the Seiko 6105s kept ticking long after the end of the war. As veterans returned to the U.S., their watches went with them, and they quickly rose in popularity among civilian circles.
The characteristic Waffle strap, obviously named for its distinct texture, adorned a majority of these watches, and was loved by many. Numerous small vents ran down the sides of the strap, which greatly increased its breathability. Since it was composed of rubber, it was entirely waterproof and easily cleanable, and also quite flexible to boot. Sadly, most vintage straps are now hardened and brittle, so many enthusiasts have turned to replicas and homages.
Obviously, the Waffle strap looks best on a vintage Seiko, but thats a pretty tall order. These watches (and their accompanying straps) are no longer in production, so they are ludicrously overpriced for any non-collector. Even so, comparatively inexpensive 1:1 reproductions have been made by multiple retailers, so if you’re looking for a historic Seiko experience, I highly recommend trying one out.
Retailers:
Finally, there are two more rarely seen straps that I will quickly gloss over:
This long velcro strap was provided to the Apollo astronauts to wear with their Omega Speedmasters on the outside of their spacesuit. Today, velcro straps are quite common, especially with the popularity of smart watches, which have adopted the style. Learn more about The Other (Affordable) Moon Watch.
Gracie Abrams and Paul Mescal. Getty Images for BAFTA
After three awards shows, all in Los Angeles, Hollywood’s A-list is heading across the pond. Yes, it’s time for the BAFTAs, the annual ceremony that honors the best in British and international cinema. Presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the BAFTAs are once again taking place at Royal Festival Hall in London’s Southbank Centre tonight, Feb. 22, but with a new host. This year, Alan Cumming is taking over duties from David Tennant, who hosted the ceremony for the past two years.
Over the last week, New York City proved its status as a fashion capital of the world, with talented designers showcasing creative collections on the runways, in the streets, and on our feeds. From “let them eat cake” aesthetics and double-duty bags to fringed frocks and leather opera gloves, New York Fashion Week brought statement fashion trends and serious 2026 outfit inspo to the forefront.
In order to get the front-row scoop on what will be huge for the fall and winter of 2026, I attended so many fashion shows and presentations that my heels hurt and phone was always on the brink of losing power. The endeavor was more than worth it because I found the standout trends (that I think you can start implementing into your wardrobe while it’s still cold!). The wonderfully disheveled indie sleaze look and head-to-toe animal prints that dominated New York’s runways are especially great for party looks, while brooches and headwear can add flair to any winter outfit.
Ahead, see which brands — from New York staples like Tory Burch to NYFW debuts like that of designer-denim staple 7 For All Mankind — took on similar trends in their own unique points of view. Then shop styles to get the looks.
At the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Princess Anne has already earned the title of style queen. All she needed was a pair of wrap-around Adidas sunglasses to stand out among the crowd watching the mixed doubles curling match between Italy and Great Britain Monday. It was a wise choice—by the end of the match she might have needed them to conceal her disappointment. Team GB was defeated, 5–3, by Italy’s Stefania Costantini and Amos Mosaner, who snatched the bronze medal.
Princess Anne hides her disappointment at a British loss.
Andrew Milligan – PA Images/Getty Images
These are days of total sports immersion for the 75-year-old princess. On Saturday, her face was displayed on the big screen at Rome’s Olympic Stadium for a Six Nations rugby match between Italy and Scotland, and she was seemingly surprised by the rapturous applause of the audience. Now, at the Olympics, her sunglasses are driving the social media praise. A unanimous chorus celebrating her regal cool when she paired the Adidas sunglasses with an insulated blue jacket from the German sportswear company.
The sunglasses—with ombré orange lenses and adjustable nose pads to ensure a perfect fit—are recommended for runners but also for “raves with strobe lights,” according to a party animal among the online reviewers.
Skip the long lists of impractical ways to wear a scarf, these 4 can handle anywhere you need to go.
Men’s neckwear options have become all but nonexistent in our increasingly casual world. The humble, practical scarf is all that remains. Sure, the standard neck tie and bow tie still make the rare appearance at weddings or other, maybe, once-per-year events for the common man. It’s more of an accessory of a formal costume than a normal thing a guy might wear.
Ascot? A mere artifact lost to time. Bolo? Takes a specific location (or confident swagger) to make that daily attire. Even the cravat, the precursor to all modern men’s neckwear, including the scarf, is merely a chapter in an 18th-century history of men’s fashion.
Perhaps it’s just the functional winter warmth aspect that has as of yet kept the men’s scarf still a normal appearance in a man’s cold weather wardrobe. Even so, the visual contribution a scarf can add to a man’s outfit is something I’ll celebrate until it too goes the way of the continental tie.
Just consider Primer style contributor Daniel Baraka’s elegant and minimalist winter outfit featured here. Sans scarf, it’s a great, intentional look that makes use of a limited neutral browns color palette. Adding the bold blue scarf transitions the minimalism into the coordinated base of a vibrant outfit.
Like anything neckwear related on the internet, if you search for how to tie a scarf, you’ll be inundated by ridiculously long lists featuring the scarf knot equivalent of the Eldridge tie knot.
“I am a big fan of scarves, but even I was overwhelmed when I got into them, with the million ways to tie them. I think a scarf is an accessory that shouldn’t call too much attention or feel too overcomplicated,” Daniel tells me. “After years of trial and error, my four ways have simplicity in common.”
Why Different Scarf Knots Matter
Like its necktie cousin, choosing how to tie a scarf does have some practical implications. Beyond tightness or closeness, which impacts the warmth provided, the different ways of tying a scarf can also impact:
How bulky of a silhouette the scarf provides around the neck: A thick scarf may look comically large if using a more elaborate method.
How refined you want the scarf to be: With dressier or more elegant outfits and occasions, tying a scarf with a more elaborate method can make the practical accessory feel more cohesive with what you’re wearing, for example, with a suit and topcoat.
How easy it is to remove: If you’re coming in and out a lot or putting it on knowing you’ll be taking it off soon, a simpler method will get you there without the fuss.
The length of the scarf: Scarves come in different lengths and widths, and just like a necktie, you can adjust how long or short the tails are by wrapping the scarf with a simpler or more elaborate method.
1. The Once Around Scarf
The rakish classic, the once around creates a loose, unstructured appearance that keeps your neck warm without making you look like you’re tying a half windsor on your way out of the exit.
Simply start by draping the scarf over your neck, giving the side you’re going to wrap around your neck ample length. Wrap the long side all the way around your neck until both ends drape in front of you again. Grasp the loop and both ends and adjust until the loop is at your desired looseness and the tails line up as preferred.
2.The Drape
The easiest scarf to tie since, well, you don’t tie it, the drape gets placed over your neck, letting the tails to rest naturally under the front sides of your coat. This can be a smart choice if you just need to cover the back of your neck, are heading out quickly, or are just stowing your scarf while out and about.
“The drape works best with shorter scarves. It works mostly for adding interest to an outfit and looks best with an overcoat worn in a formal fashion. I wear most of my square silk scarves this way,” Daniel says.
Place the scarf around the back of your neck, slide both sides until they fall at the preferred height.
3. The Reverse Drape Cross
If you’re looking for a way to tie your scarf that feels a little more sophisticated, either to match a more formal occasion or to add some refinement to a minimalist base, the reverse drape cross fits the bill. While looking more complex than the others, it’s easy to tie, in fact, it’s only one extra move on top of the once around.
Daniel advises, “The reverse drape cross is the warmest one of them all and works well with longer scarves. It looks studied without being too fussy, and incredible with a fastened overcoat.”
Create the once around, again, placing the scarf around your neck and adjusting so one side has more length. Then wrap the long end around the neck completely. The added move is to take the long end, cross over and continue up underneath both the short end and long end that were just crossed but in front of the loop, resting the long end over the front.
4. The Parisian Knot, Of Course
A deceptively complex way to tie a scarf, which results both in a full and adjustable fit around the neck as well as a shorter length for the tails.
“The Parisian knot is also really warm, and works with most scarves lengths. I love how you can adjust the tightness of the knot to increase insulation. It’s popular for a reason. And the reason is its versatility I believe. It looks just at home with the most casual outfit as it does on a formal one,” Daniel says. “It’s the Swiss army knife of knots to me.”
Begin by folding the scarf in half, then wrapping it around your neck. Place the two tail ends through the loop created where the scarf was folded in half. And voilà – a scarf knot that is classic and functional.
Get Daniel’s outfit style with his similar in-stock picks:
Is fashion the point of the Olympics, the global, culture-defining athletic tournament that dates all the way back to the Panhellenic era? No. But during the Milano Cortina opening ceremony’s Parade of Nations—where 2,900 athletes representing 92 national Olympic committees entered the San Siro stadium led by sign-holding models wearing silver-lamé puffer ballgowns and sunglasses so ridiculously large that it felt like they could swan dive headfirst straight into a solar flare without a care in the world—style briefly took the spotlight from sport. (A tribute to Giorgio Armaniand a catwalk moment from Vittoria Ceretti also helped.)
But what teams, medal potential be damned, achieved both feats of strength and of fit? Below, our best-dressed Olympic nations.
Brazil
Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images
Brazil may have never won an Olympic medal for the Winter Games, but their opening-ceremony looks won gold on Vanity Fair’s first-ever compilation of this hyper-specific list. (That’s got to be worth something, right?)
Designed by Moncler and Brazilian creative director Oskar Metsavaht, it not only included puffer jackets, but puffer skirts, puffer capes, puffer Bermuda shorts and puffer flat-brim hats. Some jackets were even lined with the Brazilian flag. Also, one guy did a backflip in his which made them infinitely cooler than everyone else—as spontaneous backflips tend to do.
I like that you don’t put her in any sort of movie or character cosplay, because she’s not actually in the movie, and it wouldn’t make sense for her. What are things you lean into, and what do you avoid?
I mean, this is a controversial take, but I think as I’ve matured into this profession, I’ve realized that it really is, especially with Charli, about personal style. I think we, the collective we, have found what that truly is, so it’s always about staying true to that instead of a reinvention for every single project. Brat of course is a part of that vision, because people think of her in a specific way as that was when she really broke out, but she has elements that are definitely not Brat about her style too. Think of the Grammys on Sunday, it’s not Brat but it’s also a continuation of something, an evolution, but still very core her.
We now have a pretty established look and feel, at least a feeling, when she wears something. With Wuthering Heights, yes, we’re playing a little bit more into it, and we also don’t get to wear big dresses a lot, so that’s fun. I’m not a huge “method dressing” fan, so I would rather lean more into her wearing British designers and some little Easter eggs.
Right, and to your point, “method dressing” is not a very Charli thing. The gag of Charli as a public figure is that she is Charli consistently in whatever context, which makes it fun.
She also can wear anything. I mean, her energy and power is very strong, so I feel like it’s so much more credit to her than it is to even the clothes. She can just kill anything.
I’m curious about how you think of The Moment.
For The Moment, we were more thinking about playing into the Brat of it all, because it is about that. I thought that we could definitely dip back into those concepts way more frequently. For the L.A. premiere, for example, it was the Brat remix. I call it the Megamix [laughs]. And that wasn’t even the plan. We had something that we had fit, a really low-rise capri and a black leather bra, but the day of Charli wasn’t feeling it, so I was at my studio and I still had the Ludovic [de Saint Sernin] Jean Paul Gaultier corset she wore at the Grammys [in 2025] and I was like, what if we just put something together with pieces of greatest hits? It felt like a good sendoff to everything, and it felt like it had meaning.
Charli xcx at the Los Angeles premiere of The Moment.
An unusually good moment to buy pieces you’d normally hesitate on, while they still have plenty of life left this season.
Every once in a while there’s a sale window where the timing, the brands, and the discounts all line up in a way that actually makes sense. This is one of those. The common thread here is access, better quality, stronger design, and brands that usually stay just out of reach suddenly coming down to earth.
Buck Mason is the real wild card. This brand almost never goes on sale, so seeing real pieces at Nordstrom Rack with real discounts is the kind of thing you pay attention to. These are the pants and tees that usually sit at full price until you talk yourself into them later, now sitting at numbers that feel easy to justify without a whole internal negotiation.
It’s also still very much winter. Most of the country is still dealing with cold that doesn’t play around, which makes this the sweet spot for winter markdowns that you can actually use. Huckberry is deep into clearing jackets, wool, boots, and heavier layers right now, the kind of stuff that earns its keep immediately instead of waiting for next year.
The extra wrinkle here is Shopbop. Higher-end brands, more design edge, better materials, all running through a clearance section with an additional percentage off layered on top. The result is that pieces that are normally aspirational suddenly feel doable.
Put it together and the angle is pretty simple. This is a moment where better-made, better-looking things are temporarily priced like a smart decision.
Below is a quick roundup of where that’s happening right now, before the window closes.
Buck Mason @ Nordstrom Rack
Easily one of my go to brands, both aesthetically and quality wise, but yeah, it comes with the one tiny detail of cost. This brand does not do sales, so most of the time I’m sitting there like, okay, I’ll circle back when I’m investing in something I can actually justify, not just having a vibes based shopping moment.
Their much-loved Slim Maverick pant comes in this very Primer-friendly olive, and the little bonus here is the subtle herringbone texture that makes it feel like more than your typical J.Crew 484.
American-made Pima cotton (the kind that actually is soft, not “soft” in the marketing-copy way). For under 30 bucks that’s basically unheard of. And if you want a little extra splash, this one has a slight curve to the bottom hem.
Boiled wool is wool that has been washed with heat and movement so the fibers tighten and lock together, making the fabric thicker, warmer, and more resistant to wind and wear.
This one has a mid‑century vibe and a length that lands in that sweet spot for guys who never quite click with pea coats. It’s warm and structured without veering into ski‑jacket territory, which is honestly the whole appeal.
A made-in-the-USA take on the Blundstones vibe, this six-inch Chelsea slips on and off without fuss and comes with a recraftable sole so you can keep it in rotation for the long haul.
A little something extra in the vein of the OG 107 fatigue pant, minus the military energy. These canvas pants lean on a reinforced double-knee with extra seaming for that subtly structured look.
This jacket calls McConaughey in Interstellar, cut from British Millerain tech wax that is way tougher than its weight suggests. The weather-resistant waxed canvas nods to workwear, but the streamlined shape slips easily into a clean, modern look.
I love the idea of an American-made sweatshirt in that faded black that goes with everything and makes you look like you’ve had it forever, even if you just bought it. And the best part is you can style it for who knows how long because it doesn’t expire. Toss it over a white tee, wear it with beat-up jeans, layer it under a topcoat when it’s cold and you want to feel like a person, or just let it be the whole outfit with some decent pants and sneakers.
Okay, I know these aren’t winterwear, but it’d be crazy not to grab them… basically Madewell-level shorts for Old Navy sale prices, and they still have every size, so do Future You a favor and buy now before shorts season hits in four months. This is one of those times I was talking about where you can have cheap and quality if you buy way out of season.
This is that simple winter jacket that doesn’t read as basic, the kind you can throw on every day and still feel like you meant it. It nails the clean, easy vibe while keeping enough shape and detail to make outfits look pulled together without you trying too hard.
Click the link and zoom in on the photo and you’ll catch the part that makes this polo seem like it has a little swagger. There’s a subtle chevron pattern in there, which takes the whole “classic polo” thing and yanks it away from big-box-uniform territory.
Wear it the way the model does and it’s instantly a little sharper than it has any right to be. Or do the easy version (T-shirt underneath, jeans, done) and suddenly you’ve got a staple that looks like it didn’t come off a Target shelf (said with love, but also… you know).
We’re living in an era where everything is getting more casual by the month. So the case for dropping a night’s stay at a fancy hotel on a blazer gets thinner and thinner… and yet, that still doesn’t make me want to buy a cheap blazer either.
So yeah, the move is discounts. Deep ones. That’s where the blazer starts making sense again, especially in something like an English wool linen blend.
This is a new addition to my routine, and a much-needed one. Some context: One of my favorite compliments is when someone tells me I have the softest hands, and unfortunately, this winter has been exceptionally cruel to my skin. Seriously, my knuckles are looking downright scaly as of late, and I’m simply not here for it. I’m somewhat sensitive to scents, and don’t love anything too strong when it comes to lotions, but I recently started slathering on this vanilla hand cream, and I’m obsessed. Yes, it’s hydrating and softening, but perhaps most importantly, it’s also very fast-absorbing, because some of us don’t enjoy feeling like there’s a film on the top layer of our skin for hours after application. And the fragrance? Utterly delicious.
This morning, a small rodent with the power to dramatically impact my wellbeing predicted another six weeks of winter. I have to admit, I’m getting tired of the cold. I love a dramatic snow, but I hate 4 p.m. sunsets, perilously icy sidewalks, and freezing feet. In case you’re worn out, too, I asked five fashion experts what gets them through the season…
“I made this hood/scarf combo last year. Developing the sewing pattern, I was inspired by a combination of Copenhagen-style hoods and long scarves. In Canada, where winter dressing is often very functional, it’s nice to have a piece that’s a bit interesting. Plus, it’s warm and doesn’t give you hat head.” — Leila Kelleher, pattern designer and professor, Toronto
“I was born in February in the Midwest, and winter is my favorite season. The best wool mittens are from Fox River. They’re only $30, and they last forever.” — Erika Veurink, romance novelist and writer of fashion newsletter Long Live, Brooklyn
“I’m obsessed with the Minnesota brand Synch Tec. Their extremely cozy fleece hats can also be transformed into a neck gaiter — so a twofer! Everyone in my family has a few. For my 13-year-old daughter and her friends, Synch Tec is now cool, which is fun because it means actively supporting an independent designer.” — Kate Lindello, Noihsaf Bazaar founder, Duluth, Minnesota
“Muji slippers are unbelievably soft and feel like a warm cat is wrapped around my feet. I wear them in the mornings and evenings when my apartment is at its chilliest. You can throw them in the wash, and since they weigh almost nothing, I always bring them on trips.” — Sanaë Lemoine, novelist and cookbook writer, Brooklyn
“I love a bright beanie in the winter. Since I wear lots of black, gray, and navy, a pop of color makes my outfits feel more fun. I’ve had this wool one for four years, and it’s held up really well. I’m not afraid to playwithcolors because it’s just a hat! You’re probably taking it off anyway when you get wherever you’re going. Finally, thick wool socks are also a must for the hours I spend on the playground with my kid.” — Jennifer Cook, fashion writer and brand buyer, Brooklyn
Do you have a tried-and-true winter accessory? I’m currently on the hunt for long johns that aren’t too thick or too itchy, if anyone has a rec!
Tonight, the Grammy Awards return to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, as the music industry’s biggest stars gather to celebrate the best records and performances of the year. Comedian Trevor Noah is taking on hosting duties for the sixth year in a row.
Aside from a bevy of musical talent, the night also always includes a very exciting red carpet. At the Grammys, attendees aren’t scared to try something new when it comes to fashion—or something so fantastically outrageous that style commentators are sure to discuss for years to come. Below, see all the best and most thrilling fashion moments from the 2026 Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles.
Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber. Getty Images
Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber
Justin Bieber in Balenciaga, Hailey Bieber in Alaïa
Tate McRae. Getty Images for The Recording A
Tate McRae
in Balenciaga
Jon Batiste. Getty Images
Jon Batiste
Kesha. Getty Images for The Recording A
Kesha
Don Lemon. Getty Images
Don Lemon
Paris Hilton. WireImage
Paris Hilton
Halle Bailey. Getty Images
Halle Bailey
Pharrell Williams and Angélique Kidjo. Getty Images for The Recording A
Pharrell Williams and Angélique Kidjo
in Louis Vuitton
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. Getty Images
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
Lady Gaga. Getty Images
Lady Gaga
in Matières Fécales
Grace Potter. Getty Images for The Recording A
Grace Potter
Carole King. Getty Images for The Recording A
Carole King
Noah Kahan. Getty Images for The Recording A
Noah Kahan
in Armani
Bad Bunny. Billboard via Getty Images
Bad Bunny
in Schiaparelli
Karol G. Getty Images
Karol G
in Paolo Sebastian
Miley Cyrus. Getty Images
Miley Cyrus
in Celine
Billie Eilish. Getty Images
Billie Eilish
in Hodakova
Claudia Sulewski and Finneas O’Connell. Getty Images
Claudia Sulewski and Finneas O’Connell
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo. WireImage
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo
Laufey. Getty Images
Laufey
in Miu Miu
Doechii. WireImage
Doechii
in Robert Cavalli
Madison Beer. WireImage
Madison Beer
Lainey Wilson. Getty Images
Lainey Wilson
in Gaurav Gupta
Addison Rae. Getty Images
Addison Rae
in Alaïa
Este Haim, Danielle Haim and Alana Haim. WireImage
Este Haim, Danielle Haim and Alana Haim
in Louis Vuitton
Nikki Glaser. Getty Images
Nikki Glaser
Trevor Noah. WireImage
Trevor Noah
in Ralph Lauren
Kelsea Ballerini. Getty Images
Kelsea Ballerini
in Etro
Chappell Roan. Getty Images
Chappell Roan
in Mugler
Sombr. Getty Images
Sombr
in Valentino
Olivia Dean. Getty Images
Olivia Dean
in Chanel
Heidi Klum. Getty Images for The Recording A
Heidi Klum
Ejae. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The
Ejae
in Dior
Queen Latifah. Getty Images
Queen Latifah
in Stéphane Rolland
Coco Jones. Getty Images for The Recording A
Coco Jones
in Kristina K
Madeleine White. AFP via Getty Images
Madeleine White
Rosé. Getty Images
Rosé
in Giambattista Valli
Sabrina Carpenter. Getty Images
Sabrina Carpenter
in Valentino
Kelsey Merritt. Getty Images
Kelsey Merritt
Tyla. Getty Images
Tyla
in Dsquared2
Michelle Williams. Getty Images
Michelle Williams
in Jean-Louis Sabaji Couture
Reba McEntire. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The
Reba McEntire
Samara Joy. Billboard via Getty Images
Samara Joy
Zara Larsson. Getty Images for The Recording A
Zara Larsson
in Germanier
Rita Wilson. Getty Images
Rita Wilson
in Jenny Packham
Leah Kateb. Getty Images for The Recording A
Leah Kateb
Ali Wong Getty Images for The Recording A
Ali Wong
in Vivienne Westwood
Anna Shumate. Getty Images for The Recording A
Anna Shumate
Shaboozey. Getty Images for The Recording A
Shaboozey
in Bode
Margo Price. WireImage
Margo Price
Lola Clark. WireImage
Lola Clark
Ciara Miller. Getty Images for The Recording A
Ciara Miller
PinkPantheress. Billboard via Getty Images
PinkPantheress
in Vivienne Westwood
Kehlani. Getty Images for The Recording A
Kehlani
in Valdrin Sahiti
FKA Twigs. Getty Images
FKA Twigs
in Paolo Carzana
Lola Young. FilmMagic
Lola Young
in Vivienne Westwood
Jesse Jo Stark and Yungblud. Getty Images for The Recording A
Jesse Jo Stark and Yungblud
in Chrome Hearts
Chris Redding and Serena Redding. AFP via Getty Images
The best look from Men’s Fashion Week in Milan and Paris was seen on a woman.
On Monday, the actor Anya Taylor-Joy wore a Poiret-inspired coat from the Jonathan Anderson–designed Dior men’s show to Anderson’s debut Dior couture show. The coat, which had been shown on the runway just a few days before, was sumptuous, with jewel-colored textiles and a cocoon shape hearkening back to the early 20th century, plus winter-appropriate enormous fur cuffs. I want the coat more than anything I’ve ever wanted from a women’s Dior collection.
I hope it comes as no shock that gender is fluid—despite what the state and federal governments might decree—and that the way we all dress is too. And yet we still have men’s fashion weeks and women’s fashion weeks because that’s how clothes are largely merchandised in stores, although I wonder how long that will last. Still, I thought I would go to the men’s shows late this January and play by the rules, but still break them: by keeping an eye on clothes that women should wear from the men’s collections.
Designers seem to believe that we can all borrow from one another, as many brands—Armani, Zegna, Kartik Research, Our Legacy, Auralee, Lemaire—incorporated female models into their shows. Besides, the male models walking down the runway with their long hair and lean bodies and androgynous features only added to the idea that these are just clothes; anyone can put them on. Whether they suit you is less about whether you’re a man or a woman and more about whether you can pull off the sheer number of shades of purple (lavender to eggplant to shades that almost looked gray) that Leo Dell’Orco sent down the runway at Armani.
The influence of tailoring has recently had women in the strongest chokehold in decades, perhaps since the 1980s. Think of the endless crews of 20-something girls wearing oversized blazers with skirts or giant faded jeans and roaming metropolitan cities. Many other women have learned that trousers are a lot more comfortable than denim. With that in mind, women would look great in the softly tailored suits of Armani. The show was held at Giorgio Armani’s own home, and the brand always make an argument of: What if you just wore a uniform of suits? Maybe. Zegna sent a woman of a certain age down the runway with a matching blouse, pants, and jacket, all woven in sand and rust, and only continued the argument for tailoring.
Dries Van Noten’s men’s collections, now designed by Julian Klausner, have always hinted at what’s to come in its women’s collections. This time they could have been one and the same, with male models dressed in kilts in quiet colors and an array of bright knitwear. The shirts with delicate floral patterns would translate well to a woman’s wardrobe (maybe an oversized one open over a tank and a skirt in the summer), as would the cinched-waist floral pants in slinky fabrics. Everyone should try to preorder the floral parkas because they will surely sell out.
Shirts were also a focal point at Prada, particularly ones with trailing, unbuttoned cuffs. More and more women in my life are buying and wearing tuxedo shirts and others with French cuffs, and Prada’s show felt in conversation with that emerging styling choice. Speaking of styling tricks to steal, the foppish ties that almost looked like silk scarves or ribbons at the Yohji Yamamoto show would be a good alternative for women who want some kind of necktie but think a traditional men’s tie reads too costumey.
The bond between Lauren Sánchez Bezos and the fashion world is growing stronger, and during couture week in Paris, the journalist, entrepreneur, and wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos certainly did not leave her front row seat vacant. From Schiaparelli, which opened the Spring-Summer 2026 schedule, to Christian Dior, which marked Jonathan Anderson’s debut in the world of haute couture, Sánchez Bezos was present at some of the most anticipated shows. She smiled for the photographers, wearing different looks with one common thread: all three were suits. In fitted jacket and pencil skirt, Mrs. Bezos focused on a great wardrobe classic.
The first was a fiery red skirt suit by Schiaparelli, with an artistic, sculptural touch, perfectly in line with the style of the house’s creative director Daniel Roseberry. She paired the suit with a handbag with details forming a trompe-l’oeil face and a pair of red five-inch pumps to create the total look.
Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos arrive at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2026 fashion show.
Pierre Suu/Getty Images
The second version was in shades of gray. Chosen for Dior’s Haute Couture show, this outfit consisting of a waist-hugging jacket and a pencil skirt, is an archival piece that comes straight from the Parisian fashion house’s Fall-Winter 1998 collection, when John Galliano was in charge of creative direction.
Lauren Sánchez Bezos in a vintage Dior suit at the house’s Haute Couture show.
Every four years, the Winter Olympics remind us that athletic competition transcends the physical. It becomes a theater of national identity, where what athletes wear as they process into the stadium carries nearly as much symbolic weight as the medals they hope to bring home. The opening ceremony transforms some 3,000 competitors into walking embodiments of their countries, each delegation dressed by designers tasked with distilling centuries of cultural heritage into garments that must perform under scrutiny from billions of viewers worldwide.
The results have ranged from the triumphant to the peculiar. Lithuania’s 1992 appearance in Barcelona in Issey Miyake‘s radical pleated capes, donated free by the designer to the newly independent nation, remains among the most audacious statements ever made on Olympic grounds. Canada’s 1988 Calgary delegation arrived in fringed red trench coats and white cowboy hats, leaning hard into the host city’s Cowtown reputation. Then there’s the eternal question of how much nationalism is too much—how literally a flag should be rendered across a lapel or intarsia knit.
For Team USA, that question has had a consistent answer since 2008, when Ralph Lauren first partnered with the U.S. Olympic Committee for the Beijing Games. The brand’s preppy aesthetic, with navy blazers, white trousers, newsboy caps and rowing-club sensibilities, has become inextricably linked to American Olympic identity. The process begins roughly two and a half years before each Games, with the design team meeting athletes, researching host cities and building garments intended, as David Lauren puts it, to “become timeless.”
Milano Cortina 2026 presents what is perhaps the ultimate test: staging American athletes in one of the world’s undisputed fashion capitals, where sartorial scrutiny reaches its apex. The good news for spectators: many of these official outfitters—Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani, Le Coq Sportif and others—make civilian versions of their Olympic gear available to the public. What follows is the best of it, from ceremony sweaters to alpine-ready puffers, for anyone who wants to channel the Winter Games from the stands or the sofa.
When winter decides to throw furniture at the sky, reach an outfit that feels like a warm room you can wear. The forecast is doing that familiar thing where every map is angry, the snow is falling sideways, and the whole country collectively starts talking about batteries, bread, and whether the porch steps have turned into an ice rink.
This is my hibernation set, built around three requirements, comfort, warmth, and still feeling like I’m wearing real clothes. It’s not “loungewear” exactly, it’s more like… cabin adjacent.
Writer Caitlin Abber lives with her husband, Geoffrey, and their five-year-old daughter, Simone, in Queens, New York. “Style has always been part of my identity,” she says. “When I was little, I’d dress up like a grunge kid or the orphans in Oliver. Now, as a 42-year-old mom, I want to express vitality and an excitement to be alive.” Here, she shares five favorite outfits…
“When you’re short — I’m 5’1” — it’s hard to find full-length pants that don’t drag on the ground. I wear Levi’s 501s, because they have the right inseam for my height. I also love a cropped pant, although it’s one of those things petite people aren’t ‘supposed’ to wear, because it can make you look shorter. I’m like, I’m short! There’s no hiding it! It’s okay, it’s great! Everything is for you if you want it to be for you.”
“In our apartment, my clothes closet is in the home office. My husband is a therapist, and he does Zoom sessions in there all day. So, in the morning, I have to grab all the clothes I might want — underwear, coats, shoes, everything. The other day, we had a super busy morning, and I didn’t get a chance to grab an outfit in time. I wound up going to a coffee shop wearing my husband’s jeans and old T-shirt with a picture of Barack Obama playing basketball. That’s life sometimes! I find that with age comes the ability to say, ‘I’m going to put on something that makes me feel hot’ or say, ‘I’m going wear this outfit that makes me look like Adam Sandler.’”
“Ten years ago, my husband and I walked past a tattoo shop and decided to hop in. I randomly picked a bunny for my ribcage. Flash forward a decade, and we now have a daughter who is completely obsessed with bunnies — everything is bunny, bunny, bunny. She always tells me, ‘Mommy, you knew I was coming.’”
“I wear makeup every day, even if I’m working from home. I turn on music, and the process puts me in a good mood. I love red lipstick — VioletteFR is my go-to. Their lipsticks are so good, often on sale, and never get on your teeth.”
“My body has changed a lot over the past few years, but I have so much gratitude for these legs that get me places, for this body that birthed and fed my child. I like showing skin, and being a little fun and provocative, because I’m not dead yet, you know? I look at this photo and think, ‘Hang this at my funeral. This is who I was.’ I also walk around in my underwear, because I want my daughter to see me relaxed and confident in my body.”
“My hair is naturally brown, but I always felt like I had a blonde woman inside me. Then one day, in my thirties, I decided to just go for it. Full blonde, no subtlety. And suddenly, it was like, ‘Oh. There I am.’ I think a lot of people have a moment like that, where it feels like they’ve become who they’re meant to be.”
“One tricky thing about being petite is that coats are impossible to find. I’ve been wearing the same winter jacket for a decade, since all other coats swallow me. I’d also wanted a trench forever, but even the petite sizes never looked right. Then one day I walked into a vintage store in my neighborhood, pulled this off the rack, and it FIT. The sleeves, the shoulders, it was perfect…and it was $30.”
“I like this outfit’s Gloria Steinem vibes — I feel very ‘in charge.’ Funny story: When we were taking photos, just as I was putting it on, I got a call from the school nurse saying that my daughter had thrown up. So, I jumped into my shoes and we took these last pictures while speed-walking to pick up my sick kid. Classic parenthood moment: You’re in the middle of something important, and then all of a sudden, plans change!”
Thank you so much, Caitlin. Readers, please share your own petite style recommendations, if you have them, and let us know who else you’d like us to feature! xoxo
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