October is National Bullying Prevention Month. For many years, I have done anti-bullying PSA campaigns to contribute to the discourse, but truth be told, it was hard to find a way in 2025 that didn’t feel too earnest or treacly. Sadly, we still see bullying behavior everywhere. If it isn’t the FCC bullying Jimmy Kimmel, it’s LGBTQ+ rights under attack, and even Kanye West’s forthcoming album, Bully. What could I do this (fucking) year that didn’t feel tone-deaf, but could somehow help?
In early September, I texted Richard Christiansen, founder of lifestyle and wellness brand Flamingo Estate, to ask him if, like some recent collaborations—Pamela Anderson’s pickles, Laura Dern’s olive oil, and LeBron James’s honey—we could join forces on a candle in support of National Bullying Prevention Month with a small portion of the proceeds benefiting some anti-bullying organizations. Candles have always been something that help me ground and find my center—especially in tough times. I burn them daily in my home as a reminder of warmth, and the fragrance transports me. I travel with candles, gift them often (yes, even after I read that hosts often think a candle has been regifted), and always have one lit near my bath. But more than anything, candles symbolize a light in the dark. “I love that idea. God knows I had enough bullying at school,” Christiansen replied in seconds. “And no—not a small portion of the proceeds. ALL OF THE PROCEEDS [can go to the charities].” (Yes, get yourself a friend like Richard Christiansen.)
While I was initially flattered that Christiansen had responded so quickly to me (although in case you forgot, I am charming after all), I came to learn there was a deeper meaning behind his enthusiasm.
Growing up in rural Australia, one of two boys raised by farmer parents, Christiansen experienced incessant bullying at school. “I was a soft, gentle, gay kid who grew up in a very hypermasculine, sort of rural world. My dad sent us to a school that had a cadet-like program—I think to toughen us up,” he explained over the phone. “I was very aware that I was just not like the other boys. My brother and I both were bullied pretty heavily all the way through high school.”
A jacket has two functions: Keep you warm, of course, and define the rest of your outfit.
When I was in college, I got a job working at the Cole Haan boutique in the King of Prussia Mall near Philly. Cole Haan’s shoe styles were still somewhat conservative, but their men’s jackets had a rebellious flare that quickly seduced me. After a year, I’d racked up $2000 worth of jackets (though I won’t say how much I actually paid with my employee discount). It’s been well over a decade, and I still have all of those jackets…and several more.
When you throw your jacket on in the morning, you set the tone for your day. Like choosing between loafers or work boots, choosing between different types of jackets is a matter of form and function. What’s the temperature? Could it rain or snow? Am I feeling formal, casual, business, or athletic today? Your jacket choice is the result of these decisions.
But sometimes, you might not know where to start. We’ve compiled a list of the most common men’s jacket styles. Keep the list going in the comments if we didn’t include your favorite or if you have experience with any of our picks.
Table of Contents
Field Jacket
The field jacket is one of the few sartorial pieces that perfectly mates form with function, meaning 1. It will never go out of style, and 2. You’ll always have a spare pocket for your keys. The field jacket is easily recognizable as it typically has 3-4 exterior pockets and a generous fit (so you can layer up underneath). The original M-65 field jacket was developed in tandem with NYCO, a cotton/nylon blend that offered improved water and wind resistance over previous iterations.
Today, outerwear companies have gotten creative with their fabrics, offering field jackets in cotton canvas, waxed canvas, and cotton blends. As the field jacket has become mainstream, it’s split into two sub-categories: the modern field jacket and the military field jacket.
The modern field jacket is more inspired by farm fields than battlefields, like this one from Peter Manning, and maintains a roomy cut but adds a softer shoulder and creature comforts like corduroy trim and flannel lining. The military field jacket stays true to its roots with boxy shoulders, snap-in linings, and a hood that zips into the jacket’s collar.
You probably know that the bomber jacket was originally created for pilots, but you may not know that the streamlined silhouette you see today was at the outset, crafted from seal leather and lined with fur. Over the decades, the bomber has seen several iterations, loosening its insulation requirements as airplane cockpits have become warmer.
Today the bomber jacket is the throw-it-on-for-anything jacket in terms of style: Going to the store in your sweats for milk? Throw on your bomber. Going out for drinks with the fellas? Bomber. And with different colors, cuts, and levels of warmth available, you can have a different bomber for each season. Not sure where to start? Try something like this lightweight bomber from Levi’s. The polyester will resist the wind and rain, and the trim cut will keep you looking svelte.
Plenty of companies make a denim jacket, but no on does it quite like Levi’s. The denim, or jean jacket dates back to the late 1800s. It was originally created for farmers and gold prospectors with seams that could be easily let out and moved if the wearer needed a looser fit. When you picture a denim jacket, you probably see this one from Levi’s, which is their classic Trucker Jacket.
The metal buttons and v-shaped seams make it unmistakable. Suitable for a spring day with a light breeze, a summer evening, or a fall evening with layers, the denim jacket has a rugged casualness that looks laid back but intentional.
We feature it regularly in our outfit inspiration due to its versatility among smart casual.
It’s important to note that while the denim trucker jacket is the most ubiquitous, there are other types of jackets that can be made of denim, most commonly a chore coat:
The trucker jacket has an intriguing history, from protecting cowboys from storms to keeping Robert Redford looking like a stud. The trucker jacket is a specific design of jacket that can be made of various materials, which features a waist-length cut, tall collar, and generally one or two chest pockets.
Cinching button flaps on the back waist that narrow the opening are also standard.
The most common trucker jacket you’ll see is the Levi’s denim one that we’ve featured above, but for a little added comfort and weather resistance, we like a trucker made from waxed sailcloth like this one from Flint and Tinder. The fabric comes from New Jersey, and the jacket is crafted in Los Angeles with a soft flannel lining to keep you warm.
Flint and Tinder (which started as an American-made underwear company) even takes the extra time to wax the fabric on both sides for extra resilience. Creases and scuffs will help this jacket age with character and a 60-day return policy gives you the time to make sure it’s the right fit and style for you.
Back in October, we started getting our house ready to sell. There was a myriad of jobs to do, and the weather was just starting to turn chilly. One crisp Saturday morning I threw on my chore coat with a t-shirt and a sweatshirt underneath and set aside two hours to pressure wash the front of the house. But you know how it goes when you get pressure washin’. Next thing I know I’m doing the back porch, and then I started eyeing up the deck. Five hours and two meals later, I’d ditched the sweatshirt, but I was still rockin’ the chore coat over my t-shirt.
The chore coat isn’t for a nice night out. It’s not for the meeting before the board of managers. It’s for chorin’. It’s for a walk in the woods or a casual weekend away. Made from cotton canvas, wool, or denim, the chore coat has a roomy cut for layers and a rugged construction that dares you to do some real work. Go get dirty.
The Belstaff Jacket (originally spelled Bellstaff and known colloquially as the “moto”) dates back to 1924 when a father-and-son company aimed to create a waterproof jacket for motorcycle racers, so they could race on the beach at the water’s edge. The jacket was the first commercially available sartorial item to use Egyptian cotton coated with wax.
This kept the moisture out while still letting air in. Word spread, and soon it wasn’t just racers wearing Belstaff jackets; pilots (like Ameila Earhart) became customers as well. Soon Belstaff started making custom cycling and camping equipment, and by the time WWII had begun, the government was requesting Belstaff’s gear for their soldiers.
Today Belstaff is an iconic fashion designer, with the likes of Ewan McGregor, David Beckham, and Liv Tyler headlining their newest collections. But their legacy, and more importantly, their quality, has remained untainted.
The exterior pockets, snap buttons and general badassedness of the Belstaff-style moto jacket lend it to just about any body type. But like we’ve said before, most guys don’t want to take out a loan to pick one up. Unless you need the ruggedness of a leather moto (like if you actually ride a motorcycle), this cotton moto by Goodthreads is perfect for the upcoming spring.
How to wear a moto jacket:
Shirt Jacket
When a button-up shirt isn’t enough, the shirt jacket steps in for that added layer of warmth. It is known by various names depending on what region you’re from including shirt jacket, shirt jac, CPO jacket, or shacket.
The advantage of the shirt jacket is how well it allows you to move (since really, it’s just like wearing another shirt). You get the warmth of a light jacket without the added bulk, kind of like an alternative to a shawl collar cardigan or hoodie.
I’m a prep. Freshly shined penny loafers with a pair of Nantucket reds and a bow tie, and I feel right at home (maybe a copy of Gatsby in my back pocket in case I get bored). On a sunny day, you’ll see me rockin’ my basket-weave navy blazer, but if there’s a chill in the air, I get out the Harrington.
Like a Mini Cooper with a hemi, the Harrington is a total sleeper in terms of versatility. Also known as a blouson jacket, wear a Harrington with chinos and a button down; wear it with jeans and your brown leather sneakers. Hell, throw it on with a pair of shorts on a cool summer evening. Keep in mind that just because the original G9 jacket from English brand Baracuta has become a cult classic since its inception in the 1930s, you don’t have to spend $400. This one from Uniqlo is $30 and looks swell.
It was fifty-five degrees in my part of Pennsylvania today, and my wife and I had some errands to run (My mom watched the kids, so we called it a date). I threw on jeans, suede chukkas, a sweatshirt, and my leather jacket, and I felt smooth. The leather jacket is the ultimate feather in the cap of smart casual: It’s intentional without being presumptuous.
Leather jackets can come in lots of different styles, from the racer style shown above to bombers, blazers, and everything in between. The most famous style is probably the double rider: The classic leather jacket with big collars and asymmetrical zipper, shown below.
The first commercially available leather jacket was released in the early 1900s for motorcyclists; if you fell, the leather would take the brunt of the road rash instead of your own skin (it took a while to figure out that helmets were a good idea too).
Marlon Brando and James Dean wore leather jackets in The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause respectively, and suddenly it was the sartorial staple of the 1950s. Perfect for fall days or days like today when spring is doing its best to make an entrance. A jacket made from great leather will outlast you: Primer editor and founder Andrew Snavely has a 1940s horsehide motorcycle cop jacket.
How to wear a leather jacket:
Double Rider Biker Leather Jacket
If you’re feelin’, as my grandfather would say, as bad as you gotta be, you might want to pick up a biker jacket. Biker jackets feature a trim cut (so they’re not great for layering), a short torso (so you can easily lean over the side of your bike without having a button dig into your pelvis), and ample hardware for ruggedness. While the double rider biker jacket lends itself to a more casual look, it actually complements a shirt and tie quite well. Pairing your work wear with a little bit of renegade is always a cool move.
Fleece Jacket
When I hear polyester, my mind goes to Saturday Night Fever, but the polyester of today is not the polyester of the 1970s when your dad wore platform shoes and shirts with collars points down to his armpits. Today’s polyester fleece is lightweight, soft, and breathable, allowing you to stay warm and (relatively) dry without breaking a sweat.
It won’t shrink when you dry it, and because it’s a synthetic fabric, it keeps its shape. The best part? You don’t need to drop $100 to get a more-than decent fleece jacket. This fleece from Amazon comes in 26 styles and hits a price point that won’t make you cringe.
Pea Coat
The pea coat is one of the few coats that has seen very little change since its inception. Why? Because it’s hard to update perfect. Like quite a few men’s coats, the pea coat finds its roots in the military, originally crafted in the 1700s for Dutch sailors from rough, thick wool. The term “pea” is thought to come from the Dutch word “pij” or “pije” (depending on the source), which described the wool.
The British navy popularized the style, and we’re still wearing them today. The modern pea coat is slightly more fitted than the original, but the oversized collar, hem just below the waist, and double-breasted button closure remain. And because a classic never dies, plenty of companies have their own take on the pea coat, meaning you can choose the one that fits your personal taste and your budget.
The shearling jacket hits that sweet spot when it’s too cool for a trucker but too warm for a pea coat. If you go for genuine shearling, which comes from sheep, you’ll spend a few hundred at least (and that’s if you catch a deal).
Luckily faux-fur shearling (which is essentially hi-pile, textured fleece and labeled as “sherpa”) retains warmth nearly as well as the real thing. It’s also easier to maintain (because you can wash it), and it won’t mat down as easily as genuine shearling. A sherpa trucker like this one is soft and easy to wear like a heavy sweatshirt.
Mac Jacket
The Mackintosh, or Mac…or rain coat actually dates back to the 1800s. Charles Mackintosh, a chemist, devised a way to insert a layer of liquid rubber between an interior and exterior layer of fabric. And the Mac was born. Traditionally a Mac was cut for wear over a suit, but the modern Mac is slightly tailored. You can certainly layer it over a suit or a thick sweater, but you don’t have to. This Tommy Hilfiger Mac comes in three colors, maintains the traditional style but with an updated silhouette, and comes with a removable hood.
Trench Coat
Trench coats became iconic after service by British officers in World War I, but their story starts almost a century earlier, as a response to the popularity of the Mackintosh coat. Traditionally trench coats are below the knee, double breasted and feature wide lapels, and a waist belt, though you can find coats labeled as trench coats that feature other styles.
Puffer Jacket
The puffer jacket is your quintessential winter jacket. It’s lightweight, it’s warm, and it has just enough moisture resistance to get you through a snow shower.
There’s nothing wrong with an extra puffy puffer jacket, but anymore, insulation technology has allowed for more svelte options like this one from L.L. Bean with down that’s been treated to allow it to stay dry even when wet.
Vest
Also known as a gilet, the vest is one type of outerwear men sleep on the most. It’s the perfect layer for those frustrating-to-dress-for days where a thicker coat would be too hot after a certain point. The torso-covering vest keeps heat in while not insulating the arms, a way of regulating body temperature while also looking damn cool.
The history of the coach’s jacket is in the name. In the 90s, this lightweight windbreaker-style jacket (complete with snap button closure) was worn by NFL coaches all over the country (with a big ol’ team logo on the back). It moves easily; it resists moisture in case it starts to drizzle, and snap buttons mean it goes on and off easily so the coach can stay comfortable without missing a play.
Waxed Canvas Jacket
This may be the best damn looking jacket on the entire list, and I’m not just saying that because Daniel Craig wears it in No Time to Die. Ok…that might have something to do with it. The waxed canvas jacket is the one you throw on in fall or winter over top of a sweater, or for the spring camping weekend when it’s going to be cool at night, but you’ll be sitting by the fire.
Over time, the canvas will crease, darken, absorb dirt and oil from your hands, and it’ll keep looking good. In a few years, throw a fresh coat of Otter Wax on it, and you’re back to factory specs for moisture resistance.
As a card-carrying prep, the navy blazer is my go-to jacket for every season and almost any occasion. It is the essence of versatility in that it looks good on any man regardless of body type, and shy of black-tie-only, it’s appropriate for most occasions. A night out with your partner? Throw on the navy blazer with your favorite denim and a button-down. A day at the office? Navy blazer and chinos (Think Andy Bernard. Did you know he went to Cornell?) Office with a more casual dress code? Navy blazer with denim, a shirt, and tie.
You only need one navy blazer, and if you can afford it, I recommend picking up one made of wool. It breathes; it seldom needs cleaning, and the drape is always flattering. If that’s a little too steep, a wool blend or cotton will do just fine.
Navy blazer outfits:
Rain Coat
Yes, the Mac is handsome, but you’re probably not going to wear it to your daughter’s soccer game on a rainy Saturday morning. This is where the traditional rain coat comes into play. This one from J.Crew is made from triple-layered nylon, with a bit of stretch, flap pockets, and an interior pocket for your phone.
If you’re like me, you’re thinking that all that waterproofing doesn’t allow for a lot of air movement. But this jacket has a trick up it’s sleeve: zippered vents with lightweight mesh to keep moisture out while allowing for air flow.
Anorak
The word anorak comes from the native Greenalndic language annoraaq. Similar to a parka (itself having native Russian etymology), an anorak is a hooded, pullover hip-length jacket usually made of nylon to provide wind and water protection. They’ve regained fashion popularity in the last two decades or so and often come in bright solid colors or a mix of bright colors. Due to their pull-over style, nylon construction, and zipper pouch, anoraks are casual wear jackets, often chosen for weather utility.
Packable Jacket
In the back of my SUV, I have a fleece blanket, a multitool, and a packable jacket. Why? Because dammit you just never know. And let’s be honest: the packable jacket is just cool. Here’s a piece of clothing that will keep you warm and neatly pack into itself for easy storage – there’s something profound in its simplicity. This one from Amazon is made from nylon (which will cut the wind and resist moisture) with polyester filling for added insulation. And at $45 with 11 color options, it’s a no-brainer.
Parka
When the elements are kicking your ass, you reach for the parka. Originally made from seal skin by the Caribou Inuits, the parka is a garment designed for true cold weather activity and is one of the best types of jackets to stay warm in the winter. The body is cut below the waist, the interior is insulated (usually with down or a down alternative), and pockets have storm flaps and buttons (or velcro). This one from Patagonia is made with recycled 600-fill down, stretch canvas, and a hood that will cover your head and neck. Winter’s got nothin’ on you.
Suede Jacket
The best part about a suede jacket is that every guy can make it work. The suede racer compliments any body shape and looks as good at the bar as it does at the office. Suede gives you the durability of leather, but it breathes better and has a soft hand. Worried about water damage? Give your jacket a light misting with this fabric guard.
Technical Jacket
The first jacket I ever bought from The North Face was an Apex. I was 22, fresh out of school, and the Apex was my graduation gift to myself. That was 13 years ago, and it’s still hanging in my closet. A tech jacket (named for the tech fabric from which it’s made) is the Swiss Army knife of jackets: it’s warm, it cuts the wind, and it’s waterproof (the Apex uses a proprietary fabric with a polyurethane coating, which allows the fabric to breathe while keeping moisture out).
If there’s rain in the forecast, and you’re going for a hike or traversing the city, the tech jacket won’t let you down.
Fishtail Parka
The name says it all: the fishtail parka is cut long in the body with a short vent at the bottom of the back, which kind of looks like a…well…you get it. This one from Alpha Industries is made from a cotton/poly blend for high breathability while still keeping you dry. The front placket adds a layer of moisture resistance while the drawstrings let you decide how tapered you want the fit.
Quilted Jacket
In the springtime, my default weekend outfit is jeans and a solid t-shirt (I like the pocket tees from J.Crew Factory). A simple way to enhance this look is by adding a little texture, and this is what a quilted jacket does best. The quilted jacket has a way of looking fancy yet casual; call it, “laid-back-equestrian.”
The quilted jacket is ideal for layering, so throw it over a sweatshirt to cut the wind and lock in a little extra body heat. This one from Ralph Lauren is handsomely classic,.
Unfortunately they didn’t give out varsity jackets if you were the lead in the musical (not that I’m bitter), but I prefer the kind without letters on them anyway. The varsity jacket traditionally has a wool body with leather sleeves, an American cut (which is to say a bit boxy), and a team’s logo on it. These days the varsity jacket has a slightly trimmer cut, and most are made from blends of fleece or cotton. But if you want the real thing, check out this one from Grey.
Overcoat
I have a problem with overcoats because they look so damn good over a suit or a navy blazer. So I have four of them. The overcoat is cut long in the body with a little extra room in the chest and sleeves to go over your suit for work. Perhaps more than any other coat on the list, overcoats come in at every price point you can imagine from low-cost options to exorbitantly expensive that costs more than my first car. Camel, navy, or black are the most traditional choices, but don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path with a pattern.
Auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull will offer the tiara as part of a collection of lots from the estate of Virginia Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, who died last year. This particular piece is expected to sell for between $66.6K and $93.2K, as it boasts not just an incredible design, but a fascinating history that links back to the British royal family.
The tiara’s first recorded wearer was Lady Mabell Gore, who became the Countess of Airlie in 1886 when she married David Ogilvy, the 11th Earl. Lyon & Turnbull have speculated that the piece may have been a wedding present, given that daisies represent innocence and purity, while ivy has long been associated with love. Sadly, the Countess was widowed when her husband died in the Second Boer War in 1900, but one year later she was appointed as one of the Ladies of the Bedchamber to the Princess of Wales—later Queen Mary—and continued to serve in the role until the Queen’s death in 1953.
Another new bride had recently joined the Ogilvy family at that time, and would also go on to need a tiara: Virginia Fortune Ryan, the daughter of a wealthy American banking family, who was connected to the British upper classes by her father, a close friend of both Sir Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon. Her connections enabled her to marry Mabell’s grandson, Lord David Ogilvy, the heir to the earldom, in 1952—and their wedding was quite the society affair. Guests included Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The groom’s best man, meanwhile, was his younger brother, The Hon. Angus Ogilvy, who would go on to marry Princess Alexandra of Kent.
I’ve never been much of a festival girlie. It’s not because I don’t love live music (I do); Between big crowds (I’m barely 5’2 and main stage GA is not the most short-girl-friendly situation), prolonged time in the sun, and expensive food and drinks (in this economy?!), I always resolved to a life of catching the action on social media from the safety of my couch. However, when T-Mobile invited me to experience Austin City Limits the magenta way, I jumped at the chance. It felt like kismet: I’ve been a T-Mobile girlie for years, and as a newly-minted Texan (I moved to Dallas during the summer), what could be more fun that getting to channel my inner cowgirl at the state’s biggest music festival?
For Timothée Chalamet, there are no half-measures, and that includes his haircuts. The 29-year-old Hollywood star stunned fans this week by showing off his newly shaved head during an evening outing at Yankee Stadium with girlfriend Kylie Jenner. The actor, known for his heartthrob-worthy curly mane, officially inaugurated a buzzcut—a hairstyle that speaks volumes.
“The buzzcut sported by Timothée Chalamet is a cut that immediately conveys strength, virility, independence and confidence,” Matteo Orlando, hairstylist at the Mastromauro salon in Milan, explains. “It’s not a hair look for everyone: you need character to wear it, but that’s precisely why it’s so magnetic.”
The advantage of radical removing so much hair, says Orlando, is that “it brings out the features, look and proportions of the face: it’s as if it strips the person of all artifice, letting the essence emerge.” Orlando also emphasizes the liberating component of the gesture. “Cutting the hair altogether—especially for someone like Chalamet, who is used to a rebellious, soft and rather long cut—can have a deep symbolic meaning. It is a way to reset and restart.”
A photo from last spring: Chalamet with soft brown curls.
Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images
And for those who would like to imitate the actor? “Remember that the buzzcut needs to be touched up every two weeks or so if you want to maintain the clean-shaven effect like Chalamet’s,” says Orlando. “But it’s also an opportunity to experiment: you can play with shades, gradations or longer textures on the top.” In any case, one thing is certain: the new Timothée teaches us that sometimes, the real headshot is having the courage to change.
“I saw so many of my good friends engaging in this culture. It shouldn’t be a transaction like a credit card. I don’t believe this is empowerment,” says Franklin, speaking about what she witnessed as a student at Berkeley in California.
“I completely agree,” says Kinsey. “I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I’ve never posted a bikini photo. But I’ve grown up. You can also change and grow from it. It’s OK to swim against the current.”
The pair are both married, but they have remained career-driven despite their otherwise trad leanings. Franklin is also a mom of Vivienne, who is two and a half. In many ways, they embody the synthesis necessary to make it as a woman in right-wing media at the moment: part professional, part homemaker, part influencer, all MAGA.
“We shouldn’t try to put women in a box,” Kinsey says. “We can pursue creativity and really embrace the family unit.”
While their podcast will be competing against a lineup of others by high-profile right-wing women—Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey,Chicks on the Right, and even the recently launched Katie Miller Podcast, hosted by the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller—what sets Sincerely American apart, its hosts say, is its explicit interest in the minds of conservative Gen Z women. From why they dress like they do (Prada platform heels and Louboutins for the debut), to how faith intersects with dating, to how they’ve landed at some of their political conclusions.
For now, the plan is to focus on building the rapport between the pair as the episodes develop, but there are plans to add guests further down the line. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is a dream guest, as is Melania Trump, of course. “We both love Paige Lorenze,” Franklin tells me, “I also love Olivia Culpo.”
“We saw Kevin O’Leary yesterday at Cafe Milano,” says Franklin to Kinsey as they take a break at the end of the recording.
“I would’ve asked him to be a guest; you should’ve told me,” Kinsey says.
We went through the noise to find the pieces that are genuinely worth their sale tag, the kind you’ll still use long after the boxes are gone.
Prime Big Deal Days is here, two days of markdowns that began today at 12:01 AM Pacific and wrap Wednesday at 11:59 PM Pacific. Think of it as the holiday shopping pregame, early enough to feel responsible, late enough that you can still forget where you hid the gifts. You need Prime to get the real prices, a free trial counts, logging in matters. A few strays will leak out to everyone or get matched at other stores.
The good targets are wonderfully unglamorous, which is why they work. Amazon devices often hit their best numbers of the year, Echo speakers, Fire TV sticks, Kindles, Ring and Blink kits, sometimes with little freebies attached. Name-brand tech is usually strong, headphones and earbuds, monitors and laptops, smartwatches, with rare Apple discounts and generous Bose cuts.
Kitchen is a layup, Vitamix and KitchenAid, Ninja and Instant Pot, iRobot and Shark, real money off things you actually use before 8 AM.
Hold a little skepticism for the glittery bargains from unfamiliar brands. A 70% discount on a blender you have never heard of is not a discount, it is a journal entry waiting to happen. Spend the savings on the thing you meant to buy the first time. For big ticket screens and certain gaming consoles, patience can pay, Black Friday sometimes pushes those lower, especially last year’s models. If today’s price is genuinely record low, go ahead, if it looks merely enthusiastic, set an alert and move on.
Remember the rhythm of October, Amazon fires the starting pistol, Target and Walmart sprint after it, the price games continue through November. Use that to your advantage. Grab the items that historically hit bottom now, Amazon hardware, everyday tech from real brands, kitchen workhorses, toys that sell out.
Finally, shop logged in, verify the Prime badge, check return windows, read two real reviews, not the ones that sound like they were written by a smart fridge. Add to cart, compare once, then decide. The goal is fewer boxes, better boxes, and a December with more cocoa and less panic.
→ Below, the best deals worth your time today and tomorrow, curated for a grown man with a life, a kitchen, and people to shop for.
Looks like a flannel, insulates like a down jacket. The weight’s just right for cold mornings when you don’t want to commit to a coat. Similar to the blue Levi’s one I’ve had for 10+ years.
Built for military pilots, worn by astronauts. Sturdy, precise, and American-made, these have stayed relevant for sixty years because nothing about them needed fixing. They’ve been a staple in our features for years for a reason, and this is the rare price drop worth acting on.
A winter-ready version of a classic trucker that never misses. A denim staple that holds its shape. The fleece lining adds warmth, the color fades in the right places, and the whole thing looks lived in from day one.
Bulova’s precision timing and classic dive styling meet at a price that feels like an error. Stainless steel heft and a chronograph that looks far more expensive than it is.
Old-school tailoring with modern comfort built in. You’re getting a pair of office-to-weekend chinos from a heritage brand for the cost of fast fashion.
Comfort-first training shoes with retro running lines and modern cushioning. A steal if you want something that looks sharp off-duty but still handles actual workouts.
The original icon, cut straight through the leg with just enough structure to look intentional. We’ve featured it plenty for a reason, there’s no more reliable foundation for modern casual style.
The kind of coat you buy once and wear for years. Simple collar, deep pockets, and a bit of that old department-store reliability Dockers used to be known for.
A reliable, no-drama pair of jeans. Clean through the leg with just enough stretch to move comfortably. Gap denim isn’t flashy, but it gets the fit right more often than not, and this cut is one of their best.
Smoother, sharper, and lighter than past versions. Feels more like entertainment, less like technology. I have the older Quest 3 and put in some good time almost every week.
Handles quick dinners, weekend breakfasts, and leftovers that somehow taste better than when they were fresh. Makes cooking for one or two feel like less of a chore.
From New York to Paris, the month dedicated to Spring-Summer 2026 collections had a main character: Kai Schreiber. With blond hair and porcelain skin, the model has been a regular presence on various fashion week runways throughout the year, donning styles from a wide variety of designers on the runway, from Jason Wu to Fendi, Moschino to Valentino.
Born in New York City in 2008, Kai is a transgender woman, the second child of two big names in Hollywood, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, who have shared stories of her transition, which began at a young age. She’s often been targeted by the media for this as much as for the always controversial label of being a so-called nepo-baby in the fashion world. Her father recently said he didn’t take that criticism seriously: “I don’t have many thoughts for the haters,” he told TMZ earlier this year following Kai’s runway debut. “I’m gonna put it to you like this: What if you were a professional actor and your child decided they wanted to do something in this world. Do they have the choice of what you did? It doesn’t matter, like, that’s her life. She does what she wants with her life. And I’m super proud of her. I thought she did an amazing job on the show.”
As Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, previously of Proenza Schouler, make their debut as creative directors of the storied Spanish brand, a new era begins. Photographer Jonas Unger captures the excitement behind the unveiling of the duo’s premiere collection.
Vidal returned to these themes in “The War at Home,” the first VF essay of his I edited. He warned that the country was coming apart not just from imperial overreach of what he liked to call the Cheney-Bush oil-and-gas junta, but also from neglect at home. He saw a nation of people dispossessed, farmers forsaken, workers abandoned, pointing to those left behind by the new economy and a political class (in both parties) deaf to their grievances. “[T]here are vast areas, like rural America, that are an unmapped ultima Thule to those who own the corporations that own the media that spend billions of dollars to take polls in order to elect their lawyers to high office,” he wrote. He predicted that popular resentment would not remain latent—that it would be harnessed by demagogues who spoke in the language of populism while advancing the interests of entrenched power. At the time, critics waved it off: Vidal being Vidal. Today it reads as a forecast of the politics of grievance and resentment that would fuel the rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
The U.S. Bill of Rights is being steadily eroded, with two million telephone calls tapped, 30 million workers under electronic surveillance, and, says the author, countless Americans harassed by a government that wages spurious wars against drugs and terrorism.
Arrow
One morning, soon after “The War at Home” was published, I arrived at the magazine’s offices, and my assistant, Marc Goodman, told me there was a letter on my desk that I should look at right away. Many pages, handwritten in tiny script on yellow lined paper, it was from the Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh, with a return address of the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. There was a Post-it on the first page: “Hey Matt, please pass this on to Gore. —Tim.” It was duly faxed to Ravello. Vidal called, aglow. McVeigh had been studying the Bill of Rights while on death row and reading a lot of Gore Vidal. The two started a correspondence about their mutual interest in the erosion of the Bill of Rights, which became the basis for another essay, “The Meaning of Timothy McVeigh.” In that piece, later selected for the 2022 edition of The Best American Essays, Vidal set out not to excuse McVeigh’s atrocity—he was careful to note that nothing could justify the killing of 168 people, including 19 children in the day care center of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City—but to place the bomber’s fury in a wider American context. He argued that McVeigh’s rage over Waco (a federal siege ending in the deaths of 82 people) and Ruby Ridge (a raid in Idaho that left three dead), along with his distrust of an unaccountable federal government, reflected a deep alienation shared by millions, especially neglected rural and working-class Americans. The reception was explosive: Critics accused Vidal of giving a platform to a mass murderer, even as he stressed that he did not condone the bombing and insisted that McVeigh’s mindset revealed the sickness of the republic. McVeigh, who invited Vidal to witness his execution in June 2001, became a kind of dark mirror to Vidal’s analysis. Vidal made plans to attend the death by lethal injection but canceled at the last minute. “He’s a harbinger,” Vidal told me. I was not sure I completely believed him at the time, but that harbinger now looks an awful lot like one foreshadowing the arrival of Trump and the MAGA movement, which have been very effective at channeling the same grievances into political power. That brings to mind another Vidal line: “The four most beautiful words in the English language, ‘I told you so.’”
Gore Vidal’s 1998 Vanity Fair essay on the erosion of the U.S. Bill of Rights caused McVeigh to begin a three-year correspondence with Vidal, prompting an examination of certain evidence that points to darker truths-a conspiracy willfully ignored by F.B.I. investigators, and a possible cover-up by a government waging a secret war on the liberty of its citizens.
Arrow
Editing Vidal was an adventure on many fronts. In the lush days of Condé Nast’s bottomless expense accounts and budgets, lavish gifts were the norm when a star writer turned in a big piece. Vidal drank gin by the gallon (to wash down the Macallan 12), so once I sent a case of Bombay Sapphire to Ravello. Turns out the gin had to be driven 170 miles from Rome. The fax machine soon spat out a page with his scrawl: “Mother’s milk arrived with trucker’s compliments.” There were other contributor perks. He could only write his essays on vintage portable Olivetti Lettera typewriters (novels were composed in long hand on legal pads). The Olivettis were getting harder to repair, so my assistant found a trove of them and ordered the lot. We kept about a half dozen in the office to FedEx to Italy for stuck keys and other technological emergencies. Once, when Vidal was on deadline and staying in his usual suite at The Plaza in Manhattan, an Olivetti was messengered over for him. He and I got back from a long, wet dinner at the restaurant Daniel, and he sat down to write while I was still there. I was amazed to see that he composed those long, intricate essays using one finger, pecking out a single letter at a time. A typist was hired to create a final draft from the messy, marked-up Olivetti typescripts, and he never dropped a stitch in his copy. He was probably the only writer in the history of the magazine allowed by the revered copy chief, Peter Devine, to invent a word. It was the adverb sickenly, a short version of sickeningly, that Devine let slide, saying, “After all, it’s Gore Vidal.”
As Vidal and I grew closer, I made trips to Ravello to visit him and his companion of more than 40 years, Howard Austen. They lived at La Rondinaia, a vast four-level villa built into the side of a sheer cliff and surrounded by terraced gardens, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The world came to Vidal in Ravello. In the guest rooms there were silver-framed photos of famous previous occupants: Johnny and Joanna Carson, Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Leonard Bernstein, Rudolf Nureyev. When Hillary Clinton paid a visit in 1994, La Repubblica’s headline was “Lady Clinton nel Paradiso di Vidal.” It was there that the Maestro could read and write with the distractions of the modern world kept at a safe distance, while Austen dealt with all quotidian matters. An admirer of his paternal grandfather, the populist Oklahoma senator T.P. Gore, a man of the 19th and early 20th century, Vidal identified more with those pretech times. I think it helped him conjure the distant pasts of his historical novels, which were meticulously researched and scrawled out on yellow legal pads. (His book 1876 landed him on the cover of Time magazine in 1976, but Burr and Lincoln are his two masterpieces of the genre.) His only nod to the digital age was his fax machine, which made sending manuscripts a breeze. He called his hi-fi “the victrola” and hadn’t driven a car in decades. He walked the stairs and terraces of the Amalfi Coast daily, which I think contributed to his relative longevity, despite levels of alcohol consumption that were hard to reconcile with such a staggeringly prolific career. He prided himself on never drinking on the job. While staying with him, I noted that he worked regular hours, reading and writing in his book-lined studio overlooking the sea from 10 a.m. until lunch. He then went back to work until, as he said, “the shadows grow long”—cocktail hour—about 5 p.m. He pronounced to me once that his doctor told him he had “a perfect liver.” And true, it never gave out. When his feuding rival of the ’60s and ’70s, Truman Capote—who Vidal frequently claimed did drink while working—died at the home of Joanne Carson, one of his “swans,” in 1984, Vidal’s infamous response was, “Good career move.” Their fractious relationship blossomed into a lawsuit in 1975. Thereafter, Vidal dismissed Capote with the line, “I saw him only once again, in 1968, when, without my glasses, I mistook him for a small ottoman, and sat down on him.”
Vidal campaigning as the Democratic candidate for Congress for the 29th Congressional District of New York in Poughkeepsie, April 7, 1960.Ben Martin/Getty Images.
The suit jacket and pants that won the princess over were designed by Bella Freud, who also hosts the popular fashion podcast Fashion Neurosis. Indeed, the look has several elements that are hallmarks of the royal’s signature style: A British brand, impeccable tailoring, and a meaningful pattern, the Prince of Wales check, also known as Glen Plaid.
Among the reasons that might have led Kate to reintroduce the outfit so soon, other than to give it another spin before sending it to the cleaners as ordinary women would, might be the effort to shift public focus from the clothes she wears to the work she does. Without a new look to analyze, the RAF pilots she visited and the aircrafts she toured could take the spotlight.
Kate Middleton boards the Typhoon at the RAF base.
WPA Pool/Getty Images
But the royal had not counted on meeting the local princesses, young children whose families live on and around the base. The crowd of tots had donned their best dresses to meet the princess. “Where is my dress? If I had known…” she exclaimed, as she stopped to chat with a particularly elegant little group, according to reports in the British press.
“I’m sorry I didn’t wear my dress today. Thank you for coming to see me,” she told one of her little admirers.
The man who wrote the great protest song “Fight the Power” 36 years ago will not say the name of the current president of the United States.
“My thing on 45, 47 – I don’t say his name – is we’ve been seeing this guy in New York since the 1970s,” says rap legend, Public Enemy leader Chuck D (real name Carlton Ridenhour), “and he just pulled a three card monte on the rest of the country, the rest of the world. He fooled the country bumpkins twice. The dude was never fit to be president; he used to own a USFL team, he was in the middle of boxing matches, wrestling…He’s an entertainer, but I’m not saying he’s a great entertainer.”
Recalling the origin of “Fight the Power,” Chuck D adds, “A lot of people don’t know that ours was the second song with that title. The first was an Isley Brothers song that was influential to me and my peers in 1975. Then Spike Lee called in need of a song [for his 1989 film Do Tha’ Right Thing.] “Hey Chuck, I need an anthem…so me and my team was able to come up with an anthem. But rather than ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ we felt that ‘Fight the Power’ was apropos. In 1975 the Isleys wondered, where are we going in the country? Nixon had been impeached, Ford was the president, and (Nelson) Rockefeller wanted to be the next guy. And we’re all like, how could a guy like Rockefeller—a billionaire—be the president of the United States? So, fast forward 50 years later to a person that’s typical of the fears we had in the ‘70s.”
Here, the Public Enemy songwriter, vocal frontman, social activist, documentary producer, illustrator, and radio host talks with Lisa Robinson about the state of hip hop, his relationship with his Public Enemy partner Flavor Flav, artificial intelligence and human interaction in the digital age.
Vanity Fair: Especially with your early albums (Fear of a Black Planet, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back), Public Enemy was one of the first major rap groups to reach the MTV audience and one of the first of four rap groups inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. How do you see your legacy?
Turns out, Roberts is willing to loan the suit outside the bounds of her family, upping the ante for her co-star, saying, “I’m going to bring it to work tomorrow and I want you to wear it.”
The suit isn’t just on offer for friends and family: Roberts herself wore a similar look this week, donning a dark two-piece ensemble for her guest slot on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on October 1.
Elizabeth Stewart, Roberts’ longtime stylist, told Vanity Fair that the star’s latest menswear moment was the result of a collision of nostalgic sartorial and personal influences.
“The suit is from Salon 1884 and they were inspired by Julia’s wardrobe in My Best Friend’s Wedding and I was inspired by Julia in the ’90s, so it was the perfect storm,” she said via email.
Decades later, the dapper silhouette—paired Wednesday with a steely top and skinny floral-embellished necktie—still suits her.
Julia Roberts is seen leaving “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” at Ed Sullivan Theater on October 1, 2025 in New York City.Gilbert Carrasquillo
Originally published on Vanity Fair Italia with additional reporting by Kase Wickman.
What every modern man needs to know about cologne, sillage, and the art of fragrance as the fifth sense of personal style.
Most men know how to buy pants. Some even know how to choose whiskey, which for some reason feels easier. Yet when it comes to scent, they either ignore it completely or approach it like someone trying to guess a password: hurried, vaguely ashamed, and absolutely incorrect.
Smell is part of your personal style whether you’ve chosen it or not. The scent of fresh laundry, the lingering effect of your morning coffee on your breath, and the remnants of last night’s backyard-grilled-ribeye all accompany you. With intention, fragrance becomes something else entirely. Like polished shoes or standing up straight, it doesn’t garner applause, but it’s noticeable when missing.
Men call it simply “cologne.” That word covers a lot, and most of it isn’t helpful, and partially inaccurate. Scent is expansive. And when used properly, it refines everything else regarding your presence, like holding eye contact for just the right amount of time.
Fragrance Basics: Dilution, Concentration, and Cost
(Or, Why Your Nose Should Never Tingle)
Fragrance is a cocktail of aromatic compounds, alcohol, and occasionally water. The “concentrate,” if left undiluted, would sear your nostrils and possibly melt your furniture. That’s why perfumers blend in alcohol: so you can wear a scent without losing friends, your security deposit, or your sense of smell.
Concentration is the secret lever behind strength, longevity, and price. Some ingredients, like oudh or iris butter, are so costly they might as well come with a credit check. Citrus oils sit at the other end. A skilled perfumer knows how to balance rare naturals with crisp synthetics, so the final product doesn’t remind anyone of chemistry class or accidentally cleaning the counter with lemon floor cleaner.
Projection is what people notice when you stand still: how far your scent radiates before anyone even sees your tie. Sillage (rhymes with “massage”) is the wake you leave behind as you move, the subtle whiff as you walk by in the hallway. Neither should crash a dinner party or get you a warning at the office.
As practical matters go, the ratio of concentrate to alcohol is more than just a number on the label. It decides how boldly your scent steps out into the world and how long it hangs around after you’ve left. This is where projection and sillage show up. Higher concentration means richer scent, more hours on skin, and usually a little more “hello” when you walk in. Lower concentration leans fresher and lighter, fading sooner, rarely announcing itself past arm’s length.
Get the concentration right and your scent will work for you exactly as your clothes: contributing to the overall experience but not distracting. You want someone to tell you that you smell nice in the same way you’d want someone complimenting a piece of your outfit: because it’s noticeable and refined, not unavoidable.
Fragrance, when done right, requires restraint. Projection, sillage, and longevity are adjustable settings, not a moral stance. The goal isn’t to dominate the room. The goal is to be smelled without being… discussed. No one wants to hear, “Someone’s wearing cologne,” in that flat office voice that means they’re not really curious, just annoyed.
Fragrance Categories by Concentration
A quick note before the breakdown: Concentration doesn’t necessarily equal quality. It simply refers to how much fragrance oil is in the mix compared to alcohol or water. Higher concentration means stronger presence and longer wear, not necessarily “better.” Many men’s fragrances are only offered as an Eau de Toilette or Eau de Parfum, and that doesn’t make them less refined. It’s a bit like confusing a whiskey with the highest ethanol content as “the best”.
Concentration is not just about strength. Because different notes evaporate at different speeds, the concentration changes how a fragrance actually smells on your skin. A woody amber in parfum may feel dense and resinous, while the eau de toilette version of the same scent might highlight the citrus opening and read fresher.
If you find a scent you like wears off quickly, moving up to a higher concentration may be the answer. It’s also possible a scent you like is so strong it becomes annoying to keep smelling on yourself after an hour.
With that in mind, here’s how each concentration typically behaves in practice:
Perfume / Parfum (20–30% essence)
The most concentrated, longest-lasting option. It clings to skin for 12 to 24 hours, sometimes more. Wear it carefully. It suits men who enjoy depth and richness. It is the most expensive concentration and not all men’s fragrances are offered as parfum. Experiment with using less than you’re used to. Half a spritz to start.
Eau de Parfum (EDP) (15–20% essence)
Usually lasts 5 to 8 hours. This is where many modern fragrances sit because it offers a balance: enough depth to be interesting without becoming overwhelming. When people talk about a fragrance with character, they’re often describing an EDP. Also half a spritz to start until you dial it in with how it works on your body.
Eau de Toilette (EDT) (5–15% essence)
It typically lasts about 3 to 5 hours, which makes it lighter and easier to wear in everyday life. This is where most men’s fragrances live, from long-established classics like Acqua di Gio and Drakkar Noir to modern staples such as Dior Sauvage. EDTs are the most common format not because they’re “lesser” but because they present enough to be noticed in close company, subtle enough to reapply without overwhelming anyone. For many men, especially those buying one bottle they expect to use regularly, EDT is the natural fit.
Eau de Cologne (EDC) (2–4% essence)
Bright, quick, and often citrus-forward, with a lifespan of about two hours. Useful for a refresh, but rarely the one fragrance a man keeps on his shelf. Historically important, but today often more of a side character.
How Not to End Up With a Bottle You Hate by Next Tuesday: Buying and Sampling Strategy
Men rush into full bottles the way I rush into buying groceries when hungry, with appetite and regret. Sampling changes the odds. There are discovery sets (pre-curated sample collections that come with a coupon for a full bottle), “decant” services that split bottles into five to ten milliliter vials, and boutiques that will happily spray until you look dazed.
Pro tip from a guy who once panic-bought a celebrity scent at a duty free: start with a sample, wear it through a normal day, and only commit if it keeps behaving politely.
The best way to try a scent is to head to a store and use their paper testers first. Then, when you find one you like, spray a small amount directly on your skin, such as your neck or wrists. Notice how you feel about it over the next few hours. Does it evolve in a way you like? Can you still smell it after an hour?
If you must buy sight unseen, buy small.
Men’s Fragrance Price Buckets and Value Heuristics
(Or, Why Smaller Is Smarter)
Fragrance comes in a handful of standard sizes:
30 ml (about 1 oz): travel size, easy to finish and replace
50 ml (about 1.7 oz): the balanced choice, lasts long enough without overstaying its welcome
100 ml (about 3.4 oz): the “full size,” a commitment that rarely pays off
200 ml (about 6.8 oz): enough to supply a small army or scent a walk-in closet
Like most things, larger bottles almost always have a lower cost per milliliter, and brands want you to notice. It’s designed to make the smaller bottle feel like a ripoff. Here’s the catch: that savings only matters if you actually finish the bottle before you get bored or the scent loses its punch.
Most men don’t. The big bottle gets sidelined for something new, sits half-used, and eventually fades in strength, along with your supposed “savings.” The value bias tricks you into buying more than you should which ≠ a good value.
I’ve yet to regret a 50 ml bottle, even with a higher per ml price. I actually find the prices for this size to feel more appropriate for what I want to pay for smelly water than the larger sizes anyhow. Running out is a decision point, not a waste. Better to buy what you’ll finish than to let a bigger bottle become background clutter.
The Fragrance Pyramid: How Scent Evolves Over Time
(Or, Fragrance is Like Lasagna or Criticism: Layers Matter)
Top notes: what you smell first. Citrus, herbs. These fade fast.
Heart notes: florals, spices, greenery. This is what most people smell on you.
Base notes: woods, musks, resins. The long goodbye.
The final phase is known as the drydown. It’s how the whole thing settles after the top and heart notes fade. It’s the story you end up with, representing the true character of the fragrance. Everyone’s skin tells it a little differently.
Counterfeits and Authenticity Checks
(Or, “I thought Aqua DiGiorno sounded wrong”)
Luxury makes counterfeiters busy. Quick checks matter: buy from authorized retailers, notice prices that feel too generous, and when in doubt buy directly from the brand. Counterfeits can smell off or irritate skin, so the small extra cost for authenticity is not vanity, it is sanity.
Decanting, Travel, and Bottle Care
For travel, small atomizer decants are indispensable, they fit a dopp kit and reduce anxiety about losing a favorite bottle. When bottles sit half empty, oxidation accelerates, changing the scent; transfer the remainder into smaller dark glass vials to limit air exposure if you intend to keep it long term. Keep caps tight, store bottles in a cool dark drawer or original box, skip bathroom shelves with steam.
Closing Thoughts
Scent finishes what your wardrobe starts. It’s not loud. It’s not showy. But it’s a detail that tells people you’ve thought this through.
Test on skin. Wait for the drydown. Apply less than you want. And over time, like jewelry or your clothes, find the few bottles that smell like you.
Clever, elegant, and cautious, Giorgio Armani arranged for the muse-turned-activist to meet his architect. Three years later, on Boulevard Saint-Germain, he unveiled his Armani Casa boutique, offering Japanese lanterns in Murano glass, boxes covered in shagreen, furniture in iroko wood, or upholstered in parchment. His businesses are still there, and the Michelin-starred restaurant bearing his name is now one of the best Italian restaurants in Paris.
It has to be said that the couturier-entrepreneur, the first to launch into the lifestyle spaces that all his competitors eventually emulated, sensed the moods of the city since he first got to know it.
“In the 1970s and early 1980s, haute couture was in decline,” he said. “Those of us who worked in ready-to-wear were resolutely opposed to it. But I remember some breathtaking Saint Laurent shows that left a lasting impression on me, and the wonders that Karl Lagerfeld did at Chanel. And, although far removed from my own aesthetic, I admired the talent and creativity of Christian Lacroix at Patou. It’s thanks to these designers that haute couture has regained its place,” he told us at the time. And when he himself launched himself into this highly codified and magical discipline at the dawn of the new millennium, it was of course in Paris that he decided to show his work.
He swore: “I didn’t decide to go into haute couture on a whim. I had an established, demanding clientele, and many women were asking me for more exclusive, personalized pieces. The next logical step was to create a collection.”
Paris opened its arms to him, though the relationship between Armani and the city had its occasional friction over half a century, such as the 1998 fashion show at Place Saint-Sulpice, to which the 1,500 guests were denied access for “security reasons.” La Reppublica thundered “Paris ‘expels’ Italy,” and Le Monde wrote of “the affront to Giorgio Armani.” The couturier took his revenge in a series of interview in the media, but it did nothing, in the end, to dent his love affair with the capital, where his couture is showcased in the most important addresses on both shores. “I’ve had the privilege of exhibiting my creations in exceptional places, from the Italian Embassy to the Petit Palais.”
There is perhaps no city in the world more closely associated with fashion than Paris. The City of Light was the birthplace of haute couture in the 1800s, and its ever-so-chic history continues to this day. Paris Fashion Week 2025 is upon us, and the most fashionable celebrities, tastemakers, and industry VIPs are flooding the cobblestone streets to take in the shows and parties, see what’s heading down the runway, and be seen in the front row, dressed to the nines.
This edition of Paris Fashion Week is especially important thanks to a bevy of recent creative director changes, a veritable musical chairs in an industry where people tend to hold onto their jobs at the top for decades at a time. There’s Jonathan Anderson at Dior, of course, and Proenza Schouler co-founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez filling his vacant seat at Loewe. Matthieu Blazy took a new job at Chanel, and Demna went from Balenciaga to Gucci, with former Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli taking the reins at Balenciaga. There’s plenty of to see—and gossip about at cocktail parties—at this Fashion Week in particular.
Paris Fashion Week officially kicked off on September 29, and concludes October 7. From Chanel to Zimmerman, and everything in between, the world’s foremost fashion designers will be showing their latest collections, with the A-List topping their guest lists.
Jonathan Anderson, the recently appointed creative director of Dior, is already shaking up the label by doing away with the iconic all-capital DIOR logo, which the house has used since 2018. In its place comes a historic typography, a return to the mark chosen by Christian Dior in 1946: a capital “D” followed by oblique lowercase letters, derived from the Cochin font by engraver Charles-Nicolas Cochin. It may seem a small detail, but this gesture already marks the Northern Irish Anderson’s desire to infuse his work with the heritage of the Avenue Montaigne house. For now, the logo change is limited to labels and textile details, and observers have seen a slight difference already in the men’s spring-summer 2026 collection, the new artistic director’s first runway show in the position.
Dior men’s spring-summer 2026 collection by Jonathan Anderson.
WWD/Getty Images
Dior men’s spring-summer 2026 collection by Jonathan Anderson.
WWD/Getty Images
Dior men’s spring-summer 2026 collection by Jonathan Anderson.
WWD/Getty Images
This choice says a lot about Anderson’s intentions. For several years, the luxury industry has gravitated toward simplified logos with straight, sober, linear capital letters. Dior, Burberry, Saint Laurent, Celine, Balenciaga, and Calvin Klein have all yielded to the temptation of the minimalist brand logo. This typographic standardization has been dubbed “blanding,” a portmanteau combining “branding” and “blend.” Whereas “branding” emphasizes the personal touch of one brand in relation to another, “blanding” underlines the growing tendency of brands to imitate one another until they end up being almost identical. Returning to the original Dior logo means not only reconnecting with a singular French identity, but also going against the grain of an era that has flattened the visual landscape of luxury.
This is not a purely aesthetic gesture. In the world of fashion, a logo doesn’t just sign a piece, it communicates a broader vision of design. Hedi Slimane understood this well when he erased Saint Laurent’s “Yves” in 2012, or removed Celine’s accent in 2018, affirming a new era for both houses. Daniel Lee made the same gesture by resurrecting Burberry’s equestrian knight, while Olivier Rousteing introduced a Balmain monogram to modernize the brand’s heritage. Every graphic transformation is important. At Dior, Jonathan Anderson doesn’t want to wipe the slate clean, but rather to show that the future of the house is built on the continuity of its history.
The Dior logo from 1948 to 2018.
Dior
The Dior logo from 2018 to 2025.
Dior
Reintroducing the Cochin logo means a recommitment to an identity. This French typography, oblique and subtle, speaks of something authentically Parisian. Where capital letters had imposed a form of international neutrality, this font reintroduces breath and personality. Today, the logo invites itself discreetly, embroidered on the edge of a sweater or the tongue of a shoe, as if to affirm that Dior doesn’t need to shout its name to be recognized. The gesture has the modesty of a detail but the impact of a manifesto. It’s also important to understand the context in which it takes place. The typographic popularity pendulum is swinging back toward serifs, typefaces with flourishes added to the ends of characters. Ferragamo, Phoebe Philo, and Burberry have already abandoned standardized sans-serifs in favor of more distinctive, embellished signatures.
In a saturated market, visual identity is as much a tool of differentiation as a hallmark of luxury. On the surface, the return to Cochin is a simple nod to the past. In reality, it’s quite the opposite: Anderson, as a visual storyteller, has chosen to use letters as the first chapter of the story he’s writing at Dior. It’s not nostalgia so much as a nod to the past, and a discreet sign that Dior, to remain eternal, must always remember where it came from.
Months after her American Eagle “Good Jeans” campaign caused a stir, the “Euphoria” star is once again turning heads, this time in a behind-the-scenes shot from the controversial photo shoot.
The photo, seemingly snapped mid-shoot, shows Sweeney standing in front of a massive mirror, in nothing but a blue denim jacket and a pair of jeans.
The actress’s behind-the-scenes photo comes after her American Eagle “Good Jeans” campaign became one of the most talked-about and controversial ads of the year.
Actress Sydney Sweeney in her American Eagle jeans ad.(American Eagle)
What started as a play on words exploded into a full-blown scandal.
The commercial sparked backlash after she spoke about genes being “passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color.
“My jeans are blue,” she added as the camera closed in on her eyes.
When the campaign was released, it faced some backlash, with some suggesting it had shades of “eugenics” and “White supremacy.”
Sweeney has not publicly commented on the ad or its mixed reception.(American Eagle Instagram)
American Eagle released a statement on its social media Aug. 1, saying, “’Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Sweeney has not publicly commented on the ad or its mixed reception.
Meanwhile, Sweeney’s family has joined in on the viral denim campaign.
Trent Sweeney, her brother and a recently promoted Air Force staff sergeant, played into the denim drama that engulfed his famous sister.
Sydney Sweeney’s brother made a joke about her American Eagle controversy on Instagram when he received a military promotion.(Trent Sweeney/Instagram)
The 29-year-old proudly posted about his official promotion to staff sergeant on his Instagram story, complete with a cheeky caption aimed at the controversy.
“It’s them good jeans,” he shared with a certificate acknowledging his military promotion.
Stephanie Giang-Paunon is an Entertainment Writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.giang@fox.com and on Twitter: @SGiangPaunon.
You could almost hear the internet dial-up sound when Jodie Turner-Smith stepped out for the Paris premiere of Tron: Ares on Wednesday. The actor, who will star as a digital humanoid named Athena, arrived in a couture Schiaparelli minidress embellished with salvaged technology and Swarovski crystals.
The custom creation, known as the “motherboard” dress, is from designer Daniel Roseberry’s spring 2024 couture collection. Built from pre-2007 electronics—including a BlackBerry Curve phone, USB drives, chipsets, a CPU cooler, and a Citizen calculator—the low-tech, high-fashion look embraced a retro-futuristic twist.
Styled by image architect Law Roach, Turner-Smith completed the ensemble with Gianvito Rossi heels and an oversized choker made of acrylic and Swarovski crystals. She also showcased a matching clutch with reflective details and Schiaparelli’s signature keyhole motif.
Jodie Turner-Smith attends the “Tron: Ares” Paris Photocall at Palais De Tokyo on September 24, 2025 in Paris, France.Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images
Turner-Smith’s moment tapped into a growing trend of red-carpet method dressing. In 2023, Margot Robbie and her stylist, Andrew Mukamel, perfected this playbook during the Barbie press tour. They recreated doll-inspired looks in custom Schiaparelli, Vivienne Westwood, and Moschino, eventually sharing a curated record of their collaborations in a coffee-table book called Barbie: The World Tour.
To promote Wicked last year, Ariana Grande and Roach leaned into Glinda-inspired bubblegum pink gowns from the likes of Giambattista Valli and Oscar de la Renta. Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo and her stylist, Jason Bolden, channeled Elphaba with witchy greens and dramatic silhouettes from Thom Browne, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, and more. And on the Freakier Friday press run this year, Mukamel styled Lindsay Lohan with nods to her Y2K roots—including a preppy Balmain checkered skirt suit and a Ludovic de Saint Sernin dress that resembled Lohan’s final look in 2003’s Freaky Friday.
With red carpets becoming extensions of cinematic universes, Roach and Turner-Smith could have more tech-driven creations in store for the Tron: Ares press tour. What comes next is anyone’s guess, but something that incorporates an iPod nano could be a moment. (Sincerely, a Zillennial.)
