Lady Kitty Spencer’s necklace bore a 74.4 carat aquamarine pendant.
Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images
The necklace, too, was designed by Dolce & Gabbana. Lady Kitty presented the Audience Award to the high jewelry division of the brand.
She completed her mid-century film star look with a sophisticated Italian chignon and a bold cat eye.
The international jury, comprised of 10 experts, chose the eight winners in categories ranging from design to the most beautiful gemstone. Messika received the award for Best Design for its Zebra Luhlaza necklace, inspired by the landscapes of Nigeria. Dior Joaillerie took the Savoir-Faire category for their Diorexquis Forêt Nacrée necklace, while the 30.75-carat pear-cut emerald from Brazil that decorates Louis Vuitton’s Apogée choker won the award for Most Beautiful Stone. Chanel Haute Joaillerie’s Sweater Prestige necklace won the prize for the best design of the year and Tiffany & Co. won two awards: the Grand Jury’s Grand Prize and the Heritage Award.
This first edition has laid the groundwork to become an unmissable event for lovers of fine jewelry in years to come.
I wouldn’t be the editor of Primer if I didn’t try to find it. Fitting, since Fall Getup Week was built on British countryside layers, waxed canvas, and sturdy boots.
Thanks to Thursday Boot Co. for supporting Primer’s mission and partnering on this piece.
The road out of Glencoe doesn’t ask for much. You slow down, watch the clouds drag across the peaks, maybe pull over just to stand in it for a minute. The crew that filmed Skyfall did the same thing: same landscape, same road, better car. We were there chasing light, not Bond, but the place made sense for what we were shooting. Fall Getup Week was built on that same idea: clothes that hold up when the air turns, layers with structure, fabrics that look better when they’ve gotten to work against weather.
There’s a particular honesty in waxed canvas and heavy knits when the wind gets moving. Something about the resistance they offer. The outfit leans into that instinct, all countryside layers and clean edges, modern cuts with a practical attitude. A structured silhouette, room through the leg… it could have walked off a moor or a coffee shop in Chicago.
If you’ve ever watched Skyfall and thought, Bond looks better without the suit, you’re not alone.
Costume designer Jany Temime had the same thought. For Skyfall’s last act, she took Bond out of the city, out of the armor, and put him in things meant for weather: waxed cotton, cable knits, boots with soles that don’t require rerouting around puddles. Her description was “a gentleman in the country.”
And it fit. Not just him, but the franchise. Bond clothes have always served the setting. That was the trick: put him where he doesn’t usually go, but dress him so it makes sense.
It’s the kind of combination you stumble into once and keep repeating,
One of the most memorable scenes in the whole Bond franchise didn’t involve a fight or a gadget. No stunts, no explosions, barely any dialogue. Just Bond and M standing beside the DB5 under a fog-choked sky:
Its an outfit men have worn for decades: navy blazer, jeans, loafers.
The format stays the same, but each decade has shaped it into its own reflection. In the early 1990s, this look was part of a larger mood, affluent, collegiate, at ease with itself.
American menswear favored natural shoulders, soft tailoring, heavier denim, and a laid-back kind of polish. It was the height of post-1980s optimism and the start of what you might call the “Gap-era democracy” when dressing well didn’t mean hard. The J.Crew catalog sold this look by staging it near docks and Jeeps, always within walking distance of either a lacrosse field or a bookstore.
The creative direction of that era was to appear competent and culturally fluent: a man who played touch football at Thanksgiving and helped his cousin move on weekends. The looseness of the blazer, the familiarity of the jeans, and the tie left slightly loosened all signaled a kind of regular excellence. You wore the outfit because it worked and had worked, and the fact that it looked a little old-fashioned was part of the charm, not in the costume sense, but in the way the pieces looked like things you’d always had.
Like the pleated chinos you might paint the ceiling in, as one J.Crew cover in 1993 showed. The old-fashioned quality came from polish that felt lived in. “This is just what I wear.” That’s why it looked so casual.
By 2015, that goodwill had tightened.
The culture had shifted toward optimization: Calorie tracking, standing desks, personal branding. But it didn’t happen all at once.
The silhouettes of the 90s were loose and easy, but they lived in distinct silos; your dress clothes were one thing, your casual clothes another. They didn’t mix. As young millennial professionals pushed into spaces that still required business casual+, the instinct was to carry forward the dressy silhouette in more casual materials: Jeans, sweaters, and shirts all got slimmer to pass. Slimmer meant sharper, and sharper could mix with the leftover tailoring.
J.Crew, 2011
A tie was still worn, but maybe it was skinny now. Jeans replaced pleated khakis, but had to be dark, slim, and sharp. You were still assembling the look, but with more casual ingredients.
This was the birth of what emerged as smart casual: a dress code approach that nodded toward outcome versus a specific list of acceptable items like khakis or a tie. A pass / fail test for situational appropriateness, and less a uniform.
The proportions continued to narrow, fabrics got sleeker, and heritage was packaged into precise, curated choices. The jeans were stiff and dark, often raw, and intentionally cuffed. The blazer was shorter, the fit closer, the styling full of little moves like pocket squares but no belt, sprezzatura ties, and monk straps.
In the early 2000s we still wore dress socks with loafers but they had to be fun patterns. By the mid 10s, the socks were gone altogether.
You wore it to prove you could still look dressed while dodging the formality of an actual suit. It co-evolved with open office plans and startup culture, workplaces that traded hierarchy for hoodies but still expected you to look like you had taste.
The J.Crew of this era gave you rules: trim your collar, hem your pants, slim your life. It was still aspirational, but with homework.
As it always does, a new generation has entered the workforce responding to what came before. If millennials were avoiding the rigidity of business casual by refining their casual clothing, Gen Z has inherited an environment where they reject the need to justify what they want to wear. Looser fits aren’t just about comfort, the proportions have softened because the posture has too. The rejection isn’t a rejection to the polish, it’s refusing the obligation to justify choosing comfort and drape.
J.Crew 2015 & 2025
While it can seem like a full aesthetic swing from just a few years ago, philosophically they’re continuing what the millennials started before them, and Gen X before them, and the Baby Boomers before that. Each generation has reacted to the expectations it inherited. The media often describes it like a trend swing, but really it’s a natural progression.
In 2025, the jeans are fuller and lighter wash. The blazer fits, but doesn’t hug the body. The tie isn’t there to prove anything. Wear it, don’t wear it, it doesn’t matter; more akin to deciding if you’ll wear a watch or not.
There’s less tension between the pieces. The socks are present with loafers again. The belt has texture but is neither a dress belt or a thick jeans belt. It’s not trying to dress down tailoring to make it acceptable. It’s just… worn.
In 1990, it was refined confidence by calculated nonchalance. In 2015, it was tasteful casual via precision. In 2025, it’s balance without justification. None of these versions are better or worse. They just tell you what the moment valued.
And that’s what keeps the outfit useful. The form doesn’t change much, but the approach does.
Fake it until you make it. This mantra, popularized by the culture of personal development on social media, was already being applied by Victoria Beckham in the early 2000s. This Wednesday, in an interview with Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the designer was as comfortable as she was amused. On the pink armchair, the former Spice Girl sets herself free: each anecdote is more sincere, more piquant, more unexpected than the last.
Commenting on archival photos selected by the host, the Englishwoman paused on a photo of herself with husband David Beckham in the streets of London. In it, she wears an immaculate outfit and a Louis Vuitton bag that matches perfectly… or almost perfectly.
“It wasn’t a real Louis Vuitton bag,” she confessed. “We were shopping on Bond Street, and it was a fake.”
“Marc Jacobs, the house’s artistic director at the time, contacted me after seeing the photo. He said, ‘I’ll send you a real one.’” Mischievously, she concluded with a pun on her long-ago nickname: “Not as posh as you think, Alex. Not all the time.”
Who could have imagined that Victoria’s bag was a counterfeit? At the time, no one would have dared. She was a Spice Girl, the wife of the world’s most famous footballer—the epitome of luxury and status. The story, then, reminds us that how people perceive us is often a question of looks, confidence, and what you project.
In the end, the anecdote speaks volumes about Victoria’s trajectory. By wearing the fake, she ended up invoking the real—and it worked. Since then, Victoria Beckham has built an empire at the helm of one of Britain’s most respected fashion houses. It seems almost unreal to think that the accomplished businesswoman she has become once felt the need for a fake bag to exist in conversation. And if we had to sum up her career, another mantra might be: Trust the process.
“The Princess of Wales is sending out an important message about how her style has evolved and why the trouser suit is now part of her fashion armor and a staple in her working wardrobe,” says Claudia Joseph, author of How to Dress Like a Princess: The Secret of Kate’s Wardrobe.
According to Joseph, Kate’s penchant for pantsuits dovetails with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. “There’s been a notable change in what Kate has worn since the death of the late queen. Kate has always been careful to toe the line, wearing tights, for example, which would please the queen. She has always been properly dressed for the occasion, but we are seeing some subtle shifts with the trouser suits,” she says.
Princess Kate wears an Emilia Wickstead pantsuit on November 15, 2023.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images.
“We did see the queen in trousers, but only [on] a couple of occasions when she was on duty. Each generation adopts their own style, and the trouser suit has become an important part of the princess’s working wardrobe.
“Kate has gone up in the pecking order. She’s adopted a working wardrobe of suits. They are convenient, comfortable, and very practical.”
Princess Kate visits Fitzalan High School as she celebrates the beginning of Black History Month on October 03, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales.
Susan Boyle, who became an international sensation in 2009 when she shocked the judges with her powerful rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Misérables,” showed off her new blonde locks on a red carpet this week.
The 64-year-old sported a bob with bangs while attending the Pride of Britain Awards in London on Monday.
“What a wonderful evening at the Pride of Britain Awards! It was such an honour to celebrate so many truly inspiring people,” Boyle wrote on her Instagram. “Everyone looked absolutely fabulous, and it was lovely to catch up with some familiar faces, including the brilliant Anne Hegerty (I’m a huge fan of The Chase)!”
Susan Boyle in 2009 with dark curly hair and now with a blonde bob and glammed-up look(Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images; Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
Susan Boyle went viral with her “Britain’s Got Talent” performance in 2009. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
“It’s extra special for me, actually, because last April there, I suffered a minor stroke,” she said after her performance, according to the Huffington Post. “And I fought like crazy to get back on stage, and I have done it.”
In April, Boyle, who is from a small Scottish town, reflected on how far she had come since her viral performance on Britain’s Got Talent, which took place when she was unemployed.
“16 years ago today, my @bgt audition first aired on UK TV, and my life changed forever!” she wrote along with a video of her performance. “I stepped out onto that stage with absolutely nothing except my dream. That was all I had back then. I was an unknown woman from Scotland, and thanks to all of you, I’m known around the world. Here’s to ALWAYS chasing your dreams!”
Thanks to that, in 1985, the Counts of Paris were able to pocket five million francs by selling the Louvre the sapphire set, which sat along tiaras, necklaces, and diamond earrings that were stolen this Sunday from the famed museum.
“For me, it was much more than stolen jewelry. It’s our history, my history,” wrote Princess Adelaide of Orleans, granddaughter of the aforementioned Countess of Paris, who wore Queen Marie Amélie’s jewelry to important life events. “I grew up with this image,” the princess shared on Instagram alongside of a picture of her grandmother wearing the jewels, “and today this theft makes me feel like I’ve been uprooted.” She concluded, “jewelry has a soul, a life, a story, it’s not just material values…it’s much more!”
In the 19th century, the jewels had already survived the French Revolution of 1848, when their first owner, Marie Amélie de Bourbon-Two Sicilies, queen consort of France, took them with her to her exile from England. In 1864, the then Count of Paris and grandson of Queen Marie Amélie married Maria Isabella of Orleans and the sapphires were passed to the jeweler of this princess, with whom the jewels managed to survive further exile until they finally entered the hands of the last woman to wear them. Before selling them to the Louvre, Isabelle, Countess of Paris by marriage, wore them for many of European royalty’s most grand occasions—such as the great ball held in Athens by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía on the eve of their wedding.
Later today, the Louvre robbery will be addressed by museum director Laurence des Cars, who shall address French lawmakers about the heist and ongoing investigation.
While it’s impossible to pinpoint the originator of the closet sale—the fashion industry term for when a well-known fashion figure holds an in-person event to sell their used clothes—you can, at the very least, say that Haley Wollens was one of its earliest adapters. As a teen in the 2000s she used sell her old stuff on the streets of the East Village for a few dollars. Years later, she and her best friend, Chloë Sevigny, would regularly sell their style castoffs out of a studio near St. Marks Place to friends, family, and, well, anyone who managed to get their hands on the address, which many were desperate to do: Wollens, then an emerging stylist, and Sevigny, the unofficial It girl of downtown Manhattan, were known for their impeccable and avant-garde taste. These sales were a way not just to buy discounted clothes, but to buy their inevitable New York style: “It became sort of notorious,” Wollens says of the sales, which often descended into a word-of-mouth frenzy. “We’d have lines around the block.”
As Wollens’s career took off—she’s styled everyone from Sevigny to Miley Cyrus to Drake and is currently the editor in chief of online fashion and art publication Myth—her days as fashion’s preeminent secondhand reseller dwindled. Yet this October she’s finally ready to once again dust off her and her friends’ shelves.
On Wednesday at The RealReal’s SoHo flagship and online, Wollens and Myth will debut the celebrity closet sale to end all closet sales. There’s Maison Margiela boots, a Comme des Garçons blouse, and an Alaïa skirt from Sevigny; a leather blazer from actor Julianne Moore; a Marc Jacobs shirt from Parker Posey; and a Hysteric Glamour dress from Rowan Blanchard. Patti Wilson donated a Philip Treacy baseball hat, whereas fashion editor Mel Ottenberg is offering up a black Valentino tote bag. Designer Maryam Nassir Zadeh, meanwhile, gave Miu Miu heels and a Dries Van Noten dress. As part of the sale, The RealReal will donate $25,000 to Take Care of Harlem, which will use the funds to support Harlem youth charity We Do It Too.
Kristen Naiman, chief brand officer of The RealReal, approached Wollens with the idea after becoming a fan of the adventurous style she put forth in Myth. The consignment company started doing closet sales a few years ago, offering one-off items once owned by people like Kate Moss and Natasha Lyonne. They sold out almost instantly. “The transaction is: You like that person’s style, so you shop in their closet because it’s a shortcut to mirroring what their style looks like,” she says of the reason behind explosive popularity of their closet sales.
Yet, Naiman says, it also goes a little deeper than that. We live in an age where clothing options feel limitless. But not always in a good way: We’re constantly served ads for products we don’t need on social media feeds, then those same feeds cause those items to hyper-trend, rendering them “out of style” months after purchase. In this age of algorithmic overconsumption, a curation like Wollens’s has never held higher value. “One of the things about resale is that I think it feels aligned with how people feel right now. The uniqueness, the personal style, the ability to actually have an antidote to the algorithm,” says Naiman.
Jessica Alba is enjoying some downtime on the beach in Australia.
The 44-year-old celebrity posted a series of pictures and videos onher Instagram Monday captioning them, “Down Under [Australian flag emoji and palm tree emoji].”
The actress appeared to be enjoying a day off from filming her newest action thriller movie, “The Mark.” According to 7News, Alba was recently spotted working on the project.
She opened the carousel with a photo of her looking out in the distance lying flat on her stomach; her soft smirk was visible under a baseball cap and black shades.
She also featured a quote by Case Kenny, the “optimism educator,” for the second time this week, writing, “You, me, ‘let’s book a flight and go.’”
Alba paired her post with a poem by Josie Balka that celebrates finding meaning in the everyday.
In another photo, she accessorized her mixed-print bikini with a cover-up, LA Dodgers baseball cap and thick black sunglasses. She wore her classic necklace, a series of marquise teardrop diamonds on a thin gold chain.
Jessica Alba relaxed on the beach in Australia wearing a patterned bikini and black shades while enjoying some downtime during filming for her new movie, “The Mark.”(@jessicaalba/Instagram )
The model shared a snap of her bronzed legs and flat stomach with the waves crashing in the background.
Jessica Alba showed off her bronzed legs and toned stomach while lounging on the sand during her beach day in Australia.(@jessicaalba/Instagram )
In one of the photos, Alba turned from behind, showing off her cheeky bikini bottoms and sandy backside. She smiled wide at the camera.
Jessica Alba flashed a smile in a cheeky bikini while soaking up the sun on the Gold Coast.(@jessicaalba/Instagram )
The post ends with a graphic that said, “JUST FOUND OUT IT’S ALL FOR FUN.”
According to Deadline, Jessica Alba stars as Eden in “The Mark,” a mysterious spy on a dangerous mission who pulls an unsuspecting single dad into her high-stakes world. Alba isn’t just leading the action, she’s producing it through her own company, Lady Metalmark Entertainment.
Alba filed for divorce from her longtime husband, Cash Warren, in February 2025, according to the divorce filings obtained by Fox News Digital.
The “Sin City” actress is rumored to be dating “Captain America” star Danny Ramirez. The two have been seen out and about together since July 2025.
The “Sin City” actress is rumored to be dating “Captain America” star Danny Ramirez. The two have been seen out and about together since July 2025. Alba is pictured here at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2024. (Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)
The duo turned heads at the “Valentina” premiere, marking their red carpet debut at the Mill Valley Film Festival Oct. 3, 2025.
Danny Ramirez and Jessica Alba Aug. 12, 2025, in New York City. (XNY/Star Max/GC Images)
The pair has yet to comment on the status of their relationship but have been seen publicly together several times, including in August 2025 when Alba and Ramirez stepped out in New York City.
Fuller cuts, British countryside, and the return of 90s favorites. The week begins with a look made for the season’s first breath of cold air.
There’s a moment when it becomes clear that fall is here. I open the door and the different-over-night weather winks like a grandpa and asks me where my jacket is. Soon I remember how comfortable (and easy to style) layers are and it’s like Ralphie waking up and it’s Christmas season. This is Fall Getup Week.
This is the part of the year where clothes stop being things you tolerate and start being things you choose. Layering becomes possible, shoes with some heft return from their seasonal exile, and jackets finish outfits like Bond’s bow tie. There’s texture, there’s structure, there’s comfort, and for once it feels like the effort has a payoff.
This Year’s Style Creative Direction
If there’s a plot this fall, it revolves around proportion and lost favorites from do-not-wear lists of decades past. Pants with classic, fuller cuts, shirts that have room to layer, tuck, and drape, accessories once phased out. Imagine the British countryside aesthetic colliding with the ‘90s J.Crew catalog. The result: modern, fuller silhouettes catch up to the last decade’s grounding in refined minimalism.
These clothes make sense together, and not in a way that requires learning a new aesthetic. For many of us, it’s one we grew up with, now through our contemporary lens.
The jeans and pants drape, shirts offer room for a little lunch, and jackets manage to frame you without making you look like a wedding photo from 1992. Nothing is baggy, but it all feels a little less precious, everything looks like it belongs to an adult who knows where his keys are.
No one here is chasing the new for its own sake. As the fits across menswear have loosened, we’re invited to a reunion where lost favorites like pants labeled “classic fit,” chunkier-shaped footwear, braided belts, and yes, the prodigal son cargo pant are given a modern edit: shapes you’ve worn before, now with better company.
Sure, you might grumble that you’ve been there, done that, but isn’t that the point? The challenge is finding out how these old shapes fit the current version of you, who, let’s face it, knows a lot more about taste.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Martin explains that as a child, she would do fashion shows in her room, dressed in her school uniform, and posing in front of the mirror as if she were on a catwalk. She still loves to look at her mother’s past on the red carpet—and of course, she occasionally borrows accessories and garments from Paltrow’s closet. “She keeps a lot of things. Not all of them fit me, but the ones that do fit me, I always steal. I recently stole a Prada bowling bag from her; it’s the perfect travel bag because it fits so much,” she says.
When Martin doesn’t have a fashion campaign on her hands, she studies law, history and society at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. “I constantly remind myself how grateful I am to have these opportunities,” she told the newspaper. “I know this is not a normal way to grow up by any means. But my parents did a really good job of instilling in me that I shouldn’t be entitled to anything. I have to work.”
At the annual BFI and Chanel Filmmaker Awards on Thursday, Tilda Swinton, Edward Enninful, and BFI chief executive Ben Roberts came together to celebrate creative audacity in film and award prizes to emerging filmmakers. This year’s awards were given to rising filmmakers Harry Lighton (writer and director of Pillion), the Neurocultures Collective (which consists of Sam Chown-Ahern, Georgia Bradburn, Benjamin Brown, Robin Elliott-Knowles, and Lucy Walker) and Steven Eastwood, and Sandhya Suri (writer and director of Santosh).
So what exactly does creative audacity entail? According to Roberts, “I think it means that we see someone taking some risks in their work. This work is, how do we help people thread the needle of big, bold, imaginative, creative, risky ideas? They might fail spectacularly as well. But audiences love it when creative audacity lands.”
Each of the award winners received financial support of 20,000 British pounds to aid in expanding their work and exploring new ideas. The winners were selected by a jury led by Swinton, Enninful, and Roberts.
“I think all artists have to aim for [originality],” said Swinton during Thursday’s event at Claridge’s. “That’s the project. Because no artist sets out to be a facsimile of anybody else. What we need is original artists. We don’t need people dressed up as other people pretending to be other people. We need original, authentic voices.”
Guests enjoyed a Champagne reception, presentation of the awards, and a sociable standing lunch. Attending the star-studded event were actors Imogen Poots, Nathalie Emmanuel,Sophie Cookson, George MacKay, Lily Allen, and Connor Swindells.
“I think what [the BFI and Chanel Filmmaker Awards] demonstrate is how deeply Chanel understands what artists’ lives are, what artists need to make work. They need time and they need support. Money is support. But money is also time,” Swinton explained, while enjoying a miniature ice cream cone. “You can’t eat it and not be funny. No, you can’t stand in an insouciant way,” she said jokingly of the tiny dessert.
Lighton, whose debut feature, Pillion, stars Alexander Skarsgård as a biker in the world of BDSM**,** was a highlight of the Cannes Film Festival. Upon collecting his award, Lighton noted how his parents would see the film for the first time this Saturday. “How his parents react will be livestreaming,” said Roberts.
Suri’s narrative feature debut, Santosh, was the UK’s official selection for the best-international-feature Oscar in 2024, while The Stimming Pool is an experimental docu-fiction made, in part, by a collective of autistic artists.
Chanel and the BFI have been partners since 2022, and are striving to create a burgeoning community of filmmakers. Previous winners include Kathryn Ferguson (Nothing Compares), Savannah Leaf (Earth Mama), and Pinny Grylls (Grand Theft Hamlet).
The afternoon was a testament to the power of film. “I honestly believe people need cinema. And as I say, they would really miss it if it wasn’t there,” Swinton said.
The legacy of Dutch fashion design, according to Dutch Design Week creative director Miriam van der Lubbe, is innovation, sustainability, connection and social impact. QueenMáxima of the Netherlands seemed to take into account some of these requirements when choosing her look for the opening of Dutch Design Week’s 25th edition. The Eindhoven-based event brings showcases the work of roughly 2,000 designers and attracts some 350,000 visitors in the nearly 100 spaces spread throughout the city.
During her day of engagements, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands opted for a seemingly rather straightforward coral-colored suit jacket. But looks can be deceiving. The ensemble, made by Dutch-based fashion designer Claes Iversen, goes beyond the classic pantsuit form, as it is made from surplus fabrics discarded from other designs. Above all, the printed coat with scalloped edge is truly responsible for completely transforming the look. The lining of the coat, made in the same salmon color as the suit, makes the silhouette look like that of a stunning evening gown when walking. Here is a head-to-toe look at the outfit:
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands appears to be a bit of an optical allusion with her inventive look at the 2025 Dutch Design Week.Getty Images
On Wednesday, October 8, a fashion drop drew Black Friday–size crowds outside storefronts nationwide. Shoppers waited patiently—some caught in the rain, some arriving hours before stores opened to be one of the first people to buy. But they weren’t seeking a limited-edition Glossier sweatshirt or a Kylie Jenner lip kit. They were at Trader Joe’s.
By Thursday, October 9, some locations had sold out of the Halloween mini tote bags, available in black, orange, purple, and a multicolored option. In Manhattan, the Chelsea Trader Joe’s—situated on the cusp of a trendy residential neighborhood and the city’s fashion district—displayed ads for the totes near empty cardboard bins that had once held the loot. A tiny tote had been shoved behind dog treats in one aisle; after I put it in my cart, another shopper offered to pay me $20 to give them the $2.99 bag.
Trader Joe’s launched reusable canvas shopping bags in 1977, but it wasn’t until much more recently that they became a status item. The store started selling the mini version in February 2024, and a spring-themed series in pastels released this past April reportedly sold out within hours. The petite bags have been deemed collector’s items and resold on eBay for more than $100. On TikTok, Lucy Kigathidocumented her own “insane” journey at a Trader Joe’s in Katy, TX, when the pastel totes dropped in April. “If you got one, you almost got a part of social media history that you’ll live to show and tell one day. It’s a documented feeling, a trend that you just had to be there to experience,” Kigathi says in an email. “You throw away any logic of why there’s a line for mini totes and you just want to be in the trend, whatever it may be.”
These tiny totes are almost akin to a Birkin, at least in terms of return on investment. It’s no wonder that certain Trader Joe’s locations have instated limits on how many bags customers can buy.
Why are they such a big deal? Maybe because they’re teeny—so little it’s difficult to actually, you know, put many groceries in them. “When it comes to our reusable bags, our customers have made themselves abundantly clear: The smaller the tote, the bigger the sensation!” the official Trader Joe’s website says in a listing for the Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes. (Shoppers can’t actually buy the 13-by-11-by-6-inch vessels there; they can only add them to a wishlist.) Or maybe it’s that they manage to hit a certain capitalist sweet spot. “The Trader Joe’s mini tote bag is really a perfect storm of internet culture meets everyday consumerism,” Social Currency podcast host Sammi Tannor Cohen tells Vanity Fair. “It taps into the psychology of scarcity—something familiar suddenly feels exclusive. When you pair that with the Trader Joe’s brand, which has this cult-like accessibility and nostalgic Americana aesthetic, it becomes irresistible online.”
Andy Cohen, Victoria Beckham, and John Arthur HillHippolyte Petit
They weren’t the only Beckhams in attendance. Victoria’s longtime husband, David Beckham—perhaps the most famous footballer of all time as well as the co-owner of soccer clubs in both the US and the UK—was also there to support his wife, carrying what looked like three large canvas bags filled with gifts she’d received from other attendees and sitting front row at the event. While he was clearly chuffed to celebrate the mother of their four children—Brooklyn, 26; Romeo, 23; Cruz, 20; and Harper, 14; none of whom were in attendance—he kept his thoughts about the evening close to his chest: When asked about the doc, he replied, “Ask my wife—you’re better off with her.”
Victoria had plenty to say when the main event began. After opening remarks from Wintour, who appears in the docuseries looking, as she joked, like Beckham’s “mad old aunt,” Beckham spoke with Guiducci about her rough post–Spice Girls era, her reinvention as a fashion designer, and most candidly, her yearslong struggle with an eating disorder.
“When I was a youngster, and your body’s changing and you’re going through puberty, it’s a really difficult time,” Beckham told Guiducci. “I was bullied a lot mentally and physically when I was at school.” While attending theater college before joining the Spice Girls, “I was constantly told by the staff at the dancing school that I was fat,” says Beckham. “I was at an age—it is an impressionable age, and it’s confusing and it’s hurtful.” When she joined one of the most successful girl groups of all time and married the most famous footballer in the world, she found herself living under a microscope. “I’ve never complained, and I’m not complaining about it. It is a very different time now,” Beckham said. “You couldn’t get away with weighing someone on television six months after they’ve had a baby, literally.”
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.
