🎨 Can’t stomach another fall in brown and burgundy? This genuinely unexpected color may be the season’s defining hue, and it’s easier to pull off than you’d think.
✏️ Busy moms, take note: Rihanna just provided the blueprint for how to make sweatpants look impossibly put-together — perfect for school drop-offs and beyond.
👜 The bag you’re about to see on every Fashion Person’s shoulder? A denim number from one of our favorite mall brands, which is more Cool Girl Work Tote than Limited Too Artifact.
💃 Welcome back, Roaring ’20s. The rebellious little sister of the Mary Jane is already taking over NYC sidewalks — and the shoe goes with everything from jeans to a slip dress.
😌 If you also lived in Easy Pants this summer, here’s the best news you’ll hear all week: These quietly chic outfit ideas prove they’re even better for fall.
Grab a Midnight Margarita — the Owens sisters are back. Ahead of the release of Practical Magic 2 (in theaters Thursday), our favorite witches have brewed up a press tour even more spellbinding than the one for that other movie with two inseparable witches (if we had a nickel, etc., etc.). We’re not sure what spell was cast, but Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have been delivering their finest looks — no small feat since the ’98 premiere was “a total vibe.” That includes a Chanel outfit that has Christopher Nolan regretting he didn’t cast Kidman as a siren, history’s most compelling case for a leopard gown (even Snooki agrees), a Louis Vuitton number simultaneously giving Wednesday and Morticia Addams, and a Whimsigoth style that somehow surpassed the sartorial perfection of that Gillian Owens look. Plus, an honorable mention goes to the next generation of Owens sisters: Joey King, who has joined our Mount Rushmore of Naked Dresses, and Maisie Williams, who’s been method dressing as Bullock from the ’90s and ’00s (if you see us copying that monochrome red look, no you didn’t).
But it’s not just the fashion that has us furiously Googling “how to join a coven.” Nicole and Sandy B have also given us a glimpse into what we imagine their texts look like: the two reminisced about their signature scents circa ’98 (we always knew Nicole was that girl), had an accent battle (“oh no” is right), and divulged the person they talk to the most (Sandy, thank you for that extremely relatable answer). Any other revelations, you ask? Kidman let slip that she’s had a bit more practice at the whole witch thing than we realized (we’ll be stealing her revenge spell ASAP). Bullock spilled on two of the women featured in the sequel’s soundtrack (reminder: the first never got the attention it deserved) and on a couple of very special cameos. Oh, and Williams revealed that Bullock invited the Owens women for the most iconic sleepover ever (a hot tub was involved), and we all should thank Williams’s Etsy witch for making our ’90s dreams come true (no, really). To borrow a line from the prophets known as the Pretenders: Some things change, some things stay the same — including Nicole Kidman’s boobs, apparently.
Congrats are in order for Wendy, who has officially been upgraded from Alleged Dog to Dog We’d Gladly Swap Lives With. On Tuesday, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s long-rumored Samoyed followed in the footsteps of all the nepo babies that have come before her with — you guessed it — a fashion campaign. Like every Proud Dog Dad, Kelce couldn’t stop gushing about “Little Ole Wendy,” revealing on New Heights that the couple has had the pet for longer than you think and that Tay was “all for” Wendy’s career as America’s Next Top (Dog) Model. While Miss Wendy Kelce-Swift’s parents are being uncharacteristically open about this big step (Taylor and Travis, feel free to address that other big step at literally any time), we do have a few questions for our English teacher and our gym teacher. Will Wendy have her own room at their apparent new Ohio home? (They certainly have the space.) How are Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button feeling about their sibling? Is Wendy a reference to Peter Pan or one of Travis’s favorite fast-food chains? And, most crucially, who’s in charge of vacuuming the couch?
Of course we’re very happy for Katie Holmes and her Art Boy. But if his name isn’t Pacey, we’re going to need some time to process.
We can finally exhale: Nearly five months after seemingly promising to share her side of the cryptic Alex v. Alix feud, Alix Earle is “on it” — and all it took was her own reality TV series. In Earle Meets World (someone at Netflix deserves a raise), the social media star opens up about her falling out with her former podcast boss Alex Cooper, which, unsurprisingly, is just a fraction of what’s chronicled in the show. It also follows the professional yapper as she navigates her breakup with a certain “NFL man” (no, not that one), an exhausting amount of travel, the launch of her skincare brand, and her big, blended family. That includes her sister Ashtin, her three half-siblings, her mom and her mom’s boyfriend, and her “dadager” and stepmother (who you might recognize from a very headline-making 2008 scandal). KarJenner crew, your move.
Hollister Feel Good Oversized Hoodie
Raise your hand if you’re also sad to see summer (unofficially) draw to a close. The one upside? The return of hoodie season. Now, if your favorite one is looking…tired, we recommend stocking up on this one. It has an intentionally oversized fit and is softer than any other hoodie you own. Plus, you can get an extra 25% off when you buy four or more pieces — so if we were you, we’d buy the hoodie in two colors plus the matching sweats.
Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently.
Petite Plume's new English Countryside collection will make you feel like you're cozying up in a Cotswolds cottage.
Here's a high-quality, brightly-colored loaf pan for all the fall baking recipes popping up on your Pinterest.
If your goal is to get back into a workout routine, it helps to have the right gear. These sneakers are a favorite among experienced runners, and they're 40% off.
Banana Republic is having a major sale right now, with up to 50% off sale styles, plus an extra 30% off...and yet another 10% off when you use code BRAFF.
Unleash your competitive side with today's games and puzzles. Go wild.
🎨 Can’t stomach another fall in brown and burgundy? This genuinely unexpected color may be the season’s defining hue, and it’s easier to pull off than you’d think.
✏️ Busy moms, take note: Rihanna just provided the blueprint for how to make sweatpants look impossibly put-together — perfect for school drop-offs and beyond.
👜 The bag you’re about to see on every Fashion Person’s shoulder? A denim number from one of our favorite mall brands, which is more Cool Girl Work Tote than Limited Too Artifact.
💃 Welcome back, Roaring ’20s. The rebellious little sister of the Mary Jane is already taking over NYC sidewalks — and the shoe goes with everything from jeans to a slip dress.
😌 If you also lived in Easy Pants this summer, here’s the best news you’ll hear all week: These quietly chic outfit ideas prove they’re even better for fall.
Grab a Midnight Margarita — the Owens sisters are back. Ahead of the release of Practical Magic 2 (in theaters Thursday), our favorite witches have brewed up a press tour even more spellbinding than the one for that other movie with two inseparable witches (if we had a nickel, etc., etc.). We’re not sure what spell was cast, but Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have been delivering their finest looks — no small feat since the ’98 premiere was “a total vibe.” That includes a Chanel outfit that has Christopher Nolan regretting he didn’t cast Kidman as a siren, history’s most compelling case for a leopard gown (even Snooki agrees), a Louis Vuitton number simultaneously giving Wednesday and Morticia Addams, and a Whimsigoth style that somehow surpassed the sartorial perfection of that Gillian Owens look. Plus, an honorable mention goes to the next generation of Owens sisters: Joey King, who has joined our Mount Rushmore of Naked Dresses, and Maisie Williams, who’s been method dressing as Bullock from the ’90s and ’00s (if you see us copying that monochrome red look, no you didn’t).
But it’s not just the fashion that has us furiously Googling “how to join a coven.” Nicole and Sandy B have also given us a glimpse into what we imagine their texts look like: the two reminisced about their signature scents circa ’98 (we always knew Nicole was that girl), had an accent battle (“oh no” is right), and divulged the person they talk to the most (Sandy, thank you for that extremely relatable answer). Any other revelations, you ask? Kidman let slip that she’s had a bit more practice at the whole witch thing than we realized (we’ll be stealing her revenge spell ASAP). Bullock spilled on two of the women featured in the sequel’s soundtrack (reminder: the first never got the attention it deserved) and on a couple of very special cameos. Oh, and Williams revealed that Bullock invited the Owens women for the most iconic sleepover ever (a hot tub was involved), and we all should thank Williams’s Etsy witch for making our ’90s dreams come true (no, really). To borrow a line from the prophets known as the Pretenders: Some things change, some things stay the same — including Nicole Kidman’s boobs, apparently.
Congrats are in order for Wendy, who has officially been upgraded from Alleged Dog to Dog We’d Gladly Swap Lives With. On Tuesday, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s long-rumored Samoyed followed in the footsteps of all the nepo babies that have come before her with — you guessed it — a fashion campaign. Like every Proud Dog Dad, Kelce couldn’t stop gushing about “Little Ole Wendy,” revealing on New Heights that the couple has had the pet for longer than you think and that Tay was “all for” Wendy’s career as America’s Next Top (Dog) Model. While Miss Wendy Kelce-Swift’s parents are being uncharacteristically open about this big step (Taylor and Travis, feel free to address that other big step at literally any time), we do have a few questions for our English teacher and our gym teacher. Will Wendy have her own room at their apparent new Ohio home? (They certainly have the space.) How are Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button feeling about their sibling? Is Wendy a reference to Peter Pan or one of Travis’s favorite fast-food chains? And, most crucially, who’s in charge of vacuuming the couch?
Of course we’re very happy for Katie Holmes and her Art Boy. But if his name isn’t Pacey, we’re going to need some time to process.
We can finally exhale: Nearly five months after seemingly promising to share her side of the cryptic Alex v. Alix feud, Alix Earle is “on it” — and all it took was her own reality TV series. In Earle Meets World (someone at Netflix deserves a raise), the social media star opens up about her falling out with her former podcast boss Alex Cooper, which, unsurprisingly, is just a fraction of what’s chronicled in the show. It also follows the professional yapper as she navigates her breakup with a certain “NFL man” (no, not that one), an exhausting amount of travel, the launch of her skincare brand, and her big, blended family. That includes her sister Ashtin, her three half-siblings, her mom and her mom’s boyfriend, and her “dadager” and stepmother (who you might recognize from a very headline-making 2008 scandal). KarJenner crew, your move.
Hollister Feel Good Oversized Hoodie
Raise your hand if you’re also sad to see summer (unofficially) draw to a close. The one upside? The return of hoodie season. Now, if your favorite one is looking…tired, we recommend stocking up on this one. It has an intentionally oversized fit and is softer than any other hoodie you own. Plus, you can get an extra 25% off when you buy four or more pieces — so if we were you, we’d buy the hoodie in two colors plus the matching sweats.
Don’t Let Summer End Without Making This No-Fuss Dimply Plum Cake
theSkimm
End-of-summer scaries hitting hard? Consider this a reminder that the season doesn’t officially wrap until September 21 — PSLs be damned. That’s why we’ll be making Smitten Kitchen’s Dimply Plum Cake on repeat until then. Not only is the name extremely fun to say, but more importantly, the one-bowl recipe combines a brown sugar cake (made from ingredients you probably have), jammy late-summer plums, orange zest, and a hint of cinnamon. Add powdered sugar and you’ve got a dessert impressive enough for a party, easy enough for a random Tuesday, and virtuous enough for brunch. Plus, on the off chance you have leftovers, they magically taste better the next day.
The Time Commitment: About an hour, but the cake bakes for more than half of that.
Key Tips: The number of plums you’ll need depends on their size — Deb Perelman (aka Smitten Kitchen) suggests eight small-to-medium ones or five medium-to-large ones. And the recipe works just as well with any stone fruit.
Other Takes: For more “it’s still summer” desserts (think: all the fruity goodness you’ll miss come apple season), try…
Brown Sugar Peach Crumb Bars. Not to get controversial, but buttery crumb topping > finicky pie crust. Particularly when it’s (probably) your last good peach haul of the year.
Snickerdoodle Strawberry Shortcakes. Sweet cream, strawberries, and the most indulgent cinnamon-sugar toast imaginable join forces for a treat one fan claims “schooled every shortcake I’ve ever had.”
Blackberry Nectarine Crisp. Blackberries and nectarines are a match made in fruit heaven — especially under a blanket of brown-sugar oat topping. Serve with vanilla ice cream, and no, it’s not optional.
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier
theSkimm
Let’s get this out of the way: Yes, Jennifer Hillier’s Heart of Glass scared a New York Times reviewer “too much to sleep.” But for a thriller, that’s basically the highest compliment. The novel follows three best friends whose lives are shattered when one of them, Lorelei, turns up dead days after meeting a charming stranger at Wonderland, the local amusement park. Twenty-five years later, the two surviving friends have moved on: Barb is a local reporter, while Nicolette — since rebranded as Cole — is a reality TV star. But when the convicted “Carnival Killer” recants part of his confession and a new body washes ashore ahead of Wonderland’s reopening, the pair is forced to reckon with what actually happened. Expect buried secrets, a genuinely shocking ending, and, yes, a connection to that Blondie song. We got in touch with Hillier to chat about what she’s watching and the hot take she will not be talked out of.
Q: What’s one thing that’s made you 10% happier?
Hillier: Remembering that not everything is about me.
Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?
Hillier: White chocolate isn’t chocolate. I said what I said.
Q: What’s one thing you’re an armchair expert on?
Hillier: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I haven’t missed a single episode in 15 seasons and I may or may not be an active lurker on the Reddit subthreads.
PS: The book Hillier can’t stop thinking about that taught her something “fascinating”? Find out here.
Stockholm Who? This Criminally Underrated Nordic City Is Stealing the Show
theSkimm
If Stockholm is the George Clooney of Sweden, think of Gothenburg as its Timothée Chalamet — the hip, younger brother. On Sweden’s west coast, the country’s second-largest city masterfully blends old and new, fueling its surge in popularity. Hop on an iconic blue-and-white tram to find cobblestone streets lined with trendy boutiques, buzzy eateries, and chic stays like Hotel Pigalle. Don’t miss the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the Botanical Garden, or a Scandi sauna session at world-famous Jubileumsparken — all in one of the world’s most sustainable cities. So, yes, you can feel smug while exploring.
👟 The best way to get a feel for Gothenburg is by wandering. Start in old town, which is surrounded by a zigzagging moat and home to 17th-century brick buildings, jazz bars tucked into alleyways, and the historic Stora Saluhallen food hall. After you’ve had a bite to eat, make your way to Haga, a picturesque neighborhood where you’ll find old-timey wooden houses, cinnamon buns the size of your head, a hilltop fortress (the sweeping views and terrace drinking are worth the climb), and standout shops. Stop at: Lakritsroten for classic licorice; Haga of Sweden for handcrafted souvenirs by local artists; and Tell Me More for earth-toned linens, sleek kitchenware, and rustic-modern home decor.
🛥️ With more than 20 major islands in the Gothenburg archipelago, a day trip to one — or more — is a must. The area is divided into two: The northern islands (like Hönö and Hälsö) are more populated, while the southern islands are car-free and generally quicker to reach — meaning, if you’re short on time, head south. Catch a ferry to Donsö, a quaint fishing community with homemade ice cream (don’t leave without a cone from Popsicle café). From there, stroll across the bridge to Styrsö for sandy beaches, windy trails, and a short hike up to Stora Rös (the island’s highest point). Or, visit the southernmost island, Vrångö, to traverse its extensive nature reserve and kayak around rocky shores.
🍴 There’s perhaps nothing more Swedish than fika (the national coffee-and-pastry break that’s basically a lifestyle), so swing by Da Matteo to snack on buttery cardamom buns and fresh sourdough bread. Of course, being on the coast means you’re also in prime seafood territory — and nowhere does prawns, langoustines, and mussels better than Sjömagasinet. Craving something more inventive? Book a table at VRÅ, where the Nordic-meets-Japanese menu features scallop skewers, koji-marinated fish, and a rotating selection of sashimi (pro tip: save room for the sorbet).