Monthly Edit

Editor's Note
November has arrived, bringing with it the first signs of the holiday season. Invitations are coming in, group chats are getting chattier and family traditions are making their annual comeback.

Of course, there's more to November than holiday preparations, and we've found a few good reasons to turn our attention elsewhere for a moment.

We're stepping into Iris van Herpen's extraordinary world of couture in Brooklyn, exploring new ways to dress for the holidays, and taking a slightly unconventional trip back to the family home. We've also got winter makeup trends, a little extra care for your skin, and some fresh ideas for wearing your favorite jewelry this Thanksgiving.

Here's what caught our attention this month.

Love,
Ferko

Sculpting the Senses Exhibition by Iris van Herpen

Iris van Herpen’s designs resemble everything from ocean creatures and delicate skeletons to waves of water caught in midair. She works with unconventional materials, 3D printing, laser cutting, and traditional couture techniques to create pieces that seem to move even when nobody is wearing them.

Beneath all the exhilarating technical wizardry, there is curiosity, imagination, and the desire to make something that has never existed before. Or maybe just the urge to bring something that exists only in her imagination into the real world.

Her exhibition, Sculpting the Senses, currently at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, is a good place to get a glimpse into her imagination. Featuring more than 140 haute couture creations alongside works of art and scientific objects. The exhibition takes visitors into a world where fashion meets biology, architecture, technology, and disciplines you wouldn't normally associate with the runway.

You can visit the exhibition through January 3, 2027.

The New Rules of Holiday Dressing

Holiday dressing used to have one formula that everybody followed. Velvet, sequins, metallics, and bold colors would come out of hiding around November, ready for their annual appearance at parties and family gatherings. But this season, the distinction between everyday dressing and occasion wear is becoming less clear.

First, there's red. Hardly a surprise at this time of year, but this season it's showing up in some unexpected combinations. Instead of sticking to the usual black, white, or neutral pairings, mixing crimson and burgundy with pink, purple, green, and even animal prints can create a striking look. And for those who prefer to go all in, head-to-toe red is still very much on the table.

Plaid is making a spectacular comeback. After its grunge heyday in the '90s and years of being associated with cozy fall dressing, it is now turning up in chiffon, silk, brighter colors, and pieces that look perfect at a cocktail party. Think a flowing plaid skirt with a tailored jacket, or a checked top paired with velvet trousers.

Then comes lace. Romantic lace dresses and sheer tops are being paired with oversized blazers, chunky knits, and everyday staples. The contrast is what makes it interesting.

And finally, the faux fur coats, oversized collars, and wonderfully extravagant outer layers. They're having quite a moment, and the beauty of these pieces is that a simple dress, tailored trousers, or even jeans can look totally different once you throw on a fabulous coat.

The new rule of holiday dressing is that your favorite party pieces can be worn beyond December, and your everyday wardrobe might already contain half of your next holiday outfit.

Home for the Holidays: A Not-So-Ordinary Travel Guide

Going home for the holidays is a travel experience like no other, and it comes with its own set of traditions you didn’t sign up for but somehow cannot avoid. Since you're already there, here are a few things to check off while you’re at it.

Then there's the annual Thanksgiving TV dispute. Football or the National Dog Show? If you're on Team Dog Show, you already know the drill. You'll be squeezed into the smaller room with your fellow dog lovers while the football crowd takes over the big television. And maybe this is the year someone finally answers the question every National Dog Show fan has been asking: Why does football always get the biggest TV in the house?

At some point, dig out that old board game everyone used to play. The box is probably falling apart, half the pieces may be missing, and Nana will almost certainly win again. But you're older and wiser now, and this might finally be the year you catch her cheating.

Remember to spend some time in the family kitchen. Learn how to make that one dish you've loved since childhood. This may involve being told you're chopping something incorrectly, even though you've been cooking for yourself for years.

And before you leave, don't forget to look for that ugly Christmas sweater. You know, the one with the reindeer and the questionable color combination. Or maybe yours even has something that jingles when you walk, on top of all that ugliness. Take it home with you. It deserves to be a conversation starter at this year's office Christmas party.

Funny how you can grow up, move away, and build a whole life of your own, but the moment you walk through that door, you're a kid again. Some things never change.

Winter Glam with a Little Extra Care

With dinners, parties, and family gatherings coming up, November is the right moment to take a hard look at your makeup bag.

Dark lips are back. Burgundy, berry, plum, and chocolate shades are being worn with softer, blurred edges rather than perfectly drawn outlines. You can dab a little lipstick on with your finger for a more relaxed look, or wear the full color when the occasion calls for it.

The smoky eye is back in familiar territory, too, with espresso, chocolate brown, and bronze replacing some of the heavier blacks. And then there are the frosty shadows and metallic finishes, which feel just right for a season when a little extra sparkle is practically expected.

Blush is getting some attention as well, with rosy cheeks and skin that still looks like skin underneath the makeup.

All very lovely, except winter isn't always quite as kind to the skin wearing it, and your routine may need to catch up.

Cold air outside, heating turned up indoors, long journeys, late nights, and more makeup than you'd normally wear in a week all take a toll. By the time the holidays are over, your skin can feel genuinely tired. So while you're experimenting with new colors, it's worth giving your skincare routine a little attention, too.

A gentle cleanser is a good place to start, particularly after an evening of heavier makeup. If your regular moisturizer isn't doing enough anymore, try something richer, with ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid to help with dryness. And don't forget the rest of your body. A little moisturizer after a warm shower, while your skin is still slightly damp, can go a long way.

Keep a lip balm nearby, and reapply it often, too. Those gorgeous dark lipsticks look sexier when your lips are moisturized.

Your hands deserve attention, too. They're going to spend the next few weeks washing dishes, preparing food, wrapping presents, and being washed about a hundred times a day. Keep a hand cream next to the sink, another in your bag, and give your cuticles some attention before bed. So keep them soft, moisturized, and ready for their close-up. Especially if you've got a favorite ring or two to show off.

The Jewelry Styling Trends We're Taking Into Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend comes with a lot of familiar things, but your jewelry doesn't have to be as predictable as the menu.

This fall, pendant necklaces are getting bigger, longer, and a lot more interesting. Think oversized charms, sculptural shapes, and pieces with plenty of personality because guess what, they look fabulous over chunky knits and turtlenecks. And that tennis necklace you've been keeping for special occasions? Try it with your favorite cashmere sweater. It might become your favorite combination of the weekend.

Rather than matching everything perfectly, mixing different earring shapes and sizes is also getting plenty of attention this year. A diamond huggie in one piercing, a small stud in another, perhaps an ear cuff higher up. It's a good way to make even the most familiar outfit feel a little different.

Rings are worth thinking about too, and mixing metals is back in the conversation, so there's no need to choose between yellow and white gold. Wear them together, add a diamond band, or let one substantial ring do all the work. And if you're wearing a long-sleeved dress or a chunky sweater, a cocktail ring is a particularly good way to bring some attention to your hands.

The nice thing about these trends is that they let you have fun with the pieces you already own. And if you've had your eye on something new, the holiday season is a pretty good excuse to treat yourself.