a January catch-up
new music, new couture, polka dots, and Super Puff spiraling
Salut, it’s been a minute. The last time we caught up I was wishing everyone a more sane / less tragic 2026 and now gestures at everything around. My thoughts and support are with the brave people of Minnesota and Iran (and all over the world) standing up to tyranny, oppression, and injustice.
I spent the first three weeks of January in Australia, which I plan to share more about in a future post (spoiler alert: it’s a fantastic country). During that time, I took a little break from Substack but still paid attention to the going-ons in fashion and music. In no particular order, here’s what I caught my eyes and ears over the last month:
things that looks good
While Dior Homme FW 26 was a hot mess of ideas, Jonathan Anderson’s couture debut for Dior was incroyable. The collection was apparently influenced by Galliano - I saw a lot of Raf Simons’ Dior in it as well - and featured stunning dress shapes and draping that were also evocative of Anderson’s designs at Loewe.
I’m on the hunt for a wedding dress this year and if I had hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend (yes, Dior couture is at that price point!), I would absolutely get this look. I also wouldn’t say to no this surrealistic Robert Wun bridal look.
Dior Homme may not be my cup of tea but Greta Lee in Dior Homme absolutely is.
Other notably exquisite couture collections were Matthieu Blazy’s couture debut for Chanel (the mushroom set may be my new phone background), Valentino, and Schiaparelli.
Although no one has asked me so far (odd), if I was pulling looks for this award season’s red carpet from the couture collections, I’d opt for this Schiaparelli, this Valentino, this Armani, this Elie Saab, and this Chanel.
How iconic would it be if Schiaparelli-fave Teyana Taylor wore one of the scorpion looks to accept her (presumed) Oscar? And important to note that Bad Bunny showed up to the Grammys wearing Schiaparelli menswear, which is apparently a first for the label.
I’m very bullish on polka dots being the print of spring 2026. I loved Jacquemus’ celebration of the dots in its latest collection. The new Valérie wristlet shape in polka dot is incredibly appealing.
Pieter Mulier has officially left Alaïa with a rumoured destination of Versace. TBD if he can recreate the commercial magic of the mesh flat and Le Teckel in his next CD role. Meanwhile I’m thrilled that barrel jeans are still considered en vogue for 2026 as these Alaïa jeans were one of my top purchases and top wears of 2025.
Toteme held its FW 26 show in Paris and released a new bag style that is very compelling for the ladies who schelp. If you’re a ℅ TOTEME member (i.e. you’ve signed up for a Toteme account), the SS 26 collection is now available for purchase. How good is this jacket and this caped coat for spring?
Margot Robbie’s press tour fashion for Wuthering Heights is off to an excellent start (and is understandably a very different vibe from her Barbie looks).
Did anyone else look at a frigid weather forecast and immediately descend into Super Puff spiraling (i.e. thinking that only a Super Puff can protect you from the projected freezing temperatures)? This happened to me while I was Vancouver prepping for my return to New York: I scoured the Aritzia website at 1 am trying to find something that wasn’t too marshmallow and in stock in my size (turns out the SP stock has been decimated at this point of the winter season). I ended up going into a store and buying a lighter long SP to layer under my wool and cashmere coats, which has worked well so far at keeping me warm.
As a note to arbitrage-seeking readers, Aritzia seems to have updated their prices so they’re no longer the same absolute value in the US and Canada - meaning you would get a substantial discount if you buy items in Canada with USD given the exchange rate - but prices are still slightly better in Canada.
things that sound good
A lot of exciting music releases and announcements this month including:
DRAMA’s Platonic Romance (will say they’re quite good live and tour with a strings section which seems unusual for an electronic music act??)
New singles from James Blake and Thundercat, with albums to come in March and April, respectively.
Songs/music videos from our ladies of the dance floor, Robyn and Jessie Ware, with albums in the spring (still manifesting full tour announcements).
Harry Style’s multi-city residency, including with Robyn in Amsterdam, Shania Twain in London, and Jamie XX in New York (I’m intrigued but for the bonkers resale ticket prices).
And a very important song release from the Boss.