YaYa Publicity is a fast-growing, jewelry-focused public relations agency representing a portfolio of fine and fashion jewelry brands. We are seeking a PR Coordinator to join our team in New York City.

This is a full-time, in-person role. Candidates must live in NYC and be comfortable working on-site daily.

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, team-driven environment and takes pride in being highly organized, detail-oriented, and dependable.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all sample trafficking: track incoming and outgoing jewelry samples with precision
• Maintain accurate, real-time inventory of all client pieces
• Coordinate shipments, messenger services, and returns; ensure nothing is lost or delayed
• Prepare and organize samples for editor pulls, shoots, and client needs
• Keep detailed logs and ensure full accountability of high-value items
• Monitor and maintain office and showroom supplies; proactively reorder as needed
• Support team with day-to-day operational and administrative tasks
• Ensure all processes are organized, efficient, and consistently followed

What We’re Looking For

• Must live in NYC and be available for in-person work
• Strong team player with a collaborative mindset
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Extremely organized with exceptional attention to detail
• Strong communication and follow-through skills

Qualifications

• At least one year of experience in PR, especially having worked with jewelry or accessories
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office / Google Workspace /
• Experience with media databases (Cision, Muck Rack, etc.) is a plus
• Interest in jewelry, fashion, or luxury brands strongly preferred

Compensation

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Opportunity for growth within a fast-moving agency

For resumes please email: Info@yayapublicity.com

@yayapublicity

We’ve talked a lot about how mall brands are back. Gap, Old Navy and Abercrombie & Fitch have had major moments in the past few years, and we’re even seeing Hollister creep back into the zeitgeist. Banana Republic, part of Gap Inc., is ready for its moment: The retailer teamed up with New York-based womenswear brand La Ligne on a 36-piece collection that launches Wednesday.

“La Ligne felt like a natural partner for us because there is such a strong alignment in how we both think about a modern wardrobe,” Meena Avary, CMO of Banana Republic, tells Fashionista via email. “They have a very distinct point of view, and it’s grounded in pieces that are both timeless and versatile with a real appreciation for quality.”

La Ligne was founded in 2016 by former Vogue editors Meredith Melling and Valerie Macaulay, along with Molly Howard, formerly head of business development at Rag & Bone. The trio set out to create a brand full of timeless items that go beyond chasing trends. For this collection, they went into the Banana Republic archives to reimagine some of the legacy brand’s most iconic pieces that stand the test of time.

“From the onset of our conversations, there was a real excitement from Meredith, Molly and Valerie to explore Banana Republic’s archive,” Avary continues. “Those references are reinterpreted through modern proportions, styling and La Ligne’s signature approach to stripes. There’s a clear and cohesive perspective.”

“[The archives] was such a rich place to work from [with] decades of design history to explore,” Valerie Macaulay adds. “Our job was bringing our lens to that heritage: our love of stripes, our attention to detail, our insistence on quality.”

You’ll see small nods to La Ligne throughout the collection, she explains: The number three shows up for the three co-founders in cuffs and buckles and stripes, alongside Banana Republic’s own codes, like the asymmetrical button details that reference its archives. Those details speak to the larger idea behind the collaboration: Rather than simply putting La Ligne’s signature touches onto Banana Republic pieces, the two brands wanted to find the overlap between their respective design languages.

“We’re at a point where we’ve established what La Ligne stands for, and Banana Republic felt like a partner that could meet us there rather than pull us somewhere unfamiliar,” Molly Howard says. “There’s a real kinship in values, a belief in quality, in pieces built to last, in style that’s classic without being boring.”

The brands tapped actor Zoey Deutch to star in the campaign, shot and directed by Andrew Jacobs. “Zoey has an innate sense of style that feels both timeless and modern, with an ease and individuality that is entirely her own,” Avary says. “We wanted the campaign to feel intimate, playful and lived-in. The Tribeca loft and documentary-inspired approach helped create that world, and Zoey brought an ease to it that made the story feel very real.”

The collection retails for $20 to $1,500 and includes everything from striped tees and tanks to button-downs, blouses, sweaters, trousers and dresses, but the outerwear seems to spark the most excitement. “The nubuck barn jacket, the belted suede wrap coat and an oversized cape trench with a removable corduroy collar all feel like true investment pieces,” Valerie Macaulay says. “We also loved how the wool suit came together, with a nipped-in waist and wide-leg trouser that gives it a modern silhouette.”

Shop the entire Banana Republic x La Ligne collection below.

The Drapey Ponte Pull-On Pant, $180, available here

The Relaxed Viscose Tunic, $200, available here

The Silk Twill Bandana, $80, available here

The Striped Sock, $35, available here

The Slim Blazer, $350, available here

The Hair Scrunchie, $20, available here

The Cashmere Utility Sweater, $350, available here

The Cotton Corduroy Shirt, $200, available here

The Cotton Crew-Neck Sweater, $200, available here

The Cropped Cotton Cardigan, $250, available here

The Mesh Maxi Dress, $250, available here

The Cotton Poplin Tunic, $150, available here

The Relaxed Cotton Crew-Neck T-Shirt, $70, available here

The Cropped Cotton Sweater Tank, $180, available here

The Boxy Cotton T-Shirt, $60, available here

The Wide-Leg Cotton Chino, $200, available here

The High-Rise Cotton Culotte, $150, available here

The Wide-Leg Cotton Corduroy Pant, $220, available here

The Cape Trench Coat, $600, available here

The Nubuck Barn Coat, $900, available here

The Suede Wrap Midi Skirt, $600, available here

The Suede Wrap Coat, $1,500, available here

The Viscose Midi Shirt Dress, $250, available here

The Wide-Leg Pant, $250, available here

After a red heatwave alert issued by Météo-France, the country’s national weather service, attendees felt the effects of climate change firsthand throughout the two weeks. Sweat stains became signs of a busy schedule, deodorant turned into a “what’s in my bag” essential and functioning air conditioning units became the ultimate luxury. For once, “haute” and “hot” could be used in the same sentence without anyone’s eyes rolling — which raises questions about the cause-and-effect relationship between fashion and the current climate crisis.

Nowhere was that relationship more visible than at Louis Vuitton’s show, where guests were transported to a beachside oasis complete with an 8-meter-tall artificial waterfall. Although LVMH says that the water was used in a closed-loop system and the sand would be repurposed for beach volleyball courts at the school where the event was hosted, the spectacle was highly criticized given the context of when the show took place. The use of precious resources and privatization of a public space during a climate crisis read to many as distasteful.

That distaste is part of a debate already simmering across the industry over whether fashion weeks have outlived their purpose. Beyond the elaborate sets, every show involves editors, buyers, stylists, models, celebrities, publicists and production crews traveling around the world (often for a presentation lasting less than 20 minutes). Multiplied across dozens of shows in several cities, throughout the year, that scale of travel and material waste takes a toll extending far beyond carbon emissions alone — all before a single garment reaches a store.

In a Fashionista survey that asked industry professionals about the value of fashion week, one respondent put it bluntly: “No matter how many trees you plant or carbon offsets you buy, fashion shows are not sustainable.”

Another said, “The logic behind using up so many resources to make four collections a year and to stage fashion shows which hundreds of people must fly around the world to see needs to be examined.”

Related: Fashion Week Is Wasteful, Exhausting and Disorganized — But Not Altogether Pointless, According to Our Survey

Still, fashion weeks persist, and this season’s heat only make their consequences harder to ignore. With air conditioning still a rarity across Europe, weather becomes impossible to separate from the event and the clothing itself. Men’s Week hit temperatures as high as 42°C (105°F), leading mainstays like Dior and Rick Owens to move their allotted show times to earlier in the morning. Stylist Edward Park, who had previously only attended Paris Men’s Week in the winter, credits Parisian traffic with helping him cool down between events, thanks to on-the-go car AC.

“I tried my best to have blocks in between to take cold showers or change outfits if possible,” Park says. He also recommends portable fans and packing lighter clothing for the heat, noting that “many boots and long pants” went unworn during his trip. “In general, it was difficult to schedule more personal and last-minute meetings than in the winter show season, because everyone was taking as much downtime as possible to recharge,” he recalls.

A week later, it was hard to revel into the fantasy of Pierpaolo Piccioli’s couture debut for Balenciaga, as guests (seated in a shadeless courtyard at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris at midday) found little reprieve from the heat.

For Julie de Libran’s presentation, bare feet offered a small measure of relief, a choice that fit naturally with the venue itself: the Rituel Pilates studio. “We had planned for our guests, teams and models to take their shoes off for the space,” says de Libran, who noted that for many guests, the experience was an entirely new one. She also adds that fans offered a fresh breeze and “flowing movement” for the collection, which was all about breathable fabrics.

Backstage, hair, makeup and production teams had to contend with the heat not only for themselves, but also for the models in their care.

“The Paris heatwave was particularly challenging, especially for the models,” says Noemie Laborde, head of makeup at the Maison Kitsuné Spring 2027 open-air show. “Fortunately, we work with high-quality hair and makeup products that perform well even in extreme temperatures, so we didn’t experience any issues in that regard.” Laborde’s weaponry of choice against the weather: Avène Thermal Spring Water and, unsurprisingly, mini handheld fans.

For Florida State University junior Ava Berry, who landed the opportunity to work as a dresser at Robert Wun’s show, titled “Child’s Play,” success came down to making the most of brief moments: “Anticipat[ing] the model’s needs during those pauses, making sure they had a chance to cool down and were as comfortable and prepared as possible before stepping onto the runway,” she says. 

That challenge was compounded by the fact that July’s couture shows preview the fall season, meaning heavier, more complicated garments. That made backstage coordination all the more critical in extreme heat.

What may seem like an obvious fix — simply rescheduling the shows — has already been ruled out. Pushing the calendar earlier would crowd it too close to the previous season, leaving designers and production teams without enough time to plan. Pushing it later isn’t any better as buying cycles are already tight, and the circuit would bleed into the women’s ready-to-wear season in September.

With the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode only encouraging — not mandating — precautions for worker conditions at member brands, and recent investigations of alleged labor exploitation at high-end fashion firms in Italy, the past few months have created more questions about the future of fashion weeks than answers. One of them: Should the fashion calendar remain gendered in the first place, especially as style grows more fluid and the ever-expanding schedule takes a growing toll on the environment?

These hypothetical concerns are not confined to Europe, as the next big stop will likely make it more evident that the calendar was built for a climate that no longer exists. 

Since the release of the New York Fashion Week schedule, the heat and humidity have shown no signs of loosening their grip on the city. In the middle of its own historic heatwave, the city saw wildfire smoke drift down from Canada in July, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to 240. Weeks later, heavy rain triggered flooding alerts across the boroughs, turning subway stations into waterfalls of grey runoff — hardly a welcome sign for designers in America, finalizing collections and handling fittings these last few weeks. Alas, what occurred in Paris may continue to its American counterpart.

“It’s disappointing when you finally get to the fitting studio, and there’s no AC, or it’s an enclosed space packed with models waiting in line — sometimes in a building hallway,” says model Amy Wang about casting season. She’s taken to using her comp card as a cooling hack. “It cools me off and wipes the sweat off my face at the same time. I actually find joy in it, too. The sweat gives me glowy skin in castings, and it makes me feel more confident, not less.”

Air conditioning may be easier to find in New York than in Paris, but the climate takes an even more direct toll on those who work fashion week from the sidewalk: street style photographers. L.A.-based Renee De Villa, who has photographed New York Fashion Week in past seasons, says the job now means being “simply stuck waiting outside of shows and searching for shelter where we can.” At times, the alleviation shifts from herself to her equipment; she suggests attaching a SmallRig cooling fan onto the camera to prevent overheating.

From stylists rationing cold showers between appointments to models turning comp cards into fans to photographers finagling complicated camera protection, industry professionals are contending with a slew of new logistical predicaments during already-chaotic events like fashion week. With temperatures rising globally and El Niño tearing through the U.S., weather has become more extreme and unpredictable than ever — faster than even the most advanced cities can adjust their infrastructures. No amount of handheld fans will be enough to close the gap.

If Paris was a preview, will the September shows in New York and beyond force fashion (and the regions depending on its business) to stop sidelining climate change as a one-off, and perhaps even reckon more seriously with its own role in causing it?

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This season, three of this year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (CVFF) finalists — Jamie Haller, Bad Binch TongTong and Milamore — are showing on the official calendar for the first time. Spring 2027 also marks a homecoming for Conner Ives, as the New York-born designer is trading his usual London Fashion Week spot for his first runway show on the CFDA calendar. (In fact, Ives appeared to tease his NYC return last season by wearing an “I Love NY” shirt to close his Fall 2026 show.)

Other NYFW first timers include Ella Mae, a Los Angeles-based brand exploring an “earth-first” philosophy; Magda Butrym, a romantic ready-to-wear label from Poland; and Seidler, Benjamin Seidler’s new jewelry and accessories venture.

Ahead, scroll to see all the designers making their NYFW debuts for Spring 2027.

Bad Binch TongTong

At Bad Binch TongTong, elevated basics simply don’t exist. Founded by designer Terrence Zhou in 2021, the New York-based label constructs avant-garde silhouettes that mix fashion with theatricality. The CVFF 2026 finalist has already scored multiple celebrity placements, including Kim Kardashian, SZA, Lizzo, Kris Jenner and Karlie Kloss (“the international council of certified bad binches,” per the brand’s website). Bad Binch TongTong will make its CFDA calendar debut with a runway show on Sept. 10.

Becca Flood

Parsons alumna Becca Flood honors her rural upbringing through her eponymous label, as her knitwear designs pay homage to traditions passed down through generations of women in the Flood family. Flood’s traditional craft techniques coexist with her signature contemporary twist, resulting in a label that pushes “fashion beyond spectacle into substance.” For Spring 2027, the designer’s collection is inspired by her childhood dog, Tigerlily. Becca Flood’s debut runway show titled “Where Do All the Weird Girls Go?” is scheduled for Sept. 13.

Cecilia Cassini

Designer Cecilia Cassini’s eponymous luxury ready-to-wear brand will show during NYFW for the first time with a presentation on Sept. 12. Founded in 2024, Cecilia Cassini designs luxurious outerwear and statement denim created to be reworn season after season. The label is sold exclusively at Curated by Cecilia, Cassini’s luxury multi-brand boutique in Washington, D.C.

Cicaedia

Cicaedia, a New York-based fashion house founded by Yitzhak “Aaron” Rosenberg in 2021, operates three interconnected offerings: Cicaedia, a glamorous womenswear venture; Cicaedia Uomo, its menswear arm grounded in “erotic absurdism”; and Atelier Cicaedia, the house’s “highest expression of fantasy.” The label’s name originates from a mispronunciation of “cicada,” and was later refined through “cicadoidea,” the insect’s scientific classification. Cicaedia will stage its debut NYFW runway show on Sept. 14.

Conner Ives

London-based designer (and New York native) Conner Ives has already made global headlines thanks to his viral “Protect the Dolls” slogan T-shirt, but now his namesake label is preparing for its NYFW debut on the CFDA calendar on Sept. 12. In 2021, the Central Saint Martins graduate launched his brand, which is inspired by the women and girls he grew up with. With an assortment spanning sleek silk gowns and graphic tees, Ives taps into nostalgia by prioritizing deadstock and vintage garments. The label has previously shown on the London Fashion Week calendar since 2022.

Ella Mae

Having learned about construction via her mother’s quilt-making in rural Colorado, Ella Mae began sewing at 6 years old. Mae pursued a BFA in Apparel Design at RISD, and later launched her namesake brand in 2021. Ella Mae is rooted in an “earth-first” philosophy that prioritizes small-batch production and conscious craftsmanship. For example, the Los Angeles-based brand’s garments utilize deadstock and natural fibers as well as dyes made from rust, botanical roots and food waste. Ella Mae’s first NYFW runway show is scheduled for Sept. 13.

Grey’s

Central Saint Martins graduate Emily Grey founded Grey’s in 2024 in London, but has since moved the label’s operations to New York. In pursuit of “relaxed elegance,” the designer juxtaposes couture form and American sportswear technique to create unlined garments that easily transition between casual and formal settings. The emerging label also counts Riley Keough, Uma Thurman and Rama Duwaji as fans. Grey’s will make its official CFDA calendar debut with a presentation on Sept. 11.

Hikari no Yami

Hikari no Yami, which translates to “light in darkness,” is an avant-garde fashion house founded by Jakarie Whitaker. Based between New York and Tokyo, the 2025 Fashion Trust U.S. finalist combines Japanese design philosophy with African American diasporic cultural storytelling. Whitaker reworks Japanese silhouettes (hakama, kimono cut and layered drape, for example) into contemporary outerwear. By using recycled, deadstock and aged materials wherever possible, most of the brand’s pieces are produced in editions of fewer than 50. On Sept. 12, Hikari no Yami will stage its first presentation on the CFDA calendar.

Jamie Haller

Jamie Haller has spent more than two decades in the Los Angeles fashion scene, and in 2020, she unveiled her namesake collection of Italian-made footwear. With an emphasis on “understated and advanced casual design sensibility,” the label has since expanded into ready-to-wear and accessories. Earlier this year, Jamie Haller was named one of the 2026 CVFF finalists. Beyond her fashion career, Haller is also a historic home restorer and an interior designer. Jamie Haller will make its NYFW debut on the CFDA calendar with a presentation on Sept. 11.

Kate Hundley

Kate Hundley creates clothes for New York’s downtown cool girls. The designer founded her eponymous women’s ready-to-wear and accessories label in 2019, and recently expanded into her first retailer, Moda Operandi. Hundley explores “eclectic American beauty” with artisanal details, utilitarian codes and fine art inspirations. The label will make its debut on the CFDA calendar with a presentation on Sept. 12.

Magda Butrym

Based in Poland, Magda Butrym designs for the romantics of the world. The designer’s pieces rely on her singular take on femininity, spanning crochet detailing, peplum silhouettes and dreamy draping. “I don’t want to define women. I want to empower them,” Butrym said on her website. “I want us all to feel comfortable in our own skin, happy, powerful and confident.” Magda Butrym has previously shown at Paris Fashion Week, but on Sept. 13, the label will stage its first NYFW runway show on the official CFDA calendar.

Max Esmail

NYC-based luxury menswear brand Max Esmail “lives at the crossroads of innovation and craftsmanship.” The London-born designer (and former professional snowboarder) studied at Central St. Martins and the Fashion Institute of Technology before launching his namesake brand in 2024. The emerging label has also secured multiple celebrity placements, including Ansel Elgort, Leslie Odom Jr. and Anthony Ramos. Max Esmail has previously shown during New York Men’s Day, but this season, the designer will hold his first presentation on the CFDA calendar on Sept. 12.

Milamore

Milamore, a fine jewelry brand founded by George Inaki in 2019, taps into the philosophy of Kintsugi, or the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with metallic lacquers. The label’s name combines “milagros” (miracle) and “amore” (love). Milamore’s pieces are guided by the belief “mended, not broken,” as seen in their organic, thoughtfully designed shapes. Designed in NYC and handcrafted in Japan, Milamore also embraces wabi-sabi, or finding beauty in imperfection. The 2026 CVFF finalist will make its debut on the CFDA calendar on Sept. 11.

Patrick Taylor

After winning the Fashion Trust U.S. Graduate Award in 2025, British designer Patrick Taylor launched his namesake label in New York that year. The brand references ski racing and sailing throughout its designs, including in its signature icon, the Skiing Guardsman (a.k.a. “the jumper you stole from Dad,” per the brand). Patrick Taylor explores a vibrant color palette and bold graphics through pieces that reference the resilience found in competitive sports. This season, Patrick Taylor will introduce womenswear at its first presentation on the CFDA calendar on Sept. 10.

Sabyasachi

The design world of Sabyasachi — a luxury house founded by Sabyasachi Mukherjee in Calcutta, India, in 1999 — is vast: It spans womenswear, menswear, bridal, accessories and jewelry, in addition to collaborating with the likes of Christian Louboutin, H&M and L’Oréal, among others. Sabyasachi brings Indian heritage to the forefront, utilizing handwoven textiles, bold color palettes and traditional craftsmanship. Sabyasachi previously unveiled its “Snail” collection at NYFW in 2006, but it will make its CFDA calendar debut with a runway show scheduled for Sept. 15.

Saint London

On Sept. 15, R&B artist October London will launch Saint London, a made-to-measure tailoring house, with a debut NYFW runway show. Saint London — which London created with Fedú Founder Ilbert Sanchez — is the first brand to come out of New London Projects, the venture London built with entrepreneur Dennis Ashley III. With private fittings and personalized client experiences, Saint London tailors elevated suiting across menswear and womenswear.

Seidler

Benjamin Seidler’s namesake jewelry and accessories brand is launching in tandem with its first-ever presentation on the CFDA calendar scheduled for Sept. 14. Seidler, who is married to Coach’s Creative Director Stuart Vevers, currently serves as Gabriela Hearst’s design director for jewelry. Seidler founded his label in February 2026, per LinkedIn, but further details are being kept under wraps.

Story Wear

After showing at Taipei Fashion Week and Tokyo Fashion Week, Story Wear is heading stateside. The Taiwanese label, which was founded in 2018, is led by designer Kuan Chen and is stocked at Wolf & Badger. For Spring 2027, Story Wear will introduce “Love Revolution: A Story of Taiwan,” an immersive fashion “experience” exploring the brand’s circular design philosophy, its upcycling practices and Taiwanese culture. Story Wear’s Spring 2027 presentation, set for Sept. 14, marks its first time showing at NYFW.

Tang Chi Couture

Tang Chi Couture made its runway debut at London Fashion Week in September 2025, and now, it’s hosting its first-ever solo runway show at NYFW on Sept. 11. Founded by New York-based designer Maggie Fan, Tang Chi Couture’s Spring 2027 collection entitled “In Between…” will explore “the fragile space between light and darkness, beauty and mortality and the point where romance can become obsession or danger,” according to a release. The 25-look collection will also introduce Tang Chi Couture’s first ready-to-wear and made-to-order pieces.

Taylor Marie

Taylor Hoekstra is a Parsons alum with 10 years of experience across brands like Christian Siriano, Tanya Taylor, The Danes, Fashion Snoops and Rya Collection. Now, Hoekstra’s namesake eveningwear brand, Taylor Marie, is making its NYFW debut with a presentation on Sept. 11. The New York City-based label is “rooted in unapologetic femininity and artisanal craftsmanship,” as seen in its made-to-order selection of bow-adorned jackets and mini dresses.

Terez

Fashion and sports have become increasingly intertwined, and Terez is at the forefront of this shift. Zara Terez Tisch founded Terez in 2008 to create “seat-to-street” sportswear for women and girls. The NYC-based brand launched its first MLB women’s collection in 2022, and has since expanded its “fashion-forward fanwear” to include partnerships across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA and NWSL. Terez will make its NYFW runway debut with a collection paying homage to NYC’s professional sports teams on Sept. 9.

Zaldy

Zaldy, a three-time Emmy Award-winning costume and fashion designer, is behind the outfits for some of music’s biggest tours: Michael Jackson’s “This Is It”, Lady Gaga’s “The Monster Ball”, Britney Spears’ “Femme Fatale”, Pink’s “Beautiful Trauma” and Katy Perry’s “Lifetimes.” Plus, he designed the entire Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2024 and he’s currently the mastermind behind all of RuPaul’s show-stopping looks for “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” After showing his debut men’s collection off-calendar last season, Zaldy is making his CFDA calendar debut with a runway show on Sept. 13.

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WYouth Releases First Issue

W Magazine is unveiling WYouth (pronounced “Double Youth”), a spinoff magazine aimed at teens, with its debut issue arriving on newsstands Sept. 15. The idea came from a text Sofia Coppola sent to Ava Nirui suggesting a teen version of W, and Coppola later connected her with W‘s Editor-in-Chief Sara Moonves. For WYouth‘s first issue, the theme centers on connection and features Hailey and Justin Bieber on the cover, along with Tyler, The Creator, Clairo, Chloë Sevigny, alongside other creatives and young talent. {WYouth}

Sabato De Sarno Named Creative Director of Icicle

Icicle has named Sabato De Sarno as its new creative director overseeing women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, accessories and eyewear, effective with its Fall 2027 collection. De Sarno most recently served as Gucci’s creative director before exiting in February 2025. Icicle CEO and Co-Founder Ye Shouzeng said the move reflects Icicle’s ambition to pair global talent with “Icicle’s deep cultural roots and industrial strength in China.” {Icicle}

Victoria’s Secret Works To Revive Pink 

Victoria’s Secret CEO Hillary Super is working to revive Pink, the retailer’s youth-focused brand, after it lost half of its sales volume over the past decade. Under new leadership, Pink is being repositioned as “bold, playful, irreverent” and distinct from Victoria’s Secret’s “sexy, glamorous, luxurious” identity, Pink President Ali Dillon told The New York Times. The strategy appears to be working as the company posted its fifth consecutive quarter of sales growth, and Victoria’s Secret’s stock is up more than 39% this year. {The New York Times/paywalled}

Shein’s Hong Kong Listing Falters Amid Profitability Concerns

Shein has lost about $5 billion in market value since its Hong Kong IPO, with shares closing 19% below their offering price despite a 3.2% rebound Monday. That marks the second-worst performance in the first five sessions among Hong Kong listings that raised at least $1 billion. Analysts point to concerns over tariffs, fulfillment costs and execution risks tied to Shein’s marketplace transition, along with slowing revenue growth and a $99 million first-quarter loss. {Bloomberg/paywalled}

Ukrainian Fashion Week Continues Despite Russian Strikes

Ukrainian Fashion Week concluded Sunday in Kyiv despite Russian attacks that triggered air-raid alerts and forced one show into a shelter. Organizers reported rising momentum for the industry, with some brands citing domestic sales growth of up to 70% and expanding international distribution in markets including France, Germany and the U.S. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

How the Birkin Bag Is Complicating Hermès’s Watch Strategy

Hermès has spent more than two decades building credibility as a serious watchmaker, cutting production by roughly 75% to boost exclusivity. But data from resale platform The RealReal shows many buyers may be purchasing watches simply to improve their odds of securing a Birkin bag, then reselling them quickly. Mint-condition Hermès watches recoup only 41% of their original price on resale in 2026, far below Rolex and Cartier, and that value has fallen by 10% over the past four years even as rivals’ resale values have climbed. {The Wall Street Journal/paywalled}

Nu Skin Closes BeautyBio

BeautyBio, the skin-care device brand Nu Skin Enterprises acquired for $75 million in 2023, has closed after its sales collapsed and left it with “no remaining carrying value,” according to SEC filings. The closure ties to $5.9 million in wind-down charges, following a $25.1 million impairment charge last year. Founder Jamie O’Banion, who stepped down as CEO in 2024, called Nu Skin “a fantastic partner.” The brand joins Clarisonic and other beauty device casualties as the category faces intensifying competition from K-beauty players like Medicube. {Beauty Independent/paywalled}

Alastair McKimm Debuts Prototype Magazine With Issue Zero

Alastair McKimm, former editor-in-chief of i-D turned independent publisher, has launched Issue Zero, the debut edition of his new bi-annual print magazine, Prototype, blending fashion, design and art. The ad-free issue features contributions from Marc Jacobs, Skepta, Tom Sachs, Arthur Jafa, Sterling Ruby, Steven Meisel and others, organized into 12 chapters drawn from McKimm’s career and network. Alongside the magazine, which will arrive in early 2027, Prototype debuts its first product collaboration, Chair Zero, with designer Pierre Castignola. {Fashionista inbox}

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Team Fashionista has rounded up (mostly free!) open-to-the-public pop-ups, experiences and events for all to enjoy. From evening gown exhibitions to bejeweled confessionals (and much more as we update the list), here are the can’t-miss places to be this coming week.

Maybelline New York Fit Me Casting Call Experience

Sunday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ideal Glass Studios, 9 W 8th St., New York, NY 10011

Maybelline is letting attendees in on fashion week from a model’s perspective. With a focus on its Fit Me Foundation, the activation includes personalized shade matching with makeup artists, a full-size take-home foundation, a first look at upcoming product launches and an open casting call for a chance to become the next face of Fit Me in a Maybelline campaign.

Kay ‘Love All In’ Experience

Thursday, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Starrett-Lehigh Building, 26th St. and 11th Ave.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
West Broadway, between Prince St. and Spring St.

Kay is hosting a mobile pop-up tied to its new “Love All In” campaign, centered on a jewelry box-style confessional filled with mini-games that push participants to take romantic risks, like texting a crush. On-site glitter artists add 3D jewels to keepsake photo strips, and participants can be featured on Kay’s social channels and entered to win a diamond.

Waldorf Astoria New York x FIT Fashion Exhibition

Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Sept. 20
The Vitrines at the Peacock Alley Corridor and Lexington Avenue Corridor at Waldorf Astoria New York

Waldorf Astoria New York hands its storied vitrines over to FIT for a free exhibition of evening gowns designed by recent graduates, with Art Deco flourishes and all. Guests can peruse the showcase and enjoy a special fashion-themed cocktail in Peacock Alley. It’s a fitting venue: Long before fashion week existed, Peacock Alley was where New York’s stylish set came to be seen, and the hotel even hosted early versions of the Met Gala.

Vivrelle x Renggli Pop-Up

Thursday, Sept. 10 to Sunday, Sept. 13
76 Wooster St., New York, NY 10012

To mark Renggli’s third anniversary, the brand is opening its first-ever pop-up in partnership with Vivrelle in SoHo. The collaboration brings together Vivrelle’s curated assortment of designer handbags and jewelry (available to borrow or buy) with the debut of Renggli’s new fall collection.

Soma Vanishing Panty Van

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9 a.m.
Bryant Park

Soma is taking its Vanishing collection on the road with a customized sprinter van, the Vanishing Panty Van, popping up across key NYC neighborhoods over two days. At each stop, the van will turn into an interactive brand hub designed for in-the-moment experiences. In hand, guests will walk away with a branded tote, cotton candy and a free Soma item.

Bauhaus Ballet by Szilveszter Makó with Capital One x The Cultivist

Thursday, Sept. 10, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
29 West 23rd St.

Step into Hungarian fashion photographer Szilveszter Makó’s surreal “Bauhaus Ballet” exhibition with Capital One x The Cultivist. Across six immersive rooms, blending folklore, childhood memory and post-Soviet nostalgia, visitors will be able to see inside what shapes Makó’s practice.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu Fragrance Experience

Friday, Sept. 11, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
873 Washington St.

Grab a seat at Chanel’s café pop-up celebrating Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu, the house’s new fragrance. Guests can enjoy personalized fragrance discovery and explore the full Coco Mademoiselle beauty lineup. Although walk-ins are available, appointments are recommended and available to book here.

Lululemon x The Sculpt Society Studio Classes

Friday, Sept. 11, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
216 Lafayette St.

Lululemon and The Sculpt Society are hosting a studio takeover with sculpt classes led by Megan Roup and other TSS instructors, plus recovery experiences and community events. Registration is $40 and can be found here. All proceeds benefit Girls Inc. NYC.

Peruvian Connection Pop-Up

Thursday, Sept. 10 through Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Walker Hotel Tribeca Button and Ribbon room (adjacent to the lobby)

Peruvian Connection, celebrating its 50th anniversary, marks the milestone with a shoppable pop-up. The brand, known for artisan-crafted alpaca and Peruvian Pima cotton pieces, brings its Fall 2026 Anniversary Collection and reintroduced men’s line to the space. Wanderobe’s in-room shopping platform rounds out the event with additional independent brands: jewelry label Y.Han Design, home goods studio Saar., skin-care-focused makeup brand Innata, Italian footwear label El Vaquero and Aspen Vodka.

Hearst x Sephora Hair Haven

Monday, Sept. 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Bowery Hotel

Hearst and Sephora will host Hair Haven, a one-day beauty pop-up at The Bowery Hotel. The event brings together influencers, Sephora Squad members, beauty editors across publications and the public for personalized hair touch-ups, custom cocktails and photo moments. RSVP is available here.

Raisefashion The Penthouse Edit

Friday, Sept. 11, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Standard, East Village

Raisefashion, presented by Afterpay, opens The Penthouse Edit designer showcase to the public with an immersive showroom. Independent brands that will be featured include Almasika, Campillo, Diarrablu, Esenshel, Gwen Beloti, K.ngsley, Leblancstudios, McKenzie Liautaud, Oleada, Vontélle, Yesaet and Zut, alongside select brands from the Victoria’s Secret Runway to Revenue Program. RSVP to the event here.

GapBag Pop-up Activation

Thursday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Sept. 13
The Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center
45 Rockefeller Plaza

Gap kicks off the first day of fashion week by celebrating the launch of GapBag, the brand’s debut handbag collection designed by Executive Director of Accessories Reed Krakoff. The pop-up includes exclusive experiences like chainstitch personalization, limited-edition charms and one-of-a-kind artist-customized bags.

Calezedonia The Stoop Pop-up

Saturday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 13,  12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
188 Lafayette St.

Guests are invited to explore Calzedonia’s newest legwear collections, including the 15 Denier Invisible Makeup Effect Tights and the 20 Denier Hosiery Knee Highs. The space also allows for fashion week goers to refresh between their hectic schedules, create content and connect with industry insiders.

Stitch Fix Drop Off Club

Thursday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
145 Greene St.

Stitch Fix is hosting its “Drop Off Club” pop-up to mark the first day of school and celebrate the launch of its exclusive collection with Favorite Daughter. The event will offer coffee, giveaways and a Stitch Fix gift card.

Duolingo’s Phonetic Collection Pop-Up

Wednesday, Sept. 9 through Thursday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Null Object

Duolingo is opening a two-day pop-up at Null Object to launch The Phonetic Collection, a capsule created with designer Megan O’Cain, built around fashion’s pronunciation problem. Visitors can see the pieces in person and bid their Duolingo streak for a chance to take one home. 

White House Black Market Pop-up

Friday, Sept. 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saint Coffee, 201 7th Ave

Preview White House Black Market’s new upcoming fall collection while refueling on complimentary coffee and cookies.

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https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wD2tnhLSYVTuzw73g3vWk?si=gpGqSNwLRIS5JcNPQHc5Pw

When beauty editor-turned-designer Kahlana Barfield Brown worked in the magazine industry, she saw firsthand just how exclusive the fashion world can be. She worked on cover shoots where the talent was midsize (about size 12 to 14) or larger, and was frustrated by the lack of designer clothing options. It was those experiences that led her to come up with a solution to address this clear need for trendy, size-inclusive clothes.

“I knew that one day I wanted to start a clothing brand because I felt like there was a white space,” she told Fashionista. “I can’t count how many times I was on set…and I would see sizes that said it was a 12, but it fit like a 6. I saw that way too much.”

In 2025, she launched KBB by Kahlana, a streetwear-inspired clothing line that champions size inclusion and affordability. “Not everyone can afford a $1,000 jean,” she shared. “So I always thought, ‘What if I can make a really great quality jean that is very fashion-forward, has an extensive size range and is fly?'”

On The Fashionista Network, Brown discussed her editorial background, the evolution of the magazine space, pivoting into design, navigating retail and more. Watch the full interview on YouTube below.

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Xirena’s first store, in the reopened Palisades Village in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood, was also inspired by Spain, Roffoni tells Fashionista. “Europe in the summer and the Mediterranean,” she says. “The sculpted curved walls, the imaginary skylight, the organic feel of the floors, and then all of the wood is carved by hand.” The space was designed in collaboration with architect David Montalba, founding principal of Los Angeles-based Montalba Architects.

Opening the first standalone store in L.A. made sense because both Roffoni and creative director Elise Parseghian live in the area. “The California spirit is so important to our brand,” Parseghian says. “We always have this woman in mind.” The Pacific Palisades is one of their most popular areas when it comes to online sales, with New York (the city and the Hamptons); Dallas, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina not far behind. The duo sees growth in the south, they believe, because of their use of color in lightweight fabrics.

They also chose Palisades Village because, in part, of the community. In January 2025, one of the most destructive fires in L.A. history severely damaged the shopping center and leveled the surrounding area. “I’m from L.A. and this area and when I saw this community come together on that Saturday when it [re]opened, I had never seen [anything] like it,” Roffoni says. It made her emotional, she adds, and optimistic about retail in the neighborhood.

“The brands, the adjacencies here that are in this little center are so perfect,” Roffoni continues. “They all complement each other. Everyone gets along so well that it’s not a competitive group of people.” Surrounding stores include Leset, Misa, A.L.C. and Anine Bing.

It was also the right time for a store because the brand saw e-commerce sales growing for its full ready-to-wear collection. Although Xirena is sold at Shopbop, Mother Denim and Bloomingdale’s (among others), a standalone store offers an opportunity to showcase how much the brand has grown. After lingerie, the brand introduced button-downs before expanding into a fuller wardrobe offering. “We do sweaters, we do outerwear,” Parseghian says. “We have so many new categories.”

More store locations could be coming but they want to do it “slowly and make sure it’s the right area,” Roffoni says. “I think it’s important to have fewer and better because you lose so much control [otherwise]. I think eventually we could have four stores.” Pop-ups are a possibility, especially in Europe. Xirena recently launched in Paris’ iconic department store, Le Bon Marché, giving the brand a foothold in another key fashion market.

See more images of the new Xirena store, below.

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Homepage photo: Getty Images; Art: Neia Dizon/Fashionista

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Julie Kegels Wins 2026 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers

Belgian designer Julie Kegels won the LVMH Prize for Young Designers Friday at a Paris ceremony, taking home a €400,000 ($464,812) grant plus a year of mentoring from LVMH experts. Chinese designer Zane Li’s label Lii took the runner-up Karl Lagerfeld Special Jury Prize, worth €200,000 ($232,406) with a year of business advisory support. Anil Padia’s Yoshita 1967 won the Savoir-Faire Prize, also carrying a €200,000 ($232,406) grant and mentorship. Other finalists included Petra Fagerström, De Pino, Ponte, Thevxlley, Institution and Colleen Allen. {Instagram}

Oura Files for IPO

Oura, health intelligence platform and maker of the smart ring, has filed with the SEC for an IPO of shares of its common stock. Share count and price range have not been set yet. The company plans to list on Nasdaq under the ticker “OURA,” with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan are among the lead book-running managers. {Business Wire}

Lululemon Cuts Outlook Ahead of CEO Shift

Ahead of incoming CEO Heidi O’Neill’s initial turnaround plan, Lululemon shares dropped by about 20% on Friday after the company cut its annual forecast for the second time. For 2026, the company now expects net revenue to be in the range of $10.35 billion to $10.50 billion, representing a decline of 5% to 7%. The retailer is losing ground to rival brands like Skims and Alo Yoga amid falling sales in both the Americas and China. {Lululemon; Reuters/paywalled}

Fashion Talent Are Reshaping Sports Teams

Fashion creative directors have become a near-standard hire for sports teams looking to boost their brand and cultural standing. Italian football club Como 1907 saw revenue jump 600% after hiring Rhude Founder Rhuigi Villaseñor in 2024, while similar moves have paid off for the NBA’s Pacers, the NFL and others through new brand partnerships and merchandise. Beyond formal appointments, clubs are also turning to one-off fashion collaborations, including recent AC Milan and Manchester City kits designed by A$AP Rocky for Puma. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

Gloria Steinem’s Personal Style

Gloria Steinem, the pioneering feminist and Ms. magazine co-founder, died on Wednesday at 92, and is remembered for pairing decades of activism and her classic uniform: aviator glasses, concha belts and all-black outfits. Steinem said the look was partly practical. Her nearsightedness led to the glasses, and a consistent uniform of black pants and tops freed her from fashion decisions so she could focus on her work. She saw a woman’s right to choose as extending to her appearance, rejecting the idea that style and substance were at odds. {The New York Times}

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Stockists: Anthropologie, Free People, Printemps NY, C.O. Bigelow, Amazon
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How to get in touch: customerservice@bachca.com

Origin Story

Bachca was founded in 2016, in Paris, by Camille de Bascher. With a rich professional background that has seen her evolve for more than 11 years in the design of beauty accessories, de Bascher decided to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure by creating Bachca. Bachca is above all “a love of beautiful things and attention to detail.” It creates beautiful objects, simple and refined, essential to every woman’s daily beauty routine, at the “fairest price line.”

For our Weekly Drop Watch column, Fashionista scours the market to curate the most noteworthy releases from our favorite fashion and beauty brands. Keep scrolling for this week’s highlights.

Fashion Launches

Alex Mill Fall 2026, Chapter 1

Alex Mill introduced part one of its Fall 2026 collection this week, expanding its offering of jackets, cashmere, corduroy, footwear, accessories and separates meant for layering in both men’s and womenswear. Prices range from $20 to $398. Shop the collection now at alexmill.com.

L’Agence Fall 2026

L’Agence introduced its Fall 2026 collection of “polished, feminine pieces designed with the season in mind,” as described in press materials. It includes the brand’s best-selling jeans in new washes, tailored outerwear, evening dresses and everyday layering pieces. Shop them all at lagence.com.

Stine Goya x Umbro

The sporty collab of the week comes courtesy of Stine Goya x Umbro: The Copenhagen-based brand re-upped its partnership with the athleticwear maker for a second chapter, titled “Where We Meet.” The collection was inspired by “the in-between spaces where football culture actually happens — greasy spoon cafés, pub corners and tiled club bathrooms covered in handwritten graffiti and confessions,” according to a press release. “It’s a love letter to ’90s British football culture: the chants, the pre-match rituals, the pub as an extension of matchday.” The five-piece capsule includes three box-cut collared jerseys ($330, one of which is shown above), a slim-fit T-shirt with a hand-painted checker print ($250) and a long-sleeve butter yellow sweatshirt, hand-painted with a graphic inspired by pub bathroom wall art ($390). Ted Lasso, eat your heart out. Shop all the pieces at us.stinegoya.com.

Gap’s New GapBag Collection by Reed Krakoff

On Friday, Gap unveiled its GapBag collection, five styles designed by Gap Inc. Executive Director of Accessories Reed Krakoff. Drawing on “Gap’s most recognizable silhouettes, fabrics and details, from five-pocket denim to the classic Arch Logo hoodie,” the collection “marks a significant step in Gap’s strategic expansion into accessories,” according to the brand. Prices range from $30 to $148 in the core assortment, while a limited-edition patchwork style (shown above) will also be available in select stores for $498. Shop them at gap.com.

Ugg Introduces the Ondria Boot

Ugg dropped a new boot silhouette on Tuesday: Meet the Ondria ($280), a new take on the brand’s Classic Tall style. “The Ondira takes the knee-high silhouette and gives it a more fashion-forward feel, pairing the signature Ugg look with a modern, sneaker-inspired sole,” per a press release. Shop the cozy boots — which are currently available in one colorway, Light Bronze — at ugg.com.

Aligne’s ‘In Your Stride’ Collection

British brand Aligne dropped its Fall 2026 collection, “In Your Stride,” on Thursday. With both sharp tailoring and softer silhouettes, the pieces bring together a palette of vibrant orange, bold blue and chocolate brown with muted shades of gray and navy. Styles include cozy outerwear, layerable knits and on-trend rugby polos. Shop now at aligne.co.

Beauty Launches

Marc Jacobs Beauty’s ‘All-Over Concealer’

Expanding upon its recently relaunched collection, Marc Jacobs Beauty introduced Nude Awakening All-Over Concealer ($36) in 40 shades on Tuesday. Touted as a “lightweight concealer formulated for heavy-duty, 24-hour, crease-proof, waterproof and transfer-proof wear,” it offers medium coverage and has a built-in brush applicator. Shop it at sephora.com and marcjacobs.com.

Fenty Beauty Drops New Foundation

Fenty Beauty debuted its new foundation formula, Pro Filt’r Fluid Flex Natural Matte Longwear Foundation ($44), in 50 shades. With a formula “designed move with you and infused with color-true longwear pigments that resist oxidation,” it offers medium, buildable coverage with a “skin-like” natural matte finish, according to the brand. It’s also waterproof, sweat-, heat- and transfer-resistant. Shop it now at fentybeauty.com, sephora.com and ulta.com.

Sidia Debuts Eau de Parfum

Indie body-care and home fragrance brand Sidia debuted eau de parfum this week, alongside a refillable gold vessel called “The Strike” (shown above) “inspired by the architectural jewelry of our matriarchs and designed to become a modern heirloom,” per the brand. The piece is designed to house any of the brand’s fragrances; the inaugural eaux de parfum are reimagined versions of the brand’s three bestselling candle scents: Midas (golden skin and smooth sandalwood), Braless (skin-steeped woods and creamy vanilla) and Soaked (cool juniper on warm skin). The Strike can be purchased as a bundle with any of the scents for $120, while the 10 mL fragrances themselves will retail for $54 each.

Balenciaga’s 3 New Scents

In more fragrance news from the week, Balenciaga expanded its collection with the introduction of three new Extraits: Vanilla XXL (black vanilla, musk, cinnamon, rum), Pink Oud (damask rose, Assafi oud wood) and Amber Crush (juicy plum liqueur, sandalwood, incense and rare spices). Each formulated with “rich, noble essences,” the scents were designed to “uniquely [capture] the interplay of complex structure and refined simplicity that defines the House’s design archives,” per a press release. Shop them for $320 each at balenciaga.com.

Clé de Peau Beauté Expands Synactif Line

Clé de Peau Beauté expanded its Synactif line to include a Body Cream ($400), with the same “purifying and skin regenerating” benefits as the existing collection. “The new cream brings the experience of an indulgent spa treatment home, visibly lifting the skin and boosting firmness for a resculpted look,” claims the brand in press materials. Shop the formula at cledepeaubeaute.com.

Cyklar’s Next Shower Must-Have

Body-care and fragrance brand Cyklar introduced a new shower must-have: Semi-Solid Body Scrub, a “rich, moisturizing body scrub that buffs away dry skin while replenishing moisture,” as described by the brand. The formula features sugar, salt, volcanic sand, shea butter, a multi-oil complex, squalane and glycerin for a balance between physical exfoliation and moisture. Shop it in four of the brand’s scents — Sacred Santal, Vanilla Verve, Naked Neroli and Bergamot Bond — for $40 each at cyklar.com and sephora.com.

Dries Van Noten’s New Fragrance

Another designer brand that’s focusing on fragrance for fall is Dries Van Noten, which debuted Velvet Violet, its newest eau de parfum, on Tuesday. An “ode to one of perfumery’s most enigmatic flowers,” the scent is a woody floral that reimagines “violet through an unexpected pairing with toasted sesame,” according to the brand. Created by perfumer Gaël Montero, the fragrance also features notes of pink pepper, barley, tonka bean and vetiver. It retails for $350 for 100mL at driesvannoten.com.

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“That piece kicked off a whole new era for her,” Cheshire, England-based knitwear designer Paul Aaron recalls over email. “I was the first person to make the hibiscus flowers that became part of her looks, and it turned instantly recognizable…After that, her stylist had many designers making hibiscus pieces for her.”

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

The Central Saint Martins graduate first got on celebrity stylists’ radar in 2018, when Rita Ora’s stylist, Karen Clarkson, commissioned a custom look for Ora’s headlining set at Manchester Pride. “From there, things really took off,” he says. “It only takes one person to believe in you and give you a chance to prove yourself.” To date, his work has been worn by Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Shenseea, Blackpink’s Lisa, Kylie Jenner and more.

Most recently, Aaron designed a piece for Hilary Duff: Her stylist Neelo Noory tapped the designer to create a silver, fringe, beaded gown for the artist’s “Lucky Me” tour. “I grew up watching her play Lizzie McGuire as a kid,” Aaron says. “So, getting to work with her and her team now, all these years later, is genuinely a full-circle moment.”

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Comprising more than 20,000 handwoven glass beads, the look was inspired by early-2000s party dresses — early Gianni Versace gowns were on the reference board. (“I wanted to bring that kind of gown back under the spotlight where it belongs,” he notes.) It took more than three months and 500 hours to put the dress together. Aaron says he hand-wove the glass beads between star crochet motifs to create the fabric, then embellished it with thousands of rhinestones and hundreds of meters of crystal chain for extra movement. “Every second was definitely worth it the moment I saw her wearing it on stage, especially watching it catch the light,” he says.

Would he consider any of these experiences his “big break,” though? Not quite. “I’ll let you know when that happens,” he says. “I’m currently being gatekept! But I am sure my big break will come soon.” 

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Aaron’s interest in fashion began with Barbie dolls. “I know, very typical,” he says. As a child, he’d play dress-up with his dolls and create new outfits for them from his mom’s old clothes. When he got older, he didn’t know what he wanted to do, so he applied for an art and design course at a community college. However, the school enrolled him in a Fashion Design and Textiles class instead. Clearly, what was presumably an accident turned out to be fate stepping in: He slowly fell in love with design and has never looked back.

Later, he attended Central Saint Martins. But despite it being one of the most notable fashion schools in the world, that wasn’t his favorite period of his life. “I didn’t have a great experience mainly because I didn’t have the resources a lot of the other students had,” he says. “If you don’t have the financial capacity to create what you imagine, it’s genuinely difficult. Scholarships meant for working-class students were often handed to kids who were already wealthy and didn’t need them […] it wasn’t always about pure talent and passion.”

He’d often skip class and grow his skills at home, he adds. He didn’t quite find his niche for beaded knitwear until after he graduated in 2020. “It came from a love of texture, and wanting to make absolutely everything by hand,” he says. “It is all personal — creating a piece out of imagination and watching it take form in front of you. I think it’s one of the most underrated feelings knitwear can give a designer; you’re not starting with a whole piece of fabric that you shape into a dress, but with a thread, building the entire thing from nothing.”

View this post on Instagram

Even with the complexity of Aaron’s designs, he still operates as a team of one — no interns, admin or patternmakers. He alone does all the sourcing, sketching, sewing, rhinestoning and fitting. It’s certainly not the easiest gig, and it’s even more frustrating when his hard work goes unrecognized.

“One of the biggest challenges for an emerging designer trying to get their big break is people not crediting our work,” he says. “It’s definitely difficult when you haven’t been born into the industry, especially at a time when there are barely any jobs for designers, and new individual brands are launching every single day.”

Lack of financial support is another common struggle for independent designers like Aaron: “There’s no real way to start a brand, build a full team, use the highest-quality materials — which are the foundation of your craft and what your clients will come to know you for — and still turn a profit, all at once,” he explains. “It’s simply almost impossible.”

It’s why he’s working to partner with financial investors before he launches a full-fledged brand. Until then, he’s focused on custom work and perfecting his craft (and starting to hire some help). Ultimately, he hopes to change the way we all think about knitwear.

“I’m positive that people will start to recognize the impact of Paul Aaron knitwear in redefining knitwear away from the stigma of ‘cozy-wear,’ and shaping the craft into the future of red-carpet and stage performance looks,” he says. “I truly believe this is only the beginning.”

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Victoria’s Secret & Co. Reports 10% Sales Spike in Q2

Victoria’s Secret & Co. released its Q2 2026 results on Thursday, which showed a 10% net sales increase to $1.61 billion. In Q2 2026, the company also received IEEPA tariff refunds of more than $140 million, representing more than 95% of the IEEPA tariffs it paid. Victoria’s Secret & Co. is now raising its outlook for its fiscal year 2026 net sales to a range of $7.10 billion to $7.18 billion, up from its previous outlook of $7.03 billion to $7.13 billion. {Victoria’s Secret & Co.}

Wella Files for IPO

Wella Company filed for a U.S. IPO on Monday. The KKR-backed hair- and nail-care firm’s portfolio includes OPI, Clairol, Sebastian Professional and Nioxin. Wella reported revenues of $2.94 billion for the year ended June 30, 2026, marking an increase compared to revenues of $2.69 billion a year prior. Proceeds of the IPO will be used for repaying debt and the tax consequences of a restructuring, according to the filing. {Bloomberg/paywalled}

PVH Corp. Sees 3% Sales Drop in Q2

PVH Corp., the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, reported a 3% decrease in revenue to $2.1 billion in the second quarter. Tommy Hilfiger’s Q2 revenue was approximately flat compared to the previous year, while Calvin Klein saw a 7% decline. E-commerce grew across both brands, as the company’s e-commerce revenues rose by 4%. PVH Corp. reaffirmed its full-year outlook of approximately flat revenue. {PVH Corp.}

Azzas 2154 to Split After Failed Merger

Brazilian fashion firm Azzas 2154 will be split into two independent publicly traded companies. Azzas 2154 was created about two years ago, after a merger of Arezzo&Co and Grupo Soma that combined nearly 30 fashion brands. The Arezzo&Co business will become a standalone company, while Soma’s fashion brands will form a separate entity. Both companies will retain a stake in Farm Rio. {Bloomberg/paywalled}

Brands Are Activating at State Fairs

State fairs are the newest frontier for fashion and beauty brands to host activations. E.l.f. Beauty hosted a “real dill”-themed pop-up at the Minnesota State Fair in August, which attracted nearly 64,000 attendees. E.l.f. will also be a sponsor at the State Fair of Texas. Levi’s, another sponsor, is making a custom set of jeans for “Big Tex,” a 55-foot-tall cowboy statue and the official mascot of the State Fair of Texas. {Modern Retail}

In the AI Age, Fashion Brands Are Turning to Visual Artists

Against a backdrop of many brands using AI in their marketing practices, a growing number of fashion brands are enlisting visual artists including painters, illustrators, sculptors and ceramicists for campaigns. Illustrators Karlotta Freier and Sarah Martinon have been tapped by Dior, Chanel and Hermès, while Loewe created a film using 2,000 watercolor paintings from 10 different artists, led by illustrator and designer Joanna Blémont. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

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How to get in touch: info@ashaki.com

Origin Story

Fatema Yasmine Akhund is an artist, poet and writer whose path spans medicine, media, technology and executive coaching. Born in Bangladesh, raised in the U.K., and now living in the United States, she has carried her global story into every chapter of her life. What unifies her diverse expertise is an unwavering commitment to beauty as a transformative force. Through Ashaki, she extends her belief in beauty’s profound mystical power to heal and elevate those who embrace it.

Lily Holm fundamentally believes in the power of clothing to change how one moves through the world. Her dad encouraged it, preaching the value of looking good to feel good and the influence it could wield. Holm has been driven by this belief — the need to create and a desire for beauty — which led her to Akhund and Ashaki. Her sincerest hope is that, through these pieces, the customer can embody that power for herself.

Each Ashaki garment is handcrafted with heirloom sewing techniques and intricate embroidery, shaped with body-aware design that honors both comfort and presence.

What’s the opposite of gatekeeping? Welcome to “Payment Processing,“ in which we ask stylish, generally cool people who’ve tried it all about their favorite fashion and beauty buys.

For those who have also spent hours wondering how Hailey Bieber’s glam looks like an IRL Instagram filter, let us introduce you to Mary Phillips. The makeup artist-turned-brand founder is behind some of Bieber’s best beauty moments, including her bronzed glow for this year’s Met Gala. She also counts Kendall Jenner, Megan Fox, Zoë Kravitz, Kaia Gerber and Bella Hadid among her A-list clientele.

As the mastermind behind these stars’ glow-from-within looks, Phillips is known for her signature “underpainting” technique (a method of contouring and highlighting beneath foundation for a sculpted, but natural, look). In 2025, Phillips brought this technique to the masses with her Sephora-exclusive beauty brand M.ph, which launched with the Underpainting Face Palette as its its hero SKU, alongside a cream blush, lipstick and lip liner. She even stars in a new Sephora campaign spotlighting MUAs-turned-founders: Danessa Myricks, Patrick Starrr (One/Size), Violette Serrat (Violette_FR), Nikki DeRoest (Ciele Cosmetics) and Natasha Denona are among those featured as well.

With more than two decades of makeup artistry experience, Phillips is particularly well versed in the beauty industry’s best products. Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream stands out as one of her favorite luxury skin-care staples, while Lancôme’s mascaras regularly top her restock list. Phillips’ taste for luxury also extends beyond the beauty world: Right now, she’s eyeing Chloé’s lavender jeans, Bottega Veneta earrings and The Row T-shirts.

Ahead, Phillips shares the affordable fashion staple she’s “obsessed with,” her best beauty advice, the lip product Bieber influenced her to buy and more.

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What’s a luxury beauty item you’re into right now?

The Lyma Laser. It’s a red light laser and it’s amazing. I’ve seen such a change in my skin. I know it’s pretty expensive. I was luckily given it. Or my Augustinus Bader Rich Cream. It is so luxurious. Morning and night with a couple drops of their facial oil is heaven.

What’s a budget beauty product at Sephora that you’re loving?

I’m obsessed with the Sephora brand waterproof eyeliners. They’re incredible.

What’s a beauty staple you love so much you’ve bought multiples?

Probably Lancôme mascaras. I’m such a fan of mascaras in general. I go through them really fast because I feel like they get gross when you have them for a little too long. Dior, the lash curl Diorshow mascara.

What’s a fashion accessory you’re eyeing right now?

Oh my gosh. What am I not eyeing? I’m really into the Chloé lavender jeans. Love a Bottega [Veneta] earring, love everything from The Row. I live across the street from it and it’s so dangerous.

What’s an affordable fashion item on your wishlist?

I’m obsessed with the Re/Done white and black plain tank tops, like the ribbed ones. They’re the best for summer, just with a pair of vintage jeans or a cute tight pair of jeans with some heels. They’re just great. Fit super well.

 What’s a wardrobe staple you love so much you’ve bought multiples?

I tend to buy in bulk when I love something. It’s probably a [The] Row T-shirt, honestly. They’re so crazy expensive for just a T-shirt, but they fit so well. And if I love them, I’ll buy three of them just to have because it’s a good white tee and I’m always scared I’m going to drop something on it and I won’t have it anymore. So while it’s in season, I need a few. 

What’s one piece of beauty advice we could all use?

A good foundation is so important… good skin care. Your skin is the base of everything. So investing in good skin care and a good foundation, I feel like you can’t go wrong. 

What’s the last product that one of your clients influenced you to buy?

Hailey Bieber got me to buy the Violette_FR Bisou Balm, and I’m obsessed. It’s a great product.

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Well, we have some good news: Elie Saab x H&M (yes, H&M!) is coming Oct. 22, and prices range from $39.99 (for a choker necklace) to $429 (for a leather jacket). The collection includes occasionwear for women and men, plus a mix of accessories and footwear — all spotlighting what Elie Saab does best, like sharp tailoring and intricate embellishments.

Saab has never done a fashion collaboration quite like this, translating his signature designs into mass-market pieces. H&M was the right partner thanks to its history of collaborating with other high-fashion names, such as Stella McCartney, Giambattista Valli and Lanvin. Plus, “This collaboration came at the right time,” CEO Elie Saab Jr. tells Fashionista, “when the brand has been expanding significantly in different regions, in different territories, but most importantly, expanding its ready-to-wear line to accompany that expansion.”

Speaking from Elie Saab’s Paris headquarters, the younger Saab says the ready-to-wear line is evolving from occasionwear into a broader lifestyle collection, making the H&M partnership an opportunity to bring that vision to a more accessible audience. He also cites H&M’s “amazing track record” of translating the vision and DNA of major fashion houses into special collaborations while respecting the brands behind them: “We know we are in safe hands.”

“There was real teamwork and such a good energy, and I think you can see [it] in the collection,” Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s creative advisor and head of design, womenswear, tells Fashionista. “We know that our customers want to have the true Elie Saab… so it should never be a poorer version of something. It should be the real deal; that is very important for both parties.”

Saab and his team worked on the collection for more than a year, ensuring each piece stayed true to the “Elie Saab spirit,” the younger Saab says. This meant not chasing trends and sticking to timeless — but never boring — fashion.

“We’re very focused [on] the woman we want to dress, how we want to dress her, where we want to dress her and the ability to translate this into a product that has been constantly evolving with the same quality and the same elegance and sophistication,” he adds. “We believe that today customers want really the true essence of a brand and not what seems to be trendy.”

The elder Saab can’t pick a favorite out of his 54-piece line, as there’s something for everyone. “You need a shirt, you have it; you need a cape, you have it; a coat? You have it,” the designer says. Johansson calls the collection “powerful” and says she’s partial to the menswear for herself. “We work[ed] very much on the fit as well, because that is also one of the most important things with the house,” she says. “I think the fit empowers you when you wear it. You can really feel it.”

They also worked to ensure each accessory complements the clothes in the collection. The long dresses, the elder Saab notes, are paired with sky-high platforms.

“We respect what our clients love from us,” he says. While the collaboration is expected to attract new customers to the brand, the younger Saab says he also expects existing Elie Saab clients to shop the collection at H&M. “The first client of this collection is our client,” he adds. “People will have a dream piece in this collection.”

Elie Saab x H&M launches online Oct. 22 and in select H&M stores. Preview the entire collection below.

Disclosure: H&M paid for Fashionista’s travel and accommodations to report this story.

Category: Fashion, Brand, CPG, and Lifestyle
Type: Full-time
Min. Experience: Manager
Salary: $80,000 – $95,000

Lede’s Account Manager is responsible for overseeing and executing key client priorities within the cpg, lifestyle and fashion sectors. This includes developing and implementing high-impact PR strategies for product launches and events, generating targeted media outreach for editorial placements (both long and short lead), and driving communication and media awareness through social media engagement and influencer partnerships. The Manager will work collaboratively with internal teams and clients to ensure alignment on key initiatives. They will simultaneously manage 5 – 8 accounts, striving to meet or exceed communication goals and lead targets.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Consistently pitch and secure media coverage for clients

• Produce high-quality internal and external communications content, including writing, proofreading, and editing PR and marketing materials
• Develop compelling stories and narratives for clients
• Lead client communications, programs, events, and campaigns from planning through execution, ensuring adherence to budget
• Collaborate with various agency divisions to leverage network-wide expertise for clients.
• Cultivate strong connections with leading and emerging editorial talents.
• Develop and manage relationships with press contacts, key commentators, industry spokespeople, and beauty and wellness influencers
• Oversee junior team members in reviewing client agendas, recap reports, and clips
• Provide strategic counsel in collaboration with account leadership as needed
• Work in-office a minimum of 3 days per week
• After hours and weekend work may be required for events and other projects
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• 4 – 6 years of PR agency experience working with cpg, fashion and lifestyle brands; luxury experience is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field is preferred
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant brands, culture and the local landscape, including trends, market dynamics, media 
• Demonstrated success in securing impactful media placements
• Strong networking abilities with a proven capacity to build relationships with key influencers, media, and industry leaders
• Exceptional project management skills, with a focus on organization and strategic planning.
• Superior written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal abilities to foster collaboration and maintain strong professional relationships

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• High energy, enthusiastic individual with a passion for communications and PR
• Results orientated
• Strong project management skills, ability to multitask, excellent time management and organization
• Outstanding written and oral communications abilities; including the abilities to elicit information, actively listen, dialogue freely, verbalize ideas effectively, highly comfortable public speaker
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional relationship building skills, collaborative, able to work well with others.
• Comfortable in a start-up environment 

To Apply: Please visit https://app.trinethire.com/companies/35150-lede-company-llc/jobs/124251-pr-account-manager

The Lede Company is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

ABOUT THE LEDE COMPANY

The Lede Company is a full-service strategy, communications and social impact consulting firm, specializing in corporate, entertainment, brand and nonprofit sectors. With dedicated Talent, Music, Strategic Communications, Brand, Content and Social Impact divisions, we work with our clients to advance business and social outcomes through innovative storytelling, media, campaigns and partnerships. Our service offerings draw on our expertise, relationships, and resources, all of which enable us to exceed client expectations and ultimately, deliver results.

Category: Fashion
Type: Full-time
Min. Experience: Manager
Salary: $95,000 – $115,000

The Lede Company, a full-service communications, strategy, and impact consulting firm specializing in brand, corporate, entertainment, and nonprofit sectors, is seeking a creative and experienced Senior Account Manager/Associate Director with expertise in Fashion and Lifestyle to join our Brand team in Los Angeles.

With dedicated divisions in Brand, Talent, Music, Strategic Communications, Content, Events, Brand Partnerships, and Social Impact, we help clients advance business and social outcomes through innovative storytelling, media relations, strategic campaigns, and impactful partnerships. Our integrated approach combines deep industry expertise, strong relationships, and strategic thinking to consistently exceed client expectations and deliver measurable results.

The Senior Account Manager will play an integral role in developing and executing strategic communications programs across a diverse portfolio of Brand clients. This individual will lead day-to-day account management for approximately 7 to 10 retainer accounts and projects, serve as a primary client contact, and partner closely with Brand leadership to drive client success, business growth, and division priorities.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead various account teams, including managing and supporting junior staff 
• Actively pitch and secure media coverage on behalf of clients on a local, regional, national, and international level 
• Write, proof and edit a variety of PR, communications and marketing materials, while contributing as a core team member on client accounts 
• Develop compelling stories and draft compelling narratives on behalf of clients
• Lead client programs and campaigns from planning to execution within the specified budget 
• Develop and execute compelling VIP and influencer strategies, with tangible results 
• Collaborate with other divisions across the agency to ensure the client is getting access to the agency’s network-wide expertise 
• Deliver strong media and influencer coverage consistently producing high quality internal and external communications content 
• Have strong connections with leading and emerging editorial talents globally 
• Achieve exceptional outcomes for current clients and manage an extended portfolio ensuring consistency of service is delivered in line with company policy 
• Develop press relationships and manage contacts with key commentators, stylists, industry spokespeople, and sector influencers 
• And other duties as assigned

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND KNOWLEDGE 

• 6-8 years of PR agency experience, 
• Proven track record of securing impactful media placements, cultivating VIP and tastemaker relationships, and leveraging deep knowledge of the evolving media landscape across traditional and new media platforms, including but not limited to: Substacks, digital outlets, social-first publications, and creator platforms to drive meaningful results for clients.
• Established and demonstrable network of agents and publicists within the entertainment culture and fashion industries, editors, stylists, and industry figures, particularly in fashion, arts, entertainment, and culture (personal and professional relationships are a must)
• Keen networker, adept at building relationships with key influencers and industry spokespeople
• Proven ability to present complex industry information to target audiences
• Excellent project management skills with strong organizational and planning skills
• Excellent client management skills
• Outstanding interpersonal skills
• Strong negotiation and delegation skills
• Business acumen with the ability to communicate across departments and represent PR within the business
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, start-up environment
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, collaborative, and able to work well with others
• Knowledgeable on multiple reporting and database platforms including Launchmetrics, MeltWater, Creator IQ, Infegy, Muck Rack, and more

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• An astute communicator, seasoned researcher, and proven strategist who is equally comfortable getting in the weeds with clients and teams, rolling up their sleeves to drive execution and ensure the strongest possible outcomes.
• A collaborative team leader and creative thinker who can bring together people, processes, execution, and ideas to drive results.
• An enthusiastic, client-facing professional with a passion for communications and deep expertise in building, stewarding, and growing relationships.
• A self-starter with energy, creativity, and an innate curiosity for fashion, culture, entertainment, and the arts.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Is an astute communicator, seasoned researcher, and proven strategist committed to delivering excellent work 
• Is an enthusiastic, client-facing professional with a passion for communications and deep expertise in building, stewarding, and growing relationships 
• A collaborative team leader and partner, and an out-of-the-box thinker who can bring together people, processes, and ideas to drive results 
• Is a self-starter with energy, creativity, and an innate interest and curiosity for across multiple verticals, inclusive of lifestyle, sports, fashion, culture, and the arts

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Hybrid schedule: The AD will be required to work in the Lede office a minimum of 3 days a week
• LA Business hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm; travel and weekend support will be necessary in support of client work
• Business travel: 10% – 20%

To Apply: Please visit https://app.trinethire.com/companies/35150-lede-company-llc/jobs/122565-fashion-lifestyle-senior-account-manager-associate-director

The Lede Company is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

ABOUT THE LEDE COMPANY 

The Lede Company is a full-service strategy, communications and social impact consulting firm, specializing in corporate, entertainment, brand and nonprofit sectors. With dedicated Talent, Music, Strategic Communications, Brand, Content and Social Impact divisions, we work with our clients to advance business and social outcomes through innovative storytelling, media, campaigns and partnerships. Our service offerings draw on our expertise, relationships, and resources, all of which enable us to exceed client expectations and ultimately, deliver results. 

Julia Golden is a New York–based wardrobe stylist and creative consultant working across editorial, advertising and commercial projects. 

The role includes assisting with fashion pulls and returns, sample trafficking, studio organization, shoot and fitting prep, market research, packing/unpacking jobs, and general styling support. Opportunities to assist on set may also be available.

We’re looking for someone reliable, proactive, detail-oriented, NYC-based, and genuinely interested in fashion and styling. Previous styling, showroom, or editorial experience is a plus, but not required.

To apply, please send a résumé, brief introduction, and availability to juliagoldenstudio@gmail.com.

@juliaisgolden 

WHP Global and G-III Finalize Marc Jacobs Acquisition

WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group have closed their acquisition of the Marc Jacobs brand from LVMH, ending nearly three decades of LVMH ownership. The two companies formed a joint venture, evenly split, to co-own the Marc Jacobs intellectual property, with WHP leading global brand licensing and G-III overseeing wholesale, retail and e-commerce operations. Marc Jacobs will remain founder and creative director, continuing to steer the brand’s collections and creative direction. {G-III Apparel Group}

Topicals Appoints New CEO

Topicals has named Sukiana Chancy as its new CEO, with Founder Olamide Olowe stepping back from the CEO role but remaining involved in day-to-day operations. Chancy joins from Fenty Beauty, where she was general manager of skin, hair and fragrance. She also previously worked at Cay Skin, Devacurl and Estée Lauder. Olowe said the brand had reached a scale requiring outside marketing and profit-and-loss expertise, with a goal of becoming Sephora’s top skin-care brand. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

YouTube Adds Amazon as Affiliate Partner

YouTube has added Amazon.com Inc. as an affiliate partner in YouTube Shopping, letting creators tag Amazon products directly in videos and livestreams and earn a commission on resulting sales. YouTube Shopping’s gross merchandise volume grew 13-fold globally from Q1 2024 to Q1 2026, and more than 1 million of the social platform’s roughly 3 million monetizing creators now participate in its shopping program. {Bloomberg/paywalled}

Robin Givhan on The Met’s Galliano Decision

The New York Times Contributing Opinion Writer Robin Givhan argues The Met canceled the wrong thing: Instead of scrapping its planned John Galliano exhibition over backlash to his antisemitic and racist statements, it should have called off the Met Gala. Givhan contends museums exist to examine difficult histories, not avoid them, and that the exhibit, an examination of Galliano’s influence, not an endorsement of him, deserved to go forward. {The New York Times/paywalled}

Quince Tests Physical Retail With Sold-Out Sample Sale

Quince held its first-ever sample sale Aug. 14-15 in San Francisco, drawing a four-block line and selling out six hours early as it tests physical retail alongside its digital business. “Quince is not just a place they go to for cashmere sweaters anymore,” Quince’s Head of Brand Strategy and Narrative Dakota Kate Isaacs told Modern Retail. “It’s a place that they are increasingly building out their lives with.” The $2 billion lifestyle brand sourced the sale from samples used in photo shoots and model fittings, with home goods, sweaters and coats among the most popular categories across 600 transactions. {Modern Retail}

Simkhai Taps Naomi Watts and Daughter for Campaign

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

Simkhai’s Fall 2026 campaign stars Naomi Watts and her daughter Kai Schreiber, marking the pair’s first joint fashion campaign, together with Sage Elsesser, Malcolm McRae, Awar Odhiang and Betsy Gaghan. Photographed by Mikael Jansson and styled by Camilla Nickerson, the cast reflects the collection’s ongoing exploration of community and identity, and is available to shop now. {Fashionista inbox}

Do you have an emerging brand you want to share with Fashionista readers? Jumpstart your business with our affordable digital offerings.

Price Range: $67 – $84
Hero Products: Golden Hour Recovery Cream ($54), Mountain Glow Serum ($84), Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum ($56)
Stockists: Credo Beauty, Heyday, Goop, Ulta and Nordstrom
PR Representation: Project MM
How to get in touch: partnerships@ursamajor.com

Origin Story

Ursa Major was founded on a simple belief: Skin care should make you feel good — not just about how you look, but about how you live.

After years of working in the beauty industry in New York City, Co-Founders Emily Doyle and Oliver Sweatman grew frustrated with an industry driven by fear-based marketing, unrealistic standards and increasingly complicated routines. Seeking a different path, they moved to Vermont, where the forests, fresh air and slower pace of life inspired a new vision for skin care.

In 2010, they launched Ursa Major to bring that feeling of vitality and well-being to everyday routines. The brand combines powerful, forest-infused ingredients — including birch sap, willow bark and other naturally derived actives — with formulations free from harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances and unnecessary fillers.

From the beginning, Ursa Major has rejected “anti-aging” messaging and the idea that beauty should be a full-time job. Instead, the brand focuses on creating high-impact, low-maintenance essentials that deliver real results while delighting the senses with lightweight textures and naturally refreshing aromas.

Today, Ursa Major is a certified B Corp and a leader in “clean” skin care, known for its uncomplicated approach to healthy, vibrant skin. Made for skin and spirit, every product reflects the brand’s founding mission: effective skin care inspired by nature, designed to help people feel their best at every age.

“The easiest way I can explain that is my upbringing as a South Asian person,” she says, of feeling pressure to study a perceivably serious and respectable subject. Still, the initial vision she had for her career — running her own fashion brand — remained clear. Fashion was part of her upbringing, too, as she came from a culture and family rich in textile knowledge. “Punjab is the hub of textiles and agriculture, and my family were tier-four vendors,” she says. “I’ve always grown up around garments and textiles, and always had a natural curiosity of it.”

Mullen paired her curiosity and business degree and entered the world of corporate fashion, working across streetwear, sportswear and ready-to-wear for brands such as Savage x Fenty, New Balance and Victoria’s Secret. Based in Boston, she led end-to-end strategy of multiple New Balance collections, overseeing production strategy, garment construction and fabric sourcing for six years before taking the leap to start her own
traceability-rooted label.

Her decision to leave mass production for a slow, more intentional approach to fashion inspired her brand’s name: “Arth means ‘significance’ or ‘purpose’ in Sanskrit, and atelier, of course, is ‘creative space,'” Mullen explains. “It’s a reminder to myself to stick to the core of the brand, which is producing ethical, meaningful and timeless pieces.” She’s still based in Boston while operating an atelier in New Delhi, India.

Before launching Arth Atelier in 2024, she spent two years conceptualizing, sourcing and building proper relationships with traceable artisans and partners. “I spoke to anyone I could: sheep herders, farmers, an anthropologist researching an organic farming cluster in India,” she says. “I found an incredible partner in Italy working with about 200 regenerative farms, including Piedra Mora Farm in Uruguay where we sourced [wool for] our cardigans. I tried to find the right partners for the ecosystem I wanted to build.” 

This incubation period allowed her to carve out the brand’s foundational pillars of craft and impact — defining the initial design codes and the reality of traceable production for an independent, emerging designer. 

In short, traceability comes down to documentation called transaction certificates that can prove where the fiber of a garment comes from, and each stage of the process from being produced into a textile, cut and sewn and then embroidered. “All our pieces come with a hang tag that has a QR code showing the entire journey,” Mullen notes. 

She outlines the codes’ importance in two parts: For one, it acknowledges the skilled hands that contributed to the garment from start to finish. “A lot of the couture houses around the world have gotten their pieces embroidered in India, but that’s not often talked about,” Mullen says. “They have labels that say ‘Made in Italy’ or ‘Made in France’ because, by the FTC rules, you get the label wherever your last substantial transformation takes place. To me, that’s a very one-sided and industrial view of production.” Secondly, they hopefully prompt consumers to have a deeper respect for garment making. “I want to educate people on how many layers go into making one incredible blazer.”

Mullen clarifies that she will never claim 100% traceability, as it’s quite difficult to achieve due to supply-chain middlemen. “We operate in such an opaque ecosystem, unfortunately, but for me it means working with suppliers with very transparent operations,” she says. She also opts to use the word “intentional” over broad, catch-all terms like “sustainable.”

To circumvent those gray areas, she makes custom fabrics so that she can be specific about the materials used and how they are sourced. Thus, the pool of eligible fabric suppliers is quite small — it’s a more expensive route, but easier for traceability as it narrows the supply chain. “I only have one wool supplier that I work with,” Mullen says. “We source from mostly European locations, and have been experimenting to source more locally in India, like for example our banana fiber, an alternative to silk.”

A look through the brand’s website will reveal how deliberate she is about the regenerative fibers she does use, and the fabrics she absolutely does not. “We only use 100% certified organic wool that is mulesing free,” she points out.

This discernment around fabric and suppliers often means committing to higher minimum order quantities or more premium pricing than, say, deadstock or regularly-produced fabric. This lengthy and expensive sourcing process necessitates an extra layer of creativity and craftsmanship when planning how the fabrics can be used across collections.

“Versatility is really critical for me,” Mullen says. She tries to find various uses for fabric, as well as create multiple-use pieces. She also says much of her training led her to look at clothing in a “gender-agnostic way”, and utilizes that foundation to bring contrast to her design — “even something as small as using menswear buttoning across all of my pieces.” The result is sharply-tailored outfitting suitable across gender identities, made of dynamic material with embroidered designs rich in detail. Pieces range from $150 to $700+ depending on the detail and handwork.

To achieve these delicate designs, Mullen works with “kaarigars” or highly-skilled Indian artisans. She explains how most traditional embroidery and handwork is a multi-generational (seventh- or eighth-generation, to be exact) and regional practice. “A print piece in our last collection was done in Bagru, a small town right outside of Rajasthan, India, where the whole community is known for that type of print work,” she says. “Depending on the type of embroidery, we’ll commission a small group of kaarigars to come to the [local] atelier in New Delhi. With the Chikankari shirt, we sent the pieces to Lucknow to get embroidered by women kaarigars who all operate out of their homes.”

Having a deep understanding of these practices and developing relationships with their stewards is essential to Mullen and her brand’s ethos. As Indian style becomes more contemporary, this is also her way of keeping kaarigars’ practices alive. She’s also making an effort to challenge the typical design aesthetic associated with sustainable brands. “We’re contemporary in our silhouettes, while using traditional Indian embroidery as an experimental medium,” she says. “We’re trying to target the global-minded consumer who cares about the consequences of consumption.”

The label’s most recent collection, “Anchored in Motion,” was created for those with fluid identity, shaped by experiences collected across continents and cultures; this nods to a broader ethos that is instrumental to the brand itself.

Arth Atelier debuted its second collection with a showcase following Paris Fashion Week earlier this year, and Mullen aims to continuously present her designs in thoughtful, innovative ways. In general, the brand is prioritizing ethical expansion over rapid growth. It operates primarily on a direct-to-consumer model, while selling with select, aligned wholesale partners such as Garmentory and Monty.

Ultimately, as Arth Atelier grows, Mullen just wants to create work she can always feel proud of.

Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.

Here’s how it’s going to work. Sephora will post teaser content on TikTok to get consumers excited and guess which brand is in the spotlight. Then, the campaign will culminate in a TikTok Live hosted by a celebrity, the brand founders and/or creators. During the Live, they’ll reveal the mystery brand and products, answer questions, demonstrate the items and interact with viewers. You can shop the featured products directly through TikTok Shop during the Live.

Sephora is joining QVC as one of the rare major U.S. retailers using TikTok Shop to sell a broad assortment of third-party brands. This trend seems to be gaining speed as brands want to connect with customers on a more authentic level.

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“Sephora’s launch shows how TikTok Shop gives established retailers the ability to tap into our deep creator network, execute new formats for brand and product storytelling and create loyalty among existing fans, communities, as well as new customers,” Bianca Sing, global head of strategic partnerships at TikTok Shop, tells Fashionista via email.

“TikTok Shop complements retailers’ existing channels by giving them new ways to introduce products, hear directly from consumers and drive growth both on and off the platform,” she continues. “We see it as a strong example of how TikTok Shop can reshape the traditional product launch strategy by using teasers, creator-led content and Live Shopping to build anticipation, demonstrate products and answer questions in real-time.”

Related: How Do Small Beauty Brands Compete in the Labor-Intensive World of Live Selling?

It’s likely to be a win for both Sephora and shoppers: Brands get more direct time with customers, while shoppers get an early look at new products and the chance to buy them before they hit other retailers. To wit, products featured in the drops will launch exclusively through Sephora’s TikTok Shop, with select items later rolling out to sephora.com, select Sephora stores and other retail partners, such as DTC sites and Sephora at Kohl’s.

Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.

Sofie Pavitt is one of New York City’s most sought-after facialists, and that’s not just because she’s a certified miracle worker for those with acne. (The last time I visited the esthetician’s studio, I witnessed her receiving a wedding invitation from a bride client whose skin she’d helped clear up — that’s how beloved she is.) Pavitt is also known for serving up honest, unfiltered beauty advice rooted in the knowledge she’s gained from spending years in-studio with clients and developing products for her eponymous skin-care brand, Sofie Pavitt Face.

So of course we had to hit up the expert for our tell-us-everything skin-care series, Face It. A few takeaways from Pavitt’s Q&A? There’s one (extremely!) common beauty trend she considers to be a “grift,” a type of laser facial she thinks is basically pointless — but another that’s a miracle worker, especially for acne-prone skin types. She also shared some surprising — and potentially controversial — thoughts on how often we should all be washing our faces.

In our interview, Pavitt also let Fashionista in on some products she swears by, including the physical exfoliating scrub she recommends (“scrubs have been unfairly vilified,” she attests) and the skin-care item she steals from her kids (yes, you read that correctly).

Watch the video below for all of Pavitt’s hottest beauty takes:

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Victoria’s Secret Unveils New Model Docuseries Trailer

On Tuesday, Victoria’s Secret released the first trailer for “Angels Among Us,” a docuseries following aspiring models competing to become the brand’s next Angel. Directed by Nadia Hallgren, the series tracks contestants through castings and auditions ahead of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles, with the winner earning a contract with IMG Models. It premieres on YouTube on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. ET, with new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Watch the trailer here. {Fashionista inbox}

WNBA Taps Catbird as Its Official Jewelry Partner

Catbird has become the WNBA’s first-ever demi-fine jewelry partner, marking the milestone with a limited-edition collection celebrating the league’s 30th anniversary. The collection features three collectible charms — a Jumpwoman Charm cast from the league’s logo, an Engravable Basketball Charm and a City Letter Charm representing eight WNBA team cities. Crafted in sterling silver and 10k solid gold, prices start at $74. The campaign stars New York Liberty founding players and WNBA legends Teresa Weatherspoon and Sue Wicks, underscoring the Brooklyn-based brand’s ties to the league. {Fashionista inbox}

Shein’s Hong Kong IPO Debut Ends Flat at $26.3 Billion

Shein shares closed flat in its Hong Kong debut on Tuesday, recovering from an early 10% drop. The stock ended at HK$48.50, just under its IPO price of HK$48.56, valuing the company at about $26.3 billion, far below its 2022 peak of nearly $100 billion. The debut reflects investor caution over slowing growth, rising trade costs and regulatory scrutiny, including an FTC investigation and EU platform review. Shein has also lost ground from the end of U.S. and EU duty-free exemptions that once fueled its low-cost shipping model. {Reuters/paywalled}

Ultra Violette Launches First U.S. Sunscreen With New FDA-Approved Filter

Ultra Violette introduced Unblock Screen SPF 50, the first U.S. sunscreen to contain bemotrizinol (BEMT), the broad-spectrum chemical filter the FDA approved in June 2026. Designed for acne-prone skin, the zinc-BEMT formula pairs oil-control and pore-blurring ingredients with a lightweight texture. Priced at $40, it’s available now online and in Sephora stores nationwide starting Oct. 2. A second BEMT-powered sunscreen, Fave Screen, will follow in January 2027. {Fashionista inbox}

Black-Owned Brands Nearly Absent From Target’s New Beauty Studio

Target Beauty Studio, launching Sept. 10 in more than 600 stores, will offer more than 1,600 products from 90 brands, replacing former Ulta shops. However, only two brands, Briogeo and Glamazon Beauty, appear to be Black-owned. Target said the assortment emphasizes global brands and that nearly 40% of founders are “diverse,” without defining the term. The launch comes amid broader criticism of Target’s retreat from DEI commitments, with consultants pointing to the 15 Percent Pledge, adopted by Sephora and Ulta, as a benchmark Target has fallen short of. {Modern Retail}

Victoria Beckham Posts First Operating Profit

Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd. reported its first operating profit in fiscal 2025, reaching £7.3 million ($9.8 million) compared with a £1.6 million ($2.1 million) loss the prior year. EBITDA rose more than fivefold to £12.1 million ($16.3 million), marking the company’s fifth straight year of double-digit growth. The beauty division’s Foundation Drops more than doubled the skin-care business, while fashion saw strong demand for tailoring and occasionwear. CEO Sybille Darricarrère Lunel called the milestone a reflection of “disciplined execution,” as the brand continues retail expansion in the U.S. {WWD/paywalled}

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Price Range: $2,200-$12,000+
Hero Products: Elise, Reeve, Cascade
Stockists: Kleinfeld, Jaxon James Couture, White House Bride, Lovella Bride
PR Representation: CLD PR
How to get in touch: concierge@ritavinieris.com

Origin Story

Designer Rita Vinieris is passionate about design, quality fabrications and couture details. She creates silhouettes that help real women feel their most beautiful. Fluid silhouettes and meticulous attention to detail have long been Vinieris’ understated signature. She infuses her collections with light-handed charm. It’s a feeling born of sublime luxury and low-key ornamentation. Vinieris has been crafting timeless bridal gowns and evening wear for the modern woman for the last 30 years. She pulls inspiration from the world at large, bringing her perspective to new collections each season.

“I’ve always told myself, ‘I will not leave this earth without having a fashion brand,'” she tells Fashionista. Consider that goal achieved: On Tuesday, the musician and fashion influencer launched her clothing line, Fabtopia. “Fashion to me is my favorite form of art,” she shares. “Being able to basically channel that into something that I can share with my audience was always something that I really, really wanted to do.”

Fabtopia takes her #Aliyahcore aesthetic — which Bah describes as alternative, eclectic and bold — and packages it into clothing that’s accessible to everyone. Ranging in size from XS-3X, the inaugural collection includes leg warmers, handbags and four crop-top and mini-skirt sets, all priced between $30 and $60 on shopfabtopia.com.

Bah started the development process two years ago after seeing other brands co-opt her image. It was her dad who encouraged her to take action: “[He] was like, ‘I feel like these brands are making so much money off you; you should just start your own brand. These girls really love the way you dress,'” Bah recalls. “He was the one who told me that and put that battery in my back that had me thinking, ‘Okay, you need to lock the fuck in.'”

The first order of business was landing on a brand name. It wasn’t easy to find a strong one that wasn’t already trademarked. Ultimately, Barbie’s “Fairytopia” — Bah’s favorite childhood movie — and McDonald’s’ discontinued Fruitopia drink — her go-to after-school beverage — emerged as unexpected sources of inspiration. 

“I have so many memories with the word ‘utopia’ in it, and I was like, ‘What do I say a lot to that’s cunt?’ Obviously I can’t use ‘cunt’ because that’d be crazy. But I say ‘fab’ a lot. So I decided on Fabtopia. It’s a utopia of fabulousness.”

Then came time to create the debut collection: an extension of Bah’s Aliyahcore aesthetic that would also, crucially, allow space for people to express their own individuality. “My brand ethos is all about acceptance, loving your body and just being really fabulous,” she emphasizes. “Going against the grain and wearing things that are super bold and eclectic and designing with that in mind — and [to] truly stop caring about perception — was really my biggest thing.”

Her moodboard was largely made up of photos of girl groups, including K-pop stars and the Spice Girls. Despite being too young to experience the latter at their peak (“My knowledge of the Spice Girls came from the movie ‘Chicken Little,'” she laughs.), she loves how each singer had a distinct personality and style, yet still looked collectively cohesive and “fab.”

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Fabtopia’s inaugural collection channels that “girl group” energy via matching sets that both stand out individually and complement each other. “I want this to be something that you can wear with your girls and go out, and people be like, ‘Oh, y’all all look so cute.’ Not just one person in the group, but everybody looks cute,” Bah says.

Size inclusivity was also a non-negotiable brand pillar for Bah. She’s witnessed firsthand how unaccommodating the fashion industry is to thicker bodies. Fabtopia challenges that gap head-on by offering up to size 3X. And contrary to what less-inclusive brands like to claim, it wasn’t difficult or extraordinarily costly to offer extended sizes. 

“Plus-size women deserve to look beautiful as fuck in every single thing that they wear,” she says. “A lot of brands do the cop-out thing where it’s like, ‘Oh, we can’t make this many sizes’ and all that stuff. But I feel like, in 2026, it’s just a lie. It’s really a lie because it wasn’t that hard to get bigger sizes. You just have to be really intentional about measuring and making sure it fits bigger women’s bodies properly.”

And intentional, Bah was: She spent months sending samples back and forth from the factory until the fit was perfect. She also taught herself every aspect of the business, from corporate jargon to profit margins to creating croquis to communicating with manufacturers (all thanks to the best teacher there is: YouTube). “I never want to be the type of person who goes into an industry without any set of skills and just tries to have a quick money grab,” she shares. “I wanted to be really intentional about my getting fashion education right.”

That thoughtful mentality trickled into her marketing tactics as well: Bah deliberately spotlighted Black women and plus-size models in Fabtopia’s first campaign. 

“When it comes to alternative fashion, a lot of Black women are not in the marketing, the design process or even in the photo shoots or social media,” she says. “Fabtopia will 100% be putting Black women first through all of it, although this is a brand for everybody.”

This decision isn’t just a performative money-grab: Behind the scenes, Bah sent 90% of Fabtopia’s PR packages to Black influencers. She also worked with a Black photographer and producer to bring the campaign to life. “Women of color deserve to see themselves in the forefront,” she adds. “We deserve to be alternative and see ourselves in that light.”

Already, Bah has plans for where she wants to take Fabtopia in the future. Runway shows, community events and a standalone store are on her vision board. 

“I really, really, really want to have a bigger impact so that my clothes are not just about buying stuff,” she says. “It’s more about entering a universe and a culture of queer joy, Black joy, alternative Black girl joy and alternative queer girl joy. I really, really, really want it to have an impact on culture.”

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New York Fashion Week is nigh. When our editors aren’t organizing our busy show schedules, we’re restocking our wardrobes and test-running the latest runway trends.

This month, team Fashionista gravitated toward eye-catching accessories, including an adjustable tassel necklace, playful bag charm, rounded silver glasses and a gold paperclip bracelet. Thong wedges, square-toe ballet flats and sporty sneakers topped our end-of-summer footwear wishlists. And as for our editors’ favorite ready-to-wear finds, a sage green blouse, statement balloon pants and an asymmetrical lace camisole emerged as our newest must-have pieces.

Ahead, see (and shop!) all of our editors’ standout fashion discoveries from August.

Cendré Winona Necklace, $62, available here: “Tassel necklaces are still going strong, trend-wise, and this one has become a go-to accessory whenever I need to zhuzh up a simple outfit. I love that the length is so easily customizable, too.” —Steph Saltzman, Beauty & Style Director

Dôen Frederica Top, $168, available here: “I have a problem with buying too many white blouses, so I recently picked up this pretty green top to add some color to my wardrobe. It goes with everything and is perfect for fall in L.A. when it’s still 90 degrees.” —Elizabeth Denton, Deputy Content Editor

Bardot Silvio Halter Camisole, $129, available here: “I’ve been pining for a lace camisole that doesn’t look like the ones I wore in middle school. Enter, this top: With its asymmetrical hemline and satin fabrication, it’s the grown-up version of my Y2K camis. I love wearing it with wide-leg trousers for some stylish contrast, or a slip skirt for a romantic edge.” —Catie Pusateri, Associate Editor

Rothy’s The Ivy Sneaker, $145, available here: “These trainers offer a perfect balance between preppy and sporty, which happens to be my preferred aesthetic right now. While they have a slim shape, they don’t feel too tight around the toes, and the padded insole makes them comfortable for all-day wear. Whether I style them with baggy jeans or a linen dress, they’re definitely going to become a go-to for fall.” —Janelle Sessoms, Associate Editor

GVN Slip Wedges, ₱2,600 ($42), available here: “I’m not much of a footwear person; I stick to the same rotation of three (very run-down) shoes for most occasions. But while staying in Manila for a few days, I discovered GVN, which makes Pinterest-worthy sandals in a variety of colorways. After a return debacle (from not knowing my foot size in the Philippines) and some very kind customer service, I finally landed on the Slip Wedge in Cocoa, Aqua and Chrome. A wear-test running through the sands and docks of Palawan confirmed they’re comfortable and stylish enough to join my rotation.” —Neia Dizon, Editorial and Multimedia Intern

Polo Ralph Lauren Tie-Detailed Woven Balloon Pants, $400, available here: “These weird/cool pants — which feature a triangular wrap-around panel dipping down on one side, and drawstrings at the ankles — have been my favorite way to combine the balloon silhouette and tie-a-scarf-around-your-waist trends. The linen-viscose blend fabric is lightweight and breezy, which makes them a perfect transitional piece for this time of year. And this blue is so fun!” —Steph

Coach Motif Chain Bag Charm, $95, available here: “I use my Coach Kisslock Barrel Bag so often that I needed something fun to spruce it up. This colorful chain looks so cute looped around the handles.” —Elizabeth

Bombas Women’s Ruffle Rib Quarter Sock 4-Pack, $72 $65, available here: “The polka dot trend has hit my sock drawer. Bombas already makes my favorite socks (they have built-in arch support!), but the brand has outdone itself with this playful polka dot pattern paired with a ruffled trim. They’re a cheeky take on my standard quarter-length socks, and the perfect accent to my Mary Jane flats.” —Catie

American Eagle Striped Rugby Polo T-Shirt, $50 $25, available here: “I’m calling it now: We’re in for a rugby shirt fall. I’ve noticed quite a few shirts of this sporty variety in various fall drops, and I’m so game (pun intended). This version from American Eagle is the perfect transitional piece, since the short sleeves and lightweight fabric allow me to wear it while it’s still hot out, but once the temperature cools, I can layer it.” —Janelle

Sunnies Studios Marshall Glasses, $35, available here: The Sunnies Studios flagship store in the Mall of Asia remains one of the best interiors I’ve seen from a brand, and it was even visually persuasive enough to convince me to buy a pair of frames. I was originally on the hunt for sunglasses until I tried on this style and fell in love. Designed to give blue light protection using Anti-Rad lenses, these glasses also double as adaptive shades, darkening when taken outside into the sun. I’ve worn them in the streets of Manila, Seoul and New York, and even though I’m a certified Sweaty Girl, they have not slipped off once.” —Neia

Stand Oil Faye Mary Jane, $79, available here: “I got really obsessed with Stand Oil’s affordable accessories while in Korea. Fortunately for us in the U.S., shipping isn’t too pricey. So, I recently picked up these silver ballet flats that seem simple, but the slightly square toe makes them more unique than my current options.” —Elizabeth

Gorjana Parker Bracelet, $75, available here: “I’m not usually a fan of bracelets, but my favorite gold watch needed a friend. After some further convincing from a Gorjana stylist, I decided to add this minimalistic paperclip bracelet to my lineup of go-to accessories. I love its evated simplicity so much, I rarely take it off now.” —Catie

Rowing Blazers Emily Cotton Terrier Sweater Navy, $298, available here: “Just look at that adorable dog. How can one not obsess over this sweater? I haven’t gotten my hands on it yet, but it’s definitely on my wishlist. And once it’s finally mine, I will absolutely be wearing it at any and every opportunity.” —Janelle

Tuckernuck Black Cotton Mandi Top, $98, available here and Black Cotton Poplin Nicole Circle Skirt, $178, available here: “My solution for looking stylish amid soaring temperatures is to embrace breezy skirts and all things cotton. With this skirt’s eyelet trim and the top’s square neckline, this summery matching set makes me look much more put together than I feel in August’s warmer weather. Plus, its black colorway easily transitions into my fall wardrobe.” —Catie

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Each month, Fashionista editors try a *lot* of beauty products. And while not every formula we test is a winner, we’re constantly unearthing new favorites. Here, we’ve rounded up our latest hair, skin, fragrance, wellness and makeup discoveries — whether fresh-to-market drops or merely recent additions to our personal routines.

As August slipped away into a moment in time (IYKYK), team Fashionista spent the final days of summer refining our beauty routines in preparation for fall’s cooler temperatures (and the non-stop rollercoaster that is New York Fashion Week).

August was packed with buzzy makeup launches, including lash-lengthening mascara, transparent tubing brow gel, crease-proof eye shadow, long-lasting color corrector and non-sticky lip gloss. Our editors also upgraded their respective body-care routines with a vanilla-scented moisturizing cream, serum body wash and deodorizing body mist. Meanwhile, a color conditioning hair gloss, milky leave-in conditioner and clarifying shampoo emerged as our editors’ newest hair-care favorites.

Ahead, see (and shop!) our team’s favorite beauty finds from August.

Dieux Firm Revival HydroRetinal Firming Serum, $42, available here: “Dieux’s take on a retinoid is both potent and gentle — making it perfect for everyday use, even on the delicate, increasingly crepey skin on my neck that’s easily irritated by most retinol formulas (despite desperately needing them!). It layers beautifully, emphasizes firming and strengthening skin without compromising the barrier or moisture retention and costs less than $50. They absolutely nailed it.” —Steph Saltzman, Beauty & Style Director

Joonbyrd Big Time Longevity Body Wash, $45, available here: “I didn’t even know I liked banana-scented products until this body wash came into my life. It has an elevated (and delicious) banana-woods scent with notes of peach, cacao and tonka that I’m officially addicted to. Its cream-to-foam formula is also packed with hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients (hyaluronic acid, panthenol, prebiotic inulin and centella asiatica exosomes) that make my dry, itchy skin feel soft and balanced.” —Elizabeth Denton, Deputy Content Editor

Akt London The Haze Deodorizing Body Mist, $45, available here: “I’ve spritzed on a lot of body mists, but Akt’s newest launch stands apart thanks to its ‘deodorizing complex.’ No, it’s not technically a deodorant, but the ultrafine mist is formulated with deolya (a natural, patented ingredient that lowers perspiration odors by 58%) prebiotics to support skin’s microbiome. I’m partial to its Columbia Road scent (named for London’s Columbia Road Flower Market), which delivers a refreshing burst of lemon, iris, violet leaf and cut stems.” —Catie Pusateri, Associate Editor

Glaze Supergloss Raven Black, $18, available here: “My entire life, I’ve stayed away from hair-color treatments out of fear of damaging my hair. Maybe it’s my fully-developed frontal lobe or just my now constant exposure to the beauty world, but over time, I’ve softened up on that anxiety. I finally decided to take a leap of faith and try a tinted gloss for my first-ever hair tint. Honestly, I feel ridiculous for being so worried: The treatment enhanced my already dark hair and provided a glossy finish without drying out my curls.” —Janelle Sessoms, Associate Editor

Cotton x Utu The Essential Layer, $40 $30, available here: “Cotton Incorporated teamed up with outdoor skin-care brand Utu to emphasize the role fabric plays in skin protection, in addition to product ingredients. The kit (which is now on sale) includes a pair of ultra-soft and breathable 100% cotton briefs alongside Utu’s bestselling plastic-free mineral sunscreen stick, which might have the best packaging I’ve ever seen for portability and on-the-go application.” —Dhani Mau, Editor in Chief

Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray, $28, available here: “During multiple flights this month (the longest being an 18-hour haul) that separated from my double-cleansing nighttime routine in my checked luggage, I turned to the travel-size version of this hypocholorous acid spray to keep my face clean and calm in-transit. The convenient nozzle prevented me from having to touch my face mid-flight, while the formula itself refreshed my skin with its minimal ingredient list: water, sodium chloride and the aforementioned natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial hero ingredient.” —Neia Dizon, Editorial and Multimedia Intern

Summer Fridays Body Butter Balm, $32, available here: “To say I am utterly obsessed with this body cream isn’t hyperbole: I’ve been slathering on the intensely moisturizing formula basically nonstop. As a big vanilla fragrance girl, I’m picky about my gourmands, and this delicate, nuanced, non-cloying take just might be my favorite I’ve ever experienced. (I also keep getting compliments on my perfume lately — it’s this!) ‘Balm’ is a truly apt descriptor for the texture, which is cushiony and thick, but not heavy. It cocoons skin and leaves a lovely glow-y finish similar to that of a body oil — without even a hint of greasiness. I’m also a big fan of the corresponding Body Fragrance Mist, which I’ve been spritzing all over my closet/linens/apartment/life.” —Steph

Sol de Janeiro Milky Leave-In Conditioner, $30, available here: “I’m really picky about what I use in my frizzy hair, so I was unsure if Sol de Janeiro’s new products would pull their weight or just smell good. Well, I’m happy to report that it both conditions and smells great. This leave-in makes my dry strands feel silky and, yes, has the warm-gourmand Cheirosa 62 scent.” —Elizabeth

Dr.Jart+ BB Premium Beauty Balm, $49, available here: “It may have been the summer of foundation launches, but this (reformulated!) tinted moisturizer had me in a chokehold. With lightweight, buildable coverage, it delivers a skin-like finish without looking too dewy. The ‘non-acnegenic’ formula features glycerin and niacinamide for long-lasting hydration, as well as SPF 30 for an added boost of sun protection on top of my non-negotiable base layer of sunscreen.” —Catie

R.E.M. Beauty Treble Maker 3-in-1 Mascara, $24, available here: “True to its promise, this long-lasting mascara lifts, lengthens and volumizes my lashes with just a couple of swipes. It’s not goopy and doesn’t flake or clump. My only critique? I wish it was waterproof. Otherwise, it’s safe to say that she’s a keeper.” —Janelle

Saltair Coral Coast Skin Moisturizing Serum Body Wash, $14, available here: “Mastering the art of scent layering has been on my radar all August, and I’ve learned that the first step always starts in the shower. Saltair’s Coral Coast Body Wash leaves my skin smelling fresh all day — regardless of how much I sweated in Seoul’s 90-degree weather, it turns out — and at $14, it has quickly become a staple in my shower routine.” —Neia

Celluma Pro Plus LED Light Therapy Panel, $1,995, available here: “Seemingly every single esthetician I’ve ever gone to has this LED panel, and whenever I spend some time under it, I’m reminded why. It immediately dials down redness and inflammation after a single session, and helps ward off breakouts, fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots with continued use. I finally got my hands (face?) on it for at-home use, and it’s a favorite part of my routine. It’s pricey, but so are injections, lasers and facelifts.” —Steph

Caliray Come Hell Or High Brow, $20, available here: “My biggest complaints about brow gels are that they often don’t hold my unruly brows all day, or they flake white against my dark hair. Caliray’s new eyebrow product is a unique transparent tubing formula that stayed put through 95-degree weather without fading or flaking. I’m impressed.” —Elizabeth

One/Size Ultimate Color Corrector Stain, $28, available here: “I may live in the city that never sleeps, but I don’t want to look like I never sleep. This baby pink color corrector has come to my tired eyes’ rescue, as it softens the appearance of discoloration without looking cakey. (It also helps that I’m so fair that the baby pink shade blends right in.) Plus, the niacinamide-spiked formula is undetectable under concealer, and it claims a 12-hour waterproof wear.” —Catie

Hung Vanngo Beauty Red Carpet Skin Luminous Longwear Serum Foundation, $46, available here: “Makeup artist Hung Vanngo is known for his pore-perfect makeup skills — his clients always have the most flawless looking complexions — and this super-lightweight foundation is the next best thing to having him personally do your glam. I was honestly confused the first time I used it because it feels nearly nonexistent on skin, yet offers such full coverage. It covers my redness, undereye shadows and breakouts so completely, I don’t really need concealer when I use it, and has a blurred finish that makes skin look airbrushed IRL.” —Steph

Saie SuperSuede Baked Eye Shadow, $24, available here: “Saie’s foray into eye shadow is the launch I’ve been waiting for. The brand translated its signature ‘super suede’ technology from its face powder into eye shadow singles formulated with jojoba esters, hyaluronic acid and squalane, meaning the crease-proof shadows apply like butter and last all day. I particularly love the shade Sorbetto, a champagne gold shimmer that makes for the perfect single-shadow look.” —Catie

M.ph Top Coat Hydrating Lip Gloss, $26, available here: “Did I need another lip gloss? Absolutely not. Am I glad to have added this moisturizing, lightweight, non-sticky formula (in the perfect my-lips-but-better pink-y brown) to my makeup bag anyway? Very much yes. And this packaging is so good.” —Steph

Prequel Multi-Quench Gel Cream, $18, available here: “Dr. Samantha Ellis’ skin-care brand never fails to turn out an impeccable formula. Prequel’s Multi-Quench Gel Cream has become a hydrating heavy-hitter in my skin-care routine, thanks to its humectant-rich formula. It taps a polyglutamic acid blend to enhance moisture retention, glycerin to improve skin elasticity and multiple minerals (zinc, copper and magnesium) to support a healthy-looking complexion. Its gel-like texture also feels weightless on the skin, meaning there’s no lingering stickiness.” —Catie

Neutrogena Hair Restore Triple Action Scalp Detox Cleanser, $10, available here: “Mandelic acid seems to be in everything right now, and while the gentle exfoliator is renowned for its acne-fighting abilities, it turns out it’s also helpful for de-gunking and normalizing the skin on your scalp. I love this ‘detox cleanser,’ which is basically an intensive treatment shampoo that clarifies with mandelic and lactic acids to balance the scalp and promote hair growth. It dispenses via a silicone massage tip that feels amazing and also makes it easy to really distribute right at your roots.” —Steph

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“I think people think that, once you get to a certain point or achieve a milestone, that the next big thing is just doing nothing or chilling,” Twine tells Fashionista. “But I actually find that super boring. And for me, truly what brings me the most joy is being able to build and create… especially at this point in my life. I’m 41 years old; I’m three weeks away from giving birth. Life for me is all about chasing what brings you joy, and this really does.”

Twine founded Briogeo in 2013 after leaving a career in finance. The brand was built around a then-emerging idea: “clean” and plant-powered hair care that was performance-oriented and inclusive of different hair textures. In 2014, she became the youngest Black woman to launch a brand at Sephora at the time. By 2021, industry sources estimated Briogeo generated more than $100 million in revenue.

“I learned so much during my journey with Briogeo,” she says. “I made so many mistakes, both personally and professionally, and it’s actually really thrilling to get a chance to do something a second time around, taking all those learnings.”

One of the biggest learnings is the art of self-care and focusing on yourself, whether in the shower with a hair mask or avoiding burnout while running a company. “When I think about the Soulstice brand and the emotional aspect of Soulstice, that was actually inspired by a lot of the lessons that I learned on the personal side of running a business,” Twine says. During her Briogeo days, she thought the more of herself she put in the business, the larger the success. It ended up being the opposite.

“I felt like I was running on a treadmill, like I wasn’t getting from A to B,” she admits. “I had to step back and start thinking about what it meant to prioritize myself because the more that I could show up with energy and mental clarity and all of those things… that was what was actually going to get me ahead.”

To that end, she’s been making time for acupuncture, meditation, massage or just going for a walk outside. “[When] I started prioritizing myself, that was when everything started to shift,” she adds. “I became a better boss, I became a better leader, I became more creative.”

She poured those learnings into Soulstice, which she calls “hair care for your highest self.” The name comes from the summer solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point. The idea is to turn an otherwise routine hair-care regimen into a more restorative ritual when you’re alone without your laptop or phone to distract you. As Soulstice rolls out on social media, you’ll see this messaging throughout each platform.

That social community is especially important in the new era of launching a beauty brand. “I think people, especially our consumers, really want to feel connected to the brands that they’re using,” she says. “While we’re super focused on formulation, we’re also focused on creating the Solstice brand world and that sort of emotional connection.”

Of course, it’s also about the product. In the past 15 years, Twine learned about supply chains and formulation and how to navigate both effectively and in a more cost-effective way for the consumer. Most of the line rings in at $20 or less, including its Moisture Muse Shampoo and Conditioner ($20 each), Wavelength leave-in ($18) and Base Layer smoothing heat protectant ($18). The Buttersilk Restorative Mask is $26.

She was able to achieve more “masstige” prices, in part, by skipping secondary boxes and unnecessary ingredients. “I think a lot of brands try to differentiate themselves by using these different ingredients that are nice from a storytelling perspective, but aren’t really adding that much performance value to the formula,” she says.

Related: How Briogeo Founder Nancy Twine Went From Goldman Sachs VP to Hair-Care Success Story

Not that there isn’t an ingredient story. Twine worked with a chemist for the first time to develop Soulstice’s proprietary, patent-pending ingredient, VitaMega Complex, which she calls a “superpowered multivitamin for your hair and scalp.” It features a blend of Kakadu plum, inositol and sacha inchi, and is featured in every product in the collection.

Although Soulstice plans to stay DTC for at least a year, Twine sees a big opportunity in the broader masstige hair-care market (which is priced between mass-market items and luxury goods). “When you walk the masstige hair aisles, it’s pretty sleepy,” she says. “Everyone wants to be in prestige, prestige, prestige, which is great, but there’s so much there. And I feel like the masstige aisles have been a bit overlooked.”

Twine wants Soulstice customers to realize they can have products that perform as well as “or even better than” prestige options, but at lower prices. “One of the things that was sometimes hard for me, being in the prestige hair space, would be: People loved the hair mask so much, but it’s not realistic…to spend $46 or in some cases $50, $60 on a hair mask every month,” she says.

For Twine, that balance between performance, accessibility and self-care is ultimately what defines this second act. She has already proven that she can build a successful hair-care company. With Soulstice, we’ll see if she can do it again with a slightly different playbook.

“When you understand the story behind a fragrance, you smell it differently,” Founder Dana Steinfeld tells Fashionista via email. “Knowing the creator changes the experience from something you wear to something you feel and relate to on a personal level.”

Steinfeld, a beauty industry veteran who has spent more than 20 years developing fragrance brands, turned her childhood fascination with perfume into a career. Today, Steinfeld serves as the chief innovation and Blue Sky officer at Maesa, a beauty incubator known for brands like Fine’ry, Being Frenshe and Hairitage. While spending more time with perfumers over the course of her career, Steinfeld became increasingly interested in fragrance creation and the personal experiences that inspired different scents.

“Because I’ve spent so many years inside the industry, I also had a front-row seat to how fragrance is typically developed,” she says. “Anecdotes by Artists gave me the opportunity to rethink some of those conventions and ask: ‘What would happen if we started with the perfumer and their story, giving them no creative constraints?'”

In pursuit of adding a meaningful layer to the fragrance experience, Steinfeld let Choux — a FiFi award-winning perfumer behind scents from Nest, Jo Malone, Henry Rose and Snif — run wild. For her aptly-named first scent Wild Cousin, Choux reminisced on a childhood memory where she was forced to eat a dessert she hated: French baba au rhum cake. Instead of merely bottling the dessert’s syrupy scent, she reimagined the cake on her own terms. (“I hated being told to be a good girl,” Choux says.)

Wild Cousin is a warm and spicy gourmand, oozing decadent notes of rum-soaked cake, crème Chantilly, davana flower and oakwood​. But who (or what) is the so-called “Wild Cousin”? For Choux, she refers to rum notes as the “‘wild cousin’ of vanilla,” which became “the rebellious, unexpected heart of the fragrance.”

There’s no shortage of vanilla-forward gourmands on the fragrance market, but Choux crafted The Villainelle for the misunderstood sweet tooths. It opens with a frosty burst of iced juniper before melting into vanilla resin, vanilla crystals and incense smoke​.

“The Villainelle is a self-portrait, inspired by the idea of being perceived as cold when I’m quite warm as a person,” Choux says. “I started with the contradiction of vanilla. Everyone expects vanilla to be warm, sweet and comforting, so I asked myself, ‘What if vanilla could be cold?'”

For Anecdotes by Artists’ third scent, Choux turned a moment of artistic stagnation into a floral explosion: Painted Petals references Choux’s decision to “kill the boring” in a floral painting she was working on by splashing the canvas with paint, thus imbuing it with “new life.” The resulting juice is a floral fruity bouquet with notes of strawberry leaf, pink rhubarb, tuberose milk and jasmine absolute​. Each fragrance is available in a 100mL and 10mL bottle, priced at $140 and $30, respectively.

“My hope is that when consumers experience the Anecdotes by Artists collection, each scent feels like standing before a painting — something that stirs emotion, invites reflection and inspires appreciation for the craft behind it,” Choux says. “I want every fragrance to be a moment of connection, a sensory story that touches people the way art does.”

As the fragrance category continues to surge, Sephora is increasingly positioning itself as a destination for scent discovery. Steinfeld says the retailer felt like “a natural fit from the beginning” for Anecdotes by Artists, as consumers are growing more interested in who is behind the products they love. For Steinfeld, Anecdotes by Artists is “inviting [consumers] into the creative process.”

“Consumers are building fragrance wardrobes, exploring new brands, learning about ingredients, following perfumers and creators and becoming more engaged with the category than ever before and that is especially true of Sephora’s clients,” she explains.

Following Anecdotes by Artists’ inaugural collaboration with Choux, the fragrance brand will spotlight a new “perfumer artist” for each future collection. Instead of the brand supplying specific prompts or scent family directives, perfumers will be given full creative freedom to interpret their personal memories into sensorial experiences.

“At its heart, Anecdotes by Artists isn’t about fragrance alone,” Steinfeld says. “It’s about creative storytelling, human connection and developing a deeper appreciation for the people who create things we love. And for me, there’s no better place to start that conversation than fragrance.”

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Co-founders Kennedy Crichlow (“Ken”) and Mary Ralph Lawson Bradley (“Ralph”) built a community around their weekly limited-edition drop model — with early access via app — and IRL pop-ups. Now, you can officially shop the brand on Shopbop, including an exclusive Malibu-inspired collection of crewneck sweatshirts, tanks, pants, shorts, bra tops and more.

“We are almost six years into business, which is crazy to say out loud, and we’ve been primarily D2C, so we were super excited about the opportunity to work with Shopbop on this collection,” Crichlow tells Fasionista. “It’s a very fun, very limited-edition capsule, and we just felt like they were the perfect people to bring our vision to life.”

The collection is already almost sold out. (Some sizes of Super Shorts, Go! Shortie Shorts, Go! Drills Leggings and Go! Stretch Bra are still available.) But the brand will still be available on Shopbop beyond this inaugural capsule launch.

Below, watch our interview with the co-founders, where they talk about their retail strategy and spill a secret about their upcoming tour.

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Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.

Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.

We may be clinging to the final days of summer, but fall semester syllabuses have already been handed out. Before fretting about the seemingly endless assignments in your gen-ed requirements, locking down your campus-ready handbag is top priority. After all, selecting a signature bag is no easy decision. It’s a constant companion throughout late-night library visits and early-morning classes, meaning stylish versatility is key.

For those who are over the traditional bulky backpacks of their youth, Coach’s Brooklyn bag is an elevated alternative. The hobo style rises to the challenge of toting around all of your collegiate essentials without sacrificing your look. As a functionally fashionable staple for the perpetually on-the-go student, the Brooklyn bag is available in three sizes: 28, a shoulder bag that can house tablets; 34, a mid-sized tote for smaller laptops; and 39, an oversized silhouette large enough to fit a 15-inch laptop. These sizes all offer leather and suede variations, but if the Fall 2026 runways are any indication, suede is particularly on-trend for the cooler season.

Who said every back-to-school bag has to be a spacious tote? There’s plenty of room in any handbag wardrobe for medium-to-mini-sized pouches, such as Coach’s iconic Tabby silhouette. Its elegant pillow-quilted version is ideal for dressy events, while its pebble leather style works as a reliable favorite for walks around the quad. Coach’s Teri, however, is deceptively spacious, as the zip-top shoulder bag can fit all of the essentials — your phone, wallet, keys, AirPods and eight different lip balms. The Nolita — a mini shoulder bag — is small but mighty: It doubles as a wristlet with built-in credit card slots and enough room for a phone. (No wallet needed.)

Shop our favorite back-to-school handbags:

Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28, $295, available here

Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28, $295, available here

Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 34, $395, available here

Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 39, $495, available here

Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 39, $495, available here

Coach Nolita 19, $119, available here

Coach Nolita In Signature Canvas, $119, available here

Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag 20 With Pillow Quilting, $395, available here

Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag 26, $475, available here

Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag 26, $475, available here

Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag 26, $475, available here

Coach Teri Shoulder Bag, $219, available here

Coach Teri Shoulder Bag With Quilting, $219, available here

Coach Teri Shoulder Bag With Quilting, $219, available here

“Working at Off-White has been an honor and a profound creative education,” Kamara said in a press statement. “The teams I have worked alongside, the collections we produced, the shows we dreamt and the conversations we sparked — I will carry all of it with me, and I am deeply grateful for every person who gave their energy and talent to this vision.”

The Sierra Leone creative was a longtime collaborator with Off-White who was regularly tapped to style its runway shows and worked closely with former creative director Virgil Abloh. After Abloh’s death in 2021, Kamara was appointed art and image director and later promoted to creative director in 2024 (the same year LVMH sold the label to Bluestar Alliance).

While at Off-White’s helm, Kamara’s work often continued Abloh’s legacy of exploring Black identity in the luxury space.

“Off-White is bigger than any one idea, exactly as Virgil intended — a house with genuine values, rooted in culture, community and the belief that fashion can speak to everyone,” Kamara said. “I leave with enormous pride in all we have made, and with nothing but excitement for what this house will continue to become.”

“We are deeply grateful for Ib’s vision, creativity and the remarkable energy he brought to Off-White throughout his tenure. Ib’s contributions have been instrumental in shaping and evolving the brand, and we sincerely thank him for his dedication and lasting impact,” added Bluestar Alliance CEO Joey Gabbay.

Per the press release, Off-White remains open to future collaborations with Kamara. His exit continues the ongoing trend of major designer switch-ups at luxury fashion houses. Recent moves include Olivier Rousteing joining Rabanne, Moschino tapping Sunnei co-founders Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo; Carven hiring Kai Nesselrath and Diane Von Furstenberg making Henry Zankov its first artistic director.

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The free game invites Roblox players to manage their own hair salon and serve clients, including completing consultations, shampooing and styling hair (with branded The Doux products, of course), practicing hair-care techniques and hiring staff. As players grow their salons, they can unlock upgrades, expand inventory and even scale to open multiple locations. Users can also visit salons created by other players.

“It’s a really cool way to bring our customers into The Doux world,” Smith tells Fashionista. “When we started developing it, we thought about how to tell people the story of how The Doux started, which is in the salon. The salon is really the beginning of the existence of my entire career as a hairstylist who launched a brand from this tiny salon.”

She wanted to give players as close to a real-life experience of running a salon as possible, to the point of programming customers to complain if players operate too slowly. “It really is a real-life, fun Roblox simulation of what salon life is,” Smith laughs. But what truly makes My Salon Empire different from other similar games? Its diversity.

Smith says it was crucial that the experience spotlight a broad range of hairstyles and textures, especially for coily and kinky hair types. Hair diversity in video games is infamously lackluster, with Black hairstyle options often limited. My Salon Empire addresses this gap by featuring dozens of textured hairstyles, including fades, afros, braids, twist-outs, blowouts and protective styles. 

“It was very important to me to make sure that the people who were playing it would see themselves represented in the game and that people who didn’t know much about textured hair would have an opportunity to be exposed to what that is like,” she says. Other hair textures — curly, wavy and straight — and styles are included, too. All the avatars are multicultural, so anybody can see themself in the game, Smith emphasizes. 

But spotlighting diverse hairstyles was only one part of the equation. Smith also wants My Salon Empire to be an educational experience: As users go through the hair maintenance process, they learn which products are appropriate for each style and why. For example, if a user is styling a twist out, they will be shown the right products to use for that style. (And yes, players can purchase The Doux products directly from Roblox to be used in real life.)

“Our goal at The Doux is always to create something that adds value to our customers and that exposes people to the culture of hair care,” Smith explains. “It’s really daunting to me that, still in 2026, how many people are just learning about different textures of hair and what the salon experience is like for people with textured hair.”

It’s taken nearly a year to bring My Salon Empire to life: The concept began as a mere joke between Smith and her family. “I’m a mom of five and have a family full of gamers,” she says. “This was one of those things where we were like, ‘Ha ha, what if we did a Roblox game?'” It wasn’t until Roblox and Exclusible — the studio behind branded Roblox experiences — reached out that Smith realized this “joke” could become a reality. 

From the beginning of the partnership, Smith and her team were hands-on with the development process. “Every single hairstyle, the salon journey, every color, every tile, every piece of the game — it wasn’t a plug-and-play; it was something that was designed by me and my team,” she shares.

The most challenging aspect was translating the diverse hairstyles and various textures into a digital format, she confesses. The tech developers were a global team, so there were cultural nuances in hairstyling that Smith didn’t account for: “I started to learn in those conversations that the way that we see hair, like what you call an ‘Afro’ overseas and what we consider an ‘Afro’ here, may be different [ideas],” she says. “Communicating our creative vision to people who haven’t worked in a salon was a challenge.”

The pain points were worth the patience, though: My Salon Empire turned out exactly how Smith envisioned it. And she’s already thinking of its future capabilities. 

“I’m really, really hopeful about the future of this game because there are so many places that it can go, not only Roblox, but on other platforms,” she says. “I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and really grateful for the team of people at The Doux that helped me get this off the ground.”

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The Met and Galliano released a joint press release announcing the news: “After much reflection and discussion with The Met and all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” Galliano said in a statement. “I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry for it. I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time.”

The original exhibit planned to showcase Galliano’s 1984 Central Saint Martins graduation collection as well as pieces from his namesake label and tenures at Givenchy, Christian Dior and Maison Margiela. It would also address his “antisemitic, racist and anti-Asian conduct in 2010 and 2011,” per a press release. Galliano was found guilty of making antisemitic and anti-Asian insults at a Paris restaurant in 2010 and 2011, including declaring his love for Adolf Hitler. He was fired from his position as Dior’s creative director after his arrest.

“I do not want the debate surrounding me to place The Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute,” Galliano continued. “I also recognize and respect that an exhibition honoring my work would be painful for some.”

Per The New York Times, The Met’s trustees and board members were considering rescheduling the date of the next Met Gala from its usual slot (the first Monday in May) to the week after because Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day, will fall on the scheduled date. Since The Met announced Galliano’s dedicated exhibit, donors have contacted museum executives and threatened to rescind donations if the exhibit moves forward as planned.

“I believe deeply in the responsibility of museums to examine difficult histories with rigor, candor and care,” Andrew Bolton, curator in charge of The Met’s Costume Institute, said in a statement. “I also recognize the pain and concern this exhibition has caused. After extensive discussion, I support the decision not to proceed.”

A new spring Costume Institute exhibit and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date. This is not the first time a Costume Institute exhibit has been canceled: In 2000, the museum scrapped plans for a retrospective exhibit of Coco Chanel‘s work, and in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic brought the exhibit titled “About Time: Fashion and Duration” to a halt.

“John’s decision that the exhibition devoted to his work should not take place at this time is very courageous and a measure of the man he is,” Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer of Condé Nast, said in a statement. “I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support.”

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Related: This Emerging K-Beauty Brand’s Body Toner Is Magic for My Eczema-Prone Skin

Homepage photo: Courtesy of The RealReal

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CFDA Reveals 2026 Scholarship Fund Winners

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) marked the 30th anniversary of its Scholarship Fund this year, drawing nearly 700 applications and awarding scholarships across seven programs (five of which are new this year). The 24 scholarship winners, selected by industry committees from 50 finalists, received between $10,000 and $50,000, along with mentorships and internships at partner brands including Carolina Herrera, Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. {CFDA}

Gap Inc. Sees Sales Decline Amid Old Navy Leadership Change

Gap Inc. reported a 2% sales decline in the second quarter to $3.65 billion, ending a 10-quarter growth streak, driven largely by seasonal misses at Old Navy, where sales fell by 4%. Old Navy will also welcome new leadership, with former Target and JCPenney executive Michael Francis set to become president and CEO on Nov. 2. Francis succeeds Haio Barbeito. {Gap Inc.}

Ulta Beauty Raises Full-Year Outlook as Sales Climb

Ulta Beauty raised its full-year sales guidance after reporting an 8.9% increase in second-quarter net sales to $3 billion, driven by new store openings, its Space NK acquisition and K-beauty categories. CEO Kecia Steelman said consumers remain price-conscious but engaged, crediting the results to the company’s “Ulta Beauty Unleashed” turnaround strategy launched in 2025. The company now expects fiscal-year sales growth of 6.7% to 7.2%, up from its prior forecast of 6% to 7%. {Ulta Beauty}

Luxury Eyes the Romantasy Boom

Romantasy, a romance-fantasy literary genre, has become a billion-dollar industry over the past decade, fueled by BookTok and highly anticipated releases from authors like Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros and Rachel Gillig. Despite the genre’s cultural reach, fashion brands have largely stayed on the sidelines. Tory Burch invited Maas to its Fall 2024 show, marking a rare example of overt engagement. However, romantasy-adjacent aesthetics — corsets, historical silhouettes and jewel-toned fabrics — are appearing on recent runways from designers like Dilara Findikoglu. {Vogue Business/paywalled}

Maed Expands Sephora Footprint

Lip-care brand Maed is expanding its Sephora presence by 36%, growing from 80 to 109 stores this month, as founder Denise Vasi continues to build the label without outside investment. The self-funded brand, which launched at Sephora in 2025, has outpaced its internal sales projections and now joins a small fraction of Sephora brands operating free of investor capital. Vasi attributes the momentum to disciplined spending and a measured entry strategy that prioritized proving demand online before scaling into retail. {Beauty Independent/paywalled}

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Price Range: $28-$42
Hero Products: The Everything Wash ($28), The Everywhere Lotion ($34), The All-Over Oil ($42)
Stockists: Shop Good, Stalle Studios, The Spa at Hotel Chelsea
PR Representation: Chloette PR
How to get in touch: hello@beiin.co

Origin Story

Beiin (pronounced “be in”) is a body-care brand built on the belief that the everyday is everything, with essentials that look beautiful on your counter, feel and smell incredible, are made with quality ingredients — and are priced for the everyday. Founded by Leah Kirpalani, Beiin was born from a decade-long personal healing journey and nearly 10 years of direct consumer insight through Shop Good, one of the early pioneers in clean beauty and wellness retail.

In a category where consumers are often forced to choose between aesthetic design, ingredient integrity, sustainability, performance or affordability, Beiin has eliminated the compromises long accepted in body care, intentionally delivering products that feel elevated enough to leave on your countertop, but approachable enough to use generously everyday.

The line combines barrier-supportive, high-performance formulas with design-forward packaging, and subtle essential oil–based scents designed for sensitive skin and everyday use. The products avoid sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, PEGs, petroleum-derived ingredients and synthetic fragrance, while still creating the rich foam and elevated sensory experience consumers associate with luxury body care.

For our Weekly Drop Watch column, Fashionista scours the market to curate the most noteworthy releases from our favorite fashion and beauty brands. Keep scrolling for this week’s highlights.

Beauty Launches

Laifen’s New Curling Iron and Shaver [FROM OUR SPONSOR PARTNER]

Back-to-school season is all about fresh starts, busy mornings and routines that make campus life a little easier. Laifen’s latest personal care innovations are designed to help you look and feel your best, such as the AutoCurl Curling Iron and the P3 Electric Shaver. With thoughtful design and high-performance technology, Laifen’s beauty and grooming essentials simplify getting ready, whether you’re heading to an 8 a.m. class, moving into a new space or stepping onto campus for the first day. Shop at laifentech.com. [Sponsored]

Vintner’s Daughter’s New Fragrance

Skin-care and fragrance indie Vintner’s Daughter dropped its latest perfume oil, Understory Vol. 4 ($255), this week. The limited-edition scent, designed by Vintner’s Daughter Founder and CEO April Gargiulo and master perfumer Loreto Remsing, pays “homage to the abundant botanical world found in the understory of Northern California’s Redwood forests.” It features notes of violet, midnight jasmine, coastal conifers, moss and petals. Shop it at vintnersdaughter.com.

Salt & Stone Drops New Scent and Product Category

Salt & Stone introduced a new scent — Ambrette & Pear — as well as a new product category, eau de parfum. The Ambrette & Pear collection includes the brand’s popular deodorant (in addition to said perfume). It features notes of pear, apple, orange blossom, ambrette, white musk, jasmine, iso E super, moss and ambroxide. Shop it now at sephora.com and saltandstone.com.

The Inkey List Expands ‘Bio-Active Ceramides’ Collection

Accessibly priced skin-care brand The Inkey List expanded its “Bio-Active Ceramides” collection to include the Neck Stick ($17) and Eye Cream ($16). The former is “a gua sha-inspired solid treatment designed specifically for thinner, delicate neck skin to visibly smooth, firm and sculpt while strengthening the skin barrier,” while the latter is “an eye treatment that cares for the entire eye area through a barrier-first approach to aging,” per the brand. Shop them at ulta.com.

Forvr Mood’s Next Scent

Jackie Aina’s Forvr Mood introduced its new scent this week. Meet Not Your Type, an “intentionally unexpected warm, spicy floral inspired by the idea that fragrance — like dating — gets more interesting when you stop choosing what’s familiar,” according to press materials. The fragrance features notes of whipped vanilla, iris, white suede, tonka bean, labdanum, patchouli, amber and oud. Get it for $28 for 10mL and $79 for 50mL at sephora.com.

Katie Jane Hughes’ KJH Brand Introduces ‘Microscara’

Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes expanded her KJH Brand offerings this week with the introduction of “Microscara,” a mascara with a “micro wand” designed to reach every lash. Described by the brand as a “smudge-proof, buildable tubing formula,” it features castor oil and shea butter to moisturize lashes. Shop it for $26 at kjhbrand.com and sephora.com.

Fara Homidi Beauty Drops Mascara

Another makeup artist brand got into mascara this week: Fara Homidi’s eponymous label introduced Pool Slick Lash Lacquer, a formula “inspired by the glossy, lifted appearance of lashes just after a swim,” per the brand. Available in black and brown shades, the “next-gen formula” is designed to be intensely pigmented, long-wearing and smudge-proof. Shop it for $48 at sephora.com and farahomidi.com.

Alpyn’s New Barrier Support Serum

Skin-care brand Alpyn Beauty launched a 3-in-1 Barrier Repair Serum ($58), a “multifunctional serum designed to strengthen the barrier and clinically proven to fade dark spots, calm visible redness and smooth fine lines,” per the brand. It’s also accepted by the National Eczema Association. Shop it at sephora.com and alpynbeauty.com.

Biologique Recherche Launches New Serum

Biologique Recherche expanded on its long-popular Masque Vivant this week with the launch of Serum Vivant ($195), a “corrective serum for persisten blemishes and redness, designed for adult skin, even sensitive skin,” as described in a press release. It relies on the same yeast extract as the Masque formula (and yes, it has that same… smell) and aims to reduce breakouts without a drying effect. Shop it now at biologiquerecherche.com.

Fashion Launches

Cou Cou x Sandy Liang

In a true girl’s girl partnership, intimates brand Cou Cou teamed up with Sandy Liang on a capsule that marks the former brand’s first-ever collaboration. The collection of “elevated essentials and everyday intimates” evokes the spirit and nostalgia of “back to school” with a campaign focused on reading. It comprises The Pajama Shirt ($120) & Pant ($120) and The Boxette ($68), made from 100% organic French poplin and trimmed in French lace. It also includes The Baby Tank, printed with the slogan “Well Read,” (above, $120 for two tanks; one pink, one white) and The Days of the Week Undies ($182 for a seven-pack). Shop all the pieces at sandyliang.info and coucouintimates.com.

Barbour x Anthropologie

Anthropologie and Barbour dropped a collaboration that spans fashion, home and pet this week, pairing the former brand’s “signature eye for color, pattern and unexpected details,” with the latter’s “storied connection to the outdoors,” per a press release. Shop all the pieces — which range in price from $18 to $674 — at anthropologie.com.

Merit Beauty x Live the Process

Beauty brand Merit tapped New York City-based activewear brand Live the Process for a minimalist collab, comprising a wrap top ($160, shown above), bra top ($13), leggings ($135) and headband set ($24). Shop the line at meritbeauty.com.

Kylie Jenner’s Khy Enters Footwear

Kylie Jenner’s brand Khy entered footwear this week via a collaboration with Gia Borghini. The line introduces three silhouettes, made in Italy: The Studio Thong ($350) in two colorways, The Muse Thong ($370, shown on Jenner above) in three colorways and The Icon Sandal in two colorways ($390). Shop them at khy.com.

Mejuri’s Interconnected Collection

Mejuri unveiled its “Interconnected” collection, inspired by “a single continuous hand-drawn stroke,” this week. Spanning earrings, rings, necklaces and an elevated tennis collection, the lineup represents “a new chapter in Mejuri’s design evolution… [introducing] a signature design language that is both sculptural and distinctly modern,” per the brand. Shop the pieces — priced from $88 to $4,500 — at mejuri.com.

Madewell Fall 2026

Madewell dropped its Fall 2026 collection – a “lineup of wardrobe essentials” that “[bring] a fresh perspective to fall dressing,” per the brand — this week. Standout pieces include a relaxed blazer, lightweight windbreaker, pull-on pants, cotton sweaters, a leather utility bomber jacket and the new Lexington bag collection. See and shop them at madewell.com.

J. Crew x Emma Chamberlain’s ‘Tiny Rollneck’

J. Crew partnered with fashion multi-hyphenate Emma Chamberlain to create (and star in the campaign for) its Tiny Rollneck, a “shrunken” cropped take on its popular rollneck sweaters. Inspired by “the early internet,” the knit is available in six solid and two striped colorways and priced from $98-$118. Get them at jcrew.com.

Anni Lu’s Fall 2026 ‘Nomadica’ Collection

Jewelry brand Anni Lu launched its Fall 2026 collection, titled “Nomadica,” this week. Featuring natural gemstones, warm wood and earthy textures, the range of necklaces, earrings and bracelets ranges in price from $76-335. Shop it at anni-lu.com.

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“Butter yellow was a theme for her — it was on the album artwork and went into a lot of the creative — so the overall colorway was yellow. We had picked a full yellow look she wanted specifically for her main wardrobe,” Wade tells Fashionista. Wade’s reaction to seeing what Mai wore instead? “I thought [what she chose] was perfect because it had some structure, snatch and shape, but then the skirt was flirty and had a little drama. It fit her vibe really well.”

That “vibe” in question is one that’s strong, hardworking and thoughtful, while also silly and easygoing, Wade shares. “Those two sides are the perfect marriage of the type of women we dress.”

That duality is what prompted Mai’s stylist Dianne Garcia to reach out to Wade for the project. Garcia has been a longtime supporter of the emerging label, regularly attending its fashion week shows and pulling the brand for clients. She’s drawn to Wade’s ability to create standout, fashion-forward pieces that aren’t fussy or uncomfortable to wear.

“Our pieces, although they can be corseted in design, are very comfortable and flexible for wear,” Wade says. “So I think that when [Mai] was thinking and speaking with Dianne about what kind of designer she wanted to do for the tour wardrobe, [Garcia] thought of me. Ella likes to be comfortable and feel like herself when she’s performing. So I was honored that [Garcia] thought of me.”

From the very start of the design process, it was a collaborative effort, Wade says. Garcia gave the designer a few reference photos and broad inspiration, but allowed Wade the creative freedom to develop her own vision. 

“A lot of stylists come, and they’re like, ‘Here’s a bunch of other people’s work and we want you to do the Jane Wade version of that,'” Wade explains. “What I really loved about Dianne’s approach is that it was very minimal in terms of references for garments. She gave me words and feelings like, ‘I want [the clothes] to feel like these words and emotions.’ And then the references that she gave were from my own collections.”

One descriptor in particular that resonated with Wade was “ethereal.”

“Ethereal was one of the words, and I was like, ‘This isn’t normally in the Jane Wade universe, so how do I Jane Wade-ify this feeling?'” she shares. She chose to explore it through a gorp-core lens, incorporating nylon ripstop fabric that gave the pieces that trademark Jane Wade outdoor-chic look while also having flirty, effortless qualities. “That was really fun to play in a new language, but then being able to rehouse it, make it my own,” Wade adds.

By the end of the process, the designer had created seven full outfits for Mai’s eight-week (North American leg) tour run. But in true Jane Wade fashion, each outfit is modular — a pillar of the brand’s world. It allows Mai to easily mix and match pieces to create entirely different looks, reimagining the garments herself. Wade also added fabric finishes that match across the looks so each outfit can be remixed while still looking cohesive. 

“That was the first piece of our strategy approach: How can we create a wardrobe and pieces that can be broken apart and segmented in a clever way to be remixed and reworn so that it feels fresh, but it also still feels like it has the same ethos and the same feeling every night?” Wade explains. For example, she designed a strapless top with a short cap-sleeve capelet that can snap on and off. 

The second essential part of her design approach was creating outfits that aren’t too constricting to perform in — a particularly unique challenge given that corsetry is another Jane Wade signature. “Everybody wants to be snatched on stage, but you also don’t want to be uncomfortable as a singer,” she shares. Wade ended up designing boning-free corsets, utilizing seams, batting fabric and finishing treatments to give it structure without the restriction. 

Although this was the first time Wade designed a custom wardrobe for a singer, she emphasizes that the creative process was very similar to ready-to-wear. Commercial fashion, like on-stage fashion, prioritizes functionality and easy movement. “In ready-to-wear, there’s just certain logistical executions that the garment needs to be able to do,” she explains. “We think very critically in the design phase of, ‘Can this person wear this pant in an everyday way?’ Is this an easy shirt to put on and off?’ So I think there is a very similar approach to performance wear in terms of the practicality.”

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The biggest difference between the two categories? Bringing the drama in the silhouettes. “You want to be able to create something that feels dramatic and feels eye-catching just in the shape alone,” she says. To that end, two of her favorite standout looks are fitted, corseted dresses: one featuring bustled canvas panels on the hem to create the skirt, and the other made of a cotton twill bustier with a parachute-like billowing skirt.

The biggest learning curve was working with the technological aspects of on-stage performances, according to Wade; accounting for the mic packs, wires and in-ear monitors wasn’t something the designer had initially thought of when she took on this opportunity. But like with every other aspect of the process, she welcomed the challenge. 

“We were like, ‘Oh, we should make matching mic packs and then integrate those into the looks so that way they’re completely seamless,'” she recalls. “That technical side of the integration of her onstage tech was a surprise, but cool to work through.”

With one custom design experience under her belt, Wade is eager to take on additional bespoke projects. Whether it’s for another tour or a one-of-a-kind piece for press rounds, she hopes to not only grow her custom design presence, but establish a clear identity in the space.

But until then, she has a Spring 2027 runway show to focus on. Wade can’t share much about what she’ll present during New York Fashion Week this September, but she teases that some of her work for Mai influenced her ready-to-wear collection:

“There’s definitely going to be some pieces that are going to mirror some of the silhouettes that we gave Ella and the material composition, mirroring the parachute fabric and that nylon ripstop. You will see that on the runway.”

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Nyakio Grieco Reacquires Thirteen Lune, Expands to South Africa

Nyakio Grieco has reacquired beauty retailer Thirteen Lune from SNR Capital, the founder told WWD. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Following Grieco’s reacquisition, Thirteen Lune announced its first global expansion through a partnership with South African online retailer Takealot. The expansion will go live on Takealot in Q4 2026, anchored by localized activations and interactive retail pop-ups. {WWD/paywalled; Fashionista inbox}

Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist known for her polka-dot paintings and phallic sculptures, died on Aug. 14 at 97. She first gained attention in the late 1950s and early 1960s with her abstract paintings called “Infinity Nets.” In 2012 and 2023, Kusama also collaborated with Louis Vuitton to translate her signature dots onto handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear. {The New York Times/paywalled}

Meta to Pay up to $18 Billion in Settlements

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion in settlements to resolve claims from U.S. states. Key parts of the deal require Meta to restrict how much time youths can scroll and prevent them from switching off certain safety settings without parental consent. Meta will pay up to $16.7 billion to resolve a lawsuit in which multiple U.S. states alleged that it deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to encourage compulsive use among young people. {Bloomberg/paywalled}

Influencer-Investors Are Becoming More Popular

Influencers are increasingly doubling as investors, as these partnerships give creators a claim of the long-term value they help create. Alix Earle has invested in Cymbiotika, Gorgie, SipMargs and Poppi; Hannah Bronfman has backed more than 70 startups; and Sofia Richie Grainge has invested in Dolce Glow and ShopMy. This rise of the influencer-investor is a natural consequence of influencers’ proven ability to create business value at scale, Tariro Makoni writes for Vogue Business. {Vogue Business/paywalled}

British Fashion Council Chair Steps Down

The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced that David Pemsel is stepping down as Chair on Sept. 30 after 10 years on the BFC Executive Board and four years as Chair. A further announcement on the BFC’s new Chair will be made in September. “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together,” Pemsel said in a statement. “From strengthening the organization and securing long-term investment, to supporting the next generation of designers and elevating the global profile of British fashion, the BFC is entering its next chapter from a position of real strength.” {Fashionista inbox}

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
New York, NY | Hybrid

ABOUT ROOMS
ROOMS is a multi-brand womenswear showroom based in SoHo, New York, representing a curated portfolio of contemporary fashion brands from the U.S. and around the world.

We work with boutiques across the country, connecting buyers with brands we believe have something special to bring to the market.

Built from years of experience as buyers, retailers, and wholesale partners, ROOMS is a relationship-driven business with an ambitious, entrepreneurial team. We love our brands, care about great product, thoughtful distribution, strong relationships, and doing the details well.

We’re looking for an experienced Account Executive to join our team and grow our boutique business.

THE ROLE
You’ll manage and grow an established portfolio of boutique (specialty retailer) accounts while developing new business across the U.S.

This is a role for someone who loves sales and knows the boutique landscape – someone who gets excited about opening a great new account, growing a buyer season after season, and figuring out exactly which collection belongs in which store.

The day-to-day changes with the season. You might be selling appointments in our SoHo showroom, calling buyers, analyzing business, researching new stores, planning a road trip, following up after market, or traveling to a trade show.

You’ll have ownership of your accounts and collections, clear sales goals, and significant opportunity to grow your business – and your commission along with it.

Success in this role is measured by revenue growth, new account acquisition, growth within existing accounts, retention, and sales conversion.

WHAT YOU’LL DO
• Manage and grow an existing portfolio of boutique accounts.
• Develop new business and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective accounts.
• Leverage existing buyer relationships to generate opportunities while continually building new ones.
• Build long-term relationships with boutique buyers and understand their customer, aesthetic, price point, and merchandising needs.
• Grow existing accounts across brands, categories, and seasons.
• Drive repeat business and long-term account retention.
• Develop thoughtful distribution strategies with a focus on the right doors in key cities and regions.
• Maintain brand integrity as you grow distribution.
• Create seasonal and monthly sales plans and analyze brand and account performance.
• Review selling reports to identify opportunities and drive additional business.
• Manage and track buyer outreach, appointments, pipeline, and forecasts.
• Find creative ways to reach new buyers and reactivate past accounts.
• Plan and execute road appointments
• Sell from our SoHo showroom and at markets, trade shows, road appointments, and virtual appointments.
• Share buyer feedback, competitive insights, and market trends with the team.
• Consistently work toward and exceed sales goals.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
• 3+ years of wholesale fashion sales experience in the women’s contemporary market.
• Established relationships with boutique buyers throughout the U.S.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales goals.
• Strong understanding of wholesale buying cycles and seasonal markets.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple brands and priorities at once.
• Entrepreneurial and resourceful—you don’t wait for someone else to find the opportunity.
• Strong eye for product and an understanding of thoughtful brand distribution.
• Comfortable working independently while communicating closely with the larger team.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel for road appointments, markets, and trade shows.
• Ability to carry sample suitcases weighing approximately 25–30 lbs.
• Previous multi-brand showroom experience and familiarity with JOOR, NuORDER, and Seladex are a plus.

LIFE AT ROOMS
Our showroom is a loft in the heart of SoHo. We’re a close team, and everyone has the opportunity to make an impact.

The role is hybrid: typically two days per week in the showroom and three days working from home, with more showroom time during market.

Market is fast-paced – buyer appointments, new collections, trade shows, road trips and following up. We work hard, help each other when things get busy, celebrate the wins, and genuinely enjoy the relationships we’ve built in this industry.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
• $65,000–$75,000 base salary, depending on experience + commission
• Performance-based commission with significant earning potential
• Company healthcare plan with 50% of the premium covered, or equivalent healthcare stipend
• 100% employer-paid dental insurance
• 401(k) eligibility after one year with company match up to 3%
• 15 days paid time off, plus company-observed holidays
• Professional development opportunities, including attendance at industry events

HOW TO APPLY
We’d rather get a sense of who you are than read another generic cover letter.

Please email your resume and a 60–90 second video telling us why you’d be a great fit for ROOMS to jobs@roomsshowroom.com with the subject line “Account Executive Application.”

Only applications that include both will be considered.

We can’t wait to meet you.

@roomsshowroom

ABOUT
With over 20 years of experience coupled with a genuine love, and deep understanding of the fashion industry, Meghan Wood provides valuable insight on brand building. Meghan prides herself on her commitment to her clients and being able to provide meaningful, bespoke levels of service that results in unique, tailor-made strategies that work. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege to work closely with incredible global luxury brands as well as retail destinations.

This role will develop and strengthen your understanding of the fashion and communications industries, that will support future success! The ideal candidate must be driven, self-starting, organized, service and detail oriented, mindful of deadlines, solution oriented, as well as think creatively. 

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 

• Support with sample trafficking including send outs and sample inventory management.
• Support with press clippings and weekly/monthly reporting.
• Support with list management, ensuring contacts are up to date.
• Support with asset management process and ensure assets are saved in shared drive.
• Take an active interest in the world of digital communications and can identify how digital activations can support our client strategies from what influencers brands are working with, to which websites brands are doing paid partnerships with etc. 
• Keep up to date with developments in the influencer sphere and identify opportunities to suggest suitable influencers for clients.

KEY REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must be enrolled in college.
• Strong communication skills (both written and oral), research, and organization skills.
• Genuine interest in culture, arts, fashion, and lifestyle.
• High levels of attention to detail and the ability to present and interpret quantitative and qualitative data. 
• Positive attitude to challenging situations and a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to complete a project accurately and on time.
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic.
• Strong work ethic, ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Actively seeks out opportunities to learn something new and broaden their experiences.
• Efficient in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Location: Office located in SoHo
Type: Internship (Part-Time, 20-30 Hours Per Week)

To Apply: Please send your resume to mh@meghanwood.co with a brief intro about yourself, as well as your availability. Subject line PR Intern.

Price Range: $50-$300
Hero Product: Scarf-001 ($50), Shirt-001 ($125)
PR Representation: BLND PR
How to get in touch: info@soul-a.co.

Origin Story

Soul-A was founded by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Angelo Landriscina after years of seeing the consequences of sun damage firsthand in his practice. While public awareness around sunscreen has grown, Dr. Landriscina recognized that another critical form of protection – sun-protective clothing — was often overlooked because the available options were limited to beachwear, athletic apparel or styles that did not fit seamlessly into everyday life.

Determined to bridge the gap between dermatology and fashion, he created Soul-A, a sun protection solutions brand designed for modern living. The brand offers elevated apparel and accessories that combine proven UPF protection with thoughtful design, making it easier to incorporate sun safety into daily routines without sacrificing personal style.

Grounded in dermatological science and driven by a forward-thinking aesthetic, Soul-A is redefining what sun-protective clothing can look and feel like, transforming it from a niche category into an everyday wardrobe essential.

It’s not a secret that some of the biggest beauty innovations happen in Seoul. It’s where so many of our favorite products are created, so of course, brand founders from all over the world flock to the South Korean capital to make magic happen. But for esthetician and Superegg founder Erica Choi, it’s even more personal. The New York-based skin-care founder was born in Busan (South Korea’s second-largest city), and spent summers there growing up. Now that she has a skin-care brand, she still heads to Korea every summer to mix business with pleasure.

“Because our products are manufactured in Korea, I’m able to spend time much closer to the development process, while also immersing myself in everything happening around beauty, wellness, food, fashion and design,” she says.

Choi finds unlimited inspiration in Seoul — and not just in the beauty and aesthetics world (though, of course, there’s that too). “A meal, a beautiful space, a new treatment, the way something is packaged or even just observing how people are living and taking care of themselves can spark an idea,” she says. “I consider those lived experiences some of my most valuable forms of research, but I also take genuine pleasure in all of it. Seoul is constantly evolving, so every time I return, there is something new to discover.”

Given her first-hand experience, we asked the skin-care expert for an insider-approved itinerary of must-visit shops, restaurants and more. Read on for all her hidden gems, from her favorite indie shops and beauty stores, to the dinner spots she swears by.

What’s one food/dish everybody who goes to Seoul should try?

It’s impossible for me to choose just one! For Korean food, I love Nanpo (난포) for a contemporary take on Korean comfort food. Their gangdoenjang ssambap (강된장쌈밥), seasonal sashimi with aged kimchi (제철회묵은지말이) and shrimp potato jeon (새우감자전) are great for sharing, so you can order several things for the table and experience a little bit of everything.

For Korean barbecue, Sancheong Sutbul Garden (산청숯불가든) is a favorite for charcoal-grilled pork. There’s something about the smoky flavor you get from cooking over charcoal that makes it especially satisfying. I also love Samwon Garden (삼원가든), a Seoul institution that has been around for decades. It’s a more classic, polished Korean barbecue experience and a great place to go with family or a group.

For something completely casual, Puradak’s Ilpum Kkanpung (일품깐풍) fried chicken is such a fun take on Korean fried chicken. Range is what makes eating in Seoul so exciting. You can have something deeply comforting and traditional or creative and contemporary, and both can feel equally special.

Where is your favorite place in Seoul to get breakfast?

I’m usually quite simple when it comes to breakfast, so I love starting the morning at a bakery. Seoul has such an incredible bakery culture right now, and I love the variety. You can find everything from beautifully made European-style breads and pastries to distinctly Korean interpretations.

Artist Bakery and Jayeondo Salt Bread (자연도소금빵) are favorites for salt bread — that perfect combination of a crisp exterior, soft center and just enough salt and butter. I also love MIMU (미무) and Beton (베통), and I tend to pick up a few different things to try with coffee rather than have a big sit-down breakfast. Seongsu Baking Studio (성수베이킹스튜디오) and Standard Bread (스탠다드브레드) are other favorites when I’m in the mood for something a little more substantial. I think visiting bakeries is also one of the nicest ways to experience a quieter, more everyday side of Seoul. I love picking something up in the morning and walking around the neighborhood before the city really gets going.

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Where is your favorite place to get lunch?

I love House of Shinsegae for lunch because there’s such an ample selection, and they’ve brought in outposts of many popular restaurants all under one roof. It’s perfect when you simply don’t know exactly what you’re in the mood for, and the space itself is beautifully designed.

Afterwards, I always recommend stopping by Shinsegae’s Sweet Park, their incredible dessert destination, which brings together some of Korea’s most sought-after names alongside renowned sweets from around the world. You can have lunch, pick up something sweet, and then wander through the department store. It’s a very Seoul way to spend an afternoon.

Where’s your favorite place to get coffee?

Seoul has an incredible coffee culture, so I have a few options depending on what I’m in the mood for: Camouflage Coffee has wonderful, bright, acidic beans, and their latte is fantastic. If I want something on the sweeter side, I love the signature Camel Coffee at Camel Coffee. And for a true coffee experience, unpage, by coffee creator Ahnstar, is incredibly special. They have some of the best Geisha pour-overs I’ve had. It’s the kind of place where you go specifically for the coffee and take the time to experience it rather than simply grabbing a cup on the way somewhere.

Where is your favorite place to get dinner in Seoul?

Restaurant SAN is very special. I went for my birthday last year and the entire experience was incredible. The cooking is refined and contemporary, but there is still a very distinct sense of Korea and seasonality throughout the menu.

I love restaurants where the experience feels considered from beginning to end — not only the food, but the pacing, service, wine and environment — and SAN does that beautifully.

If you were to plan a trip for yourself in Seoul, where would you stay?

I stay with family when I’m in Seoul, but for visitors looking for a luxury experience, I recommend Josun Palace and the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. For something more accessible while still being centrally located, Four Points by Sheraton is a good option. Where you stay can really shape your experience of Seoul because the city is so expansive. I always recommend thinking about the neighborhoods you’re most interested in exploring rather than choosing a hotel based solely on the property itself.

What’s one tourist attraction you think is well worth the visit?

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). There is always so much happening there, from exhibitions and installations to fashion and design events. I also love the design store there for shopping. It has a nicely curated selection of elevated souvenirs and Korean design objects, so you can find something that feels a little more special to bring home.

If you had time to visit only one museum or gallery while in Seoul, which would you pick?

MMCA Seoul is my favorite museum. It’s large, so I like giving myself enough time to wander rather than trying to rush through it. The exhibitions are consistently interesting, and I love its contemporary perspective and how the museum interacts with the surrounding architecture and neighborhood. It’s also perfectly located for continuing on to explore Samcheong-dong and the surrounding area afterward.

Where do you shop for fashion in Seoul? What do you think are the most unique stores you frequent?

I genuinely love department stores in Seoul. Lotte World Mall, The Hyundai Seoul and Shinsegae Department Store are all destinations in themselves, and the retail experience in Korea is on another level.

But I equally love spending an afternoon walking around Hannam-dong or Seongsu-dong and discovering things organically. Those neighborhoods change so quickly that there is almost always something new. Some of my favorite stores are Monoha, Amomento, Beaker and Recto. They each have such a strong visual identity and point of view, which I always appreciate in a retail space.

What about beauty?

A trip to Seoul wouldn’t be complete without Olive Young. I actually love visiting the smaller locations in different neighborhoods because the assortment can feel localized to the area, and it’s usually a much calmer way to browse. But if you want the full experience, Olive Young Myeongdong Town, Olive Young N Seongsu and Olive Young Beauty Mansion are enormous and have pretty much everything you could want to discover, from products popular internationally to what people in Korea are actually buying.

I also love OWM — Optima Wellness Museum. It’s a very chic, contemporary interpretation of a pharmacy and wellness store, and the spaces themselves are quite beautiful. 

Beyond multi-brand stores, I always recommend simply walking around Gangnam, Hannam, Seongsu and Jongno. So many Korean beauty brands have their own standalone stores and flagships now, and they often create much more immersive experiences around the brand than you would get from seeing the same products on a shelf elsewhere.

Favorite aesthetic clinics & jjimjilbangs (Korean bath houses)?

For aesthetic clinics, a few I like are The Hill Dermatology Sinsa (더힐피부과의원 신사본점), HEV Dermatology Sinsa (헤브피부과의원 신사), Hoan Clinic (호안의원) and Diore Clinic (디오레의원). Each has its own approach, atmosphere and point of view, so I always recommend booking a consultation first and finding the practitioner and environment where you feel most comfortable. With aesthetic treatments, I think that sense of trust and understanding is just as important as the treatment itself.

For something more restorative and hands-on, I also love SPA GOGYEOL (스파고결). It’s focused on slowing down and taking care of the body and face through a dedicated treatment experience.

For a larger Korean spa experience, I love CIMER at Paradise City (씨메르). It’s near Incheon Airport, so it’s actually a great stop if you arrive on a red-eye and have a few hours before you can check into your hotel in Seoul. You can shower, unwind, and reset after the flight before heading into the city. If you have more time, it’s expansive enough to easily spend half a day there.

What’s a good place to buy souvenirs in Seoul?

Walking around Insadong and the hanok neighborhoods is still one of my favorite ways to shop for more traditional Korean souvenirs. You can find ceramics, crafts, stationery and small objects that feel connected to Korean culture rather than something made specifically for tourists.

For something more contemporary, I would go back to the design store at DDP. Their selection feels much more curated and design-focused, which makes it a great place to find elevated Korean objects and gifts.

What’s the place to take in nature in/around Seoul?

I love taking walks in Seoul Forest or Seoul Children’s Grand Park when the weather is nice. I also really love Yeonnam-dong and Yeonhui-dong for a slower afternoon. You can walk along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park through Yeonnam and then wander toward Yeonhui, stopping at little cafés, shops, and galleries along the way. It’s one of my favorite ways to experience how nature and everyday city life coexist in Seoul.

If you’re able to venture farther outside the city, Museum SAN is beautiful. The architecture, art, and landscape are so integrated that I would dedicate a full day to it rather than trying to squeeze it into a packed itinerary. It’s somewhere you really want to slow down and spend time.

What’s your favorite recent discovery in Seoul?

One thing I’ve become fascinated by is the number of mu-in (무인), or unmanned, stores tucked into different neighborhoods. They’re completely self-service, often open around the clock and surprisingly specialized. You’ll find unmanned ice cream and convenience stores, pet shops, snack stores and all sorts of niche concepts.

What struck me most is how commonplace they are and the level of trust the concept relies on. You walk in, choose what you need, pay at the self-checkout and leave, without an employee necessarily being there at all. It’s such a small detail of everyday life, but I find it fascinating because it says something about the convenience, efficiency and sense of collective trust you encounter in Seoul. I love discovering things like this when I’m there. Sometimes the most ordinary parts of a city can tell you as much about it as the places everyone goes to see.

What about shopping for your new cat?

Seoul definitely has more stores geared toward dogs than cats, so for everyday things I’ve found Petfriends (펫프렌즈) to be the best place to order online. But I really enjoyed Molly’s Pet Shop at Starfield Goyang when I visited.

The most memorable experience, though, was Gungdi Pang Pang Cat Festa (궁디팡팡 캣페스타), which is essentially a huge convention for cat parents that travels around Korea several times a year. We happened to be in town when it came to Seoul, and it was incredible seeing the entire cat-parent community together in one place. People literally arrive with one or two empty suitcases and go absolutely wild shopping. You could say I came home with quite a few variations of Churu! It was one of those experiences that was so specific and joyful, and I loved seeing just how passionate the cat community is there.

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https://open.spotify.com/episode/3OOPf19dlPYnWdm6eEZgPB?si=6cnzulruQ2as6myvJ0Tr-g

After collectively spending years in the tech space across major players like Meta, Microsoft, Google and X, sisters Misbah and Farah Uraizee had a front-row seat to the growing influence of brands’ online communities. The duo saw an opportunity to supply brands with AI-powered community management tools, so they quit their respective jobs in 2023 and dove headfirst into building Nectar Social. Today, the AI platform streamlines many top brands’ strategies, including E.l.f. Cosmetics, Rhode, Tower 28 and Steve Madden.

As an “all-up operating system for social,” as Misbah calls it, Nectar Social can interact with a brand’s online community via comment sections and direct messages, identify rising creators brands could be collaborating with, field customer support issues and more. For example, Kosas tapped Nectar Social to help unveil its category expansion into mascara with last year’s Soulgazer Mascara launch, as well as identify opportunities for future product launches the beauty brand wasn’t previously roadmapping. In practice, Nectar Social is a one-stop shop for modern social media management that helps eliminate “north of 70 hours a week per every few people,” according to Misbah.

Nectar Social also functions as a tool for emerging fashion and beauty brands: “If you’ve already figured out PMF [product-market fit], then Nectar is the best way to scale right now, where we’re helping you on the influencer side, we’re helping you unlock so much data on your competitors, we’re helping you keep your team lean so that as you scale as a business and you get more volume on these channels, you can do more with the existing set of platforms that you have access to,” Misbah said.

On The Fashionista Network, the duo discussed the agentic features that set Nectar Social’s platform apart, its brand onboarding process, the hallmarks of a successful social media strategy, how fashion and beauty brands can better leverage AI and more. Watch the full interview on YouTube below.

Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making. 

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Remembering Dolly Parton’s Style

Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday in Nashville, spent decades cultivating a stylish, rhinestone-heavy image that became inseparable from her music career. Beginning with her 1965 record deal, she built an exaggerated, unapologetically campy persona — wigs, elaborate costumes and all — despite early skepticism from peers and industry executives. She later documented her signature style in the memoir “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones,” influencing generations of performers from Miley Cyrus to Kacey Musgraves. {The New York Times/paywalled}

How Gen Alpha Shapes Back-to-School Shopping

U.S. back-to-school spending remains resilient despite economic pressure, with families projected to spend $30.4 billion this year, according to Deloitte. Parents are concentrating purchases on fewer, higher-quality items like sneakers and outerwear, while Gen Alpha’s social media-driven tastes push retailers toward relaxed silhouettes such as wide-leg and baggy fits. Brands including Tommy Hilfiger and Bloomingdale’s are responding with nostalgia-driven collaborations and longer promotional windows. {Vogue Business/paywalled}

Cinq à Sept’s Plan To Boost Brand Awareness

Cinq à Sept built its womenswear business through a wholesale-focused strategy, a choice Founder and Co-CEO Jane Siskin attributes to her decades in traditional retail. The approach topped the brand at $200 million in sales last year, outpacing direct-to-consumer rival Hill House Home despite less brand recognition. Now entering its second decade, Cinq à Sept is investing in broader awareness through new flagship stores and a creative agency, while sticking to the product-first approach that built the business. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

Target Debuts Post-Ulta Beauty Lineup

Target will launch Beauty Studio on Sept. 10 in more than 600 stores and online, featuring over 1,600 products from 90 brands. More than two-thirds of these brands are new to the retailer. Several brands, including Remilia Hair and Clearstem, chose Target for their first brick-and-mortar launch, citing in-store testing, dedicated “beauty advisers” and a rotating assortment. {Glossy/paywalled}

Abercrombie & Fitch Lifts Sales Forecast on Strong Demand

Abercrombie & Fitch raised its full-year sales forecast Wednesday, citing resilient demand. Shares rose 11% in premarket trading. The retailer now expects full-year sales growth of 5%, up from its earlier outlook, and raised its earnings forecast as well. Quarterly revenue topped analysts’ expectations, with the Abercrombie brand outperforming sibling chain Hollister, which got a lift from back-to-school shopping. {Abercrombie & Fitch Co.}

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Price Range: $24-$34
Hero Products: Deluxe Pomade ($22), Texture Cream ($22), Matte Pomade ($22), Styling Powder ($22)
Stockists: Global barbershops
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Origin Story

Founded by Steve and Kiera Purcell in 2008, Uppercut Deluxe began in a garage with nothing but an obsession for creating great products and building a brand for an industry that had long been an afterthought.

With little more than $20 in their pocket, grit and relentless determination, the founders set out to build something bigger than themselves. To make the business appear more established than it was, Kiera managed six different email aliases, creating the impression of a much larger team. It was just one of many resourceful decisions that helped the founders punch above their weight in the early years.

Driven by hard work, a deep connection with the barbering community and an unwavering commitment to quality, Uppercut Deluxe steadily grew from a local startup into one of the world’s leading professional men’s grooming brands.

Today, Uppercut Deluxe is stocked in tens of thousands of barbershops across more than 60 countries and is recognized as a category leader and pioneer in professional men’s grooming. Despite its global reach, the company remains independently owned and continues to stay true to the values it was founded on: authenticity, craftsmanship and a genuine connection to the barbering community.