Hello, Open Thread. Happy Hanukkah. This is that time of year when end-of-year lists come raining down, and though they are, yes, a cliché, they can be pretty interesting. I’m going to highlight three (and some of our own) in this newsletter. First up: Lysts’s end-of-year summation. According to the fashion search engine, the brand of the year for the third (count ’em) year in a row was Miu Miu, with a 138 percent increase in search demand over the last three years. (That’s a recent show, above). When I asked, a Lyst spokeswoman acknowledged that demand overall was up only 1 percent since last year — bags were up 18 percent — but Miu Miu’s growth has been so explosive, at a time when most luxury brands are stagnant or down, that it is still way ahead of peers. Lyst attributes its growth to Miu Miu’s positioning as an Instagram-friendly antidote to quiet luxury. What else came out on top?
NUMBER OF THE WEEK 67The number of Stylish People of 2025, as chosen by the Styles desk. My pick was Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico. Read on for the rest! Rebag, the resale site, came out with its end-of-year luxury Clair Report. Its findings are useful for anyone thinking of splurging on luxury goods with an eye toward the future investment value. Consider:
The New York Times has compiled other lists for your reading pleasure, including the 100 Notable Books of 2025, the Best TV Shows, Best Films and Best Songs. Check them all out. And one final note: After last week’s announcement that the Council of Fashion Designers of America was banning fur at New York Fashion Week, and the subsequent decision by the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, or CAFT, to go after Hearst and Harper’s Bazaar, the magazine group decided to give up pelts. To be fair, the decision probably wasn’t too difficult, because most fashion brands, whether magazine or designer, no longer use much fur in the first place (leather and shearling are a different story), and it brings the company in line with its peers. While I support the result, it’s worth pointing out that CAFT often uses tactics that terrorize the employees of their targets — people who don’t have any final decision-making power. Given the tenor of our times, I’m not sure that kind of aggression is really the way to go. Just sayin’. Have a good, safe weekend. Stay warm!
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Your Style Questions, AnsweredEvery week on Open Thread, Vanessa will answer a reader’s fashion-related question, which you can send to her anytime via email or X. Questions are edited and condensed.
It will be chilly and rainy for the next six months where I live. Is there such a thing as a boot that is cozy, waterproof and isn’t going to make me look as if I got lost on my way to backcountry trekking when I am in the office or out with friends? — Hilary, Portland, Ore.It’s not that hard to find great snow boots: ones that are warm and waterproof and have good treads. (Good treads are essential if you live in a place where ice forms on sidewalks.) What is harder is finding good snow boots that are outfit-appropriate when navigating snow drifts or sloshing around rainstorms but also when entering an office or a restaurant. Ones that don’t, for example, make you look as though you are playacting a famous explorer or a character from “Ice Age” — unless, of course, that’s a vibe you like. For example, I tend to appreciate the irony of Moon Boots in the city, not to mention the comfort. They can be like walking around in two giant pillows. And Ralph Lauren’s Team USA designs for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Milan Winter Olympics include some retro mountaineering boots in brown leather with red- and black-striped climbing rope laces that may turn out to be a winner all their own. But if you don’t want to resemble a winter sports fan (or an armchair winter sports fan) or suggest that you are taking a detour on your way to Aspen, there are certain details to keep in mind when choosing winter boots. First, the technical necessities. Lesley Christoph, the chief marketing officer for LOWA Boots, advises that you “look for waterproof leather or sealed seams, hidden waterproof membranes or lightly insulated linings, a grippy but not bulky sole and room for a normal, size-appropriate sock.” The folks at Wirecutter suggest choosing boots that are eight to 10 inches tall and contain at least 200 grams of insulation. (If you are in a particularly cold place, it suggests 400 to 600.) Wirecutter also recommends toothlike treads, rather than treads with wavy lines. Then consider the style. “A good city boot,” Ms. Christoph said, “will combine function with clean lines so you can wear it with jeans, trousers or even a skirt” In other words, stay away from some of the obvious details that push the “outdoor rec” button, like puffy, quilted uppers. Think leather (or leather-effect) bodies, platform or very chunky treads (the farther you are from the cold ground, the better) and a narrower silhouette, rather than one that skews snowmobile. Check out, for example, brands like Dr. Martens, Blundstone and |
