Max Hurd is a Who What Wear UK editor-in-residence and London-based art director, tastemaker, interior stylist and creative consultant. A collaborator and advisor to leading luxury brands including Manolo Blahnik, Farfetch, Asprey, Cartier, H&M and Patrón Tequila, his exuberant aesthetic—which he describes as "Oscar Wilde meets Marie-Antoinette by way of a Brazilian bordello"—enables him to curate, write and create across interiors and culture.

I would hazard a guess that, as you are reading this, you are parked, perched or plonked comfortably in a chair. What kind of chair is irrelevant. The point is that you are sitting in one. We often take chairs for granted or see them as purely utilitarian, yet they form such an essential stitch in the fabric of our lives. Their presence in our homes is often overlooked, but shockingly, chairs only really became part of the furniture, so to speak, 300 short years ago. Before that, we were a species that sat on stools or benches, with even the wealthiest individuals having limited access to backed seating.

It was not until the 17th century that we decided to do something about the orthopaedic harm we were committing every time we wanted to sit down, and not until the 18th century that we considered making them comfortable through upholstery. Finally, in the 19th century, they became mass-produced and commonplace.

Like that apex of chairs, the throne, they have always been considered status items, and as such, over the years, they have been reimagined by some of the greatest creative minds of the past three centuries. Read on for five radically different yet individually remarkable chairs that will not only provide you with somewhere comfortable to sit, but with something beautiful to look at, no matter your aesthetic.

The 5 Armchair Trends That Everyone With Taste Knows About

1. Britannic Domesticity

Style Notes: The Bridgewater Chair by Howard and Sons is for lovers of what I often see referred to as "cottagecore". Now, I am not one for acronyms, mainly because half the time I don’t know what any of them mean—and frankly, I am now too embarrassed to ask—but I believe I am using this one correctly when I say this chair is the G.O.A.T. (Which, for the uninitiated like me, means The Greatest Of All Time.)

In my opinion, it is the blueprint from which all of our favourite armchairs have been copied, and for good reason. It is the last word in comfort and the first word in that quintessential English-country-house aesthetic that never seems to go out of style. They are frighteningly expensive, and even antique pieces that come up for auction—often damaged and unloved—end up going for a small fortune. The reason being that when it comes to furniture, these pieces are truly an investment. A good armchair is a purchase for life, the bones of which can be reupholstered to fit changing tastes in fabric, and can be used and enjoyed in any room, by anyone, of any age. The Bridgewater looks best when well-loved, but it needs to be upholstered properly, so if you end up buying an antique, make sure you are willing to give it the restoration it deserves.

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2. Adriatic Opulence

Style Notes: I have spoken ad nauseum about Venetian Grotto Chairs. In my opinion, they are truly the holy grail of interior design and the tiara worn by any maximalist home. They are whimsical, highly impractical and appeal to the Disney Princess in all of us. Popularised in the 19th century by European nobles who had nothing better to do than collect beautiful things, their design was originally inspired by the shell grottos created by the nobility to escape the summer heat during the Renaissance. Like all the most beautiful things, they are purely decorative, which means that actually sitting on them is out of the question.

Now, before you jump down my throat with indignant shouts of "What's the point of a chair you can’t sit on?", I hear you. But I promise their showstopping good looks more than make up for their somewhat limited use. On the rare occasion that one comes up for auction, there is always a flurry of activity in the saleroom as eagle-eyed shoppers flock to the "bid" button, despite their impractical nature. So, when parked next to a fireplace, in front of a large window or perhaps with a few choice coffee-table books or a geranium placed on the seat to warn the uninitiated not to sit down, they provide a wow factor that few other pieces of furniture possess.

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3. Bauhaus Baby

Style Notes: If you have an eye for fuss-free design, you are in the right place. At the other end of the spectrum from the Venetian Grotto Chair sits the Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer. Contrary to popular belief, this chair was not designed specifically for Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky, but instead inspired by the construction of a bicycle. First produced in the late 1920s, the Wassily, as it later became known, was revolutionary in its blend of form and function and embodied all the elements of what became known as the Bauhaus movement.

Central to the movement's core beliefs was the idea that "form follows function" (in layman's terms, no frills), and each product was designed to be mass-produced, rather than in short supply for strictly wealthy individuals. Followers of the Bauhaus movement believed in the democratisation of the arts, and that truly beautiful design came from simplicity. Whilst usually I argue the opposite, that we all need a little magic in our lives, the Wassily Chair is my favourite piece of contemporary furniture. Personally, I find the best rooms are multilayered with inter-period play. There is nothing that dates a room more than focusing too heavily on one decorative style or period. I love to see this chair in a classic sitting room in front of a fire, next to a Howard and Sons armchair with an antique side table in between them, or in front of a Georgian secretary desk as an office chair.

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4. Nordic Simplicity

Style Notes: Let's get hygge with it! Mid-century Scandi design is full of elegant simplicity, and if that floats your handcrafted wooden boat, I would like to draw your attention to the Wishbone Chair. It is Hans Wegner's best-selling design and has been in continuous production since its inception in 1949. Wegner is one of the pioneers of what we now call mid-century Danish design, whose focus is on organic functionality, whatever that means. (I jest, I know what it means… I think.)

Inspired by antique Chinese chairs from the Ming dynasty, the design has been copied into oblivion, but the original is still the best. People are always surprised when I suggest these chairs for a project, as my aesthetics do not exactly scream Scandi, but I love them as dining room chairs, especially in a bold colour. (Go for red!). I find that they are particularly effective around a "farmhouse" style table, as their inherently modern design can keep the room from tipping too far into country-cottage territory, unless, of course, that’s the goal. They also have the benefit of being comfortable, which, as you settle into hour four of a long Sunday lunch, is a real plus!

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5. Modern Bloom

Style Notes: If you dream of the universe but don't fancy sharing a rocket with Lauren Sanchez, then perhaps you should lean into the "space age" aesthetic that was hugely popular from the '50s through to the '70s. Designed in 1956 by Finnish-American architect and industrial designer Eero Saarinen, the Tulip Chair revolutionised modern furniture design. When asked about the inspiration behind it, Saarinen gave perhaps one of my favourite answers in the history of interior design. He said he "wanted to get rid of the slum of legs under the table", which is a phrase I am not sure even Nicky Haslam could get away with these days.

Jokes aside, the Tulip Chair was the first of its kind and is one of the pinnacles of the "space age" design movement, which to this day features in films set in galaxies far, far away. The single leg allows light to bounce around under a table, which helps lift an area of the room that is otherwise a bit dark and gloomy. These chairs—which by their very nature are alarmingly modern and somewhat cold, like I imagine space to be— work best when they are softened slightly by being placed on a rug made of natural fibres; ideally one with a very thick pile, or made of some sort of faux hide.

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Tessa Faye O'Connell is a contributor known for her work at various fashion houses, specializing in media and public relations, currently working at Coach as its global PR director. She's a mom of two, working to expand her influence in the fashion space through styling while also just making it out the door on time.

In terms of summer items I can’t stop purchasing, one word: linen. For some reason the allure of this easy, breezy fabric has captivated me and inspired my summer wardrobe completely. There’s nothing more appealing than feeling like I’m in a Nancy Meyer’s movie, clad in linen, feeling like the leading lady.

As more brands lean into this breathable fabric, I’ve come to invest in a plethora of bottoms that make summer dressing to the office easy and wearable (as you know, my favorite combination). Linen skirts can be dressed down or with a top, while linen shorts can be dressed up for weekends or running errands. Not to mention, the limit does not exist in terms of comfortable pants to throw on that make you feel put together but bearable to wear in the summer heat. There are tons of options, no matter what you’re up against, and all of them are comfortable and chic. I know it’s hard to want to invest in something so seasonal, but I’ve found myself revisiting these pieces year after year, still excited to unearth them for spring and summer - and still matching with the pieces in my closet.

The 5 Linen Pieces I Revisit Year After Year

White Linen Trousers

Can’t talk about linen and not talk about the power of a fresh white linen pant. I did hem these to what I believe is my perfect length, but I love them—and they are NOT see-through!

Linen Skirt

I’ve really come to embrace the power of the skirt, and love the different options across the board this season in linen. White or black are easy basics to fit in with what you already have in your closet.

Tan Linen

If you’re going to have white linen, you need other styles to balance out and can even be pushed into fall. This style is extremely comfortable with a small elastic band, and the khaki is great for work or weekends.

Racer Stripe Pants

Can’t talk about linen without talking about Donni. These striped linen pants have taken shoppers by storm, constantly selling out thanks to their cropped fit (perfect for sandals) and wearable colorways. Buy them when you see them!

Linen Shorts

While these ones exactly may not be perfectly work appropriate, I’m utterly obsessed. Shorts feel effortless and easy whether dressed up or down all summer long.

Anna Baldwin is a Who What Wear editor in residence and an Atlanta-based personal stylist who services men's and women's everyday wardrobes, helping clients edit, shop, and style with long-term clarity, not one-off outfits.

Some of the most versatile colors in my wardrobe are the hardest to describe. They're not quite brown, not quite gray—not exactly olive but not green either. Tibi calls these Ring 3 colors, the "-ish" shades that sit between traditional color families. Within Tibi's Color Wheel philosophy, Ring 1 and Ring 2 are home to classic neutrals like black, white, navy, gray, and brown. Ring 3 introduces the nuanced, hard-to-name colors that bridge multiple color families, while Ring 4 is where you'll find clearly defined, more saturated hues. I had spent years relying almost exclusively on Rings 1 and 2 because Ring 4 felt like too big of a leap. Ring 3 became the bridge, allowing me to incorporate more color into my wardrobe without feeling like I was stepping outside my minimalist aesthetic.

To me, Ring 3 colors soften the corners of an outfit. We know how to create high-contrast looks with black and white and tonal outfits within the same color family, but introducing a Ring 3 color creates a softer, more nuanced palette. It's a subtle shift that makes an outfit feel more sophisticated and creative.

As I rarely wear bold patterns or elaborate design details, interesting color combinations have become a styling skill I've intentionally refined. Below are five Ring 3 colors I reach for most often, along with how I style them.

Mink

Cool greige with taupe and soft mushroom undertones

I wanted to show how this color can combine a classic neutral with a brighter hue. The optic-white jeans create a clean, high-contrast foundation, while the dusty-lilac tee echoes the softness of the mink bag without competing with it.

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Earth

Deep olive brown with muted moss and warm gray undertones—more nuanced than olive, softer than brown

I paired the earth trousers with a black top featuring white trim to lean into a classic color palette. The earth tone softens the contrast, making the outfit feel richer and more interesting than a standard black-and-white combination.

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Soot

Soft charcoal with smoky graphite undertones—not quite black, not quite gray

I leaned into a tonal palette with this outfit. The soot tee complements the cool undertones in the Cedar Melange skirt, creating depth without relying on black.

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Dark Stone

Muted olive-gray with weathered sage undertones that occupies the space between olive, sage, and stone

I paired the oversize dark-stone sweatshirt with crisp ivory shorts to keep the look casual while maintaining contrast. The blush bag introduces another muted color, proving that Ring 3 shades don't just pair well with classic neutrals. They also make softer colors feel effortless rather than overly sweet.

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Cedar Melange

Heathered taupe with cool brown, soft gray, and creamy ivory undertones—the mélange yarn creates visual depth, making it difficult to assign to a single color family

I paired the Cedar Melange trousers with a crisp, sculptural cream top to bring elegance to the relaxed silhouette. The complexity of the color adds quiet interest, while soft cream creates a fresh, polished finish.

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Harriet Westmoreland is a Who What Wear UK editor-in-residence and cofounder of Westmoreland Cosmetics. She is one of the most sought-after manicurists, having tended to the hands of celebrity clientele such as Zendaya and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Her signature minimalist and luxurious manicures have garnered her worldwide demand, and she is one of the leading tastemakers in nail trends.

The strawberry manicure is shaping up to be one of the biggest summer nail trends. It's juicy and glossy, which feels playful yet polished, making it the perfect summer update on milky manicures we've been seeing for the past few seasons. What I love about a strawberry manicure is that it's a chic yet very wearable summer nail colour. You're getting that beautiful glass-like shine and sheer pink colour, but with a little more vibrancy and personality for this time of the year.

The trend actually inspired me to create my new shade, Strawberry Blush. I wanted a true glassy pink for my kit; something completely sheer, with no white pigment in it. My vision was for it to look like a juicy and translucent strawberry gloss for the nails. It took around 18 months of testing and refining formulas to achieve exactly the right finish, but the final result is everything I hoped.

How to Create a Strawberry-Blush Manicure

For anyone wanting to re-create the look, nail preparation is key. I always start by thoroughly prepping the nail, focusing on creating the perfect foundation. After gently pushing back the cuticles and lightly exfoliating any dry skin around the nail, I softly buff the nail plate, cleanse with acetone and then begin the gel application.

My go-to application is Glass Base (£20), followed by Strawberry Blush Glass Gel (£25) and then Glass Top (£20). For the ultimate glossy finish, I always recommend pairing it with a high-shine base coat and top coat; that extra shine is what gives the manicure its signature glass-like finish. Once everything is cured, I perfect the shape with a final file.

Personally, I love applying it using an apex technique, which creates a beautifully smooth, curved surface that catches the light from every angle. This is where the manicure really comes to life, as the nails almost look like little glass jewels.

One of the things I love most about Strawberry Blush is how versatile it is. With just one coat, you get a flush of pink that enhances the nail's natural tone. As you build additional layers, the colour becomes more vibrant, allowing you to completely customise the effect.

The beauty of the strawberry manicure is that it can be tailored to suit everyone. Some of my clients prefer a single sheer layer for the most natural result, whilst others love a more built-up, pinker flush of colour. I like layering a milky nude shade underneath, then applying a single coat of Strawberry Blush on top. It creates the most beautiful soft-pink glow for anyone who wants a hint of colour without committing to a brighter pink nail colour.

You can also personalise the look with nail art. I love adding a tiny strawberry detail on the thumb as a playful nod to the trend, but equally, the manicure is strong enough to stand on its own. Whether you want a barely there tint or a glossy pink glow, you can achieve multiple looks with the same shade. It's effortless, chic and exactly the kind of manicure I want to wear all summer long.

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Vanessa Lee is a Who What Wear editor in residence, an aesthetic nurse, a certified face reader, and the founder and CXO of The Things We Do.

First, some context. I tried the Onda Pro while I was in Korea in March 2025 during what was supposed to be an educational trip where I was studying under some plastic surgeons and dermatologists. At the end of my trip, I had one day to myself after all of my classes were completed, and I decided to treat myself and indulge in a handful of beauty treatments, as one does while in Korea. That's when I made my Onda discovery by chance, which feels on brand for how most of my favorite aesthetic procedures enter my clinics—when I'm selfishly seeking out the best treatments for myself.

I went into a trusted clinic I had been researching for a while and asked for the best skin treatments they had. That was the mission. During my consultation, I was asked if I wanted to address anything for the body. I honestly hadn't even thought about it. Body wasn't on my radar. I asked what was available, and they mentioned something called their "Barbie arms" treatment. Naturally, I asked questions.

The staff at the clinic told me about a treatment called Onda, which reduces fat and tightens the skin. They explained that there's no numbing required, there's minimal discomfort, and the treatment only takes about 20 minutes start to finish. At that point, I was deeply skeptical. In my experience, anything that feels too easy usually doesn't do much. But then I thought, "Why not? Let's go ahead and do it for the plot." The treatment itself was uneventful. It didn't hurt. It felt like a warm device was being massaged over my arms for 15 to 20 minutes, and then it was done. I walked out fully assuming it was a waste of money and filed it away as one of those "interesting but probably ineffective" aesthetic experiences.

About a week later, I noticed my arms looked slimmer. Over the next few weeks, their appearance kept improving. More definition. Less fullness. Better skin quality. I became fully obsessed. On my next Korea trip, I went back for more—this time with Kim and Khloé Kardashian, and we all loved it. That's when my curiosity turned into something more serious. After a lot of deep research and several very interesting meetings, my medical spa and beauty concept bar in L.A., The Things We Do, is now the first and only clinic in the U.S. to partner with DEKA and offer Onda Pro. Guys, this is exciting.

What Makes Onda Pro Different

Onda Pro, manufactured by DEKA, uses microwave energy, which sits within the broader radiofrequency spectrum but behaves very differently from traditional RF devices. At a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz, this form of energy preferentially interacts with lipid-rich tissue, allowing it to deposit energy in the subcutaneous fat layer without excessively heating the skin surface or penetrating beyond the fat layer. That distinction matters. Traditional RF relies on resistive heating and tends to interact first with water-rich tissue, like the dermis. Microwave energy, by contrast, couples more efficiently with fat. This allows Onda to heat adipose tissue more selectively while keeping epidermal temperatures relatively controlled.

From a regulatory standpoint, Onda Pro is FDA cleared in the U.S. for tissue heating to increase local circulation and for the temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite. That language is important, and I want to be very clear about it.

At the same time, what we've seen—both through our global partners and now in my own clinics—is consistent in three observable outcomes: fat reduction, skin tightening, and cellulite improvement.

Why Patients Love Onda Pro and Who It's Best For

We bought our first Onda Pro device from Italy (though it was made famous by Korea) in December 2025, and it immediately became a patient favorite. The biggest reason is results with comfort. Treatments are well tolerated and require no numbing, and patients usually start to see results after the first treatment in the series of four that is recommended.

There are multiple Onda Pro handpieces that allow us to adjust energy delivery depending on the goal. Some settings prioritize skin tightening, others address both fat reduction and tightening, and another is designed primarily for fat reduction. That flexibility lets us treat different body areas and different patient needs with precision.

Onda Pro is ideal for patients in generally good health who want to address stubborn fat pockets that don't respond to diet and exercise. Areas we treat include the submental region, abdomen, flanks, back, and thighs. The Onda Pro works by delivering microwave energy that causes vibration and excitation of fat cells, damaging the fat cell membrane. This allows lipid contents to gradually exit the fat cell and be processed through the lymphatic system over the following weeks. Globally, clinicians have also observed consistent collagen remodeling and improvements in skin elasticity alongside these changes.

How Onda Pro Compares to Other Body Treatments

This is where the differences become very clear in practice. The U.S. currently offers cryolipolysis, commonly known as CoolSculpting. It works well on softer, more uniform fat but does not tighten skin. In some patients, fat reduction without skin contraction can leave behind laxity. The treatment itself can also be uncomfortable. The U.S. uses ultrasound-based technologies, which rely on reaching a specific thermal threshold to be effective. The challenge there is tolerance, as treatments can become painful or too hot, and many patients can't comfortably complete the session at the energy levels required for results.

With Onda Pro, discomfort is minimal. The same energy intended to improve circulation and temporarily improve cellulite appearance has, in real-world outcomes, consistently shown fat reduction with accompanying skin tightening. That combination is rare.

Onda Pro Treatment Details and Expectations

Sessions can take anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the size and number of areas treated. We typically recommend four treatments per area, spaced four to six weeks apart. It's important to note that this treatment is not recommended for lipedema, lipomas, or those with damaged lymphatic systems. Some patients begin to see changes as early as one week, though full results can take up to 10 weeks to fully reveal themselves. Onda Pro pricing ranges from $1980 to $9240.

We have seen from our global colleagues that fat reduction can be permanent in those who stay at a stable weight, and cellulite improvement can last up to one year.

The Future for Onda Pro

Right now, Onda Pro is available exclusively at The Things We Do in Los Angeles, with plans to expand nationwide. I don't make predictions lightly, but if I had to guess what body treatment will quietly dominate conversations in 2026, this would be it. Sometimes, the most effective technologies don't announce themselves loudly. They just work, and then you see the results and realize you're obsessed. That's exactly how my love for Onda Pro started.

Kristina Ang is a Who What Wear editor in residence, fashion writer and content creator, and social producer for Spotify. Previously, she worked as a social video coordinator at Harper's Bazaar.

Summer has only just begun, but the cool girls have already started gravitating toward the color of the season: aqua.

A large part of the growing obsession with this color originated from Matthieu Blazy's debut Chanel show in January. There, statement aqua shopping totes and two-tone heels were sent down the runway at Paris's Grand Palais. As a result, when the pieces finally arrived in Chanel boutiques in March, a frenzy ensued, with fashion insiders and excited shoppers alike bracing long lines just to get their hands on Blazy's maximalist accessories. The era of coveting the timeless black Chanel Flap bag and classic two-tone ballet flats appeared to be fading. Ahead of summer 2026, Chanel consumers showed up with an appetite for color—aqua to be exact.

Cool girls on social media are proving to be just as responsible for the color's current dominance. Tastemakers like Isa Sung, Noure JFL, and Linda Schulz have already incorporated the electric hue into their summer rotations. Even celebrities like Zara Larsson, who wore it during her Chicken Shop Date with host Amelia Dimoldenberg, have embraced the color.

If you're ready to lean into the season's boldest shade, here are the best pieces available this summer to help you incorporate aqua into your wardrobe.

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Welcome to Who What Wear Travels, a series of curated guides to destinations the fashion set loves. Consider this your download on everything from the chicest stays to the most memorable meals to the perfect travel wardrobe, all vetted by stylish locals and well-traveled fashion folks.

Shoulder-season travel to warm places that aren't quite operating at full capacity yet are among my favorite trips to take. There's a quality to it that's hard to replicate in peak summer: fewer people, more room to breathe, more affordable hotel rates, and the sense that a place is still mostly itself. Menorca in the spring fits that exactly.

Of all the Balearics, Menorca is the least built up in the best way. Even Formentera, which used to be the sleepiest of the islands, has developed more of a pulse in recent years, but Menorca has stayed quiet in a way that feels almost deliberate. There isn't a huge amount to do here in the traditional sense. Days are simple and elemental: long seafood lunches by the water, dramatic wild beaches that require real effort to reach, swimming in water that is genuinely some of the clearest in the Mediterranean thanks to the posidonia seagrass that grows along the seabed and keeps it that way. When you're not at the beach, you're roaming around Ciutadella's old town, poking around the fishing villages along the coast, shopping in Mahón, or making the trip out to Hauser & Wirth on its own private island.

I went to Menorca in late April and into early May, when the island was just starting to shake itself awake for the season, and I'm officially convinced that it was the perfect time to visit. Almost everything had just reopened for the season, the temperatures were divine, and I had the beaches largely to myself. By summer, the island fills up. Parking gets tricky, the best beaches require early starts, restaurants require reservations made well in advance, and the whole experience shifts from peaceful to something a bit more planned around logistics than spontaneity.

A few things to understand before you go to Menorca: You need a car or, at minimum, a scooter, which you can rent at the airport. The island has one main road, the Me-1, which runs east–west through the center, and smaller roads branch off toward towns and beaches. Because it doesn't follow the coastline and many beaches are reached via secondary roads, distances that look short on a map often take longer in reality.

Therefore, where you stay sets the tone for how you experience the island. The island divides roughly into three distinct coastlines, each with a different character. The southwest, close to Ciutadella, is the most scenically beautiful. This is where you find the iconic Menorca: hidden coves with impossibly turquoise water, pale sand, and towering limestone cliffs that drop into still, luminous seas. Many of the best beaches require a 20–30 minute walk to reach, but the reward is that cinematic, almost tropical clarity that defines the island's reputation. The southeast, around Mahón, or Maó as it's commonly known, is more accessible and structured. There's easier beach access, more infrastructure, and a livelier harbor-side feel, still offering that same clear water in a more relaxed, everyday setting. The north is something else entirely. It's not about turquoise coves but about raw, exposed landscape: jagged coastline, red-tinged rock, and a wilder, more elemental feel. Shaped by the Tramuntana wind, it feels harsher and more dramatic in a geological sense.

My advice: Don't try to cover the whole island from one base. During this trip, I spent two nights in the southwest near Ciutadella and the rest on the southeast coast near Mahón, which felt about right. If you don't have the time to move around, decide what kind of trip you want—the wilder, more isolated experience or the easier, more connected one—and pick accordingly.

Below, read my guide to Menorca…

Where to Stay on Menorca

I chose to spend my first two nights on the southwest coast close to Ciutadella and the dramatic beaches and coves that define this part of the island. Vestige Son Vell, a beautifully restored 18th-century manor set on a 450-acre estate, sits close enough to the sea that several smaller coves are reachable on foot directly from the property. Driving along the narrow country lane toward the estate bordered by fertile fields and citrus and olive groves, the scent of warm earth and Mediterranean flora drifts through the open window before I even park. The welcome is warm and unhurried, which sets the tone for everything that follows.

The property is built around the original manor house, with a handful of rooms inside and villas spread quietly across the grounds. The bath products are from Rowse, a Spanish plant-based line that feels entirely in tune with the setting—subtle, botanical, and quietly luxurious, echoing the almost ethereal atmosphere of the estate itself. There are two pools, a yoga pavilion, and an outdoor fitness area. The infrastructure is there if you want it, but nothing feels imposed or overtly resort-like. Dining follows the same philosophy: a main restaurant centered on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients—many drawn directly from the estate's own garden—alongside a more relaxed bar for light meals and evening drinks.

Experimental Menorca is one of the largest of the island's farmstay-style hotels with 43 rooms spread across 74 acres, including nine private villas with their own plunge pools. It offers the most comprehensive setup of the group on this list: a main pool with a lively pool bar suited to long, lingering lunches, a central restaurant serving breakfast and dinner, and a spa in the main house featuring treatments with Biologique Recherche products. The wellness facilities are particularly strong for a hotel of this scale. There's a dedicated yoga and Pilates studio, sauna, and steam room, plus a secluded yoga platform reached via a 10-minute nature hike set above the water. A small cove is also accessible within a short walk from the property, and there's even a working vineyard on-site, reinforcing the estate's sense of place. The hotel's curated concept shop highlights local designers and brands, alongside a carefully selected range of resortwear, accessories, and jewelry perfect for island living. Experimental is also the most energetic of the properties I stayed at, whether due to its size or the loyal following that Experimental hotels tend to draw. The atmosphere is noticeably lively, attracting a healthy mix of couples and families.

Son Blanc is the most bohemian of the hotels I stayed in. It has a rawer, more spiritual sensibility and a deeply personal feel, which feels more like staying in a thoughtfully curated home than a traditional hotel. The farmhouse sits quietly amid olive groves and open countryside, lending it a sense of calm seclusion that defines the entire experience. The saltwater pool overlooks the property's orchard and has its own laid-back bar, and an honesty bar inside the main house invites guests to mix their own drinks at any hour. Food is a central part of life here and is almost entirely organic, much of it grown on-site. Breakfast is homemade and generous, with fresh cakes, frittatas, and a juice station stocked with vegetables picked from the garden that very morning. The restaurant cooks over charcoal, and the daily menu is shaped by whatever the farm and surrounding sea provide. On Wednesday evenings, the hotel hosts a communal long-table dinner, an easy, convivial gathering that reflects the property's emphasis on connection. Fifteen rooms, including one reserved for creatives in residence, are intentionally simple and tactile with organic materials throughout: carved limestone bathtubs, braided textile headboards, and impossibly comfortable beds dressed in soft Merci linens. Yoga sessions and curated experiences reinforce the hotel's slower, more mindful rhythm, and there's a clear sense of community woven into everything.

Torralbenc is about 15 minutes from Mahón, set on a 70-acre estate of vineyards and olive groves that you drive through on the approach. You arrive at a cluster of low, whitewashed farm buildings framed by cypress trees and lavender, their scent lightly perfuming the air. There are just 27 rooms and cottages, all limestone walls, natural textures, and a quietness that feels deliberate. The restaurant, housed in what was once a grape and barrel storeroom, serves a refined take on Mediterranean cooking using produce from the hotel's own gardens, and the wine list is centered on the estate's vintages. That connection to the land carries through to the hotel's wine tastings, featuring guided sessions that walk you through their small-production wines, often paired with local bites. There's a saltwater pool, a small spa with treatment rooms, and a fitness center, but the rhythm here is slower, more grounded in the landscape. What lingers most is the light at the end of the day: the sun dropping over the vineyards, the white buildings holding onto it, the entire property turning a deep, honeyed gold.

Amagatay offers an elevated and upscale farm stay in the southeast—a romantic 20-room adults-only boutique hotel set within a 14th-century estate near Cala'n Porter with the kind of modern amenities and polish that set it apart from the more rustic farmstays in the area. Rooms are spread between the main house and across the property, each with a private terrace or garden. There are two restaurants worth knowing about here: El Olivar, a refined Mediterranean dining room surrounded by olive trees, and SUA Parrilla, a grill restaurant drawing on Basque tradition with premium cuts and farm-to-table vegetables. The pool sits in a shaded area that keeps it comfortable well into the afternoon, and the Sunset Bar is on hand for cocktails as the light changes.

Suggestions for city stays: La Cayena in Ciutadella and Cristine Bedfor Guest Houses in Mahón.

Where I'll stay next time: Fontenille Menorca Torre Vella and the new Vestige Son Ermità and Vestige Binidufà in the north.

Where to Dine on Menorca

In the old city of Ciutadella on the western part of the island, Bar Imperi is something of an institution. Open since the 1940s, it sits beneath stone arches on the Plaça des Born and is the kind of place locals have been coming to for breakfast for generations. Order the llonguet, a small Menorcan bread roll stuffed with sobrasada and honey or Mahón cheese, with a coffee. Nearby, Cafè Balear, a family-run restaurant overlooking the port, is the go-to for seafood. It's been in business for over 50 years and is still sourcing fish daily from their own boat. Order the lobster stew, the island's most classic dish, or the razor clams. Just outside Ciutadella, Nonna Bazaar is in a category of its own with a festive farm-to-table restaurant set in a restored 100-year-old dusty-red farmhouse, drawing on the full breadth of Mediterranean cooking across its 21 countries. The menu is eclectic and meant for sharing, most of it sourced from the farm. Its newer addition, Nonna Beach, brings the same spirit to the coast near Son Saura beach.

In Mahón, the capital on the eastern end of the island, Bar Augustin is a small, unpretentious bistro running a short fixed menu alongside a chalkboard that changes daily with whatever the market is offering, including a good wine list, worth a lunch. Sa Bodega, on the Plaza de la Constitución, is more of a wine bar than a restaurant: cheese boards, anchovies, charcuterie, vermouth. Not a full meal, but a very good stop. Oysters Menorca is known as much for its oysters as for its caviar spaghetti, which has developed something of a following of its own. And Arjau, on the port, is the place for lobster and rice dishes, run by a chef with 30 years behind him. If you're looking for a natural wine or kombucha stop, look no further than Après-Sol, Casa de Aperitivos.

If you're staying in one of the southeast farmstays near Mahón, Es Molí de Foc is worth the short drive to the sleepy local village of Sant Climent, a 19th-century mill converted into a restaurant with one of the best wine cellars on the island. The menu revolves around rice done every way: dry, soupy, black, and a banda, cooked in a deep fish broth.

The seaside spots are among the most memorable meals you'll have on the island. Cap Roig, perched on a cliff above Sa Mesquida cove just north of Mahón, has been an island institution since the 1980s; come for the fresh local seafood, the lobster, the rice dishes, and one of the better views you'll find from a restaurant table in Menorca. Just down at the cove, Bar Sa Mesquida is the simpler, more casual counterpart, serving calamari, monkfish, and cold drinks, with feet practically in the water. Restaurant Tamarindos sits right on the beach at Es Grau, a quiet fishing village on the north coast, and is the kind of place Menorcans have been coming to all summer for decades for rice, fresh fish, tapas, and cocktails as the sun goes down. Pintarroja in Es Castell is an informal, no-frills seafood restaurant on the terrace at Moll den Pons—grilled prawns, fried baby squid, and sardines, string lights overhead and water just a few meters away. Bucaneros Binibeca is less about the food and more about the experience, featuring a white cave bar carved into the cliffside overlooking a small, calm, family-friendly beach. Ivette Beach Club at Cala Morell, on the northwest coast near Ciutadella, is the most polished of the lot—Mediterranean and Spanish dishes, grilled octopus, charred meat, a cocktail bar upstairs with views that make it worth the drive.

No visit to Menorca is complete without a long lunch or sunset dinner in Fornells, a small whitewashed fishing village on a wide natural lagoon famous for its lobster, which you can enjoy at beloved spots like Es Cranc, Sa Llagosta, and Sa Xerxa.

Where to Shop on Menorca

In my opinion, the tiny capital of Mahón is the only worthwhile destination for shopping in Menorca. The souvenir you'll actually want to take home is a pair of handmade espadrilles, the island's most iconic craft. Boba's is the place for original rope-sole espadrilles handmade by one craftsman, Llorenç Pons, entirely from natural materials. S'Abarca does leather avarca sandals, the other Menorcan classic, where you choose your sole and have them made to order in minutes.

Ca s'Esparter is a 200-year-old shop still run by the sixth generation of the same family, selling esparto goods, workwear, and exclusive tees from local hot spots like Cap Roig.

The "fashion with a capital F" girlies should visit Hetra for a cool, curated assortment of Latin brands, from Argentina to Colombia.

Can Sab, a multi-floor shop run by a French woman with a good eye, mixes funky clothing with antique furniture and homeware that you won't find anywhere else.

Tiny House Menorca is where to go for white linen dresses, straw bags, and the kind of simple, wearable pieces you'll want to wear straight out of the shop.

Visit Casalma for organic homeware, like ceramics, textiles, and objects that capture the Menorca aesthetic you'll want to bottle up and bring home with you.

Where to Beach on Menorca

Everyone has their favorites along Menorca's wild southwest stretch, and to be sure, everyone's would include the dramatic and beautiful Cala Macarella and its neighboring cove Cala Macarelleta. The former is a large beach with a restaurant that you access via a 20-minute walk down from the parking lot, while the latter is reached via a 20-minute hike around the cliffside, opening onto a postcard-perfect cove with some of the clearest, most turquoise water on the island.

Cala en Turqueta is a small, pine-fringed cove that requires a flat 20-minute walk down from the parking lot to a calm, shallow bay ideal for swimming, where you'll see people lying on both the sandy beach and along the rocks sheltered by the forest trees.

While it's not as dramatic as the tall cliff-lined coves characteristic of the southwest, I love Son Saura not only for its ease and accessibility (it's only a five-minute walk from the parking lot) but also for its simple, long sandy stretch with perfectly still, clear blue water. You'll see hikers walking along the Camí de Cavalls coastal path, which extends around the island, where you can reach other hidden beaches and coves that feel far removed from the crowds. Stop at Cala Mitjana on your drive east and hike to the quieter Cala Mitjaneta for a scenic dip framed by low limestone cliffs and dense pine forest.

The southeast is known for its more accessible beaches and coves. Among them, Playa de Binibeca is a good family beach with flat turquoise water and a cute restaurant on the sand. For something more raw with relatively easy access but with similar dramatic beauty to the southwest beaches, go to Cala Binidalí.

You'll also find the more local spots in the smaller coves like Cala de Biniparratx, Caló Blanc, and Cala Binissafúller.

The northern coast of Menorca is known for being the island's wilder, more rugged counterpart to the postcard-perfect south. Instead of soft white and calm turquoise coves, the north has a raw, untamed beauty shaped by Tramuntana winds and a very different geology. Beaches along the north coast, like Cala Pregonda and Cavalleria Beach, are famous for their reddish-gold sand, rust-colored cliffs, and darker, sometimes moodier waters. The sea here can still turn clear and blue on calm days, but it's less predictably turquoise than in the south and often feels more elemental. This side of the island is also less developed, with fewer beach clubs and more untouched stretches of coastline.

What to See on Menorca

Beyond the beaches, the restaurants, and the lazy roaming between Mahón and Ciutadella, there are a few experiences in Menorca worth going out of your way for.

Hauser & Wirth Menorca sits on Illa del Rei, a small island in the middle of Mahón harbor, home to a decommissioned 18th-century naval hospital that sits alongside Hauser & Wirth's gallery spaces, restaurant, and shop. You reach it by shuttle boat from the port, about 15 minutes, which is very much part of the experience. The program centers on rotating contemporary art exhibitions by internationally recognized artists, often spanning sculpture, painting, and large-scale installations that respond to the island's landscape and architecture. Beyond exhibitions, the space hosts artist residencies, educational workshops, and public programs, with a strong emphasis on engaging the local community, particularly through partnerships with Menorcan schools, environmental initiatives, and collaborations with local artisans and producers. The Cantina restaurant sits outdoors under an olive grove on the island, serving shared plates of fresh fish, seafood, and vegetables cooked over fire.

Booking a private boat day with a skipper is expensive in Menorca year-round, so it's worth being strategic about your itinerary. I'd recommend focusing on coves and beaches that are difficult to reach by land, particularly those along the southwest coast. There are also northern and southeastern routes available (I booked a southwest route with Boat Charter Menorca), but if you only have one day set aside for a boat trip, the southwest is usually the best choice. The beaches there are some of the island's most beautiful and least accessible on foot, making them especially rewarding from the water. For this route, booking with a boat company that departs from Cala Galdana is ideal, as it puts you close to several of the most iconic nearby coves and allows you to maximise your time swimming and exploring rather than travelling.

Wine tasting at a local winery: Menorca has a small but genuine wine culture, producing mostly reds from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, along with Chardonnay whites and some notable sparkling wines. The most established winery on the island is Bodegas Binifadet, which is just outside Sant Lluís near Mahón. Guided tours run a few times a day in English, ending with a tasting of three wines paired with local goat cheese. There's also a restaurant on-site if you want to stay for lunch or dinner.

Menorca has a long, deeply embedded relationship with horses, which you'll notice immediately in the dressage displays at local fiestas and the equestrian culture woven into daily island life. The best way to tap into that is on the Camí de Cavalls, a 115-mile coastal trail that circles the entire island. The name means "horse path," and it dates back to the 14th century when knights were required to patrol the coastline on horseback. Today, it's a fully restored trail used by hikers, cyclists, and riders, passing through wild nature reserves along clifftops, past prehistoric sites and lighthouses, and down to more than 50 beaches and coves. You don't need riding experience to join a guided tour, and several operators offer sections of the route on horseback, which is far and away the most immersive way to see the parts of the island that don't reveal themselves by car.

Eugénie Trochu is a Who What Wear editor in residence known for her transformative work at Vogue France and her Substack newsletter, where she documents and shares new trends, her no-nonsense approach to fashion and style, plus other musings. She's also working on her upcoming first book that explores fashion as a space of memory, projection, and reinvention.

I love florals. In fact, I think I've worn them every summer for as long as I can remember. Yet this season, I've realized that my taste is heading in a rather different direction from what most brands seem to be offering.

Everywhere, there are light, delicate, almost translucent flowers. Prints resemble watercolors, pastel bouquets are scattered across cream backgrounds, and dresses look as though they were picked from an English garden at first light. It's charming, obviously, but I've caught myself craving exactly the opposite.

At the moment, I'm only drawn to exuberant florals—huge orange peonies, fuchsia dahlias, red roses that look almost artificial—and prints that are intensely colorful and deeply retro, evoking a 1970s grandmother's wallpaper more than a romantic cottage in Kent. The more "pop" they are, the more they appeal to me.

There is something profoundly uplifting about these flowers. They are not trying to flatter. They are not trying to be timeless. They are sometimes a little kitsch, often excessive, but they have character. They remind me of the fabrics in the holiday homes of my childhood: printed tablecloths, curtains faded by the sun, family photographs whose colors have gently softened with time. They possess a warmth and generosity that I do not always find in more contemporary prints.

I'm currently looking for a dress to wear to a wedding in Italy, and unsurprisingly, I keep coming back to this kind of pattern. I want a dress that is very simple in its cut yet covered in gigantic, colorful flowers, something that looks a little like an Italian sofa from 1974, in the very best sense of the term.

With flat sandals, a few gold jewels, and my hair pinned up, it feels like exactly what I want this summer—not something discreet, something that immediately gives the impression that the holidays have begun.

How to Wear Bold Florals

To wear bold florals without looking as though you've stepped straight out of a deleted scene from Austin Powers, a certain amount of discipline is required.

When the print is this bold, everything else should step back. The simplest sandals possible, very little jewelry, a discreet bag, hair tied up or left natural. No sophisticated makeup, no dramatic heels, no accumulation of accessories. The idea is not to add glamour to the print; it already handles that perfectly well on its own.

These florals work best when treated with a degree of nonchalance. Otherwise, there is always the risk of drifting into "wealthy Sicilian heiress on a never-ending holiday" territory or becoming a little too much like Tanya McQuoid on the yacht in season 2 of The White Lotus. This may be an admirable reference on-screen but is considerably more difficult to pull off on a Tuesday morning in the city.

Eugénie Trochu is a Who What Wear editor in residence known for her transformative work at Vogue France and her Substack newsletter, where she documents and shares new trends, her no-nonsense approach to fashion and style, plus other musings. She's also working on her upcoming first book that explores fashion as a space of memory, projection, and reinvention.

There's a heat wave warning in Rome this weekend, the kind of heat where even the stones seem to be sweating. I had packed sensibly enough: a few lightweight shorts, flat sandals, sunglasses large enough to cover half my face. Yet one question kept coming back every time I stood in front of the mirror. What do you wear on top when it's 38°C (100°F), you're walking around the city all day, and you don't particularly feel like showing your midriff to hundreds of tourists?

Somewhere between the ribbed tank top that eventually starts looking like underwear and the oversize shirt that sticks to your back after 20 minutes, there is a middle ground, a category of tops that can survive a heat wave while still looking somewhat put-together.

This year, I've found myself drawn to things that feel slightly old-fashioned. Prints that look as though they've escaped from a 1950s family photo album. Gingham, tiny checks, miniature florals. Lightweight cotton poplin tops that keep their shape even when they're wrinkled. A touch of lace, a little crochet, some broderie anglaise.

I especially love small sleeveless tops buttoned down the front that vaguely recall childhood blouses, only simpler. They work with absolutely everything.

Gingham has become my ally again in washed-out red, sky blue, and biscuit beige—something fresh, cheerful, and far more suited to extreme temperatures than black, which inevitably gives me the air of a Mediterranean widow in the middle of August.

I've also surprised myself by gravitating toward white cotton tops trimmed with a little lace. They're not overly romantic. It's just enough to suggest an Éric Rohmer heroine who happened to book an EasyJet flight to Rome. They possess that rare quality of looking polished without appearing to require any effort at all.

And then there are mineral shades. Chalk, sand, eggshell, pale clay, faded sage, dusty blue. Colors that seem as though they're feeling the heat too.

In the end, the formula that worked best during this Roman weekend was remarkably simple: a sleeveless poplin top, denim shorts, flat sandals, a few pieces of gold jewelry, and hair pinned up without much thought. The hotter it gets, the more convinced I become that true sophistication lies in simplicity.

French girl–approved summer tops:

Pritika Swarup is a Who What Wear editor in residence, an international fashion model, a philanthropist, and the founder and CEO of the award-winning beauty and wellness brand Prakti Beauty.

In today's world, wellness is a commodity, manufactured on an industrial scale. The wellness market is worth a staggering $6.8 trillion. (Yes, that's trillion with a T.) It's no wonder it often feels like a performance rather than a practice.

Social media is partly to blame. Our IG and TikTok feeds are full of hyperoptimized morning routines, clockwork supplement schedules, and ice baths taken before sunrise—systems that are designed to be followed, documented, and perfected. True wellness, however, is personal and practical. It means creating routines that ground you, despite a busy schedule and a never-ending to-do list. It's not all discipline and performance, nor is it all ritual and restoration. True wellness exists in the in-between.

I grew up with Ayurveda as a constant in my life—not as a trend but as a way of understanding health and wellness holistically. It shaped how I think about everything: digestion, skin health, energy, even mental wellness. It was never about quick fixes. It was about rhythm, intuition, and treating the body as an ecosystem rather than a set of isolated concerns.

It's what keeps me grounded and feeling my best despite my on-the-go lifestyle. As a model, CEO, and philanthropist, I travel constantly between New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Miami, and other international cities. I work on brand campaigns and editorial photo shoots; helm my skincare brand, Prakti Beauty; and travel with Operation Smile. It requires energy, focus, and resilience. As such, my wellness routine isn't fixed—it’s responsive. It changes based on where I am, how I feel, and what my body needs. Some days that means slowing down and grounding myself. Other days, it means leaning into intensity and performance. The key is not doing everything, but understanding when to do what. This is what that looks like for me.

Oil Pulling + Tongue Scraping

My morning routine sets the tone for the entire day. No matter where I am in the world, I start by focusing on my oral health, more specifically, oil pulling and tongue scraping. I do this before eating or drinking as a mouth and digestive reset.

Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic practice. It involves swishing oil in the mouth for several minutes first thing in the morning. According to Ayurveda, toxins (ama) accumulate in the mouth and digestive tract when the body enters its natural repair mode at night. Oil pulling is meant to bind to these impurities and remove them before they’re reabsorbed. It reduces stagnation in the body and supports the oral microbiome.

Next, I use a copper tongue scraper. Per the name, it gently scrapes the surface of the tongue to remove buildup. In Ayurveda, the coating on your tongue is seen as a reflection of internal digestion. Overnight, toxins and undigested residue coat the surface of the tongue. If not removed, they can be reabsorbed into the body. According to Ayurvedic principles, a clean tongue enhances taste perception, which is directly linked to digestive signaling. It’s one of the simplest ways to support digestion by clearing what your body has already processed overnight.

Once I complete both of these rituals, I brush my teeth and move on to the next step in my morning routine.

Supplements

Before I reach for my morning matcha or coffee, I start with a glass of warm water and lemon, and I’ll often add ginger. Then, it's time to take my supplements. I keep them intentionally minimal, focusing on a few that make a *real* difference. This includes a probiotic for gut health, an adaptogen blend rooted in Ayurvedic ingredients, and Nutrafol. I’ve learned that consistency matters more than quantity.

A probiotic is number one for me because I think of gut health as the foundation of everything—from digestion to energy to skin. I tend to gravitate toward Seed’s Daily Synbiotic for a more comprehensive, microbiome-focused approach. Alongside that, I incorporate Ayurvedic adaptogens. I like blends like Moon Juice’s SuperYou, which has ingredients like ashwagandha, amla, rhodiola, and shatavari and is a more modern way of supporting stress and balance using ingredients I already trust.

I’ll also layer in more targeted support when needed. Nutrafol has been a constant for my hair health, as I'm always in the glam chair getting my hair heat-styled. I also like Ritual for its clean, streamlined formulations—whether it’s the Essential for Women Multivitamin or HyaCera for hydration support.

Red Light Therapy + Cold Exposure

One wellness practice I continuously come back to is red light therapy. I stand for 20 minutes, unclothed, in front of my Joovv Red-Light Panel, usually while drinking matcha. It’s not something I rely on every single morning, but when I use it consistently, I notice a difference—not just in my skin but in how my body feels overall. It enhances recovery and helps my body function at a higher level over time.

On the other end of that spectrum is cold exposure, which I use much more intuitively. Some mornings it’s as simple as splashing my face with ice-cold water or hopping into a cold hotel shower. When I'm in a rush, I use the Skin Gym Iceglow Gel Head Cap. It delivers a 360-degree cooling sensation. Other times, if I have access, I’ll do a cold plunge. (I only stay in for about two minutes, but I’m working on increasing that!) When I’m able to do this, it’s a full reset for my body and my mind. There’s an immediate shift that happens: Your circulation wakes up, your nervous system sharpens, and you feel more present. I’ve found it’s one of the fastest ways to move out of that groggy, in-between state and into a clearer, more energized version of yourself.

Both of these practices—red light therapy and cold exposure—aren't things I force. They’re tools I use when I feel like my body needs an extra layer of support, whether that’s recovery, energy, or simply a reset before the day really begins. And they're incredible for beating jet lag!

Abhyanga-Inspired Face Massage

Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic practice of massaging the entire body from head to toe using warm, herbalized oil. I like to do a face-specific version to stimulate circulation, support my lymphatic system, and calm my nervous system. It’s one of the few moments in the day when I’m actually paying attention to how my face feels—where I’m holding tension and where I need more support.

I always start with my hands and then use a gua sha. Some mornings it’s just a few minutes; other days I’ll spend more time, especially if I’m feeling puffy from travel or holding water or tension. I focus on a few key areas:

• Jaw: This is where I tend to carry the most tension, especially when I’m stressed or traveling. Releasing that tightness immediately softens my entire face and helps me feel more relaxed.
• Cheekbones: I use upward, lifting motions here, not aggressively, but enough to stimulate circulation. It’s about sculpting and bringing life back into the skin.
• Under-eyes: Gentle, light movements to de-puff and encourage lymphatic drainage. This is where I notice the biggest difference, especially after flights or long days.

I think of it less as sculpting and more as restoring flow. When circulation improves and tension is released, your skin naturally looks more lifted, more radiant, and more alive. It brings out the best, natural glow.

Dry Brushing

If I have time after my face massage, I try to give my body some TLC via dry brushing. I always do this before I shower. It's a quick process, but it's an effective way to exfoliate my skin, stimulate circulation, and activate the lymphatic system, aka feel more energized, retain less fluid, and look more sculpted.

I use long, upward strokes starting at my feet and moving toward my heart, then from my hands up my arms. It’s not aggressive, just enough to wake everything up. What I like about it is that it immediately creates a sense of lightness. It’s one of those small habits that make you feel more energized almost instantly.

Skincare

Skincare and wellness are inextricably linked. Most mornings, I’ll use my Prakti Beauty RaniRitual Set ($164). It’s a system I’ve relied on for years—clinically effective formulas, sensorial ritual, immediate results, and a focus on long-term balance rather than quick fixes. It's my sustainable answer to the industry's tendency to overcorrect, layer too many actives, and force a result. (I’ve done that before, and it never felt sustainable.) When you focus on nourishment, consistency, and balance, your skin responds in a way that feels more natural.

I start with the DeviDetox Purifying Cleanser to gently remove impurities without stripping skin. I love the creamy, hydrating texture (it feels more like a treatment than a cleanser), and it protects the skin barrier with powerful adaptogens. Two to three times a week, I’ll use the PritiPolish Instant Glow Exfoliator. What I love about it is that it’s completely customizable. When I add water, it transforms into this soft paste that gently refines the skin without feeling abrasive or overly active. It gives you that immediate smoothness and brightness but without the dryness or sensitivity that can come from traditional exfoliators. (Sometimes I even add it to my cleanser and combine these two steps.)

I always follow with the SundaSkin Essential Hydrating Serum. It’s lightweight and water-based and penetrates deeply for multilevel skin hydration. It helps support the skin barrier, evens tone, and brings out a natural, healthy glow.

I finish with the SapnaSoft Essential Hydrating Moisturizer to lock everything in. It has a lightweight whipped texture that’s breathable. It’s the step that seals in hydration, plumps, smooths, and keeps my skin feeling balanced.

It's important to note that Prakti Beauty products are infused with subtle, natural, mood-boosting aromas—notes like vetiver, jasmine, and neroli. They add to the experience and help calm and ground the nervous system.

That's every step in my adaptable morning wellness routine. While it's easy to think of wellness as something to master, optimize, and perfect, I've realized it doesn't work that way. My body and environment are always in flux, and what you need one day won’t be the same the next. That's why I'll never lock myself into a rigid wellness routine—we require flow and flexibility to feel our best.

For me, wellness is about tuning in and knowing when to push, when to pull back, when to simplify, and when to layer in more support. It’s understanding that balance isn’t something you achieve—it’s a near-constant adjustment. When you approach it that way, wellness is easy and intuitive.

Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more product recommendations, insights into my wellness routine, and so much more.

Bettina Looney is a Who What Wear editor in residence, stylist, tastemaker, entrepreneur, and creative consultant recognized for her curated eye and cross-industry influence. Spanning fashion, interiors, and beauty, she translates style into substance through private styling at The Bettina Looney Edit.

It's wedding season. And every year without fail, the question is always the same: What do I actually wear, and where can I find something different? Cue the doom scrolling, the abandoned carts, the tabs you leave open for three weeks and then somehow never return to. As someone who genuinely loves getting dressed, I still find wedding dressing uniquely stressful. There are so many unspoken rules, so many things to consider, and yet the window to actually find something feels impossibly small.

As I've been on the hunt myself for a few weddings I'm attending this year, I also put together a selection of my current favorite dress trends for the occasion.

Classic All Black

I really hope people’s aversion to black at weddings has subsided. I always find it to be the chicest, most elegant option, and you can never go wrong. When I look for dresses to wear, I always try to find something that feels a little different from what I have seen before. I stumbled upon this Cult Gaia Samya dress and thought it was so fun; perfect for a day party or dinner prior to the actual wedding day.

Wearing: Cult Gaia Samya Dress ($909)

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Champagne Romanticism

I fell in love with this Zimmermann dress and recently wore it to a wedding in Spain. The color is this perfect champagne—one of those shades that just feels inherently elegant without trying too hard. It was also genuinely so comfortable, which matters more than people admit. When you have two kids under 4 running around, the last thing you need is a dress you have to think about.

Wearing: Zimmerman Alchemy Billow Dress

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Classic Caftans

I have never met a caftan I didn’t like. There’s something so beautiful about being wrapped in all that material; it feels dramatic in the best possible way. This Taller Marmo number is one I've had my eye on for a while. The fringe detail and the fabric are just so good. They do so many different versions of a fringe dress, and I feel they are perfect for a formal evening or black-tie. Comfortable, elegant, and genuinely one of the easiest things you can wear.

Wearing: Taller Marmo Tigris Ecru Dress ($515)

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Unexpected Color Combo

If there is one color combination I keep returning to, it’s green and brown. It just stands out and feels very different from what you would usually see at a wedding. I thought this Silvia Tcherassi dress was so fun—the sleeves, the color, the silhouette. It has this Spanish flair to it that I am always drawn to. Incredibly flattering and perfect for a day party or outdoor wedding event.

Wearing: Silvia Tcherassi Afrodita Dress ($2200)

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A Statement Gown

This is a Rosie Assoulin dress that I wore in Spain. The black structured bodice against that gold organza skirt—it’s just such a moment. I love that it manages to feel both dramatic and elegant at the same time. If you are going to commit to a statement gown for a wedding, this is exactly the kind of thing I would reach for.

Wearing: Rosie Assoulin Peak Drama Gown ($7495)

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Blanca Miró Scrimieri is a Who What Wear UK editor-in-residence and a Barcelona-based stylist. As the founder of fashion brand La Veste and co-founder of sunglasses line Delarge, her expertise lies in design, creative direction and brand building. Although you may know Miró from her collaborations with luxury fashion houses, it is likely her distinctive street style and outfit curation have brought her Instagram profile to your attention. When she isn't attending fashion week or behind the scenes at La Veste, you can also find her curating chic tablescapes at @blanca_a_table.

People always ask me where I find inspiration, and honestly, I never travel looking for it. I travel because I love seeing new places, getting lost in shops, markets and bookstores, and because I’m incredibly curious. The inspiration usually comes later. I’ve also realised that travelling doesn’t really change my taste; I’ve always liked the same things, and it just keeps growing with everywhere I visit. The Hamptons was one of those places.

I wasn’t obsessed with the big houses or the beaches. Rather, it was everything around them. The faded sweatshirts in tiny local shops, old American cookbooks with covers I wanted to frame, the hat stands at the markets, monograms on absolutely everything, farm stands that looked like film sets, vintage Porsches in the happiest colours, the way every porch seemed to have the perfect chairs. Those are the things my brain keeps.

Months later, I’ll be choosing a fabric, designing a belt or getting dressed, and I’ll realise that something I saw there has quietly found its way back. Not because I’m trying to re-create it, but because it now lives with all the other references I’ve collected over the years. I think that’s how taste grows; not by changing who you are, but by adding little layers to what already exists.

When I look back, I can almost trace them: Menorca, Paris, Jaipur, New York and now The Hamptons. They all left me with something different. Not a new style, just a few more things to love.

Shop a Hamptons-Inspired Wardrobe:

Once upon a time, not too long ago, Kylie Jenner walked outside with her hair in a ponytail and sent the internet into a frenzy. As such, beauty marketers across the world started a race to rebrand this fairly innocuous staple hairstyle into the new and (supposedly) improved "partless slick-back" trend. Surely the standard for a sleek ponytail should really be the hair at Balmain’s spring/summer 2016 show by Sam McKnight, which was high, smooth and finished with a piece of hair wrapped around the elastic hairband (to conceal the inner workings and add a layer of mystery).

As well as Balmain’s show models exemplifying the ultimate show pony, when considering great hair, I often find myself referencing a certain model dog, Samantha. This influencer Afghan hound is the ultra-elegant long-haired, long-nosed, pearlescent canine who sports effortless up-dos and silk scarves, and who proves that there's no need to reinvent the wheel when you can simply up the ante. So with that, get your hair ties at the ready, because it’s time to look back at some ponytails worth writing about!

Starting with the biggest for maximum impact, Guido Palau’s ponytails on the runway for Versace’s pre-fall 2019 show make pageant girls look like skinheads. Two models turned heads with XXL brunette ponytails adorned with gaudy crystals that fall into the "so wrong it’s right" category. The collection came the season after the 2018 tribute, where Donatella Versace unearthed the greatest hits from her brother Gianni's archive, and she was evidently still riding the wave for pre-fall 2019.

You cannot utter the word "ponytail", much less "big ponytail", without mentioning singer Ciara. Braided, brushed-out, curly, straight—you name it, she’s worn it (and well!). At the Met Gala in 2019 (the theme was Camp), Ciara sported a ponytail consisting of six Afro wigs worn high on the head, offset by a straight centre part at the front and two silver barrettes. The hair, created by Cesar DeLeon Ramirez, rose high above her head and fell all the way down her back.

Prepare yourself for this band-aid-ripping moment. My hottest ponytail take is that the Blond Ambition pony is not Madonna’s best. IMHO, her best is the voluminous curtain of blonde that sat atop her head whilst she wore the famous blue silk Tom Ford shirt to the 1995 VMAs. In fact, she donned an even better version of this pony in her iconic 1992 book Sex, shot by Steven Meisel in her peak Erotica era. The hair is even longer, and the look is finished with a single pair of hoop earrings. Both bouffant-like ponytails crafted by hairstylist Garren, could be descendants of fellow generational beauty, Sharon Tate, who secured her golden ponytail with a black velvet bow and punctuated it with a perfect flick at the end.

The plastic ring ponytail accessories from Dior spring/summer 2015 (also by the legendary Guido Palau) might be due for a comeback. The natural flow of the hair was interrupted, as if someone had sliced their pony off and then reattached it in a bout of regret. Colour played a huge part in how this style was read: the clear and silver rings felt like a sci-fi dream, whilst the reds, yellows and greens had a more '60s feel. The link between the '60s and futuristic interpretations of space is not lost here, and if you weren’t convinced, then the little beehive that accompanied the abstract ponytail serves as proof. Note: remember the red glossy boots that season? Also very '60s space-age!

Janet Jackson is another ponytail chameleon. She has worn every iteration of the style (it would be rude to her cheekbones not to!). A personal favourite Janet ponytail was her high, braided iteration at the 35th Grammy Awards by celebrity braider Janet Zeitoun. She let her hair and beauty take centre stage, her outfit a crisp white suit with a matching white wrap around her pony to pull the look together. It's a masterclass in red-carpet styling.

The high ponytail has a soulmate: the fringe. If the tight pull lifts the face, then the blunt fringe is the frame. Worn by icons like singer Nina Hagen, who is often cited as a source of inspiration by celebrity hairstylist Louis Souvestre, Nina’s hair was chameleonic in colour but always perfectly haphazard in style, and left a deep impression on Souvestre. Variations on the fringe-and-pony combo were also adopted by Janet Zeitoun for Janet Jackson in the What’s It Gonna Be?! music video, as well as Lady Gaga at the 2011 Grammys, where hairstylist Frederic Aspiras had her hair dishevelled and sat to the side, with her bottle blonde fading into the slightest tinge of coral-ish pink.

Souvestre also cites Josephine Baker’s high pony, which was sculpted by Jean Clément and protrudes from three artfully formed rings of hair that descend in size, as another iconic ponytail. The same image inspired Megan Thee Stallion’s hair by Kellon Deryck at the 2025 Met Gala, proving that this avant-garde style has stayed on fashion's shared mood board since its debut in 1951 at the Havana Club, and is where hair styling can transcend to artistic heights, beyond runways.

For the romantics, Zoë Kravitz's braided ponytail by Nikki Nelms for this year’s Met Gala was also nothing short of artful. Even her day to day look is shrouded in mystery and sparked much debate online as to what exactly Zoë asked for when making her request. Boho braids? A perfect mix of braids and locs? My personal favourite conspiracy was the simple suggestion of actually keeping your braids in longer than three weeks (if you know, you know). For the Met Gala Nelms added extra je ne sais quoi with tendrils of perfectly placed baby hair and a long ponytail that appeared to start its life as a messy bun before cascading down Zoë's back. When I think of princess hair, this is the image that comes to mind.

If this list so far has felt intimidating, rest assured that even "basic" can make history when it’s done right. Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved with a side fringe and a headful of layers, which produced spiky little ponytails that took the teens of Laguna Beach (and the world) by storm. And if you’re still uninspired, there’s always the Kyle Richards ponytail helicopter.

Tessa Faye O'Connell is a contributor known for her work at various fashion houses, specializing in media and public relations, currently working at Coach as its global PR director. She's a mom of two, working to expand her influence in the fashion space through styling while also just making it out the door on time.

Well, you know if I shared some of my most loved tops, I had to move on to dresses next! While I do gravitate toward a good top, there's nothing more apropos than throwing on a dress and sprinting out your door to catch the train. I love that there's a fit to every mood: drinks with friends after work, birthday parties, business meetings. These styles mix and match with different shoes to fit the different vibe required of the day. Separately, while I move toward basic colors for everyday wear during the cooler months, dresses are the one place I let myself get a bit more fun, leaning into prints that fit the summer mood and jive with warmer footwear options.

Here are my favorites that I can't wait to wear all summer long in this New York heat.

Drop-Waist Dress

This drop-waist dress from The Great has easily become one of my favorite pieces for the season. Easy to throw on and chic with sandals, all of the brand's dresses are flattering and worth the price tag. I revisit each of them season after season, consistently reaching for them.

Embroidered Dress

I love an embroidered boho print that can only come out in the summer months. Nothing feels better than matching the good weather. Pink City Prints has all my favorite ones for summer!

Printed Dress

Natalie Martin is a spring and summer staple. The brand's easy prints and silk fabrics make its dresses an instant win. I also like long sleeves in the summer as I oscillate in and out of air conditioning.

Gingham Dress

Believe it or not, this is one of my first Hill House purchases, and I'm converted. It's easy to throw on and extremely comfortable. I'm obsessed with gingham tops, so why not gingham dresses?

Black T-Shirt Dress

As usual, one of my most asked-about items is a simple black T-shirt dress. Arlo Mott makes an incredible one for the season, and the limit does not exist for how you can style it. Whether with a blazer or jean jacket, heels or flats, it always delivers.

Crochet Dress

Crochet on vacation, crochet tops… Why not crochet dresses?!

White Dress

White dresses are a must-have all summer long. They're instantly special and make you feel put-together once your skin (with SPF 50) gets a little glow.

Nightgown-Style Dress

Controversially, I love the nightgown-style look. I love the effortless notion of being able to throw on something with a little elegance and the casual essence that feels easy.

Slip Dress

All women need a slip dress that is a little more elegant but can be dressed up or toned down.

Shirred Dress

Shirred dresses are comfortable, easy, and effortless. I can't stop myself from buying a good one when the opportunity presents itself.

Lace Dress

This lace number makes me feel like a Chloé girl for less. I'm on a budget, people!

Victoria Magrath is a Who What Wear UK editor-in-residence and founder of byfrow Beauty, a premium brand rooted in multi-use products designed to "enhance your everyday". One of the UK’s most established luxury creators, she is known for her expertise across beauty, fashion, travel and refined living, with over 12 years of experience working with leading global brands.

If my own excitement for summer in Europe is anything to go by, the European tourist board must be rubbing its hands together in delight. Whilst Americans are headed over to the Med for their summer trips and screaming "Euro summer!" from their yachts, we in the UK are packing away our rain macs and piling 10 bikinis into our suitcases, ready to head to Portofino or somewhere equally as heavenly.

I’m sure that many of you have a holiday group chat with your friends to plan your trip, or you've at least Googled places to visit in Europe for the most sunshine at the best price. Either way, I get it: European holidays are the very best, in my opinion. They’re within a few hours' flying time from the UK, they almost guarantee sunshine and the list of places to visit only seems to grow every year. For me, it's usually Greece or Italy, but anywhere with sunshine, a view and some quiet is high on my list.

Also on my list is what to pack for said "Euro summer". Bikinis, co-ords, sandals and sunglasses are ready to go, but what about beauty products? Here are the six items I’m not leaving the country without this year.

Victoria Magrath's 6 Summer Beauty Essentials

1. Clé de Peau Beauté Exclusive UV Protective Cream SPF 50

2. Larry King Haircare Ride or Die Texture Spray

3. byfrow Pigment Pencils and Sharpener

4. Victoria Beckham Colour Wash Bronze Water Tint

5. Jo Malone London Beach Blossom Cologne

6. Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Bronze Body Oil

Jennifer Atilémile is the definition of a woman who does it all. A true multi-hyphenate, she is a model, writer, creative, activist, and intellectual. As an editor in residence, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry.

The courthouse wedding used to be an alternative to the old-school "establishment" religious ceremony, but now, it's one of the chicest ways to get married. There are two camps to the courthouse wedding: those who choose that moment to be their entire wedding and those who opt for the courthouse as their intimate moment before they celebrate in a main event with all their friends (your faves/cool girls/celebs). Dua Lipa had her intimate version in none other than custom Schiaparelli before her Italian celebration. Charli XCX married George Daniel at Hackney Town Hall in a Vivienne Westwood mini with her Sicilian blowout still to come. Let's talk about Sicily as the cool-girl musician's wedding-party destination in a different article.

I've got a personal stake in all of this. I'm following each detail like a hawk, even while I'm on date night with my fiancé, for any inkling or inch of the reveal of Lipa's ultimate wedding dress. My reason? I'm getting married at the end of the year, starting with the courthouse and then celebrating with all our friends at a separate event. So much of what I've seen play out as a 2026 bride has already been on my Pinterest list, and I'm watching—not so I can copy but so that I can appreciate and then make some choices on what feels most aligned with how I envision my moment.

For the Bride

The Suit

The most enduring courthouse-wedding look in fashion history is a suit, and it belongs to Bianca Jagger… well, according to my planning and Pinterest searches. She married Mick Jagger in Saint-Tropez in 1971 and wore an Yves Saint Laurent bias-cut column skirt and the ever-iconic Le Smoking single-buttoned jacket. She topped it off with a hat that hinted at a veil.

It's literally been on my Pinterest board for months, and clearly, I'm not the only one who thinks it's stunningly chic. That reference is having a full resurgence, and while the look is currently being talked about by one of the biggest pop stars of the moment, there's a reason why it's remained iconic since 1971.

Who What Wear's own Ana Escalante got married in a vintage Dior suit sourced by Studio Dorothy.

What I love most about the idea of the wedding suit is that it isn't just a one-and-done moment. It's something that can be reworn time and again, unlike a big, showstopping gown, which—don't get me wrong—I also love!

The Hat

The detail I keep coming back to, especially in my own bridal-look planning, is whether I want to wear a veil or have a hat. The hat is more city, less traditional bridal, and reminds me a lot of one of my favorite movie montages from The Parent Trap.

After Lipa's hat moment, I'm sure that we're going to see a lot more hats in final bridal looks, especially at the courthouse.

The Unexpected Mini

Not everyone wants to wear the suit, and I did until my designer told me, "I'm not making you a suit." I'm still not sure what my courthouse look will be, but if it's not a suit, it might be a little mini. You can't go wrong. Charli XCX's Hackney Town Hall dress was an off-the-shoulder Vivienne Westwood mini with a corseted bodice, something that had also been on my radar even before I had a boyfriend and got engaged. I also think you can't go wrong with a slip dress.

For the Guest

A courthouse wedding puts guests in a strange spot because it's not the traditional wedding we're used to. To be honest, I've never been invited to one because I think it's reserved exclusively for the future spouses and their immediate friends and chosen family. I don't know if there's an invitation specifying dress code, and I'm currently navigating that, but given what I'd want, there's still a dress code. It's not casual. You're not meeting friends for brunch. It's not business casual either, and it's not a cocktail garden party unless it's a mimosa brunch for the after-party.

The Only Rule That Really Matters

Don't wear white to a wedding that isn't yours—unless you're Lipa at Simon Porte Jacquemus's wedding, where her dress was actually designed by the groom, and the dress code is white to begin with.

At the end of the day, you can have Pinterest boards galore and be following every celeb wedding trend, but something that always gets missed is that, ultimately, the final decision for anything you plan to wear to your wedding, be it a courthouse or the whole shebang, is whatever your heart desires.

Lady Gaga, who could literally have the most extravagant wedding on the planet, said this about marrying her fiancé, Michael Polansky: "We actually talk a lot about just going to a courthouse, just the two of us, and ordering Chinese food. But knowing me, also, it could become like a circus with unicorns."

That's how I feel about ours right now. I've had a couple of fittings, and I keep seeing other people's weddings online, and the one thing I say is, "Do what feels natural to you." It's your moment, and these trends are all guidelines. So follow the suit if the suit calls you. Follow the resurgence, copy Bianca Jagger, and wear the hat. Or ignore all of it and wear the biggest dress you can find to a tiny municipal office because you love a big dress. It's your day, and nobody else's! The brides who look the best at the end of the day are the ones who looked and felt the most like themselves. That's the only thing your future self will care about.

Max Hurd is a Who What Wear UK Editor in Residence and London-based art director, tastemaker, interior stylist and creative consultant. A collaborator and advisor to leading luxury brands including Manolo Blahnik, Farfetch, Asprey, Cartier, H&M and Patrón Tequila, his exuberant aesthetic—which he describes as "Oscar Wilde meets Marie-Antoinette by way of a Brazilian bordello"—enables him to curate, write and create across interiors and culture.

There is, quite simply, nowhere like Venice. She is a dream, wrapped inside a mystery, tucked into a legend. She is a city of pure magic and improbability, balancing, as she does, somewhat precariously on wooden planks hammered into the bed of the lagoon. In a world of endless repetition and sameness, she is unique, a floating city that needs to be seen to be believed.

In her heyday, she was the jewel of the Adriatic. Nowadays, some people argue that she is nothing more than a floating museum. I, however, would die proudly on the hill that, despite the crowds and the attempted Disneyfication of the city by the relentless hordes of tourists and their lanyard-wearing, flag-waving shepherds, La Serenissima (the traditional name and formal title for the Republic of Venice) does, in fact, bravely live on.

I was reminded of this on a recent trip there for the opening of the Venice Biennale. Yes, Venice still has the power to dazzle and inspire, but you do need to know where to look. As with every storied city, there is an argument that suggests the best thing to do is just get lost and peel back the layers yourself. But in a place like Venice, where, despite its small size, there are endless options and opportunities, a guide can be helpful. Here, I humbly offer up my services in the hope that, like me, you fall head over velvet-slippered heels in love with the Lady of the Lagoon.

An Editor-in-Residence's 2026 Travel Guide to Venice

1. Where to Stay

Venice is comprised of six districts, each with its own personality and alternate version of the city to enjoy. The first thing I would say when deciding where to stay is to do away with the all-too-common concept of being "central". Venice is small, and trust me: part of the joy of being there is simply walking around, so don’t focus too much on how far away your hotel or Airbnb is from the Piazza San Marco. (Even if it's a 30-minute walk to the Doge's Palace, that 30 minutes will be magic in itself.)

Historically, my favourite area to stay in has been San Polo—home to the famed Rialto Bridge and palatial hotels like the Aman that line the Grand Canal—but on my last visit, I stayed in Cannaregio, which was fantastic. It felt much more authentically "Venetian" than some of the other areas. It is jam-packed with unassuming restaurants and bars, and in the morning, you can sit out on one of the lesser-known canals and cosplay as a local. Venice is packed with hotels, but below are three I think are truly special.

• The Gritti Palace: Ruinously expensive, but ridiculously worth it. The Gritti belongs to that pantheon of hotels that have come to mean more than just somewhere to lay your head. Staying at the Gritti, like the Chateau Marmont or Claridge’s, means status. These are hotels that represent the epitome of their city’s glamour, and to stay there is a privilege. The Gritti's rooms are all exquisitely decorated in the style of the Venetian Palazzos, and the legendary canal-side bar is arguably the greatest cocktail spot in the world.
• Orient Express Venezia at The Palazzo Donà Giovannelli: Located at the gateway to Cannaregio, the Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is a new kid on the block of the Venetian hotel scene, having only just opened its doors in April this year, but already making quite the splash. Infinitely more contemporary in its design than the Gritti, the Orient Express group has done an excellent job in breathing new life into this 15th-century palazzo.
• Hotel Cipriani: Another icon in its own right. Located on Giudecca, a serene, albeit smaller island in the Venetian Lagoon that looks back on St Mark’s Square, Hotel Cipriani is perfect for guests who want proper downtime away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Personally, I would only ever stay here in the summer, as the outdoor spaces, including the hotel pool, are the stars of the show. It also has a spa and beautiful gardens, two things that are hard to access in Venice.

2. Where to Eat

You know you are doing something right on holiday when the only question you find yourself asking is, where shall I eat? Compared to Neapolitan and Sicilian cuisines, there is a common misconception that the food in Venice is limited, possibly because the city's speciality is a bruschetta-type snack called cicchetti, which is historically associated with gondoliers. Personally, I love Venetian food. The oodles of fried offerings and lagoon-based house specialities perhaps put people off, but really, nothing beats an Italian osteria or trattoria.

• Da’Ivo: Although one of the more famous of Venice’s trattorias, it is not to be written off as "too touristy". Like all the best restaurants in Venice, it is not exactly enormous, but its more intimate setting lends itself beautifully to dinner. I would avoid the cocktails here, but the wine is excellent. If you can, arrive via the watergate.
• Antiche Carampane: Possibly my favourite spot for lunch. I absolutely love the décor, which features an incredible assortment of antique Venetian mirrors, as well as a hilarious little "outdoor" bathroom. It is completely unassuming, but the food is wonderful, as are the cocktails!
• Vini da Arturo: This is the ultimate "if you know, you know" restaurant in Venice. I have actually only ever eaten here once, as a guest of my Venetian friends, and it is truly great. The menu, although smaller than most in Venice, is packed full of delicious local specialities. The wooden panelling makes the whole thing feel incredibly cosy.

3. What to See

Venice is in itself an ode to the dreamer, to the romantic. For hundreds of years, it has been the refuge of the artist, the lover and people who shy away from reality and look to pleasure and otherworldliness for comfort and inspiration. I would argue that Venice is amongst those places that have transcended into the realm of the quasi divine. To be in Venice is to be out of this world. You can feel the years of romance, both carnal and artistic, like layers covering the city. Getting lost in Venice is one of life’s greatest pleasures. So, as far as what to see, see everything! Look up! And whatever you do, don’t blindly follow your phone map. Make sure to look over the heads of the throngs of people and absorb the magic, but if you need some touch points that are slightly off the beaten track, you can do a lot worse than the following.

• Ca’Rezzonico: Not only is the palazzo itself a thing of great beauty, but it houses a truly breathtaking array of 18th-century art and furniture.
• The Fortuny Museum: If you are a fan of sumptuous fabrics and all things interior design, the Fortuny Museum is a must. Often skipped by most, you usually have the place to yourself.
• Palazzo Mocenigo: Dangerously close to the Rialto (which, really, you should try to avoid at all costs on account of the sheer number of people who attempt to cross the bridge) but in my opinion, unmissable. The Palazzo Mocenigo is technically the Centre for the History of Textiles, Costume and Perfume, but I skipped that part and just got lost in the beauty of the palazzo itself. I particularly love the silk wallpaper and the gargantuan Moncenigo family tree.
• Zoppi Gallery: Venice is famous for its glass, and no one in the city boasts a collection like the Zoppi family, who have been dealing in glass for generations. It is currently helmed by my friend Ascanio; he and his father have amassed a treasure trove of glass spanning centuries. Pop by his store just off the Campo Santo Stefano to see what he has to offer, you will not regret it!
• Peggy Guggenheim Museum: Not only is the Peggy Guggenheim collection magnificent in itself (the pieces by Alexander Calder being my absolute favourites), but the building is unique in being the only one-story structure on the Grand Canal. The palazzo has been led by three fascinating women, including current director Karole Vail. If you would like to know more, I would highly recommend reading The Unfinished Palazzo by Judith Mackrell.
• Museo di Palazzo Grimani: Probably most famous for the Tribuna, which is the cherry-on-top room in this (yet another) magnificent palazzo, the Museo di Palazzo Grimani originally housed over 130 sculptures and is dominated by the collection's most famous piece, "The Rape of Ganymede", which is suspended in the air as if in flight.
• Chiesa dei Gesuiti: Possibly my favourite church in Venice, if not the world. It is currently under renovation, but still no less magnificent. The marble drapery surrounding the pulpits is every interior designer's dream, and the use of blues and greys almost makes the church seem aquatic, like it belonged to a long-lost underwater city frequented by sirens and sea monsters.
• Rigattieri: Sadly, now a bit of a tourist trap, but still amazing for ceramic veggies and other marvels. Definitely pop in, because who doesn’t need ceramic asparagus?

4. What to Wear

Shakespeare once said, "All the world's a stage", and nowhere is that more true than in Venice. It’s essentially one big set, so when you are there, I encourage you to look the part! To really experience Venice, you need to live it and feel part of it, and you simply cannot do that in a second-rate silhouette. Every time I go, I pack my most outrageous outfits. Think capes, satin suits, brooches, costume jewellery, large hats and of course, velvet Venetian slippers purchased from the family-run tobacconists rather than the overpriced stores. If there’s a place to dress up, it’s Venice, and in my humble opinion, it always pays to remember that it's better to be looked at than overlooked!

Jalil Johnson is a Who What Wear editor in residence and New York–based writer, fashion authority, and media personality who began his career as a stylist and later spent three years at Saks Fifth Avenue refining his eye for trend reporting, emerging talent, and brand storytelling. He now brings his expertise to his newsletter, Consider Yourself Cultured, and has also been featured in The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times, and Vogue named him one of the "New Faces of Street Style."

Marimekko Day, which was started 34 years ago by the brand's former CEO and president Kirsti Paakkanen, is held at the same time each year almost as a marker of the beginning of summer. For over three decades, an open-air public fashion show has taken place in Esplanade Park, which sits adjacent to the flagship store and serves as an invitation from the brand for attendees to take part in the print-filled world of Marimekko.

Though this tradition has only been part of the brand's history for the past three decades, the ethos at the heart of the event seamlessly ties back to its origin story. In 1951, founder Armi Ratia staged a fashion show as a way to show post-war Finland the different ways her colorful, buoyant prints could be incorporated into everyday life. Fashion is, no doubt, a part of the brand, but it is not simply a fashion brand. In fact, one of Creative Director Rebekka Bay's favorite quotes from the founder is, "Marimekko could have been anything—modern jazz, an ice cream shop, a flower shop." That quirky and punchy quote represents to Bay the idea that Marimekko, beyond just fashion, is ultimately a lifestyle brand.

That lifestyle proposition has also extended beyond fashion shows into activations like last year's jazz bar in Tokyo, or with their long-term collaboration with Finnair. Not only did the brand design the servicewear for the business-class section, but there are also two planes within the airline's rotation outfitted in Marimekko prints. There's also the brand's continued presence during Milan Design Week. This year's activation marked the introduction of a floral print, the newest addition to Marimekko's wide array of floral offerings. While touring the headquarters in the industrial part of Helsinki, I had the chance to visit the print mill attached to the building, where I watched the screen-printing process for that latest floral addition, Kukasta Kukkaan.

Something that was highlighted as we watched a roll of fabric make its way down a conveyor belt, periodically meeting a series of screens, was that there is still an immense need for human touch, even though machines aid in the printing process. Intermittently, as the fabric moved along, workers would toss buckets of paint onto the screens before pulling the paint across in an even layer. Human intervention is also essential in the event that a flaw occurs during production. After watching the prints come alive before our eyes, we made our way upstairs to a small room that housed an archive of prints and color swatches created in the color lab. Those swatches are continuously referenced, even as new colors are developed.

In a time where there is so much conversation about the artificial, it was refreshing to see a brand where not only human contribution is prized, but community itself is also viewed as essential to the brand's identity. In the words of Bay, "As a brand, we really only come to life when we invite our community into the brand and invite our community to experience the brand."

That sentiment spoke to the splendor of the Marimekko runway show, which showcased the S/S 26 collection first presented during Copenhagen Fashion Week. There were playful stripes in lemon yellow and mauve pink; sportier offerings, like a horizontally striped polo dress; and, of course, ideal summer dresses outfitted in the Kukasta Kukkaan print. Alongside the show was a live performance by Finnish band Ruusut, and while the show commenced and the band played, the park was filled to the brim with people spanning varying age groups and demographics. No matter who they were, almost everyone seemed to sport some element of the brand, whether it was something as subtle as a printed scarf or striped shirt (made famous by Jackie Kennedy Onassis) or something as dynamic as an entire ensemble made up of one of the brand's most recognizable prints, Unikko.

Rain may have been an unwelcome guest, but within the event's 34-year history, this was only the second time Marimekko Day had been met with rain. But the weather did not seem to subtract from the festivities. If anything, it offered a fitting foil to the spirit of happy coincidences that seems deeply embedded not only within the brand but also within Finland itself—the happy coincidence that a country that spends nearly half the year in darkness has, for the ninth consecutive year, been ranked the happiest in the world; the happy coincidence of getting the last vegetarian meal on my Finnair flight; and the happy coincidence that this lifestyle brand first made its mark through a fashion show and, more than 70 years later, is still sharing its world through public fashion shows open to anyone willing to stand in the rain.

'60s Mod Dresses

Sixties influences have been trickling in for the past few seasons, and a mod-inspired minidress is a perfect addition to a summer wardrobe. This style of dress has long been a Marimekko signature, and a similar silhouette, a sleeveless version, was famously worn by Kennedy Onassis on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Sporty Elements

Most of the looks on the runway were paired with slimline sneakers, which brought a welcome sporty element to the collection. The oversize proportions also contributed to that feeling, giving even the dresses and polished pieces a sense of ease and movement.

Pink

There is never a shortage of color or print when it comes to Marimekko, but the shade that stood out most was undoubtedly pink, which appeared across striped shirting and dresses alike. Its use never felt overly saccharine. Instead, there was a maturity to the color that still allowed it to retain a sense of whimsy.

Blanca Miró Scrimieri is a Who What Wear UK editor-in-residence and a Barcelona-based stylist. As the founder of fashion brand La Veste and co-founder of sunglasses line Delarge, her expertise lies in design, creative direction and brand building. Although you may know Miró from her collaborations with luxury fashion houses, it is likely her distinctive street style and outfit curation have brought her Instagram profile to your attention. When she isn't attending fashion week or behind the scenes at La Veste, you can also find her curating chic tablescapes at @blanca_a_table

For my latest column, I knew I wanted to talk about something a little different and more personal than trends or shopping. Lately I’ve been noticing how attached I am to the small visual pleasures in everyday life. Not only in fashion, but also in interiors, objects, colours, restaurants, lamps, packaging, flowers, tables—you name it; all those little things that instantly change the mood of a day.

There are certain things I simply cannot resist. Not because I need them, not because they are practical (and definitely not because they are considered timeless). I’m talking about the small visual pleasures that somehow make everyday life feel more exciting. A pair of gingham ballerinas. A polka dot skirt. A silk coat embroidered with flowers. A lamp that looks like candy. A necklace that feels more like a sweet wrapper than jewellery. A red bow that serves absolutely no purpose except making me smile.

The older I get, the more I realise how much these little pleasures matter to me. People often ask where my love of colour comes from, or why I always mix prints, textures and unexpected accessories. The truth is that I don’t really see them as 'fashion choices' anymore, I see them as mood changers. Tiny visual vitamins that make ordinary days feel a little less ordinary.

For years, minimalism has been presented as the ultimate form of sophistication—lots of neutral colours, quiet luxury, and perfect restraint. And while I can absolutely appreciate a beautiful beige room or a perfectly cut camel coat, I’ve never really wanted to live inside that world completely. I need a little bit of 'visual noise'. Not chaos, not excess, but just enough surprise to make life feel alive.

Maybe that’s why I’m instinctively drawn to things some people might consider slightly unnecessary. They remind me of childhood, but not in a nostalgic way, more that children instinctively surround themselves with things they find joyful. They don’t ask whether something is chic enough, they simply respond to what delights them. At some point many adults lose that instinct, and we become practical, efficient and reasonable. We stop choosing things because they make us happy and start choosing them because they make sense. I’ve never been particularly good at that. Thankfully.

When I designed the polka dot pieces for my collaboration with Maje, I wasn’t thinking about trends. I was thinking about that immediate feeling. The same feeling I get when I find vintage gingham fabric at a market or when I spot a colourful lamp. There is something incredibly powerful about objects that create an instant emotional reaction, especially when they are small.

And this idea goes far beyond clothing. It influences the restaurants I love, the books I collect, the tables I set, the flowers I buy and the corners of my home that make me happiest. When I look around, I realise my world is filled with these tiny visual pleasures.

So maybe this is less an article about fashion and more a small defence of delight. A reminder that beauty doesn’t always need to be useful, that colour can be a form of energy, and that surrounding yourself with little visual pleasures is not frivolous at all. It’s simply a way of making everyday life feel richer, warmer and more alive.

Shop the Blanca Miró X Maje Collection:

Before we get into this, I want to make it clear that I know the sound of a 31-year-old talking seriously about longevity is slightly absurd. After all, the concept of "longevity" is often associated with ageing. But lately, I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the idea that longevity is no longer just about looking youthful; it’s about preserving energy, cognition, vitality and quality of life for as long as possible.

For years, wellness has been sold through aesthetics: green juices, reformer Pilates, expensive supplements and skincare routines displayed almost like fashion accessories. But in 2026, the conversation has started to shift. The aspiration now isn’t simply to look healthy, it’s about being healthy, and living better for longer. Wellness has evolved from things we can buy as a reactive fix into changes we can make as a long-term investment, and longevity is the new definition.

Everyone is talking about sleep quality, inflammation, blood sugar, nervous-system regulation, recovery and biological age. Younger generations are drinking less alcohol (a Drinkaware survey from 2025 showed 49% of young adults choose no- and low-alcohol drinks to moderate their drinking, nearly doubling since 2018), sober-curious culture has gone mainstream and wellness retreats are beginning to resemble medical institutions rather than spas.

The global wellness economy reached $6.8 trillion in 2024 and is projected to be worth $9.8 trillion by 2029, driven largely by preventative health and personalised wellness. This surely proves that wellness is no longer simply the umbrella term for faddy habits or January detoxes; it has expanded to shape how we think about health, and perhaps nowhere is that shift more visible than in the rise of longevity culture.

Like any cultural movement, longevity has its controversial spokespeople. Contentious social-media content comes from divisive figures like Bryan Johnson, a tech entrepreneur, who has become known for his heavily documented "anti-ageing protocol" and for utilising biomarker tracking to supposedly reverse his biological age. At the same time, the likes of Andrew Huberman and Professor Tim Spector marry the worlds of science and wellness via podcasting, whilst Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness platform Goop helped pioneer the idea of wellness as a luxury aspiration long before longevity became fashionable. There is no doubt that many of these people have faced scrutiny for their sometimes polarising messages, but their impact on wider wellness trends is irrevocable.

What’s interesting is how many worlds longevity now overlaps with: beauty, fitness, luxury travel, fashion and, of course, social media. A decade ago, the concept of "anti-ageing" and all its negative connotations sat in the beauty space in the form of products and treatments available only to those who could afford their steep price tags. Today, the luxury angle remains (it's not lost on me that the pursuit of ultimate health and wellbeing requires an awful lot of time and money), but the product is different; it's sleep tracking, blood panels, infrared saunas, cutting-edge supplements, glucose monitoring and recovery therapies. Luxury itself is beginning to look different, too. Where status was once conveyed through monetary excess, it now increasingly looks like restraint: prioritising sleep, drinking less alcohol, tracking recovery, investing in health rather than handbags and booking wellness retreats over party holidays.

This is where places like Clinique La Prairie come in. Perched above Lake Geneva, the legendary Swiss clinic has spent decades attracting royals, celebrities, CEOs and wellness insiders with its highly personalised approach to preventative health and longevity. But what once may have felt OTT and slightly futuristic now feels surprisingly aligned with the current cultural mood.

So, fully invested in the longevity discourse, I decided that 2026 was the time to finally book a stay at Clinique La Prairie to decide for myself if the new world of luxury wellness really does hold all the answers to living a better life. On arrival, what struck me most was how different it felt from traditional luxury wellness. This wasn’t simply about massages and green juices. The atmosphere sits somewhere between a medical clinic, a luxury hotel and a sci-fi-esque wonderland. Conversations revolved around inflammation, recovery, sleep quality, stress management, nutrition and cellular health.

Diagnostics and testing form a central part of the experience, creating a version of wellness that feels highly personalised and deeply data-driven. There’s something both fascinating and slightly confronting about seeing your health translated into metrics and biomarkers. It forces you to think about wellness seriously as long-term functionality. The goal isn’t simply to look better; it’s ultimately about preserving quality of life for as long as possible.

There's still an element of indulgence, though; this is Switzerland, after all. One of the standout treatments during my stay was a facial using La Prairie products, which marries high-end relaxation with results-driven formulas. My skin looked noticeably brighter and more sculpted afterwards, but what made the experience interesting was how seamlessly beauty and longevity were positioned together. At Clinique La Prairie, skincare isn't treated as separate from health; it is part of a much broader conversation around ageing well.

Since returning home, I’ve become far more intentional about my day-to-day habits. Sleep has become a major priority, and I use the Eight Sleep Pod to track recovery and better understand how stress, travel and routine affect my energy levels. I’ve also incorporated more preventative treatments into my routine, including the San Lueur Advanced LED Light Therapy Facial Mask and the Hair Regrowth Helmet, alongside saunas and more regular lymphatic drainage massages. Nutrition-wise, my focus has shifted heavily towards gut health and reducing inflammation. I eat a diet rich in bone broth, leafy greens, fibre and nutrient-dense whole foods, but one thing I learned through testing is that I actually process carbohydrates extremely well. I used to avoid carbs (because I was led to believe they were "bad"), but I now make sure to include healthy grains and balanced carbs in my diet, which has completely changed the way I think about wellness trends that encourage restriction.

Exercise has become less aesthetics-focused, for me, too. I’ve been prioritising strength training and increasing muscle mass, particularly as more research points to muscle health being one of the strongest indicators of healthy ageing. I also take a more targeted approach to supplements now, incorporating daily creatine, omega-3, zinc and vitamin D after discovering I was deficient. Of course, everyone's approach to exercise, diet and supplements should be tailored to their own health and goals, but this is what works for me. At the clinic, I learned that it's not about blindly following what’s fashionable, but about understanding what you actually need.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway from my stay at Clinique La Prairie has been that longevity really isn't about extreme optimisation or chasing immortality, despite what the tech billionaires on social media might have you believe. Beneath all the science and diagnostics, the message is surprisingly simple: the small things done consistently matter most. And maybe that’s why longevity resonates so strongly right now. In a culture historically obsessed with excess and immediacy, it offers something different: the idea of taking care of your future self in the present.

Rebecca Donaldson's Go-To Longevity Products

Tessa Faye O'Connell is a contributor known for her work at various fashion houses, specializing in media and public relations, currently working at Coach as its global PR director. She's a mom of two, working to expand her influence in the fashion space through styling while also just making it out the door on time.

As we head into summer, which is short-lived in New York, I still find myself partial to a shorts or pant option when getting dressed. Yes, it's easy to throw on a dress, but I find it's sometimes easier to commute in a top and pants. It's the same for many of my girlfriends, as they all are asking for good tops to invest in.

Sometimes in the office with blasting AC, it's just easier to feel good and polished in a top that you can layer easily. Also, in New York weather, a top can translate throughout seasons better than dresses, which are always tricky with this finicky back-and-forth rain versus sunshine versus snow. I love that, depending on the day, plans, or meeting, you have different options to choose from that can be styled in a variety of ways that make it appropriate. Here are my favorite tops to wear with my jeans and trousers.

Halter Top

This halter top by Azeeza is truly my favorite new top. Throw on a jean jacket to the office, wear it out to dinner after work, pair it with linen white pants… The list goes on. This style is so specific to summer, and that's what makes it so fun.

Button-Down Shirt

The button-down works for all seasons. It's just about finding the best ones for the summer months. Bonus: Thrown over a swimsuit, it's even more multifunctional. I've been loving this Almina Concept one and the brand's white flowy pants.

Gingham Top

Gingham everything! This one is more of a jacket, but I style it as a top, and I'm stopped every time I wear it. I love this print for the warmer months.

Ruffle Top

The ruffle Henri Top is a category all its own. Many have tried to mimic, but I don't think the fit is elite for any brand other than Dôen. Sorry!

Jacket as a Top

I'm making the case for a spring jacket as a top. This one also has an adorable matching camisole to wear underneath.

Classic Black Top

A classic black top is a must-have—all different styles, all different aesthetics. You can never go wrong with investing in a black top, in my opinion. It always comes in handy.

Floral Top

As if it wasn't obvious, I'm all about florals. I love the print for spring and summer, and it instantly boosts my mood to get to the office.

Tailored Top

It took me a while to get into this style, but it is polished and chic and can be worn with trousers, jeans, and shorts.

White Top

A white top is always needed. I also love lace or eyelet detailing as an addition to this.

Eugénie Trochu is a Who What Wear editor in residence known for her transformative work at Vogue France and her Substack newsletter, where she documents and shares new trends, her no-nonsense approach to fashion and style, plus other musings. She's also working on her upcoming first book that explores fashion as a space of memory, projection, and reinvention.

Little summer dresses are probably the most efficient pieces of clothing in the world. No thinking required. No ironing required. You can roll them into a ball inside a suitcase between a damp swimsuit and an iPhone charger. They take up no space at all yet somehow instantly make it look like you made an effort.

Every summer, I fall into the exact same trap. I convince myself I need a spectacular dress—a full "Sophia Loren on the Amalfi Coast" silhouette, something fluid, dramatic, almost cinematic. And then, after two days of heat, I always come back to the exact same thing: a slightly wrinkled dress, flat sandals, black sunglasses, and a tote bag full of sunscreen, receipts, and books I swear I'm going to read instead of scrolling on Instagram.

What I love most is their ambiguity. A short dress can very quickly become too sweet, too "pretty girl on vacation." So the fun lies in disrupting that slightly by creating contrast and making it a little stranger, a little more personal, a little less literal.

For example, I love wearing them with lace-up sandals tied around the ankles. The shoes give them something Mediterranean, almost theatrical.

I also love when they feel more effortless—a slightly romantic white minidress worn with flat flip-flops, messy hair, and a chunky sweater tied around the shoulders—or, on the contrary, heavily styled with a huge leather belt, stacks of gold jewelry, shorts peeking out underneath, or even pants worn under a tiny dress in a very early 2000s kind of way.

Ultimately, the most interesting summer dresses are rarely the perfect ones. They're the dresses that look like they were thrown on at the last minute—slightly sheer sometimes, slightly too short, not entirely appropriate for the situation. That's exactly what makes them feel alive.

My favorites usually fall into a few very specific categories.

The minimalist '90s dresses: thin straps, black or chocolate jersey, ultra-simple cuts, very Calvin Klein–era Kate Moss. The bohemian dresses with tiny ruffles that make you want to live barefoot in a house with curtains moving in the wind. The ultra-sexy, almost aggressively Italian minidresses that transform tanned skin and an old pair of sandals into a look. And then there are safari dresses, sheer crochet dresses, and knitted styles—the ultimate staples of every single one of my summers.

Shop My Top Summer 2026 Minidress Picks

Sharmadean Reid MBE is a Who What Wear UK editor-in-residence, beauty entrepreneur, author and founder of 39BC, a bathing brand deeply rooted in bathing rituals. She is also the founder of The Stack World and New Methods platforms, and received an MBE in 2021 for services to Beauty and Women.

Bathing has always been about cleansing for me; physically, mentally and spiritually. I think as humans live more and more densely in cities, we’re constantly brushing up against other people and their energies and stresses. We’ve never lived in a time where we’re surrounded by so many strangers all the time, and I really feel the need to wash away those energies at the end of the day. I genuinely can’t sleep properly unless I’ve had a bath.

Bathing is so important to me that I will bathe twice a day. In the morning, I have to immerse myself in water as soon as possible. If I’m near the ocean, I’ll wake up and jump straight in. If I’m staying somewhere with a pool, I’ll put my dressing gown on and go straight downstairs for a swim. There’s something about connecting with water immediately that prepares me for the day ahead. In the evening, though, bathing becomes more meditative. It’s how I regulate my nervous system and prepare for sleep, which I take very seriously because it is when the body repairs itself.

I think people underestimate how powerful bathing can be for wellbeing, especially for women. It improves circulation, relieves muscle tension and massively improves sleep quality. I’m obsessed with practices that calm the nervous system, and my three biggest ones are breathwork, forest bathing and actual bathing in water. There’s something about immersion and stillness that completely shifts your state of mind. I also do things like wet body brushing and foot acupressure in the bath, but my rituals are actually very minimal. I’m not someone who puts tonnes of different things into the water. Most of the time, I just sit there quietly with my thoughts.

What fascinates me is that bathing rituals exist across almost every culture in history. Human beings have always been drawn to water for purification and ceremony, and in Jamaica, we have a word for all the water spirits called Mami Wata. In ancient Greece, private baths known as balnea began appearing in homes, and then the Romans transformed bathing culture completely through their heating systems, which allowed bathhouses to stay heated day and night. There are bathing traditions all over the world, from the hammams of the Ottoman Empire and North Africa to Japanese onsen culture, which developed around volcanic hot springs, and would be the place where samurai would go to recover after battle. In Japan, especially, bathing is deeply ritualistic. You’re expected to wash every inch of your body before entering the bath because the bath itself isn’t about hygiene; it’s about immersion.

That distinction is really important to me. A shower is functional and active; a bath is passive. A bath asks you to be still. I always say that showers are for hygiene, but baths are for meditation. And even if someone doesn’t have a bathtub, I think they can still access that feeling through floating, swimming or simply finding ways to experience water more mindfully. To me, bathing is really about full-body immersion in something that transports you into another state of being, whether that’s water, sound or even a forest.

Shop Sharmadean Reid MBE's Bathing-Ritual Products

Kaye Bassey is a Who What Wear editor in residence known for her near-decade-long career as a fashion and beauty content creator, influencer, and writer. She recently launch her Substack newsletter, covering trends, outfit ideas, shopping recommendations, and other insider tips.

Summer always feels like a reset button for style—lighter layers, softer palettes, and a shift toward pieces that feel fun, effortless, and a little more expressive. After months of heavy coats, boots, and muted tones, there’s something exciting about getting dressed again with intention, where outfits start to feel playful instead of purely practical. The season naturally invites more skin, more movement, and more personality in what we wear.

This summer is especially exciting because fashion is leaning into that balance of ease and impact. From romantic boho tops and playful polka dots to statement sunnies, scarf styling, and other versatile wardrobe heroes, the focus is on pieces that feel beautiful but still wearable in real life. It’s less about overthinking trends and more about curating items that can be styled multiple ways and worn on repeat without feeling repetitive. There’s also a strong sense of nostalgia running through the season, with vintage-inspired silhouettes and prints being reimagined in fresh, modern ways. These are the trends I’m most excited to live in this summer. They bring back that feeling of getting dressed just for the joy of it, where style feels personal, expressive, and effortless all at once.

Fun Flowy Fringe

Fringe is such a major moment this season. From accessories like scarves, handbags, and belts to skirts, dresses, and tops. It is a fun way to switch up an outfit, making it more interesting. Fringe encompasses a carefree feeling that is very reminiscent of the warmer spring months. As the temperature rises, fashion tends to lean more toward trends that feel fluid, expressive, and breathable. It adds so much interesting texture and motion to an outfit.

This trend really plays into the resurgence and reawakening of the bohemian and Western-inspired aesthetics. Fringe really ties into that effortless, slightly undone vibe while still feeling elevated when styled right.

Whimsical Polka Dots

Polka dots surge every spring because they visually capture the lightness and optimism of the season. With the close of the dark colder months, it makes sense that we all want to gravitate toward feeling fresh and playful. They are so easy to wear, especially for tops, dresses, and skirts.

They have been super popular and come in and out of fashion, so naturally, there is a timeless, nostalgic element driving their popularity. Polka dots have roots in vintage fashion, from classic Hollywood glamour to 1950s silhouettes, and that sense of femininity keeps coming back in cycles. With modern cuts, this trend feels easy to embrace and less outdated.

Bold Statement Sunnies

Bold, big, statement sunnies take off every spring because they're the easiest way to shift your whole look without changing your entire outfit. A bold frame, tinted lens, or oversize silhouette instantly elevates even the simplest spring outfit, like a tank and jeans or a breezy dress. They also draw attention to the face, making them a go-to accessory when people are leaning into beauty, glow, and that effortless “I just threw this on” energy.

Recently, just added these Miu Miu frames to my collection and I am loving them. The giant shield sunglasses trend is something I am so excited to have on my face.

Versatile Scarf Styles

Whether you're wearing them in your hair, wrapped around your waist, or tied loosely around your bag, scarves are here to stay and play. But of course, we are ditching the wool and cashmere for lighter alternatives like silk and chiffon—think light and breezy. Versatile scarf styles always surge in spring because they bridge that in-between weather effortlessly. When it’s too warm for heavy layers but still breezy enough to need something extra, a scarf becomes the perfect transitional piece. That adaptability makes scarves feel both practical and fashion-forward, especially in a season where outfits need to keep up with constantly shifting temperatures. A single scarf can completely change the vibe of an outfit by adding color, print, or texture without requiring a full wardrobe change.

Boho Romantic Tops

Boho romantic tops are big for spring because they perfectly match the seasonal shift toward softness, lightness, and ease. Elements like lace, embroidery, smocking, puff sleeves, and flowing cuts feel especially right for spring because they echo the season’s themes of renewal and femininity. These tops also pair effortlessly with denim, skirts, and sandals, making them an easy go-to for transitional dressing.

They’re also trending because fashion continues to cycle back to nostalgic, feminine aesthetics with a modern twist. The boho romantic look draws from vintage prairie styles and 1970s bohemian influences, but designers are reworking them with cleaner lines, softer palettes, and elevated fabrics so they feel current. In a season where people want to look effortlessly put-together without overthinking outfits, these tops deliver that balance of charm and wearability.

Eugénie Trochu is a Who What Wear editor in residence known for her transformative work at Vogue France and her Substack newsletter, where she documents and shares new trends, her no-nonsense approach to fashion and style, plus other musings. She's also working on her upcoming first book that explores fashion as a space of memory, projection, and reinvention.

This morning, I open my wardrobe. I hesitate between the short beige knit cardigan and the long denim shirt. Then I take my shower, eat breakfast, grab my laptop. Direction: my living room. I’ve just moved in. There’s the olive-green velvet Togo sofa, the brutalist bookshelf, the beige-khaki walls in such a peculiar shade that I still can’t imagine what I’ll eventually hang on them, the travertine coffee tables I found at the Saint-Ouen flea market, and the globe bar I bought on Le Bon Coin a week ago…

A doubt crosses my mind: Does any of this actually go together? But also, does it go with me? With my style, my personality, the way I dress? Because all of this carries meaning, a kind of logic that, in my line of work, has become essential now that journalism blends with influence, photography, embodiment.

I like to think there’s a secret dialogue between what we wear on our bodies and what we place inside our living spaces. Two expressions of the same identity. So how do you move from that feeling of disconnect (“I’m more bohemian than my apartment”) to something fluid and personal—a real harmony?

Here are a few ideas. Ones I’m hoping to test out alongside you.

Take Inventory

Before creating harmony, you have to know yourself. Take a sheet of paper (or your favorite notes app) and answer these three questions:

• What are the three words that best describe your personal style? (Minimalist? Rock? Bohemian chic? Preppy? Artistic?)
• What are the three words that describe your current interior—or the one you dream about? (Brutalist? Scandinavian? English countryside? Wabi-sabi?)
• Which colors keep reappearing in your wardrobe? In your living room? Is there common ground? A navy blue lingering on both sides? A warm beige shared between them?

I’m not looking for perfection. I’m looking for the common thread: a material, an atmosphere, an emotion running through both my wardrobe and my walls.

Four Perfect Harmonies

Here are four character archetypes where fashion and interiors exist in perfect resonance. It may not feel like you entirely, but it might spark ideas.

1. The Serene Minimalist: Japandi & Quiet Luxury

• Look: polished cardigans, straight-leg jeans, linen, silver jewelry or pale-wood details, Venetian slippers.
• Interior: white or natural-toned walls, pale wood, concealed storage, a linen pendant lamp, embroidered cushions.
• The magic link: texture. The linen of your shirt is the same linen hanging as your curtains.

2. The Unapologetic Maximalist: Boho/Eclectic/Vintage

• Look: '70s-inspired silhouettes, patchwork jackets, acid-trip tassel loafers, bohemian influences.
• Interior: wallpapered walls, layers of cushions and rugs, plants everywhere, collections of hand-painted vintage ceramics, incense and mineral stones.
• The magic link: energy and visual richness. The eye drifts from your pearl necklace to the fringe of a floor lamp.
• Tip: repeating the same motif—an Aztec print on both your backpack and a cushion, for example—creates a sense of unity.

3. The Sharp Contemporary: Mineral/Brutalist/Graphic

• Look: structured blazer with graphic shoulders, the perfect white top, a silver choker, architectural shoes.
• Interior: concrete-gray or matte-black walls, a black leather sofa, a steel table, a geometric lamp.
• The magic link: line and contrast. The geometry of your shoulder pads echoes the lines of a shelving unit. The black-and-white palette of your outfit mirrors the room itself.

4. The Soft Innocent: Scandinavian/Pastel/Cocoon

• Look: overalls, wool slippers, shearling sleeves, pastel shades (butter yellow, sage, lavender).
• Interior: petrol-white walls, a pink velvet sofa, colorful books, wooden toys, pom-pom rugs.
• The magic link: emotion. The softness of your knit reappears in the throw draped across the couch.

Five Concrete Ways to Take It Further

So you’re convinced, but you’re not sure where to begin. Here are a few simple exercises, no overthinking required.

1. Choose a texture: velvet, linen, leather, wool. Make it the star of both an outfit and a corner of your home (a cushion, an armchair, a belt).
2. The 60-30-10 rule: in interiors, it means 60% dominant color, 30% secondary, 10% accent. Apply it to your wardrobe for a week. You’ll start noticing unexpected bridges.
3. Conscious organization: arrange your sweaters by color the way you’d organize books on a shelf. Think of your wardrobe as a decorative library.
4. The space selfie: photograph your outfit, then your interior. Place the two images side by side. What feels off? What works? The photographic eye is ruthless… and fair.

Conclusion: Become Your Own Echo

Matching your style to your interior isn’t a fashion commandment or another excuse to spend money. It’s a way toward a calmer, more coherent version of yourself: You no longer feel “in costume” at home, or like a stranger the moment you step outside.

Lauren Chan is a Who What Wear editor in residence, model, former award-winning fashion editor, and founder of Henning, a luxury plus-size clothing label.

At the 2026 Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards, a reporter on the red carpet asked me, "What makes Canadian fashion Canadian?" My short answer: its diversity. After having time to reflect, my long answer is that said diversity is best exemplified through our class of emerging designers. Among them are women and queer people, Indigenous folks, immigrants… The list goes on. Their visions range from architectural tailoring to drag queen–approved sculpture, and they are having an impact around the world, from making the LVMH Prize semifinals to dressing the stars of Heated Rivalry.

This year, the nominees for CAFA's Emerging Talent Award in Fashion were Eduardo Ramos, Golshaah, Jozeph Diarbakerli, Serena Li, SteMargScot, and Tristan Réhel. The Emerging Talent Award in Accessories category featured Atacz, By Mademoiselle Jules, Studio Rybko, Sacrd Thndr, Vimeria, and WILYMI. The Fashion Design Student Award acknowledged Delbar Mohamadi, Hoang Gia Linh Doan, Kirstine Fernandez, Mackenzie Cyr, and Samuel Castaing. Below, you'll discover more about my favorite emerging Canadian designers.

1. Golshaah

Golshaah is Golnar Ahmadian's Toronto-based brand rooted in Iranian culture, offering seasonless, timeless pieces that explore bold femininity through architectural silhouettes and thoughtful tailoring. Drawing inspiration from structure, proportion, and layering, each design balances strength and softness, with silhouettes like layered pants and backwards shirts. My most-loved Golshaah piece is a pair of bottoms that are shorts when worn forward and pants when worn backward. I also love the button-down I own with the neckhole and collar on the chest of the shirt. Golshaah won this year's CAFA for Emerging Talent in Fashion and made it to the semifinals for the LVMH Prize.

2. Mario Fugnitto

Mario Fugnitto is a Canadian designer operating at the intersection of fashion, sculpture, and dancewear. Since its founding in Toronto in 2022, the brand has built a reputation for wet-formed leather garments that contour the body with striking precision. Informed by dance and queer identity, the work carries a sense of tension. At Fugnitto, the body becomes both subject and statement—like when I wore a sculpted resin piece to the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit red carpet. Fugnitto was nominated for the 2024 CAFA Award for Emerging Talent and has dressed Canadian superstars, from Grace Mahary to Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.

3. Evan Clayton

Evan Clayton is a brand that marries art and design to create strong political and imaginative statements in every piece of work. Think extremely luxe, draggy eveningwear modeled by Canadian trans influencers like Lauren Sundstrom. Since Clayton's first release in 2011, the designer has since become internationally known by showing collections in Canada, Austria, and Japan. He's also had features in Vogue UK, Vogue China, Paper Magazine, Nylon, and more. Clayton has notably dressed the likes of Doja Cat, Allie X, Brooke Candy, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kali Uchis, Candice Swanepoel, and drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race.

4. Brielle

Gabrielle Szynkarsky is the founder and designer of Brielle, a Montreal-based luxury womenswear brand known for sculptural, second-skin silhouettes and statement lace pieces that celebrate the female form. Brielle has garnered international recognition, becoming a cult favorite among artists and cultural figures such as Tyla, Camila Cabello, Kourtney Kardashian, and Paris Hilton. Szynkarsky was featured on the September 2025 cover of Fashion magazine as a Canadian designer to watch, and most recently, Madonna wore custom Brielle gloves to perform at Coachella alongside Sabrina Carpenter.

5. Tristan Réhel

Tristan Réhel is a Montreal-born, Antwerp-based artist and designer building a universe that exists between fashion, costume, and visual art. His work moves between one-of-a-kind couture pieces and ready-to-wear capsules, developed through a hands-on, craft-driven approach where theatricality and silhouette are central. His pieces can be seen on Alessia Cara on the cover of Fashion magazine and breakout drag star Sami Landri on the most recent season of Canada's Drag Race. Réhel takes pride in rejecting the concept of quiet luxury and the dominance of neutral, minimalist aesthetics. Basically, he makes fashion fun!

6. Lesley Hampton

Lesley Hampton is a Toronto-based Anishinaabe fashion designer focused on mental wellness and body neutrality in fashion through the lens of the Indigenous worldview. She's created for the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs and dressed impactful celebrities like Lily Gladstone, Sandra Oh, Devery Jacobs, Rachel Reid, and Lizzo. Not surprisingly, she's been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Local: Toronto and recognized by Vogue as a Canadian brand to watch. Among other awards, Hampton took home the Fashion Impact Award at the 2021 Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards. (When Hampton isn't designing, she's modeling, public speaking, and appearing on shows like Canada's Drag Race!)

7. Sagradesa

Sagradesa is a slow-fashion brand rooted in sustainability and storytelling. Inspired by nature, the brand creates unique, handmade designs using reclaimed textiles. The vibe: sexy counterculture It girl with Victorian and Vivienne Westwood influences. Each piece is made-to-order—specializing in custom eveningwear, bridal, and costume design—and the garments are ethically made in the USA and Canada by Colombian designer Maxime Chercover. Sagradesa does costume design for Palestinian Chilean artist Elyanna (who's on tour with Coldplay) as well as performance looks for Ravyn Lenae, Jessie Reyez, and Lexa Gates.

8. Charles Lu

Charles Lu is grounded in bold tailoring and architectural design. He is known for creating structural and corseted works using athleisure fabrications—all in black, gray, and white. When Lu ventures into formalwear, his signature carries through via his colorways and the linear designs, both in shape and pattern, that he loves so much that he has them tattooed over his shoulders. Lu has competed on Netflix's Next in Fashion and Project Runway Canada. Most recently, he dressed Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha, and you can keep an eye out for me in Charles Lu soon!

9. Wuthering Delight

Wuthering Delight is a Toronto-based brand founded by Curtis Matysek. Specializing in custom corsetry, Wuthering Delight creates fashion-forward takes on historical silhouettes. Canadian drag queen Priyanka wore a corseted nurse-inspired ensemble by Matysek to the premiere of her show Drag Brunch Saved My Life. After making it to the top three contestants of Project Runway Canada, Matysek is focusing on branching out into ready-to-wear, allowing more prospective customers to enter the fantasy world of Wuthering Delight. For this year's CAFAs, he dressed the host, Caroline Vreeland, in a white corset gown and sailor hat.

10. Jontay Kahm

Jontay Kahm is from the Mosquito First Nation in Saskatchewan. He has been quoted as saying that he aims to elevate his Indigenous culture through fashion design, blending traditional craftsmanship with avant-garde aesthetics to create powerful expressions of identity, history, and spirituality; challenge perceptions; and celebrate Indigenous people and our culture with integrity, innovation, and excellence in the fashion industry. In 2024, he won the 2024 CAFA for Emerging Talent in Fashion and thereafter showed his collection at Fashion Art Toronto. He's also been profiled in Vogue by fellow Canadian Christian Allaire.

11. Leeland Mitchell

Leeland Mitchell's designs mix a blend of costume, camp, and high fashion. After years of designing for the drag and cosplay communities and national treasure Avril Lavigne, Mitchell broke into the mainstream by winning Project Runway Canada. He hopes to bring fun back to Canadian fashion and inspire others who don't fit in to create art without fear and stand in one's creative element. You can find him located in Toronto's Chinatown, working on building up the community—or maybe your next favorite outfit. (Fun fact: I wore Leeland Mitchell to the Oscars this year.)

12. Wynn

Lynne Weare is a Toronto-based designer working under her own name alongside an evolving practice that grew into her label called Wynn. Her work centers on custom garments and one-of-one pieces with a focus on fit, material, and refined construction. Weare is an expert tailor who I met on set (if you can think of a Canadian celebrity, like Drake or Nelly Furtado, she's made garments for them), so I was delighted when I learned about Wynn. The brand has mostly focused on denim in inventive shapes with the perfect fit—win-Wynn. Get it?

13. Sapodillas

Dillea Himbara's brand Sapodillas is for the ethereal hot girl—her words, according to the website. She has become known for using upcycled materials in sheer, pastel, and shimmery fabrications to hand-make dresses and separates that are equal parts artful and sexy thanks to their body-skimming silhouettes and allover cutouts. She's dressed Meg Stalter for RuPaul's Drag Race, Furtado for Elle magazine, and Reyez for her tour. Lately, she's stepped into the bridal space and is making upcycled Toronto Tempo merch. I've worn a few Sapodillas pieces and can vouch that they do, in fact, make you feel like an ethereal hot girl.

Kristina Ang is a Who What Wear editor in residence, a fashion writer and content creator, and a social producer for Spotify. Previously, she worked as a social video coordinator at Harper's Bazaar.

Paris is always a good idea, but spring in Paris feels like an entirely different city. I just reluctantly returned from my fourth visit to my second-favorite city in the world (New York City will always have my heart), but this was only the first time I've seen it in the spring. I'm used to dressing for the Parisian winter—Uniqlo Heattech, long wool coats, and outfits that rarely get the chance to be fully seen underneath them. Function has always won over aesthetics.

This time was different. The city was just starting to bloom into spring, and I found myself dressing for slow mornings, café stops, and golden-hour walks along the Seine. Think coquette tops, two-piece sets, and ultra-romantic silhouettes. Finally, I got to experience French fashion at its fullest, when cold weather can't hinder locals and tourists alike from flexing their dressing skills—myself included.

Suffice to say, I pulled out all the stops. Keep scrolling for a look at everything I wore during my recent visit to Paris.

My Paris Outfits

Day 1

The first day of my trip, I arrived in Paris at 6 a.m., and despite being severely jet-lagged, there was simply no time to waste. Since I was staying in my favorite neighborhood, Le Marais, it inevitably became a shopping day. Unfortunately, while the skies were blue and the sun was shining, the wind packed a punch, which is exactly what made this outfit the perfect option.

When I think of Parisian dressing, I think simple and chic, but New Yorkers have that bit of edge that makes our style feel unique. This double-button Fancì Club jacket became the centerpiece of the outfit, and I built everything else around it, including my go-to pair of straight-leg blue-wash Uniqlo x JW Anderson jeans. The accessories are where I had the most fun. Since I was working with mostly neutrals, I wanted to stay within the same color palette while adding something unexpected. My leather patchwork Coachtopia bag ended up being an ideal quirky touch that tied the entire look together. Finally, for shoes, I had to go with my Maison Margiela Tabis because when in Paris. It took a while to fully break them in, but now that I have, they're surprisingly comfortable and capable of walking a few thousand steps a day in.

Day 2

Believe it or not, I actually don't wear a lot of color, but Paris certainly felt like the right occasion to experiment. Ever since I got this pink suede blazer from The Toé, I've been dying to wear it. If you know me, you also know that I'm obsessed with the pink-and-red color combination, which was exactly the direction I wanted to go in with this outfit—just in a more demure fashion.

I kept the base classic with a white T-shirt and jeans, then styled them with maroon-toned accessories from two iconic Parisian brands: a Gerard Darel handbag and Veja x Baserange sneakers.

Day 3

For days three and four, I took a quick detour to Bordeaux—France's famed wine region and canelé capital. Located in the southwestern part of France, Bordeaux was a lot warmer than Paris, so I was able to justify wearing my red two-piece Tyler McGillivary set.

If you haven't already visited Bordeaux, I would highly recommend it. There's so much to see and do there, and it's just a mere two-hour train ride away. Plus, it's always nice to experience what other cities in France besides Paris have to offer.

That evening, our group had dinner at Symbiose, a beautifully intimate old-fashioned spot in the heart of Bordeaux, and rightfully, I had to dress up for the occasion.

I thought this floor-length, drop-waist number might have been too formal for the restaurant, but then again, when in Bordeaux… Naturally, I brought along my vintage Bally mini bag—the perfect companion for a night out.

Day 4

My last day in Bordeaux looked like this: a visit to Darwin Ecosystem, a collaborative space composed of cafés, shops, and other small businesses that promote sustainable development and creativity. As it was unseasonably warm, I went with a spring dress from Maeve (Anthropologie's little-sister brand) paired with classic black ballet flats from Dolce Vita. Polka dots will always be in, in my opinion.

Day 5

With my last day in Paris, I wanted to take a chill day for myself. For one last hurrah in Le Marais, I opted for a double-breasted peplum top from Niihai and my trusty straight-leg Uniqlo jeans. No bag necessary—just my Gerard Darel phone crossbody.

Eugénie Trochu is a Who What Wear editor in residence known for her transformative work at Vogue France and her Substack newsletter, where she documents and shares new trends, her no-nonsense approach to fashion and style, plus other musings. She's also working on her upcoming first book that explores fashion as a space of memory, projection, and reinvention.

Every summer, I convince myself I'll only need one pair of sandals to get through it, and then, as always, I end up falling in love with a very specific mix of completely unnecessary yet absolutely essential details: tomato-red leather; a strap that sparkles a little too much in the sun; a thick, flat sole that feels vaguely touristy; slightly regressive jelly material, or that little folk touch that makes you look like you've just come back from Ibiza when, really, you've just left the supermarket carrying tomatoes and toothpaste.

I like sandals that tell a slightly contradictory story. A minimalist style worn with a very romantic dress. Beach shoes worn in the city. A pair that's almost ugly but incredibly sexy on sun-tanned skin. I like sandals that make it seem like you've lived through something, even if the only notable event of the day was drinking an iced coffee too quickly on a terrace.

This summer, my favorites fall into a few very specific categories.

First, there are the '90s minimalists: thin straps; slightly faded shades of chocolate brown, black, camel, and sometimes bright red; and that Carolyn Bessette energy of someone who has spent 15 days in the South of France. They require jeans that are slightly too long, a wrinkled men's shirt, black sunglasses, and a general tendency to answer with "Whatever you want" whenever someone asks where to go for dinner.

Then there are jelly sandals, a sensitive subject. They divide people deeply. Some see them as children's shoes from the early 2000s. I see the Mediterranean, vacation pharmacies, night markets, and that slightly kitsch aesthetic that always comes back the moment people start overthinking fashion. Transparent jelly sandals with a red pedicure instantly become incredibly chic.

I'm also going through a fairly advanced crochet-and-folk phase. It's probably linked to my chronic desire to become the kind of person who lives barefoot in a white house with curtains moving in the wind.

And then there are sandals with just the right amount of sparkle. They're not "evening" sandals. They're flat sandals with a slightly absurd jewelry detail—a gold buckle, a few rhinestones, a metallic strap—that catches the light around 7 p.m., when skin finally starts to tan after a hot day (with sunscreen, of course). I like shoes that feel slightly like a Sicilian grandmother going out to buy figs. It's a deeply underrated energy.

Red also keeps returning in my summer obsessions. It's a vivid, almost aggressive red. It's the perfect color with tanned skin, a black swimsuit, a white dress, or an old pair of Levi's.

Deep down, my favorite sandals are always the ones that create the illusion of going somewhere—even when you're staying put. They evoke a more relaxed, sunnier, freer version of yourself while you're simply digging through a tote bag full of squashed fruit purée pouches, receipts, and leaking sunscreen looking for your keys.

Shop My Favorite Sandals for Summer 2026

The cyclic return of colour in dark times is one of fashion's most consistent relationships. Once again, the fashion people of the world are feeling dopamine-depleted and seeking a boost from their wardrobes. Julian Klausner at Dries van Noten proved he has no fear in this area with his spring/summer 2026 offering that boasts high-octane tones dripping with crystals. Matthieu Blazy’s Coco Beach debut breaks up nautical palettes with mythical mermaid brights. Michaela Coel has been spotted in multiple colour-blocked 'fits, styled by Nell Kolonji, that prove colour doesn’t have to be complex to leave an impression. Colour can be intimidating, but reimagining a simple outfit in bright, unexpected tones is the ultimate low-effort-high-payoff dressing hack.

As a devoted colour-blocker who doesn’t gatekeep, I can tell you that inspiration is everywhere. Finding the perfect colour pairings is a muscle that needs to be trained, unless you’ve been blessed with "the eye". With four of these sharp eyes between them, Jasmina and David of "#1 fashion TV show", Jasmina TV, are a colourfully dressed duo that tour the best stores across the globe so we don’t have to. Jasmina has a penchant for outfits inspired by the unending colour combos seen on Monster Energy cans. "The OG green and black Monster drink is always a classic, but they have so many flavours, and it's always two colours, like white and purple—I just had that the other day," she said. (She swears she’s not sponsored.)

David looks to children’s toys when he needs to feel inspired, which is a sentiment I am very familiar with, having a 3-year-old sidekick who enables me to buy Chanel pumps that match his Hot Wheels Monster Trucks. "They always have the most unexpected colours!" exclaims David. There’s a joie de vivre in finding the beauty in unassuming places, and as a bonne vivante in training, I present to you a starter pack for top-tier colour-blocking.

The 3 Rules for Wearing Colour in 2026

1. The more forbidden the colour pairing, the better (red and green should never be seen? I’ll be the judge of that).

2. You do not need colour analysis. Wear colours that suit your personality and the energy you want to summon.

3. Nothing matches, but everything goes; contrast is everything. If you don’t believe me, ask Patricia Fox.

4 Places to Seek Colour Inspiration

Colour in Fashion

Escada was founded in 1978 by German duo Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley. Through the '80s, Margaretha Ley’s design vision soared in popularity, with her penchant for daring colour pairings, embellishments and maximalism. When Ley passed away in 1992, design was led by Michael Stolzenberg and then Todd Oldham in 1994—another master of colour whose mischievous creations were a favourite of fictional fashion icon Fran Fine of The Nanny.

I recently bought this vintage pink-and-green houndstooth Escada suit from Lost In Roses, and inside the package was the campaign image showing the suit in all its glory on model Gail Elliott. Margaretha Ley’s Escada is synonymous with fearless colour. One quick Google search of her campaigns from the '80s and '90s produces an endless stream of pairings to try. Yasmeen Ghauri was an Escada girl, and images of her in shocking pink-and-green miniskirt suits can rewire your brain! There are very particular shades of blue and green found in Escada collections that are rocking my world at the moment. Zara Larsson would look amazing in vintage Escada as a progression from the fashions she's currently sporting for her "Midnight Sun" era!

It doesn’t end at Escada; everyone’s favourite fashion girl, Amanda Murray, often looks to the '80s as a starting point for her bright outfits. "I feel really connected to the effortless maximalism of '80s fashion," she says. She cites films like Desperately Seeking Susan and 9 ½ Weeks as recurrent references.

Colour in Art

If we can’t trust the great visual artists of the world with crafting a colour palette, then who? Think Yves Saint Laurent’s 1965 Mondrian collection that replicated the simple-but-effective use of primary colours to create something timeless. Monsieur Saint Laurent also lifted the colour palette from Picasso’s 1937 "Portrait of Nusch Eluard" for a jacket in his autumn/winter 1979 collection, which was an homage to Serge Diaghilev, who founded the Ballet Russes. It's technically a print, but Gianni Versace’s fixation on Andy Warhol’s punchy, technicolour portraits inspired Dario Vitale to birth the shoes in every It-girl's wardrobe right now from his one-and-done Versace collection.

Challenge yourself to walk around a gallery and base an outfit on your favourite painting. A few months ago, I saw Kerry James Marshall’s exhibit titled Kerry James Marshall: The Histories at the National Gallery. The colours he uses in his work are phenomenal: bright blues, teals, crimson reds, baby pinks, a slew of yellows, all offset by the deep and significant shade of black that defines his works. He doesn’t stray from his preferred palette too much, but by varying the tonality and which colour takes the lead, he can convey a different mood. Drawing inspiration from artists not only guarantees a top-tier colour story, but it also sharpens the mind. A look and a lesson in the arts? That’s a win-win.

Colour in Nature

A rule of thumb is that if a colour pairing exists in nature, it’s meant to be. From poisonous frogs to spring’s first burst of tulips, Mother Nature’s colourful outbursts know no bounds. Someone who routinely looks to natural forms for inspiration is Jonathan Anderson. At Loewe and now at Dior, we have seen his botanical shoes and foodie fashions turn into best-sellers. In 2022, Anderson showed giant peace lilies as tops and shoes at Loewe, but if you were to strip it down to just colours, it evokes Jacquemus' La Casa show in Capri for autumn/winter 2024 that shared the strong reds and buttery yellows of the peace lily, whilst also introducing contrast via aqua blue and lime green. If I didn’t know any better, I would think Roger Vivier’s SS/26 Belle Vivier slingbacks were inspired by some of nature’s miracles, with their optimistic, springlike colour-blocking.

You don’t need to fly to the rainforests of Borneo to find inspiration; you could look at the fresh colours in your fruit bowl or on your plate. In fact, let’s call it salad dressing, shall we? (Sorry, I had to.) Let a florist freestyle a bouquet for you to dictate the outfit for your next fun outing.

Colour in Interior Design

Turn your hours-long binge of the Architectural Digest YouTube channel into outfit research. If anyone tells you they don't want to dress like Paloma Elsesser’s bathroom, they’re lying. There are endless books and magazines, like Phaidon’s Living In Color and the beautifully shot Apartamento magazine, that focus on colour themes in people’s houses. I’m sure you've experienced the satisfaction of walking by a building that matches your outfit; you can do that on purpose. Take photos of interesting places: landmarks, your best friend’s kitchen, the restaurant you went to on a really good date—anywhere!

I received a postcard in the post from Boden recently (following a particularly colourful order for my son) that revealed the brand's office mantra regarding colour: "If it's unexpected, it's probably brilliant." A truer sentiment has never fallen on my doormat.

Shop Colour for Summer 2026:

Brie Welch is a Who What Wear editor in residence. In addition to being Katie Holmes's longtime stylist, Welch is a costume designer and eBay's resident stylist. This role includes curating eBay Watchlist, a quarterly trend report powered by shopper data. She resides in New York City.

Recently, I wore a Yohji Yamamoto asymmetrical, backless blazer for an evening out dancing with my close friend, who wore an asymmetric minidress that had cascading tulle from one side to the other. It wasn't until later, looking at the photos we took together, that I noticed the similarity between our two outfits and realized just how subtly a trend can reveal itself. I'd seen how asymmetry could work on the runway but hadn't yet consciously connected it to real-life dressing, yet here it was, playing out in reality with ease.

It made me think of Lii, a New York–based brand known for its color-blocked, sporty designs that often feature seam extensions that create elongated flaps, folds, and tucks. Jonathan Anderson is likewise known for designing off-kilter shapes that trick the eye with his drapery at both Dior, where he's the creative director, and JW Anderson, the ready-to-wear brand he founded in 2008. And of course, there's Colleen Allen, whose wispy blouses and dresses err on a more gentle asymmetry. Her fall/winter 2026 collection is a master class in wrapping and creating shapes.

Celine spring/summer 2026

Colleen Allen spring/summer 2026

Dior pre-fall 2026

Embracing clothing that feels shifted, interrupted, or imperfect is trending on the resale market just as much, with searches for "asymmetry" up 34% by global eBay users, according to the most recent eBay Watchlist Trend Report, which is informed by current trends and based on global eBay search, sales, and listing data. I've also ever-so-subtly inserted the trend into my work with clients. Case in point: the Lanvin dress Katie Holmes just wore to the Carnegie Hall Concert of the Century in May, which included an asymmetric velvet bodice, a single bow at the shoulder, and a skirt made up of skinny strips of leather dotted with tiny jewels.

But how does one actually wear a trend that may feel too avant-garde in an everyday, natural way? That's what I dove into below.

My Tips for Styling the Asymmetric-Outfit Trend

Tip 1: Start Small

Start with one item of clothing that plays with asymmetry, like a skirt, and pair it with your favorite tee for a simple intro to disruption. Investing in a statement skirt will do the heavy lifting all summer long.

Tip 2: Lean Into Accessories

Try playing around with scarves and pareos! In a crunch, I've often tied a silk or cotton pareo as a top, creating instant drapery that you can tuck for asymmetrical flair. Searches for "scarf halter tops" are up 97% on eBay!

Tip 3: Blazers Are Key

Take inspiration from me (and global eBay shoppers) with an asymmetrical blazer, which has grown by 18% on eBay year over year from March 2025 to March 2026. This feels like a good iteration to dip your toe in. The blazer is a closet staple, so finding one that eases into the trend, where the hemline is slightly askew, will make an outfit with jeans way more interesting!

Tessa Faye O'Connell is a contributor known for her work at various fashion houses, specializing in media and public relations, currently working at Coach as its global PR director. She's a mom of two, working to expand her influence in the fashion space through styling while also just making it out the door on time.

As we all know, the shoe topic is touchy, but we (meaning me) finally feel like we’re getting somewhere. Add in spring and/or summer weather in New York—if the nicer weather ever finally sticks—and there’s a whole array of shoes for the warmer months.

Unlike in the winter on the East Coast, I find not being limited to enclosed shoes in spring and summer to be an automatic plus, and the options are a bit more fun and versatile for the season. There’s a little something special about the styles we don't get to wear year-round, which makes them all the more exciting to throw on. These are my favorite styles; I'm thrilled to get them into rotation—whether at work or on the weekends.

The Summer 2026 Capsule Shoe Wardrobe

Flip-Flops

I’m obsessed with the thong sandal as an elevated shoe. I love this pop of red with an all-black outfit or the croc style from Loeffler Randall. It’s comfortable, and so many brands have now created more luxe versions for you to wear to work as well.

Fisherman Sandals

Sorry, but I still think the fisherman style is cool! It offers a closed-toe option that’s easy to wear to work with jeans and pivot to shorts and a top on the weekends.

Strappy, Flat Black Sandals

Margaux can do no wrong in my eyes, and this style particularly delivers in comfort and wearability. Easy to elevate any sort of outfit, a black sandal is a must-have for ease.

Sporty Shoes/Mesh Flats

At first I wasn’t sold on this style, but I've completely come around to the sporty wear/mesh vibe of these shoes. They're beyond comfortable (I am talking 10,000 steps plus in the city) and easily elevate an all-white or skirt outfit.

Gold Sandals

My gold Ancient Greek Sandals have been my best investment, and I've been wearing them for years. A gold sandal is always a good idea and adds that extra sparkle to any spring/summer outfit without being too much.

Low Block Heels

Elevate your work outfit? Actually meeting friends for a drink after work for once? Going out to dinner with your kids? The low block heel is your best friend. I am loving a colorful one for the warmer months.

Raffia Shoes

I love anything raffia for summer—it’s so special and something you don't get to wear year-round. Bonuses: always perfect for vacation and easy with summer dresses.