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ODD, ABSURD, CUCKOO-BANANAS—all apt descriptors for recent evening-bag trends. Over the past few years, popular styles have included Lilliputian options too tiny to hold a smartphone; flashy, crystal-drenched satchels that cost four months’ rent; and novelty shapes such as coffee cups and pigeons (see below). Viral though they may be, such bags seem more suited to 20-something TikTok stars than grown-up women who need a sleek-looking clutch for their next dinner party. Such fashionable adults have been left asking, “Where have all the chic, practical, unsilly evening bags gone?”

FLIGHTS OF FRUGALITY A good gift is one someone will actually use. When it comes to travel, that means choosing things that reduce stress—and up the enjoyment. If that’s not in your budget, choosing a gift that they’ll find useful and that you can afford can be tricky. Bells and whistles: A zippable laundry compartment ensures dirty socks never defile dry-cleaned blouses. The option to use either short or long handles allows for, respectively, close-to-chest security or easy pairing with a rolling suitcase.

Persons: Martin Ramin, that’s, Cotopaxi.com Organizations: OF, Street, Getty, tote

These food-and-drink gifts offer outstanding value as well as deliciousness and delight. Gifts of food and drink and the trappings that go with them—a party in the making. This tart-sweet marmalade delivers the complex flavor of calamansi—a fruit that’s like lime, kumquat and tangerine all in one—grown on Oahu. There, jam master Akiko White relies on her grandmother-in-law Tutu’s recipe to produce a citrus stunner that makes a marvelous croissant topper, vinaigrette booster and cocktail brightener. Aloha Bites Tutu’s Calamansi Marmalade, $19 for 7 ounces, Zingermans.com

Persons: Martin Ramin, marmalade, Akiko White Locations: Oahu

☆ 9 Holiday Gear and Gadget Gifts That Will Impress (for Less) in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Daniel Varghese | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

AND A HAPPY NEW GEAR YEAR Each of these gadgets, even the more playful ones, offers a function that will make your giftees’ lives easier. Instead, get your giftees more thoughtful, more fun and more valuable tech and gear gifts that won’t clear out your wallet. This flip clock comes in several eye-catching colors, and makes a satisfying click sound at the beginning of each minute. A good gift for both older sorts nostalgic for the ’70s and younger sorts who somehow manage to be nostalgic about eras they didn’t even live through. Gino Flip Clock, $99, Schoolhouse.com

Persons: MARTIN RAMIN, Gino, Schoolhouse.com

FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS a pair of round, gold glasses has shown me the world. But the lenses have grown so scratched and cloudy that it feels like I’m peering through a fog. Since glasses so prominently guard the windows to our souls, they arguably define our look and vibe more than any other item. Skimp on sweaters and sneakers if you must, but don’t settle for ho-hum frames. New specs “redefine who you are,” said Julie Ragolia, a fashion editor and stylist based between Paris and New York.

Persons: willy, ”, Julie Ragolia, “ Organizations: SIX Locations: Paris, New York

MORE THAN PERHAPS any other meal of the year, Thanksgiving dinner remains—for many of us, at least—pretty much a constant. When a recipe simply hits all the right notes, any thought of altering it grinds to a halt for a good decade or so. My cranberry sauce is one such recipe. It’s as simple as cranberries, Port, sugar and orange zest, and so deeply entwined with the thought of Thanksgiving for me that—as if by some edict—I never make it any other day of the year, even though I crave it routinely. It’s not about depriving myself or my family; it’s about nurturing ritual and the taste-memories inherent in it.

Persons: I’ve, —, It’s Locations: Port

For eight decades now, his 1943 painting “Freedom From Want” has set an impossible aspirational standard for the Thanksgiving meal. Let’s be honest: Actual Thanksgiving tables tend to be commandeered by those two perennial guests, Stress and Anxiety. To that end, we’ve assembled a team of top caterers from around the country to share their secrets. Years of experience have left them unintimidated and utterly efficient when it comes to feeding a crowd. Read on to find their pro tips for preserving sanity, grace and gratitude as you stage the holiday feast.

Persons: NORMAN ROCKWELL, ”, let’s, we’ve, Read

Strategizing an outfit for a concert, the 40-year-old communications professor at UNC Wilmington had gotten as far as a black stretch-knit dress from Susana Monaco. “But in photos on Instagram, a plain black dress doesn’t pop,” she said. Jones strapped on a $188 leather belt with an etched silver buckle, debonairly looping it around her dress’s slinky fabric. In the ’80s and ’90s, branded Gucci and Chanel belt buckles served as signal flares for yuppie shoppers. And gutsy dressers are cinching and sculpting sweaters, dresses, shawls and blouses with no belt loops at all.

Persons: KELLY JONES, Susana Monaco, ”, Jones, Halston, Tiffany, Elsa Peretti, Gucci, Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Lopez Organizations: UNC Wilmington, “

☆ Like Smoky Mezcal or Scotch? You’ll Love These 4 Cozy Cocktail Spirits
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Kara Newman | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SMOKY FLAVORS have long suffused spirits, from peated Scotch to the deep-roasted tones in some mezcals. Consider the category-defying locavore spirit Late Embers Smoked Sunchokes + Honey, by Matchbook Distilling in Greenport, N.Y. Loosely inspired by mezcal, Late Embers starts with sunchokes instead of agave piñas. After fermenting and distilling, the resulting clear spirit has subtle earthiness and an aroma that suggests a smoldering bonfire. In addition to Late Embers, which debuted in 2021, Matchbook’s portfolio includes the 2023 launch Bad Saint, a single-malt whiskey smoked with incense-like palo santo.

Persons: Scotch, mezcal, sunchokes Locations: Greenport, palo santo

☆ Costco Men’s Clothing: We Heard Your Reviews and Decided to Investigate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Jamie Waters | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

With a couple of caveats, the clothes—sturdy and perfectly fine, if not quite handsome—pleasantly surprised me. In one case I was thrilled: Thick, plush and as comfy as hotel slippers, Kirkland’s white athletic socks knocked my socks off. (They come in packs of eight for $14. I wish they were packs of 80.) F. Martin Ramin/The Wall Street Journal; Prop Styling By Judith Trezza for R.J. Bennett Represents

Persons: Martin Ramin, Judith Trezza, Bennett Organizations: R.J

☆ Are Fridge Magnets ‘Lowbrow’? Appliance Manufacturers Have Decided: Yes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Dorie Chevlen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

CHILLY GALLERY New, nonmagnetic fridge fronts make displays like this impossible. Photo: F. Martin Ramin/The Wall Street JournalWHEN RYAN BRADLEY, a freelance editor in Los Angeles, went shopping for a new refrigerator five years ago, he immediately ran into issues. Bradley, 40 years old, didn’t need Bluetooth connectivity or smudge-proof finishes—he just wanted something to stick his magnets to. But not only were most salespeople unsure if floor models were magnet-friendly, they were surprised he cared. “I felt like a crazy person,” he said.

Persons: Martin Ramin, RYAN BRADLEY, Bradley, “, ” Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Tired of Ill-Fitting Shoes? These Customizable Sneaker Brands Want to Help
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Ashley Mateo | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

IT USED TO BE that a local sneaker store would have eight or 12 shoes you could try. Now the selection might run to 150. And yet, finding one that feels just right on your foot can prove daunting.

Q: I split my workweek between home and a “hot desk”—basically, a timeshare cubicle—at my company’s headquarters. While I appreciate the camaraderie and free cold brew in the office, I have to admit that my bland, anonymous workstation really brings me down. Since it’s not mine 100% of the time, I can’t exactly set up house. But are there any little design tweaks that might make it feel less cell-like?

Persons: —

BRIGHT BUDDY The Loftie Lamp can employ customizable lighting routines to help you wind down at night and get up more easily in the morning. ONE OFT-OVERLOOKED PERK of working from home? That blinding illumination can bring on a numbing sense of malaise, and even derail your day. “Light exposure of appropriate intensity and the right timing is vital to our health and well-being,” said Shadab Rahman, assistant professor in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Better lights, he says, can improve mood, cognition and even productivity.

Persons: ”, Shadab Rahman Organizations: Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School

I’VE ALWAYS hated dress shoes and, while it lasted, the professional obligation to submit to their sadism. Like many men, I used the pandemic to banish those Italian-leather C-clamps from my closet—and wear nothing but considerate sneakers. But once my office life in Manhattan resumed, that day-in-day-out sneaker rut began to feel schlubbly. I craved more formality. I did not crave pain.

Persons: I’VE Locations: Manhattan

☆ Banana Bags, Spaghetti Skirts, $19,680 Burger Rings: Why Food Fashion Is Having a Moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | Prop Styling Mieko Takahash | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/style/fashion/food-fashion-trend-banana-bags-spaghetti-skirts-burger-rings-c1ab6135

Persons: Dow Jones

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Is the Meal Kit Over? These Heat-and-Eat Options Certainly Make Things Easier
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Elizabeth G. Dunn | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/meal-kit-reviews-heat-and-eat-thistle-cookunity-territory-foods-e12559f8

Persons: Dow Jones

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/grill-your-dinner-then-grill-your-dessert-3-recipes-to-make-now-ff53aca0

Persons: Dow Jones

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/beauty-secrets-treatments-for-women-wake-up-looking-beautiful-555fdfac

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ The ‘Perfect’ Handbag, According to Women in Their 20s, 30s, 40s and 70s
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Lizzy Wholley | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | Prop Styling Jill Telesnicki For Rj Bennett Represents | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Interviews with style-savvy New Yorkers of different ages and luxury retailers proved that most everyone craves purse pockets. She’d prefer to skip a bag altogether. Not because she doesn’t like purses (“I used to buy bags all the time!” she said) but because she abhors lugging extra weight. “I do need a bag for certain things,” such as her lipstick, mirror and pout-shaped cosmetics pouch, she conceded. For her, incredible lightness trumps plentiful pockets.

Persons: Gen Xers, Linda Rodin

☆ Sweaty? Join the Club. This Portable Electric Fan Might Help.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Pia Peterson Haggarty | Photography F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Dow Jones

ALL LIT UP Cooked over live fire, this rosemary-lemon grilled pork tenderloin, a tangy roasted pepper relish and goat cheese potato salad add up to a smoky, spectacular summer meal. LATE LAST summer I placed cement blocks in a circle in the field of my family’s vegetable farm and lit a campfire. It was the last fire of the season and, as the farm crew came down the hill from the hot day, I started cooking dinner for them.

Organizations: LIT

Organizations: LIT

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/mixing-patterns-mens-fashion-guide-40a0af1

Persons: Dow Jones

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