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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?”

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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

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

☆ Wait, Are Hearing Aids Cool Now? Ask Millennials
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Sarah Baird | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

UNDERCOVER AGENT Many new hearing aids, like the Jabra Enhance Plus, look indistinguishable from run-of-the-mill wireless earbuds. NICK JACKSON, 36, has struggled with his hearing for some time, but during the pandemic the Chicago-based editor relied on a hack to prevent any misunderstanding. “I could just turn up the volume in all of my Zoom meetings,” he said. Once back in the office, however, he found himself “constantly” needing to ask other team members to repeat themselves. His hearing loss, he said, “was getting in the way of my work and basic interactions.”

Persons: NICK JACKSON, “, ” Locations: Chicago

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/best-face-sunscreens-that-feel-silky-not-gross-d753d1e1

Persons: Dow Jones

Ultrahuman Ring AIRThe Good: The ring tracks how well and long you sleep plus stress levels and movement throughout the day. Its app promises to help you use this data to optimize your metabolism.

☆ These 6 Wrinkle-Resistant Men’s T-shirts Always Look Sharp
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Ashley Ogawa Clarke | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WHEN IT COMES to T-shirts, Jeff Yamazaki encourages competition. The Los Angeles actor, 31, pits his tops against one another—call it a tee-off. “I’ll buy a couple white tees [from different brands] at the same time and see which one holds up best,” he said. After the candidates weather many wears and washes, he’ll pick a winner. (He’ll then buy the victor again, perhaps in a different color.)

Persons: Jeff Yamazaki, “, ” Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Out the Door in Under 13 Minutes: The Ultimate Women’s Get-Dressed-Quick Guide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Faran Krentcil | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

I AM NOT a morning person—in fact, I’m barely an afternoon one. Having an internal clock with the same operating hours as a Berlin nightclub was fine during lockdown when I could roll onto a 9 a.m. Zoom in my pajama top that, on a laptop screen, looked enough like a blouse to fool colleagues. But 100% remote work has become a more distant memory than “Tiger King,” and recently, my work obligations have required me to schedule in-person morning meetings and interviews and to arrive suitably attired.

ONE OF grilling’s greatest virtues: the way the smoke does most of the work for you, infusing every bite of the food it touches with intense flavor. But even pitmaster-level proteins can use a saucy soul mate—just a quick swab of something sweet, sour, rich or spicy to translate a grill-hatched slab of beef or salmon or maitake mushroom into a meal.

☆ Fashion’s Latest Comeback? Actually Wearable Clothes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Katharine K. Zarrella | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Is that…leather?” Some version of this befuddled inner monologue ran through many editors’ heads as Kate Moss sauntered down Bottega Veneta’s spring 2023 runway in Milan. From a distance, they were unmistakably denim and flannel, respectively. Creative director Matthieu Blazy ’s sartorial trickery gave front-rowers a wow moment but was perhaps too subtle to dazzle those streaming the show on Instagram. That outfit (see the shirt above, and Kendall Jenner wearing a version of the look below) embodies an aesthetic shift that’s sweeping the fashion industry. Instead of buying trendy frippery to flaunt in social-media posts, stylish sorts are craving wearable clothes with subtle details like hand-stitched hems, carefully sculpted silhouettes or luxe textures—details that they, and anyone within a 5-foot radius, can appreciate in the moment.

WHEN SAMMY Palazzolo goes out, people constantly ask to see her phone. In late 2022, Ms. Palazzolo and some of her dorm-mates at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign were bemoaning their smartphone addictions. “We were talking about how we [felt] like slaves to our phones, like robots who keep scrolling and scrolling, even when we’re out at parties.” The group hatched a plan to do something about it. The next day, they went flip-phone shopping at Walmart . Ms. Palazzolo ended up with a $40 AT&T Cingular Flex.

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