Table of contents for February 2023 in Harper's Bazaar

DREAMS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF FASHION, and living them out is the most stylish form of self-actualization. At times—recent ones, for example—simply getting dressed might have seemed like an extraordinary act of optimism. Fashion, though, is rarely about where we are; it’s about where we want to go. That’s why so many designers are dreamers—imagineers of inspiration, hope, ambition, and desire. Dreams can be a source of joy and motivation, a mission and a determination, a test of strength and will. As the late Virgil Abloh once proffered, “Dreams come true when you don’t sleep”—a tweet-maxim that has no doubt inspired millions to dream bigger (and sleep less) than they have before. We’re often drawn to people with big dreams, and it’s not too difficult to understand why: Dreamers…

WHY DON’T YOU…? Put a point on things with a vibrant pair of STRAPPY SANDALS.…

Joy. Begin there because a consideration of joy stands in need of a big drop-cap letter J—like an ornament on the page, decorative yet somehow necessary. Because there’s no way to write about it without a little garnish, without sounding sentimental. Joy’s discreet, mutable power is a whole lot and also very ordinary: You’re flying, on the inside. I set out to make sense of my ambivalence toward joy. After a long break, I was ready to write again, apparently from a place of sorting through. (It’s worth noting that finding an editor, like mine for this essay, who simultaneously guides the writer toward and away from danger, intuiting when it’s okay to say “I don’t buy it!” is its own joy.) I was certain—often the first sign I’ve got…

HERNO LIFESTYLE LOOK The Italian outerwear brand’s new ready-to-wear offerings feature elevated base layers like jacquard knits, satin palazzo pants, and an oversize shirt in double-faced wool that pair perfectly with its luxe jackets and bombers. GIORGIO ARMANI LIMITED EDITION This spring capsule collection remixes some of the Italian maestro’s signature silhouettes in a range of red, blue, black, and greige tones. Pleated trousers are transformed into skirts, evening dresses get daring cutouts, and a tailored jacket is recast as a trompe l’oeil lapel cardigan. “FRESH, FLY, AND FABULOUS” To mark the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop, an exhibition at New York’s Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology and an accompanying Rizzoli monograph unpack the stories of designers like Dapper Dan and behind iconic looks like Salt-N-Pepa’s…

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21–FEBRUARY 19 Few people are as hard to define as you. You’ll soon surprise everybody with behavior that appears out of character. But is it? Haven’t you always longed to pull a few rabbits out of the hat or to force others to sit up and listen? Opportunities to do just that are looming. PISCES FEBRUARY 20–MARCH 20 The planets are about to provide much that’s hard to understand, and initially it may all seem like a mystery, but don’t question it. You’ve had your fair share of upheaval, in various ways, in the past. Allow yourself to indulge in better times while they last—which they should. ARIES MARCH 21–APRIL 20 Those who are making heavy demands on you might not appreciate the extra pressures you’ve been subjected…

A little over eight years ago, when my son was barely a year old, I was sent to L.A. with Yashua Simmons, who was then my assistant, to style a series of covers for a fashion publication. As a new mother, I brought my son everywhere, so I needed a second assistant to not only assist with the shoot but also help watch my son on set. Yashua somehow got connected with a young woman named Quinta Brunson, who had recently moved to Los Angeles from Philadelphia. She was working part-time at an Apple store while pursuing a career in comedy and looking for extra work on the side. I remember our first morning together, Quinta took the bus to meet us. She had no experience working in fashion, but…

THOMAS GIDDINGS PHOTOGRAPHER: In Conversation: Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee Ralph, page 48 “The limitations of the last few years have made me more appreciative of the joy that comes from spontaneity and the freedom to travel, discover, and connect with the people who mean the most to me.” DURGA CHEW-BOSE WRITER: “Flotation Devices,” page 52 “I’m not very good at looking for joy; that’s why I chose to write about joy. I’m not very comfortable around big ideas, so I found joy in various details that occupy my everyday: our home in the evening when we turn on a combination of lamps, my son’s singing, a movie I love because its ending is the opposite of perfect.” AMY TROOST COVER-STORY PHOTOGRAPHER: “Long Game,” page 71 “Kids, family, friends, inspiration,…

WHY DON’T YOU…? Wear a DIAMOND studded RING on a chain for an added touch of SPARKLE.…

Few contemporary sitcoms have captured the hearts of viewers—and the attention of critics—quite like Abbott Elementary. Set at an underfunded public school in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Philadelphia, the mockumentary-style comedy follows a scrappy group of teachers who are doing their best to serve their students despite a lack of supplies (history books have the last three presidents taped in), busted facilities (one toilet sprays water instead of flushing), and egregious mismanagement (a hilariously inept principal who side-hustles in the school parking lot). The characters are richly wrought, with nuanced backstories that allow for depth of character and emotional resonance. In the span of an episode, you’re just as likely to tear up as you are to laugh out loud. Leading the series is its 33-year-old creator, writer, and…

ON THE FINAL DAY of New York Fashion Week’s Spring 2023 season, Edvin Thompson, the Kingston, Jamaica-born, New York–based designer of Theophilio, brought Carnival to the runway. Drumbeats filled the show space. Models stomped the runway in rhythm, with several slinky, shimmery Y2K-inspired looks shown with towering feathered headdresses like those worn during the Caribbean festivals. One finale look featured a red feathered headpiece with Swarovski crystals and face chains strung with gold-dipped cowrie shells—styled with heels and a bikini. “It’s like an extension of myself and Carnival and just the overall vibrancy of my cultural heritage,” Thompson says of putting his homages to Carnival headdresses on the runway. He and jewelry designer Chris Habana made them all by hand, including a three-foot-tall version in the colors of the Jamaican…

NOW THAT YOU HAVE OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE, GET READY TO SHOP IT. Look for the SB icon next to an item in HARPER’S BAZAAR: It means the item is available to buy on ShopBAZAAR.com—the online store brought to you by our editors. We’ve partnered with the best specialty boutiques, most coveted designers, and prestige beauty brands to present the must-have fashion and beauty edit of the season, in a shopping destination that’s open around the clock and around the world. SHOPPING AT SHOPBAZAAR.COM IS EASIER THAN EVER. SCAN THE CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE TO DISCOVER OUR EDITORS’ PICKS FROM THE BUZZIEST BRANDS. SB = BUY ON SHOPBAZAAR.COM…

The harp is anchored by a carved wooden pillar that is more than four feet tall, sometimes topped with an ornate decorative crown. At the bottom is a soundboard, and at the top is a harmonically curved neck. In between are dozens of strings with a range spanning six and a half octaves. It’s celestial, elegant, and incredibly delicate—harps are notoriously finicky about temperature and upkeep—making the instrument complex not only to play but also to maintain. During the early days of pandemic lockdown, while some of us were hoarding plants or feeding sourdough starters, 28-year-old Canadian actor Taylor Russell took up the harp. “I wanted to play it for a very long time,” she explains. “I was like, ‘What’s the one instrument that none of my neighbors are going…

MODELS: ANYIANG, TESS BREEDEN, VIC CAYO, ALVA CLAIRE, AKUOL DENG, EMMI FREEMAN, MATHILDA GVARLIANI, AUBREY HILL, JINRONG HUANG, AMBER LATER, SUN MIZRAHI, NYAGUA RUEA, JADI WEGENER, AND CASSIE WONG; HAIR: JONATHAN DEFRANCESCO FOR PHANTOM TOWELS; MAKEUP: FRANK B; MANICURES: RICA ROMAIN FOR ESSIE; SET DESIGN: IAN SALTER; CASTING: ANITA BITTON AT THE ESTABLISHMENT. SEE THE DIRECTORY FOR SHOPPING DETAILS.…

THE SIMPSONS AUGUST 2007 THE EARLY ’00S were a transformative time for fashion, when what was once considered a rarefied, exclusive world suddenly became part of pop culture. Shows evolved into star-studded events, designers were treated like celebrities, and the red carpet became yet another runway. In many ways, this post-internet, pre-Insta democratization of style laid the groundwork for our current age, when platforms for self-expression through fashion abound. But back then, crossing old boundaries between capital-F fashion and the world of mass entertainment still held a transgressive allure. That at least partially explains why Harper’s Bazaar’s decision to collaborate with the team behind The Simpsons on a feature for the August 2007 issue depicting Springfield’s first family attending the Paris collections seemed so radically irreverent. Working with Simpsons animator…

The five-time Grammy Award–winning singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, who has lived the American rock ’n’ roll dream as an erstwhile member of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, is a true master of collaboration and cross-genre experimentation. Along with releasing 12 solo albums, he has worked with everyone from Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell to Thundercat and Van Halen. In 2019, the Doobies asked McDonald if he’d join for a 50th-anniversary tour, which was delayed until 2022 due to the pandemic. “It was an easy yes for me,” says McDonald, who will embark with the band on the Australian leg in April. “It was always fun playing with the Doobies, and it’s a great group of people,” he continues. “We learned early on that the most important part of our…

WHY DON’T YOU…? Dress it up with a chunky LINKED CHOKER.…

At the age of 93, Yayoi Kusama is still among the most famous—and prolific—artists working today. In 2012, Louis Vuitton linked up with Tokyo-based Kusama, whose creative practice spans sculpture, installation, painting, performance, and film, for a capsule collection with the graphic spots that have featured prominently in so much of her work splashed across bags, shoes, dresses, and scarves. Now, the French house has invited her to create an entirely new range. The line is structured around four motifs central to Kusama’s oeuvre—dots, flowers, pumpkins, and faces—and involves intricate techniques like 3D screen printing and leather marquetry. The chain-strap leather bag pictured here, inspired by a pumpkin minaudière from the 2012 collaboration, is finished with an enameled, stem-shaped magnetic lock.…

“STUDIO 189 was the most inspiring and heartfelt show I saw all season. The brand feels personal and intentional; you can feel how much love and care goes into each design.” “Fashion doesn’t need to always be so serious—sometimes you just want something that will make you smile. The uniquely mod and graphic sensibility of DESTREE will do just that.” “Clients are gravitating toward a more minimalist, monochromatic silhouette, which TOTEME embodies perfectly. This buzzy label serves up high-quality, wardrobe building blocks you can style with just about everything for versatile outfits all year long.” SCAN THE CODE TO SHOP THE MOST COVETED PIECES FROM THE BEST DESIGNERS ON SHOPBAZAAR.COM. SB = BUY ON SHOPBAZAAR.COM…

Maybe it was Disney World that once sparked the ultimate in childlike wonder, that feeling of “I can’t believe this place is real.” And who says you can’t have that feeling as a grown-up too? Only this time around, skip the lines and the junk food and instead experience it all with the comforts and perks of a luxury retreat. At the Anantara resort in Thailand’s remote Golden Triangle region, guests can choose to stay in the wildly surreal Jungle Bubbles complex. Each room is enclosed by a transparent dome and built upon a wooden deck that looks out over thick green foliage and visiting elephants. Just outside of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, on the slope of an ancient inactive volcano, the walls of the modernist Casa Etérea, made…

HAIR AWARDS AT-HOME TRIMS AND ROOT TOUCH-UPS during lockdown—plus a break from regular heat styling—changed the way many viewed hair care. Rather than seeking temporary styling fixes, consumers began prioritizing hair health and searched for targeted solutions with a focused intensity once reserved for skincare. In response, the hair-care industry started developing products that spoke to health first and utilized traditional skin-nourishing ingredients such as peptides, squalane, and salicylic acid. “Hair care is taking a more holistic approach,” says Shani Francis, a dermatologist in Los Angeles. In turn, we’ve singled out 19 exceptional problem solvers that tackle top concerns like thinning, damage, dryness, and flakiness. CONCERNS: DRYNESS, FRIZZ Coarse, curly, or over-processed hair can feel chronically parched. To boost moisture levels, the best formulas are using skincare ingredients like hyaluronic…

TWO IN ONE Vintner’s Daughter, known for its best-selling botanical serum, is introducing its first cleanser. Laced with the same plant-based, skin-reviving complex found in the brand’s other skincare products, Active Renewal Cleanser ($98; shopBAZAAR.com SB) was inspired by the ritual of a double cleanse. First, apply the creamy oil to dry skin to loosen makeup and other impurities. Then, for deeper cleansing, add a splash of water to transform the oil into a foaming lather. Finally, rinse away to reveal refreshed, soft, supple skin. NAIL NOURISHERS Treat brittle nails and rough cuticles with a Chillhouse On the Mend set ($25). Included: a botanical serum that drenches dry cuticles and cracked nails with four natural oils, vitamin E, and aloe-leaf extract plus a crystal nail file, which is gentler on…

One day when I was in high school, I wore a tutu on my head to class. I was following an impulse for drama. What I really wanted was widows’ weeds, especially those voluminous black nets that wealthy women in the 19th century would wear when a loved one died. I’d read Edward Gorey and fallen in love with the visual world of his books—a pastiche of the Victorian and Edwardian eras and the Jazz Age. In Gorey’s drawings, there was sometimes a woman sketched in long, elegant lines, surrounded by a fury of black veils, about to take part in some obscure, absurdist pantomime with an imaginary animal. I was enchanted. But widows’ weeds are not easily purchased, and with the confident logic of adolescence, it seemed the black…