Table of contents for December/January 2025 in Harper's Bazaar

WE OFTEN TALK about what art is and what is considered art. It’s a debate that cuts across cultures and traditions, across generations and eras. Some of the most important art wasn’t recognized as art in its day. Some of the most celebrated artists—the ones who make up what was once thought of as “the canon”—are now viewed very differently because of who they were and who was excluded. Institutions, like governments and museums, can provide or restrict access to art. In some places, it’s because they believe everyone has a right to see and make it; in others, it’s because they’re fearful of what might happen if they do. Because what we’re really talking about is what it means for people to express themselves and create things, to imagine…

FOR THE AL FRESCO AFICIONADO FOR THE ELEGANT ENTERTAINER FOR THE HAUTE HOMEBODY FOR THE ARTFUL ACCESSORIZER FOR THE ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT…

IT’S THE FOURTH DAY of Paris Fashion Week, and the coolest people in the industry are gathered on the 40th floor of the Tour Montparnasse office building. The designers behind the label All-In, Benjamin Barron and Bror August Vestbø, are about to show their Spring 2025 collection. The space is bare, save for some benches and a raised, rickety-looking catwalk. As the lights go up on the runway, the music by electronic duo Smerz starts to hit: blips from the beginning of the Sex and the City theme song remixed with the sound of the show’s PR maven, Samantha, purring, “Dirty martini, dirty bastard,” interspersed with snippets from David Bowie’s “Fashion” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” The procession begins: One model is dressed in a deconstructed…

I sometimes wonder, if aliens—or even just my 79-year-old dad—were to watch the beauty routines on TikTok, what would they make of them? The multistep processes can include glowing LED face masks, chemical peels, face shaving (preceded by a dusting of face powder), and countless bottles of potions, some of which are made from snail mucin or salmon sperm or colostrum. Still, though, I scroll. Even to me, the algorithmic target of this content, some of it seems absurd, not to mention exhausting. Who has the time? And moreover, does any of it even do anything? And while I’m asking myself these questions, I’m doing…nothing. I’m stuck in a state of skincare paralysis and have been for some time. I know that basic skincare, like washing your face, keeping it…

Getting to know Molly and Russell is no doubt one of the best experiences I’ve had working with Ben Bridge. I’ve been their Personal Jeweler over the years, and it has shown me just how important you can be to your customers and how much they mean to us. Recently, we were getting new pieces in for a special event, and they were the first people that came to mind. I knew their 30th wedding anniversary was coming up and that Russell would want to find something special for Molly (he loves to pamper his wife!). I invited them to the show and texted Russell separately so we could start to brainstorm what Molly would truly love. As I went through ideas, an incredible earring, necklace, and ring combo jumped…

Yellow gold embodies the warmth you feel when you’re wrapped in your most comfortable sweater and among the people you love most. Bold pieces that showcase the rich, warm glow of gold and flow with contours of pure artistry are like a cheat code when it comes to easy, go-to style. From 80s-inspired glam to understated elegance, nothing brings effortless impact and everyday versatility like a statement chain or oversized hoops.…

WHY DON’T YOU…? Opt for the EASE and ELEGANCE of BALLET FLATS.…

I remember waking up on the morning of November 8 in the year 2000 and heading to work. I had dropped out of college after my freshman year, moved to Juneau, Alaska, and taken a job at a day-care center. I heard my coworkers whispering to each other during nap time. “Can you believe it?” one said to the other. “I can’t believe it.” “I know,” I said excitedly. “It’s crazy, but it’s gonna be Gore, right?” The women looked at each other, looked at me, and didn’t answer. They walked away to check diapers, and no one spoke about politics around me for the rest of the time I was there. In hindsight, I probably should have known. The day care played nothing but VeggieTales, and when I would…

For years, I was too intimidated to talk to Setsuko Klossowska de Rola. Always dressed impeccably in a colorful kimono, with her hair pulled back and red lipstick, she’s easy to spot in a crowd. There she is sitting beside Timothée Chalamet at their mutual friend Haider Ackermann’s fashion shows and cozying up with the likes of Tilda Swinton and Peter Marino at art openings. The 82-year-old Japanese painter and ceramicist, who splits her time between a spectacular Swiss chalet she shared with her late husband, the legendary French artist Balthus, and a studio in Paris, has always exuded a kind of traditionalism and perfection. The overall effect has rendered me speechless. I know, I know. Me? Shy? But, yes, it happens occasionally, especially when I’m in the presence of…

LYNETTE NYLANDER: There is a dearth of places to shop in New York. Kirna Zabête is a shining beacon of glamour. It has all the best labels, so I can get my shopping done quickly and easily and then head to one of SoHo’s best restaurants close by for dinner and cocktails. BETH BUCCINI: Shopping is supposed to be fun, but it can be stressful during the holidays, as the expectations are high. We always try to make it easy for our clients, with a huge variety of options at every price point. LN: I feel people think the festive season is the time to try things they wouldn’t normally wear. To the contrary, I think you should lean into the styles you know work for you. But there’s nothing…

She’s a FREE SPIRIT and an OLD SOUL, a Disney Legend and a Grammy winner. ONE THING MILEY CYRUS is NOT INTERESTED in? Being PREDICTABLE. Miley Cyrus is sitting in front of the stone-walled fireplace in her house in Los Angeles, holding up two coffee-table books. One is 2017’s Doll Parts by Amanda Lepore, the transgender, transgressive, glamour-all-the-time nightlife icon. The other is Fashion First, Diane Keaton’s photo book dedicated to her quirky borrowed-from-the-boys personal style. Cyrus is wearing a simple black sweater and minimal makeup, her hair slicked back into a braided ponytail, and she’s shaking both books with equal urgency. “This,” she says emphatically, “is my vibe.” The pairing makes intuitive sense for anyone who has followed Cyrus’s career. She’s Diane Keaton when she’s singing covers in her own…

At Ben Bridge, we are uncompromising when it comes to jewelry and luxury watches. Every person we partner with works hard to ensure our jewelry positively impacts every person it touches, is responsibly-sourced using the highest quality natural stones and metals, and is crafted to be enjoyed for generations. Our Personal Jewelers are here to connect you with dazzling natural diamonds and gemstones from our exclusive fashion and bridal collections, along with jewelry from the most premium brands of the world. Looking to invest in a luxury watch? We have experts with access to the most coveted watch brands to complement your collection. At Ben Bridge, we bring you the best jewelry the world has to offer. Connect in-store or online and find what they’ll wear and love, every day.…

This season, our Personal Jewelers are intrigued by pieces that find you in your element and punctuate your narrative. Comforting classics in yellow gold that embody the spirit of boldness, laughter and warmth. Moody metals and black diamonds that give everyday elegance the perfect touch of edge. Timeless treasures to love for a lifetime. This year, we’re excited to turn the key and open up your style with pieces meant to be worn and loved, every day.…

Some of our favorite pieces are those that grow with you, ignite memories and become heirlooms that embody your journey. Timeless classics like Tahitian pearls, diamond bands, bangles and studs are the types of jewelry that just get better with time and lend themselves to stacking and styling in any way that strikes your fancy.…

Your dream rings come alive with Bella Ponte! Gorgeous modern yet timeless designs that will woo you and are crafted from recycled gold. Looking to customize your ring? Our Personal Jewelers are here to guide you through the process using 3D technology that you can see in-store and take home! We are here to help you incorporate family heirloom stones, explore diamonds and gemstones, and play with exactly how it all comes together with your engagement and wedding band. Want your ring to match your partner’s? Create your set together and add an engraving and details that hold the most meaning for your love story.…

FEATURED TRACKS 1. “EROTICA” Madonna 2. “EUSEXUA” FKA Twigs 3. “IT’S OKAY TO CRY” SOPHIE 4. “BIG TIME SENSUALITY” Björk 5. “BABOOSHKA” Kate Bush 6. “LA KILIÉ” Rosalía 7. “WET VAGINA” Doja Cat 8. “CLOSER” Fousheé 9. “MOSQUITO” PinkPantheress 10. “DON’T CALL ME” Alemeda 11. “I HATE YOUR EX-GIRLFRIEND” Banks feat. Doechii 12. “FEMININOMENON” Chappell Roan 13. “SUNSET” Caroline Polachek 14. “IMMACULATE” Shygirl feat. Saweetie 15. “REASON WHY” Sophie feat. Kim Petras and BC Kingdom 16. “GEORGIA PEACH” Latto 17. “BOOM BAP” Doechii 18. “EVERYTHING IS ROMANTIC” Charli XCX 19. “BED CHEM” Sabrina Carpenter “For me, an ARTIST is someone who is NOT SCARED to be on THE EDGE,” says French singer and songwriter YSEULT, “not scared to share their EMOTION, their TRUTH.” Yseult, whose dramatic vocals have delivered everything…

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk studied first responders and their trauma. After a person suffers a traumatic incident, the brain pumps hormones such as oxytocin through the body, which elevates mood and alleviates fight-or-flight responses once they’re no longer advantageous. A side effect of oxytocin is that it dulls the memory. What Dr. van der Kolk found was that when first responders came off the field and immediately described what they had seen to other professionals—the gold standard protocol for the Red Cross at the time—it prohibited the flood of memory-dulling chemicals and kept the first responders in an adrenalized state, inscribing their trauma in the amygdala, the primal part of the brain from where the fight-or-flight response originates, rather than moving it…

ON A LEADEN day in October, I stood in front of a mirror on the fourth floor of a town house on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, getting my measurements taken for a pair of pants. The space was elegant and cozy, scaled as though for an intimate conversation at a friend’s apartment, except I was in the studio of designer Patricia Voto. Fabric swatches covered one wall, sketches lay on a round table, and small bowls of nuts, M&M’s, and dried apricots sat next to a display of shoes. Disenchanted by the distancing effect of online shopping, Voto—a veteran of Altuzarra, Brock Collection, and Gabriela Hearst—launched her atelier concept, One/Of (shoponeof.com), in 2020. Voto and her team release two capsule collections a year, but she views them more…

When Philadelphia-born Barbara Chase-Riboud left the United States on her own for the first time in 1957, it was aboard the ocean liner Flandre. The ship, bound for Europe, departed from New York Harbor. As Flandre steamed east, it left behind perhaps the best gift ever given by a best friend: the 151-foot-tall Statue of Liberty, generously bestowed by our close ally France in honor of the U.S. centennial and a constant reminder to America of its most superlative self—greeting tired, poor, huddled masses of newcomers seeking safety, fortune, hope, and freedom. With this journey, Chase-Riboud embarked on an extraordinary life as a sculptor, poet, and novelist. Since 1961, she has made her home in Paris, where she has fashioned a singular body of work that has been informed as…

Standing in my kitchen chatting with my mother in law, it struck me how much I enjoy seeing her wear pieces of jewelry that we have given her over the years - a necklace from our first holiday, a ring for a birthday. Better than the moment we gave her each piece, seeing her style them and make them her own makes them truly precious. Jewelry and watches are my love language. They are deeply meaningful works of art that combine the best of what earth has to offer with our ingenuity and craft. They endure long after the celebration, and in fact take on more meaning over time. At Ben Bridge, precise craftsmanship, our discerning quality control, the passion of our team, and our ability to offer ongoing service…

Don’t shy away from the personality of bold rings that stand out with a vibrant pop of color from gemstones in an array of hues. An impact ring with smooth, comfortable contours pairs perfectly with a classic watch on a leather strap. When it comes to men’s fashion, choose pieces that you can wear in the office, out to dinner or at a laid-back weekend barbeque.…