🎁 This week I launched my 2026 Holiday Gift Guide — gifts for her, him, dog parents, hostesses, and more!

1. CULTURE

Apparently, nobody wants to have a baby boy anymore. Surveys across higher-income countries show the centuries-old preference for sons is starting to shift! In the US, adoptive parents will pay an average of $16,000 more for a girl, while IVF clinics report that most patients come to them wanting a girl! In some ways that’s progress, given how much damage the preference for boys has done around the world (especially in places like China). But the piece also points to a newer, quieter shift. In the years since #MeToo, and with so much conversation about toxic masculinity, some parents feel uneasy about raising a son, or worry they won’t have much in common with a boy! As someone with a nephew I absolutely adore, I — and my sister — can confirm that having a boy is so much fun. More chaotic? Perhaps… but so fun!

2. COOKING

We’ve all heard that brown rice is the healthier choice, but the science isn’t as clear as you’d think! Studies that track people over time do link white rice to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, but people who choose to eat brown rice also tend to live healthier lives overall which sort of muddies the results. When researchers actually assigned people to eat brown rice, there was no real improvement in their blood sugar! What seems to matter more than color is the type of rice and how it’s processed and prepared. Parboiled rice (rice that’s soaked and steamed before milling), for example, appeared to do better than regular white rice. And simply refrigerating cooked rice alters some of its starch so that it digests more slowly! So no need to feel guilty about your rice order!

3. NYC

The Flatiron Building just welcomed its first residents in its 124-year history! The iconic building has been turned into 36 condos, and I’m fascinated by how it came together! The restoration took years, with more than 1,000 windows replaced and thousands of terra-cotta pieces hand-replicated. I also didn’t realize the building is now lit at night for the first time ever! Amenities include a 60-foot lap pool, a cold plunge, and a golf simulator, and a new restaurant from the Via Carota team is coming in 2027. Prices start at $14.85 million… so for now I’ll be admiring it from the sidewalk, but I’m so happy this icon is getting a new chapter!

4. TRAVEL

How many of these have you checked off!? This list of 24 once-in-a-lifetime trips made me do the math, and so far I’m at four: Italy, Paris, Tokyo, and New York (I get to count living here, right?) That leaves a very long list, and of course an African safari is at the top of mine, which I’m still hoping to make happen for my 40th! The list runs from Machu Picchu and the Galapagos to the northern lights, Cappadocia, and Namibia! So many places, so little time.

5. WELLNESS

Bottled water is officially the newest status symbol. A new wave of water brands, like Loonen and WaterOuai! (founded by the same woman behind Supergoop!), are selling “clean hydration” instead of pretty mountain spring water. Instead of glaciers on the label, you get a QR code with lab results, glass or aluminum packaging instead of plastic, and a pitch about avoiding microplastics! The price tag is real, though — with small bottles running about $6 each. One woman in the piece estimates she spends at least $1,800 a year on Loonen alone! An expert predicts most people will end up with a good home filter instead, and that might be more my speed. I’ll stick with a reusable water bottle for now!

6. POLITICS

Texas is having a moment on the political stage, and this Vogue essay from a Dallas native about this week’s election made me a little emotional! She writes about growing up in Texas, drifting away from it, and then noticing how much it’s changed. People she loves who once disagreed are finding common ground in places they never expected. I touched on the midterms in Off Script this week and how I hope this wave of fresh faces ushers back in a more nuanced approach to politics. I can’t speak for everyone, but I sure am ready to move away from the hostile us-versus-them mentality and extremes on both sides of the coin!

+ WHAT I’M EYEING

NORDSTROM DESIGNER NEW ARRIVALS: BOUCLE DRESS // TURTLENECK // CASHMERE TEE // WOOL JACKET // BARN JACKET // LEATHER PANTS // EARRINGS // HANDBAG // WRAP COAT // JEANS // BOOTS // TOTE // CLUTCH // CUFF // SLINGBACKS

SHOPBOP FALL PICKS: FRINGE COAT // WRAP COAT // FAIR ISLE SWEATER // TURTLENECK // RED V-NECK // RUFFLED BLOUSE // OXBLOOD OFF THE SHOULDER TOP // BRONZE TEE // ZIP SWEATER AND MATCHING SKIRT // FAUX LEATHER PANTS // LIGHT WASH JEANS // SILK PANTS // DARK WASH JEANS // BOOTS // BALLET FLATS // GOLD EARRINGS // BROWN EARRINGS // BASEBALL CAP // SUNGLASSES // SUNGLASSES

+ END OF WEEK EXTRAS

• This year, it’s all about the statement scarf.
• This satin and pearl choker is so pretty.
• Maybe the prettiest handbag I’ve seen in a while.
• 2026 NYC restaurant openings on my radar!
• Love the color of these Adidas, perfect for fall.
• A gorgeous little suede bag for everyday.
• Other things to do if you’re trying to avoid watching TV every night.
• These sneakers are so cool!
• How to make friendship work in your 30s and 40s.
• This silk cami and the matching skirt are gorgeous.
• A festive blackwatch jacket (under $200!)
• These boots continue to be a wardrobe MVP.
• This top with black pants would be a chic going out look.
• If you’re in a reading rut, start here!
• The embroidery on this sweater is so good.
• A great pair of flats under $160!
• Love these statement earrings.