picks vol. 11

what we’re wearing

holiday dressing, simplified. rich color does the work here — emerald satin, warm burgundy, and subtle gold accents that feel festive without feeling themed. an easy formula for december gatherings when you want to look considered, not overdone.

the pant look:
• destree jacket and pant — tailoring that does the talking
• cult gaia clutch — the conversation piece
• espresso satin heels — grounding the glow

the dress look:
• zara satin red dress — the kind of yes you don’t overthink
• burgundy heels — even better than matching
• ysl wristlet — just enough sparkle energy

what we’re sipping

the negroni (aperitivo style)

a lighter, citrus-forward take on the classic, made for toasts, conversation, and unhurried holiday nights.

ingredients:
1 oz gin

¾ oz campari

¾ oz sweet vermouth

½ oz blood orange juice

orange peel

optional accents:

1 dash orange or aromatic bitters

1 drop spiced bitters

rosemary sprig (for aroma only)

how to make:
in a mixing glass, combine gin, campari, sweet vermouth, and blood orange juice with ice. stir until well chilled. strain over a large cube in a rocks glass. express an orange peel over the drink and drop it in. finish with bitters or a rosemary sprig, if desired.

what we’re baking

gruyère gougères

crisp, airy, and best served warm. the kind of hors d’oeuvre that belongs at holiday gatherings, designed to be passed around with drinks and disappear quickly.

ingredients:
½ cup whole milk

½ cup water

8 tbsp unsalted butter

½ tsp salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

4 large eggs

1 cup finely grated gruyère

¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

freshly cracked black pepper

how to make:

heat oven to 400°. line a baking sheet with parchment. in a saucepan, combine milk, water, butter, and salt and bring to a gentle boil. add flour all at once and stir vigorously until the dough pulls away from the sides and forms a smooth ball. remove from heat and let cool slightly. beat in eggs one at a time until glossy. fold in gruyère, nutmeg, and pepper. scoop or pipe small mounds onto the baking sheet. bake 20–25 minutes until puffed and deeply golden.

serve warm.

what we’re reading

the year of magical thinking — joan didion

a clear-eyed meditation on grief, time, and the quiet rituals of adjustment. written in the months following personal loss, didion examines how the mind searches for order when certainty falls away. restrained, precise, and deeply human — a fitting read for the final weeks of the year, when reflection feels natural rather than imposed.