#10
Mario Badescu dinner + Black Friday
Hello reader, and welcome to your weekly dose of fashion and beauty. And happy Friday, as always! Last night, I found myself at a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Mario Badescu, in Notting Hill, of all places. The room was filled with the usual suspects: a sprinkle of journalists and an abundance of influencers who looked like they’d spent the whole day getting ready.
I, on the other hand, had commuted on the Victoria and Central line in rush hour from the office - an experience that I’m now coining as The Tube Rot. I left the office looking primed to perfection - freshly blow-dried hair, topped up with the beauty cupboard’s staple scent (Jimmy Choo I Want Choo With Love Le Parfum), the perfect lipstick combination on (REFY Blur Lip Liner, Charlotte Tilbury lipstick, Laneige butter balm). I didn’t even have that much to carry, aside from my obscenely heavy bag that seems to get heavier with every step.
Point aside, I left looking good. However, as soon as I clicked clacked my heeled boots onto the underground, I felt that dreaded lower back sweat erupt. The tube wind blew my hair into my lipstick, and I nearly tumbled down the escalators in haste to shove my AirPods in. Then came the platform - or rather, the attempt to reach the platform.
It was textbook London nightmare: sardine-packed tubes, people everywhere, and the collective energy of a city with somewhere to be. My tolerance is usually high; however, on this occasion, it was growing dangerously thin. Where was everyone going? And why is it always extra busy when I need somewhere to be? I tried to soothe my cortisol levels with 432Hz frequency music - my go-to for high stress situations - but all I could focus on was how ridiculously scratchy my sequin top had become.
With each stop, I could feel my primed-to-perfection look slowly disintegrate. My hair had definitely flattened slightly, my posture more hunched from ducking people’s grimy hands, and my lipstick was probably over half my face. It was getting hotter and hotter as more commuters squeezed into what I can only describe as a mobile sauna, far from ideal when I’m layered up for the cold.
I did make it to the event, albeit slightly dishevelled. I do believe tube commuting sheds a couple of years of your life. Perhaps I’m just salty that the influencers looked like I did before entering the underground. Or maybe they just looked more chirpy because they weren’t slowly unravelling after a day of emails, deadlines, and rummaging around on hands and knees in the beauty cupboard. Who knows.
That said, I’ve always loved Mario Badescu, especially their Rosewater spray, which comes everywhere with me: long-haul flights, beach days, the office, and yes, the tube. One spritz and I’m revived - rose, aloe, freshness - just enough to survive the 4pm slump.
Anyway, do keep up…
Article spotlight!
On Tuesday’s train ride home, I devoured the latest issue of Grazia. One piece in particular by Laura Antonia Jordan stood out - an exploration of how Lauren Sanchez Bezos is orchestrating a full-blown fashion takeover.
It detailed how the ‘billionaire bride’ is buying her way into the fashion world, and I loved the opening line:
‘Money can’t necessarily buy style but you better believe it can buy fashion: the best of it, loads of it, and in the case of Lauren Sanchez Bezos, access to the ultra-elite echelons of it’
The article was in light of recent news that the couple are funding the fashion events of all fashion events, The Met Gala. Whilst it is typical for events like these to be funded by wealthy individuals and organisations, what Laura did was question why this couple, who previously had nothing to do with the world of celebrity and fashion, are suddenly infiltrating it at such speed.
It was rumoured that Jeff Bezos was primed to buy the publishing giant Conde Nast as a ‘gift’ for Lauren, whose interest in the fashion world has been paramount this year. She was front row at Paris Fashion Week, most notably not as an onlooker but a very big buyer (she was rumoured to have spent an astonishing seven figures monthly on clothes), has given Jeff a big makeover (as all girlfriends do at one point to their partner), attended Edward Enninful’s EE72 Magazine launch, and seems to be at every huge fashion event.
It’s a crazy thing what money can do, because with the resources they have, this couple have the power to shape the fashion world. By sponsoring the Met Gala, they gain extraordinary influence over its future. And that raises valid concerns: Will billionaire-backed culture become even less accessible? Will creative communities feel squeezed out? Are we witnessing a regression, where fashion becomes more elite rather than more inclusive?
And the funny thing is, none of this is about clothes. Rather, it is about power. By the Bezos powerhouse sponsoring major events and funding exhibitions, they are leveraging their wealth to gain a structural stake in fashion. And, yes, this could limit accessibility because events become more exclusive, which then may lead to a shift in ‘taste’, and ultimately, a redefinition of what counts as cultural capital. Money, creative vision, style, and taste all become blended.
Although this was a short article, I liked how it made me think. That’s what good articles let you do: they linger.
Celebrity Favourite!
Burberry and Claridge’s 2025 Christmas Tree unveiling brought out a glittering crowd of celebrities, all draped in Burberry. My favourite look by far was Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s: a rich burgundy leather trench paired with mustard accents that complemented her blonde locks so well.
I’m not sure how I feel about PVC/glossy coats. I’ve never owned one, which might be an indicator of how I feel about them. I find they can oftentimes look very tacky if you grab a cheap one on the high street, which is why Rosie’s trench works because it looks expensive. There’s always a trick when it comes to buying certain clothing. The high street can very easily mimic higher-end brands and you wouldn’t even know - Zara jeans are incredible quality and at an even more incredible price point - whereas when you enter coat territory, especially leather territory, things can get a little dodgy. The smell of cheap leather is comparable to rotten fish, and it just looks so bad! So, main advice: invest in leather goods, skip it on jeans.
Eye Candy!
It’s Black Friday today, and although I promised myself not to get swept in, I did. Badly. I received a flurry of messages from my favourite brands alarming me that I have exclusive (!!!) access to a range of items, that although I didn’t think I needed last week, now need. I was definitely captivated by the power of COS, who messaged me saying they had 20% off everything, and my heart squealed in delight knowing that there will soon be some fabulous items making a home in my wardrobe. Gosh, I sound like a maniac. I just love shopping!!!
Although I definitely have my eye on more than five things this week, the below are the items I cannot stop thinking about. Like, non-stop.
First! A ring. Although I already featured a ring last week, I’m great at consistency so here’s another one that is on my top list. My mum has a very similar statement cluster ring that I always wear, but it is bronze coloured, and therefore, slightly different from this COS version, so, I’m justified to buy it! I just love how it looks both minimalist but maximalist all at once, and it comes with a matching necklace that is an absolute dream. An instant need.
Next, another need. I never tend to browse H&M, because like Zara, I find there’s too many items and my fear of getting sucked into the sea of clothes is too much to bear. I also find H&M can be risky on the quality side, given that most of my impulse purchases from the brand have been sadly wallowing on my Vinted profile because I wore it once and never again. Hence, I am cautious when I browse. However, I spotted this set last month and really loved it - all for it to pop up on my TikTok page and go viral, and now it’s sold out in my size. And now I need it more than ever.
They also have a leopard print version that I’ll most definitely purchase in case this print never comes back in stock. Curse viral Tiktoks.
I’ve been hearing so many good reviews about Hailey Beiber’s rhode products, especially since she’s just launched in Sephora in the UK. I’ve always felt trepidatious when using celebrity owned beauty products, because I never know if they’re truly good, or everyone just says they are because it is owned by a famous face. But, all the beauty editors are raving about the brand, and according to some research, it’s soon on par with Selena Gomez’ brand, Rare Beauty (which I LOVE, especially their velvety Melting Blush in the colour Nearly Mauve).
As a lover of blush, and more so of cream blush, I am dying to try the Pocket Blush Buildable Hydrating Cream Blush in Toasted Teddy. This shade has become sensationalised on TikTok, and it really does look beautiful.
Another fun fact: I love a shoe from Dune. I find they have hit the mark of being slightly affordable but also great quality because their shoes are real leather (and therefore, more durable). I specifically love loafers from Dune, and have recently purchased a pair of penny loafers that I have to refrain from wearing every day. You would think my loafer itch has been scratched, but no, because my greedy eye spotted these this week and again, I can’t stop thinking about them. They’re very similar to the Sandro Paris loafer, but slightly less chunky, and I love the studded detailing on the front. Also, in the sale!!!
Lastly, the beauty editor of Grazia, Annie Vischler, mentioned this beautiful blend in her column in this week’s print edition, and it sounds amazing.
The Cult Beauty description explains it better than I so here you go: ‘Skin care made drinkable, this expertly formulated synthesis of magnesium, vitamin C and niacin rests in a feel-good formulation of cacao, passionflower, chamomile and lavender. Enter a glow-inducing dream state with simply two teaspoons in milk or water nightly.’ Sounds like something I need.
Weekly obsession!
I got a blow-dry from drybar in Harrods last Friday (a big treat), and they gifted me the Double Blow-Dryer Brush and I’m really loving it so far. I have dead straight hair, which usually means achieving volume is a losing battle. But, I’ve tried this twice so far and it’s creating that volume I dream about. My hair also feels silky smooth afterwards, which is a plus.
Until next time, fashionistas
HVD x