It’s newly 2025, so why not bring back a mini version of Guest of Tens with the Best of the Tens? My actual sister and my UK sister will join me for a fun, stream of consciousness Ins/Outs!

Let’s face it, this year is going to be completely nuts re: the state of the world. We’ve known it, we’re here, and there’s a ton of work to do. But why not take a moment with your best girls to just talk the silly shit?

You ready? Lessssgo!

INS

Fashion
Mimi
• Pared down dressing— if I hear quiet luxury/The Row-coded one more time, I will fucking scream! But it is def time to bring it back to earth a bit, and that’s coming from me. As I packed for my first NYC trip of the year, I was compelled to keep it normie, meaning neutrals paired with denim, black leather and just a few accessories. Check back in with me around June when I’m sure to be wearing head-to-toe lunacy!
• High heels— this is more me trying to manifest the return of the 3-4 incher, but we’re leaving the house more, correct? Going out more and wearing less, amirite?
• Cashmere— she’s never been in more closets, thanks to affordable offerings from Quince (lol at their audacity), Nadaam and the high street. I’m at a point where if I’m not wearing daily cashmere, my equilibrium is way off.
Addie
• +1 here for cashmere! And my NNKW (no new knitwear) rule applies- search cashmere on The Real Real or Poshmark (Vinted for my fellow UK shoppers) so your cashmere is worn in, not overpriced, and not too precious. Wear it daily! Who cares! Spring hopeful pro tip- nothing is more luxe than cashmere over linen for warmer days and cooler nights.
• Real vintage fur. Come on y’all. What’s done is done, might as well enjoy it. And fake fur is plastic.
• Loafers. Obviously nothing new but I’ve found these are my go to shoe, with a visible great sock (thin merino wool). They do the trick of a sneaker to add contrast but are less obvious and more polished. Can you tell I’ve been living in the UK for too long?
• Raw hem ankle length denim. Just cut it yourself just above the ankle bone and show off a bit of unexpected skin (or your great loafer socks!).
Ari
• OK— I have to agree wholeheartedly that Quince just really DGAF! Their emails are like, “Hi – we’ve cloned a person at 40% cheaper than our peers because DIRECT TO CONSUMER IS LYFE. Enjoy!” Not hating though; truly here for it. V. v. “in,” in fact.
• I just purchased my very first vintage fur while on a weekend trip to eat/drink/shop with one of my best girlfriends who has retired to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and it’s a beaut! Jet black rabbit fur with buttery soft leather lapels and cuffs. Me as a jacket, essentially. Already cooking up some fire outfits for these last few weeks of cooooooold on the East Coast.
• As always, I continue to be a maximalist so paring down is not really in my vocab, mmkay. However, I am a gravitator, meaning that even as a I swim in too. much. stuff., I keep coming back to certain pieces/tropes/themes/vibes for my day-to-day. One of my favorite looks right now is the slightly masculine/Gen Z androgynous combo of a sweatshirt, jeans and a baseball cap, all some sort of amalgamation of hypercool, Black-owned streetweater brands. Off-White, Billionaire Boys Club/ICECREAM, Cidenna, and my absolute fave, Diet Starts Monday. Biggest bonus: it’s a look that works for preschool dropoff and Big Tech RTO days. Winning.
• I just discovered the MAGIC of Larroude shoes thanks to a Nordstrom deeeeeeep sale, and whew, forever changed. Hot, comfy and (sort of) affordable. Let’s go, girls! (Shania voice)

Beauty
Mimi
• Moisturizer as the ultimate skincare hack- I think we’re about to see fewer devices and more Olay. Not that brand specifically, but the understanding that many of our mothers look unfathomably young, and all they did was wash their faces and not put us in car seats! I am devoted to a nightly inch of cream and I swear it’s made more of a difference than that blasted NuFace.
• Prestige lip balm— the lip is having a moment, and I’m here for it! Current fave combo is a dark lipstick as liner with Refy’s chic gloss in Fawn.
Addie
• Sophie Pavitt Mandelic Clearing Serum– recommended by a fellow non botoxer friend, and after a week of use I am hooked. Has a cult following for a reason. And then, yeah pair with Mimi’s point about all the moisturizer and you’re HOTTOGO.
• Face yoga— still on my high horse here, but why freeze your face when you can work it out? If movement tones and lifts the body, it sure as hell works for the face. 15 mins in the morning (or while emailing) does the trick.
Arienne
• Very unglam, but I’ve been slathering my 4-year-old son’s little face in Aquaphor for weeks now before school, so it’s safe to say Moisture Is King in my household. Doubly unglam: I’m the a person who slathers my feet in Vaseline each night and then rocks my thickest Bombas to sleep. Zexy, I know.
• Bonus moisture note: I have gone through an embarrassing number of Jones Road’s oh-so-perfect Hippie Stick, but truthfully, I’m not actually ashamed. What I am though, is teachable. So when I head back to NYC in a few weeks, this time I’ll just buy three-at-once to make sure I stay fully stocked (through summer at least). Sorted!
• Now that my Invisalign treatment has ended, I can finally wear lipstick again. NARS matte pencils only. “Cruella” mostly. The end.
• Oh, and I continue to be a nail art devotee/queen. Don’t care if this ever falls out of favor. It me.
• Dude, if you haven’t had a buccal massage facial, JUST SAY THAT! Got my first one a few weeks ago and…holy shit. Been dreaming of it ever since and booking my next very soon.

People/Culture
Mimi
• Y’all, being more selfish is in for 2025…and beyond. People are way more willing to speak their truth to friends, family, and strangers alike. The past 5 years of relentless world bullshit has opened our eyes to the fact that life is too short for people to treat you like shit and then turn and say “You’re welcome.”
• Third Spaces— I love a coffee shop hang, and based on the number of fellow remote workers hunkering down with me at Hustle and Dough weekly, I’d say you do too! Get out of the house and just while away a few hours with some unknowns.
• Mahjong— She’s not going anywhere! My girls and I have been trying to play weekly since the end of December, and but by His Grace, I actually kinda know what I’m doing. It sharpens my (already pointy) competitive edge, allows for 3+ screen-free hours and is a wonderful, tangible connection with friends. And the merch opportunities are endless. Our last session involved so much giggling, I actually had to excuse myself from my tiles to get up and laugh!
• Y’all and other regional speak (see point one)— There was a clear moment in my first job after college when I realized using y’all in professional emails was an out. 4 years later, I was in the belly of the Manhattan retail beast and would sooner walk down 5th Ave naked than be marked Southern. Many years after that, I don’t give a rat’s ass. I will y’all across every surface of this globe because it’s who I am. A Memphis New Yorker girl who loves alllll y’all, dead ass!
Addie
• Hot Girl Justice: not that hot girls ever left, but 2025 brings with it the return of unbridled, fun, celebratory hot girl energy. Hot is a mindset. Hot is being a girls’ girl. Hot is the new besties in the club bathroom saying “I love you,” and swapping lipstick, but also on group texts and girls trips. We’ve got each other’s backs bc well… doing so laughs in the face of toxic masculinity.
Arienne
• I kind of…hate everyone. But, that’s not new in 2025. However, I am very much trying to be expansive in how I think about me. I have really surprised myself in the past few months with who I’m becoming and who I’m leaving behind, so I want to see what else she got going on this year.
• Also: does my nail salon— shout out to Nothing In Between!— count as a third space?
• Amen to Hot Girl Justice. And given that I feel my hottest ever at 43, the mindset is locked tf in. I understand now, J.Lo.

Health/Fitness
Mimi
• Two-a-day workouts— just hear me out! Combining complimentary workouts within a day, rather than one grueling session is the move. I did back-to-back double days (a tongue twister) and had so much energy, I coulda done one more.
Addie
• Yes to two a days… or 3 or 4! I’ve been realizing short bursts of movement throughout the day (several rounds of 15 mins circuits with no need to sweat) get you sore, keep you focused, and are easier to incorporate when the busy-ness piles up (or you don’t want a hair wash day). My fave will forever be The Class digital subscription— best $40 a month I spend. They have so many at-homes of all lengths and vibes.
• Spa vacations. Or active ones. The luxury of going somewhere to feel great? I’m in. Multiple nights are key to really melt into it, and out of your day-to-day.
Arienne
• As an elder millennial, my focus these days is on maintenance rather than Mobama arms. Yes, I’m trying to preserve my hot, but being mobile at 65 is equally importany. To that end, I’m continuing pilates, barre and tennis weekly, but also looking to mix in some strength training and more good old-fashioned (weighted-vest) walking. When spring finally breaks, cash me outside…
• And, OMFG Addie, yes let’s plan this spa vacay.
• Also: everyone in my mom-friend/40s circles is talking about perimenopause and I’m just like…sigh, I have to learn about something else now after periodsfertilitypregnancylabor&deliveryC-sectionrecoverymatrescence?? Lawd.

Misc/Unhinged Thoughts
Mimi
• Wraps— make like it’s 2006 and just stuff an oversized “spinach” tortilla to your hearts content. I will always be a salads first girl, but have you ever had a chicken Caesar wrap?!
• Social smoking— the rest of the country is finally catching on to the NYC/UK/EU/Global fact that cigs never left. I’m not glamorizing smoking by any means (well, by some means), but it’s becoming less and less taboo to be a smoker. Chilternnnnn rat cave forever!
Addie
• +1 for social smoking! And I’ll add a skinny Vogue cig to that. All the hit with half the headache.
• The rush of selling stuff you don’t wear. Just let go. Little bits add up- and this teaches you a lot about your own style evolution. Knowing why I sold that peasant top helps me realize I don’t want another one, ya know?
Arienne
• Um, my household feels unhinged — and misc — every day (see: Legos, dinos, plastic crap everywhere, etc.), so gonna pass on this one..

OUTS

Fashion
Mimi
• Sorry, but y’all have already done a number on leopard print. I’m out but enjoy, love!
• Prestige handbags— the Wirkin is my favorite Wal-Mart story of the year! Who knew the Birkin was indeed not too big to fail? Re: pared down dressing, the unidentifiable bag is coming back! Don’t even get me started on that $15k Margaux.
• Influencer shopping— newsflash, most of the girlies cannot dress, so why are we blindly LTKing and shopping via commission links?? Just like purging your closet, curate your top 5-7 newsletters and keep it tight!
Addie
• Dupe culture. Different than the occasional dupe— which, hey, if you are obsessed and don’t want to drop new fashion prices for a thing, go for it. But I’m talking finding low quality “dupes” for every classic that you should just get. Disposable is not the vibe for the world we’re in, and rip offs ain’t it. Just get the Good Thing and wear the fuck out of it. We all deserve better!
• OuTfItS as a purchase. Gone are the days of needing a complete new lewk for that baby shower or wedding or night out. Buy what you love when it speaks to you and incorporate it through style practice for all those occasions.
• Related to both above: hauls. Just like, tone it down. Adding everything to cart is not creative nor aspirational in 2025.
Arienne
• <shakily raises hand> Um, I still love leopard print…
• BUT still completely over million-dollar bags, influencers, dupes just to dupe, OuTfItS and hauls. Really just anything TikTok-adjacent and vapid.
• I will say, I’m already done with Gen Z’s obsession with reviving ’00s fashion. Like, no, we are no longer interested in low-rise jeans and glitter makeup. No need to inquire within.

Beauty
Mimi
• Filler/Botox— Too many young women look INSANE due to an overwhelming amount of poking, prodding. The work is…not working. I predict way more dissolving and slowdowns on obsessive medi-spa treatments. I’m not procedure shaming, but when I hear of women getting full face lifts at 34 due to filler side effects, enough!
Arienne
• Absolutely +1 to all of the filler madness, especially in the under-40s! However, I’m definitely about to schedule my consult with Dr. Maryam for (a non-invasive) Naz Experience. As she told me, “I love working on a beautiful canvas that just needs a refresh.” If you ask me, I’m ready.

People/Culture
Mimi
• Celebs/Traditional fame— woof, Hollywood has had a rough few years. Gaining clarity on our own identities has helped to knock the A-list celeb off a centuries-old pedestal. They have been falling like dominos since 2020, and I think the reckoning has just begun. Also, shoutout to the holding prison in Brooklyn that is rife with stardom these days— Luigi? Diddy/LOVE? The Crypto Baddie? Tell me NYC is not the greatest city in the world!
• Equivocation— the 2024 election offered me a level of clarity that was heartbreaking but also very critical. I’m just going to let these moronic demons destroy themselves and go about my business. I will not argue or defend my humanity to anyone. My mantra of November was “emotional vaporization,” so I’ll see you when the smoke clears.
• Opinions— can everyone please just STFU for like 6 months? More tariffs on podcast equipment. As I write this blog– self awareness is a gift!
• Instagram— Fuck Zuck! He’s a (hideous/dorky) lunatic, and I think it’s time for the social hierarchy to put him in his place. #HotGirlJustice I’ve deactivated my profile as a first step to deleting. If you need me, you already have my number.

Health/Fitness
Mimi
• This is maybe more hard fashion, but tangential to fitness— put the fucking sweats away for actual meals in a restaurant. I know, I know, it’s been 11 months since I talked about Sweats @ Dinner. I am wiser now, and know that sweats are for sweating or lounging on the couch.
• YouTube/Influencer routines— They literally don’t know your first name, so how in the world can they tell you what to do first thing in the morning or which supplements to take?! Consult actual experts, your friends, family members, and people who know you on what’s working for them! Invite someone on a sunset walk or to your favorite spin class. I recently pivoted my bookclub meeting to a private yoga session, and it was simply delightful. We’re being active IRL in 2025!

Misc/Unhinged Thoughts
Mimi
• The Adult Birthday Industrial Complex— sorry, but we’re going back to cake and ice cream celebrations, not Tulum and coordinated outfits. I find birthdays to be incredibly special and personal, and love celebrating them tete-a-tete. My London birthday trio trip was truly divine, and saved my 2024 from going fully off the deep end.
• Work friends— Dear Debra, We’re good on birthday happy hours! Have a wonderful Q1! Signed, Everyone
Arienne
• Yes, please please please kill Birthday Weeks/Months/Centuries. I don’t curr and no, I’m not packing a special “photoshoot outfit” so you can try to be Solange ca. 2013. Next!

How.Fun.Was.That. Thank you to my sister-friends! Okkkkkk, 2025, here we come or whatever! Xx