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The group chat is unpacking what heals us, what haunts us, and why a phone case might say more than we think.

• EMDR is reshaping trauma therapy—and stirring scientific debate.

• It’s ok if you just don’t click with your sibling.

• Would you write a post-breakup letter?

• The internet is feuding with the “big light.”

• The allure of the whimsical phone case.

Fashion’s Hot List

Fashion’s heat check is in, and according to the latest Lyst Index—fashion’s most data-driven popularity contest, which tracks 160 million shoppers’ habits to reveal the most-wanted brands and products of the moment—the fashion that everyone actually wants right now sits at the intersection of timeless and wearable.

Saint Laurent kept its #1 position as a favorite, with the Vendôme Slingback Pumps named one of the hottest products, giving evidence that sharp, refined footwear still signals fashion authority. However, according to the data, recent months have also shown the continued rise of brands that balance polish with accessibility. The brand COS ranked in third place on the hot list due to a 60% increase in demand quarter-over-quarter as shoppers double down on elevated basics that feel modern, intentional, and wearable everywhere. 

Other brands included Miu Miu in second place, followed by Ralph Lauren in fourth. Prada, Coach, The Row, Burberry, Gucci, and Moncler rounded out the top 10. If the Lyst Index proves anything, it’s that fashion’s collective mood is shifting. The hottest items right now lean toward being modern classics. Quiet luxury isn’t disappearing, but it is evolving with a more hardwearing sensibility that is emerging alongside the cashmere-heavy elegance that defined previous seasons. 

This winter, the fashion crowd is looking for practical outerwear, simple yet elevated accessories, and knitwear that signals a mindset focused less on spectacle and more on longevity and versatility. Shoppers are repeatedly choosing refined staples over flash, and it’s clear that confidence, comfort, and clothes that actually last are what’s defining fashion right now.

Vibes Over Venmo Requests? 

Remember loud budgeting? When seemingly everyone on TikTok was declaring a pattern of declining plans and posting about it not being in their budget, with an excited energy? Well, it’s been a minute, and according to a new report from Albert, the personal finance assistant app, the volume may have turned way down. 

In the report, 65% of Gen Z said that they would rather redo their entire monthly budget than ask a friend to pay them back for brunch. Yep, they’ll sit down with spreadsheets and reallocate rent money before they dare send that Venmo reminder. Albert’s data suggests that Gen Z isn’t giving up on budgeting—they’re just redefining it with “whimsy.” They are twice as likely to admit they spend based on “vibes” in the moment, and 57% say the number-one thing they break their budget on is “treating themselves.”

The experts noted a number of trade-offs to this soft-life spending, including:

• Fifty-four percent of Gen Z worry their friends would judge them for skipping plans due to money.

• Only eight percent ask friends to pay them back immediately. Instead, 46% just hope their friends remember.

• Thirty-four percent skip budgeting entirely because they feel like they don’t have enough money to bother.

• And in relationships? Only 21% feel financially aligned with their partner.

Still, 77% agreed that being on a budget will ultimately improve their relationships (meaning budgeting isn’t a vibe-killer), and an even bigger 85% believe sticking to a budget could free up funds that enhance their social life in the long run. 

The takeaway: We’re reframing the convo around budgeting. Being “on a budget” isn’t a no—it’s a strategic yes to future plans you actually want to show up for. Try using apps and AI (like Albert and Rocket Money) to set you up for success so you’re not totally cutting out those treat yourself moments.

Minimal Effort, Maximum Impact

There’s a quiet rebellion happening in our closets, and it starts with refusing to build a whole look. Instead of head-to-toe effort, people are defaulting to intentionally boring outfits, then letting one accessory do all the talking.

Think: Plain tank + jeans + insane belt. Black dress you’ve owned for years + sculptural earrings. White tee + trousers + oversized bag that clearly has a personality. The clothes are background noise. The accessory is the headline.