the roundup #020
new month, new roundup
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What’s new this week? We finally made it out of the longest month in existence and landed feet deep in snow into February — which explains why my feeds are flooded with nothing but pinks, reds, and last night’s Grammy discourse. I, on the other hand, am planning to ditch the hearts and snow to gear up for my route home this Wednesday — planning to lounge, laptop and phone in hand, while eating strawberry cream cheese–filled king cake through Sunday’s big game, right up until Valentine’s Day, before flying back to the snow globe of the city.
The week leading into the new month felt like a mix of major wins pulled from the nonstop churn of back-to-back fashion weeks, Super Bowl teasers, and red carpet buzz, paired with the few…less fortunate flops we had to endure along the way.
Among the latest flop marathon of news — the Cosmo x Sydney Sweeney cover and interview was in simple words interesting to put it lightly as the actress highlighted her new sold-out lingerie line SYRN — I honestly thought it was a new olive oil or salad brand like Graza before seeing the stunt of Sweeney throwing bras on the Hollywood Sign to promote it, which, let’s just say, has the marketing girl in me sighing very loudly right now. But I’m not surprised by this endeavor given her track history, from selling bathwater soap to “good genes” to a Jeff Bezos– and Michael Dell–funded lingerie brand pipeline it was bound to happen. One thing I can say, though, since the line sold out after its January 28th launch, is that I will be watching the product review videos rolling onto TikTok — or, well, if we will continue to use TikTok after last weekend’s widespread “glitches” across the app. So far, there has been a 150% increase in users deleting the app compared to the previous three months after the company announced its U.S. operations would be housed in a new joint venture.
Speaking of flops that just won’t stop: the Bezos spectacle continued during Haute Couture Week in Paris, with Lauren Sánchez Bezos styled by Law Roach for Schiaparelli and Dior, accompanied by Anna Wintour. Personally, I wish they would Amazon Prime their way out of the festivities, but to each their own, I suppose. Adding to the list was the release of the $75 million ($40 million paid by Amazon for the rights and the remaining $35 towards marketing) Melania documentary no one asked for — pulling in only $7-8 million for it’s box office opening. Somewhere in all of this is the reminder that Amazon recently laid off 16,000 employees just days ago, which makes the excess feel even louder.
At this point, I’m starting to feel like Barry Keoghan’s wig for the upcoming Beatles film, where he plays Ringo Starr (I choose to believe that is not his real hair), which he debuted at the London premiere of Crime 101. That shag feels like a visual metaphor for my current state — a mess, but hanging on by a thread, with the only thing keeping me afloat being the blessings of Andrew Mukamal’s styling for Margot Robbie during the “Wuthering Heights” press tour and the small miracle of surviving the Harry Styles MSG Ticketmaster war.
But for now — welcome back, friends. We’re officially at 9,000+ of you, which still feels surreal. Beyond my ranting, The Roundup is where I share my weekly obsessions, fashion picks, beauty favorites, news bites, and whatever else is currently taking up space in my head.
With love in the air, this weekend feels like Cupid’s arrow for my sporty friends, with Friday kicking off the opening ceremony for the Milan Winter Olympics and Sunday bringing in the Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Adding to the moment, Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams served as an Olympic torchbearer, with Hudson wearing a full beat of Merit Beauty by Aika Danica Flores using Great Skin, Brow 1990, Uniform, and Flush Blush. And if you’re in your sporty era but want to go beyond game day, 831 Stories just dropped their first-ever sports queer romance, Rooting Interest by Cat Disabato that is immediately getting added to my endless book stack. Meanwhile, for those less inclined to yell at a TV on Sunday, Netflix released the trailer for its America’s Next Top Model documentary, out February 16th that seems promising.
As for what’s happening on Substack: Veronica Beard is currently hosting a merch giveaway of five limited-edition tees, ending today, while also From the Saie Office made their Copenhagen Fashion Week debut at OperaSPORT’s FW26 show, featuring their new SuperSuede Baked Bronzer (launching this month) and Dew Bronze. In the realm of new beauty, Rare Beauty officially hit Ulta — and all I can say is my Ulta card is very happy, especially after the brand celebrated their launch with a drone show over Ulta, showcasing their products and Selena in the sky.
So, as I literally pack and unpack the mental whiplash of the past week, here’s what’s on the agenda.
Stack favorites of the week
What’s happening in the city
V-day love list picks
Grammys recap
Olympic ready
Returns, departures, and six fingers?!?
Feb 6
📍 Part Two: Luxury Marketplace
🎟️ Ticketed / scheduled event (Feb 6)
✨ A classic ballet performance at Lincoln Center, perf
Feb 10
📍831 Stories Romance Book Swap
🎟️ Free / scheduled event (Feb 10)
✨ Bring a romance book you are ready to part with to head home with a new one
Feb 11 - 15
📍 Hachi NYFW & Valentine’s Day Vintage Pop-Up
🎟️ Free / scheduled event (Feb 11 - 15)
✨ Shop curated designer vintage to celebrate V-day
Feb 11 - 22
📍 The Sleeping Beauty at NYC Ballet
🎟️ Ticketed / scheduled event (Feb 11 - 22)
✨ Join one of my personal favorite ballets at the Lincoln Center
1. Damson Madder Antonella PJ Set, 2. Cuyana Mini Heart Case, 3. Favorite Daughter V-Day Triangle Scarf, 4. LA VESTE Cher Fringed Wool Mini Skirt, 5. Pink Guest in Residence Sweater & Red Guest in Residence Sweater, 6. Sandy Liang Mini I Love You Brooch, 7. Valentine’s Day Ceramic Newspaper Vase, 8. Fyre Boots Campus Buckle Boot, 9. Valentine’s Personalized Embroidered Keepsake Envelope, 10.Polo Ralph Lauren Small Polo Play Crossbody Tote
Last night’s 68th Annual Grammy Awards felt like the end of an era — and a big one at that. The ceremony, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS, was the final Grammys on CBS after a record‑setting 54‑year run that began in 1973, before the show transitions to ABC, Disney+, and Hulu in 2027 under a new deal.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s talk about what went down on the red carpet. Bad Bunny, already dominating the night with his historic Album of the Year win for Debí Tirar Más Fotos (the first all‑Spanish-language record to take home the top prize), hit the Grammy carpet in Schiaparelli menswear Haute Couture, marking a first for a male artist at the fashion house and serving bold, surrealist glamour the moment he stepped out — with the tailoring alone being a personal favorite. Olivia Dean, who took home Best New Artist and, in my opinion, was the best dressed of the night, turned heads in custom Chanel.
As for my favorite looks of the night, one thing was immediately clear: there was almost no color. I get it — this is the highest form of recognition for these artists, and many wanted to play it serious — but I still wish there had been a bit more personality on the carpet. Luckily, a few bold statements broke through the sea of blacks and whites. I’m living for FKA Twigs and Karol G in their Paolo Carzana looks, along with a ray of midnight sun from Zara Larsson (who, by the way, should have performed during the main event instead of the pre-show) in a stunning golden yellow Germanier two-piece. And the train drama was real: Tyla’s Dsquared2 gown and Doechii’s Roberto Cavalli piece both made carpets and cameras bow in awe.
There were so many incredible looks last night — from classics to surprises — that it’s impossible to catch them all. So, here’s a recap of a few of our favorites that you might have missed.
With the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan kicking off this Friday, here are a few vintage finds to get you in the sporty spirit.
Phia’s $35M Series A and the Surge in AI Shopping Tech
AI shopping platform Phia, co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, has secured $35 million in Series A funding, valuing the company at $185 million. The round was led by Notable Capital with participation from Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins. Since launching in April 2025, the app has grown rapidly, surpassing 1 million users in under a year and onboarding more than 6,200 brand partners across both contemporary and luxury categories. Central to Phia’s momentum is its proprietary AI “alignment layer,” designed to translate consumer intent in real time — a capability the company says has contributed to 11x revenue growth, improved conversion rates, higher average order values, and fewer returns for retailers. The new funding will be used to scale Phia’s machine-learning capabilities, enhance personalized discovery tools, and expand community-focused features like digital closets, reflecting the accelerating demand for intelligent commerce technology.
Phia - Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni Belgian designer Pieter Mulier is set to exit his role as Creative Director of Alaïa, concluding a five-year chapter at the Paris house. Appointed in 2021 as the brand’s first creative lead following the death of founder Azzedine Alaïa, Mulier played a key role in redefining the label’s modern identity while honoring its sculptural heritage. His final collection will be shown during Paris Fashion Week for Fall 2026, after which Alaïa’s internal design team will maintain creative direction until a new successor is announced.
Jamie McCarthy/ WireImage Vogue Japan Photoshop Error
Vogue Japan became the subject of unexpected attention after a noticeable retouching error appeared in a recent editorial featuring Ariana Grande, where the singer appeared to have six fingers on one hand. The image circulated widely online, quickly becoming a viral talking point. Grande addressed the moment with humor, joking on social media about putting her “extra fingers” to creative use. The magazine later corrected the image in its digital version, with the incident prompting renewed discussion around image manipulation, quality control, and the pressures of fast-paced editorial production.
Vogue Japan A$AP Rocky Launches Luxury Jewelry Brand
A$AP Rocky has officially expanded his creative portfolio with the launch of PAVĒ NITEŌ, a luxury jewelry brand rooted in personal symbolism and craftsmanship. The debut collection features sculptural designs influenced by the visual world of his latest album, Don’t Be Dumb, including recurring skull motifs. The pieces were first spotted worn by Rocky at a major fashion show, offering a quiet introduction rather than a traditional rollout. Created in collaboration with Venetian jeweler A. Codognato, the line emphasizes artisanal techniques and narrative-driven design, placing Rocky among a growing group of artists translating cultural influence into high-end luxury ventures.
Swan Gallet/ Getty Images Connor Storrie Becomes Saint Laurent’s Newest Ambassador
Actor Connor Storrie is stepping further into the fashion spotlight as Saint Laurent’s newest brand ambassador. Following his breakout performance in Heated Rivalry, the 25-year-old has increasingly appeared on fashion’s radar, most recently attending Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter 2026 menswear show during Paris Fashion Week. Dressed in the house’s signature sharp tailoring, Storrie’s alignment with the brand signals Saint Laurent’s continued interest in emerging cultural figures whose style and visibility resonate with a new generation.
Getty Images The H&M Design Award is officially relaunching, reinforcing the retailer’s long-standing investment in emerging fashion talent. The 2026 edition expands its global scope, welcoming applications from students at over 60 fashion schools across more than 25 countries. With a focus on sustainability, innovation, and industry readiness, finalists will compete for a €150,000 prize along with professional mentorship. The winning designer will also have the opportunity to produce and retail their collection through select H&M platforms, offering rare commercial exposure at an early career stage.
Couldn't agree more; your read on the Sydney Sweeney cover was so insightful, perfectly summing up that whole... interesting situation.