The "Silver Lining" Shift, Velvet Blazers, and The End of the "Glazed" Face

Can you believe we are already mid-December? I was looking at my calendar this morning, realizing that 2026 is staring us in the face. It feels like just yesterday we were debating whether "Mob Wife Aesthetic" was real or just an internet joke. (Spoiler: It was a joke).

This holiday season, the mood feels different. After a few years of "maximalism" trying to claw its way back, the end of 2025 has settled into something I’m calling "Structured Softness." We are tired of the noise. We want things that feel substantial, lasting, and (dare I say) a little bit cooler in tone.

Here is what is on our radar this week, filtered through A Quiet Edit lens.

Fashion: The Velvet Blazer (But Make It Tailored)

I'm seeing velvet everywhere right now, and for once, I think the internet got it right.

But here's the thing: this isn't the crushed velvet slip dress moment of the 90s. This is tailoring. Structure. Real jackets that mean business. We're talking Sapphire, Deep Emerald, and Midnight Blue, not the safe black everyone reaches for.

The velvet blazer is the easiest hack for holiday dressing that I've found all year. Favorite jeans. White tee. Structured velvet blazer. Suddenly you're the best-dressed woman in the room without actually trying.

Founders Note: I love a new purchase, but I love "shopping my own closet" even more. I pulled this stunning circa-2010 deep burgundy velvet blazer with a stand-up collar and detailed buttons out of my closet storage (aka one of the boxes on my top shelf), and it is the perfect example of the current "Lady Jacket" trend. This is why I hold onto classic pieces even when they aren't in daily rotation.

• Why it works: This piece proves that true style is timeless. The structured fit and military-inspired buttons give it a formality that a standard blazer just doesn't have. It's not trying to be casual. It's not trying to be trendy. It just is.

• Style Tip: With a jacket this structured and detailed, keep the layer underneath effortless. A simple black silk camisole or a very fine-gauge black merino turtleneck will let the jacket be the star. Don't compete with it.

Home Decor: The Return of Silver (Don't Panic, Just Mix)

Here's what I'm noticing: unlacquered brass and gold have been the default for a decade. And we're due for a change.

I've been watching the design editorials, and there's a distinct cooling happening. Polished nickel, chrome, silver. These are coming back. Not replacing everything. Just...back. Given that I never got around to changing out the nickel door handles in my house, I'm not terribly upset by this shift.

Now, before you go ripping out your kitchen hardware, breathe. The goal is to mix.

• Founder's Note: For my dining table this Christmas I mixed gold and silver ornaments and wove them through cedar garland down the center of the table. I wasn't trying to make a statement. I just grabbed what I had, and it worked.

• Why it works: The gold ties into my chandelier and existing hardware, while the silver brings that fresh, modern 2026 energy. It feels collected and curated, rather than bought in a single box set. Which, let's be honest, is the whole point.

• Try This: Don't be afraid to mix finishes. A matte gold candle holder next to a high-shine silver platter creates a depth that feels incredibly luxe. The contrast is what makes it feel intentional.

Beauty: "Cloud Skin" (Goodbye, Glazed Donut)

I'm calling it: the "glazed donut" era is officially over.

Thanks to the Hailey Bieber's of the world, for the last few years we've all been walking around trying to look slightly wet. Dewy. Glowing. Shiny. Honestly? It's exhausting. It doesn't last through a morning meeting. And for women our age, trying to achieve "glass skin" often feels like an effort in futility. I'm ready to move on.

Enter: "Cloud Skin." Soft matte. Not the harsh matte from the 90s (we all know how that ages). But a velvety, blurred matte. Like you're being viewed through a soft-focus lens instead of a ring light.

The Real-Life Edit: I'm trading high-shine highlighters for blurring balms. Completely different energy.

• The Technique: Focus your glow only on the very high points of the face (tops of cheekbones). Keep the "T-Zone" (forehead, nose, chin) velvety soft. You're not trying to erase shine. You're working to control it.

• Recommendation: Look for "setting balms" or "powder-cream hybrids." They take down the shine without stripping the life out of your skin. Your skin still looks like skin. Just...quieter.

Fragrance: The "Cold Air" Note

I'm done with winter fragrances that smell like a candle store exploded.

No more cinnamon. No more spice. No more Frappuccino (looking at you Bianco Latte). What I'm actually smelling this season? Gin. Juniper. The sharp snap of actual cold air. The metallic quality of winter that makes you feel alert instead of sleepy.

Perfumers are finally catching up to this. They're moving away from comfort and into crisp using notes like Iris, Mint, Bergamot, that juniper-forward quality that cuts through the heaviness of winter wool and rich food.

Founder's Note: I rediscovered Kilian Roses on Ice this season. I picked this up on sale last year as a blind buy, and I wasn't completely wowed. To be fair, I was deep in my gourmand phase so this felt a bit too sharp at the time. Smelling it again this season, my opinion has shifted.

It is the most incredible interpretation of this trend. It smells exactly like a gin and tonic served on ice with a slice of cucumber—sharp, aquatic, and completely devoid of sugar. It makes me feel instantly pulled together, even if I'm just wearing a cashmere sweater and jeans. Which is most days, let's be honest.

To be clear, for me the roses never make and appearance in this fragrance, so don't let the name throw you. This is a unisex take on gin, cucumber and ice. And she is a beast. Don't over spray or you may find yourself overwhelmed by the juniper note.

If "Cold Scents" Speak to You, Try These:

• The "Gin & Tonic" Chic: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Silver. This is the gold standard for the trend. It opens with an ultra-fresh blast of Juniper berries that smells exactly like a cold gin cocktail on a silver tray. Crisp, metallic, deeply sophisticated. If you try one cold scent this season, make it this one.

• The "Frozen Floral": Frederic Malle L'Eau d'Hiver. The name literally translates to "Winter Water." It blends white heliotrope and iris to create a scent that feels soft, clean, and quiet. Like snow falling on a silent street. Not sharp like the gin scents, but equally cold.

• The "Parisian Night": Diptyque Orphéon. While it warms up on the skin, the opening is a blast of Juniper and Jasmine that feels clean and powdery. It smells like a cold walk home after a night out in a jazz club. Sophisticated without trying.

A Parting Thought

The holidays are loud enough. Your wardrobe and your home don't have to scream to be heard. Whether you are mixing metals or just mixing a drink this week, remember that true luxury is usually found in the pause.

Here is to a week of less noise and more intention.

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