Kenya Hunt

From his current exhibition, Honorable Ordinaries, at Ramis Barquet.

Byredo’s M/Mink is a unisex fragrance with heady, inky beginnings. The collaboration between Byredo and M/M Paris began with unexpected inspiration from a block of ink, an image of a Japanese master practicing calligraphy and a utopian formula drawn on Korean traditional paper. Perfumers translated the concept into wearable notes such as adoxal, which gives the fragrance its inky note, followed by patchouli leaf, clover honey and dark amber. Give it to the man or woman in your life who appreciates the artistic process as much as the product.

-Richard Peckett

Name: Martyna

Occupation: Retail assistant

What she’s wearing: A David Barry quilted parka, vintage jumper, TK Maxx boots and Vivienne Westwood handbag

Her sartorial must: “Everyone should own a good handbag. Go out naked, but have a bag. It’s an essential everyday item.”

If she could only wear one designer, she’d choose: “Alexander McQueen. I love the skulls and all the bling.”

-by Becky Sweeney

(l-r) Grandma’s tree-trimming gathering: Issa beaded wool dress

The charity black tie gala: Roksanda Ilincic Iova gown

The boyfriend’s annual holiday house party: Topshop waterfall dress

(l-r) The boozy office party: Alexander McQueen wool crepe dress

The swanky nightclub Christmas cocktail affair: Anna Sui sequin and tulle dress

The outdoor tree lighting ceremony: 3.1 Phillip Lim ruffle slip dress

Some items are so good that you just have to buy them for yourself, rather than waiting for a loved one to catch the countless hints you’ve been dropping. That’s the case with these Givenchy beauties, which are currently on sale at Net-a-Porter. The t-bar ankle strap and calf hair texture lifts the shoe out of boring black ankle boot territory, elevating them to a place that is much more complex and special.

The time has come to ditch the supermarket shopper and tawdry plastic bag and embrace the new era of the tote. Marc by Marc Jacobs’ designs are bright, lightweight and compact, making them perfect for tootling around town over the Christmas hols. Not to mention it’s a jolly gift for any fashion-conscious city dweller.

-Richard Peckett

1) Delphine Brossard, fashion editor for the French edition of Cosmo magazine, is a professional, which would explain why and how she’s able to pull this off. Not that you can’t emulate the look on your own. The reason why this outfit falls on the chic side of bold is because she chose conflicting graphic prints. That might sound counter-intuitive, but it’s a much more interesting approach than wearing one graphic head-to-toe. (If you’re wondering, her scarf is by Meilleur Ami, and the sweater and leggings are H&M. The boots are Surface to Air.)

2) She struck the right balance by pairing her loud separates with neutral accessories and outerwear. Delphine’s ivory sweater, caramel tote and black boots perfectly contrast the colorful busy-ness of the graphics.

3) Doesn’t her confidence just leap off the screen? Attitude is everything.

-Tamu McPherson, All the Pretty Birds

Cire Trudon’s little tins of olfactory merriment make a tongue-in-cheek stocking stuffer for those friends who don’t necessarily like candles. The tiny oil-filled vials come in five of the same scents as the brand’s iconic wax from Odalisque (orange blossom) to Ernesto (leather and clove). Simply throw one on the floor, letting the glass smash and the fragrance permeate your home. Just be sure to sweep up afterward.

Nicki Minaj may be the new first lady of hip hop in America, but her name is still relatively obscure on this side of the Atlantic. That will most likely change on Friday, though, when MAC releases the limited edition lipstick, Pink Friday*, which she designed. Its the more glam part of a rather large promotional campaign for her album of the same name, which hits stores today. The cotton candy color is actually a brighter update on the now classic Pink Nouveau, a MAC shade that Nicki wore for years. Taking the theme to its maximum potential, the lipstick will be sold in stores worldwide for exactly four Fridays, beginning November 26, which in America is more commonly known as Black Friday (or the day America goes markdown crazy). The collaboration is an unprecedented move for MAC and a major coup for Nicki, considering that she hadn’t even released her album yet when she inked the deal. We’re not knocking it, though. It’s been too long since we’ve seen a woman rapper get her pop stardom on.

*Trend alert: Friday seems to be all the rage in the music world lately. Kanye West co-opted it to promote his new album as well by leaking a new track every week in a campaign called GOOD Fridays. (Download them, they’re good.)