Hey, it’s Ashe! I’m back after surviving a brutal exam week, and honestly, feels like my brain has done a factory reset and is emptied out - so let’s hope I can still keep y’all interested with this anecdote:
I finally got around to trying the “viral Dubai chocolate bar”. Kind of - it was a De Bonte Koe version (a super popular chocolaterie from Schiedam, the Netherlands). I decided to give it a shot, cause I was feeling down and... now there’s a couple more bars in my pantry.
I know, I know - self control, everything in moderation, down payment for a chocolate bar, etc. But I wasn’t expecting it to actually taste so good.
I’ve been obsessed with kataifi inclusive desserts (especially knafeh) for years - so the hater in me couldn’t believe the chocolate would ever even compare. Everyone was overselling it. Too chocolatey.
But like that scene in Ratatouille, my bites of the chocolate proved to spark fireworks. It’s an entirely different experience with chocolate and such a welcome one.
Sometimes, it turns out, you need to buy into the hype (little luxuries to survive the recession, I guess).
P.S. They’ve even got a collab with Uniqlo (Matcha with Soy Crisps chocolate, and a limited graphic textile collection) and made those viral ‘libido’ chocolates. If you’re ever around Rotterdam, The Hague, or Schiedam - check the chocolaterie out.
🗞️ News-y Stuff 🗞️
Luca Guadagnino is set to direct a new American Psycho movie. It won’t be a remake of the 2000s flick with Christian Bale but a new take on the Bret Easton Ellis’ novel.
Collab szn? We’ve been seeing all sorts of fashion collabs coming out. Here are some:
Y/Project x Salomon with hiking shoes and very… suggestive marketing.
Dr. Martens X Wednesday ‘outcasts are in’ because Netflix wants you to adorn your feet with inspo from their show.
via drmartens.com Fenty X Diesel collab with ‘feel-good’ lingerie - but with Diesel? First thoughts were confusion, second thought was good business move.
via Diesel Billie Eilish X Converse collab with the option to personalize your shoes.
What’s trending this week:
Boo baskets
The very American tradition of Boo Baskets—originally a Halloween thing where you secretly leave treats at a friend’s/ neighbor's door—has turned into a viral trend where people share what they got for their partner (aka boo) or a bestie and girls showing off what they "BF of the year" gave them, often captioned “He Listens.” The usual lineup for everyone is pretty similar: Favorite snacks, cozy garments, skincare, and Halloween-themed goodies. It all feels very buying love.
Skin Contrast
Maybe you’ve just seen it as the TikTok filter, but skin contrast makeup isn’t a fad. Although the whole ‘doing your makeup according to your skin contrast level’ seems like the new color analysis/ visual weight trend, it’s allegedly been a foundational technique in the industry (esp for makeup artists) but the TikTok beauty community is amplifying it. [Insta link]
While it’s a suggestion, not a prescription, many have talked about how the filter itself - and aspects of how makeup should be done - don’t really account too much for non-white people (shock). It’s an interesting look into the theory of makeup, but like most art theories, clearly many do feel confined by it.
red red red (2024 version)
We’ve mentioned cherry red earlier, but now we’ve got the rest of the red family joining in. Remember when red was the fashion sock color?
This autumn it’s not just a pop, it’s the new neutral. It also feels like the go-to hair color recently (hope the gingers feel appreciated).
From burgundy and deeper wine-y shades to the #FF0000 or Red 40 looking ones, we’ve spotted red adorning people more casually than before.
Sea Moss
It’s the hot new superfood. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, this algae is said to boost the immune system, improve digestion, support bone health, aid thyroid function. It's commonly taken as a gel and added to smoothies, or just mixed with water - like Bella Hadid does it (below). Some use it topically for glowing skin.
But ⚠️ overconsumption can be risky—too much iodine could cause thyroid issues.
Does it deserve a spot on your supplement shelf?
Post-trauma haircut
By now, the post-breakup haircut is a TV cliché, and we all know that when a friend starts talking about cutting bangs, it's time to check in. But the theory that hair holds bad trauma, and that ✂️ off a few cm can release lingering negativity has been the latest TikTok chatter, with many girls posting videos captioned ‘Hair Holds Trauma,’ showing off their new, shorter dos.
Bustle spoke with spiritual and scientific experts who confirmed cutting hair can help release trauma.
Hey, whatever makes you feel better, girly!
See you next week! 🧂
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