The light dims, the temperatures drop, and suddenly the world asks you to become your own source of warmth. But joy in winter isn’t found — it’s self-initiated. It’s the glitter you swipe on for an office party, the text inviting friends over when the instinct is to hibernate, the little acts of glamour that lift your mood when the sun clocks out early.
Although I live in sunny Los Angeles now — and this will be my third winter here — the New Yorker in me will never forget what the season truly feels like. I know the sharp bite of wind on your face, the sprint to the subway in a full-length puffer, the way a great coat can change your entire outlook on a day that feels impossibly gray. Winter requires resourcefulness. It asks you to participate in your own delight.
For this year’s Winter Lookbook, we embraced that ethos and dreamed up five archetypes, each embodying a different response to the season: the woman who refuses to be cold yet refuses to look bad, the early-morning studio devotee, the holiday enthusiast, the effortless hostess, and the one who transforms entirely after dark. They each dress for the mood they want, not the weather outside; they layer textures, play with proportion, embrace metallics, and create their own glow in the darkest months.
To bring this world to life, we partnered with three extraordinary artists:
Stylist Christine Nicholson built a visual universe where winter dressing becomes totally reimagined. Think silver chainmail draped over soft knits, feathered headpieces that nod to another era, and sculptural accessories that redefine cold-weather glamour.
Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes reimagined holiday beauty with cool restraint. She showed us that luminosity doesn’t require heavy layers; sometimes, a shimmery lip and nearly bare skin is the boldest statement. Her rhinestone freckles for our Snowed Under look were nothing short of magical.
Nail artist Naomi Yasuda elevated winter manicures to high art, crafting everything from delicate reverse French designs to full-on disco-metallic sets that feel like jewelry in their own right.
And beyond the holiday parties, there is the quintessence of winter dressing: New Year’s Eve. It’s a night I take seriously: the ritual of it, the intention behind it, the desire to enter the new year as the fullest, most expressive version of yourself.
As you scroll, you’ll also find guides to braving the cold with style, ideas for hosting in chic winter whites, new ways to think about your nails and makeup this season, and fashion that helps you generate your own joy, no matter the temperature.
Because winter doesn’t hand you delight — you have to make it — and this season, we hope these images inspire you to create more of it.
Amid all the Cyber Monday sales, gift season frenzy, and new holiday collection drops, the shopping landscape may feel like an avalanche of too many new and shiny things to cart up. But we’re briefly plowing back all of that to shine a light on H&M’s latest (and coveted) collaboration. This time, the reader-favorite retailer has teamed up with luxury ski and lifestyle brand Perfect Moment on an après-ski-inspired winter collection.
“Après-ski has always had a certain energy: relaxed, comfortable, social, playful, and glamourous,” said Perfect Moment co-founder and creative director Jane Gottschalk, in a press release. “Together [with H&M], we’ve curated a collection that brings the spirit of both brands to life. The pieces are young, fun, [and] sporty, with a winter heartbeat and a nod to the mountains, but belong just as much in the city.”
The 28-piece capsule collection spans versatile knitwear, down-filled outerwear, and statement accessories — like cozy hats and puffer boots — in a chic winter color palette of black, white, silver, rich burgundy, and icy blue.
“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Perfect Moment on this winter collection — it’s unexpected, dynamic, and sure to spark excitement,” said H&M creative advisor and head of womenswear design, Ann-Sofie Johansson, in the release. “The silhouettes are glamorous yet laid-back — just like après-ski — but also have a real edge with the leather, faux fur, and textured knits.”
From down puffer jackets, mohair gloves, knit balaclavas, and polarized sunglasses you might actually wear on the slopes to matching sets, merino-wool sweaters, faux-fur boots, and trapper hats you’d wear around a ski lodge (or to simply channel après-ski energy), the collection has a range of functional and fashionable pieces.
And in addition to oversized hoods, waist-cinching toggles, jacquard trims, and pom-poms, Perfect Moment’s signature North Star logo is dotted across all the styles. “The North Star sits at the heart of the brand and part of our DNA — a constant from the inception of the brand in the 80s,” said Gottschalk. “It represents direction, focus, and the idea of finding your own way […] a reminder of where we started and where we’re heading.”
Every year, it seems like Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales simply aren’t what they were. In 2025, that’s not necessarily the case anymore though. Through our hours of extensive research, we’ve found the best Cyber Monday deals and can confirm the discounts are discounting!. But you still have to shuffle through quite a bit of noise. This is the Super Bowl of online shopping after all, and we’re here to set you up for the ultimate success.
Expect major savings this year, going up to 80% off everything from mattresses to beauty devices, sex toys, designer items, and more. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sales happening, our organized list below is here to help. Think of it as a personalized roadmap to the best promos available now, helping you score a handful of shopping touchdowns this Cyber Monday.
Ahead, we rounded up the must-see markdowns from reader-favorite brands like Wayfair, Everlane, Nordstrom, Mejuri, Lelo, and more — most of which end tonight. So, grab your laptop, a snack, and a credit card. Get in reader, we’re going (online) shopping!
The brand, known for its duvets, is offering different percentages off its categories. Duvet covers and inserts will be 30% off while bundles will be on sale for 40% off.
Through Cyber Monday, save more when you spend more, plus save an extra $100 when you purchase any adjustable base or upholstered bed frame with a mattress.
Through December 1, the jeweler is offering 12% off orders over $500 and 15% off orders over $1,999. Shoppers can receive a free jewelry gift with every purchase when using the code GIFTANGARA.
Take an extra 50% off sale styles at Anthropologie for a limited time during Cyber Monday. Plus, take 30% off select clothing, home decor and furniture, and gifts.
Aritzia’s “Black Fiveday Sale” runs through December 2 and features between 20% and 50% off everything. The brand’s popular Super Puff will also be discounted. No code is needed.
Known for its hole-y tote bag, Bogg is offering 25% off sitewide until December 1. Its sports collection gets a higher markup, on sale for 50% off through Cyber Monday.
The New York-based accessories brand will have its entire site on sale up to 60% off following Black Friday. Starting December 1, full-price items will be 15% off, no code needed.
The celebrity-loved brand has its items, from earrings to Cartier-esque watches, on sale at 30% off until December 2. Shoppers also get a gift with their purchase after spending $100.
Take 50% off your J.Crew purchase on Cyber Monday, no code needed. There’s also 30% off cashmere, chinos, and suiting, with an extra 60% off sale styles.
The jeweler is offering 25% off sitewide through December 1. Shoppers will get a free gift with their purchase, while supplies last. The promotion excludes fine jewelry, and no code is needed.
The brand, known for its period underwear, has a sitewide sale through December 2 with items up to 60% off. Its most popular period undies and bras are included in the sale.
The jewelry brand is offering shoppers up to 30% off until December 1 on minimum purchases of $150. Higher end pieces like its serpentine chain necklace in white gold will be on sale for 30% off.
Nordstrom Rack is offering up to 70% off online and in store across big box brands and indie labels alike. Plus, it’s offering an extra 40% off clearance. The sale runs through December 2. Nordstrom is offering up to 60% off brands like Barbour, Ugg, Veronica Beard, TT Studios, and more through December 3.
The tulip-power skincare brand is hosting a 35% off sale across its products through December 2. Shoppers must use the code BLOOMVIP35 to receive the discount. Those who spend over $100 will also receive a gift.
The skincare brand, loved by beauty enthusiasts for its formulas and devices, is offering 30% sitewide until December 2, with some exclusions like kits. Its LED devices are on sale for 20% off.
The skincare label is having a brand-wide sale on Amazon through December 1, where select products will be 25% off. This includes some of its customer favorites, like its cleansing oil, sunscreen, and vitamin C serum.
The K-beauty brand, known for its skincare devices, will have discounts up to 31% off through Cyber Monday. Its popular Booster Pro tool will be on sale for $150, while other skincare products will go sub $20.
Through December 1, Merit Beauty is hosting its only sale of the year with 20% off sitewide. The brand is also offering a gift with purchases during this time.
The brand is offering 25% off sitewide starting December 1. The promotion includes its sets, and if you spend over $350, there’s a six-piece gift with purchase.
The haircare brand, which works on all hair types and is specially formulated for textured hair, is offering 30% off purchases under $50, 40% off purchases over $50, and 20% off sitewide until December 6. No code is needed.
The beauty retailer’s Cyber Monday bonanza runs until December 1 with over 400 items up to 40% off. Entire brands like Beyonce’s Cecred, Ulta’s in-house brands, and Tarte will be on sale for 30% off.
The brand, known for its sauna blanket and wellness tech, is offering 20% off sitewide through Cyber Monday with the code BFCM2025. Bundles will be 30% off, no code needed.
The tech giant is having sales across categories, from its smartphones to gaming monitors, TVs, and tablets. For example, you can save up to $1,000 on its Galaxy Z Fold7 with a trade in, or $600 off without one.
On Cyber Monday, Shark will have new products up to 45% off with the code MONDAY15. Then, starting December 2, the promo will continue with an extra 10% off sitewide with the code CYBER10. Sale items will include its vacuums and viral ice cream maker.
Through Cyber Monday, shop of tons of deals across furniture, decor, mattresses, and more — including up to 80% off area rugs. Plus, everything ships free.
Expect steep discounts on sex toys from Lovehoney on Cyber Monday. Everything from couples advent day calendars to bondage items and roses will be on major sale.
Known for its discreet sex toys and elevated intimacy essentials, all of Maude’s products are on sale for up to 40% off through December 1. Save more when you bundle through the brand’s Ritual Builder.
If there’s one thing we can count on Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers for, it’s a hyper-specific pop culture reference. For the last decade, the comedic duo have mined the deepest corners of queer cultural zeitgeist on their podcast Las Culturistas, which snagged iHeartRadio’s Podcast Of The Year Award in 2023. This holiday season, their new Marshalls campaign — It’s Giving Gifts! — channels their encyclopedic archive of niche archetypes into the highest form of holiday-season community service: helping shoppers find the perfect present for every type of person in their lives.
“Saying that you love Marshalls is like ordering Diet Coke for the table,” Yang tells Refinery29 while we chat in-store at Marshalls in Manhattan. “You empower other people to say something they thought was buried: ‘Oh, wait, I’ve always loved Marshalls too.’”
Below, Yang and Rogers share their best tips for picking the perfect gift, their most formative holiday memories, and the greatest presents they’ve ever given — and received.
Let’s talk about my personal favorite gift-guide archetype — gifts for “the cool girl who is always late and makes punctuality seem kind of embarrassing.” To reference the recurring segment on your podcast — what are the cultural moments that made this cool girl who she is today?
Bowen Yang: We all know this girl. We might even be this girl. This girl saw Mean Girls in theaters at least 5 times in 2004. She really imprinted on — not Romy and Michelle — but she identified with their bullies. Maybe [they identify] with Janeane Garofalo ’cause they like a quick-smoke cigarette because they have places to be and they are always late to those places.
Matt Rogers: I would say it’s that girl from high school who you’re like: “You learned the wrong thing from Regina George.” But… she looked good.
There’s so many cute purses and shoes in the “cool girl” gift guide. Where is the cool girl wearing these accessories while out and about in Manhattan?
Yang: She’s taking this to Balthazar, Carbone, the Whitney, the Circle Line Cruise so she can swing around [her purse] while the DJ plays a song on a boat.
Rogers: She’s going to take this to Zero Bond. She’s going to walk past Taylor Swift, and Taylor’s gonna go: “So sorry, where did you get that bag?” She’ll say: “Marshalls.” And she’s going to wink at Taylor, and Taylor’s gonna be like: “Travis, we gotta go. Let’s get to Marshalls.”
Be honest, did you have any specific friends in mind when creating the “cool girl”” gift guide?
Yang: I would say our friend Greta [Gerwig] — who we love. Greta is giving both Sabrina Carpenter and early aughts SJP, plus the dad’s girlfriend from The Parent Trap.
Rogers: Yeah. Any stepmother from any movie where the stepmother comes in and is like: “It’s off to boarding school with you.” But we love that stepmother. We aspire to be her.
For the person who just can’t decide on a gift — what picks from your gift guides do you think are the most universal crowd-pleasers?
Yang: Silk pajamas, skincare… this bag is a star. This bag has been with us the entire campaign. And I will never forget about her — she’s high impact.
Rogers: And you really can’t go wrong with a candle.
You’re clearly both great gift-givers — but what about receiving? Was there a childhood gift that genuinely shaped who you are today
Rogers: This was the year that PlayStation 2 came out. I was a video game kid — Bowen Yang still is — and I really wanted that PS2. And they were like: “You’re not getting it. It’s too expensive and no one can get it.” And then on Christmas day, I kept opening up PS2 games, and I was like: “Well, I guess you got me the games for one day when I get the system, right?” They were like: “Exactly, one day when you get the system.” Low and behold, the last gift hiding under the couch was the PS2, and I was a very happy boy.
Yang: Mine was after Batman Forever came out. I had a Batgirl, Alicia Silverstone action figure — that really spoke to me and has since.
What’s the most unexpected place you’ve ever spent the holidays?
Yang: Someone in my family recently pitched, out of nowhere: “What about Scottsdale this Christmas?” I said: “What about it? We don’t know anybody there.” No shade to Scottsdale it’s just like… why would we go there?
Rogers: I will be doing a Tampa Christmas because my parents snowbird down there. People who know me are like: “Matt Rogers, Florida for Christmas, checks out.”
What are your favorite types of gifts to give?
Yang: Candles are a go-to. I think we’re finally, as a culture, coming out of the stigma around candles as gifts. For a while there, it was like: “Oh, you got a candle? How impersonal.” No. No one’s gonna turn down a candle.
Rogers: I really hit the jackpot one year when I realized that I could get bespoke drink coasters and customize them for my friends. So I got coasters with different pop stars on them and I gave them to all my friends for the pop star that they stan. And I do think that was my best idea and now I have to think of something else creative.
