Brand Bio is Fashionista’s guide to the best independent fashion and beauty brands — a resource for retailers, job seekers, B2B companies and consumers alike. If you’d like your brand to be featured, fill out this form. Bella BelleHeadquarters: Houston, TexasE-commerce: bellabelleshoes.comSocial …
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I live in NYC, where I walk everywhere, which requires reliable sneakers. I’ve been on the hunt for a new pair and saw the Nike V2K Run on the site. It looked aesthetically like the right type of shoe for me. It was stylish, not too gaudy, totally functional, and quite affordable, too—all the characteristics that work well for an everyday sneaker. So I reached out to the Nike team to ask for a pair to test for a week. Keep scrolling through to see if they’re as good as I thought they’d be.
The Stats
Brand: Nike
Model: V2K Run
Materials: Mesh, suede, and rubber
Color: White/Beige
Sizing: True to size
I was ecstatic when I got the Nike package in the office. I opened the red box with the well-known swoosh. I showed the cream and butter-yellow shoes to my stylish colleagues, and they all affirmed that the sneakers were cute. I slipped off my flats and immediately put the sneakers on. I walked to lunch a few blocks away and was surprised at how comfortable they were. Not to sound cliché, but it felt like I was walking on a cloud. They have a bounce to them with every step, which makes sense since they’re technically running shoes. Again, I’m not a runner, but the tech in these sneakers definitely feels suitable for long- and short-distance running. Wearing these all week made me feel inspired to join a run club. (Although I probably won’t, since I hate running.) The sneakers are a new iteration on another best seller, the Nike Vomero runner, which looks funky and retro yet modern all in one.
Anyway, throughout the week, I ran (no pun intended) a ton of errands, and my feet never hurt once. I walk very long distances in my Brooklyn neighborhood to get in as many steps as possible. With that said, these shoes were the most supportive sneakers I’ve worn in my three years of living in New York. Shocking, I know. They also fit true to size, nice and snug, and don’t slip off my heels at all, which is an issue I tend to have with some other sneakers I own. They are perfect for my long strolls and even for the office. I’ve worn them everywhere, and they’ve been everything I’ve needed in a pair of sneakers. I have a pretty lax approach to styling myself each day, so throwing these on keeps the vibe of my outfits quite cool and laid-back.
Overall, I would recommend the Nike V2K Run to literally anyone, no matter their age or style. It’s *the* walkable city–friendly shoe. The price point is relatively affordable, the colorway is trendy and timeless at once, and so are all the other colorways. It’s a great shoe for those who experience pain after being on their feet for a long period of time at work and, of course, those who just love a stroll. For those of you who do enjoy running, I can’t speak from experience, but it certainly seems like it’s a great sneaker for a marathon.
Nike
V2k Run Sneaker in Platinum Tint/Metallic Silver
Nike
V2K Run by You Custom Shoes
Nike
V2K Run Sneaker in Light Bone/ Malt/ Grey
Nike
V2K Run Sneaker in Summit White/ Pink Spell/ Grey
Nike
V2K x Susan Fang Run Sneaker in Blue Tint/ Blue/ Multi Color
Nike
V2K Run Sneaker in Sail, Light Khaki, Light Smoke Grey
Nike
V2K Run Shoes in Platinum Tint/Summit White/Cave Stone/Metallic Silver
Nike
V2K Run Shoes in Platinum/Summit White/Light Photo Blue
At Who What Wear, fashion is our specialty. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognizable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality, and real-world wearability.
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Back on property, guests tuck into Southeast Asian dishes at the pop-up Lola restaurant, helmed by Filipino-Canadian chef Elmark Andres, where the menu is written in a blend of Tagalog and English, the seafood is locally sourced, and seasonal produce comes from the Bodega Ridge farm. Or they can head to the cedar-shingled Pink Geranium, a bright, sunny all-day café and specialty food store launched in 2024, where lunch might be a warming bowl of tom kha soup (coconut, red pepper, green onion, shimeji and king oyster mushrooms) and freshly baked focaccia with rosemary and garlic confit. Regular community programming runs the gamut from poetry readings to queer opera, and a large stone inglenook fireplace invites curling up with a book and a coffee on brisk winter afternoons.
Food has an outsized importance on such a lightly populated island as Galiano, home to standout restaurants like Oxeye and The Crane and Robin—though most islanders would agree that the fine-dining temple Pilgrimme near Montague Harbour is Galiano’s most sought-after table. At the helm is Winnipeg-born chef Jesse McCleery, who opened the restaurant in 2014 after a stint at Copenhagen’s groundbreaking Noma, alongside his partner, chef Melanie Witt.
Photo: Jarusha Brown
Photo: Courtesy of Pilgrimme
Tucked in a dense forest that looks straight out of a children’s storybook, the restaurant occupies a log cabin decorated with hanging lanterns, antler accents, shearling throws, and a reproduction of Vladimir Tretchikoff’s “Chinese Girl.” It’s cozy and unpretentious, with room for just 16 diners, putting the spotlight on seasonal dishes served on sculptural dishware by local ceramicists like Ilana Fonariov.
The 12-course tasting menu is a love letter to Galiano’s bounty: foraged kelp, sea buckthorn, aronia berries (“I’ve never seen them grow outside Scandinavia,” muses McCleery), and Sichuan pepper leaves. Wild-ferment vinegars made from salal berries and grand fir needles stand in when yuzu, kaffir lime, or other Japanese citrus isn’t readily available from a grower on neighboring Salt Spring Island. True to Galiano form, almost all the fruit comes not from professional farms but from local neighbors and residents.
Photo: Courtesy of Pilgrimme
Photo: Courtesy of Pilgrimme
“There are so many people here with hobby gardens and orchards,” McCleery notes. “People drop by with a massive box of plums or apples, which we’ll trade for a pizza,” he says, referencing his other Galiano project, Charmer Pizza, a pop-up restaurant specializing in 48-hour wild-ferment sourdough made with organic British Columbia grains.
As someone who’s worn the brand for over a decade, I never skip the Free People Black Friday sale. I’ve long written about my love of Free People’s dreamy, drapey aesthetic that feels effortlessly cool. My favorite barrel-leg jeans are an original, as are several of my oversized jackets, flowy dresses, and yoga leggings. The company’s boho vibes manage to hit key fashion trends with quality that ensures its pieces last through the seasons.
Last year, Free People’s Cyber Week sale brought an additional 40% off sale styles, which meant clothing deals of up to 75% off original prices—but I’m far too impatient to wait until November 28 to refresh my fall wardrobe, especially with so many great markdowns already live. Below, I’ve rounded up the early Free People Black Friday sale finds worth shopping now—before the best sizes and colors disappear.
Need something breezy for a fall wedding or a warm-weather escape? A 33%-off seersucker midi layers easily with trendy boots and a suede jacket, while a romantic gingham number and matching sets in shades of black and burgundy are up to 40% off.
Free People’s activewear is distinctive for its comfy, oversized silhouettes that move easily from workouts to weekends. Right now, early deals include markdowns on sporty one-pieces, flowy T-shirts, and exercise skorts—everything you’ll need to keep you moving in the gym or the yoga studio.
Free People’s denim always leans on the cool side—baggy silhouettes that feel lived-in. You’ll find steep early discounts on all sorts of denim at the moment. I’ve got my eye on these work-ready trouser jeans, which are a whopping 60% off.
With winter on the horizon (and a chill settling over much of the country as we speak), it’s a miracle to find coats on sale at all—not to mention ones that transition easily into fall. I’d start this on-trend plaid layer or a cherry-red quilted puffer jacket.
I own a lot of Free People loungewear because it’s just so dang comfortable. The fabric is always soft and smooth, and the overall vibe of the clothes looks like I’ve worn them for years (in the best way). I’m into how delicate and airy this 20%-off lounge set is, and will definitely add this staple hoodie to my closet.
Brand Bio is Fashionista’s guide to the best independent fashion and beauty brands — a resource for retailers, job seekers, B2B companies and consumers alike. If you’d like your brand to be featured, fill out this form. LucashevaHeadquarters: Vancouver, CAE-commerce: lucasheva.comSocial Media: …
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It’s not every season that color trends speak to me, but Fall 2025 collections are inspiring me to have a bit more fun with my usual hues. Between Instagram, Pinterest, and what my fellow editors are wearing around the office, it is clear that one combination in particular is a favorite for fall: Chocolate brown, baby blue, and butter yellow. This trio is neutral enough not to intimidate the quiet-luxury, stealth-wealth, or all-black dresser. But if you feel even mildly hesitant about trying it out, the best place to start is with footwear. There’s no need to run out and buy an entire new outfit to participate in this trend; adidas sneakers will do the trick. Here are nine of my favorite styles, including the Tokyo, Japan, and SL 72s.
The texture of these add a cool dimensional element to your look.
In case you want a double whammy of print and color trend.
Arguably my favorite colorway of the Tokyo Shoes.
If you like shiny things.
The exact style our fashion director wears and loves.
Okay, while this isn’t technically chocolate brown, it still looks beautiful with baby blue and butter yellow.
adidas
Gazelle Lo Pro Shoes
I predict this style will be the next big thing from adidas.
The woven texture! The baby blue!
adidas
Handball Spezial Shoes
Now, these are the new classics.
Li Gong has picked up running. He’s not alone; in fact, he is joining an entire generational cohort—that Millennial-to-Gen Z bridge of late 20- and early 30-somethings—that seems to have converted to fitness since the pandemic. At least according to the Internet, that is, with all the running clubs and running influencers taking over this very stationary writer’s feed.
A London Fashion Week mainstay since 2019, Gong brought his collection to Shanghai this season. He explained that he felt like coming home to China to commemorate his eighth anniversary. As you may have caught on by now, the number 8, a perfect closed loop, is a bit of a theme for this designer. Does that mean that he only jogs in infinity-shaped routes?
It’s what his models did at his show; some of them running around his 8-shaped runway and others simply appearing like they did. This he achieved by either adding horsehair to the bottom of running shorts—which took them from bottom-drawer staples to hero wardrobe pieces—or by lining suit jackets with swishy technical windbreakers and styling the tailored part open and draped over the shoulders. Elsewhere, Gong was equally clever with more standardized wardrobe classics: button-downs received that same hem treatment and other separates were heat pressed and then printed, creating a cool crackled look.
This is the kind of futuristic technicality that Gong has become known for in China, has it’s helped him build a robust business with an enviable portfolio of collaborations: Japanese Asics sneakers since 2020, Italian Canali tailoring in 2021, and even the all-American Gap, via a capsule collection for the Asia-Pacific region in 2023. What really defines 8on8, though, is a kind of eclectic retro-athleticism that is equal parts nostalgic and forward-looking.
7:30 p.m. — After dinner, I sit on the couch; I just can’t stop thinking about the rug. After thinking about it, I decide it’s the right time to get it. I use my Klarna Card to plan a purchase and pay later, so I don’t have to pay in full right at this moment. Making purchases this way feels more natural, comfortable, and responsible because I feel more in control of my spending. And because I can plan a purchase that’s as big as this one, it gives me time to figure out if I actually want it (the answer in this case: Yes. Yes, I want it). $387.33 ($96.84 today)
Nude nails ideas have officially taken the manicure world by storm—and show no sign of slowing down. In fact, neutral nails are so popular that there are now entire sub-genres within the trend. This fall, the toasted nail trend took off with an seasonal vibe that elevates classic nude tones and proves its subtle versatility. We’ve also seen milk bath nails, glass nails, and (a forever-trend, at this point) glazed donut nails all over red carpets and social media. What do all these trends have in common? They all go with absolutely everything, and maximize the ‘your-nails-but-better’ effect.
There’s nothing more timeless or reliable than a nude nail, so why is this quiet luxury trend having such a moment? “I think maybe with all the craziness happening in the world right now, minimalism in beauty feels like a nice balance,” says celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, whose clients include Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez. “We still want to feel beautiful, but not in a ‘look at me’ sort of way.”
Whether you’re in the market for a special occasion mani or an everyday look, nude nails come off as clean, polished, and sophisticated in any setting. While moody shades and dark manicures are always in-season for fall and winter, the naked nail knows no season. Plus, they’re the perfect way to freshen up the gloomiest time of year.
Feeling inspired? Here are 11 nude nails ideas—from true classics to modern twists.
Leighton Denny Nail Illuminator Blush Pink Brightening Nail Polish & Base Coat Treatment
Olive & June Nail Polish in The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk
The classic French manicure never goes out of style, but this super-sheer version is our new obsession. Instead of the typical bright whites we often see, opt for a creamy shade that blends subtly with the translucent, nearly-invisible base. The result? A delicate, ultra-sophisticated look. This design is perfect if you’re looking for a discreet yet polished manicure.
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