October 2026 Favorites | Whisky Perfume, Big Brooches, Hotties Who Host & Elizabeth Holmes

As much as I love October, with the leaves changing and the weather finally dipping, I have to admit I’m very excited for the next few months. October in Chicago this year was weirdly hot, with quite a few days creeping up to 80°, so I still haven’t been able to give my coats the love they deserve.

I also have to confess that, as off brand as it is for my goth self, I love Christmas. I love how over the top, ridiculous, and often glamorous it can be. I had a very complicated childhood, and the few really good moments I had were almost always centered around the holidays, so this time of year lets me reconnect with a part of myself that I really enjoy. I know it’s not for everyone, but I love to go all out.

This October, I got back into hosting with a little test run. I threw a treat decorating party where we decorated Rice Krispies treats, Oreos, and all kinds of Halloween goodies, and I also served an easy dinner alongside it. I’m planning something a little larger for the holidays, so this was my way of easing back into it. I’m personally a seated dinner girl, but there are so many ways to host, and I’ve written a little bit about that [here]. I also share more of my hosting thoughts below.

With that, let’s get into my favorites for the month of October.

Beauty

Kenra Ultra Freeze 30 Hairspray

Lately, my hair has been going through its own journey. It hasn’t been holding a curl the way it used to, and I’m still tracking down the root cause, though I think it might be a new conditioner that’s just a little too heavy for me. In the meantime, I’ve been remedying it with a really, really good hairspray: the Kenra Ultra Freeze 30.

It’s really helped my styling, and it’s heavy duty. It’s a little crunchy when you first put it on, but I personally like that, because it feels like it’s locking everything in for the day. After about 30 to 40 minutes, it softens up a bit while still helping my hair keep its structure.

I wouldn’t say this is a hairspray for a casual, effortless look. It’s really built for the days when you need some serious hold or have a long day ahead of you. As for scent, there’s really none to speak of. It smells like hairspray, but it’s very mild.

The Wild Mercury Whisky 1969

I recently added Whisky 1969 from The Wild Mercury back to my collection, and I love this fragrance. Inspired by the Sunset Strip and long, debaucherous nights, it’s a little sleazy and a little sexy.

The notes include pink pepper, cardamom, raspberry, nutmeg, ylang, cedarwood, bourbon, and amber. It opens very sweet, with a cardamom and raspberry accord that comes through much stronger than you’d expect, and then it dries down into something warm, ambery, and nutmeggy with a little sharpness to it. It never gets overly sweet, and it nails the whiskey note beautifully.

I love how I feel when I wear it, especially with my AllSaints leather moto jacket, because together they just make me feel so cool. It’s a great transitional fragrance that feels edgy without being heavy, and the wear time is wonderful too, usually around six to eight hours on me. I own a few other fragrances from the brand, and it’s such a fun house that really nails that cool, edgy, sexy, gritty vibe.

Tabino Yado Bath Salts

I am a true bath girl, and unwinding at the end of the day with a hot bath has become a little ritual for me. These bath salts are one of my favorite ways to change it up, even if they’re technically more of a powder than a crystal.

The variety box comes with a few different scents, and since I like them all equally, I just play roulette and see what I get. They smell lovely, they don’t dry me out, and I believe some of them have moisturizing properties. They also add a little color to the water, which makes the whole thing feel a bit more exciting.

I’ve been using these for two or three years and always stock up. I buy them at Mitsuwa, but I’ve also found them on eBay if you aren’t near one.

Experiences

This month, as I mentioned, I got to host, and I want to take a moment to talk about the value of hosting.

Chelsea Fagan of The Financial Diet has posted quite a bit about this, and I really align with her philosophy of hosting in 2026 (and, I’m sure, beyond). Hosting is such an important part of the fabric of society, and so much of it has been lost in recent years. Part of the problem is that it’s become very high stakes. Between the curation of Instagram and the pull of overconsumption, there’s so much pressure for everything to look beautiful or perfect. (Being a good guest matters too, and I’ve written about that [here].) I’ll also add people are becoming……very flaky and noncommittal. Which is another convo for another day.

To me, good hosting is about the guest experience, and so much of that comes down to anticipating needs. For my treat decorating party, I knew there was a high likelihood of everyone getting covered in something, because candy is messy. So I picked up disposable aprons for everyone. That way no one had to worry about ruining their clothes, and they could actually enjoy the party and the rest of their night afterward. It’s a small detail, but those little moments of thoughtfulness are what make people feel cared for in your space.

I’ll also add that hosting really is a skill, one you strengthen over time simply by doing it. Sometimes I stress myself out thinking through all the details, but it’s a good, welcome kind of stress, and I feel deeply connected to myself when I’m preparing to open my home.

I’ve seen a lot of social clubs and IRL meetups popping up, plenty of media saying the future is in person, and even creators launching their own parties. That’s all great, but the foundation of all of it is knowing how to host, and I think some of these events haven’t focused enough on the guest’s experience. That’s the real key, genuinely valuing the people who walk through your door.

Rose brooch, feather brooch, silver broch

Fashion & Style

Giant Brooches

Something I’m really looking at in fashion right now is giant, giant, giant brooches. I already have some large ones, but I want even bigger. It all started when I saw someone online wearing a gorgeous ostrich feather brooch, and I’ve been completely taken ever since, so I have my eyes on a couple. There are so many fun ways to style them. A jacket is the obvious choice, but I’m especially excited to see them on hats, and I’d love to see more people layering brooches together.

Depop

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but for the longest time I was really anti-Depop. I can’t even tell you why, other than that I probably never put in the time to figure out the app. I know that sounds silly, but I had gotten so good at eBay (and don’t get me wrong, I’m still very good at eBay). But over the last few months, though, I have become a devout Depopper. I’d like to eventually sell some of my own stuff, but I’ve been lazy about it, so for now I’m sticking to buying, and I’ve found some real gems. I just scored an incredible red leather jacket that’s a little outside my comfort zone for under $30, along with some really beautiful Bob Mackie blouses.

Gabourey Sidibe’s Press Looks

I’m not a huge Ryan Murphy fan (the relationship is complicated), but that’s not the point. The point is that we have to talk about the generational run that is Gabourey Sidibe’s press tour. The looks have been wild and incredible, and most of them come from her stylist, Kelly Augustine.

OG plus-size fashion babes, you know who Kelly is. Kelly has never played. She’s always been at the forefront of cool fashion, and between her attention to detail and her elevated, sleek, interesting style, everything she puts into the world is incredible. Getting to see Gabby serve look after look has been so exciting. Anyone who knows plus-size fashion knows this is not an easy task, because sourcing and pulling these looks together is hard in an industry that hates to see plus-size, curvy, fat, whatever word you want to use, babes win. Knowing what this means for representation is so beautiful.

Porter Wagoner’s Stagewear

For some reason, I’ve been obsessing over Porter Wagoner’s stagewear ever since I listened to an episode of Beyond the Blinds (more on that below). I love the guts and glam of it. It’s so ostentatious and over the top, and I wish that energy were more present in contemporary men’s fashion. I love a set. I really do, so here are some of my favorite Porter Wagoner stage looks I’ve dredged up lately.

Food & Drinks

Logan Inn Lounge & Cafe Martini

I started a little martini review series, and my favorite so far, the one I’ve been completely obsessed with, is from Logan Inn Lounge & Cafe. Listen, their blue cheese olives are nearly perfect, and the only thing that would have made them perfect is a third one. I firmly believe a martini should be served with three olives. That’s my baseline.

Albanese Gummy Bears

This month I also made it to Albanese factory, and let me be so for real with you, their factory outlet is full of fresh, high quality candy. Getting gummy bears fresh from the source makes a huge difference. I’ve had their candy before, but this time I fell in love with two flavors in particular, strawberry banana and pink grapefruit.

The pink grapefruit reminds me of bitters in a way. It’s tart but sweet, and it scratches in an Aperol spritz kind of itch. The strawberry banana has a really great texture and tastes like a smoothie, which is so nice. If you can get them direct from the source, do it, but they also ship.

Home & Lifestyle

Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Candle

I love a little votive candle in the bathroom, especially after cleaning, because it makes the whole room feel so elevated, like I’m staying in a luxury hotel. I usually mix and match scents by season, and lately I’ve been turning to Dark Rum from Malin + Goetz.

This candle is a powerhouse. I can smell it in the bathroom, but I can also smell it drifting into my dining room, which I love, and that’s just from the votive. I’ve also gotten the larger size, and it fills a space really nicely. It’s warm, alluring, and cozy without being so on the nose about fall.

Rebel Green Dish Soap

I recently made the switch to Rebel Green dish soap in peppermint and lemon, and let me tell you, it does wonders. It cuts through grease so well that I’m kind of obsessed. They have a few other scents I haven’t tried, but peppermint and lemon is a nice, clean scent. What matters most, though, is how it handles grease, and it leaves my dishes really clean. I do have a dishwasher, but I don’t use it for everything, and this soap is great on bigger pieces like my Dutch oven. It even cuts right through pasta sauce.

Alice Lane Home Collection Bubble Candle Dish

Alice Lane Home Collection very kindly sent over their bubble candle dish, and I love it. I got it in smoke, a cool-toned gray, but it also comes in amber and clear if that’s more your vibe. I’ve been using it as a base for whatever candle I’m burning, and it fits a bunch of different sizes. I’ve also seen it used as a soap dish, a ring dish, and even a serving platter. I haven’t worked my way up to that yet, but for now I’m loving it as a classic candle plate.

The quality is really nice. It’s heavy glass that doesn’t feel like it’s going to break, and the bubbles have an interesting shape without being obnoxious. I love having it as a buffer between my candles and whatever surface they’re on, because candles can get really hot, and having something to absorb some of that heat helps. I’m still a little cautious once a candle burns all the way down to the bottom, but for everyday burning, it’s been the perfect base.

Media & Entertainment

Music

I have that problem where I mostly listen to old music instead of new, which I’ve heard a lot of chatter about. Anyway, two artists have been heavy in my rotation this month.

First up is Fine Young Cannibals, specifically “Johnny Come Home” from their self-titled album. This band is totally 80s and totally British, and honestly, I’m itching for another British invasion. We had the Beatles, then a wave of punk and new wave in the 80s, then the indie rock of the 2000s, so tick tock, it’s time. It’s time for the Brits to come back over and maybe restore some sanity to this country. I love their poppy, punky, all-over-the-place sound, and it’s so fun to dance and work out to.

I’ve also been listening to a ton of Johnny Cash. One of my favorite podcasts, Beyond the Blinds, did an episode on Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner that I highly recommend if you want to better understand their relationship. That sent me down a Porter and Dolly rabbit hole, which led to a lot of Johnny Cash and some other country, but Johnny has been the heaviest in the rotation.

Film & TV

As for what I watched this month, I was really into You Can See Everything. Listen, I am by trade an Elizabeth Holmes girl. I’ve always found her fascinating, and I can never form a solid opinion about her. I can think she’s both a grifter and a complicated person and still critique the system she came up in. In my opinion (and I don’t know how this will age, probably not well), so many men have done and are still doing the same things she did. Elon Musk is essentially running one giant alleged con, and it just keeps going, which is part of what makes Holmes such an interesting case.

I still don’t know what to make of the movie, but Nathan Fielder continues to deserve every award out there. I watched it sandwiched between a four-hour Musk documentary and The Social Reckoning, so it was a real tech-doomsday theater day. I don’t know what I was thinking, but it was fascinating to see her story alongside the other two.