Happy Sunday morning! And welcome to your favorite post-Thanksgiving read—that you’re hopefully enjoying on the couch, in your childhood bedroom, or the in-laws basement. But first, a “leftover” poll. We’re curious…

For anyone new here: this is The Skinny, where we serve up curated, need-to-know lifestyle news designed to entertain and save you time, which is everyone’s most valuable resource.

What we’re covering: 

• The art of “sprezzatura” & how to channel Eclectic Grandpa 

  The only Thanksgiving leftover links you need and a game-changing tortilla hack

• Underconsumption on BF/CM is tough, but we’ll show you the way

• Plus: wall art 101, okra water & the “Michelin Guide for wellness hospitality”

💡Did you know: all The Skinny editions are online and searchable—which means you can easily find topics/recipes/items we have written about in the past. Bookmark this link for reference.

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What’s old is new

Grandpa called; he wants his cardigan back

The Skinny: If you’re with the grandparents this holiday, check their fits; turns out their style has inspired an evolving trend that moved from Coastal Grandma in 2023 to this year’s “grandpa core.” It involves channeling your inner Pawpaw and embracing vintage casual wear and comfort with a dash of nostalgia. Here, it's bringing back the Italian “sprezzatura” that many aspire to, but that few possess. 

Now if you have the gift of sprezzatura, you could pull off this vintage inspired pullover, or if not a Uniqlo men’s t-neck sweater. Gents: for more Italian nonno style, watch this YouTube short; and for the ladies, 18 ways you can shop for your own “eclectic grandpa.” 

Finish off the look with grandpa sneaker: we like “sassy PopPop New Balance” for the modern Gpa and the “Trad Grandpa New Balance” classics (just $60).

Crème de la Skinny  

The only leftover links & hacks you need

The Skinny: Let’s put those stacks of leftovers in your fridge to good use. 

• Thanksgiving Crunchwrap: As Delish notes, this is the magical moment where Taco Bell meets Thanksgiving leftovers. But, we recommend flexing with this game-changing wrap/tortilla hack that we tried last night with cranberry, stuffing, mushrooms and turkey. 

• Turkey and cheese sliders: So easy, so savory. Make a batch for a group and you’re done. 

• The famous “Friends” leftover sandwich: Complete with its trademark “moist maker.”

Buy less guide

Let’s talk ‘underconsumption’ core

The Skinny: Yes, there are deals to be found on Black Friday. And while that’s a positive, it doesn’t have to mean falling prey to the onslaught of “ENDING SOON” promos populating your feeds. As a backlash to the spend-spend mentality and nauseating amount of throwaway merchandise (eyes on you: inescapable barrage of “Wicked” tumblers, Squishmallows and fuzzy slippers), the underconsumption trend is the antidote. 

Instead of posting “hauls” or #showertoks packed with insane amounts of products, “underconsumption core” influencers do the opposite: less is more with medicine cabinets laid bare and items that have stood the test of time. The longer you’ve had something, the better. For example, here’s the story of Nicole’s turquoise True Religion corduroy mini skirt (clearly a solid investment as it’s listed for $105 on Depop). 

“It had to be 25 years ago, and Jill and I saw this mini while shopping in Soho. It cost way more than I wanted to spend, but Jill said ‘f–king GET it, you’ll wear it for a million years.’ And she was right, I’m still rocking it to this day.”

The moral of the story: buy smarter, higher quality, and fewer things. Such as:

Cookware: If you have old, “non-stick” pots and pans, consider (re)stocking with “clean” cookware. Everything to know about whether you should, or shouldn’t, toss your old non-stick pans is here (“Can a Scratched Non-Stick Pan Make You Sick?”), but for pans that will last for ages, here are our picks: 

• All-Clad stainless steel, oven safe 10” lidded pan = highly versatile. 

• A set of pans from the same good people who make the Jenny Kayne dupe cashmere sweaters, and a Le Creuset dupe enameled cast iron stock pot for under $80. 

• A cast iron skillet: (at 25% off, and a permanent fixture on our stove, used daily).

Denim: Jeans can last “forever” with proper care. According to Levi’s, caring for your denim is easy with three steps: 1) wash only if you must; 2) if so, wash inside out to preserve and protect color; 3)  skip the dryer to preserve shape. Inside Hook takes it up a notch and suggests prolonging that inaugural wash and considering the jeans’ weight to find the “sweet spot” of comfort and longevity.  

• Levi's shaping jeans. We tried them on and are planning to purchase—both the skinny and straight versions. 

• Jill just bought these amazing jeans from WALMART! Yep, at $24 you can try on a trend without a major investment. Also, this is the first we’ve heard of Sofia Vergara’s apparel? 

• We love Shop Social Threads Risen Jeans for a straight leg cropped.

A quality tote: Oh, how we love a good tote.

• Wirecutter found the best of the best, and we can attest to the quality and style of workhorse staple Duck Bag.

• A “dressy maxi tote” in chevron nylon from Rebecca Minkoff. 

• The LL Bean Boat and Tote, a preppy favorite, recently gained TikTok fame for its customizable features. For these, the beauty is in its character as it ages, but it needs to be cleaned at least every decade (Jill just washed hers after a NyQuil spill). 

• Do you need a Goyard when Trader Joe’s totes can be just as statement-making? Further proof that it’s more about how you wear it, than what you wear.

Wall art: With friends and fam visiting for the holidays, consider a refresh to breathe new life into your home (not to mention: the powerful effects that viewing art have on the brain). If you don’t know where to start, the how-to you need is this article with expert tips from The Spruce.

Add to cart: For those who love NYC and appreciate the stories of its  neighborhoods as moments in time, may we recommend these limited edition fine art prints by artist Richard Goehl. These are of the original oil paintings and he’s offering 20% off through January 15, 2025 using code Skinny20. Prints are on acid-free paper using archival inks.

OHM, THERE'S MORE

This week’s newsfeed

• Short on time but want a killer workout? The 3-2-1 method combines three strength exercises, two minutes of Pilates, and one minute of cardio into a compact routine. It's like a fitness smoothie—quick, efficient, and packs a punch.

• Move over, celery juice—slimy okra water is the latest “health elixir.” As with most TikTok driven wellness hype, is there anything okra water can’t do? Among its purported benefits are anti-inflammatory, digestive, improved liver function, glowing skin and others too controversial to mention. Yet, Men’s Health suggests just eating actual okra instead. 

• A new initiative, by the Wellness in Travel & Tourism Industry (WITT), will provide a “Michelin Guide” style WITT Certified Seal for hotel/resort properties that have met criteria for and commitment to an authentic wellness experience for guests.

*If you purchase something linked in The Skinny, we may get an affiliate commission—but at no additional cost to you.