We hope you’ve enjoyed your well-deserved Labor Day weekend, and  welcome to The Skinny, which will take you three minutes to breeze through! For anyone new here, this is a free weekly lifestyle newsletter designed to entertain and save you time—everyone’s most valuable resource—with a curated selection of news. As one of our subscribers told us: “You’re like my favorite magazine, without all the annoying pop-up ads.” 

What we’re covering: 

• Dipping into fall fashion with our ‘late summer’ picks, including scarves, ‘Sneakarinas, Tabis and Snofers,’ must-have cashmere sweaters (25% off) & men’s hats 

• Weekday cooking with the Skinny: meet paneer, your new favorite tofu-alt 

• Yes to long lunches out, no to cold wraps in

• The most poppln’ new frozen snack is from the UK and now in mini size

• Plus: U.S. Open frat games, how to be happy (part 2), Pam Anderson’s new pickles, how to maximize the first hour of the day, why wraps are the worst sandwich & chic outfit inspo for backyard BBQs

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In style

Our not-really-fall fashion guide

The Skinny: Top to bottom, accessories included, let’s get ready for fall while still embracing summer. 

Accessories first, which make the fit. Our hack: invest in designer and/or standout accessories and shoes, then build a look around them using more inexpensive items. High-end, quality items of course cost more, but investment pays off as they last longer and can be restyled with changing apparel trends.  

We have discussed our love for bandanas and scarves—for your head, waist and wrist—but endless scarf game inspo can be found in this “Good Housekeeping” story.  Aside, we can’t get over that this actual magazine remains since, taken literally, should be strictly about house dresses, tackling laundry stains, canapes for afternoon “visits” from your mother-in-law and vacuum cleaner/mop/steam iron reviews. That aside, a “Good Housekeeping” (UK) writer penned a solid style article about how the silk scarf trend was fueled by Michael Rider’s debut for the SS26 Celine womenswear collection. And, we appreciated her observation that digging out a cherished silk scarf square brings a “mood boosting fashion injection” sans the online shopping. 

Guys, if you’re confident and dapper enough, it’s time to redefine your style with a fall hat—and after our searching and scrolling we tip our cap to Lock & Co Hatters, which features some killer hat looks (and models) but is also the world’s oldest hat shop. Here, their top autumn-winter hat styles for men (note: they also have a full collection of women’s hats, too). Do take a look. And if you trust Pinterest’s ability to forecast trends, let’s finish off your look with a “vintage watch aesthetic.” 

In footwear, for women it’s all about ballet sneakers, aka “sneakerinas” (here, a review of Puma Speedcat Ballet but also, know that LOEWE did it first-ish and now has a Ballet Runner 2.0). And we can’t leave out the sneakers’ quirkier, more divisive cousin: the split-toe tabi. Never seen, or heard of, a tabi? Your full immersion is in this Instagram reel of one collector’s eclectic stash, from vintage Margiela to second-hand finds. And guys, time to acquaint yourselves with “snoafers,” as brands from Keen to Nike are trotting out versions of the sneaker/loafer hybrids. (Not to be left out, women have plenty of snoafers to choose from themselves, from Puma to Dr. Scholls). 

Have you heard of “Christian girl autumn?” We hadn’t either, but this influencer-creator who built her whole identity around a fall-themed fashion shoot is kind of fascinating. While the phenomenon that is her had escaped us until now, hundreds of thousands tune in and find solace in her curated fits—think wide-brimmed hats, cozy sweaters and PSLs—amidst a perfect backdrop of Vermont foliage. But since we only discovered her this week due to her social media ruse (where she “announced” that this year’s fall fashion shoot was “cancelled”) we can pretend to ignore that she pretended to go away in the first place. 

Along these lines: dressing in café‑chic and soft, creamy “latte layers” is a vibe this fall. We have feelings about brown and need to think about whether we would embrace “caffeine-inspired neutrals” (with a +632% uptick in Pinterest searches, apparently) or “espresso martini outfits.” Probably not. But what we will likely purchase is a pair of caramel-colored boots: wish-list version from Brother Vellies; slightly more affordable options from Free People, where you can browse their “summer to fall” boot collection. 

You can probably get a great deal on a “summer sweater” right about now, but late summer layering should include investing in quality cashmere. For those looking for ideas, and a promo, we highly recommend the striped rugby polo and boxy striped (above) styles from Archer Cashmere because our favorite aesthetic, fisherman, is continuing to trend. Bonus: 25% off orders using the code SKINNYVIP25. 

Finally, how to wear shorts to work (a trend alive and well in Nicole’s office). And for the guys, well, these links may sound like breadcrumbs but simply couldn’t find as much solid men’s fashion content out there. But still you all need to know about this year’s best polos, and the top walking shoes for men (written by someone who is logging a s–t ton of miles walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan). 

Weeknight cooking

Meet paneer: like tofu, only better

The Skinny: We like a nice crispy tofu sometimes, but what we hate is dealing with the tofu-y mess and cooking it. Plus, despite its nutritional qualities, it’s so bland that to make it taste palatable adds another layer/annoying detail. This is why we prefer paneer. It is easier to cook, tastier, and—while both are packed with calcium, protein and more—paneer appears to have more benefits with selenium, magnesium and potassium. Plus, no wonder why we are drawn to it: we just realized it’s known as “Indian cottage cheese.” 

Our super easy paneer: Cut into one-inch squares, toss in a bowl with a couple drizzles of EVOO and your choice of spicesr (we use Spicewalla garlic salt, cumin and Spicewell Ayurvedic New Pepper.) Fire up a pan, with a little extra oil if needed and turn the cubes until all sides are crispy. Use in salads, as an accompaniment to Trader Joe’s Kitchari or Madras Lentils packets, or as a straight-up snack. Soo good. 

PS: if you’re wondering which is the better choice for you, we found the perfect resource. But if you’re vegan, of course the only choice is tofu.

Long-winded eating

Goodbye ‘sad desk salad,’ hello boozy lunch 

The Skinny: If there is a workday moment that ever makes you question your life choices, it’s reflecting on eating your Sad Desk Salad (or otherwise unappetizing leftover) in a plastic container and with a plastic fork. While we have begun to notice a rallying cry for “the Return of the Long, Boozy Lunch,” office bon vivants and revolutionaries have been trying to get their co-workers out of the office for years. Nicole even wrote about this for Cherry Bombe several years ago, when a top beauty editor had championed a “Lean into Lunch” crusade, encouraging co-workers to partake in the mental health benefits of a proper lunch.

So while the lure of your office cube/desk and leftover wrap may be strong, we suggest fighting the urge and get out at least once/twice a week. Consider it, as this Esquire story puts it, an “act of rebellion.” After all, the magazine invented the term “power lunch” so it only makes sense that it’s working to help us re-celebrate it. Leave a little early, come back a little late. And if you’re dining with co-workers, treat the OOO lunch as a brainstorm since getting a little juiced—be it by an energizing meal or booze—is the best way to get creativity flowing. 

Related: Buzzfeed’s worst “office food horror stories” that go (shockingly) well beyond cooking fish in the microwave.

Deep freezer dive

These cookie dough gelato bites are poppin’

The Skinny: We have tried UK-based brand Doughlicious and not only does it live up to the hype, they received a mouthful of cash last month via a $5M fundraise. They’re also churning out new, funner snack innovation including poppable treats like miniature-sized gelato bites in Salted Caramel and Cookies & Cream, available exclusively on GoPuff. 

What’s their secret? The simple combo of a tasty, novelty product that’s fun to eat + cheeky and “non-apologetic” marketing. “So creamy, it should come with a safe word,” as they say about their Cookies & Cream. What we love: put these out at parties! Also, easy to enjoy 1-2 without the guilt of a full dessert. Available at Target and Whole Foods, among other retailers.

And because we know you/we love the healthier side of snacks/treats, we were not surprised by the most-clicked last week: these calorie- and fat-packed frozen treats (to avoid), most of which have the nutritional equivalent of “2-3 quarter-pounders.” That being said, we still love ice cream and covered all the many reasons (and varieties) to enjoy it, but to file under semi guilt-free: this recipe for a frozen yogurt sandwich, packed with 16 grams of protein, along with the benefits of Greek yogurt.

Last Licks

This week’s newsfeed 

• Pamela Anderson’s got a new line of fancy floral pickles and we want in.

• Are “wraps” the worst sandwich (OK, question answered: they just are, so why are they “back”?)

• The U.S. Open thus far has been Game, Set, Drama all around so if you need to catch up, the time is now. And from the rowdy American fans, the new “trophy” is…Honey Deuce cup stacking.

• What not to wear to a backyard bbq: this TikTokker’s recommendation (we love the fit, but—to a BBQ—hell no to the white dress AND on a screaming hot day). Conversely, what you should wear: a variety of chic backyard-worthy looks from Evereve. 

• Among the “Ancient Secrets to Happiness,” that we wrote about a couple of editions ago, was a trove of wisdom/hacks about “how to be happy” that we’ve been meaning to share. Crib notes! These are from a NYT wellness reporter who’d gathered various bits of wisdom from interviewees over the years. We highly recommend taking two minutes to read, which honestly brought a different perspective to our everyday life (tease: savor life “like an astronaut”). 

• Currently putting into practice: Jeff Bezos’ longtime morning routine includes no screen time and “puttering” for at least an hour, and turns out it might have neuroscientific benefits.

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