Harper's Bazaar Dec/Jan 2021

We live in a country rich in traditions. They can be comforting, especially around the holidays; our customs connect us to generations past and allow us to pass on something meaningful and lasting to our children. Traditions can also serve as reminders of our otherness. They are often predicated on assumptions of shared experience that don’t mirror everyone’s truth. I grew up in a splintered home, so my reality never quite matched up to the traditions I saw around me. As an adult, I have often found myself asking the simple question: Who are these traditions serving? Throughout the issue, we called on cultural leaders across various disciplines to weigh in on what tradition means within their fields. Our cover star, Vanessa Kirby, gives an unflinching performance in the new…

“Tradition means that you’re able to be innovative and come up with new things, but at the same time you can speak to the things that existed before,” says the legendary jazz musician and composer Wynton Marsalis. “You don’t have to overthrow them to be an innovator. You can just sweep them right up along with you.” For his playlist, the longtime artistic director of New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center selected a wide range of tracks that reflect his interest in an array of musical traditions: from Marvin Gaye’s Motown touchstone “Inner City Blues”; to the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Linus and Lucy,” from nostalgic holiday favorite A Charlie Brown Christmas; to Charlie Parker’s “Now’s the Time,” which Marsalis describes as having “an earthiness and down-home quality.” Listen to Wynton’s…

Launched in November (just in time for the holidays) by a group of fashion industry veterans, knitwear brand Paradis Perdus deserves your attention, especially our exclusive Hero. Crafted from 100 percent recycled wool and featuring classic ribbing, this red sweater is a little piece of luxury that makes a bright statement on its own—the perfect, cozy gift. SB = BUY ON SHOPBAZAAR.COM…

25th December BRIDGERTON (NETFLIX) Executive-produced by Shonda Rhimes, the new period drama starring Adjoa Andoh and Regé-Jean Page takes a witty and refreshingly diverse approach to the catty, cutthroat world of Regency London society. 1st December EARTH KIDS British Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE addresses colonization and climate change in new life-size sculptures made with his signature Dutch wax print fabrics at New York’s James Cohan gallery. 4th December SOUND OF METAL (AMAZON PRIME) Riz Ahmed stars in director Darius Marder’s heart-wrenching film as a drummer and recovering addict whose world is turned upside down when he begins to lose his hearing. 2nd December ALVIN AILEY WINTER SEASON From December 2 through 31, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is hosting a virtual season, including a live reimagining of Revelations—the company’s…

BEA BONGIASCA “One thing we love at Marissa Collections is color! Bea Bongiasca’s collection is a visual wonderland of bright enamel and gemstones. This Italian-made jewelry pays tribute to pop culture and every piece is sculptural, wearable art.” LIZZIE MANDLER “Handcrafted in Los Angeles, Lizzie Mandler’s jewelry has a modern sensibility with an edge. Her pieces are easy to wear by themselves or layered, and we love the minimalist approach of her designs.” WWAKE “Wing Yau’s sleek and contoured shapes are a favorite among Marissa Collections’ clientele. Lightly sprinkled opals, tourmaline, and conflict-free diamonds create a collection made for every woman.” JENNIFER MEYER “With meaningful jewelry on the rise, Jennifer Meyer’s designs represent many of life’s sweetest moments: love, good fortune, and celebration. Her jewelry is the perfect gift and…

DANI McCLAIN WRITER “A Reckoning Inside Planned Parenthood,” page 130 “I help my mother decorate her Christmas tree every year. She still has ornaments from when she was a child. Arranging her tree while listening to the Temptations and Johnny Mathis gets me in the holiday spirit.” CARL KELSCH MANAGING EDITOR Harper’s Bazaar “Every December, my partner and I spend a couple of nights in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The town goes all-out to create a cozy Christmas vibe, and I get to drop off gifts for my god kids nearby.” LYNN STEGER STRONG WRITER “Vanessa Kirby Doesn’t Flinch,” page 108 “Almost every morning I go running. It keeps me steady when I’m anxious. It’s a space of time that’s mine, and no one needs me or speaks. The way a place…