5 Things To Watch, Shop, Read, Try, and Buy, the November Version

(It's actually like 26 things, but who's counting? Including the best TV show of 2023! My two favorite new cookbooks! Shoes you need to buy! The tinted moisturizer of my dreams! And more!)

Hi everyone, and welcome back to my favorite installment of this newsletter: 5 Things To Watch, Shop, Read, Try, and Buy, the November version! Fair warning, even though Halloween was literally moments ago, I’m already mentally neck deep in the holidays. 

One of the reasons I’m thinking ahead is because I finally realized that the majority of seasonal stress can be avoided if I just start planning twice as early as I think is required. The other reason is Mercury Retrograde starts on December 13th, so my goal is to be 95% done with my shopping and decorating by the 10th. (Why the 10th? Trying to avoid the Merc Retro shadow.) 

That’s why I did my Thanksgiving decor shopping in October (see the end of last week’s newsletter for details; some of the John Derian x Target Thanksgiving stuff is still available, but not for long!), have already reviewed and updated my bonkers How To Thanksgiving Like A Virgo story, and have been secretly working on gift guides for the last four weeks. Because while giving gifts is not technically a sport, I treat it like one.

Speaking of which: Have you recently given someone the perfect present? Or received the perfect present? If so, please share in the comments below, so that we can benefit from your wisdom. One of my recent gifts that went over really well? I gave Clark something called Beast Lab ($70) for his birthday, and when I tell you the kid is still wildly fixated on it, I mean it. 

And before we move on to the main section of this newsletter, a reminder! As always,  if there’s an item you’re shopping for or you need help sorting through the zillions of options out there, please don’t hesitate to drop me a comment and I will add it to my to-do list. (And why am I prompting you to comment? Because while I love DMs and always try to answer you there, my inbox is messy, and comments here are much easier for me to find and use as source material as I’m working on new things. Also, I love comments; they make me feel seen.)

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WATCH: A Murder At The End of The World (Debuts November 14th on Hulu)

Friends, when I tell you I feel EXTREMELY passionately about the new show A Murder At The End of the World, I mean it with my whole heart. It is the greatest thing I’ve seen on the small screen in ages and ages and ages. 

So what is this TV show with an extremely long title about? Well, it’s many things. First and foremost, it stars the deeply compelling Emma Corrin (who you might remember from their portrayal of a young Princess Diana in The Crown) as Darby Hart, a Gen-Z hacker and civilian detective who spends her free time trying to crack unsolved murder cases. It also features an equally powerful Clive Owen as an all-powerful, unknowable tech billionaire, who summons a set of highly influential people—including odd duck Darby—to a luxurious, mysterious retreat in a remote part of Iceland, for reasons unknown. (It also stars Harris Dickinson, who is giving the same raw magnetism, albeit with gentler energy, that Adam Driver did in the first season of Girls.)

The show—which is the brainchild of the brilliant multi-hyphenate Brit Marling, in collaboration with her longtime creative partner Zal Batmanglij—is a wild mashup of so many things I adore: There are hints of Agatha Christie, Ex Machina, Mr. Robot, Hackers, and even a sprinkle of season one of Westworld, but A Murder is very much its own thing, as you’d expect from the creative team that gave us another one of my favorite shows: The OA.  

(I also want to point out that I think Brit Marling is a stone-cold genius, especially considering that she created, wrote, executive produced, and directed A Murder, not to mention also acts in it, playing a key role. Yes, you read that correctly. It is wild to me that a single person could possess this level of creativity and technical skill across so many different areas.)

And for those of you who, like me, get nervous about shows that have the word “murder” in their title and scope, do not fret. The show is suspenseful and thrilling, but not nonsensically violent or gory. I didn’t even require a come-down show* after watching multiple episodes of A Murder late at night. Long story long: If you watch any show this month, nay, this year, make it this one.

PS: A quick reminder that last month I raved about Priscilla, and I very much hope you get a chance to see this film ASAP. It opened nationwide on Friday, and if you went and loved it as much as I do, I have a hunch you won’t want to miss the interview I did with Stacey Battat, the film’s costume designer. She’s incredible on every level, as was the wardrobe for this movie.

*Not sure if this is something you all do too, but whenever I’m watching a show that’s intense in any way, I usually need to chase that with programming that’s sweet or silly or smartly funny. Otherwise I can’t go to sleep. 

SHOP: PARTY SHOES

It’s November, so it’s officially the holidays (I don’t make the rules), which means now’s the time to refresh your wardrobe with some seasonal cheer. Personally, I don’t really go for thematic or holiday attire per se—at this point, my wardrobe consists primarily of year-round versatile pieces that can be styled up or down, a benefit of living in LA, to be sure—but I do make an exception for accessories.

And by that I mean: shoes. There’s little that brings me more joy than finding an of-the-moment shoe in a party-appropriate fabric. I don’t add to my collection every season, but this year I’m feeling a little more inclined, as there are some really fun options that will make my beloved black dresses feel a little more spirited. 

Velvet: The subtlest option is, of course, velvet. I have several pairs of Aquazzura velvet shoes that I’ve collected over the years, and they hold up brilliantly and look great. This year I have my eye on the brand’s Twist 95 Velvet Sandals ($682) in deep emerald green, and they come in burgundy too. Sezane’s Katie Babies Blue Pleated Velvet Heels ($225) are another option worth considering; I think they’d look great peeking out from a wide-leg silky trouser. 

Metallic: I’m in awe of these Bottega Veneta Comet 100MM Mirrored Leather Wedge Pumps ($2400), but wow! Price! The Attico has a friendlier version that’s also a vibe (the Cheope Metallic Wedge Pump is less than half the price), and J.Crew offers a streamlined iteration in gold or black patent. The latter’s Colette Mule Heels ($268) also offer a way into this trend at a good price point, plus they come in both gold and silver. 

Pumps aren’t your thing? If you’re in the mood for a sculptural sandal, Cult Gaia’s Zuma Metallic Leather Mules ($430) might be the solution, or try Gianvito Rossi’s 70mm Mirrored-Leather Mules ($875), which feel futuristic and sleek. If you’re blessed with super small feet, you could always snag one of the last gold pairs of The Row’s Metallic Eel Skin Loafers ($1290), which IMHO kicked off this metallic shoe trend when Mary-Kate Olsen wore them earlier this summer. 

Bow-Bedecked: I’m a sucker for a silly floppy bow, and this season’s really got my number. Loeffler Randall is always an underrated source for me (the shoes are way comfy), and I’m currently eyeing the brand’s Margot Bow Mules ($375) in Red Moire. For a sharper, sleeker iteration that still has the same jazzy spirit, try Larroude’s Mini Elle Pumps ($330) in Emerald Fabric, which are currently in my shopping bag. While technically a floral applique and not a bow, my true favorite comes from Prada, and is available in black or white. (Nordstrom says the flowers are tucked into a “folded bow,” so maybe I’m right after all!) And last, but not least, consider Loewe’s Toy Boy-Detailed Crushed Velvet Sandals ($1200) which are the trifecta of holiday trends: oversized bows, velvet, and in a metallic-adjacent hue!

The Loeffler Randall party mule of my dreams. Also available in black, chocolate, or cream, but red is where it’s at IMHO.

READ: COOKBOOKS BY COOL WOMEN

Full confession: I have interviewed both Sohla El-Waylly and Molly Baz for Second Life, and fundamentally find them fascinating, and have long cooked their recipes, so I am biased. But even with that knowledge, I truly think their new cookbooks are outrageously special and worth the investment. 

First, let’s talk about Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook by Sohla El-Waylly ($40), which just came out on Halloween. It’s a wild 578 pages, featuring over 200 recipes and over 800 photos, and reminds me a little bit of my vintage Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks, as it gives you really helpful step-by-step photos for lots of recipes and skills. It’s divided into 12 chapters, organized by techniques, has easy, intermediate, and advanced recipes, and the whole thing is just dreamy. It’s an incredible buy, no matter if you’re a cooking neophyte or practically a pro, and I very much recommend it. 12/10, actually. 

I also want to discuss More is More by Molly Baz ($24), which is the author’s second cookbook and features 100 recipes and two amazing options for expanding your cooking experience: audio cook-alongs and videos too! 

Yup, audio. At the bottom of some recipes, you’ll find either one or two QR codes, which in turn lead to either the video version of the recipe, or an audio version, complete with music and pauses for chopping. For example, on page 142, there is a recipe for Molly’s meatballs, which are called Mollz Ballz. You can read it on page, watch the video, or listen to the recipe, which is broken down into tracks for different parts of the recipe. And there is classic music involved too! Outrageous. 

If anyone wants to cook through these books with me, I’m all ears. Vote for the recipe you want us to make in the comments, and we can do it together!

BUY: HOLIDAY JAMMIES

I warned you that ‘tis the season already, and that means: holiday pajamas. As I mentioned earlier, I have finally realized that the reason holidays are stressful (for me) is because I don’t start the process early enough. So now I have reminders to make the kids’ personalized Valentine’s Day cards in mid-January, know to start shopping for the holidays in early November, so I’m not frantically scouring Amazon on December 23rd for stocking stuffers, and have calendar reminders to start planning the kids’ birthdays two months in advance.

(BTW: Even with all of this planning finally in place, I still fuck up all the time, so don’t get it twisted.)

I’m saying all of this to explain why I’m suggesting you buy holiday pajamas so far in advance! And guess what? Retailers are stocking them earlier and earlier, so I’m thrilled to say there are already loads of options on the market.

My favorites are always Petite Plume, which are expensive, but can also work all year long, depending on the style. For example, I got Petite Plume’s Antique Red Ticking Pajama Set ($58) for the kids last year, and because they’re simply red and white, they look just as timely in the middle of the summer. Also: I often buy them a size too big, so that the kids grow into them, and they last twice as long that way! 

Petite Plume has so many amazing options for holiday, my one suggestion is to focus on the white, red, and blue-centered styles. I love green, but green pajamas tend to blend into the tree—which isn’t great for a photo—whereas the other colors pop more. If you’d prefer something specific for the holidays, I like the brand’s Holiday Journey Pajama Set ($58) and Merry Trees Set ($58), which is more whimsical but still minimalist.

If you are looking for a snugger fit for your holiday pajamas, Hannah Andersson is always at the top of my list. This year I got the brand’s  Star Wars Festive Red Pajamas ($39) during a pre-holiday sale moment, and I’m pretty happy about that choice. They also have one of the better Hanukkah prints on the market too.

Clark, last year, in his personalized Petite Plume holiday-adjacent jammies that also work year round. And that is a coordinating sleep mask on his head.

TRY: U BEAUTY TINTED MOISTURIZER

Every time U Beauty launches a new product, I’m lightly annoyed because I know I will fall in love with it, and there goes another portion of my skincare budget. Because for me, almost everything the brand makes is a banger, and, while expensive, efficacious enough that I can’t find a better solution at a lower price point. So no surprise, I’m already deeply enamored with their new The Super Tinted Hydrator ($108), which I wear in Shade 3. 

In my defense, the brand has invested in their proprietary formulations and technology, and recently the Journal for Cosmetic Dermatology published a white paper on the brand, which included studies from third-party independent labs (more on Vogue.com). So yeah, the hype is legit and real!

U Beauty’s co-founder (and my friend) Tina Chen Craig mentioned that the product is already sold out on the brand’s site, but currently in stock at Nordstrom, and selling fast, so if you’re gonna make the move, do it quickly. If you’re not sure about your shade, there’s a shade finder on U Beauty’s site that was pretty spot-on for me.

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 Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. (And if you have the time to like it, that would mean a lot to me!) All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.