If January is about ambition, this moment, after the holiday exhale, is about clarity.
The inbox is loud again, trends are revving up, everyone is telling you what matters now. This week’s Brief exists to do the opposite: to slow the scroll, contextualize the noise, and surface what’s actually worth your attention this week.
Consider this our soft re-entry. Less spectacle, more signal. We’re easing back in with the ideas, shifts, and undercurrents shaping culture, style, and money… without the urgency theater.
You’re not behind. You’re right on time.
We’re so back, baby.
In This Issue
This Week’s Pins


Beauty & Fashion
Sue Nabi has exited Coty and her role as CEO. Nabi will be replaced by Markus Strobe but since joining the beauty giant in July 2020 oversaw the launch of Burberry’s Goddess fragrance and helped reduce Coty’s financial net leverage. Additionally as a transgender CEO, she transformed the company’s corporate culture and introduced inclusive employee benefits.
LVMH is swapping CEOs as Amandine Ohayon, formerly at Stella McCartney, is joining Givenchy and replacing Alessandro Valenti, who is moving over to Dior.
Dior released its first coed advertising campaign for the launch of the spring 2026 collection by Johnathon Anderson, who is the first creative director to lead both the men’s and women’s divisions for Dior.
Lululemon founder Chip Wilson is launching a proxy fight to remake the company’s board ahead of a new Chief Executive.
Finance & Tech
Topicals has closed a new round of funding backed by WNBA star, Angel Reese, and a cohort of cultural leaders across entertainment and sports. Since launching in 2020, the black owned skincare company has raised more than $22.6 million.
Saks Global CEO, Richard Baker, steps down as the company closes in on bankruptcy financing. The company plans to file with $1 billion in DIP financing and a $250 million asset-based lending agreement.
Sprinkles cupcakes has closed abruptly. The bakery known for the cupcake ATMs, started by Candace Nelson in 2005 with just a “Kitchen Aid Mixer and a dream”, was the first specialty cupcake bakery.
Nvidia CEO unveiled the company’s newest AI server system, Vera Rubin. The more powerful chips, come as a response to the artificial intelligence race and demand for advanced processors.
Entertainment
A24’s Marty Supreme earned about $28.3 million over it’s Christmas opening period. The film directed by Josh Safdie, starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Odessa A’zion received much marketing buzz and earned Chalamet the Best Actor Award at the Critic’s Choice Awards.
Stranger Thing’s series finale wrapped up the Netflix favorite after nearly 10 years. Although the ending has received mixed reviews from fans with some even speculating a surprise episode with complex theories, the final episode earned over $25 million from the limited time theater premiere.
Bruno Mars has announced a long-awaited fourth solo album and headline tour for the first time in nearly a decade. ‘The Romantic’ album will be arriving on February 27 with a tour launching April 10th with guests including Anderson .Paak, Leon Thomas, RAYE, And Victoria Monét.
The Algorithm
Closed airspace left many stuck in the Caribbean after the New Years holiday. The air restrictions, a result of the US raid on Venezuela, caused many “stuck in St. Barts” headlines and social media posts of the wealthy sharing their travel woes.
E.L.F. has launched Zero Distance on Substack, offering a BTS look across their six brands. Connecting with consumers on the platform, the company will feature insights from anyone from CEO and product developers.
In The News
The pill version of Wegovy will be available for use in the U.S. following milestone FDA that will change the weight loss medication market currently dominated by weekly shots.
E.L.F., Revlon, and Bath & Body Works are suing the Trump Administration over tariffs. More than 1,000 companies have filed lawsuits demanding compensation for the heightened cost of business that are also costing consumers anywhere from 10-60% more on imported skin care, makeup and personal-care items.
As always, thank you for sending part of you Sunday with us. And if you want more of The Sixteenth, find us on Instagram for a steady stream of taste, culture and thoughtfulness @thesixteenth__.
