The Bear: J. Crew's capsule and Sydney's bandanas

Since The Bear premiered on Hulu on June 23, 2022, people haven't stopped talking about it. There is much discussion about the script, recipes like the infamous spaghetti al pomodoro, the cast's performances, Jeremy Allen White's biceps and blue eyes, and the characters' outfits. It was clear from the pilot that it wasn't just a gripping series about a complicated chef in pursuit of culinary excellence. Remember when, short on meat and money, Carmy has to sell part of his vintage jeans collection and ends up discussing the Big E selvedge denim, a line of Levi's jeans produced in America for a very short time and highly sought after by collectors, with the meat guy? And what about the white tees the chef sports in almost every episode? His come from Merz b. Schwanen, a small German brand, as well as Whitesville and the Hanes x Supreme collaboration, reigniting our obsession with the perfect fit t-shirt. It's no surprise, then, that the official and unofficial merch of the Christopher Storer project sells out quickly and inspires new capsules.

The Bear x J. Crew merch

For the third season of The Bear, released in the USA on June 27 and available from August 14 on Disney+ for the Italian audience, J. Crew has created a limited edition collection. It consists of four workwear-style pieces inspired by the handyman Neil Fak, played by chef Matty Matheson, and his brother Ted, played by Ricky Staffieri: a work jacket, a crewneck sweatshirt, a graphic T-shirt, and a trucker hat, each decorated with the fictional company logo, Matter of Fak. The capsule is available while stocks last online and at 484 Broadway, NYC; 900 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago; and 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles.

Sydney's style and her bandanas

What did we wish to find in the J. Crew capsule? The bandanas and a bit of Sydney Adamu's style. The sous-chef played by Ayo Edebiri stands out for her ambition, talent in the kitchen, and colorful details. In the series, she wears vintage T-shirts, sweaters from Paloma Wool, and a smock with small stripes on the sleeves, a distinctive mark of Thom Browne, which Syd pairs with hair scarves that are always different and cool. Some are vintage, some come from small Chicago boutiques or online stores, many are from the brand KAPITAL, and were carefully chosen by costume designer Cristina Spiridakis, who hunted for cool or interesting, yet functional, pieces. It's not just about the necessity of tying up hair in a restaurant kitchen, but "it's a form of expression for Sydney: a way of bringing her own point of view into spaces that might not readily accept her voice," Courtney Wheeler, the show's costume designer for season one episodes two through eight, says. "Also, for many Black women, myself included, there is a bit of an instinct to protect your hair, so that is also something that's at play here". It's hard to choose just one. Do you prefer the batik patterns or the small colorful fish designs?

The return of the bandana in 2024

For a few seasons now, the headscarf has been a staple in our outfits. Everyone wears it as they prefer: it's used to secure ponytails and braids, to protect hair from the sun, but more often, we see it knotted behind the neck in bandana style, like Sydney in The Bear, or knotted under the chin. Among the lovers of this granny style are Kendall Jenner, Billie Eilish, and Dua Lipa. The novelty for summer 2024? Wearing the scarf over a cap. Since last April, when Hailey Bieber appeared on Instagram with a leopard-print bandana tied around a red and blue FILA baseball cap, celebs, influencers, and common girls have copied the combo, playing with colors and prints. Scrolling through IG, it seems that this way of combining the two accessories is very eclectic and fits different looks, from sporty to minimalist. Have you tried it yet?