As the 2026 holiday season kicks into full gear, the fashion and beauty industries are buzzing with activity. On November 3, Dazed US and Michael Kors unveiled styling tips for the year-end festivities alongside their holiday collection. Meanwhile, Ulta Beauty is capturing consumer attention with a star-studded campaign featuring celebrities like Selena Gomez.
Dazed US & Michael Kors: Your Year-End Styling Guide
On November 3, Dazed US launched a styling guide for the upcoming year-end season, coinciding with the release of Michael Kors' 2026 holiday lineup. The Dazed US team offered practical answers to common questions, from choosing winter coats and preparing gifts to whether it's acceptable to wear the same outfit to multiple parties, all to help navigate a period that can be stressful due to dropping temperatures and packed schedules. They particularly emphasized that deep red and soft suede bags are ideal for adding a festive touch to year-end looks.
Cam Cronin, Senior Creative Strategist at Dazed US, offered a year-end survival tip: "Pack snacks to recharge on busy days," and highlighted plaid patterns as a symbol of holiday style. He paired a suede Laila bag with a studded mini skirt, mohair sweater, and chunky boots, while styling a sequin Nolita Pochette bag with lug-sole loafers, sheer socks, oversized wool shorts, and a boxy chunky knit to create contrasting charms.
| Dazed US Team | Year-end Survival Tips | Holiday Style Items | Michael Kors Bag Styling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Cronin | Snacks for Busy Day Energy Boost | Plaid Pattern | Suede Laila Bag: Studded mini skirt, mohair sweater, chunky boots Sequin Nolita Pouch Bag: Lug-sole loafers, sheer socks, oversized wool shorts, boxy chunky knit |
| Yilin Ye | Avoid Tourist Spots During Rush Hour | Soft sweater, silky long skirt | Red Leather Hamilton Soft Crossbody Bag: Monochrome outfit, faux fur jacket Bryant Shoulder Bag: Dress over wide pants |
| Laura Pitcher | Create Your Own Traditions If Away From Home | Shorts and T-shirt (for beach vacation) | Hamilton Soft Satchel: Silver studded mini dress, sheer tights, dramatic fur coat Green patterned jeans, black hoodie (daily wear) |
Junior Researcher Yilin Ye advised, "Avoid tourist spots during rush hour," and recommended soft sweaters and silky long skirts as items to create a year-end atmosphere. She paired a red leather Hamilton Soft Crossbody Bag with a monochrome outfit and a faux fur jacket (a Michael Kors product), and styled a chocolate brown Bryant Shoulder Bag by wearing a dress over wide-leg pants. US Editor Laura Pitcher suggested, "If you're away from home, create your own year-end traditions," mentioning shorts and a T-shirt worn during family visits to New Zealand as her holiday style. She matched a small black Hamilton Soft satchel with a silver studded mini-dress, sheer tights, and a dramatic fur coat, or incorporated it into everyday wear like green patterned jeans and a black hoodie.
Ulta Beauty Unveils 'The Magic Starts With You' Campaign Featuring Selena Gomez and More Stars
US beauty retailer Ulta Beauty launched its 2026 year-end campaign, 'The Magic Starts With You.' The campaign features a host of stars from the fashion, music, sports, and pop culture sectors, along with founders of renowned beauty brands. Notably, it includes Selena Gomez, founder of Rare Beauty, and singer Tate McRae, who recently launched her fragrance line 'Tate 01,' drawing significant attention.
"The year-end is often about giving to others, but we also believe it's powerful to take time for yourself. This is the inspiration behind 'The Magic Starts With You' holiday campaign."
– Kelly Mahoney, Ulta Beauty Chief Marketing Officer
Kelly Mahoney, Ulta Beauty's Chief Marketing Officer, stated, "Following last year's successful campaign, this year we're bringing back Mrs. Claus to deliver the message that those who make the season magical deserve to experience that wonder themselves." She added, "With the support of incredible beauty entrepreneurs like Selena Gomez and Tate McRae, we are bringing this message to life in a way that celebrates beauty, self-expression, and the joy of treating yourself."
Beyond the core campaign, Ulta Beauty is leveraging widespread cultural moments through 'Pink Bag Energy,' a social media campaign centered around its signature pink bag. This campaign features social media stars Jack Innanen, Trisha Paytas, and Quenlin Blackwell, as well as actors Madeline Cline and Chris Briney, and models Elsa Hosk and Barbara Palvin, all posting paparazzi-style photos on Instagram featuring Ulta Beauty's pink holiday bag. The community of renowned brand founders, including rapper Ice Spice and actors Jennifer Aniston and Tracee Ellis Ross, also joined the campaign.
https://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/ulta-beauty-unveils-star-studded-2026-holiday-campaignConquering the Year-End Market with Celebrity Power and Storytelling
These year-end campaigns clearly demonstrate a strategy of actively leveraging celebrity influence to connect with consumers. The collaboration between Dazed US and Michael Kors focuses on enhancing the brand's practical value and intimacy through specific styling tips and personal year-end survival know-how from the Dazed US team members. This strategy goes beyond simply promoting products; it aims to gain consumer empathy by showcasing the lifestyles of industry insiders.
Ulta Beauty's 'The Magic Starts With You' campaign conveys a message that "encourages taking time for oneself and enjoying the magic of the festivities during the year-end." As Ulta Beauty's Chief Marketing Officer Kelly Mahoney mentioned, renowned beauty brand founders like Selena Gomez and Tate McRae strongly support the campaign's message of "beauty, self-expression, and the joy of treating oneself." In particular, social media-centric campaigns like 'Pink Bag Energy' utilize celebrities from various fields to turn Ulta Beauty's signature pink bag into viral content, encouraging consumers to directly participate and share, thereby maximizing its reach. This reflects a modern marketing trend that goes beyond mere product sales, sharing brand values and experiences through the influence of public figures.
Global Trend Watch for K-Beauty Fans
While Ulta Beauty is a US-based beauty retailer, these campaigns offer K-Beauty fans an exciting vantage point to observe global beauty and fashion trends. By analyzing how major international brands approach consumers with their messages and what star marketing strategies they employ, K-Beauty brands can gain insights to strengthen their competitiveness in the global market. As the year-end approaches, these global campaigns will provide significant inspiration for styling and beauty trends, helping you find items that highlight your unique charm.
