Why No Matter How Hard You Try, You Just Can’t Get Enough—And How to Break Free Starting Today
Ever found yourself scrolling through endless feeds, caught in a whirlwind of obsessions—from global pop icons like Beyoncé and Rihanna to the tiniest microtrends that seem to sprout overnight? Welcome to an age where being obsessed isn’t just normal, it’s practically an art form. We’re swimming in a vast sea of data streams that nourish every quirky passion and niche fancy imaginable. Sure, some rabbit holes lead to dark, murky waters—but there’s genuine magic in cultivating the kinds of obsessions that uplift us, that fuel creativity, purpose, and joy when life’s uncertainty feels overwhelming. This season, we’re spotlighting the radiantly captivating Mona Tougaard, a supermodel whose multicultural roots and runway prowess make her the perfect muse for the fall’s most coveted looks. From a bold candy-apple-red bomber jacket to the plushest coats that scream autumnal luxury, Mona embodies the thrilling hunt for those pieces that make us fall head over heels—over and over again. Ready to dive deep into stylish fixations that redefine obsession?
It’s a good time to be obsessed. We are increasingly submerged in a vast web of data streams that feed our passions, enthusiasms, and desires. Our cultural obsessions—Beyoncé, Rihanna, Taylor, whatever is trending on TikTok—have never been bigger, but the same infrastructure also supports our smallest ones; this is the era of the überniche, the microtrend.
Of course, some rabbit holes can lead to dark places. But there is something life-affirming about the idea of nurturing the healthiest forms of obsession—with an important cause or a creative project, with an object or an idea, with a practice or a pursuit. At a time when life feels so insurmountably uncertain, obsessions allow us to get lost in the details that give meaning to who we are—and maybe even bring us a little bit of joy along the way.
In the spirit of honoring these positive fixations, Bazaar’s cover story features one of today’s most obsessed-over supermodels, Mona Tougaard, showcasing the fall looks that we’ve been obsessing over since we first saw them. Born in Denmark to a Somali-Ethiopian mother and a half-Turkish, half-Danish father, Tougaard made her debut on the Prada runway in 2019 and has since walked in shows for nearly every major brand. Below, she shows how to wear some of the hottest items of the season, including the candy-apple-red bomber jacket that Michael Rider designed for his Celine debut, the ornately baggy men’s cargo shorts from Jonathan Anderson’s debut at Dior, and the most sumptuous fall coats from Altuzarra, Valentino, Phoebe Philo, and many more.
This story appears in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar.
Hair: Jimmy Paul; makeup: Sam Visser for YSL Beauty; manicure: Gina Edwards for Chanel Le Vernis; casting: Anita Bitton at the Establishment; production: Day Int.; set design: Caz Slattery
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