fugly week

All the Best Fugly Things We’ve Already Praised on the Strategist

There are certain things in life that are so ugly they’re beautiful, or so ugly they’re cute. (The French call it jolie laide; the Japanese, busakawa.) Think of bulldogs, bumpy noses — or Birkenstocks. This week, we’re celebrating the faces that only a mother could love. Welcome to Fugly Week on the Strategist.

If you’ve read the Strategist, you know that we’re no stranger to things that work great but don’t look so hot. To help you find all the fugly things we’ve already discovered, we’ve compiled this list of all the not-aesthetic-but-still-effective things we’ve already written about on the Strategist. Find items for your feet, your bathroom, and more below.

The most comfortable travel shoe for women verges on orthopedic and looks unlike anything else out there.

The “ugly pants” that started it all — love ‘em or hate ‘em (or hate to love ‘em), these are here to stay.

The wildly popular $100 grandma sandals that (unlike Birkenstocks) every cool, arty girl will be asking you about.

Anyone who’s used a Squatty Potty will tell you — it’s a total bathroom game changer.

Nobody said these ankle weights were cute, but they are sure as heck effective on your butt.

It’s an actually-flattering and very comfortable adult onesie that’s perfect for lounging around the house.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendor. Getty Images

Stick a razor into this strange plastic wand and you’ll have the perfect tool for shaving your own back.

These undergarments are treading into old-lady territory, but they’ll shape you comfortably in a way that Spanx never could.

Shaving off your stubborn calluses with this potato-peeler-like rasp will be oddly satisfying.

There’s no better tool for washing your delicates by hand than this strange-looking Japanese washbasin.

Extracting long hairs from your bathroom drain can be a (pricey) pain — prevent the problem with this weird plastic mushroom.

It’s not the world’s most intuitive thing, but a few minutes in this kneeling chair will save your creaky back.

Photo: Russ Aquarius/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Bored? Bust out a Chinese hacky sack and you’ll never want for entertainment.

From $47

This may just be the world’s fastest — if ugliest — baby-bottle warmer.

Perhaps the only thing that will get your baby to fall asleep at night, the weighted onesie is nothing short of a miracle.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.

All the Best Fugly Things From the Strategist