We write about hundreds of products a week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked some of our recent favorites — expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and very good deals we uncovered while trawling through the vast online-shopping universe, including a sitewide sale at Everlane, panettone from a legendary Milanese restaurant, and Mary-Kate Olsen’s sandals.
A hands-free wallet for summer jaunts …
If you’re a runner, this belt is actually designed for you. And if you’re not, well, this incredibly inexpensive fanny pack — or “waist pack,” as Strategist contributor Diksha Basu calls it — is the ideal hands-free wallet for this summer. Basu says she invested in the wearable wallet after “years of envying people who could leave the house with their hands free, basic necessities stuffed into pockets,” and it’s big enough to fit her phone, a few cards, headphones, Chapstick, and keys.
… and a weekend bag that doubles as a backpack
Approved by multiple Strategist editors, this soft-sided duffel is our pick for the best overall weekend bag. Whether you’re going on an overnight trip in the woods or just trying to sprint through lines at the airport, you can drop the cushioned sling strap for padded backpack straps and throw it over your back, which is associate editor Louis Cheslaw’s favorite way to carry it.
A (surprisingly stylish) rain poncho
This isn’t the rain poncho you’d get at Niagara Falls — but it is our pick for weathering a torrential downpour. It’s free of zippers and other points of entry where water might reach your clothes. And unlike Batman’s cape, the cut of this cape is an A-line shape to increase mobility, which has made it a favorite of stylists Neelo Noory, Courtney Madison, Leah Adicoff, and style writer Jessica Schiffer.
A skyscraper-inspired bed frame
Though metal bed frames can look and feel heavy, this one from Anthropologie makes use of timeless Art Deco design for a look that’s more architectural. Aimee Martinelli, a designer at Modsy, is drawn to the “subtle gold details, which really make this bed special.” Plus it doesn’t require a box spring, so once you’ve found the perfect mattress, you’ll be ready to snooze in style.
A relaxed silk shirt at a relaxed price
This week, Everlane launched a sitewide “Summer Style Event,” where you can take 20 percent off orders of $150 or more and 30 percent off when you spend $250 or more. The discount is valid with any combination of products, so you can check out our guide to shopping at Everlane for some inspiration — or start with this Equipment-esque silk blouse and hit that minimum spend right off the bat. (But don’t dillydally: This deal ends today.)
“No more than three” Sant Ambreous panettones
In the latest installment of our Assistant Diaries, we heard from “Leah,” who previously worked as an executive assistant to one of the most powerful and recognizable fashion-magazine editors working today. And each holiday season, Leah would gift “no more than three panettone” from Sant Ambreous, the legendary (and very pink) Milanese restaurant in New York City. Apparently the Sant Ambroeus’s Madison Avenue location was also a popular spot for the editor’s “power breakfasts,” which often included other industry contacts (and always had a definite agenda).
Mary-Kate Olsen’s sandals for long weekends in Maine
Samantha Adler has been traveling to the Mid-Coast in Maine since elementary school, and over 20 trips later, she’s perfected the itinerary — including illicit swims along Route 52, lobster rolls lunches, and a mandatory trip to vintage home-goods heaven. Adler has also got the packing list down, and these Tevas (that she bought because she saw a photo of Mary-Kate Olsen wearing them) are a must-have: “My friends all bought them too (team-uniform style). This will be my third summer with them and they’re still in perfect condition. They’re waterproof and comfortable enough to hike in, and they’re great in the city too.”
A last-minute — but still very thoughtful — Father’s Day gift
Today is Father’s Day, and if you failed to find something for your dad or grandfather, a gift card might be your last chance to redeem yourself. Support indie bookstores and order this one from Bookshop for his voracious reading habit, whether he’s into history, a sports memoir, or a graphic novel. (Best of all: It’ll land straight in his email inbox, so you can still get it to him before the day’s over.)
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 acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
