Summer-Heat-Wave Dresses, Brooke Shields’s Puzzle Obsession, and Other Recent Strategist Finds
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An all-over-the-place assortment of stood-behind products culled from this very website that appears in the most recent August issue of New York Magazine.
Celebrity Shopping
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“My version of meditation is doing puzzles, and Liberty Puzzles are beautiful. They have Audubon prints, and they’re all wood so the pieces fit together well. I’ve never been one to frame a puzzle, but these are framable.”
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“There’s a very pretty pale-iris-colored liquid in this beautiful bottle, and it smells delicious. My favorite flowers are lilacs and irises and things that last for a really short period. It’s a very simple smell — clean and obviously floral but not sugary at all. It’s sort of musky. I tend to change my perfume quite a lot, depending on my mood, but I’ve always loved this one.”
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“I’ve been using this fan to keep cool. It’s strong; it feels like you’re in front of an air conditioner. I also like to have it on my vanity, on a lower setting, when I’m applying setting spray and want everything to dry quickly. It has been a lifesaver.”
This Thing’s Incredible
I first became aware of the hori hori knife — a true marvel of Japanese ingenuity that dates back centuries — on a trip to Home Depot, where it’s labeled a “Multi-Function Stainless Steel Garden Knife.” But it is much more elegant and useful than other garden tools. Designed to harvest root vegetables and bonsai trees, it can cut through dead stalks, roots, and mulch bags like butter. I now use this knife for scooping, digging, cutting, seeding, and sawing. I pretty much never put it down while I’m working in the yard, which brings me a level of efficiency I didn’t know was possible. — Alison Freer
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These are my main source of backyar dlighting, and they have lasted through three years of beating sun, strong winds, pouring rain, and even some snow. I’ve had to replace one only once, after a squirrel chewed through the wire.
Painless Shopping
Strategist writers opine about the versatile and billowy pairs they’ve worn all summer.
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“I was shocked by how soft and breathable these are,” says contributor Jordan Page. “I could see them paired with a crisp white Polo Ralph Lauren oxford shirt, ribbed dress socks, and a pair of black loafers.”
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For contributor Diksha Basu, this pair of Target shorts worked well for just about everything, from getting lunch with friends to picking her kids up from camp to ordering a spritz at the bar.
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Staffer Erin Schwartz says zoomers are wearing Bermuda-length denim, like this pair of hard-twist black jorts, that sit low on the hips and are baggy enough to fit a second set of legs.
Strategist Explains
Suitcase pricing generally comes down to materials more than brand status. A $300 hard suitcase will be constructed from thick, durable polycarbonate rather than cheaper plastic that can crack when dropped at the wrong angle. It will also have a metal handle that moves smoothly and locks into place at several different lengths — rather than a wobbly plasticky one that merely extends and retracts. And you know how the back of a cheap suitcase’s handle sometimes seems to take up half the packing space? Pricier suitcases usually have more sophisticated internal layouts with expanding pockets, compression straps, and laundry bags. Finally, the price reflects the warranty: A suitcase in the $300-plus range should come with a guarantee that its parts will be repaired or replaced for at least five years. One of our favorite luggage brands, Away, comes with a lifetime warranty. Cheaper suitcases usually aren’t covered for any damage. — Katherine Gillespie
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Away the Bigger Carry-on
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Strategist Brain
A week of window-shopping Vienna’s old-school stores. — Hilary Reid
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These cotton pajamas with hand-rolled piping are exquisite.
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These “dressers” printed with carousels and castles are filled with precious-looking chocolates and marzipan candies.
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This handblown piece comes in a range of gorgeous colors, including this green.
Strategist Hunt
There comes a point in the humid-weather cycle when I can only stand to be covered by a single swath of floaty fabric. After testing out 30 dresses, these three are my favorites. — Talia Mayden
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The silk-cotton blend doesn’t require dry cleaning, and the shape looks like something you’d find at a luxury vintage shop. The opacity, however, is borderline: You can get away with no bra, but the bottom half is a little mischievous. Do with that information what you will!
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Rachel Comey Sted Dress
This one was an investment, but I’ve never regretted adding a Rachel Comey piece to my closet. I wore it to a rehearsal dinner on a steamy Brooklyn night. It hangs perfectly, touching me only at my shoulders and just barely.
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This is my Platonic ideal of a dress. The cotton poplin is cooling to the touch, the armpits are cut low, and it swishes nicely while being totally opaque. A bead of sweat could form at the nape of my neck, drip down my back, and land on the ground without touching the dress once.
More From The Strategist
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- Hark, the Advent Calendars Arrived (Very) Early This Year
- 63 Things You Should Never Buy Full Price
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
