Ask Chris Black: What Are the Best Things You Bought in the 2010s?
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If you’re looking for the most powerfulhair dryeror the handiestchef’s knife, those things can be easy enough to find. Other objects of desire are a little more taste-based. What’s the next statuswater bottleorhand wash, for instance? Chris Black (he’s a partner at brand consultancyPublic Announcement) is here to help in the form ofa regular column. If you have a burning question about the next fanny pack or Noah rugby shirt, drop us an email with the subject line “Ask Chris” at strategist@nymag.com.
As we round the corner into 2020, I’m curious: what are thebest things—clothes,décor,gadgets— you bought in the last decade?
Look, the first half of this decade was … a littlehazyfor me, to say the least. BUT, I can list five products, across categories, that stood out to me assolid purchases.
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The onlyluggagethat matters. It looks great, holds more than you would think, and fits easily into theoverhead compartment.
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Lightweight, warm, water-resistant, packable. This versatilejacketcan be worn solo or layered, making it a must-have in any place or situation.
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So clean and minimal, it feels like thelightis floating in the air. When I got it, I had been searching for theperfect lampfor a long time — who knew said lamp has been around since 1998?!
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No logos, great fit, cheap enough to buy 20 newpairsa year. Perfection.
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I fly a lot (I know I sound like an asshole), and theKindlesaves me. I made a rule that on any flight under three hours, I willread. No laptop, no bad plane movie. The lack of Wi-Fi allows me to focus in a way I truly cannot at home, and the Kindle can hold as manybooksas my heart desires. It’s relatively cheap, too — you lose it, buy another one, sign in, and all yourbooksappear. Perfect!
I’m looking for a reasonably attractive yet functionalbag to carry around a DSLR cameraand a few small accessories. I’m not trying to look like a professionalphotographer, nor an excitable tourist going on safari. Any ideas?
Most camera bags are hideous, sadly putting function over style. As an amateur shutterbug, myContax T2doesn’t need that much protection. But a DSLR requires a bit more, especially whentraveling.
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I love the look ofBritishbrand Billingham’s bags. Its Hadley Pro bag would seemingly work well for your needs. Much like a Leicacamera, the brand Billingham is favored by wealthy hobbyists, but its stuff looks great and will protect yourgear. And, who knows, maybe that is the vibe you are going for!
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When I asked my dear friend, the acclaimed shutterbugEric Chakeen, he suggested Domke. He prefers the F-2 style, which he says is hard-wearing. Stylistically, it’s a little more mellow than the Billingham bag, so real heads might appreciate this choice. Go forth and get the flicks, my friend!
Given yourstrong opinions on music, I assume you must have equally strong opinions on what you use to listen to it. So: what sorts ofheadphones,speakers,turntables, etc. do you use?
TBH … I don’t care at all. I listen to compressed MP3s like the rest of our doomed society.Vinylis a bit laborious for me at my advanced age; plus, I chose to fetishizebooks. But, as a person who loves beautiful and functional things, I can make some recommendations.
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At home, I use Sonos. I don’t love its interface (it’suglylike Spotify), but the price and sound are right. If you live in a properhome, it’s nice to have multiplespeakersthroughout the house, and you can use them together or separately, so your son can listen to 100 Gecs in the privacy of his room while you listen to the new John Coltrane in the kitchen.
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On theplane, I use theBoseQuietComfort 35 wireless headphones in a simple all-black. Yes, I look like a consultant from Accenture schlepping to Boston, but they are the best product in their category for the price: the original, chic, over-earheadphone. They come with a case and really do block out the sound of the person next to me ugly crying toLove, Actually. As an alternative, I also like theMW65 from Master & Dynamic— they aren’t over-designed, and the sound is incredible.
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I am a monster and pre-ordered theApple AirPodsPro, but after using them for a bit, I am genuinely on the fence. Thenoise-cancelingfeature is too extreme for daily use (it might have given me vertigo?), but they sound good after some adjusting, andstay in my eara bit better than the original version.
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I can’t believe I am saying this, but for thegym, I want to try the Powerbeats Pro headphones. They don’t look cool, but they apparentlystay secure when sweatingprofusely. I need my music loud and bassy whenworking out, and these seem like they’ll do the trick.
The Strategistis 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 bestacne treatments,rolling luggage,pillows for side sleepers,natural anxiety remedies, andbath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
