On My Mind: Puma Speedcats and Georgian Mourning Rings
“Strategist Brain” is a series where staffers share the stores they’ve stopped into, stuff they’ve spotted, and extra tidbits from stories they’ve worked on. You’ll hear from a different writer every week.
Have you ever looked at the hangers in your closet and thought, Something’s missing? That happened to me not too long ago. After a big closet clean-out, I realized I was a little too ruthless with the pants — so for a few weeks, I went on a pants-buying spree. It wasn’t an exhaustive hunt, admittedly. Still, I probably tried on more pants than I have in months. Most of what I ordered I returned: Anthropolgie’s Izzie was too long in the crotch, while the inseam on the regular-length Colette was short enough that I wouldn’t need to get them hemmed (meaning the petite version that I also ordered would go back). By far, the best pants came from Banana Republic. Specifically, the All Day pant. They fit perfectly everywhere. They paid for themselves five times over with how much I wear them.
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Banana Republic All Day Pant
Here’s everything else I’ve seen recently …
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This is the year I’ll get a planner. (I say this to myself every year.) I might mean it this time. I’m out of John Derian notebooks and thinking about getting the Astier de Villatte x Catbird agenda. I like that it’s not lined or gridded or dotted. There’s just a column for every day. Plus, each week includes a made-up day, like Pudding Day.
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I can’t say there are many sweatpants that don’t look like sweatpants on the market. These are an exception. They’ve even been mistaken for pants-pants.
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I could forget I am having a bad hair day if I had this “fur” scrunchie (that’s actually knitted baby alpaca wool). It reminds me of a pom-pom. It would be cheery at the end of a sleeve in lieu of a hair tie.
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I don’t need another coat. That doesn’t mean I can’t look at other coats. This one’s an open tab — for now.
Editor’s note: The company lists prices in euros, so this is an approximation to dollars.
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Until he quit cold turkey around 30 years ago, my dad was a chain-smoker. I learned about Marlboro Miles from him. You collected “miles” on cartons of Marlboros for “Adventure Team”–branded merchandise: Swiss army knives, all-weather lighters. (Apparently, he knew a guy who got a pool table.) He let me take an old backpack that was in the basement. It’s better than a Jansport. There are a lot of them going for less than $50 on eBay.
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Gucci Silk Scarf
A handful of silk scarves from Dior, Ferragamo, Cartier, Celine, and Gucci landed at Front General Store. Some sold out quickly. Surprisingly, not this one. It looks inspired by the chairs in a Medici villa. A similar scarf is on sale for $294, so $148 feels like a steal.
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Are there cheaper primers? Absolutely. But there’s a lot going for this one. It’s oil controlling. It’s formulated with AHAs and BHAs for your pores. (Plus, it says Prada on the tube.) In less than a week, Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone complimented my skin twice over Google Meet.
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It was my best friend’s birthday last month and I wondered what I should get her for weeks. (January is the worst month for a birthday, between everyone either doing a “no-buy” or going “dry” and the holidays being over.) I went for a few little luxuries, like this lip balm from Officine Universelle Buly. It’s the fanciest ChapStick. Her chapped lips thanked me, so she said.
Editor’s note: The company lists prices in euros, so this is an approximation to dollars.
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Next year is a milestone birthday for me (I should start using an eye cream), and if money were no object, I’d get myself something from Prounis. Every piece Jean Prounis makes seems like an ancient relic (see this trium of turquoise or tourmaline tear). These earrings are made from 22-karat gold, mango moonstones, and black-knot diamonds.
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After getting a Georgian mourning ring, I fell down a rabbit hole looking at others. Some of the more haunting: one that says “Be ye also ready” and another with a miniature of an urn surrounded by a weeping willow. They’re creepy!
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I wasn’t entirely convinced by Tory Burch’s Pierced mules. They look a bit uncomfortable. But I could be convinced about the new Pierced slides. I think the toe ring makes more sense on a sandal.
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.
