On My Mind: Tank Air Tank Tops and Crime Novels
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
“Strategist Brain” is a series in which 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.
With summer on the brain (and everywhere else; it’s stupidly hot), I can’t stop noticing the dresses people are wearing and the sandals they’re strapping on. It’s a no-toe summer, apparently, but I’m seeing a lot of naked feet, so I’m not sure if it’s an observation or a preference. What is absolutely bubbling up, though, are those five-finger toe shoes I used to think of as freak fare, the kind of thing high-school me was mortified by (mind you, I was wearing Capri-length leggings and ankle-high UGG boots). But now, the coolest women I know are treating the earth like their personal grounding mat, wearing barely-there shoes, soles practically scraping the ground. Personally, I’ve been looking for something strappy or maybe even with a wedge. I keep playing with the idea of an expensive leather flip-flop, but I can’t justify it, knowing that I’ll immediately regret spending over $100 on scraps of leather fabric and a flat surface. Instead, I bought these cheap lace-up sandals from ASOS, which do the job and won’t upset me when they inevitably fall apart.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
In addition to sandal-hunting, I also bought some new releases, like S.A. Cosby’sKing of Ashes, which follows a son returning home to settle a debt. I was young when my uncle Kenny introduced me to Walter Mosley, a crime-fiction titan, and while I don’t read much of the genre, S.A. Cosby exists in the same tradition and is excellent at writing compelling stories with a tight plot and big characters.
New! You can now save this product for later.
I’ve also been Capri-pilled. I bought two pairs from Free People, and I’m considering buying a third. They go well with everything, and I’ve been enjoying pairing them with tie-up heels and boots.
New! You can now save this product for later.
I drove up to Warwick for a private candle-making class at Scripted Fragrance a few weeks ago and have been burning the brand’s candle Brilliant Fire ever since.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The person who benefits most from my perfume mailers is my wife, who often cycles through different scents, cocktailing things that I normally wouldn’t pair. She just goes with it in a way I wouldn’t, but recently she has locked in to one scent: Outer Realm by Rite of Way, which has notes of citron, juniper, bergamot, saffron, incense, pepper, cedarwood, lotus flower, and amber. If it sounds like a lot of notes, it’s because it is. It’s a deliciously complex scent that I physically react to every time I sniff it. I love it more now that it’s always on her skin.
Other things I’m seeing …
New! You can now save this product for later.
I’ve always loved a tank top with a built-in bra, so it has taken everything in me not to buy a $75 tank top that seems to hit all the right notes. Everyone looks great in it, and it seems to hold up for bigger chest sizes, which is my top priority.
New! You can now save this product for later.
I’ve been looking for dupes and spiritually similar options, which has led me back to the promised land, Old Navy. This one from its StudioSmooth collection seems like it may have some promise …
New! You can now save this product for later.
… As does this one from Abercrombie & Fitch.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Strategist contributor and writer of thePrimary Schoolnewsletter,Mya Gelber, recently posted these on her Story, and I’ve been eyeing them since. Many years ago, I modeled for Man Repeller (RIP), and one of the looks included these seafoam-green Tibi heels. These are not at all similar (besides the heel height) but light up the same part of my brain.
I’m always looking for an interesting dress and noticed that Desigual is doing cool things. I’ve seen lots of similar-looking graphic polyester dresses in the $200-and-up range and like that these tend to be less than $150 and often on sale.
More From The Strategist
- The Back-to-School Hall of Fame
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- Everything You Need to Outfit Your College Dorm
- The Strategist Summer 100
The Strategistis 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 abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
