The Strategist Haul: What the Editors Bought in July

I got married earlier this month (!), and about a day before we headed up to New Hampshire for our wedding, it occurred to me that I would probably want a layer to wear if the hotel air-conditioning was too cold. It came to me like a vision: An ivory cashmere Bloomingdale’s house-brand cardigan was the only thing that would do. And so, I bought this one and ended up wearing it every day of our wedding weekend.

And a honeymoon-related purchase: these extremely soft and flattering Leset pants. I’m planning to wear them during our flight to Vienna and anytime I want to throw on something loungy during the trip.

Last month, I interviewedChace Crawford, who told me he always puts Wonderful Pistachios in his bag while traveling. I’ve flown to and from Chicago (where my family lives) a couple times this month and have traded Wonderful Pistachios for the unhealthy snack I usually pick up at the airport. While I’ve tried a few flavors so far — Jalapeño Lime and Smoky Barbecue included — the Roasted & Salted are my favorite.

I don’t usually buy clothing from random brands on Amazon, but four days of staring at Amazon Prime Day prices (and an endorsement fromthe most popular girl in Soho) convinced me I should buy this polka-dot tube top. I haven’t worn a tube top since I was in high school, but it has come in handy whenever I’m looking for something cute to wear out and about.

The box of Chomps in my pantry has been the perfect protein supplement for my summer of no-cook cold meals. These grass-fed sticks are made entirely of recognizable ingredients I’d use in my own kitchen and are a bit less greasy than the original Slim Jims. The new Smoky BBQ Beef flavor has been a hit among my entire household and our guests. They’ve been perfect for supplementing my lunch salads and, unlike protein shakes and trendy whey-infused snacks, actually satiate my hunger.

The idea of wearing 14.5-ounce selvedge denim in the summer sounds crazy, but 3Sixteen’s custom-developed Japanese denim makes it okay. The interior face has a chamoislike softness that feels immediately comfortable, while the stiff yet breathable face takes its time breaking in. The light wash and vintage fade repel sun and heat, keeping my legs at a reasonable temperature. I’m on the record as a“regular fit” enjoyer, and 3Sixteen’s new relaxed cut is exactly what I look for in a nice pair of jeans: high rise, a touch of room through the seat and thigh, and a subtle taper to a slightly fitted ankle. They’re the perfect transitional jeans to take you from late summer into fall and beyond.

I was tired of getting on my hands and knees to clean up my kids’ after-dinner mess off the floor each night and needed a more sustainable option. Wet Swiffers never worked to my satisfaction, and an old steam mop I had felt like overkill, but then Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone told me about this spray mop from Bona that her floor installers recommended to her. The broad mop head covers a lot of ground, literally, and the washable microfiber cleaning pad actually stays on (via Velcro — genius!). It also cleans like a dream. Washing my kitchen floors every (other) night no longer feels like a chore.

After months of cursing my (very old) faulty refrigerator — the upper fridge part kept freezing — I finally got a new one. I’m not exaggerating when I say it has changed my life. My parents and Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio all recently purchased LG fridges and recommended them enthusiastically. I wanted something that maximized interior space, which meant no external water and ice dispenser or tertiary third drawer (even though I considered it), so I chose this no-frills counter-depth one. It’s incredible how much this thing holds. With my previous fridge, putting everything away after grocery shopping felt like a game of Tetris. Now, entire stockpots go in no problem with extra space to spare.

In the midst of growing out my bob over the past year, I realized I had probably fewer than ten hair ties — a few I had hung onto from before my big chop and the rest were collected by “borrowing” them from friends. I knew it was time to invest in some proper hair ties and came across these from Gimme Beauty. They’re less rubber-band-y and more like a circle of stretchy fabric, meaning they don’t pull on my hair nearly as much as the classic types. I have fine, wavy hair that’s very prone to tangling, and these have been working really well to hold my hair up without any discomfort. I also picked up some of the little “braid ends” bands to hopefully replace the tiny elastic bands I’ve been working through the past few years, since those are essentially single use.

I had my bachelorette party last weekend at Rockaway Beach, where I finally fulfilled my dream of learning how to surf. I wanted to get something cute to surf in (and to wear to avoid getting tan lines ahead of my wedding day), and my wishes were answered when deputy editor Simone Kitchens rounded up her favorite rash-guard brands inThe Secret Strategista few weeks ago. I fell in love with this very Limited Two–looking one fromSeea. It didn’t exactly keep me warm in the water, but it did the trick. I can’t wait to get back on the water, so next time I’ll get a surf suit.

Isabella Vrana sits alongsideOffkut Studio,Susamusa, andPeachy Denas one of my favorite small British fashion brands. I’ve had my eye on this hooked top since the designer first dropped it in the spring — it completely unhooks along the neckline, meaning there are dozens of ways that you can style it: off the shoulder, halter neck, bandeau. It reminds me of a vintage Plein Sud piece, only slinkier — and, dare I say, more flattering.

I also got this dress, which is a perfect fit for an upcoming girls’ trip to Marbella, Spain. Thanks to the flowy slitted skirt piece, the butterfly pattern flutters like wings as you walk. You can also alter the halter straps to avoid the neckline being too daringly low cut (although on a girls’ trip, I’m not sure such a limit exists). I’m really enjoying strikingly patterned pieces at the moment, so I’ve also got my eye on theco-ord sets from Feners.

We visited friends in San Francisco earlier this month, and I got their 2-year-old this play set, which was a big hit.

Probably one of the most exciting discoveries for me fromPlastic-Free Kitchen Weekwere thesemicrowavable stainless-steel food containers.

I’m incredibly loyal to these NYX brow pencils — I’ve been using them since high school. My preferred shade is taupe, which apparently is everyone’s preferred shade, because it’s always a crap shoot as to whether or not it will be available whenever I walk into a Target or CVS. So when I recently encountered a loaded shelf, it was a no-brainer for me to stock up.

I have a stash of vintage postcards that I’ve been meaning to frame and hang, so I swiped some cheap frames off Facebook Marketplace and ordered postcard-size mats from this Etsy store. It’s hardly the sexiest purchase, but certainly much more economical than a professional job.

While shopping on vacation, I stumbled upon this espadrilles shop in Barcelona, where I snagged this pair for only 27 euros. They are marked up on the website but still half of what you would pay for a pair of Castañers.

Editor’s note: La Manual lists all prices in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion to U.S. dollars.

I decided to finally do something about the fruit-fly situation in my apartment, so I picked up this bug trap that I’d gotten ads for and seen around friends’ apartments (Strategist deals editorSam Dalyhas also tested it). It uses a blue UV light that doubles as a nightlight — so you can leave it plugged in 24/7, which the company recommends — and has a sticky back that bugs will get stuck on, just like flypaper. After leaving it plugged in for a week and a half, I’ve caught exactly 13 bugs (yes, I counted). I plan to stock up on more of the adhesive inserts and will be using the trap for the rest of the summer.

Did I only buy this for the mini-hairbrush? Well, yes! I could never justify buying thefull-size version, which is $98, but I needed a travel-size brush to throw in my bag, and this fit the bill. The milky-green color is pretty, too. This was the only hairbrush I brought on a recent four-day trip to Los Angeles — I flewpersonal-item-only— and it served me well. I didn’t know this at the time, but it also turned out to be a great deal, because Crown Affair isselling the same brush(minus the extras from the Sephora set) on its site for $48. The bargain hunter in me is proud.

I bought myfirst pair of Z-Coilsused on eBay for $62 about two years ago. Since then, I’ve worn them pretty much constantly on warm days, and they’ve taken a commensurate beating. Although I stand by their comfiness, by this June, they had a distinct old-running-shoe feeling underfoot. I took the leap and bought a pair new, and it feels like hopping into a brand-new car after your 1998 Honda Accord goes off to the junkyard. I get questions about them constantly and am glad to be back to saying that they’re the comfiest shoes ever. (As someone on the subway said recently, “Like a cloud.”)

I have a little home office for the first time in my life, and I have been incredibly delinquent in getting it organized. The problem comes from collections of miscellaneous stuff — art supplies, fabric scraps, wrapping paper and ribbons, various knickknacks and papers — that evade attempts at organization. I looked at apothecary cabinets, flat files, and card catalogues, but it seemed like there wasn’t a piece of furniture with drawers sized to store filesandceramicsandrhinestones/rhinestone glueandcork samples. Nothing fit the bill until I came across a tansu chest. It’s a Japanese style of iron-bound cabinetry characterized by drawers of different sizes. (Files can go in a big one; rhinestones in a small one.) I bought one for $300 via the New York auction house Capsule and picked it up from its showroom in Chelsea.

I finally bought my first endurance road bike after years of dabbling in cycling (I’m a lifelong runner). To go with my new Cannondale, I purchased a new helmet. It has a durable polycarbonate shell and tons of ventilation, which has been ideal for this very muggy (and sadly smoky) Canadian summer. I love that there’s a perfectly sized opening above the adjustment dial where my ponytail can fit comfortably.

I also just ordered these “short” (a.k.a. shorter-leg-length) bib shorts since I’m already starting to get terrible tan lines just above my knees. MAAP is an Australian cycling-apparel brand that I only recently discovered, but its kits seem to be among the trendiest and highest-quality options on the market. If it means less bum pain too, I’m in.

I first spotted this tank on my cousin at the start of the month while out dancing, and then later nabbed it on a whim at Skims’s Fifth Avenue flagship. I’m sorry to admit that it’s worth every dollar of my impulse buy, and that maybe Kimdoesknow what she’s doing. There’s just something about it: From itsÜber-flattering yet minimal scoop-neck-and-back cut, which clings to all the right places, to an opacity that perfectly toes the line between cheeky and blurring, this tank has quickly become a staple in my summer-top rotation, both on its own and for layering.

I simply can’t resist a French body oil in a glass vessel. After having my eye on this one for months, I decided to pull the trigger while in Paris on a layover. Besides the fact that it was $20 cheaper at a pharmacy there, it’s been a godsend in reviving my parched and slightly sunburned skin. The oil absorbs quickly after a shower, leaving me supple to the touch, with just the slightest sheen. The fig-leaf scent is subtle enough to be layered with other products and never overpoweringly sweet (it’s slightly earthy, actually). Plus, I can use it on my hair in a pinch.