We write about hundreds of products a week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked out some of our favorites — expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and the very good deals we uncovered while trawling through the vast online-shopping universe this past week, including cupcake-scented deodorant, a Corrine Bailey Rae–approved turntable, and a wireless mesh bra that just may inspire a lingerie-drawer overhaul.
A turntable to take in your camper van …
Singer Corrine Bailey Rae’s favorite things include a spiky massage ball, Tata Harper moisturizer, and this Vestax turntable. Bailey Rae loves how a turntable “makes you slow down and contemplate the music. You listen to the whole side, then consciously have to turn it over.” She notes that vinyl provides a superior level of quality, going so far as to describe it as “the difference between organic and factory farmed.” This model from Vestax is portable and lightweight, making it ideal for travel. Bailey Rae says, “I’ve gone on camper-van and car trips and brought this with me. I always bring it with me on tour because I buy records on tour and just prefer the listening experience.”
… And a pocketknife to take on your camping trip
When we asked experts to share their favorite pocketknives, they recommended a wide range of tools that included fixed-blade knives, full-tang knives, and this folding pocketknife cleaver. Prepper and homesteader Morgan Rogue of Rogue Preparedness carries this locking blade, which has a unique shape that’s handy for both heavy-duty chopping and detailed work like whittling. Rogue says the thumbhole in the blade makes it quick and easy to open and close with one hand, while the textured handle makes it comfortable to use.
A statement scent deodorant
In this week’s “Don’t Dillydally,” we featured the new Sleeper bridal collection, the Goodhood x Dr. Martens collaboration, and this cupcake-scented deodorant from Native and Baked by Melissa. Native deodorant has a cult following, and we’ve featured it before as one of the best natural anti-perspirants. If you’re a fan of the bakery’s mini-cupcakes, you’ll (figuratively) eat up this body-wash and deodorant collaboration that comes in four limited-edition scents: tie-dye vanilla, peach, ginger lemonade, and mint cookie.
Your new favorite white tee …
Strategist writer Erin Schwartz is an expert on T-shirt fit, fabric, and cut. This week’s “Ask the Strategist” highlighted dupes for a no-longer-with-us Everlane tee. Among Schwartz’s recommendations were a Softfade raglan tee, a La Causa boxy tee, and this Kowtow oversize boxy tee. It’s made from organic cotton (like the discontinued Everlane tee) and has a similarly crisp silhouette. And as the name suggests, it’s got a slouchy shape and an exaggerated drop sleeve that make it easy to size down for the perfect oversize-but-not-swimming-in-it fit.
… And a barely there bra to go under it
Working from home prompted Strategist writer Chloe Anello to overhaul her lingerie collection to exclusively mesh bras. After testing loads since last summer, she wrote about her eight favorites, which included a Skims bralette and an Underbares mesh U bra. The one Anello recommended above all others was this Negative Underwear number made from a power-mesh fabric that ensures the wearer feels “supported but not flattened” and that “stretches just enough to provide full coverage.” This non-wired bra comes in sizes through DDD/G and is available in nine colors, including skin-tone options.
A carry-on bag to use over and over …
Personal carry-ons were the subject of this week’s “Ask a Cool Person,” and recommendations included the classic L.L.Bean tote, a Haerfest backpack, and this Dagne Dover carryall. Paper fashion editor Mario Abad swears by the brand’s functional neoprene bags. “They’re the best,” he says. “They’re really lightweight, and they’re made of this scuba material that looks sleek and modern and is nice to the touch.” They’re not just aesthetically pleasing, though. “You can fit a lot of stuff inside — it’s a minimal aesthetic, no busy details or anything, just all the compartments you need,” Abad says, adding that the bags are perfectly sized for all airline carry-on regulations.
… And a disposable mask you can recycle
If the wastefulness of disposable masks has been weighing on your conscience, consider this expert-recommended KN95 mask that comes with a prepaid return label so you can send it back to the company to be properly recycled. Kristy Drutman, host of the podcast Brown Girl Green, recommended these recyclable KN95 masks from Vida, the second-most-popular mask brand on the Strategist in 2020. These masks are manufactured in an FDA-registered facility and lab-tested for a filtration-efficiency rate of 95 to 99 percent.
Valentine’s Day flowers they can grow themselves
Flowers are a classic Valentine’s Day gift, but this Chalily Glass Bulb Vase is a DIY twist on a standard idea. This bulb vase was recommended by photographer Bobby Doherty and is praised by former Strategist writer Lauren Levy. The vessel is designed so you can add water to the spherical chamber, which is the perfect size for a bulb to soak up the water and bloom. If forcing bulbs is one of your winter traditions, consider gifting this vase with a paperwhite bulb. Levy says, “You can watch the whole stem grow into a flower and enjoy the circle of life asserting itself right before your very eyes.”
A planner to keep your resolutions on track
In our search for the best planners, we covered the popular Hobonichi Techo planner, Traveler’s vertical planner, and this Roterunner Purpose Planner. Author and time-management coach Elizabeth Grace Saunders says this one combines the scheduling elements you want in a regular planner with more introspective elements you might look for in a journal. “It goes beyond being a planner and is really a clarifying tool for understanding how you want to invest your time,” Saunders says of the dedicated spaces where you can write down your relationship-oriented goals according to different priorities, such as partner, employee, and friend.
A sleek turtleneck for layering
There is an overwhelming variety of options when it comes to black turtlenecks, so we jumped at the chance to ask stylish cool people about their favorites, which included a cashmere Brooks Brothers turtleneck, the cult-favorite J.Crew tissue turtleneck, and this Capezio bodysuit. Lady Grey Jewelry co-founder Jill Martinelli says this leotard is like “full upper-body Spanx” that she feels comfortable going braless in thanks to the wetsuitlike fit. Martinelli adds that there’s “a little slip to it, which makes it an incredible layering piece because it doesn’t rub or catch with other fabrics or look bulky — everything just glides over it.” In addition to black, this bodysuit comes in white, maroon, and navy.
The Strategist is 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 best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
