We write about hundreds of products each week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked some of our recent favorites: expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and very good deals we uncovered while trawling through the vast online-shopping universe — including the jeans spotted on Representative-Elect Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Hilary Swank’s favorite hiking boots, and a gift for die-hard Beyoncé fans.
Figure-skating tights for wearing skirts in winter without freezing
Despite her northern English roots, Strategist writer Rachael Griffiths says she stopped wearing many of her favorite outfits during colder seasons — until she found a way to winterize them with figure-skating tights. “They feel like at least a 100-denier pair — silky when rubbed between your fingers but super-stretchy, so you can move around,” she says. Plus, they’re thinner than any thermal or fleece-lined options. To better hide the figure-skating tights because they don’t match her skin tone, Griffiths layers regular black tights over top to make them imperceptible, she says.
The workwear jeans worn by Representative-Elect Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo recently spotted a campaign photo of Marie Gluesenkamp Pere, the newly elected Democratic representative from Washington State’s Third District, and quickly identified her jeans. “My editor and I recognized them immediately as Rudy Jude Utility Jeans from the fit, the placement of the patches, and the way the patches have a small opening at the bottom that allows for padding to be inserted should you be kneeling a lot to do masonry or auto-repair work,” Corsillo says. Because the Maine-based brand sells them on a preorder-only basis and rarely has extra stock available, they can be difficult to score, so Corsillo recommends these look-alike Madewell jeans that are similarly workwear-inspired and made from 100 percent non-stretch denim.
A celebrity TikToker’s preferred ring light
For our Assistant Files series, we spoke to Stephanie, who worked as the assistant to an L.A.-based celebrity TikToker during the content-creator-house craze of 2020. Her boss kept multiples of this ring light — which he preferred over other models because of the size and brightness of the LED — scattered throughout the mansion. They would even be used as production lights, Stephanie says.
Ty Hunter’s device for strengthening respiratory muscles
When we spoke to celebrity stylist Ty Hunter about the things he can’t live without, he mentioned this device, which is used by singers to strengthen their lungs and in turn reduce shortness of breath. After purchasing one for a friend, Hunter bought one for himself and says it has also worked to improve his anxiety. “It has settings from one to six, and you start at level one and work your way up, and you just inhale, exhale — that’s it, inhale, exhale,” he says. “I will do the commercial for them because it has changed my life tremendously.”
A hefty quilt that’s so soft it feels “almost secondhand” (but isn’t)
When searching for a throw blanket for her bed, Strategist contributor Jennifer Ruth Keller stumbled upon this linen-blend quilt with a soft, cotton-sateen finish and 100 percent cotton fill — with the added bonus of being machine-washable, a necessary feature when living with a toddler daughter. “The heft and solidity are just right, too — when I’m under the blanket, my body feels secure, but it’s still light enough that my daughter can join me without feeling squashed,” Keller says.
Matching PJs for the family with lots of holiday spirit
To kick off wintertime festivities, we found the best matching holiday pajamas for every type of family, including these long-sleeved pajamas from a limited-edition collaboration between Target and artist Alice Butts. They feature the printed message “Black Joy Every Season,” and sizing is also available for men, children, and infants — and there’s even a matching bandana for your dog.
The heavenly nut butter beloved by LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes describes this pecan butter as a dessert that tastes like heaven. “I literally will just eat a spoonful of it straight out of the jar, but I also put it on paleo bread. I love any nut butter; it’s a huge part of my diet,” she says. Last year when it sold out, Rimes says she obsessively checked the brand’s site to find out where they were releasing more so she could buy a whole case.
The braiser that made it onto Golde co-founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford’s wedding registry
In our latest installment of Steal My Registry, we spoke to Golde co-founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford about the things she added to her list, which include a baby rocker that looks like a designy piece of furniture and this braising pan that Mouzon calls an “essential” for meat eaters. “The glass lid it comes with really keeps all of the moisture in,” Mouzon says. “So whenever we’re looking to cook a meal that’ll last us a few days, like several chicken thighs or a big thing of veggies, the braiser comes out.”
Hilary Swank’s cloud-like hiking boots
Hilary Swank’s list of favorite things includes these all-terrain hiking boots. As an outdoorsy person based in Colorado, Swank says she needs footwear that can go the distance. “Once I put these on, I was like, ‘Holy moly, I’m in.’ They couldn’t have said it better: These are literally like you’re walking on a cloud,” she says, adding that they have the perfect amount of support and excellent waterproofing.
A gift for die-hard members of the Beyhive
In our guide to the best gifts for Beyoncé fans, publicist and superfan Cameron Owen recommends this coffee-table book brimming with rainbow-colored infographics mapping stats like the number of babies who have been named after the singer. Owen says he prominently displays his copy in his living room and it’s “always a conversation starter.”
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.
