An all-over-the-place assortment of stood-behind products culled from this very website that appears in the most recent January issue of New York Magazine.
Best in Class
The most compelling feature of the Company Store’s Bath Rug is its absorbency; it’s four times denser than a typical bath towel. (Strategist writer Bella Druckman says the high loft even dries the arches of her feet.) Designer Molly Torres Portnof appreciates the cotton mat’s versatility: It comes in five sizes and dozens of colors, from basic white to burnt orange (shown). “I always have this in my back pocket for a space that’s not calling for a special moment,” Torres Portnof says.
Celebrity Shopping
“I had a girlfriend when I was in college who was this kind of punk-rock, angry sculptor and an important person in my life. She was into patchouli oil, and she gave it to me in some sort of witch bag. It’s been in my life on a daily basis since then. I think I’m one of the few people who can wear this and not come off as obnoxious.”
“The scent is just intoxicating. It’s almost like if you took your favorite high-school Bath & Body Works scent but made it really sophisticated and elevated. I have a lot of favorite candle brands, but I’ve been burning this one
a lot lately. I also like that it comes in an interesting textured holder.”
“These socks look like they’d be thick, but they’re actually pretty breathable and part of my everyday comfort. I found them at Stag Provisions, and I’ve been wearing them with Birks and sneakers ever since.”
The Strategist Office 100
A few of the new additions from the annual update of our most-stood-behind WFH and non-WFH items. –Dominique Pariso
This timekeeper is a pleasure to have in your home, especially if you catch when the numbers flip to the next minute.
Post-it no longer has a choke hold on the page- marker industry. These tabs come in attractive colors and stay put.
A cardboard-thin sheet of aluminum in foam, this stand props up nicely and flattens for easy storage.
Ask a Cool Person
The secret to keeping children busy: Give them simple, high-quality materials they can use for many different projects. –Liza Corsillo
Writer and mother Alexandra Lange has bought a few paint-by-numbers kits that have been a big hit with her son. “I have this painting on my bureau because he did what the kit said and then gave it something extra,” she says.
Opening this watercolor palette makes older kids feel rich in the same way getting a megabox of Crayolas does
for little kids, says Winnie Yang, a Strategist senior editor and mom.
Air-dry clay is the best for creating sculptures, says Tze Chun, founder of Uprise Art. This set comes with a range of colors and instructions for basic skills.
This craft library is curated enough to motivate children to use it up carefully, says Chun. Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio says her kids especially like the pipe cleaners.
Painless Shopping
In the face of a homogeneous and creatively uninspiring tech landscape, why not opt for fun and zany? –Erin Schwartz
This futuristic, techie, yet organic high-shine case has a curvy appeal.
Each gem is hand-glued; the case can be customized with colors of your choice.
The brand’s cases contain real pressed flowers and dehydrated slices of fruit.
It’s a bespoke assortment of charms in liquid silicone. You can add a fingerhold shaped like a teacup handle.
What if the curved edges of an iPhone were square? This case dares to answer that question.
Strategist Hunt
Of the five pairs I tromped around in for months, these two have earned a permanent spot in my shoe collection. –Bella Druckman
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For Braving the Elements
I took this well-priced pair on a ski trip and trudged through inches of fresh snow for days while wearing them. On my flight home, the shearling was still thick and fluffy and the suede (albeit a little dull to start with) was virtually unchanged.
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For Warm, Yet Stylish, Feet
This pair made me see shearling-lined boots as office-appropriate. The silhouette looks just right poking out of my wide- legged pants, and the double-faced shearling sheepskin, leather trim, suede heel overlays, and sole are well made.
This Thing’s Incredible
As someone who has always belonged to the most affordable gym in the neighborhood, my chances to use a sauna have been few and far between. So when I heard that HigherDOSE had created an at-home, travel-size sauna blanket, I began to obsess over it. It seemed out of reach until I realized that I had an FSA account I needed to drain and the blanket was HSA/FSA-eligible. It’s about the width and length of a twin bed, and it can be used on the floor or on your bed. For me, the effect has been undeniable. Days I’ve used this have led to nights I’ve slept more deeply than ever. My mood becomes stabilized or instantly improved, and my skin has a radiance to it tha tI can’t attribute to anything else. Sometimes I use it during colder nights as a way to warm up, not even for a full sweat. –Halley Furlong-Mitchel
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.
