9 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: Corduroy-Collared Coats to Floor Lamps for Never Big Lighters

Our writer Jeremy Rellosa’s closet is full of relaxed-fit pants, baseball caps, loose T-shirts — and, importantly, his eight jackets with corduroy-lined collars. Rellosa says that corduroy-collared jackets should be as much a staple as any dark-wash jeans or white tees, adding that it’s outerwear that doesn’t scream “outdoors.” His favorite is this jacket from Australian surf-apparel brand Rhythm, which he owns in three different colors, including this “tobacco” one he wears most frequently. (Rellosa’s exact brown jacket is technically the brand’s discontinued Gordo fit, which is virtually identical to the James jacket we’ve linked to here.) “I can style the neutral colors in many different ways, and it works almost all year round,” he says.

“I draw every day, and if I don’t have this pencil in my hand or close to me, I have a nervous fit,” shoe designer John Fluevog told us. Fluevog counts it among his favorite things and loves the fact that it’s wider at the top, so he can hold it farther back and sketch with it. It’s also mechanical, which means no sharpening is required. “It’s a little thing — it’s not terribly expensive or anything, but it’s a real pleasure to use,” Fluevog says.

Contributor Katie Stone, who is a self-proclaimed lip-balm connoisseur, has tried a number of lip balms, treatments, and masks on the market — so when she heard about Retrouvé’s new lip serum, she was curious albeit skeptical (“Do we really need another lip product?” she asks). After trying the formula, she’s convinced the answer is yes. “Unlike some formulas, the more you use it, the less you require over time,” Stone says of the lightweight, fragrance-free, and deeply nourishing serum. “To me, this is the true sign of an actually moisturizing lip formula, as opposed to one that’s attempting to keep you hooked on its short-lasting hydration in perpetuity.”

This week, the Strategist staff was divided over whether or not we turn on the “Big Light” — otherwise known as an overhead or flush-mounted light (also: a boob light). Our Slack chat was abuzz with hot takes on when (if ever) to turn on the Big Light and lots of anecdotes about partners and roommates, some of whom see turning on the Big Light as a major no-no. An anti–big lighter, our kitchen and dining writer Emma Wartzman owns this Crate & Barrel floor lamp, which she calls one of the best purchases she’s ever made. “I needed something in a small corner that wasn’t a towering floor lamp with a big shade, but there was also no room for a table lamp,” she says. “It’s a really great fix for random spots.”

For our Strategist Brain series, we heard from our tech writer Jordan McMahon, who has taken multiple trips across the country recently and has whittled his carry-on down to a few practical gadgets to make long flights more enjoyable. “I usually load my phone with enough podcasts, audiobooks, and playlists to get me through even the longest flight delays,” he says. “Still, sometimes it’s nice to change things up and check out the in-flight entertainment.” That’s where these noise-canceling JBL earbuds come into play. They have the ability to connect directly to in-flight entertainment systems, so you can ditch cheap wired headphones.

When we asked Kumail Nanjiani what he can’t live without, he told us many of his favorite items have to do with managing his internal life and anxiety — this Flores Lane candle included. “This smell is just really comforting,” he says. “It feels like I’m laying under a blanket, and those are the little things that make my day better.”

In the latest edition of The Strategist Beauty Brief, our beauty writer Kitty Guo reviewed a handful of eye-shadow sticks, including those just launched from buzzy brands like Glossier and Half Magic. She also tested OG formulas like Laura Mercier’s Caviar Sticks and Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Sticks, which are both highly creamy, pigmented, and easy to blend. Glossier’s Shadow Sticks are larger and sturdier, the size and shape of a jumbo crayon, Guo says, adding that they’re less intensely pigmented than the Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown ones. The Glossier formula is still buildable and easy to work with, which Guo says makes it an “excellent option for beginners who are just starting to experiment with eye shadow.”

February 14 is only a few weeks away, and while candy might seem like the obvious treat to give kiddos, there are plenty of thoughtful (non-candy) toys and other tokens out there to surprise them on Valentine’s Day. Our writer Lauren Ro rounded up some delightful small gifts, including these paint markers that have a smooth, thick line and sparkly sheen that will delight any kindergartner who’s into arts and crafts.

In this week’s Don’t Dillydally, we featured Alex Mill’s partnership with Omnigod, a Lunar New Year–themed Tonie, and this limited-edition gift set from Cocofloss. It’s perfect for a valentine who takes oral hygiene very seriously. They’ll be able to try out 12 mini-flosses in a variety of flavors, from mint to cara cara orange.