In our newsletter advice column, Ask the Strategist, we answer your most burning shopping questions by surveying friends, calling up experts, and drawing on our own personal experience. But we liked this recent edition so much we wanted to share it with all of our readers. To get the next edition in your inbox, sign up here. And if you have an online-shopping question of your own, please send it to [email protected] with the subject “Ask the Strategist.” We’re here to help.
“Are there any office chairs that don’t look like an office chair? Looking for something that serves the function but doesn’t have wheels.”
Once you get rid of the wheels, it’s a little harder to find a chair with all the bells and whistles. Namely, you lose a lot of the adjustability. But there are options: This task chair is super stylish and still offers some lumbar support. If you’re looking to spend a little less, this chair has a similar look (though I’m a little skeptical of UO’s quality in general, the price is very good, so I’m including it). And if you want something that’s less traditional, with an even slimmer profile that your body will thank you for, an ergonomic stool promotes good posture and movement throughout the day. —Dominique Pariso, writer
“I need to start bringing my lunch into work, and I think what is making me so reluctant is having to carry it on my commute (I already have a backpack with laptop, etc.). Can you recommend lunch bags/boxes that don’t look like something for a child, can hold enough items without being too bulky, and, ideally, also look nice?”
I started my search by consulting our list of the best lunch boxes for kids. I know, I know: You don’t want something that looks childish, but I found two great options there that I think totally fit the bill: this bag from Hydro Flask (a company I generally love and trust) or one of these similar options from Baggu (a brand pretty much all Strategist staffers are obsessed with across the board). Baggu offers a couple different sizes, depending on how much you usually pack, as well as some fun (but not twee) prints (plus more tame and solid options if that’s what you want). Other than that, they’re actually pretty similar: Both are soft on the outside, but still have a decent amount of structure for packing things cleanly and an insulated lining.
If neither of those seems right, consider Oxo’s glass containers that clip closed or Stasher bags. Both are great food-storage containers in general, come in a myriad of shapes and sizes, and can work to transport lunch depending on how stuffed your backpack already is. —Emma Wartzman, writer
“I am on the hunt for a white Yamazaki Home sofa console table. I’ve got a link for an eBay option in black, but I’ve got my heart set on white. I’ll accept natural/blonde wood as second place. I’m open to dupes, but everything I could find is black and brown and gray.”
I must sadly confirm that the very Yamazaki console table you’re searching for is way back-ordered (it ships within two months), but I found a couple of options that are pretty close. If you can’t wait that long, the dimensions of the Yamazaki are approximately 50 inches wide by 26 inches tall by 8 inches deep. Room & Board’s “Slim” console table is available in a white powder-coated steel frame and has the closest dimensions to the Yamazaki, measuring 40 inches wide by 27 inches tall by 8 inches deep. However, it lacks a second shelf, which might be a deal-breaker for you. It’s also the most expensive option, but Room & Board’s quality is top-notch and is built to last. I found a couple of others at All Modern that are more in the price range of the Yamazaki, but the dimensions are not as similar. I like the Kauai console (55”W x 29”H x 12”D), as it comes with a center partition and two additional shelves, but it’s four inches deeper than the Yamazaki. For something narrower, the Aisha console is another good choice (42”W x 30”H x 10”D). —Lauren Ro, writer
“For years, I have used RMS’s Lip and Skin balm (either cocoa or vanilla — not picky!!) for everything from dry winter eyelids to chapped lips to hand lotion in a pinch, and now it’s gone. Is there something close that you would recommend?”
I’ve been using True Botanicals’ Rescue Balm for pretty much everything — lips, elbows, cuticles, you name it — and it’s great: It’s orange in the tin but goes on clear, and it’s made with all-natural ingredients that are similar to the ones found in the RMS balm, including shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba seed oil. However, at $38, it’s definitely pricey, and it only comes in one vaguely herbal scent. If that’s not your speed, Zizia Botanicals is also an organic, clean brand that offers all-purpose balms in multiple fun flavors, including orange blossom, rose, and key lime. —Kitty Guo, writer
“I am looking to renew my wedding vows in late July or early August and I originally thought that I wanted a jumpsuit, but I realized that I would probably need to get a two-piece pants set. I am disabled, so that is why I am now ruling out most jumpsuits and think that a two-piece would be better. My ideal two-piece set is navy blue in color, under $200, and has a higher neckline or halter top because, if I am either in my wheelchair or using a walking aide, I am afraid that it would show too much of my chest. I would also prefer to have wide-legged pants so I can hide my leg that is atrophied. I would love a material that would not make me sweat in the summer heat and that would make me feel pretty on such a special day.”
Your best bet might be Quince’s Silk Halter Top and Palazzo Pants. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo likens the brand’s silk to the texture of blueberries in the morning “that have a little frostiness to their skin.” I’m thinking J.Crew’s Slim-Fit Linen Vest and Wide-Leg Essential Pant in Linen would make for a nice suit for an afternoon affair. —Ambar Pardilla, writer
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.
