The Strategist Haul: What the Editors Bought in August

I wanted the Chanel-esque look of the tan-and-black low heel, but not the Chanel price tag. These were still a splurge, but the practical, comfortable heel seemed ideal for when I do things like moderate panels. I can wear them with jeans or a sundress. I’ve been wearing Margaux shoes for about the last seven years, and they’re really comfortable and particularly anti-slip.

My friend and, apparently, bag guru (she recommended the Nutshell cooler that I included in my sustainable-apparel roundup) Julie Qiu saw me lugging around my dog Coconut in a shoulder bag that didn’t have pockets and told me I had to get this dog carrier instead. So I ordered one on Amazon. Julie has a dachshund named Donut, and Coconut is a Chihuahua with an unusually long body, so I figured they’d fit in the same size (M) bag. This one has zippered pockets for treats, your phone, leash, etc., and it can be used like a human purse … but there’s space for a little dog, too. The inside has a fleecy bottom and a strap for tethering your dog’s collar.

I know this is a stupid amount of money to spend on floss when there are much cheaper options out there, but hear me out. Historically, I have been really bad at keeping up with flossing, but I am trying to be better. My dentist always gives me a mini-sample of this floss after appointments and it both feels really good on my gums and has fun flavors, so I thought maybe having better floss available at home would encourage me to use it more. Also, I’m hoping spending $10 on floss will guilt me into being a better flosser.

I’m not usually one for paddle sports, but my friends and I braved the free-for-all Hudson River Park pickleball courts this month. I’d been searching for a visor all summer and finally used the pickleball excursion as an excuse to buy this one from Lululemon. Since buying it, I’ve found it to be the perfect accessory for sailing on the Hudson River and relaxing on the beachy shores of Lake Michigan, too. It’s more expensive than I would have liked to pay for a visor (the less expensive option wasn’t available in-store), but I like that this one has a removable sweatband that I can throw in the wash. I haven’t done that yet, but as someone who’s acne-prone, I appreciate the feature.

Okay, so I didn’t actually buy this … but I did pick it out for myself as my parents’ birthday present to me and feel compelled to share. Clare V.’s larger version is easily spotted all around town, and even though this smaller one doesn’t come in as many colors or textures, it’s perfect for what I wanted (and I actually like that it’s more nondescript). While I have a couple of old nylon fanny packs in rotation for casual errand-running, this one is much nicer, with its leather material and structured shape. I still wear it with jeans and a T-shirt, but it’s also not out of place dressed up for dinner — meaning it’s my new go-to for pretty much every occasion.

I’m on a pretty constant search to find products that help my hair, which is ultrafine, wavy/curly, and (especially in the summer) frizzy. (Bummer combo!!!) Anyway, I’m not one to fall down social-media rabbit holes, but a little bit ago, I did find this random hair-care-focused girl who lives in Stockholm (lol) who looks to have a very similar texture to me (albeit longer and blonde). This is a rare occurrence, so I did, in fact, do a deep dive into what she uses, and this Ceremonia spray is one of her recommendations. I’m on my second bottle, and so far I really like it: It detangles and smooths, and though I do my best to avoid heat tools, it’s a protectant, too. It doesn’t weigh my hair down either, which is key.

As mentioned in Secret Strategist, I recently came across these Moonstar plimsolls and got myself a pair in the green. I’m tempted to get my daughter a back-to-school pair as well.

We just went on a road trip, and I wanted a few new toys for the car to occupy our 17-month-old on the two-day drive. This one was a hit, and, just as important, the music it plays is neither grating nor loud. Our 8-year-old found it entertaining, too.

I was influenced to buy this top from the J.Crew x MNZ collection, and it’s become one of my favorite summer pieces. Made of a diaphanous ramie material in a boxy cut with a square neckline, it’s perfect to wear with skirts and structured shorts. It’s incredibly light and airy and very breezy. I love its cropped length, which is great for me, a person with a very short torso. I wore it to a dinner with a friend recently, and she, too, was influenced to order one herself.

I’m getting old.

Last month, my friend became particularly excited about this Molly Baz cookbook. The food at his dinner parties is always so good that it leaves guests both delighted and with a deep sense of inadequacy about their own cooking skills. So, when he starts raving about recipes, it’s wise to pay attention. Along with its recipes, I like that this cookbook really breaks down both the equipment to own and techniques to master in order to elevate your cooking. I also cannot stop telling people about the best recipe that I’ve tried from it so far: crispy chicken cutlets with kimchee ranch. Delicious!

On the same trip, I picked up two of these shirts (in black and light gray, size large for a more relaxed fit) for five bucks apiece at Reny’s, a Maine department store, which I learned about from Samantha Adler’s Steal My Vacation itinerary for the MidCoast. I was also partially inspired by my friend Leon Hedgepeth’s roundup of long-sleeve black tees.

I’m a sensitive-skin sufferer — I’m allergic to fragrance, cinnamon, coconut oil, and, somehow, aloe — and I found Al-Jamal soap in a desperate quest for a single-ingredient soap that wouldn’t irritate my skin. It’s become my go-to body soap, shampoo, and face wash, and I rebuy it whenever I run out. (I’m not the only fan — chef Reem Assil lists it as one of her favorite things.)

I moved this month into an apartment that’s lovely but short on kitchen storage. The first thing we bought to fix it was this kitchen prep table, which we picked up in person from the Kitchenall warehouse in Greenpoint. It has a pretty small silhouette — it’s just 14 inches deep — but it effectively tripled our usable counter space. It’s hard-wearing and durable, and it will be easy to sell or find a new place for once we figure out a more permanent solution.

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I’m going to splurge on the occasional nice shoe. I feel like getting Manolos is a fashion rite of passage — but you should never pay full price on a pair. These are my first. I liked them so much that I broke my imaginary piggy bank to buy them when they went on sale. They’re a great sandal. In all my years of trying (and not buying) Manolos, I haven’t found one as comfortable to walk in as these. Just note that the sandals run small (that’s true of the brand across the board for me).

Somehow, all my black socks have disappeared, so I decided to try out these quarter-height socks that Doublesoul has been relentlessly advertising to me on Instagram. They’re pleasantly cushion-y and hit at just the right height. I worried the cuffs would be too tight and leave indentations at the end of the day, but they’re actually nonrestrictive. I need to buy about ten more pairs.