Obviously, Strategist staffers are excellent shoppers (it’s why you’re here visiting the site right now). So once a month, we highlight all the things we’ve been buying for ourselves. You’ll notice that it’s both a blessing and a curse to be a Strategist editor; we’re picky, but sometimes we just have to get on with it. (It’s online-shopping expertise meets IRL needs.) Below, what we bought in September.
Amelia Jerden, sleep writer
I spotted this at Target while picking up some toiletry items and decided to try it. After I used it while shaving my legs a few times, my skin felt much more hydrated right out of the shower than it normally does. I think the slickness of the oil made my razor glide more smoothly, which also made shaving easier. It smells good, too!
This camera was my birthday present to myself this month. I’ve really wanted a nice camera for a few years and I decided now was finally the moment. A photographer I am not, but I’m looking forward to testing it out, particularly on an upcoming vacation. I’m especially excited to play around with the film simulations Fujifilm has built into this camera. The camera itself also has such a neat, vintage look — I always appreciate something that’s functional and nice to look at.
Ashley Wolfgang, newsletter editor
After months of deliberation over what duvet cover to buy (linen or percale? Patterned or plain?), I finally landed on this classic one from Brooklinen. I was delighted by how crisp and soft it felt after one quick spin in the wash, and so far, it’s been durable enough to withstand the claws of both my cat and dog jumping on it. It’s truly amazing. (I mean, should I be surprised? It is our best-in-class duvet cover, after all.) The shade of green is also nice and pairs perfectly with these floral patterned sheets I also bought from Target this month.
Why are sheets so expensive? I also put off buying new sheets for far too long (mostly) because I couldn’t afford to shell out $100-plus for some of the other new sets I had my eye on. Then I remembered the beauty, the wonder, of Target’s Threshold sheets. They’re soft, they’re oh-so durable, and they’re only $40. Plus they come in cute seasonal patterns. I couldn’t resist these, which have pink and green tulips that perfectly match my new duvet.
Bella Druckman, junior writer
I’ve been fighting the urge to buy these jeans all summer, so I took our first days of sub-70-degree weather as my sign that it was finally time to make the purchase. The jeans are pleasantly wide-legged, which means they’re flattering at the waist and thighs while giving my calves room to breathe. I’ve been wearing them as often as possible since buying them, which, really, is proof that I made a solid purchase. (For those wondering, they’re the jeans that stylist Sahra Brandt recommended to more than 150 clients.)
I’m usually wary of buying home goods from Amazon, but I was in need of a new laundry bin and couldn’t bear to use my old one any longer. My boyfriend and I ordered two — one for each of us — and they arrived neatly stacked in a box. I’d be lying if I said that I helped build them, but from my observant perch on the bed, it seemed like easy work. We’ve been using them for about a week now and have no complaints in terms about form or function.
Kitty Guo, writer
I wore my Oddli boxer shorts everywhere this summer — from lounging at the beach to fishing and hiking upstate to tromping around Disney World. The loose, lightweight cut is far breezier and less constricting than heavy denim, and the neutral taupe checkerboard pattern paired just as well with a vintage toile corset as it did with plain white tank tops. They’re by far my favorite pair of shorts in my wardrobe, so when the brand emailed me about its end-of-summer sale, I jumped at the chance to snag a second pair in a picnic-ready red gingham.
The grocery store down the street from me appears to have adopted a very laissez-faire attitude toward stocking its shelves. Products will just up and disappear with no explanation or timeline for coming back. Take, for example, these Behave candies that I grabbed on a whim at checkout and ended up loving. They have a mild fruit flavor with a pleasantly chewy texture, and because they have a lower sugar level, I can pop a good amount without the accompanying crash. But when I went back for more a week later, they were all gone and the only answer the employees could give me was a shrug. I decided to take matters into my own hands and ordered a six-pack online.
Ambar Pardilla, writer
I wear my sweatpants until they’re unwearable, and I’m in desperate need of new ones. I like mine cheap, comfortable, pocketed, and logoless. These are all that. They come in a great Maraschino-cherry red too. (I’m big on red now.) I might get another pair (… or two).
It’s not a sexy buy, but it’s a necessary one, especially for someone who does their own manicures. My cuticles haven’t looked this good in a long time.
Arielle Avila, writer
I had a bit of a book haul this month: two coffee-table books while visiting the Met, Miranda July’s newest novel, and this one, which I’m most excited about, by Emily Witt. In Health and Safety, she writes about her double life as she reports for The New Yorker by day and dances until dawn at Bushwick clubs by night. On top of that, this is set from 2016 to 2020 while she’s dealing with the ups and downs of a new relationship. I’ve only just started it, but have already sent the Bookshop link to a couple of friends so we can read and discuss together.
After seeing my colleagues review Uniqlo’s sister store GU, I had to check out the store for myself. I went straight to the barrel jeans (the top recommendation from Liza and Lauren’s story) and left with two pairs. They’re just as flattering and cool as they said, and surprisingly, they’re 100 percent cotton. The vintage-wash ones fit me perfectly and hit right at the top of my shoes, while the dark-wash ones are slightly too long. GU doesn’t offer alteration services like Uniqlo, but at $34, I don’t mind a trip to the tailor.
Ailbhe Malone, senior editor
Sculpted by Aimee is like the Irish Charlotte Tilbury. Founded by makeup artist Aimee Connelly, it does skin care, makeup and my favorite subcategory: skin care for makeup lovers. I can’t get enough of this SPF spray. The first time I used it, I thought the spray wasn’t working, as I couldn’t feel anything on my face. It’s light as air, non-comedogenic, and non-pilling, but also robust enough to face a day in the sun (I wore it for a sun-baked day in a field at a bachelorette, and I didn’t even freckle). There’s no American stockist, but you can ship for a flat fee.
[Editor’s Note: U.S. customers can purchase the SPF spray directly from the Sculpted by Aimee website and pay for international shipping. Just note: All prices are listed in pounds, so the price shown here is an approximate conversion to U.S. dollars.]
I moved a few weeks ago, and the ground floor is recovering from some serious dampness. In a moment of weakness, I spent too much money on this deodorizing room spray, but it is herbaceously delicious and very effective. I even tested it out in the kitchen after frying fish!
Rachael Griffiths, writer
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but when a boy in middle school told me I looked like Moaning Myrtle in glasses, it did indeed hurt me (and sparked a 12-year dependency on contact lenses). But lately, my eyes have started to complain by way of stinging, itching, and dryness. At the optician, the verdict was as I expected: I simply had to start wearing glasses more often. So,I decided to go for some that I’d actually want to wear and that felt more my style than the standard pairs I’d opted for since my tweens. I settled on these from Jimmy Fairly: I love the mix of green and tortoiseshell, and the absolutely massive frames that make me feel like a chic grandma. Inner child … healed?
I was lucky enough to see Chappell Roan in London this month, and my night’s theme was Pink Pony Club. To fit the theme, I ordered a fresh Glitterpuck from Half Magic to pair with my taffeta prom dress and diamond cowboy boots. It’s a really beautiful, shimmery blush that I’ve been wearing to festivals this summer, so I knew it would be the right fit for my cheeks and eyes on the night. The best part, though, is that when you wipe your makeup off, all the glitter actually comes off (anyone who’s had sparkly eyebrows for days after a glittery makeup look will know how impressive this is).
Brenley Goertzen, junior writer
I’m a huge Kacey Musgraves fan, so when I saw Reformation tease her new collection, I knew I’d be dropping some of my paycheck. Truthfully, I wanted every piece, but I decided on the Bunny Dress because it’s so romantic with the lace-trim neckline. I also love the contrast of the cream sleeves with the black wool-blend bodice. It’s made for picking daisies around a faded red barn.
I’ve been dying to try Crown Affair’s dry shampoo, and when I saw this value set at Sephora, it seemed like a solid deal for two full-size products. The dry shampoo has such a relaxing, light scent, and I find that my hair feels much more hydrated and smooth when I remember to use the leave-in conditioner.
Winnie Yang, senior editor
This is the fourth time I’ve ordered this tea since the spring (and I buy two pouches at a time). While I drink oolong in the morning, I like a non-caffeinated option at bedtime, and I look forward to having a cup of this each evening. Not only does this tea taste delicious and comforting, but I credit the nettle in it for keeping my seasonal allergies at bay this year.
No one would ever confuse me for a sports person, but I’ve really enjoyed taking my daughter to see the Liberty play (it doesn’t hurt that they’re having a great season). We may not have tickets to the WNBA semifinals, but I do finally have some Liberty-themed merch. This shirt is from the Cookies Hoops guys, one of whom is Andrew Kuo, whose artwork I love.
Jeremy Rellosa, writer
I finally bought a pair of black Paraboot Michaels after having them on my wishlist for years. I have a pair of brown Chambords, which have a slightly different vamp and toe, but I always thought the more pronounced seam on the Michaels looked cool. I like how I can pair the Michaels with anything — I can wear them to work or with more casual outfits like jeans and a shirt.
[Editor’s Note: Paraboot lists all prices in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion to U.S. dollars.]
Saturdays always has a crop of sweet vintage soccer jerseys, but last time I was in the shop on Broome Street, I picked up this hat. COYS!
[Editor’s note: Jeremy’s hat is currently out of stock, but we’ll let you know when it’s back in stock.]
Lauren Ro, writer
I’ve always wanted a coffee carafe and finally got one. I love the utilitarian look (like something you’d find at a diner or restaurant), its smaller size (most of them hold double the amount of liquid), and the fact that it keeps my coffee hot. It’s great for when you serve coffee to house guests and don’t want to put out the glass coffee-maker pot. There are nicer versions, like this Zojirushi, but I opted for this one for its value.
Hilary Reid, senior editor
I moved apartments over the summer and have a bathtub for the first time in four years (my old apartment just had a gym-style shower). Unsurprisingly, having a tub again is really great, and I’ve been enjoying buying various salts and soaks to use in it. I picked up these from Kneipp — a 130-year-old German brand with health-spa-esque packaging — at C.O. Bigelow and was kind of blown away by how well they work. The lavender was so soothing that I basically fell into a deep sleep immediately after using them, which has inspired me to now try the Dream Away and Back and Neck (made with something called “devil’s claw”) formulas.
It’s not every day you come across a cashmere sweater in a perfect black-raspberry-ice-cream hue, so when I found this on my most recent trip to J.Crew, it was a no-brainer. I’ve worn it a few times since buying it a couple weeks ago and have received compliments every time. The cashmere weight is ideal in that it’s warm but not too hot for the fall, and in the winter I’ll layer a T-shirt underneath. Just note if you’re considering getting one that they do run small; I’d go one size up.
Sam Daly, deals editor
I purchased this tiny lip pen from e.l.f. after hearing whispers that it could be a dupe for Clinique’s Almost Lipstick. It’s a close color match to Black Honey if you sheer it out, though it does lean more toward brown. And it’s definitely stickier. (Which I surprisingly don’t have much of a problem with!)
I bought a pair of Gazelles off Depop in 2018, which I wore to death in about a year (whoops). I’ve been trying to replace them ever since — which is somehow a feat because they’re never in stock and the sizing is very odd. I’m normally a women’s size 7.5, and the “men’s 6/women’s 7” is the size I finally got last week. It is a tiny bit larger than I had hoped (the box claims it’s a size 38 2/3, which I have never heard of), but now I will definitely be able to fit some heavy-weight socks into them this winter.
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.
