Crumpled and Cool
The lightest cotton makes wearing Virginia Johnson’s trapeze effortless ($276 at Erica Tanov, 204 Elizabeth St., nr. Prince St.; 212-334-8020).
Warning: They’re Addictive
They read healthy but deliver seriously tasty crispiness (Mary’s Gone Crackers, $4.69 at Perelandra Natural Food Center, 175 Re msen St., nr. Court St., Brooklyn Heights; 718-855-6068).
Artfully Distressed
These crinkled porcelain cups pay artsy homage to disposable plastic ($12.15 to $20 at Clio, 92 Thompson St., nr. Spring St.; 212-966-8991).
Burnt to a Crisp?
Shea butter and aloe vera soothe overexposed skin (Bath Aquatics Body Balm, $11.50 at H2O+, 511 Madison Ave., nr. 53rd St.; 212-750-8119).
Tousled is Better
This Rugger Collection buttondown’s cotton gets softer and more appealing after a spin in the dryer ($99.50 at Gant, 444 Madison Ave., nr. 50th St.; 212-813-9170).
A Quick Refresher
It takes less than a minute to brighten a room with paper garlands ($3.95 for thirteen feet at Pearl River Mart, 477 Broadway, nr. Broome St.; 212-431-4770).
Hot and Heavy
Black & Decker’s Classic Iron busts wrinkles ($34.99 at Gracious Home, 1220 Third Ave., at 70th St.; 212-517-6300).
Clean Up the Table
Vinyl place mats are sharper than fussy linens ($15.75 each at Sprout Home, 44 Grand St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-388-4440).
Looks Sharp, Feels Good
Barbara Feinman’s Panama-straw fedora gives natural ventilation ($185; 66 E. 7th St., nr. First Ave.; 212-358-7092).
Get the High Tones
Sennheiser’s D.J.-grade HD 280 Pro headphones deliver Bach or Beck at their crispest ($79.99 at J&R Music, 23 Park Row, nr. Ann St.; 212-238-9000).
Flawless, Without the Work
In broadcloth, houndstooth, or pinstripe, non-iron buttondowns benefit the chore-averse ($79.50 at Brooks Brothers, 346 Madison Ave., nr. 44th St.; 212-682-8800).
A Professional’s Guide to Rapid Ironing
Gerri Young, founder of the pick-up laundry service Allo Laverie (212-717-9920), describes how to get a flat-pressed shirt in a minute (or two).
Step 1: Hand-Wash
Gentle, old-fashioned scrubbing creates fewer wrinkles. Drying shirts “flat will ensure a crisp finish.”
Step 2: Don’t Overdry
Stretch the wet shirt and let it dry slightly. “It’s best to start ironing with a damp shirt,” she says.
Step 3: Use Steam
“A touch helps get out stubborn wrinkles or remove any mistakes,” she says. Your iron doesn’t have steam? Use a spray bottle.
Step 4: Be Methodical
“Press a shirt following this order: collar, yoke and shoulder, cuff, then sleeve and body. Start on the left if you’re right-handed, and on the right if you’re left-handed, then work around.”
Step 5: Finish on a Hanger
Hang the shirt and gently crease the collar down with your hands. Button the top two buttons to keep that nice, crisp fold.
The Best Bet
People have been charting routes through New York for centuries; witness this well-worn street guide to lower Manhattan printed in 1860 ($100 at the Old Print Shop, 150 Lexington Ave., nr. 30th St.; 212-683-3950). Starting here, we plot ten modern city maps for personalities of all stripes, from cheapskates to hedonists.