An all-over-the-place assortment of stood-behind products culled from this very website that appears in the most recent May issue of New York Magazine.
Best in Class
If you’ve resisted throwing out your trusty manual toothbrush and making the switch to an electric one due to cost (high-end models run upwards of $300), the Oral-B Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush might convince you. It has all the features dentists recommend: a brush head with soft bristles that rotate, oscillate, and pulsate to dislodge debris efficiently; a built-in two-minute timer that ensures you brush long enough and hit every section of your mouth; and a pressure sensor that stops vibrating if you brush too hard. There are Oral-B models with even more bells and whistles, but after testing this one, Strategist writer Arielle Avila said her teeth felt “as squeaky-clean as they do with my souped-up toothbrush.”
Recommended by Experts
The most essential tool for making fresh tortillas that cook quickly and evenly is a good tortilla press. When I started looking into the best model to buy, one stood out: a sleek, jewel-toned metal number used by many of the Mexican chefs I follow on social media. I noticed it in the Instagram Stories of Bricia Lopez, co-owner of Guelaguetza in Los Angeles and co-author of Asada, and in the kitchen behind Mi Cocina author Rick Martínez. I reached out to Martínez to ask for the brand name, and he told me it was the Doña Rosa Tortilla Press, artisan-made from Oaxaca and distributed in the U.S. by the masa-harina brand Masienda. Made of powder-coated rolled steel, the press is a serious piece of equipment that doesn’t wiggle back and forth while you use it. “I love the heft of it. It is virtually indestructible and lasts forever, which is why a lot of restaurants and taco stands in Mexico use it,” Martínez said. Although I am far from a master at making tortillas, I’ve found that the press is a joy to use. I never worry about it slipping on the counter, and it easily flattens masa into disks. I like looking at it in my kitchen— a happy reminder that fresh tortillas aren’t that far away. –Margaret Eby
Celebrity Shopping
“During the two years I was in prison,
I would get freeze-dried coffee and put hot water on it and mix it with this creamer. It was the greatest coffee. Can you imagine being stuck in prison and having great coffee? It saved my life.”
“The ladies who do my nails know Sugar Daddy is my color. It’s a very natural shade with a hint of pink that works when I’m on set for a shoot and also goes with anything I wear day-to- day. I find that it doesn’t chip very much, too. I think it’s perfect.”
“I’ve been playing golf for 35 years, so my bag is full of all different clubs.
Once, I was playing a concert in Phoenix, where the Ping golf factory is. The owner of Ping came to the concert, and he invited me to come over and they made me a set of clubs.”
I Keep Seeing This
A few months ago, my friend Danielle wore a pair of wide-leg jeans to a fundraiser. I immediately noticed her pants — I loved the wash and drape — but as I looked more closely, I realized that her jeans weren’t actually jeans at all. The pockets, belt loops, seams, and rivets were all meticulously printed onto a material that was smooth, almost like a pair of sweatpants. Danielle told me the pants were from Rag & Bone’s Miramar collection — a line made to look like denim but cut from a cotton terry that feels as soft as leggings.
It turned out that Danielle owns six other Miramar styles, too. As we were talking about the pants, another friend overheard our conversation and told us that she’d just placed an order for the same ones. Then, within a matter of days, my “For You” page on TikTok exploded with more stylish people — including L.A.-based content creator Sydney Silverman — wearing the so-called sweatpant jeans. I work from home and struggle to wear anything other than athleisure most days, so I knew I had to try the Miramar pants for myself. I was immediately impressed with the fabric: It is soft, lightweight, moves fluidly, and never clings to my body. It is basically the exact silhouette I look for but often can’t find in a pair of slouchy denim jeans. The wide leg makes them versatile and easy to pair with sneakers or dressier footwear like kitten heels or ankle boots, and the comfort level is unparalleled. I’ve worn them out to dinner, for Zoom calls at home, and to run errands in my neighborhood — I truly never want to take them off.
I am by no means a jeans hater, but these Miramar pants add to my wardrobe in a way no real pair could. –Brenley Goertzen
Please Advise
In his latest column, Chris Black responded to a reader in need of fresh wardrobe staples but who is also cheap, just like the vocal majority of Black’s fans. He pointed them all to some affordable blanks that look and wear like options twice their price.
Stockholm’s Asket is a sleeper hit. Everything is well made, and many styles come in three lengths (long, regular, and short), which makes finding the perfect fit a bit easier. The colors are nice and simple. If you want something other than white, black, or navy, I’d go with the dusty green.
The J90 from Montreal’s own Justin R. Saunders is inspired by ’80 and ’90s tour merchandise, which you can definitely see in the neckline and single-stitch details. And we love a two-pack.
People love these T-shirts. They are substantial — heavyweight 100 percent cotton jersey — and have a big-boy vintage military-inspired collar so you don’t get the dreaded “bacon neck.” The price is also right.
I do some consulting work for J.Crew, but that’s not why this is my go-to for a new T-shirt. It comes in various flavors, but I stick with the white or navy. It was first introduced in 2004 and is still twice garment-dyed and washed to give it a slightly lived-in look.
The Packing List
This past July, my friends joined me in the Bay of Arcachon in France for seven days of oyster lunches and boat trips. Here, a few of the items that were just right for the destination. –Monica Mendal
I never travel without my Paravel Weekender bag, but it was especially clutch on this trip. It has smart straps that slip over the trolley of your carry-on suitcase for seamless lugging through unpaved roads and cobbled streets. It fits way more than it appears to.
I like to pack clothes that can work double duty. These pants are lightweight and easy to transition from the beach to dinner.
I love Attersee for elevated basics. This oversize shirt is a chic, lightweight piece for a coastal getaway. I wore it open to the beach and buttoned up at night.
This Tombolo shirt feels like a no-brainer if you really want to lean into the spirit of the trip — I did! It’s silly and fun, and 15 percent of proceeds goes toward improving New York’s harbors.
I don’t travel without a tube of Biafine, a French-pharmacy product that has proved extremely useful to treat sunburns (or sun rashes) when you miss a spot with the SPF.
Our Shopping Cart
I saw these at the gift shop in the Met Cloisters recently and liked them so much that I took a photo.
They somehow remind me of the embellished sweater on Anna Wintour’s first cover for Vogue, but they’re actually inspired by the jewels in the Flemish painting Ellen Maurice (1578–1626), by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. I was still thinking about the earrings a few days later, so I decided to buy them online. They’re flashier than any other jewelry I own, and I can’t wait to wear them with a simple ensemble of T-shirt and jeans. –Lauren Ro
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
