We write about hundreds of products each week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked some of our recent favorites: expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and very good deals we uncovered while trawling through the vast online-shopping universe — including some seafoam-green tights, June Squibb’s rolling hamper, and a new sweater-jacket from Alex Mill.
Katherine Heigl’s rainbow-colored martini glasses
“I’m a pastel-y kind of gal, so I love these,” Katherine Heigl told us when we asked her about her favorite things. Heigl leaves the colorful martini glasses out on the open shelving in her kitchen and keeps them in her semi-regular glassware rotation. “You know that old idea of saving the good china for special occasions? I don’t use mine daily for dinners, but I do like using my nice glasses because it makes you feel pampered or something,” she says.
A crescent bag from Baggu’s new recycled-leather line
Beyond her Zara Home wish list and discovering a Diptyque dupe, Strategist writer Arielle Avila has this Baggu bag on her mind. Avila says she was initially skeptical of the brand’s new recycled-leather line but now uses the bag all the time. “It makes it easy to throw on and hang up without worrying about warping the strap, and it’s a touch nicer-looking than my usual Baggu cross-bodies or Uniqlo drawstring bag,” Avila notes.
Super-high-waisted Levi’s jeans that “kiss your ribcage”
If you haven’t heard, it’s Jeans Month at the Strategist. We’re covering all things denim, from chasing down our denim-related white whales — including plus-size non-stretch styles and the perfect extremely basic men’s pair — to asking dozens of tasteful people about their favorites. We also tracked down the person responsible for designing one of our favorite, most-stood-behind jeans, the Levi’s Ribcage. Jill Guenza, who is the global VP of women’s design at Levi’s, shared how the Ribcages got their name and why choosing a button-fly closure versus a zipper was a “risky choice.”
June Squibb’s rolling laundry hamper
June Squibb was just using a cloth bag for her laundry until her assistant gifted her this laundry basket. “I thought, Oh, a hamper. That’s not great. But I love it. It’s one of my favorite things in the whole world,” Squibb says. She can roll it from room to room full of dirty clothes, and it can hold a pretty hefty load of laundry.
Statement-making seafoam tights
If you’re tired of pulling out the same plain black tights, our writer Kitty Guo is branching out into fun tights — “think glittery accents, zany prints, or a splash of color,” she writes. For a super-sheer jewel tone, our writer Lauren Ro owns these turquoise Jule Dancewear tights, which she initially bought to re-create an image from the Miu Miu x Church’s collaboration.
A new affordable hair towel that even works for thicker hair …
In the latest edition of The Strategist Beauty Brief, our writer Dominique Pariso hopped into action after the Aquis hair towel, our best less expensive pick, was discontinued last month. The Aquis was a favorite of hairstylists and Strategist readers alike, but Pariso says Act+Acre’s towel, which she’s been testing for over a year, is a solid swap-in for Aquis lovers. “It has the same shape, button fastener, and elastic band as the former category winner, Aquis, so it really stays put,” she writes.
… and our new best espresso machine overall
Breaking news on the espresso-machine front: We’ve named the Breville Bambino Plus our new best overall pick (replacing an older Breville model). Our writer Katherine Gillespie, who has been using the Bambino Plus daily for the last year and a half, calls it a “magnificent machine.” She also emphasizes its simplicity: “It is just so quick to start up and pull a shot, and very easy to do when you’re half-asleep.”
Biodegradable cleansing pads from Sofie Pavitt’s skin-care line
If cleansing wipes are your favorite way to remove makeup, these ones from aesthetician Sofie Pavitt’s skin-care line are our best biodegradable pick. Our writer Ambar Pardilla recommends the micellar-cleansing pads, which are cut into half-moon shapes that make them easy to grab and go. “They wipe away layers of mascara and strokes of brow pencil. It’s so pleasing to see my full face of makeup on the pad,” Pardilla says. They also don’t dry out her skin, which she credits to ingredients like barrier-protecting glycerin and antioxidant-infused cucumber extract.
Rebecca Black’s favorite faux-fur throw
You might be looking to refresh your living space this spring, and there’s no better way than with a new throw blanket. Our favorite stretchy faux-fur throw blanket from Lola comes recommended by singer-songwriter Rebecca Black. She loves this double-sided blanket that “has the perfect little amount of weight so that I feel nestled in it but not trapped,” Black says.
Spring sweater jacket from Alex Mill
For this week’s Don’t Dillydally, we featured a handful of spring capsules from brands including Hill House, Teva, and Alex Mill. Our writer Tembe Denton-Hurst predicts Alex Mill’s new cotton-cashmere sweater jacket will be a big hit. It has a slightly oversize fit and looks cozy but not slouchy.
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.
