This roundup of things we liked this week originally appeared in the October 12, 2023, edition of the Secret Strategist newsletter, a weekly email where we share the stuff our staff — plus a rotating cast of writers, design-world people, and various others with very good taste — would otherwise keep to themselves. If you want to get our picks straight to your inbox each week, sign up here.
Some really great ID work here, from our colleagues’ cool pants to slides worn by Sofia Coppola in the ’90s that would be great for a 2023 warm-weather vacation. Not to mention an unusually cool pepper grinder recommended to us by the owner of Porta!
This Week’s List
* Our stylish colleague Sukjong Hong was wearing these nylon contrast-stitched pants the other day — and they turned out to be Nike! We found some at a Dick’s online outlet and three more pairs here, here, and here. And another in this white and khaki Rudy Jude–y colorway.
* Writer and podcaster Lara Schoenhals told us about this great, simple $19 cotton-linen smock. “An Amazon find that’s come in very handy — great for cooking and dishwashing, because I don’t want to get splashed.”
* Photographer Ithai Schori took these photos of the preferred footwear of seamstresses at Valentino. “I was supposed to be photographing the show. Instead, I was hanging out backstage and noticed that all their sewing-machine stations had shoes underneath.” They’re white medical clogs, as a matter of fact. One of the brands, Poligono, does not ship to the U.S., but Calzuro makes an almost identical style that does ship to the U.S. And here’s another similar medical slipper style that also ships here.
* For those who love getting little Makie hadagi wrap sets as gifts for friends with new babies, some good news: We’ve found a woolly cardigan version.
* This hand-carved sterling silver Danica Stamenic link is beautiful and simple and we’d never take it off.
* It’s still extremely easy to get good not-$295 vintage Levi’s 501s. It just takes some sifting. Skip the Etsy curators and even our favorite, DUO NYC, and go straight to eBay. Enter your exact measurements, look for a nice, thick medium-blue wash, and if the back leather tag looks in any way shiny, keep scrolling. This 27x28 pair for $65 looks good; as does this faded “painterly” 30x32 pair for $45; and, for a little more, this $150 26x31 pair is great!
* We still have Sofia Coppola on the brain, and this week we ID’d the ’90s Polo Sport slides she wore on the set of The Virgin Suicides. They hold up!
* Minjae Kim posted a beautiful bentwood bench this weekend, and it sent us looking for some. Here are a couple from the 1890s.
Check These Out Too
Francesca del Balzo from Porta NYC told us about some things she loves.
* Gabriella Kiss nose ring: My mother gave this to me during a difficult time; there is a bump in the bridge of the nose similar to mine, and the Latin insignia on the band reads in medias res, “in the midst of things,” which is a good reminder to be present and embrace being in the thick of it, whether good or bad.
* Unicorn pepper mill: Made on Nantucket Island, this is my favorite kitchen tool, and the best pepper grinder out there, the sound of the crunch of peppercorns as it grinds is incredibly satisfying. [This stick version is in stock though.]
* Alma decanter: Handblown in Spain, this is one of my favorite pieces from Porta; there is a weight to it that elevates it beyond its function and holds your gaze, captured beautifully here by Adrianna Glaviano.
* Alma decanter: Handblown in Spain, this is one of my favorite pieces from Porta; there is a weight to it that elevates it beyond its function and holds your gaze, captured beautifully here by Adrianna Glaviano.
* Cecilie Bahnsen dress: Something I am coveting from her recent SS24 runway show. This look has it all — it’s feminine, bold, and effortless.
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.
