“Strategist Brain” is a series where staffers share the stores they’ve stopped into, stuff they’ve spotted, and extra tidbits from stories they’ve worked on. You’ll hear from a different writer every week.
I’m on the hunt for a jacket. I have enough coats (a trimmed-in-leopard Helene Berman, a cotton-candy-sleeved Blank NYC, a grape-buttoned Shrimps …) but not enough jackets. Only one, really. I don’t want a Barbour knockoff or a cutoff trench coat. I can’t stop thinking about Sea’s bomber, threaded with farm animals. It’s sold out everywhere, unfortunately — or fortunately, since I’m not sure I could’ve spent the $550. There’s this from Cos. It’s pinstriped and scarfed, and it could be mistaken for something pricier. But I find the sizing here generous generally — and the word oversize makes me wonder whether I’ll be drowning in it. For a little less: another from Loeffler Randall. Love the cross-stitched flowers, especially in forget-me-not blue. I don’t know about the cream denim. The one I’m closest to hitting “check out” on is a Weekend Max Mara. It’s playful and lovely. It’s a little cheaper at Cettire. I think I’m going for it.
Here’s everything else I’ve seen recently …
The annual return of Wegmans’ cinnamon-and-orange brooms is an autumnal bellwether. The smell reminds me of mulled wine and makes me want to gut out a pumpkin. If you’re not near a Wegmans, At Home sells a pumpkin-spice-scented one online.
My first new sweater for the next season is from Maria Stanley. I love how the buttons, made from the shells of pearl oysters, catch sunbeams. I’m so close to splurging on a Meadows pullover knitted with pigs or a Hades cardigan buttoned with fake cigarettes when it comes back in stock. (The Brits do knits well, what can I say?)
A mood board Olympia Gayot Instagrammed in June hinted that the color yellow was coming to J.Crew. I never would’ve guessed how much yellow there would be! From corn flats and a marigold sweater to a buttermilk bucket bag and mustard chore jacket. This sequin-covered skirt is very Jenna Lyons J.Crew. I’m waiting for it to go on sale.
I got a Big Shirt from the great Gap sale. It comes in a red that you would’ve seen in an old Revlon ad.
Because of this tweet, I found out that designer things that couldn’t be listed on ThredUp proper end up on Retro Rewind. If a patchwork quilt became a website, this would be it. A few finds: an Yves Saint Laurent cuff that looks like a belt, a Harley-Davidson T-shirt, a Christian Dior blazer with a slipper-pink collar, and Converse sneakers featuring Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup cans.
Like fellow writer Dominique Pariso, I’m figuring out what to get on my jewelry wish list with the all-time-high price of gold. Your favorite jeweler will be marking up everything soon enough. I’m using that as an excuse to get what I can, like a ruby-eyed rat from Erica Weiner. I impulse-purchased a toast charm from Maggie Rogers Kyle of Oxbow. (The two haven’t arrived yet.) Paula Elaine Barnett has a few exclusives at Catbird now. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d get this man-on-the-moon brooch from Erie Basin.
If you zoom in on jewelry collectors’ necks, you’ll sometimes catch a cornicello (“little horn” in Italian) hanging from a chain. I also like another ancient amulet: the figa, or a fisted hand. Great ones: one in coral on Etsy and another carved out of rock crystal from Fox & Bond, where I get most of my antique wares.
The new sexy underwear I’m trying are these sheer briefs from Harper Wilde. They’re a little less cheeky for everyday wear than something from the Great Eros. They might be making an appearance in our underwear guide.
A conversation with artist Melly Wirtes about her bikini turned into a conversation about sunglasses. Her shades of choice are from Delarge: the Trapexie. She’s eyeing the Dexagon. Some are 40 percent off at Luisaviaroma.
I’m thinking Sonderhaus’ boxers can replace a pair of boxers I accidentally spilled bleach on. (Don’t ask!) Minus: no pockets, front, back, or otherwise. Plus, a sweet-as-apple-pie gingham. The ruffles remind me of the hems on old bloomers.
Speaking of shorts: I’ve been summering in these from Target. They’re the right length, short like Soffe shorts without the cheerleading connotations. I was sent a pair, and I went and bought another pair less than a week later. When it’s been too hot to think of what to wear, I’ll wear them with an Everlane tee and my A.Emery flip-flops.
I haven’t gotten a salon manicure in — I’m not kidding — at least a decade. I don’t see the need to as someone who doesn’t do gel or want to wait in an acetone bath for acrylics. So I manicure myself. Last month, I learned the secret to the quickest paint job: two coats of Essie’s Expressie and then a coat of Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri.
Just some jaunty chapeaus: Eugenia Kim’s tulle visor, Stand Studio’s faux-fur bucket hat, Nine West’s leopard cloche, Jennifer Behr’s embellished beret, and Guest in Residence’s reversible beanie.
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.
