An all-over-the-place assortment of stood-behind products culled from this very website that appears in the most recent September issue of New York Magazine.
Best in Class
Shears are about as essential and versa-
tile a tool in your kitchen as a chef’s knife. A sturdy pair can give you the utmost control in breaking down a
chicken, removing fins from a fish, or snipping herbs. Writer and chef Kiki Aranita consulted her network of chef friends for their recommendations, then tested 12 options. Wüsthof ’s Brushed Stainless Kitchen Shears were
the unanimous favorite. At 81⁄2 inches, they are on the longer side and, most important, have pull-apart-style blades that are easy to clean. Chef Diana Widjojo uses them to cut through snow-crab legs and pick out fish bones. They’re chef Chris Morgan’s go-to “for poultry, meats, larger fish with thick fins, and any backbone-work,” and he says they hold up over time. Morgan has had his shears for years, and chef Jeremiah Langhorne says they “keep their sharpness well.”
Our Shopping Cart
In my mind, there’s no greater errand run than buying some kind of premade dinner food at the Sixth Avenue Citarella followed by picking up a treat at C.O. Bigelow on the next block. Usually, that treat will be a headband or hair clip, but after reading Nicolaia Rips’s ode to the pharmacy’s Mentha Lip Tint, I was intrigued by Bigelow’s house line of soaps and creams. I bought this bergamot-scented body wash on a recent trip and absolutely love it. The scent is pleasantly floral and a little earthy, and the gel consistency lathers in a way that feels luxurious. –Hilary Reid
Celebrity Shopping
“I found this backpack at a store in Rome. It opens like a doctor’s bag: down the middle. For someone like me who wants to have a lot of things at all times, it’s the ultimate bag. Everyone who sees it tells me later that they ordered one. I think I’ll have it forever.”
“Some people like old cars or fine wine. I love a fountain pen. They just feel so civilized. I bought this pen at Point Plume in Paris during Fashion Week. I almost missed my show because I was testing out the pens.”
“I am obsessed with everything Bvlgari, and Allegra Baciami is my signature fragrance. Baciami means ‘kiss me’ in Italian, and it really does feel like it’s perfect for a first date. It’s a very soft, sensual, luxurious scent that smells expensive. I go through bottles and bottles.”
Please Advise
In his latest column, Chris Black responded to a reader in search of a version of the fall staple that won’t look too played out.
“I love Dries’s footwear; it is deeply underrated. These boots have a grippy Vibram sole, and the cleated heel adds some height (short kings, take notice). They feature a classic rounded toe and leather pull tabs to get them on and off easily.”
“You can’t beat these for the price. Every guy I know has a pair in his closet because they expertly ride the line between formal and casual, depending on your look. These also have a block heel that provides a slight lift. And if you take care of them, you will have them forever.”
“The full-grain leather looks supple without being delicate. These are an investment, but they will never go out of style. Church’s has been making shoes since the late 1800s; it can be trusted.”
“This is the gold standard for a casual Chelsea boot. Sure, every guy in Fort Greene sitting at Roman’s has them on, but they are ubiquitous because they are best in class. I’ve had a pair for over ten years, and they just look better and better. Black or chestnut is just fine.”
This Thing’s Incredible
When I was a teen, my mom sent me to Taiwan to attend a culture camp for the children of Taiwanese expats. The mattress in the bunk was a firm bed that provided support without stuffiness, a sense of comfort without a sink-in. Throughout my life, I’ve pined for that specific bed, testing mattresses marked firm in the store while already resigned to disappointment. Then I discovered Sleepy Tofu, a direct-to-consumer mattress company out of Taiwan. This mattress is joyfully firm. Instead of sinking in, you float on top. It’s like Savasana all night long—a hard reset for the day to come. The mattresses are 11 inches thick and constructed in a hybrid style with coils and a polymer-foam layer. Graphite is mixed into the foam to wick away heat. The Sleepy Tofu site is currently only in Chinese and shipping in batches a few times a year. But don’t let that stop you. If you, like me, have never been able to find a mattress firm enough for you, it’s the perfect bed. –Lisa Cheng Smith
How I Sleep
Dawn Super, who was diagnosed with narcolepsy when she was 11, told us about the things she uses to go to sleep—anywhere.
“It’s nearly impossible for me to stay awake for more than six hours, so if I have to leave my house for ten hours, the only option I have is to nap in my car. One of my favorite phrases is ‘Take the nap before it takes you.’” –As told to Kitty Guo
.
Her headphones
“I lock myself in, cover my eyes, and put on my headphones to help me relax and mask outside noise.”
.
Her playlist
“The om chanting reduces my cortisol levels and lets me be more aware of if I’m awake or dreaming.”
.
Her pillow
“Sometimes I use a neck pillow to hold my neck in place, or I’ll put it between my head and the window.”
.
Her makeshift shades
“I cover the windows with scarves, then shut the doors on them so that I can open a window if I need to.”
.
Her real shade
“And then I have a sunshade for the front windshield. Thankfully, I have a Prius, which means I can run the AC and not eat up all my gas.”
.
Her secret weapon
“I almost always have a sweater with me, too. I have used my sweaters as pillows, blankets, and window-blockers.”
Ask the Strategist
Liza Corsillo and Ambar Pardilla share their recommendations for everyday workwear, comfortable shoes, and more.
What are some office-appropriate flats that won’t give me blisters?
Liza Corsillo: I recently got a pair of Rothy’s mary janes. I wore them for the first time, without socks, while walking all over Manhattan. I didn’t even get the hint of a blister.
Where could my six-foot- two husband shop for classy but approachable clothes that he could wear out to, say, a nice restaurant? Something in between a T-shirt and jeans and a suit.
L.C.: My brother is that same height, and he’s had a lot of luck with Quince. This pair of performance chinos has a good amount of stretch and come in multiple inseams.
A women’s white button-down that’s classic and not too expensive?
Ambar Pardilla: I wrote our guide to button-downs, so this is my expertise. I have been buying J.Crew shirts for a decade—the Garçon (tailored) and the Étienne (oversize) are the new ones—but I’m also a fan of Everlane’s Boxy Oxford.
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.
