Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
Obviously, Strategist staffers are excellent shoppers (it’s why you’re here visiting the site right now). So once a month, we highlight all the things we’ve been buying for ourselves. You’ll notice that it’s both a blessing and a curse to be a Strategist editor; we’re picky, but sometimes we just have to get on with it. (It’s online-shopping expertise meets IRL needs.) Below, what we bought in September.
Najwa Jamal, updates coordinator
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While I did my very best to stay away from Rhode mania, once it landed at Sephora earlier this month, I knew the jig was up. I simply needed to know what all the ruckus was about, especially after a recent stint of bad skin days and flaky lips forced me to hold off on using even the most moisturizing of my proper lipsticks. Relegated to only balms, I figured there was no better time to try the famed Lip Tint. I still cringe while slipping this out of my bag in public, but it’s honestly been the only product I’ve used on my lips since it was delivered. Strange chemical smell aside, the glaze is smooth and comfortable on the lips, shiny without being overly sticky like a gloss, with a surprising amount of staying power (at least four hours per application) and a beautiful “your lips but better” shade that’s become my no-mirror-needed go-to.
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A veritable non-red-sauce-pasta person, I’d long ago given up on many premade sauce options on grocery aisle shelves, until jars of Sauz caught my eye at Whole Foods. Having never heard of the brand before, I was instantly suckered in by the jewel-toned labels and cursive. I’m happy to report that what’s on the inside is even more spectacular than the outside. While pricier than your typical Prego, the sauce truly tastes as though someone’s been stirring a simmering pot for hours. The bright Cracked Pepper and Parm flavor is a delicious change from staple garlic marinaras (though they offer spins on those too), thicker and creamier rather than overly tangy and runny. I never thought I’d find myself craving pasta sauce, but here I am, already wondering which flavors I’ll nab next.
Bella Druckman, junior writer
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After hearing about Eadem’s Le Chouchou lip balm from numerous sources this month, I decided it was time to try it out for myself. The shade I initially wanted — the clear Butter Mochi — has been sold out at Sephora since it came on my radar, so I went for the shimmery version that has all the subtleness of a translucent gloss with a little oomph. Best of all, it keeps my lips hydrated without causing acne, which some lip balms have done in the past.
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Le Bon Shoppe Zoe Sweater
From $90
$120 now 25% off
From $90
I usually try to ruminate for at least a day before I buy something, but I purchased this sweater no fewer than five minutes after Sam Daly’s Ban.do sales post went live. It hasn’t been cold enough to wear it yet, but I’m counting down the days until I can cozy up in it while writing an article.
From $90 at Ban.do
Buy
with code: SOGOOD
Amelia Jerden, sleep writer
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In a previous Strat Haul, I wrote about my pink ergonomic mouse. This month, I bought a new pink hand-pain-management item. It’s a compression sleeve with a cooling gel pack inside. You can pop it in the freezer to make it extra cold, but it’s actually fairly cold as is. When my hands really start hurting, this little sleeve really does help reduce some of the pain. I especially appreciate that it encompasses the thumb, because my thumb is one of my key pain points. You can wear it on either hand — even though my dominant right hand is the main pain culprit, it’s nice to have the option to use on the left too.
Emma Wartzman, senior kitchen and dining writer
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I have no business buying anything unrelated to my imminently upcoming wedding — but I did. I’ve been wanting a pair of basic brown flats for ages, and have had my eye on these in Coffee Bean for much of that time. When I saw them marked down to $60 the other day, I just did it. I’m considering them a wise investment for the purposes of packing: I’ll be in California for a few weeks surrounding the main event and these feel like a go-with-everything kind of shoe that won’t take up too much space in my carry-on.
Winnie Yang, senior editor
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$12
I like to travel as lightly as possible when I leave the house and have not carried or owned a handbag or purse for more than a decade, relying primarily on pants and jacket pockets (which has been greatly helped by Apple Pay, keyless entry door locks, and the return of wide-legged pants). But on some occasions, I’ve found myself pocketless, having to clutch my phone in my hand or under my arm, and I have not liked that at all. Topologie’s clip-on climbing rope is the first phone strap that I’ve ever considered wearing. I even got the bottle bag (yes, this is basically a purse) because it can hold a small water bottle or mini umbrella, both of which I am also tired of carrying by hand.
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When the Heath + Herman Miller collection was released earlier this month, I was excited to see that they had re-issued the Studio Mug, which, as we noted in Secret Strategist, was the first time in decades they had produced it, and was also one of the forms that came in the set I eBayed more than 17 years ago. Even more intriguing: There was something in the collection they called a Dinner Bowl, a Heath shape I’d never seen before. I found out later from Heath that the Dinner Bowl was indeed brand new, debuting in this collaboration as well as in a few glaze options as part of the main Coupe line. The dimensions are comparable to East Fork’s Everyday Bowl, which we do use frequently, but shallower — not a bad thing. The fact that the initial release of the H+HM bowls sold out was enough to convince me to buy a pair when they came back in stock.
Dominique Pariso, writer
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When I found out Inna, my favorite jam brand, will be closing down by the end of the year, I asked myself this question: How much jam is too much jam to hoard in my pantry? I had already bought seven jars when I found out Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang had purchased a dozen jars of their Fresno Chili Jam, a flavor I had never tried. I immediately added three jars to my cart.
Michael Zhao, senior writer
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$526
The Niche Zero was the consensus best home espresso grinder when I bought it in 2022, but as I’ve been getting ready to test Fellow’s new espresso machine, I started wondering if newer models might offer better results at a lower cost. My friend who runs a coffee roasting business suggested I look into Option-O’s LAGOM casa and after spending a month with this machine, I am truly stunned by the results. It looks, feels, and performs like grinders I’ve used that sell for twice as much or more. Drip coffee tastes fruitier, with more clarity and depth of flavor while espresso shots come out more viscous and unctuous, with thicker crema. Despite occupying about half the volume of the Niche, the LAGOM casa’s all-metal, precision-machined design produces far less dust and is much easier to clean. The magnetic cup it comes with is great if you have a standard portafilter, but I swapped it out for Weber Workshops’ Blind Tumbler, which fits my Olympia Cremina 67s 49mm portafilter.
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This North Face Borealis Tote has quickly become my favorite bag for commuting and travel. The cavernous main pocket is the perfect size for my laptop and all the various accessories I need, and the two side pockets are perfect for a water bottle and umbrella. Unlike with my briefcase, there’s room to spare in case I pick up something over the course of the day. It’s designed primarily as a tote meant to be carried by the handles or over one shoulder, but the rear handle can convert into backpack straps in a pinch — although they are rather short, so they can’t be used if the bag is stuffed full. Although it lacks a passthrough slot for sliding onto a suitcase handle, I find that hooking the side bungees behind the back is just as effective for keeping it atop my luggage. It also fits nicely beneath a seat, even on smaller planes for regional routes.
Ambar Pardilla, writer
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These were a good Banana Republic Friends and Family sale buy. They fit me perfectly everywhere that pants need to fit you perfectly. Maybe my Gap-pant summer becomes Banana Republic–pant fall.
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It tastes like marzipan. I won’t be going back to ChapStick, cherry or otherwise!
Kitty Guo, writer
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$148
I actually bought this Waysyders singlet back in July intending to wear it out and about during the hot, muggy summer months, but unfortunately some shipping and production delays meant that I didn’t receive it until September. Nevertheless, it was well worth the wait. I got it in the Hibiscus shade, and it’s gorgeous — a deep, rich, jeweled plum color. I also love the look of the contrast stitching and the adjustable double straps, which can be tied a myriad of ways. I just wore the singlet to a dance class, where I was assailed by compliments from fellow classmates. Waysyders is a small L.A.-based brand with a tiny team and limited runs, so most sizes are currently OOS, but hopefully another restock is coming soon.
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Wax Charms Greenhouse Candle
$35
$88 now 60% off
$35
I was devastated by the news that indie boutique Shop Kathleen would be shutting down imminently — the shop carried lots of my favorite niche artists and designers, like Merritt Meacham and Karla Laidlaw. Right now everything on their website is on final sale, so I took the opportunity to snag a bow-encrusted Wax Charms candle, which I’d been coveting for a while. (They’re all handmade and one of a kind, so the one I got isn’t available anymore, but there are still a few options left!)
Lauren Ro, senior writer
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Gap Button-Front Cami Maxi Dress
$49
$98 now 50% off
$49
I’m enjoying the revival of ’90s fashion and bought a couple of things this month that scream Angela Chase in My So-Called Life, the best TV show of all time. First, this plaid cami dress that would look amazing with Doc Martens, and a plaid shirt in blue, which I would wear with the dress or around my waist, though that would admittedly be a little costumey. In any case, I know who I’m going as this Halloween.
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I couldn’t help myself and also got a couple of the J.Crew Rollneck sweaters for the fam. I tried them on in-store, where a sales associate told me that “Gen Z” had bought up the navy-with-multicolor-stripe style, the one I had been eyeing. I managed to get one online, but I just found out that J.Crew canceled my order. No surprise, as it is now completely sold out. You can preorder the men’s version for a December delivery date, which I might do. Other colors and styles are still in stock. I got a navy 1988 Rollneck for my husband (I am planning to steal it from him) and the kids’ version of the navy multi-stripe for my older son. They have yet to arrive, but I’m looking forward to some family-matching action, though I am normally opposed to it. A couple of notes: The 1988 is the classic rollneck and has unisex sizing. The 2025 version is for women and has a different neckline and cuffs than the 1988. Both styles run big, so size down.
Jeremy Rellosa, associate editor
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$94
I’d been on a hunt for a pair of straight-fit dark-brown chinos for a few months, and I found the pair I was looking for at a menswear store in Copenhagen. And even though the store only had a size-32 inseam available (I normally wear a 30), these fit great and don’t pool around the ankles.
[Editor’s note: Selected lists all prices in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion to U.S. dollars.]
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I was surprised to see this shirt at the Velasca store in Copenhagen (the Velasca store here in New York doesn’t carry the brand’s apparel, only shoes), and I got it as a birthday gift to myself. Unlike some of the thicker rugby shirts I own, this one is lighter and made with a boucle cotton that has a cool bumpy texture.
Kathy Li, social-media editor
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Madewell Petite Tapered-Leg Utility Pants
$70
$118 now 41% off
$70
I got these pants over Labor Day weekend. There was a sale-on-sale happening, so I was able to get them for $45 (they were originally $118), which I’m pretty proud of. They fit great, and they have nice deep pockets in the front that you can put things in without dragging down the waistband. I got them in pink, and the color is definitely more summer than fall, but it was just 82 degrees in New York yesterday so like, what are seasons, you know?
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$35 for 100
I also picked up a pack of these compostable gallon bags that Simone recommended during plastic-free kitchen week. I’ve been using them to store frozen dumplings.
Liza Corsillo, senior writer
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XGIMI Elfin Flip Portable Projector
$259
$330 now 22% off
$259
This month my parents celebrated their 50th-wedding anniversary with a big pizza party at their house in Connecticut. I took the Amtrak train out alone for the day, which was lovely. As a gift, I made them a slideshow with 50 photographs from their years together. But I needed some way to show it at the party so, after reading fellow Strat senior writer Michael Zhao’s article on the best portable projectors, I bought this lightweight guy. It’s not in his roundup but the brand is; the price was right. And it’s super bright with lots of cool features like auto keystoning.
Crystal Martin, senior editor
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WHLH & WELL-BEING Cyperus Rotundus Oil for Hair Removal
$9
$10 now 10% off
$9
I’ve heard murmurings that this oil can slow down hair growth. It’s so inexpensive that I thought I’d give it a test. I’ll report back on the site if it actually works.
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I’m a pajama collector. I really liked the embroidery on these and the tie front. Plus they’re 100 percent cotton. I definitely did not pay $64 for this set though — about half that.
Hilary Reid, senior editor
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Gap Low Rise Twill Long & Lean Pants
$39
$80 now 51% off
$39
Photo: Retailer
It was a good month of thrifting both online and in person — my favorite thing I bought was a pencil skirt version of this tweedy guy from Miu Miu’s fall 2004 collection at Designer Revival. There were plenty of new items on my mind, too, especially after putting together our Fall 100. One was these chocolate brown cotton pants from the Gap, that feel just about as 2004 as that Miu Miu skirt thanks to the low-rise bootleg cut. I’ve worn them at least twice a week since I bought them, and have appreciated the lightweight twill material for our very warm September.
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$18
Sukoshi, a beauty store that carries mainly Korean and Japanese products, was one of the many exciting store openings around the city this fall. Even more exciting (and dangerous) is the fact that it opened near my building, making it very easy to pop in and browse. I’ve already been twice and picked up a few things, including this “Jujube Candy”–colored lip and cheek cream. It really does have a texture like pudding, as Dasique’s site describes it, and is just a lovely pinkish-mauve shade.
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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.
The Strategist Haul: What the Editors Bought in September