Julep Cups, an Excellent Straw Hat, and Other Recent Strategist Finds (2024)

For as common as babywearing has become, many carriers are bulky, stiff, and complicated. So Strategist senior writer (and new mother) Liza Corsillo tested several to find one that is none of those things. The Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier accommodates four carrying positions and can hold a child up to 45 pounds. It also works on a range of adult bodies, fitting up to a men’s size 38 and a women’s size 16. “I love the cushioning on the shoulder straps and leg openings, which acts like shocks for my upper body and my son’s little thighs,” says Corsillo, who also appreciates the soft, cool feel of the fabric. She heard from other parents who say this carrier is great for naps and holds up through multiple kids. Most important, it’s easy to use. Says Corsillo, “I barely needed to read the instructions and never had to look at a YouTube video.”

Photo-Illustration: retailer

“I live in Calgary, wher eyou can ski the Rockies in the winter and hike them in the summer. I take this with me. I love that there are so many pockets. On one side I have a water bottle, and on the other I have bear spray. Because it’s the Rockies, you have to have bear spray with you.”

“I love my Lorna Murray hats. They give me a little height, they’re fun and colorful, and they really cover you from the sun. I have a bunch of colors, but this white with red coral might be my favorite. I wear it with my old Valentino or Andrew Gn pieces.”

“My friend started this body-oil business, and I first bought a bottle to support her but then ended up addicted to it. There’s bergamot, orange, lavender, and jasmine in there; it has an elegant scent. Sometimes I put it on before bed because there’s something about having that scent while you’re sleeping.”

Mass says decorative baskets make it easy to grab paper products and load them back up when you buy more.
Where cabinet space is limited, she suggests a round one like this.

Her general philosophy is that, whe npossible, paper goods should be stored high up and cleaning supplies should go below the sink. This wall-mounted, curved shelf is designed to hold stacked toilet-paper rolls, creating a cloudlike display.

A tall, soft-sided basket can offer extra flexibility to fit rolls into odd corners or tight spaces. Instead of trying to hide paper products in a neutral-colored bin, opt for something like this floral basket.

The goal is normally to avoid leaning towers of toilet paper, but this gold-tone stainless-steel lidded roll holder creates one that is discreet and won’t topple over.

It’s become an annual tradition for cookbook author Odette Williams to replace these simple, thin-strapped sandals with a new pair of the exact same shoe. The design, with a strap around the ankles and another across the toes, endears them to her, as they’re “great day-to- night shoes.” And though the brand notes that these start out stiff, Williams assures us they take one day max to break in.

These slides are a recent addition to Catbird founder Rony Vardi’s closet.
She wore them for the transition between spring and summer, and while she says they’re not as comfortable as Birkenstocks, “the cute-to-comfortable ratio is favorable.” Vardi says these could easily be mistaken for sandals from “a cool Japanese brand.”

This pair of leather flip-flops from Tkees has lasted three summers for Ruby Buddemeyer, director of copy and concept at Starface. The sandals are everything she wanted in a pair: low profile, not loud, and easy to throw on. While they have a thin silhouette, there’s some cushioning in the sole— and, most important, no break-in time. Says Buddemeyer, “These were comfortable right away.”

The Boomer combines the fisherman with the flatform for a sandal that’s “buoyed by a protective sole,” says Strategist writer Kitty Guo. The sandals’ chunkiness—they have a wedge of EVA foam on a lug outsole— keeps her feet away from the glass, gum, and the general grime of city sidewalks

In the weeks since getting these kitten- heel slingbacks, Wall Street Journal art and photo editor Alexandra Citrin- Safadi has worn them “pretty much every chance” she can. “It’s been a few years since I found a strappy sandal that’s this flexible stylistically and not vintage,” she says. Citrin-Safadi has also been “pleasantly surprised by the quality.”

Julep cups—which, if you’re unfamiliar, usually have a fluted rim and are made of silver, pewter, or stainless steel—are one of my southern gifting eccentrici- ties. They were a present of choice for special occasions when I was growing up in Alabama, and now I give them to mark everything from a new house to a milestone birthday to a divorce. I especially love them for weddings. When I know a couple well enough to stray from their registry, I send them a pair because the cups are not only nice-looking barware but like little trophies commemo- rating a special day. I usually pair them with a good bottle of bourbon and sometimes a great julep recipe. Julep cups are a perfect example of a New Orleans term that I use frequently (and only sometimes correctly): They are a lagniappe, which means a little fun extra. –Margaret Eby

I grew up with Mopiko in Hong Kong, where it is a medicine-cabinet staple. I usually pick up half a dozen tubes when I go home, but I ran through my supply early this year, so I recently stocked up online. It has menthol and camphor in it, so it cools itching immediately and smells sort of like mint gum. One tube will probably last a normal person through a whole mosquito- bitten summer, but I get swelling from allergy shots, too, so I slather it on my arms for that as well. –Kiki Aranita