Photo-Illustration: by The Strategist; Photos courtesy of the vendors
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- Flax (the stuff from the ’70s with weird spells on the tag are much better than the more present-day offerings)
- Uniqlo (the cotton-linen blend items are the way to go, and are extremely soft)
- Muji (the dresses in particular are great) -US
This one (from a brand beloved by stylish Melburnians) is perfectly minimalist and practical. And since it was designed for use in a country with a depleted ozone layer, it has a broad and bendy brim that offers actual sun protection, as well as a detachable chin strap. -KG
The owned-by-two-Strategist-editors, available-on-Amazon-for-$28 Milani is easy to pack down and is a nice bucket-wide brim-hybrid. The nearly identical Scala has a wider color selection. -KS
They’re exceedingly pleasant to wear on a hot bike ride to the beach. -LC
Like a (quiet) ocean breeze! And way cheaper than Dyson. -KG
Any $15–$20 version on Amazon will do. -US
(Kinfield’s wipes smell so good, some have taken to using them as cologne.) -DP
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
These colorful DEET-free stickers are infused with essential oils and can be slapped onto any article of clothing. -SK
There is something understated and appealing about its non-OFF! citronella, geranium, and, cedarwood scent. You can also use it to calm irritated skin post–bug bite. -SK
After a year of constant use as PJs, workout clothes, et cetera, they’re still in great shape. -ICE
You can find them on eBay or Poshmark, and there are actually a few pairs left on Amazon. -US
There’s a strong Japanese influence to some of its newer designs, like the barrel-style Voyager pants, the Yohji-esque nylon flare pantsand the linen-cotton overalls. -WY
The site has an integrated proxy service, so it ships to the US for a fee. -ICE
Editor’s note: These shorts are out of stock, but Zara has similar cozy, colorful, and affordable options available, like these blue Striped Plush Shorts.
For instance, GOAT recently had a pair of Li-Ning Furious Riders that retailed for $217 on sale for $82. They make a perfect summer sneaker. -ICE
Think Mexico 66 Onitsuka TigersReproduction of Found’s German Military Trainerand, of course, the Samba — of which the Wales Bonner variant is surprisingly not played out yet. -LC
They’re as comfortable and breathable, but for half the price. -CM
It’s worth it for its distinct white-pepperiness. -CP
Food writers Fanny Singer and Michael Harlan Turkell are both fans. -EW
It’s sheer, small, colorful, and light, but the woven nylon can hold the weight of a MacBook comfortably. -CP
My flower girls and I will all be carrying one down the aisle. -LC
It also works great for dog-walking, as there’s a pouch that perfectly fits poop bags. -A A
This one, from maker ColoresdeMexicoMX, is a they $26 and has a handy top so your belongings don’t spill out. -CP
I’ve worn her herringbone chain necklace and rings in and out of various pools for the past few summers, and they’ve not tainted at all. -BG
This glass one from Ikea looks much more expensive than it is ($6!) and is also incredibly durable. -EW
Mine look as great as the day that I got them over five years ago. -EW
And and are much cheaper than her actual tablecloths. -KS
It comes in tons of amazing patterns and can keep a four-pack of seltzer, plus some cheese and crackers, cool for hours. -LC
You can consistently find them on 1stdibs and Etsy; the store Ambiances Boutique has an especially well-priced and consistent stock. New Dimes Square bar Le Dive appears to use them. -ICE
They’re endearingly creased, but still flattering thanks to a high rise and slight taper. -LC
Trust me, I’m three summers in. -LC
It runs a bit big, so I recommend sizing down. -TDH
It was my go-to while van-living in the Southwest, and never seemed to melt or get sticky in the heat. -KG
She says the nice-smelling formula evens out and prolongs her tan without irritating her sensitive skin. -CP
It generates much less ambient heat and, as a bonus, offers a lot more control when you’re cooking. -WY
I highly recommend the kindercore Colorama line, but as any coastal grandma would tell you, you also can’t go wrong with the classic vintage white. -JT
The blades are super-small, so they’re easy to control (good when navigating your way around big stem-y and viney plants, or snipping small leaves off of, say, basil). But they’re also sharp as hell and can easily cut through woodier herbs like rosemary and prune tomato branches. -EW
I use it on my armpits in the summertime, and it stops them from getting stinky — no matter how much I sweat. -CM
The boxed-wine-style vessels with spigots hold between one and five liters and make it extremely easy to refill any bottle, tray, bubble toy, or bubble machine with no mess. -JT
It’s inexpensive, easy to find, and designed to be worn for multiple days through sweat and showers — so the adhesive never fails. -JMW
They have plenty of pretty but covered-up options, with flute sleeves and maximalist prints. -AP
It is smooth, luscious, and neither too dark nor too light. -LM
I bought a pack in a pinch before a trip to Mexico — they were easy to apply, stayed on through the whole week, and won me a compliment from my very discerning mom, who thought they were done at the salon. -A A
They have a stretchy fabric band instead of a rubber strap, making them more gentle on delicate hair, plus they come in lots of fun colors and prints. -JT
The company partners with great coffee roasters across the country to make each set. You store them in the freezer (so they really never go bad), thaw them one at a time, then add cold water and ice. -EW
They have a thin, grippy Vibram sole and a thong-style strap system. It’s like an adventure flip-flop. -JR
As a lifelong soccer player, I’ve always been fond of these wonderfully comfortable sandals — the footbed is molded just right, without any break-in period or eventual gross black footprint on the sole. But now that they come in tons of colors and patterns, I can’t stop adding to my collection, even though each pair lasts for years. I think I’ll try tortoiseshell next. -JT
Photo: retailer/TUCKER ADAMS
You never know when you or your road-trip buddy might accidentally leave a light on overnight or when your battery might crap out. -JR
(Ditto for Barbara’s jalapeno cheese puffs and Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop kettle corn.) -JT
They’re very easy to fill and unmold, and the resulting shark pop is exceptionally cute. -WY
They are extremely comfortable and only good in black, IMO. -LC
A hardcover edition will be released in November, but there’s something about the OG paperback edition that just feels in the know. -TDH
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