You may have noticed some posts from our friends at the Strategist on the Cut. They’ll be dropping in every now and again, sharing their expertise on the basics you don’t have time to research and the weird and wonderful things you don’t yet know you need.
I know I’m not the only one who’s been tricked by “fake fall” this week. So until it actually gets below 70 degrees (I live in Texas, for what it’s worth), I’ve decided to do a little pretending (and hoping) with my sales picks. A slew of nice jackets that I’d like to wear ASAP are on sale at Urban Outfitters; there’s a lot of cute stuff up to 60 percent off at Gap Factory, which is much better than I remember it being back in 2009 when my mom and I frequented the one in our outlet strip mall; and there are still plenty of deals at Nordstrom, even if you forgot about its Summer Sale.
On the beauty front, Ole Henriksen’s sitewide Friends and Family sale began today, so you can stock up now on skin care for drier, cooler days (again, manifesting). Everything is 30 percent off, and orders over $85 get a special set of goodies with purchase. I’ve included a few Strategist best sellers from the brand below.
In other sales news, writer Arielle Avila rounded up this month’s batch of the best boring things on sale, and I spruced up our guide to the best mattresses on sale, in case you just couldn’t get yourself to pull the trigger on one during Labor Day weekend. Lucky for you, there are still plenty to choose from.
As always, make sure to sign up for the new Strategist Sales Alert newsletter to receive each day’s best deals in your inbox. And if you want even more deals, sign up for our regular email newsletter, which includes deals just for newsletter subscribers.
Levi’s Original Trucker Jacket - Partly Masked
Urban Outfitters is taking 30 percent off hundreds of early fall essentials, like sweaters, graphic tees, and dresses. But I was most enamored by all the excellent jackets on sale, particularly this pin-striped one.
Dickies Madison Denim Jacket
A nice dark wash option from Dickies.
Levi’s Skateboarding Garage Jacket
And one if you’d like to avoid buttons altogether.
Gap Modern Trench Coat
Everything is up to 60 percent off for Gap Factory’s Fall Sale. Here’s a classic trench coat for less than $50.
Gap Crewneck Cardigan
To stash in your purse for overly AC’d offices.
Gap Mid Rise Denim Leopard Mini Skirt
According to the Strategist Slack chats, leopard actually counts as a neutral. Thus I present: a neutral skirt.
Gap Kids & babyGap 100% Organic Cotton PJ Set
The kids’ section of Gap Factory’s sale has a lot of cute stuff for Halloween, like these glow-in-the-dark pajamas.
BabyGap Halloween Crew Socks - 4-Pack
I am obsessed with this sock set.
Gap Vintage Soft Crewneck Sweatshirt
And over at regular Gap, one of our favorite crewnecks (that also earned a spot in the Strategist Menswear 100) is on sale.
Paul Smith Merino Wool Signature Stripe Scarf
Ssense has a cache of deeply discounted Paul Smith on sale. I particularly like the winter accessories, starting with this all-wool scarf.
Paul Smith Gray Signature Stripe Beanie
I know we’re not in beanie territory yet, but you’ll need this sooner than you think. Might as well get it while it’s over $100 off (!).
Paul Smith Navy Artist Stripe Gloves
Some semi-secret stripes.
Paloma Wool Patum Stripe Gloves
Some more striped gloves, this time from Paloma Wool, which I found in the still-good Nordstrom sales bin.
Le Bon Shoppe Boyfriend Socks - French Blue
Very good socks (Joanna Goddard’s favorite) in a lovely cornflower blue.
Repetto Lilouh Ballet Flats
This weekend, all sale items at Anthropologie are an extra 40 percent off at checkout. This is probably the cheapest I’ve ever seen a pair of Repetto ballet flats get.
Soak Laundry Soap
A few years ago, writer Dominique Pariso named Soak’s no-rinse laundry soap the very best thing she bought all year, as it saved her loads in dry-cleaning. It comes in six elegant scents from fig to yuzu, and there’s a fragrance-free option, too.
MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara
Several MAC products are on sale at Nordstrom, including our favorite precision mascara. Because the small brush can get to the root of the lashes, it’s the mascara of choice for tricky bottom lashes. “The wand is so small that you can get into every nook and cranny of the lash line,” makeup artist Natalie Dresher explains, adding that she’ll use it to “build up the bottom lashes for a sultry, smoky look.”
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Crème
Everything at Ole Henriksen is 30 percent off through September 16. Our readers buy the brand’s culty Banana Bright+ Eye Cream in droves ever time it goes on sale, and for good reason: It’s loaded with vitamin C, which banishes dark under-eye circles, and it keeps under-eye concealer in place.
Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment
Peptides truly are the “It” ingredient in lip treatments right now. Try the trend (for less) with this plumping balm — which comes in four shades — to keep your lips hydrated and soft.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil
A little goes a long way with this frizz-fighting hair oil for medium-to-thick hair types.
Nécessaire The Shampoo
Writer Arielle Avila says her scalp hasn’t been as irritated or itchy as it was before incorporating this fragrance-free shampoo into her hair-care routine. The matching conditioner is on sale, too.
Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
If you’re looking to grow out your hair, Spoke & Weal co-founder and color director Christine Thompson likes this peppermint-rich shampoo from Aveda, which she says “helps stimulate circulation to the scalp and [is] clarifying, leaving the condition of the scalp good for growth.”
Wonder Valley Hinoki Bar
Hand soap that smells like a Japanese onsen.
By Anthropologie Ginny Gingham Table Runner
A sweet gingham table runner that comes in four colors, each with colorful piping along the edges.
Anthropologie Ginny Gingham Napkins - Set of 4
And the coordinating napkins, of course.
Anthropologie Maude Coupe Glasses - Set of 4
These sculptural coupe glasses are so inexpensive right now — under $5 apiece!
The Ark Elements Spiral Nicola Plate - Rainbow
If you like your dinnerware to make a bold statement, lots of beautiful plates are 20 percent off at The Ark Elements.
Lund London Little Lund Lunch Box
A cute three-compartment lunch container for only $12.
Anthropologie Misona Bath Mat - Lilac
Anthropologie has, in my opinion, some of the cutest bath mats on the market. Here’s one in a lovely lilac shade.
Maeve by Anthropologie Scalloped Bath Mat
And this scallop-edge option comes in two sizes: as a mat (pictured here) and as a runner.
Goodpick White Laundry Basket with Handles
Amazon is inflating the original price, but this is still a really good deal on our best rope hamper.
Coyuchi x Anthropologie Organic Valencia Duvet Cover - Full/Queen
This is the cheapest you will ever see a duvet from Coyuchi, so act quickly! (For what it’s worth, I love every Coyuchi piece in my bedding lineup.)
Helix Dawn Mattress - Queen
Everything at Helix is 27 percent off for the entire month of September when you use the code STRAT27. Helix’s Dawn mattress is our favorite (affordable) hybrid mattress, with former Strategist associate editor Louis Cheslaw writing that he “drifted off as quickly as I ever have, regularly slept through the night, and never woke up feeling hot, sweaty, or achy in the morning.”
Helix Down-and-Feather Pillow
If you’re not in the market for a new mattress, I suggest nabbing this best-in-class down pillow. Its core is filled with a sturdier down-and-feather blend, giving it a high loft of six to eight inches.
Core Products Tri-Core Cervical Pillow
For a pillow designed to alleviate neck pain, our favorite is this simple fiber-filled pillow from Tri-Core. Junior writer Brenley Goertzen tested it for a few nights and said the pillow helped align her head with her spine, while the contoured cervical support took stress off her shoulders.
Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner
Writer Katherine Gillespie, who’s been testing soft luggage lately, has Lipault’s puffy ones next on her list. If traffic-cone-orange isn’t your jam, there are six other colors to choose from.
Vera Bradley Adair Rolling Duffel Bag - Kew Gardens Colorblock
I’m eyeing this color-block rolling duffel bag from Vera Bradley, of all places.
STATE Bags Mini Logan Carry-On Suitcase
More color-block luggage, this time for toddlers.
Glad Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags - Febreze Fresh Clean, 110 Count
And one boring buy before I go: a great deal on plenty of kitchen trash bags. For even more household essentials on sale, check out Arielle Avila’s roundup of boring things on sale here.
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.
