The Strategist

Teen-beloved brand Parke has collaborated with Target on a new collection, and our resident Gen-Z correspondent Bella Druckman got to try the pieces ahead of its official launch on Saturday, April 25. Head to the link in our bio to read the full review.

The phrase “clip-on earring” sounds gentle, "but the reality is that so many earrings made for non-pierced ears aren’t concerned with comfort at all," writes MacKinley Lutes-Adlhoch (@mackinleyjade), who, after two unsuccessful piercing attempts at ages 8 and 12, has relied on clip-ons her entire adult life. "The majority of them aren’t so much 'clipped' on as they are clamped to my ears like a fashionable mousetrap." Aside from the comfort factor, some "pairs dangle so precariously that they’re at risk of being swept off the ear by a gentle breeze. Or, the earrings are so obviously clip-ons that I feel like I’m stuffing my bra, performing sophistication with plastic Fisher-Price tools in my belt. So I set out to find an everyday silver hoop that treats my earlobe like a friend, not an enemy. My clip-on criteria: stays on securely all day, doesn’t cause injury, and can pass at close range for a real, grown-up pierced earring." The writer tried ten different pairs, both by brands she

Our favorite things from the past week, from Lena Dunham's sleep earbuds (that she learned about from reading the Strategist) to wall sconces that won't make you lose your security deposit. Read on at the link in our bio.

The Strategist staff are in constant research mode — weighing products for Best in Class inclusion, finding the newest releases in their respective beats, and reassessing old favorites. We thought we’d let you behind the curtain a bit and share what we’ve been testing this month. Read our April testing report at the link in our bio. What should we test next? Let us know in the comments.

Given Gen Z’s appetite for early aughts-era low-rise jeans and UGGs, it was only a matter of time before they claimed Rainbows as their own. Designed by surfer and Orange County resident Jay “Sparky” Longley in the 1970s, the sandals became especially popular in the early 2000s, with everyone from college students to Zac Efron and Kristen Stewart wearing them. Two decades later, Rainbow flip-flops are once again the shoe of the summer for anyone under the age of 24. Read more about why Gen Z loves these (admittedly tough to break in) sandals at the link in our bio. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Bella Radke, Finley Pierce

One of the easiest, lowest-barrier-of-entry ways to change up your space is through thoughtful lighting. A lot of ambience can be achieved with floor lamps and desk lamps. But sconces, which are most commonly hardwired to the unseen electric maze beneath your walls, are trickier. Generally speaking, renters aren’t installing those. It’d be rare for a landlord to allow such an involved project; depending on what you find underneath, it can turn into a logistical nightmare, and it’s not easy to undo once you leave. Luckily, the market of renter-friendly sconces — corded versions you plug in, rechargeable ones, and even some that require no drilling — is bigger than ever. At the link in our bio, Strategist senior writer Emma Wartzman talked to interior designers and avid home decorators about the most sophisticated-looking and stylish models they’ve added to their own homes. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Dan Pelosi, Madeline Scalzi

In this week's edition of the Strategist Beauty Brief newsletter, five of our fitness-focused staffers discuss the protein powders, creatine, and other supplements they're taking — and the ones they'll never touch again. ("Psyllium husk. I hated it so much," says writer Dominique Pariso.) To read the full conversation, sign up for the Beauty Brief at the link in our bio. Photos: Krista Bennett DeMaio, Crystal Martin, Arielle Avila, Tembe Denton-Hurst

"I am a committed dancing queen. In New York, I’d go dancing at Nightmoves, and in Paris I go dancing at the vinyl spots Parisians point me to, along with the occasional off-the-cuff dance on a barstool at my local cocktail bar, Kissproof," writes Simone Spilka (@constantwanderings), who recently moved to the French capital. "I’m often on my feet until dawn and then I walk home." Inspired by the women around her who seemingly roll out of bed in vintage Gaultier without ever looking too done, Spilka set out to upgrade her own style from the ground up. First on the agenda: A solid pair of boots. They "needed to transition easily from cobblestone streets to the dance floor and allow my feet to last until the last song," preferably with a pop of color and a two-ish-inch kitten heel. At the link in our bio, everything the writer tried and what she liked best. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Simone Spilka

Our favorite things we wrote about this week, from a stylish $40 backpack to our new best-in-class button-down for women. Read the Strategist Sunday Circular at the link in our bio.

Our favorite things we wrote about this week, from a stylish $40 backpack to our new best-in-class button-down for women. Read the Strategist Sunday Circular at the link in our bio.

The Shark CryoGlow mask is so good, even our writer Dominique Pariso's dad took notice of the change in her skin. And we're giving one of these bad boys away to a lucky Beauty Brief reader — sign up for your chance to win at the link in our bio.

The pen strap's simplicity caught the eye of New York senior visuals director Stevie Remsberg at the Bookbinders Design store in Geneva, Switzerland, and it's become an indispensible accessory. Get your own at the link in our bio. Photo: @_hugoyu