Updated daily, the Buy section is a deep directory of stuff we love. From this collection we organize Gift Guides for the holiday season and special occasions all year long.
Made among the Green Mountains of Vermont, Ursa Major skincare launched in late 2010 to provide a healthy and effective alternative to chemical-laden products. By favoring organic over synthetic, Ursa Major promotes a “super natural” regimen of face wash, toner and shaving cream, and a fortifying face balm—the latter being our favorite. Each product in the line blends a variety of essential oils ranging from aloe, lemon and carrot to bamboo and cedar that come together with a pleasant, mild fragrance. Besides the effectiveness of the products, we like the simple, recyclable packaging emblazoned with the bear constellation for which the brand is named.
Made form buttery leather this cinch backpack is more than one bag—it’s reversible. Depending on your look for the day, it can be worn on either the black or mauve side. Better yet, it’s part of State’s #GiveBackPack program, which means for every bag sold, the ream at State hand-delivers another backpack full of pencils, notebooks, socks—you name it—to an American child in need.
Wheat-, gluten-, and soy-free, these Prime Rib Biscuits are for fussy pooches with health-conscious parents. Crafted with beef sourced in the USA, these treats also include olive oil, parsley, garlic and an oat flour batter—which all sound good enough for humans too.
KREWE du Optic makes specs and sunglasses inspired by founder Stirling Barrett’s passion for his hometown of New Orleans. Our pick from the brand for this winter is the new colorway for the St Louis: Blue Steel to Burgundy. Handmade with Italian acetate, durable hardware and superior lenses to protect your peepers, these sunnies should last a while—thanks to quality materials and timeless style.
Balancing a vibrant acidity with rich dark cherry and blackcurrant flavors, Cloudburst’s 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon delights with sophistication. Over the last few years, Cloudburst has found a home in some of the world’s best restaurants due to its smooth tannins and consistent nuance. The 2011 cab vintage is certainly one of their best.
Made in Japan, from Japanese cotton kimono fabric at a 100-year-old factory, these pants are a modern take—with Hamptons flourishes—on the traditional worker pant known as Monpe. Indigo stripes complement the navy cotton, offering visual texture but an understated, solid navy is available, too. This is premium loungewear, designed to be worn at home, on the beach or even out at night.
Jill Platner discovered her love of metalworking in NYC while attending the Parson’s School of Design, and began creating jewelry as a side project to her sculptural pieces. Her weighty bronze and silver keychains make an ideal gift for Bowie fans or anyone possessing an electric personality.
There’s no smoke without fire. Keep your lighter safe with one of these beautiful snakeskin cases from Beverly Hills-based designer Jacquie Aiche. The burgundy, black, cognac, cobalt or turquoise sheaths are adorned with a rebellious sweet leaf charm in gold vermeil, 14K rose or yellow gold.
With clear appeal to brandy and whisky drinkers, Calvados still sits under the radar of many curious drinkers. This Normandy-specific apple-based spirit tends to carries remarkable freshness and producer Christian Drouin’s aged iteration makes for the most dynamic of them all.
The world lives in all 360 degrees, so it makes sense that our cameras have made the necessary steps to capture it this way. Shooting 4K UHD video and still, in a full spherical 360-degree field of view, Nikon’s KeyMission 360 uses two Nikkor lenses and two image sensors to pull everything in. It’s also WiFi- and bluetooth-compatible, but more importantly, it’s water- and shock-proof meaning you can take it absolutely anywhere.
Dark, floral and with woody undertones, Narciso Rodriguez’s classic fragrance (launched back in 2003) might be a crowd-pleaser but it’s still sophisticated. With hints of amber, this scent is subtle, elegant and altogether lush. The black glass bottle also means the perfume lasts longer, with less disturbance from sunlight.
Whether getting a new gilled friend, or wanting to offer your goldfish a little vacation, this fish hotel aquarium is a thoughtful alternative to the traditional fish bowl. Measuring 20cm x 19cm x 19cm, the cubist hotel can be stacked to create a complex and is crafted from molded plastic and glass.
Make Milk Bar’s famous Compost cookies at home with their salty but sweet and foolproof mix. With chocolate, coffee, butterscotch and oats, all you need to add is butter, an egg and your choice of potato chips or pretzels—or just about anything else you can think up. Each can makes about 12 cookies (or perhaps one giant one?) and all their other flavors—including Blueberry and Cream, Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow, Confetti, and Corn—are available online too.
Take it back to the basics with this wonderfully simple pipe from Portland-based studio Pursuits of Happiness. Duo April Brimer and Pavel Cherny dutifully hand-make each piece from start to finish, in teal, green or pink.
For some, a work of art in a museum or gallery can require substantial consideration. For others, a passing glance will do. One can choose to read into symbolism, coloration and more—or purely enjoy (or despise) any type of art for aesthetic reasons. For all the aforementioned, and everyone in between, acclaimed painter David Salle’s book “How to See” offers a helping hand. A series of intimate portraits of Salle’s friends (including Jeff Koons and Alex Katz), peers and other inspirational artists, the work introduces the language of art in a way that artists themselves speak it.
Handmade in Seattle by award-winning metal- and leather-smith Robb Gray, Filson’s Desert Iron folding knife is crafted out of native Northwest wood and is built with full tang for maximum strength. Each individually numbered knife comes with a bridle leather sheath and certificate of authenticity.