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New York Times
11-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
I've Tried Dozens of Pajamas. Nothing Can Beat These $9 Trunks.
Over time, I've noticed a few particularly well-designed details in the cut and construction that elevate these trunks above anything else in their price bracket (and even above some pairs that cost two or three times what these do). I find the fit generous without being baggy. The inseam is just long enough to keep me well-covered around the house (for modesty), and the legs are cut wide enough that the shorts don't pull or twist when I move my body or roll around at night. The trunks' fit allows you to wear them as you might wear actual pajamas, whether you're lounging around the house or briefly stepping out to pick up the mail. The most notable feature is the three-panel construction. Most cheaper boxers have a two-panel construction, with a seam running down the center back, but Muji's trunks are cut from three panels. This type of construction is usually seen only on more expensive trunks; in addition to eliminating the uncomfortable rear seam, it creates a more three-dimensional seat to better accommodate your butt and keeps the trunks from riding up. The Muji trunks' three-panel construction omits the center seam and makes them more comfortable. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter They also have a strip of fabric covering the interior crotch seam, also for comfort. All of these construction details add extra steps and time to the manufacturing process, but they produce a pair of boxers that look and feel like so much more than a pair of boxers. Everything about these trunks is designed for comfort and lounging. The clean, covered seams of Muji's trunks. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The especially sloppy, exposed seams of a pair of made-in-Italy pajamas are a stark contrast. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The clean, covered seams of Muji's trunks. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter But what really made me fall in love with these trunks is the waistband. I never thought I could ever be moved to care about the waistband on a pair of boxers. And then I tried these. Muji's boxers are the only ones I've ever seen that have an explicit mention of a reduced-tightness waistband in their product description. It is indeed the most comfortable waistband I've ever worn: It provides enough resistance to keep the trunks in place but has such a light touch that I never feel any actual pressure. The soft terry-like loops on the waistband of Muji's boxers. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter Cynically, I suspect that Muji used a cheap waistband and is marketing that decision as a feature rather than a bug. But in this case, I also believe that cheapness is a virtue; the most expensive boxers I've owned have covered waistbands with a strong elastic, and the result is infinitely less comfortable than the terry loops on Muji's low-resistance exposed waistband. The comfortable waistband, along with the crisp, breathable fabric, makes these boxers feel airy and laidback in a way that mimics the leisure and aesthetic purposefulness of real pajamas. I never feel like I am using underwear for off-label purposes. A nice-to-have would be the addition of a button at the fly, but its absence isn't remotely a dealbreaker.
New York Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
The 11 Prime Day Deals Wirecutter's Experts Have Been Eyeing for Themselves
$55 $33 from Target Free Target Circle membership required, with store pickup or Circle Card (queen) 'For my wedding, I put a fancy, well-known brand of sheets on my registry, but vastly prefer these sheets from Target. Every time they're put on deep sale, I grab a set,' says writer Alex Aciman (who also happens to be curating our roundup of Amazon Prime Day sleep deals). "These silky smooth sheets look and feel far more expensive than they are. They're not so heavy as to trap heat, and not so slick as to feel coated in some kind of artificial finish.' He's not alone in his long-term adoration of these sheets. They've been a Wirecutter pick for over a decade, with our writer Jackie Reeves calling them, 'the best sateen I've tested at this price, which has miraculously gone up only $5 (for a queen set) since we first considered these sheets in 2015.' And they're an even better deal today. $270 $200 from Shark While our beauty and style writer Hannah Frye has been testing the Shark FlexStyle for the last few months, her other hair tools have been gathering dust. 'My old-school hair dryer, flat iron, curling iron, and blowout brush have all remained untouched, and my hair has never looked better because of it,' she says, and Hannah's now thinking of buying her own. She's currently using the curly and coily set of attachments, which include a diffuser, auto-wrap curl barrels, an air concentrator, and an oval brush —all of which help her create 'any look I can dream of.' When we previously put the Shark FlexStyle up against its closest competitor, the Dyson Airwrap, with three different people with different hair lengths, curl patterns, and textures, we found that both performed well. But the FlexStyle was a better value, especially because it can effectively replace a traditional hair dryer — and with this discount, you're getting even more for your money. 'My sister's two favorite things in life are tennis and sleeping, and it's rare to find a gift that so succinctly combines each of her passions,' says writer Ivy Elrod, of these Sleepy Jones pajamas with tennis-themed embroidery. These giftable, stylish PJs are cut for men, and when we tested them, we liked that the button-up could be mistaken for a shirt-shirt, while the bottoms were cut more like trousers. But, as Ivy notes, they are 'supremely chic on women, as well.' Plus, she adds, 'The charmingly embroidered vintage rackets feel as though they could have stepped off the set of The Royal Tenenbaums .' Game, set, match. $73 $50 from Beis Travel 'As a first-time mom, I schlepped everything I thought my baby needed in a giant diaper bag. But with my second, I got smarter,' says editor Catherine Kast. 'I've been carrying the Beis Diaper Pack pick since my son was just a couple of weeks old. It looks like a utilitarian crossbody purse and fits just the essentials: a couple of diapers, a thin pack of wipes, my mini Mrs. Meyer's hand sanitizer, my wallet, keys and cheap sunglasses.' That's part of the reason why our experts call it the best diaper bag for carrying less. It's now $35, but shipping is $15 if you spend less than $150 — so Catherine's strategy is to buy one for her pregnant sister-in-law, in addition to some other travel gear from the brand to meet the shipping minimum. Writer Elissa Sanci has been using this Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush on the recommendation of her dentist for the last three years. 'I get complimented on my brushing every time I go in for a cleaning now,' she says. Our experts recommend it, too, because, in our testing, we found that this electric toothbrush runs quieter than our top pick but still has some powerful vibrations. However, Elissa doesn't need one, since hers is still going strong — but she is still thinking of getting another, to give away. 'The last time I visited my brother, I noticed that he still uses the same kind of drugstore toothbrushes we used to use as kids. It might sound silly to gift someone an electric toothbrush, but as my brother approaches 30, I think it's time he takes the next big step into adulthood,' says Elissa. 'I can't wait for my brother to feel that particular thrill of impressing the dentist, too.' $44 $31 from Amazon 'I have exceedingly sensitive skin, and am therefore deeply particular about my moisturizer, so I was shocked when a celebrity brand moisturizer won my heart,' says editor Hannah Rimm. The Outset was co-founded by Scarlett Johansson in 2022, but this moisturizer is a pick in our guide because of its gentle-yet-hydrating formula. It has some plant-derived ingredients, like avocado and jojoba oil, in addition to standby ingredients, like glycerin and squalane. Hannah says it smells like 'nothing,' which is a compliment. During testing, our panelists were especially impressed by the airtight packaging, which doles out pearl-sized drops, and Hannah describes it as 'deliciously luxe.' She's planning to stock up this Prime Day, because, 'This is the only moisturizer I've used for years.' $200 $140 from Amazon (10" and 8" set) 'All-Clad pans rarely go on sale. And when they did the last Prime event, I immediately hopped on the deal and scored a dazzling seven-piece set,' says our kitchen writer Maki Yazawa. But her mom wasn't as lucky, and though Maki's set isn't on-sale, this set of two All-Clad frying pans is. 'This is my chance for redemption. We definitely won't miss out on stocking her kitchen with a quality set of stainless steel pans this time.' They're considered a classic for a reason. In our testing, we've found that All-Clad skillets distribute heat evenly, are easy to maneuver and comfortable to hold, and can last for years (if cared for properly). 'While there's a slight learning curve, cooking and cleaning these pans is less intimidating than they seem,' says Maki, and we've got tips on proper care in our guide, as well. $258 $204 from Cuyana (small size) 'From having owned other Cuyana bags, I can attest that the material is solid and long-lasting, and the minimalist, sleek design is ideal to carry from work to errands and even dinner plans,' says our style writer Frances Solá-Santiago. She's now considering adding their Small Easy Tote to her collection. It's not as supersized as the Classic Easy Tote, which our pick for the best leather tote, but it is made of the same supple, pebbled leather with a similarly unstructured shape. It even comes with a two-year warranty. The main downside, according to Frances, is that, 'It's pricier than your average work tote, so getting it on sale (which is not often the case) is a good idea.' $120 $82 from Amazon Editor Megan Beauchamp is a relatively new homeowner who — when she's not stopping ant infestations — has been focused on decorating. Her most recent purchase is a white area rug for her bedroom, so she's eyeing the Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner. 'It's the top pick in our portable carpet and upholstery cleaner guide, and it comes highly recommended by my colleague Rachel Cericola, who says it can tackle kid stains, cat puke, and more gross stuff no one wants to touch,' she says, before adding, 'I just hope it can handle spilled coffee.' $70 $40 from Amazon 'While traveling, I'm lost (sometimes literally) without my phone, so a portable charger has become an essential. I even bring it to family gatherings because I hate missing photo ops or hunting down outlets at other people's houses,' says travel writer Maria Adelmann. And after borrowing this Belkin powerbank from her mom — our top pick for charging phones, tablets, and other small, handheld devices — Maria is thinking of buying one of her own, especially now that it's on sale. Maria likes that it can 'slip in a pocket, powers devices fast, and has blessedly unlosable built-in cables." We also recommend it because of the rugged build quality, two-year warranty, and responsive customer support. But more than anything else, according to Maria, 'It's the kind of no-brainer device I need when I've got 10 other things on my mind.' $38 $32 from Amazon Even our cleaning and organizing writer Caroline Mullen can do with some help getting her kitchen cabinets in shape. 'It's high time for me to address the inefficiency of my plate storage,' she says. And though she's wary of buying new organizers, Caroline is willing to invest in the products from Japanese brand Yamazaki Home. Their thoughtfully designed products are favorites among Wirecutter's experts for making the most of small spaces, especially kitchens, and according to Caroline, 'I'm hoping the Yamazaki Home Expandable Kitchen Riser will eliminate the infernal re-shuffling I have to do every time I want to access a bottom-of-the-stack plate.' Here are all of the best Amazon Prime Day deals, as curated by Wirecutter's meticulous team of journalists. The very best early Prime Day deals of 2025 are here, ranging from mattress and tech discounts to timely travel and luggage sales. These are the best deals on gift-worthy delights this Prime Day. Plenty of beauty products are on sale right now, but these Wirecutter-tested picks are actually worth the money. No more post-purchase regret.
New York Times
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Wrangler's $50 Jeans Are the Best in the Butt Business
Despite their name, Wrangler's Cowboy Cut Jeans (also known as 13MWZ) are not—and have never been—bootcut jeans. 'It's actually a straight leg that fits over a boot,' Vivian Rivetti, VP of Global Design for Wrangler & Lee told me in a video call. The cowboy cut is a high-rise, straight fit with an incredibly subtle taper, and it has a slightly pinched waist—more like a cousin of Levi's 501s than Kendrick's Celine flares. Wrangler's 13MWZ jeans come with a delightfully retro tag framing the back pocket patch. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter But unlike the Levi's 501 jeans, which periodically see redesigns and pattern changes, Wrangler's 13MWZ jeans have remained largely unchanged since their inception. (According to Rivetti, the last major change came in 1963, with the introduction of a new standard fabric for the line.) Straight-fit jeans have been popular since the inception of jeans themselves, but over the past few years, the larger design trend has moved away from the skinny-fit jeans of the 2010s. Go to the men's jeans pages for almost any brand, from Madewell to H&M, and you will see straight and baggy cuts pinned to the very top of the page. 'To me, the reason for this is quite simple,' said menswear writer Derek Guy, who has written about style for The New York Times (he's also known as the Menswear Guy on X). 'It's like asking, 'Why did skinny jeans come into vogue?' It's because millennials didn't want to dress like their boomer parents, and now Gen Z doesn't want to look like their millennial co-workers or their Gen X parents.' Guy also said we're in 'a western wear moment,' which is creating renewed interest in heritage brands like Wrangler. 'On social media we're seeing a really calm but forceful rejection of fast fashion,' Michael Kristy, founder of The Iron Snail and the popular YouTube channel of the same name, told me over the phone. 'With everything loaded with spandex, you hit a point where nothing you're wearing feels authentic, it feels like a painted-on version of the original. … Jeans that are constructed to be tougher stick out immediately.' Wrangler's jeans are, ultimately, still utilitarian. The 11⅛-inch high rise (skinny jeans might have a 9- or 9½-inch rise) and two additional belt loops in the back help a rider's shirt stay tucked in while they're sitting in a saddle, according to Wrangler. The thicker, flat-felled seam—usually on the inside of the pant leg—is instead placed on the outer part of the leg, since this is more comfortable for someone on horseback. Extra belt loops keep a belt in place, which in turn helps a shirt stay tucked in. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The front pockets have a more-circular opening, so it's easy to reach in at any angle, and the jeans' higher rise makes it harder for things to slip out. Wrangler's jeans also have hard, smooth, copper-colored rivets on the back pockets, creating a more-durable fabric attachment. The sloped, larger, more-circular pockets of Wrangler's jeans (on the right). Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter For its 13MWZ jeans, Wrangler uses a kind of fabric called 'broken twill.' Most jeans are made from a rightward-angled twill (this is why denim looks like a series of diagonal lines). Wrangler's broken twill fabric, however, changes direction, from right to left, every several stitches, giving it an almost chevron-like appearance. The result, Kristy explained to me, is a fabric that physically has more opportunities to fold over itself, making it feel a little less rigid. This allows Wrangler to use heavier, harder-wearing denim without sacrificing comfort. While I was wearing these jeans, they felt more drapey and softer than any other 14-ounce denim (like A.P.C.'s roughly 14½-ounce denim) would. The reverse side of Wrangler's broken twill (left) shown next to a standard righthand twill (right). Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter All of these touches yield a garment that feels more thoughtfully designed and more rugged than the price tag suggests. Testers agreed that the jeans felt substantial, bordering on premium—one guessed these jeans had a retail price somewhere north of $150. Another said that they seem like 'they would last longer than my Levi's usually do.' Compared with comparably priced jeans I've worn from Levi's and Uniqlo, the 13MWZ jeans are made from a heavier-weight denim that doesn't start to feel slouchy after a few wears. And the copper rivets and tight stitching make the jeans feel sturdier than these counterparts.
New York Times
05-02-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
This Down Jacket Has Kept Me Warm for 12 Winters. And It Comes With Free Repairs.
I spent 22 years rebuffing my grandmother's annual attempts at buying me a winter coat. Something about the folly of youth led me to believe that good cold-weather gear was for chumps, or that it said something about me if I was able to go without it. On occasion, she did manage to wear me down. Now, looking back, I can measure out the seasons of my life in the winter clothes she bought me: the corduroy-collar barn coat that I wore all through fourth and fifth grade; the green rain jacket with a concealable hood in high school; the wide, extravagant, charcoal scarf that she knitted for me ahead of my first Chicago winter, which draped across my shoulders like chain mail; the authentic sailor's peacoat which she trekked across New York City to find before my fall term abroad. When my grandmother passed in 2013, we found a small envelope of cash in her dresser drawer and divided it equally among her grandchildren. There was no question in my mind as to what she would have wanted me to do with the money, so I went to a sporting goods store in lower Manhattan during an end-of-season sale. Half an hour later, I walked out with the down coat I've worn for 12 consecutive winters: the Arc'teryx Thorium Hoody. Perhaps the biggest aversion people have towards down jackets is the potential for looking like the Michelin Man. Nobody wants to feel immobilized by puffiness or traipse around town looking like a marshmallow. However, down jackets on the thinner end of the spectrum are usually too thin to keep you warm in the dark days of January and February. As a result, my search for the right coat began something like a riddle: I asked the salesperson to help me find the least puffy jacket that I could still wear as a single layer on the coldest days of a New York winter. The Thorium Hoody was the only one that fit the bill. Arc'teryx is known primarily for its high-end, largely synthetic hiking gear. In 2013, the Thorium Hoody was a relatively new item in its lineup, and as one of the lone garments made primarily of down, it represented a unique product category for the brand. Unlike down layering pieces, the Thorium Hoody is designed as a standalone layer without looking overly puffy. Despite its slightly beefier build, it can still be smushed down into a parcel roughly the size of a Chipotle burrito when packed into its stuff sack. The jacket packed into its stuff sack, with a deck of cards for scale. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The original Thorium jacket falls right at the hip, with a slightly fitted waist and a gently curved hem. These subtle style elements add to the jacket's charm and keep you from looking like a schlub, but in my experience they also allow for a little more freedom of movement, while many other standalone down jackets can feel constricting. The jacket's throat is also high enough to act as a scarf when zipped all the way, which adds another dimension of warmth. The Thorium Hoody further separates itself from most other down jackets with its inclusion of synthetic insulation in places that tend to see the most rain in a downpour: the cuffs, shoulders, and hood. Though down is generally a tremendous insulator, it tends to lose some of its heat retention when wet, whereas synthetic insulation still performs well if soaked through. This adaptability offers the best of both and is particularly useful for city life, where I often find myself caught in a flash of winter rain without an umbrella. The Arc'teryx Thorium Hoody has down insulation through the sleeve, with synthetic insulation in the cuff. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter Although the Thorium Hoody is a standalone layer, you won't overheat in it, and it's easy enough to throw on over just about anything, whether that be over a sweater in January or a T-shirt in April. Three small flaws have appeared over time. The first is that its pockets are largely unsupported, so storing anything substantial means the jacket begins to look droopy. The second is that the shell material can start to look crinkly over the course of a season. Arc'teryx has since replaced the shell material on newer models, but with a lower-denier fabric. This might help it shed creases more easily but also probably makes it more susceptible to snags. The third is petty and has to do with the hood. It is, indeed, a very warm hood, but it was not designed for style. It is slightly bulbous and likely shaped to accommodate a climbing helmet, which means that I look silly with it on. That said, the hood allows for good visibility, whereas other insulated hoods often require owl-like head-turning in order to look to the side. In the last 12 years, Arc'cteryx has made a few notable improvements to the original Thorium Hoody. Its pockets are now lined with fleece rather than the external fabric, which sounds a lot cozier. Newer versions also have a two-way zipper, a breast pocket, and slightly less obvious divisions between areas of down and synthetic. While the original feels very thoughtfully designed, these are all small touches that I would really love to have had on my first-gen Thorium jacket. On a trip in 2017, I accidentally put a hole in the jacket sleeve. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter I weathered a blizzard in the Thorium jacket during the winter of 2020. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter A single-digit day in 2021, featuring the jacket's one major aesthetic design flaw: a very silly hood. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter On a trip in 2017, I accidentally put a hole in the jacket sleeve. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter More than anything else, it is the Thorium's build quality and durability that has shone through over the last 12 winters of relentless wear. While I tend to be more careful with my clothes than most, especially with investment pieces, nobody is that careful. The jacket has been dealt a few blows: There's the gaping hole that I put into the sleeve on a trip to Paris several years ago, which has been covered with an unsightly patch ever since. In the winter of 2020, the stitching on the back started to come undone. Two winters ago, the zipper pull snapped in half. I have never really rotated my jacket, and consecutive days of wear without rest puts exponentially more mileage on a garment. And being irregular about cleaning it (read: twice in 11 years) means that the down has also clumped together and lost a lot of its loft. Attached to the jacket as I was, it had started to look a little stale, and it was no longer really keeping me warm. This year, I finally took my jacket into Arc'teryx after the launch of its in-store repair program, ReBird. Arc'teryx used to have one of the more inscrutable warranty repair processes: no in-store service, long wait times of six to eight weeks, a cleaning fee if the garment did not arrive laundered, and repairs that were only sometimes free—all of which was enough to discourage me from sending my jacket in for repair for several years. This, however, is no longer the case. I visited ReBird in New York and was shown a menu of what it offers customers, from simple zipper pull replacements to full panel repairs on Gore-Tex jackets—all at no cost. ReBird, whose goal is to keep items out of landfills, will also wash and dry jackets (which, if you, like me, are anxious about washing one of the most expensive items in your closet, is a major benefit). My weatherworn jacket at the ReBird station, where it was assessed for damage and where I was offered a menu of potential fixes. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter At roughly $600, the Thorium Hoody now costs far more than it did a decade ago (I bought it for roughly $300 on sale), and the thought of spending that much is certainly hard to stomach. However, with how well the jacket has treated me over the years, and having witnessed its unfaltering durability, I would have spent that sum to replace it, especially given Arc'teryx's extensive repair program and the many design improvements. ReBird returned my renewed jacket to me in less than a week. It greeted me at the counter like an old friend, restored to a long-forgotten glory. Holding the jacket in my hands, it felt suddenly so airy and light, no longer bogged down by dirt and oil that had accumulated in its feathers over many years. A patch I hastily applied after tearing the jacket (left), and Arc'teryx's sleeker fix in matching black fabric tape (right). Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter Not only did the zipper pull need to be replaced, but the entire zipper itself was replaced. Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter A patch I hastily applied after tearing the jacket (left), and Arc'teryx's sleeker fix in matching black fabric tape (right). Alex Aciman/NYT Wirecutter Arc'teryx had not only replaced the zipper pull, but the entire zipper itself, which now glides so seamlessly that I marvel at it every time I put it on. The failing stitching on the back has been resewn, and the emergency patch I'd stuck to the sleeve years earlier has been replaced with matching fabric. After being cleaned, the jacket's shell is back to its former, slightly matte shade of black, and most importantly, the insulation has far more loft than it did when I handed it over. The jacket was, once again, ready to shed wind and cold during the single-digit weeks of mid-January. Its 12th winter would no longer be its last. When the jacket came to me in my early 20s, I never expected it to last as long as it did, nor did I realize that it signaled a moment in time when I had finally started to grasp some greater notion of properly looking after myself, which perhaps was what my grandmother was trying to communicate all along. Year after year it has remained impenetrable, traveling with me across the world and back home again, still carrying on. Few items last from your early 20s to your mid-30s, and yet, this jacket did. Which is to say, I no longer think a good winter coat is for chumps. This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder. Cleaning your down jacket at the end of each season helps ensure that it stays warm and toasty for several years. The Montbell Alpine Light Down Jacket (in women's and men's sizes) has a lightweight yet toasty fit to keep you cozy in snow, rain, and cold. New York and California have officially banned PFAS from clothing items. We explore what that really means, and what you should do with your Gore-Tex jacket. Want to stay dry? Our three favorite raincoats and rain jackets—in different styles, materials, and lengths—have you covered.
