It was after Labor Day; who could blame Cat Marnell for forgetting her sunscreen on a trip to the beach? Her friends-who-will-look-60-when-they're-40 had nothing but a tropical oil spiked with SPF 4. The hideous sunburn that resulted required serious treatment; here, the regimen that worked: aspirin (brings down inflammation), calming lotions (like Kate Somerville's goatsmilk cream) and concealer (Mally's Cancellation Concealer).

While these miraculous shower gels—they leave SPF on your skin after they're rinsed off, crazy as it might seem—are not enough to protect a person all day at the beach, they do give you a head start. And they're better than nothing for the truly derelict.

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We started using these mists during the summer—Condé Nast laudibly goes into "energy conservation mode" when the temperature rises past a certain very-warm degree and nonessential lighting is turned off, the AC seems to blast at about half-power, and we all take off our hideous "office cardigans." The face spritzes were wildly appealing during these warmer moments, but we remain fixated on them—particularly good for that 4pm I-have-no-energy-give-me-cupcakes slump:

Lauren Hutton Soft Cover Wet Foundation

Dior HydrAction Deep Hydration Refreshing Spray

Burt's Bees Cucumber Complexion Refreshing Mist

Sonya Dakar Aromasol Mist

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Staff editor Jennifer Romolini just bought--and can't stop raving about--these black peep-toe slingbacks. They're as sleek and as goes-with-anything as can be, but their true genius lies in the fact that despite their two-and-a-half-inch heels, they're insanely comfortable. Flaxseed pillows that conform to the shape of your foot are embedded in the soles, resulting in perfect, customized support. They're also made of super-soft deerskin, which is easier on the feet than other, stiffer varieties of leather. Jennifer's so taken with them she's already put in an order for a pair of pumps from the same manufacturer (which goes by the unfortunately hokey but accurate name, Gentle Souls).

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Right now all I want to wear to work are grown-up lady dresses from the late-70s/early 80s (an overall amazing post-disco,pre-punk fashion era where everything was soft and slinky and a little bitfeminine-academic). All of these pieces make me feel very Meryl Streep inKramer vs. Kramer after she leaves Dustin Hoffman and comes back all empowered or like a hot 1979 bank teller who assists the sexy leading man in a heist movie, but I especially like the tie-neck versions.

They're also perfect for this weird, in-between season with bare legs and high-heeled, round-toe boots. Just pull your hair in a neat little bun, grab a slouchy leather bag and you're ready to go.

Search trick: I found these, oddly, by searching under "ascot" in the Vintage section, you can also find them more globally under 'secretary' in Women's Clothing.

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Williams-Sonoma Home added embroidered bedding to its inventory recently… and I'm smitten. I just got a set of the Hotel Medallion sheets, which are made of smooth, cool-to-the-touch sateen Egyptian cotton. The stitching has a feminine, modern-Moorish feel to it, and though it's pretty enough to stand on its own, I had mine monogrammed with my initials (at only $6 more, why not?).

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I don't think it's possible to find a better-looking side table for such a shockingly affordable price ($29!). This clean-lined pedestal style from Urban Outfitters is emblazoned with a damask-like pattern that, upon closer inspection, features a series of woodsy animals (deer, birds) embedded in the print. It's paired with a straightforward, plain white enameled metal bottom. The table is also available in a few different motifs, ranging from a punky crest to an Asian-inspired floral.

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Downtown New York shop Auto recently added a bunch of Missoni Home products to its inventory—my favorite of which is this cylindrical black and white ottoman. The floral print has an exotic, abstracted batik feel, and is as bold as you'd expect from the Italian fashion house, though the restrained palette keeps the piece from being too over-the-top. The patent leather handle adds a cool hint of shine and makes it that much easier to move around and to use in various scenarios (as a side table, footrest, extra seating, or the most glamorous stepping stool ever). And though it's not exactly a bargain, considering that Missoni's dresses often cost three times as much and aren't nearly so practical, it's not that horribly priced either.

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Though for me, cooking is an infrequent endeavor, whenever I do I wish I had a salt box. There's something that's glamorously chef-like about grabbing a pinch of seasoning, particularly when it's from a vessel as beautiful as this one. Handmade in France of perfectly grainy, marbled olive wood, this model also has a swiveling top and a nonslip rubber bottom.

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The other day editor-at-large Gigi Guerra was sporting the most incredible bracelet, comprised of fine gold mesh and a teensy buckle. Disappointingly for her envious coworkers, she found it at a flea market, but Gigi ended up scouring the Web for a near-identical version. This one from Day-Lab is made of delicately wrought brass, which gets even cooler as it weathers, and is actually dead-stock vintage. They've got a limited supply, and at $7, it's astoundingly well priced, so place an order fast.

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I was recently at a photo shoot and asked the hairstylist what I could do to give my long, stick-straight hair a little more oomph. He immediately rifled through his kit and handed me a bottle of Frédéric Fekkai's Glossing Sheer Shine Mist. Though I've never been one to use styling products, I'm now totally hooked—I've been using it daily ever since. The mist adds a subtle (but crucial) bit of volume and bounce, and true to its name it leaves my hair lush and shiny. You can spray it on wet or dry hair, and as an added bonus it's got the most appealingly crisp, vaguely citrus scent.

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