Lauren Ro

New York

Writer at The Strategist

Used to be a film person, now I'm just a person. Writer @strategist, formerly @curbed.

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Articles

When ARQ Went Out of Business, I Went on a Hunt for a New Most Comfortable Bra

6 days ago | nymag.com | Lauren Ro

Bras Winnie tried. Clockwise from top left: Jungmaven, ARQ, Mate, and Blue Canoe. Photo: Winnie Yang When ARQ officially closed up shop in March, several Strategist staffers were crushed. The Oregon-based brand’s pieces were the most comfortable underwear we had ever worn.
Secret Strategist: This Summer’s Mary-Kate Olsen Tevas

6 days ago | nymag.com | Simone Kitchens |Lauren Ro |Erin Schwartz

Photo: Retailer This roundup of things we liked this week originally appeared in the May 8, 2025 edition of the Secret Strategist newsletter, a weekly email where we share the stuff our staff — plus a rotating cast of writers, design-world people, and various others with very good taste — would otherwise keep to themselves. If you want to get our picks straight to your inbox each week, sign up here. Every summer an awkward-chic sandal rises; we’ve found this year’s.
This Summer’s Mary-Kate Tevas Are a Pair of Keens

6 days ago | nymag.com | Lauren Ro

Photo: Retailer We first reported this in this week’s Secret Strategist newsletter, but I spotted these all-black Keens on Paris boutique Rendez-Vous’s Instagram the other day and loved how they were styled with a billowy skirt — only to realize that they’re the adult version of the sandals my kids wear. Somehow, the monochrome, tactical look registered completely differently, and now I want a pair.
We All Agree That Article’s Lenia Bed Frame Is the Best for Your Money

1 week ago | nymag.com | Lauren Ro

The Lenia bed in walnut in Strategist senior writer Emma Wartzman’s bedroom. Photo: Emma Wartzman Article’s Lenia bed frame is our long-standing best-in-class pick for its Shaker-inspired design, sturdy construction, and value. It comes in a few different styles, including one with a spindle headboard or one with a panel headboard, plus the choice of a canopy or built-in under-bed storage drawers.
Secret Strategist: Kate Berlant’s Merrells

1 week ago | nymag.com | Simone Kitchens |Lauren Ro |Erin Schwartz

Photo: Naomi McPherson This roundup of things we liked this week originally appeared in the May 1, 2025 edition of the Secret Strategist newsletter, a weekly email where we share the stuff our staff — plus a rotating cast of writers, design-world people, and various others with very good taste — would otherwise keep to themselves. If you want to get our picks straight to your inbox each week, sign up here.
What Strategist Editors Buy at Costco

2 weeks ago | nymag.com | Lauren Ro

Last summer, when we bought two Midea ACs plus our quarterly haul. There are two kids and two other adults in the car besides me, by the way. Photo: Lauren Ro Growing up in Los Angeles, we were a Costco family. The five of us would go to the members-only warehouse almost every weekend, stocking up on everything from toilet paper to trays of succulent peaches. We even got our contact lenses there (and gas, photo prints, furniture, washing machines — anything you could imagine).
I Tried Target’s Parachute Collab, and I’m Pretty Impressed

2 weeks ago | nymag.com | Lauren Ro

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers Target just launched a collection with Parachute that includes more than 200 items across bedding, bath, and décor. While the prices are more expensive than Target’s in-house home brands, they’re still a great deal considering Parachute’s tried-and-true quality.
OK Go Front Man Damian Kulash’s Favorite Things 2025

2 weeks ago | nymag.com | Damian Kulash |Lauren Ro

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photo: David Lukacs If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what everyday stuff famous people add to their carts — like hair spray or an electric toothbrush. We asked Damian Kulash — front man of OK Go, who just released a new album, And the Adjacent Possible — about the gluten-free pasta, subscription toilet paper, and kids’ art supply he can’t live without.
Secret Strategist: Spring Skirts and Y2K Lamps

2 weeks ago | nymag.com | Simone Kitchens |Lauren Ro |Erin Schwartz

Photo: Retailer This roundup of things we liked this week originally appeared in the April 24, 20205 edition of the Secret Strategist newsletter, a weekly email where we share the stuff our staff — plus a rotating cast of writers, design-world people, and various others with very good taste — would otherwise keep to themselves. If you want to get our picks straight to your inbox each week, sign up here.
Ninja Swirl by CREAMi Testing Review 2025

3 weeks ago | nymag.com | Lauren Ro

This tart frozen yogurt tastes exactly like Pinkberry’s version. Photo: Lauren Ro I love ice cream, but my tastes are simple. Häagen-Dazs’s coffee is my absolute favorite, while a cone of Van Leeuwen’s Earl Grey Tea is what I order when I’m out. (Honorable mention goes to Ashley’s Coffee Oreo flavor, available only in New Haven.) I also love soft serve, but only from McDonald’s, and I’m a die-hard fan of tart frozen yogurt from Pinkberry and 16 Handle.