Michael Zhao

1 week ago | nymag.com | Michael Zhao

I first moved out of my parents’ house at the height of the Great Recession, when American-made mid-century furniture could still be found at most Goodwills for under $30. Despite being subjected to a cross-country relocation and several subsequent moves, these solid wooden relics have outlasted dozens of their newly purchased counterparts. Some of the companies that originally produced these pieces are still around, like Bassett and Thayer Coggin.

2 weeks ago | nymag.com | Emma Wartzman |Michael Zhao

President Trump’s tariffs (which range from a minimum 10 percent, to, as of a mere hour ago, as high as 125 percent) hit this week. As my colleague Michael Zhao reported, this means the prices of goods are likely to increase across the board, from already-big investments like cars to smaller everyday products like face wash and laundry detergent. I reached out to dozens of brands of different sizes across categories to get a sense of what they are thinking and planning in the wake of this news.

2 weeks ago | nymag.com | Michael Zhao

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers The newly announced tariffs are already here, but their effects are still to be determined. Because they only apply to goods that are imported from here on out, the prices for items currently sitting in American warehouses are likely to hold steady for least a few more weeks. So if you’ve been saving up for any major purchases, it’s time to close the deal before the price hikes begin.

1 month ago | nymag.com | Michael Zhao

5 items in this article 2 items on sale! Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers Welcome to Jeans Month on the Strategist, where we’re obsessively vetting denim — from trying on every pair at the Gap to asking dozens of stylish people about their favorite fits. For more, head to our Jeans Month hub. Like many young men who came of age toward the end of the great recession, I believed in the value of raw denim.

2 months ago | nymag.com | Michael Zhao

MOST RECENT ARTICLES BY: Michael Zhao is a freelance writer and digital-media consultant. He writes a newsletter and was formerly a product strategist at Instagram, a line cook at Okonomi, and a deputy editor at Wirecutter. Read More air quality Feb. 19, 2025 The 8 Very Best HumidifiersThey’re the ones that are easiest to clean. smart home Feb.