Few things thrill me more than an indulgent buy at a budget price, so I always look forward to Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. The curated selection of discounts presents an opportunity for a quick mid-summer reset on everything from your daily routines to your upcoming vacation. It's also a worthwhile time to save on trendier brands and products that don't see many discounts outside of Black Friday — think swanky skin-care and makeup, chic clothing and shoes, and higher-end travel gear.

Of course, not all of the discounts in Nordstrom’s sale reach great-time-to-buy status, so we’ve limited these deals to only the very best from Nordstrom and competing retailers. Dive in below for some sweet summer savings.

Today’s toaster ovens are like Mini Me versions of full-size ovens, and they’re useful for so much more than making toast. They preheat in just a few minutes and can do everything from reheating leftovers to baking a cake. Larger toaster ovens can even roast a beautiful, golden-brown chicken.

After many hours of testing since 2015 — making stacks and stacks of toast, mini pizza bagels, and cookies — we recommend the small Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven and the large Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven, depending on your space and needs.

Some toaster ovens (ones with convection technology, like our larger pick) can even work with air frying recipes, though that may require some adjustments. But if you’re looking to do a lot of air frying in your toaster oven, you may want to check out our separate guide to air fryer toaster ovens.

Lap desks are like the athleisure of workspaces — not the most elegant option, but generally comfortable and functional.

After extensive research and testing, we’re confident that the LapGear Designer Lap Desk is the best one to use while you’re working from a couch or bed.

It beat the competition in comfort and build quality, has one of the widest and sturdiest surfaces of any lap desk we tested, and offers extra storage options for your phone and other supplies.

My own musical education began with radio, listening from the back of a green Ford Explorer while my dad drove me to kindergarten. The now-defunct “96.5 WHTQ, Orlando’s Classic Rock Station!” provided the soundtrack to my childhood. When I took over Wirecutter’s testing of tabletop radios, it was like being transported back in time, in the most delightfully nostalgic way.

What makes a great tabletop radio? That depends on who you ask. Sure, sound quality and reception are important, but our research has shown that many radio owners also want something stylish that will look great in their home. For others, perks like HD Radio reception, Bluetooth compatibility, or portability are a must. That’s why our recommendations cover a variety of radio functions and styles, from retro designs to colorful, portable options to more modern stereo setups. But they’ve all passed our reception and sound tests, too.

A label maker restores order where chaos reigns, provides context where it’s needed, and inspires even the most disorganized people to keep tidy. This gem of a device can even help with processing payments or turn up marketing leads with its dozens of labels, barcodes, and symbols.

With so many options at your fingertips, it’s best to select a label maker that’s easy to use and has a robust list of features. That’s why, after spending 25 hours testing 19 devices, we’re convinced the Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker is the label maker you’ll actually want to use again and again.

Top pick

Top pick, The best label maker Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker

Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker

This label maker has both a smartphone app and a built-in screen and keyboard. It’s lightweight and portable, prints quickly, and offers some of the most affordable tape we’ve found.

Buying options: $30 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

$45 from Walmart, opens in a new tab

At $40 (at this writing), the Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker is the cheapest model we recommend, but it packs a punch. The compact model offers the best of both worlds: Bluetooth connectivity for app-driven printing, as well as a built-in screen and QWERTY keyboard for typing out labels.

In our testing, we found those labels to be consistently sharp, high quality, and durable enough to survive multiple runs through the dishwasher. But we really love how easy it is to create and print labels with the Brother P-touch Design&Print 2 smartphone app (iOS, Android), which is equipped with a huge library of fonts, templates, and symbols.

Still, inexpensive label makers have some trade-offs. It’s not rechargeable, and it can’t auto-cut labels, unlike the Brother P-touch PT-P710BT Cube Plus. Instead, you need six AAA batteries or an AC adapter for power, and you need to use your fingers to actuate the built-in cutter (or a pair of sharp scissors to break up batch-printed labels).

Best for...

Best for..., Best label maker for small-business use Brother P-touch PT-D460BT Business Expert Connected Label Maker

Brother P-touch PT-D460BT Business Expert Connected Label Maker

This all-in-one label maker has a bright display and can print up to five lines of text. But it’s heavier than our top pick, and its replacement tape costs twice as much.

Buying options: $90 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

$91 from Walmart, opens in a new tab

If you like the flexibility of a smartphone app and a built-in keyboard but need robust design options for your small business, pick up the Brother P-touch PT-D460BT Business Expert Connected Label Maker.

It prints the same crisp, sharp, durable labels as our top pick, and it includes a library of more than 15 font styles and types, 140 frames, and 800 symbols. It’s also the only model we recommend with a two-year warranty.

But this label maker isn’t cheap — it costs $90 at this writing, plus another $20 for replacement labels. At 27.2 ounces, it’s relatively heavy, so it’s not as comfortable to hold while typing as our other picks. And similar to our other picks, it requires six batteries (AAs, in this case) or an AC adapter.

Best for...

Best for..., Best label maker for on-the-go printing Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube

Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube

This label maker goes all-in on the smartphone experience since it lacks a built-in screen and keyboard. It’s compact and portable, prints quickly, and offers plenty of customization options.

Buying options: $70 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

$70 from Walmart, opens in a new tab

$70 from Target, opens in a new tab

The Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube is a convenient, portable device that can get the job done no matter the labeling project. And though it lacks the built-in screen and keyboard that many longtime labelers may be used to, we find the familiarity of typing on a phone keyboard makes it easier to use overall.

At just 9 ounces, it won’t weigh you down if you need to schlep it on your daily commute. It’s at least half the size of our other picks, but the PT-P300BT Cube doesn’t skimp on fonts, sizes, frames, and templates. Replacement tape is expensive, starting at $14 a roll, compared with the PT-N25BT’s $7 refills.

Finding your go-to lipstick is no small task. You have to kiss a lot of frogs. And you also have to trek everywhere from local beauty stores to the far corners of the internet to consider all of the options — satins and creams, longwear formulations, mattes and gloss finishes, and even something called a cloud cream.

For this guide, we sought perfect classic bullets — the kind you used to rummage through your mom’s vanity to play with, admire, and sample. Luckily, such lipsticks are still out there. And they’re better than ever before: These lipsticks come in colors that work with a wide variety of skin tones, and they make lips look luscious while also managing to stay on through dinner, drinks, and hours of yapping.

In my search to find the best ones, I evaluated 202 lipsticks and tested 48 contenders (in multiple finishes and shades). Then I recruited 20 makeup lovers to try the 48 finalists for themselves, and we prepped, primed, and reapplied until we arrived at eight lipsticks that met our high standards. Our picks include two incredibly comfortable options from a classic brand, one with a versatile color range of wearable mattes, a sheer and shiny number that everyone loved, a creamy drugstore favorite, a refillable luxe splurge, a legendary sheer lipstick that lives up to the hype, and long-lasting liquid lip color.

Traveling well is not always easy. Keeping your suitcase with you when you fly not only protects your belongings from loss or damage, but may help you avoid extra fees as well.

If you decide to do so, you need a good carry-on bag.

Over the past 10 years, we’ve handled, tested, and traveled with 67 bags from more than 35 brands, and we remain convinced that the Travelpro Platinum Elite offers the best balance of value and quality for most travelers.

It packs five days’ worth of clothes into standard US carry-on dimensions and has premium touches you might expect from a $600 bag at about half the price.

It’s a bag that you can rely on for life, even if it’s damaged by airlines — a rarity at any price.

In this edition of The Gift, the case for gifting a thoughtfully-chosen pair of shoes. Plus, a great pair of summer sweats.

If I could have a superpower — and I’m being serious here — I would get dressed every morning, point down at my toes, and the perfect shoes (in fit and in style) would appear on my feet.

When I find a single pair of shoes that go with nearly everything I own, it feels like magic. It also means I’m going to wear them down to their tattered, mangled death. That’s what happened with my beloved black loafers. After five years — and hundreds of miles — of sporting them at the office, the airport, dinner with friends, and through all kinds of weather, it was time to say goodbye.

Then, in early June, in anticipation of my birthday, I scoured secondhand sites for a new (to me) pair. It was the best gift I could’ve possibly given myself.

So, yes, shoes can make excellent gifts. And no, not just to yourself because you know exactly what you want. Like any wardrobe staple, the right shoes transcend aesthetic differences — and can make for classic, versatile, and thoughtfully-chosen gifts. (But, of course, you’ll need to know your giftee’s size.) Here are a few pairs that my colleagues and I would be happy to wrap up — or, ideally, have wrapped up for us — for any occasion:

Margaux The Woven Paz

Buying options: $325 from Nordstrom, opens in a new tab

$325 from Margaux, opens in a new tab

Other than my loafers, the most-worn shoes in my closet are my black Mary Janes (they don’t sell my exact model anymore, but these come pretty close). But in the thick of summer they’re like a sauna for my feet. I’ve been eyeing this pair of Margaux flats as a hot-weather alternative. The woven, see-through style is having a moment, but these have a timeless silhouette. I have visions of wearing them with an all-white ensemble on my next beach vacation.

Flojos Olivia

Buying options: $40 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

$40 from Walmart, opens in a new tab

Speaking of beaches: My holy-grail flip-flops have held up on every shorefront I’ve stepped foot on this summer. But this elevated wedge pair that both head of newsletters Sofia Sokolove and writer Hannah Frye adore would make an excellent gift for any stylish gal on your list. Sofia recently wore hers with a lacy white slip skirt and Knicks championship tee (because duh). Most importantly, she says, “they were 10 out of 10 on comfort.”

Adidas Adilette Lumia Slides

Buying options: $40 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

More for the Great Flip-Flops Resurgence: These classic leather ones have an at-the-ready bottle opener embedded in the sole. And we have it on good authority — aka happy Gen-Z recipients — that these bubbly rubber slides are fire. I’m thinking about picking up a pair for my boyfriend ahead of our beach getaway at the end of this month. (Hopefully he’s not reading this.)

Seavees Women's Marin Mule

Buying options: $140 from Seavees, opens in a new tab

There’s something about mules that just scream Cool Girl to me. Maybe it’s the effortlessness of a slip-on shoe — that “I woke up looking chic” energy. I’ve been thinking about this monochrome rubber platform version ever since gifts editor Hannah Morrill put them on my radar. The almond-shaped toe feels polished without looking stuffy. I’m particularly drawn to the red — a neutral, in my book!

Sabah Fort Worth Brown Baba

Buying options: $200 from Sabah, opens in a new tab

More mules: Many of my colleagues, Sofia included, swear by these handmade leather ones that feel almost like a structured pair of slippers. Sofia’s undyed pair has developed a beautiful patina that gives them a sophisticated golden hue. She wears them with everything from dresses to wide-leg pants, and everywhere from the office to the beach.

Adidas Tokyo Shoes (women’s)

Buying options: $90 from Nordstrom, opens in a new tab

For something a little sportier, these lithe, minimalist trainers are sleek enough to wear in place of flats. Our style expert loves pairing hers with voluminous balloon pants and slinky midi skirts. I’m fond of the sage green and off-white colorway, for what it’s worth.

Crocs Dylan Clog

Buying options: $45 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

(price varies by color)

$55 from Crocs, opens in a new tab

And finally, when comfort is the priority above all else, how about clogs? These Crocs look more elevated than the brand’s most beloved and much-maligned design, without sacrificing the famed squishiness and comfort. When style expert Alexander Aciman donned them, his wife compared him to an “Italian architect from the 1930s,” if that’s your thing. Personally, I’m very into these made-in-Italy rubber clogs that come in bright, cheery colors. They would be great for the gardener in your life — or for anyone simply yearning for a relaxed pair of slip-ons.

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Getting dressed every morning can feel like a chore. Maybe you own too many clothes but always wear the same five outfits, or maybe your closet is so crowded that you forget what you have. That’s where digital wardrobe apps can come in: They help you catalog your clothes, plan outfits, and see your entire closet from your phone.

This episode, Wirecutter style writer Frances Solá-Santiago explains how digital wardrobe apps can help you get more creative with your clothes and shop more intentionally for new pieces. She shares why she recommends Indyx over other wardrobe apps, and why organizing your closet digitally can help you get more out of the clothes you already own. Plus, she shares how she used the app to pack for a two-week trip with only a carry-on.

This episode covers:

• How a digital wardrobe app can help you stop wearing the same outfits on repeat: Instead of digging through your closet every morning, you can use these apps to see everything you own in one place, which makes it easier to rediscover forgotten pieces and experiment with new combinations.
• Why Indyx stands out from other digital closet apps: Whereas some apps lean heavily on AI-generated outfits and avatars, Indyx focuses on a simpler experience that helps you organize your wardrobe while keeping the decision-making process in your hands.
• How a digital closet can make packing for a trip easier: Frances shares how she used Indyx’s collections feature to create a capsule wardrobe for a two-week honeymoon in Italy, fitting everything — including winter layers — into one carry-on.
• How these apps can help you shop smarter: Seeing your wardrobe all together can reveal patterns, such as if you own many pieces in the same color, and can help you decide whether a new purchase will actually fill a gap.
• Why digital wardrobes aren’t just for fashion lovers: Even people who wear the same thing every day can benefit from documenting their clothes, whether that means rediscovering forgotten T-shirts or simply making a favorite collection easier to access.

Products we recommend:

A sleek digital closet app Indyx

Indyx

This free app helps you catalog and organize your closet, so you can have a smoother getting-dressed experience. (Premium paid features are available.)

Buying options: Buy from Apple App Store, opens in a new tab

Buy from Google Play, opens in a new tab

CDs are enjoying a resurgence, and so are portable CD players. I recently wrote about the Syitren R300 portable CD player that I’d purchased for myself. Much to our surprise, that article took off, and the R300 sold out the same day we published the story — and again when we reposted it. We knew we were on to something, and we decided it was time to put this category through Wirecutter’s rigorous testing process.

As it turned out, when our testing was complete, the Syitren R300 remained our all-around favorite due to its excellent audio performance, easy operation, and simple design. But a couple of other CD players also stood out as good choices for people who want to get more features or spend less money.