Bracing For Tariffs: What to Buy Now, Before Prices Are Expected to Soar

But you love shopping! That’s okay, we all do. Buy your barrel jeans now—or, next time you’re in need, go on a ThredUp spree.

Sneakers

Taking Nike as an example case, sneakers that are on shelves now won’t be affected, but future drops will. A report by Footwear News speculates that costs could go up from $10 to $30, depending on the style. Air Jordans, specifically, are likely to get an $18 markup, a source told The Post. Assuming these trends apply across the industry, they won’t turn dunks from affordable to out-of-reach, but every little bit counts. If you’re the type of collector who likes to pick up new pairs fairly frequently, we suggest focusing on the must-must-must-haves.

Outdoor apparel

Don’t say they didn’t warn ya. Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle said in a statement, “President Trump announced that he plans to raise tariffs on imported goods…it will be a disaster for the American economy, employers and consumers.”

“Columbia Sportswear Company—along with many other manufacturers in our industry—will be forced to raise prices on our products. This is a massive tax on employers and consumers, not on China,” he continued. “Footwear and apparel are some of the most highly taxed products in the United States.”

“Furthermore, raising tariffs creates uncertainty, which makes it difficult for American business to make investments that can continue to grow the U.S. economy.” He said this in 2019, the last time Trump was in office. Let’s be so for real, outdoor apparel lovers. Look at the stock market. Are you gonna be taking vacation days to climb Half Dome any time soon?

Fragrances

As Marie Claire explains, certain perfume ingredients (and those used in home fragrance products) can only be grown in certain climates, and those climates, unfortunately, aren’t all in the lower 48. One CEO says AI can automate away some of the overhead…but we’ll believe it when we sniff it.

A much easier trick is simply separating your special occasion scent from your everyday. Sure, we all want to have that signature scent we wear absolutely everywhere, but it’s just as fun to choose a fragrance based on the day. For instance, at the gym or running errands, go with a couple spritzes of an inexpensive body mist. For work or a night with friends, Sol de Janeiro does the trick. That way you can still afford to spray on the luxury stuff for dates, weddings and other dress-up events.

Hair products

One particularly sad side effect of Trump’s tariffs is that they will hit small businesses extra hard. L’Oreal, for instance, probably has some wiggle room in its budget to increase prices incrementally. But if you make small-batch products by hand? Tough. “For smaller brands, the hurdles are steep,” says Elizabeth Patel, founder of À La Glow Holistic Skincare told Vogue Business.

It’s not like you can just stop washing your hair (believe us, we’ve tried), so, sadly, for this category, we must advise that you…pay more. There’s no getting around it.

Furniture

Don’t let “made in America” stickers trick you into thinking prices will stay stable. With furniture, one part may be from here, another there, using materials from who knows where and assembled in a third location (which is sometimes…your house!). For instance, Williams-Sonoma, which owns Pottery Barn and West Elm, will happily tell you all about the “furniture workshop” in North Carolina and how its pieces are “hand assembled in America.” But last year the company was fined three million dollars for applying “misleading” Made In The USA labels to stuff that came from China. We suggest jumping on those interior design projects ASAP. Alternatively, there’s always Facebook Marketplace.

Baby gear

Cribs, strollers, car seats, and other big-ticket items are going to get pricier, even as some Congresspeople work on a bill that would exempt such products from the tariffs in order to help parents. Consumer Reports suggests making purchases now if you have the cash, investing in pieces that will “grow with” your child, and shopping the sales. You may also qualify for a free car seat depending on your state of residence and eligibility.

Tech

Attention, iPhone and Apple computer users! Apple products are made in China and India and are for sure going to get more expensive. Obviously, you can’t always plan when your gear is going to break and need to be replaced, but think prophylactically. If you have Apple Care, extend it to an annual policy (this has saved me, personally, many hundreds of dollars). And get a nice, thick case for your phone. It’s not the prettiest, but the OtterBox is tough, and currently on sale.

Wine (to cope)

Yep, that’s getting more expensive too.