You’d think I would be sick of all the gift guides, Instagram flash sales, and Black Friday offers by now. But every year, as they roll in, I find myself scrolling giddily. Herewith are the results of that endless scrolling.
For a more extensive array of ideas, you can take a look at last year’s guide, or the one before that. Truly, I am shocked at how many new things I find myself ogling and recommending and wanting for myself each November. And yet, here we are, for the third year, contemplating this wishlist of sorts. It’s shorter than my past ones because having two kids is no joke! And because I’m heading to Argentina with the family to celebrate my brother’s wedding. (Packing for four is no joke either.) Family time = the greatest gift of all. Don’t forget it!
**Note: If you’re getting this by email, it’s a long one—be sure to hit “View entire message” at the bottom to see it all. In no particular order…
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
I’ve long been a fan of my 26-oz steel Yeti cup, but it seems the 30-oz Stanley quencher is the water bottle of the moment. I appreciate that it has a handle and a narrow base to fit in a standard cupholder. It also offers multiple ways to drink if you get bored of the straw. (But why would you?) If they don’t need 30 ounces of hydration, and they’re intrinsically a chic person, this Georg Jensen water bottle is beautiful. If we’re really going out there, this Andy Warhol Perrier print is something (or a poster of it!).
Indoor shoes
I saw a pair of sherpa slippers on my friend Katherine almost a year ago and immediately wanted my own. They looked perfectly cozy for winter mornings at home. Alas, Bombas had sold out of their Sunday slippers and they were nowhere to be found on the Internet. Until now! The company released a new and improved Sunday slipper just in time for the colder months—and they’re just as good as I thought they’d be. For your fancy friend, Tekla and Birkenstock just debuted a collaboration and the shearling clogs exude warmth.
Making memories
Polaroid cameras are just plain fun. We’ve used them to chronicle our kids’ growth each month, but I also love the random ones I find around the house, resting on a bookshelf, or taped up haphazardly on the fridge. They capture precious moments in a casual way. We have a polaroid shot from our wedding blown up into a poster that now hangs in our bedroom. This is all to say, a polaroid camera with a couple of boxes of film makes a perfect gift. Even better, Leica just came out with its own version, the Sofort 2, which takes things to the next level. You can print photos instantly, but you can also share them to your devices (and vice versa) easily via a digital screen.
Cook a book
There are always exciting new cookbooks to gift, beginning with Adeena Sussman’s Shabbat. (I interviewed Adeena for this newsletter earlier this year.) Pair it with a simple cookbook stand. Then, two Bon Appetit alums have their own books coming out: Sohla El-Waylly debuts her first book, Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook, and the cover alone feels like a refreshingly accessible kitchen companion. This one is for your friend who would love to cook more, but doesn’t know exactly where to start. Molly Baz’s second book, More is More, is about loosening up in the kitchen. Her cookbook merch, from t-shirts to tote bags, is fun.
A good cup of joe
I feel like a broken record, but I don’t think there’s a better classic coffee machine than the Technivorm Moccamaster. I’m not sure how, but it brews any coffee grounds you buy to perfection and is so simple to use. Basically just an on/off switch! And it comes in a range of colors for the aesthete in your life. For tea lovers, I love my Fellow electric kettle, but this one from Alessi is a classic and looks pretty in the kitchen. As far as drinking said coffee or tea, this set makes me smile.
Set the table
Here are a few ideas that could up your (their) hosting game: A post-modern ice bucket, a ribbon-laden tablecloth, a salad bowl shaped like a watermelon, Courtney Cox’s incredible-smelling hand wash, a chic metallic apron, and a cocktail tonic that looks like mermaid juice. You can also always peruse Etsy and support sellers from countries that need it most. I recently bought a set of placemats from Ukraine, inspired by a Shabbat dinner at my neighbor’s home.
For the vanity
Beauty and skincare are deeply personal and yet, always make for appreciated gifts. Skincare is particularly tricky, but if you know your recipient well enough, then maybe a good eye cream, a gentler alternative to Biologique Recherche’s cult exfoliator P50, or a luxurious face cream.
In beauty, Bobbi Brown’s latest brand, Jones Road, has a very holiday-friendly product kit. All of it is very un-fussy and natural-looking. The same goes for Merit, whose flush balm is a true blush MVP; their Five Minute Morning set covers all your bases. As for something I personally just purchased, Victoria Beckham’s shimmery eyeshadows are very glam. In other fashion brands that have recently entered the beauty space, Prada and Dries Van Noten have colorful palettes. I haven’t yet entered the Rhode fan club, and yet I know the peptide lip tint would make a good gift for anyone into lip products these days. I’ve also been eyeing this Fara Homidi lip compact, but couldn’t justify the price tag. But is it not the most perfect shade?
I’m wary of beauty electronics, mostly because I haven’t used them myself. That said, I already have concerns about my neck. It’s Nora Ephron’s fault, really. “It never crossed my mind that I would be nostalgic about a part of my body that I took completely for granted,” she wrote in her essay on the subject; it’s part of her book, I Feel Bad About My Neck, another gift idea. This is all to say, I’m curious about this Higher Dose neck enhancer, okay?!
Small and shiny
Not all beloved jewelry has to break the bank. I’m constantly drawn to newer, smaller brands doing exciting sterling silver or gold-plated pieces that I wouldn’t mind wearing just about anywhere. Like these gold drop earrings from Lié Studio, founded by model twin sisters Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard. Or Alighieri’s vaguely Mediterranean-feeling pieces, like this catch of the day necklace on red thread. Completed Works makes fun use of metals, pearls, and stones—sometimes all together, sometimes on their own, but always to admirable effect.
And Roxanne Assoulin, who celebrates 40 years in the business, has pages worth of goodies to scroll through, especially for the younger crowd. I like this silver beaded necklace and these hoops, even though I probably can’t pull them off. And these colorful cascade earrings. Plus, in honor of her anniversary, she put a few pieces from her personal collection up for sale and while very few pieces are left, this dangle necklace is definitely unique. Lastly, in fancier territory, I didn’t know Tiffany & Co. sold an oversized Elsa Peretti bean pendant, but now that I do, I can’t stop thinking about it. Also a forever fan of her open bottle design.
For the kids
Because they’re the primary recipients of our gift-giving now. The nugget play couch is a seat, a fort, a slide, and an obstacle course all rolled into one. And because it’s so soft, you don’t really have to worry about a kid toppling over it. If space is an issue, this fort builder is essentially a series of poles and connectors; add a bedsheet and the result is pretty amazing. Or wait! Turn your kitchen table into the fort of their dreams. But it’s not only about forts. This kid-friendly digital camera is really stinkin’ cute, and I love the idea of kids learning their way around photography without an iPhone. Walkie talkies are the best. And if looking at photos is more their speed, get them a viewfinder with all kinds of animals.
Miscellany
As a longtime fan of Sofia Coppola’s films—and as someone who preordered by signed copy the first moment I could—I’m biased, but I do think her recent book of archival images is stunning.
I haven’t entered my pickleball phase just yet, but I acknowledge that a lot of you and your loved ones are there. This pickleball set comes in a lot of shades and patterns.
And then, the gift of ice cream—again and again! Salt & Straw has a pint subscription you can gift for 3, 6, or 12 months.
Surely I’ll think of more right after I hit “send.” Who knows, maybe there’ll be a Part 2 for the last-minute gifters among us. Until then!