What to Get for Everyone On Your List

Another one for me, one for you dilemma

With last year’s gift guide being my inaugural Substack post, it’s only right that I come full circle and celebrate an entire year of clogging your inbox. Holiday shopping should not be stressful, but if my mom asks me one more time what I want for Christmas I may just have a mental breakdown because I really just don’t know??? I always end up throwing her a few links for things I’ve only recently fell in love with and therefore have not given them enough thought to warrant a spot on The Christmas List. But not this year.

I sat down, went through my closet, my home, my life — everything that needed auditing, and now am using this joyful time of year to fill in a few of the gaps (and I am very grateful to be able to give someone any kind of list at all).

As a result of this diligent, careful, important research, I stepped on every land mine that was That Thing I Just Found And I Want so decided to combine them all here, in one giant list, to hopefully be of help to you.

So no need to stress — about both what to give or what to receive, because there’s a little something for everyone on this list.

The Home Edit

Home gifts are always safe because you a) don’t need to worry about sizing and b) most people can always find a use for a cute little home good. Here are some I think would be great gifts:

1. Sometimes Assouline books can be a bit basic but I love the cover art on this one. 2. Casa Branca candlesticks can double as a nice little sculptural centerpiece on a table. 4. Olive cocktail napkins?!? 5. I’ve always wanted one of these trays from the Lacquer Company but they aint cheap for a plastic tray. 5. I could get stuck in a five hour black hole perusing the offerings on the MoMa store’s website, but these glasses are especially fun (two different pairs— here and here). 6. I always find boxes to be useful decorative objects, and decorative objects are rarely useful. 7. Candles are not an original gift but they’re a good gift for a reason. 8. I was so incredibly proud of myself for successfully a few of these mugs back from The Conran Shop in London without breaking them only to find that you can actually order them on Matches (this feels symbolic for some reason, but of what I’m not entirely sure…).

The Perfect Handbag

Bags always make a great gift because they’re one size fits all and they’re also expensive, which means we’re less likely to buy them for ourselves. These are some of my favorites:

From left to right: 1. I think this may just be the perfect travel bag: chic, goes with everything, and isn’t so expensive that you can ‘t shove it into the two square inches left the overhead bin. 2. I love the asymmetry of this Gucci bag, it’s somehow unique while still feeling like a classic. 3. This Bottega bag would have made it onto my personal list if I wasn’t 100% sure my mom would laugh in my face. 4. Chic! And great for everyday. 5. Yet another bag from The Row I have been salivating over. 5. This Hereu bag is perfect for work, travel, long weekends, etc. 6. I have been in need of an elegant evening bag, and Roger Vivier knows how to do glam. 6. A Prada Cleo bag is a forever favorite. 

Jewelry

Because good things come in small packages….

1. Earrings from Completed Works — they always have the most unique and funky designs. 2. I love this thin strand of pearls to add to your existing necklace stack. 3. A great silver earring which can be hard to find. 4. This necklace can take a plain long sleeve tee to a real lewk. 5. I seem to be very in to chokers lately?? 6. Chan Luu makes the best pearls and there is no debate about it. 7. Dorsey is DTC and therefore has amazing pieces at half the price of other similar brands. 8. Chan Luu also makes the best hoops.

The Travel Pouch

Little pouches are my favorite gift because they’re great both on their own or stuffed with a few little somethings . Give one to your mom with her favorite lipstick and a little treat inside and you’ll be good to go.

1. Cuyana makes great, functional classics and I love the simplicity of this one. 2. This one is FUN. 3. A classic LV pouch is something you’ll have forever. 4. My mom actually gave this exact case to me last year with a photo of the two of us on the lid — it’s adorable and makes for the best personalized gift. 5. Another classic. 6. This cute leather drawstring pouch is perfect for jewelry (extra points if you put some inside). 7. Not sure if these qualify as pouches but I have always aspired to be the kind of person who uses packing cubes. 8. Another classic pouch but in canvas (and kind of looks like Bottega Veneta, no?).

A Carry-On Suitcase

I’d had my carry-on suitcase since HIGH SCHOOL, so it’s no wonder that last month the zipper decided to break after I’d already called an Uber and I missed an international flight because of it. So, if you or someone you know is in need of an upgrade, use this as your cautionary tale.

1. This looks expensive and somehow isn’t (the best kind of combo). 2. This is the exact carry-on I recently replaced my old one with. My favorite thing about it is that the sales person point blank told me he thought the color was ugly and I bought it anyways. 3. This is giving me 1960s vibes and I love it. 4. Paravel’s pieces are actually so well-designed and well-made; this one also comes in a larger size if you need to check a bag, and you can personalize everything with your initials. 

The Coat Edit

Coats are one of those things that are usually quite expensive yet the price can often be justifiable (funcitonal, cost per wear, basically become your whole outfit, etc…). I try and invest in good-quality coats and jackets because I know they’ll last, and these are a few I’ve had my eye on and would make a great (and luxe) gift.

1. I love this Barbour. I saw a girl wearing it in a sponsored post, so @Barbour if you’d like to sponsor someone else then I’m your girl. 2. I have alwayyyys wanted a Courreges jacket. 3. My stance on Max Mara’s Teddy Coat wavers, but this version feels a little more manageable (but no less expensive unfortunately). 4. A long black coat never goes out of style. 5. Alex Mill does it AGAIN with this shearling bad boy. 5. Herno jackets are some of the only puffers I’ve seen that still look chic. 6. This oversized-blazer-turned-jacket vibe is kind of fun with a funky scarf, no? 7. Somehow I do not own a jean jacket. I can’t tell if I should be proud of this or embarrassed. 

Some New Shoes

1. I love these suede Gucci ankle boots — funky and classic at the same time. 2. I also love a white cap toe and am an Aeyde stan. 3. Another Roger Vivier item that has always been on my list…Santa vibes but make it chic. 4. I never get tired of a velvet smoking slipper. 5. I know the whole crystal ballet flat has been a bit overdone but this pair actually feels special (especially when you see them on). 6. I am begging everyone to retire their white Sambas or Golden Gooses and ask for these instead. 

For Your Mans

Any and all of these would be perfect for your dad, brother, boyfriend, husband, son, you get it. Men are hard. These gifts are not.

1. A monogrammed dopp kit is personal and functional which are two of my favorite things. 2. I got my dad a similar over shirt one year and I swear he feels so cool any time he wears it (yes dad you do look cool!). 3. Please, I am begging you, if you have any kind of relationship with a Patagonia duffle bag then this is the first thing he should be opening this year. Burn it. 4. I hit a new low when I went out with a guy who was wearing reflective sunglasses this summer. Don’t be like me. 5. Is it just the men in my family or are all men obsessed with backgammon? I don’t get it. Anyways, this set is portable, so perfect for travel or the beach. 6. This falls in the same vein as item #3 — if your mans is wearing a backpack to work, burn that too. Buy him this instead. 7. A portable grill seems like one of those manly objects that he may never use but will be excited to receive nonetheless. 8. I did some research and these speakers were ranked the highest on all the tech sites. I believe them.