Issue #11 November: The Gift Guide for People Who Already Buy Themselves Everything š
Iām those people and these are all the things I've bought and love.
āTis the season of gifting! š Iām sure youāve already received sale emails and ads from every store in the world by now, but hopefully this gift guide will help cut through the noise. Gifting is something I take very seriously and put a lot of thought into. My guiding principle is that a good gift is something you know the other person will love, but wonāt buy for themselves. This includes an upgrade of something they already have, something theyāve mentioned wanting, but havenāt gotten around to buying it, or something that fills a gap or need they didnāt even know they had. Everything in this guide fits at least one of these buckets and some of the recs are items Iāve owned for over a decade and are still going strong. We want gifts to be cherished and timeless so that when your recipient uses that special thing you bought them, they will think fondly of you for many years to come. Happy shopping! šļø
Note: I tried to pick retailers that ship globally (or claim to). Also, none of these links are affiliates or sponsored so feel free to search around for the best price.
Eat / Drink š
Hunger is the leading cause of holiday stress.
SF-founded single-origin chocolate shop that sells exquisite chocolates in stunning packaging. I love the hot chocolate mix and the chocolate bar sets. They also have an advent calendar that unfortunately sells out by the fall, but you can pre-order for next year.
I thought panettone was this weird and dry abomination sold at home goods stores, but panettone from Roy is pure magic in bread form, like eating a fluffy cloud. My favorite flavor is chocolate. While the price is steep, it does feed a crowd and they will be fighting over the very last crumb.
Beautiful teas founded in France. My favorite is the Marco Polo, a flowery black tea that smells so good, sometimes I just open the canister and breathe it in. It comes in loose leaf or tea bags.
Pineapple Cakes from SunnyHills
These cakes are a Taiwanese speciality that I request whenever friends travel to Asia. They taste like a fancy fig newton, but with pineapple. The apple cake is also tasty, but why chooseāthereās a gift set with both cakes!
Wear š§„
Baby, itās cold outside.
Princess Diana Black Sheep Sweater from Rowing Blazers (women and men)
As seen on the style icon Princess Diana. This is probably my most complimented-on sweater and I own a lot of sweaters. Itās hand-knit in responsible wool with a relaxed fit. Also comes in menās sizing. This is another great menās option.
The Original Cashmere Sweater from Naadam (women and men)
Youāll be hard pressed to find a 100% cashmere sweater for this price. For under $100, itās a great entry point into cashmere and a wardrobe staple (recommend sizing up). Also, check out their holiday collabs.
Mohair Checked Scarf from Acne (unisex)
Still an essential winter staple. As soon as I spot one in the wild, I know the cold season has arrived.
CDG x K-Way Rain Jacket (unisex)
Stand out in the rain in this bright red jacket. It folds into a pocket for easy carry.
Sleep šļø
Give the gift of bed-rotting.
Silk Pillowcases from LilySilk
Say goodbye to bed head and face creases after sleeping on these 100% organic silk pillowcases. I like these even more than the Slip ones because they have a matte finish and are less slippery. These are also more durable. Iāve had mine for about a year and wash them weekly (inside-out on cold, air dry) and they still look new.
PJs from Liberty (women and men)
I believe itās important to be nicely dressed for bed in case thereās ever an emergency and I need to rush outside. Liberty PJs have the funnest prints and the cotton is ultra soft. Menās sizing here.
Shearling Slippers from Birkenstock (women and men)
These are made from real shearling and wool so they keep my feet warm and cozy. Theyāre also sturdy enough to withstand Penrose stealing them at every chance.
Cashmere Bed Socks from Rosie Sugden
Imagine a fluffy Scottish goat resting on your feet. Thatās what these socks feel like.
My partner wears these to sleep every night and magically Iāve stopped snoring. I have the previous version of this model which I wear in restaurants, at concerts, and on the plane.
Travel š§³
Itās giving first-class.
These travel cases make packing so easy and chic and they come out with new colors every season. I use the bigger one for toiletries and the smaller one for items I need on the plane. I also have the mini case for my everyday handbag. The travel beauty case is great for makeup and brushes and I just recently got the travel jewelry case because Iām tired of detangling.
Le Pliage Travel Bag from Longchamp
I bought mine from Paris about 15 years ago when I needed something to carry all my treasures home. I still bring this with me whenever I travel in case I need an extra bag. It folds up into a little package and the nylon material makes it easy to clean.
Iām a huge fan of packing cubes to keep my suitcase organized and tidy. The ones I have are sadly no longer available because the company closed, but my partner, a frequent traveler for work, uses the Eagle Creek ones and highly recommends them. The cubes are lightweight and compress clothes nicely to maximize space.
People often mistake my water bottle for an art sculpture and I can see why. I prefer the mini size to easily fit into any bag for travel, work, or the gym. The stainless steel keeps liquids hot or cold for the whole day.
Nest š”
Make a house a home.
Upgrade any morning coffee or tea routine with these amazing products designed in SF (sorry, I canāt just pick one!). The best kettle, a coffee grinder that doesnāt make your ears bleed, a french press that keeps your coffee warm, a barista-approved pour-over dripper, and an artsy travel mug to carry your beverage in.
Iāve literally never hit add to cart so fast. Designed by LA-based artists, FriendsWithYou, and handmade in Portugal, the little guy makes me smile everyday.
If youāve ever eaten at a nice restaurant in California and wondered where they get their beautiful dishes from, chances are theyāre from Heath. Every item is meticulously designed and handcrafted in Sausalito, CA. Their bud vases make excellent host gifts as well as these gorgeous serving bowls and platters and no one can ever have enough of these perfect mugs.
Yes, this is a thing! I have Ruth Bader Ginsburg hanging next to my desk to get me through hard work days. Note the print doesnāt come with a frame, but this inexpensive one from Amazon does the job.
These candles are handmade in Japan from the highest quality materials to make beautiful unique scents. I had the pleasure of smelling every candle in their shop in Tokyo and settled on Green Light, a fresh woody scent with fig leaf and blackcurrant. I also love this closet tag in New Day, a woody floral scent with green pepper and ginger.
Last Christmas my partner gifted himself a selection of HOTO products to upgrade the mismatched collection of tools acquired over the decades. Theyāve got great design and can handle any common household task (though you wouldnāt use them for serious construction). I used the drill to build IKEA furniture and felt so proud of myself.
Read š
Help fix the global decline of reading. These are some of my favorite books I read this year and who I think would love them.
James (Percival Everett)
For the lover of the classics, this is a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the perspective of Jim.
Real Americans (Rachel Khong)
For the child of immigrant parents, this is a multi-generational story of a Chinese American family told through three perspectives.
On Call: A Doctorās Journey in Public Service (Anthony Fauci)
For the curious nerd, Dr. Fauciās memoir is a fascinating lesson in modern infectious diseases. His career and contributions to the medical field and humanity is just astounding.
Love & Other Words (Christina Lauren)
For the hopeless romantic in need of a good cry, this is a story of childhood sweethearts who grow apart because of a secret and reunite as adults.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Canāt Stop Talking (Susan Cain)
For the introvert who just wants to go home (or their partner), this book celebrates the power of introverts and makes a case for why others should too.
Cover Story (Susan Rigetti)
For the jetsetter in search of the next plane or beach read, this thriller is Anna Delvey-level exciting.
My reading increased exponentially after getting a Kindle. Thereās no glare and the brightness is easily adjustable. You can shop books directly on the tablet, but I prefer to use the Libby app and borrow digital books from the library. Itās also super thin and lightweight.
Splurge āØ
Because theyāre worth it.
Perfume from Officine Universelle Buly
You know that scene in Love Actually where the husband is trying to buy jewelry for his mistress and the store clerk played by Mr. Bean does the most elaborate and over-the-top gift wrapping? Thatās what the Buly experience is like. Not only does this perfume smell divine, the bottle and personalized packaging is exquisite.
Bead Bracelet from Tiffanyās
A truly timeless piece, I wear this bracelet almost everyday and it goes with everything. Plus getting a little blue box on Christmas is pure magic.
MagSafe Card Holder from HermĆØs
Thereās not a whole lot you can buy at HermĆØs from under $1000, but these animal card holders are just perfection (I have the elephant). Note that itās designed for a standard iPhone so if you have the mini like me, it juts out a bit at the bottom (not a dealbreaker). You can also just use it as a regular card holder.
This is the one item people always ask me if itās worth it. Yes, it is. I have short and straight hair so I mostly use the dryer and round brush. When my hair hits shoulder length, I use the barrels for salon-style waves. Like with any tool, thereās a learning curve to get the most out of it, but thereās tons of online tutorials for every hair type.
Augustinus Bader Soothing Cream
I wish my skin didnāt love this moisturizer so much, but it does and now thereās no turning back. What makes it special is the patented TFC8 technology developed by Dr. Bader, a German scientist and expert in stem cell biology. The Rich Cream is the cult-favorite with a La Mer-like consistency, but I find it a bit thick so prefer the Soothing Cream (added bonus is you can get the refill for slightly less and reuse the bottle).
Stuff š§¦
Small in size, but not in impact. These are gifts to stuff your stockings, but some can double as white elephant gifts too.
Bombas Socks (women and men)
Bombas make the best socks that hold up after many washes. I like these ankle socks or quarter crew for everyday. These wool quarter socks are soft and cozy for colder days. Their running socks are great for running / workouts. And these frilly socks are fun to style with loafers or Mary Janes.
Bring the lovely scents of the Place des Vosges in Paris to any closet or drawer with these sachets.
I know this sounds like a weird gift, but itās so useful. Everyone needs to clip their nails so why not make this chore more pleasant with these super sharp and easy-to-grip clippers.
Iāve written about these lip balms before, but now they come in this cute mini set in neutral colors that will look good on everyone. You can gift the entire set or break them up.
Chopstick Holders from Mogutable
I bought these when I was in Japan and so glad I found this retailer that sells them online. They are so adorable and make every meal more fun. I have the asparagus, pepper, carrot and turnip.
These are made of wool so they absorb spills and condensation without losing shape. Love all the fun colors and designs.
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