the gifts i actually want
a non-aspirational gift guide
I’ve spent the past week at home researching vintage finds, polling my friends on their favorite gifts and refining this gift guide. Nothing on this list is sponsored, but I did include some shopmy links for easy browsing and in case you feel compelled to purchase anything:)
Technically I’ve been writing a holiday gift guide for over a year now — last year’s gift guide was scrapped after asking every person that I interacted with in december the best gift they’ve ever received. Gift giving was never a big tradition in my family (not to say that I didn’t get gifts), and it feels like the market is saturated with gift guides from every corner of the internet.
But I thought this year I’d give it go for two reasons: 1/ I was recently asked by a few well meaning and clueless men for gift giving advice for women in their life— mostly for those looking to get their mother or partners something sweet and 2/ it feels like a lot of the gift guides I come across are too aspirational for me both in terms of taste and price point.
So this year, I thought I’d throw my hat into the gift guide ring. Each of these collections is inspired by someone in my life that either asked me for gift giving advice or is just someone I’m thinking of this holiday season. I’ve only included items that my friends have mentioned as cherished gifts or something I personally would want to buy for myself!
A few gift giving principles I try to abide by:
Personalization: In my mind, the best gifts are the ones that say “hey i saw this thing and it reminded me of you”. Beautiful things that are personalized are always a nice touch, but my friend Ian reminded me that this can be as simple as wrapping up a book you’ve read and adding a handwritten note as to why you think the person would love it.
Experiential: I always recommend my friends to get their new partners an experience if they’re stumped on gift giving. It’s removes a lot of the pressure of finding something that fits their taste and will more likely be something that gets use (especially if you book an experience together).
Elevated: I’m currently in a bit of a minimalist arc where I want LESS and higher quality things in my possession (substack coming soon!). As a result, I’m gravitating towards gifts that are a more elevated / indulgent version of everyday things I use. This way it removes unnecessary clutter and becomes a reminder of you when they’re doing their mundane tasks like making their morning tea or brushing their hair.
Without further ado, my first edition gift guide:
For the one looking to stay home more:
Homebody was an easy catch-all but I made this list with a few friends in mind that have recently moved apartments or just want to stay in more this winter.
Vintage coffee mug set: I’ve been really inspired lately by silver homewares and these little stainless steel mugs seem like a fun way to enjoy a hot cup of coffee during a cold new york city morning.
A beautiful vase: This year I started buying fresh flowers during my trader joe’s runs and it’s really helped brighten my apartment. A vintage vase with fresh flowers would be a sweet mix of ephemeral and permanent.
Sabre set: I fell victim to purchasing a set of Sabre forks this year, and honestly I love them using them — the cobalt blue feels modern yet timeless.
Mason pearson hairbrush: I have a substack dropping soon that involves an existential crisis and this hairbrush, but long story short — these are meant to be a lifelong investment!
Khaite cashmere shorts: I was looking for a perfect pair of loose, thick lounge shorts and couldn’t resist this chic pair from khaite. They’re a bit pricey but heavily discounted on the outnet.
Akari 6A: I’ve both given and received a Noguchi lamp as a gift — they’re truly a special piece for anyone who is into mood lighting and japanese minimalism (who isn’t?)
Tekla bedding: I first saw these in moya’s videos and fell in love — they just have this crisp, clean feel that reminds me of biking around copenhagen. I’ve heard rave reviews for the bath towels too.
For the one looking to learn more
One of my favorite parts of my late 20s is getting into and seeing my friends get into their own niche hobbies. This list was inspired by a few of my friends who took up figure drawing classes, running and interior design this past year.
Running shoes: If anyone is looking to get into running next year, receiving some running gear you’re excited to wear can be helpful motivation. The Minted x Saucony Speed 4s were hands down my favorite part of running shoes this year — incredibly comfortable, fast, and the electric blue looks especially chic with an all black outfit.
A book + note: A wrapped book with a note is always such a thoughtful (and inexpensive) gift! Some of my favorite reads this year:
An old lot of magazines: A personal favorite unexpected gift I’ve received was a lot of architectural digest magazines from the 90s — I love having them around my apartment both as decor and inspo!
Parsons classes: If you’ve been reading my substack for awhile, you’d know that taking fashion design classes at Parsons has been an absolute dream. They’re expensive, but worth every penny — having an in-person experience learning was one of my best purchases of 2023 and maybe ever?
Whimsical coffee mug: Having a fun coffee mug to drink out of helps motivate me to make coffee at home! A fun gift for anyone in grad school with finals season approaching.
Print and digital subscriptions: My friend Duncan mentioned gifting a subscription to the Economist, which I absolutely adore. I think a gift subscription to a high quality publication (or substack!) would be a fabulous gift — some of my favorites:
There it is, volume 1 of my gift guide! Leave a comment if there are any people you are shopping for this year — happy to answer any questions or make a follow-up post. Happy shopping and happy holidays everyone :)
Love it!!
love this!! what parsons classes do you recommend taking?