One thing I know for certain about myself: I am a terrible gift giver. I get very eeeeeeeeehhhhh i don’t know about buying presents. I get uncomfortable getting presents from anyone other than my husband! I just assume everyone else feels the same. They don’t.
I’m preemptively sorry for every loved one I got something for or was meant to get something for and blanked out on.
However! I love helping other people pick out gifts. It makes zero sense, but I really like guiding other people. I love when a friend asks for advice on this, I love putting together a little micro-proposal of ideas. It’s just when I personally know someone that I freeze up. So that!
And in the store, it was so much fun to work with the team to pluck out little gift moments, to suggest the things I’ve genuinely loved and hopefully see other people pick them up. From Mini Rodini socks for kids to the Attersee caftans, popovers, shorts, and blankets I covet, it was a blast selecting things for ByGeorge.
So anyway, maybe it seems counterintuitive to say I’m bad at gifts and then say here are my gifts, but here are my gift ideas, ha! Some things I’ve loved or would love to receive.
For Gals
Clockwise from top left: Lisa Corti tablecloth, $265; Ashish sequined scarf, $331; 7AM Goods makeup bag/clutch, $125; Bernadette cushion, $158; Vacation Chardonnay Sunscreen Oil, $22; Vada sunglasses, $420; Grav Milk Carton water pipe, $90; Attersee quilted blanket, $495; LaDoubleJ Champagne Coupes, $930; Bea Bongiasca x Wolf jewelry box, $480; Ariel Gordon Strawberry Opal charm, $660; Loewe Mini Flamenco clutch, $1,950.
My main idea for women’s gifting is novelty! Something the recipient would never think to buy themselves, but would love to have. Like!!! A sequined red bandana (which I actually did buy myself, and I really, really love), or a little mini bong shaped like a milk carton. Which I might buy myself - my transition to full-on Los Angeles stoner mom is nearly complete. Also this Attersee blanket! The rope around it is an excellent belt! Two-in-one, hole-in-one, especially for someone hard to buy for like an extremely chic older lady you’d very much like to impress with your good taste.
My last callout - this silver makeup bag/clutch. It comes in two other sizes, and either as a fun little party bag, OR a makeup bag (or both if you travel) it is chic and excellent and I love it.
For Guys
Clockwise from top left: Dieter Rams Complete Works, $60; Tsubota Pearl lighter, $95; J.Crew button down (my all time favorite), $40; Master & Dynamic headphones, $500; Muji notebook set, $3; Bottega Veneta boots; Apple Pencil 2nd Generation, $130; LL Bean tote, $35; Muk Luks slippers, $99; Tsubota Pearl cigarette case, $95; Elder Statesman sweater, $775.
And then guys. Yeesh. This I actually…I don’t know. I usually get my husband something *experiential* like concert tickets, or lessons of some kind, a big fun dinner at a restaurant we want to try. I also like to renew his subscription to the New York Times Weekend edition but that is just so practical and deeply un-romantic, I don’t know. I’m bad at this. I’m bad at gifting for guys because every guy in my life is so hyper-specific about the things they like you can’t just go out there and like, buy them a sweater.
That said, if I were going to buy them a sweater, I’d start with this one from Elder Statesman. The color is a color but is also still blue so not scary for your average guy, and it’s so soft & fancy, it will be a beloved treat.
Also, I know this is silly and un-sexy, but I have a pair of shearling sandal slippers that I only wear around the house (these) and they’re one of the few things that have dramatically increased my quality of life. I wear them constantly - warm and soft, but not so warm that I can’t also wear them in the spring and summer.
Another un-sexy thing, the LL Bean tote. Probably someone already has this, but if you get it with something sweet and nice and inside-jokey, it becomes a nice little memento of the day and a deeply practical item they will use all the time and think of you forever. It’s the best tote that has ever been.
Last thing, an Apple Pencil. This has ALSO dramatically improved the quality of my life, and is one of those super useful things that I never would have bought myself but now can’t live without that I think anyone (especially a boy who is not clothes-inclined) would appreciate.
So there we are! Gifting!
I hope you have an excellent holiday.
Love, your friend,
Laurel
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Who else sucks at buying gifts!
I may get the red bandana lol