Every content creator and media outlet on the face of the planet puts out a gift guide, and since I've been doing them since 2009, why stop now? Getting a gift guide together is a lot of work, but it's also very fun and for people who know me personally, very helpful this time of year. As always, everything I've included here is something I would actually love to give and/or receive, but more importantly, I hope these suggestions help you check off your gift list. Here are my favorite holiday gifts for 2025.
Gifts under $25
1. I feel like socks as a gift used to be a punchline—like ties for Father's Day—but I honestly love getting socks as a gift, because they're something I generally hate buying for myself. These Pendelton socks are classic but fun and come in a bunch of different colors, although I'm partial to the classic combination.
Pendelton National Park Crew Socks
2. I watched a documentary on the Carlyle Hotel in New York and was fascinated to learn that during your stay, each guest is given pillowcases embroidered with their initials. That's classy AF and something I'd like to re-create in my own home. You can customize these with anything you want, and they're even less than a drink the Carlyle's Bemelmans Bar.
Custom embroidered pillowcases
3. Crankycakes Shop on Etsy has the best ornaments on the planet—they're a little kitschy, very well made, and have so much personality. There are so many hilarious options to choose from, but my favorite is this GLP-1 syringe. Just make sure whomever you give this to has a hearty sense of humor.
Injection pen syringe ornament
4. When I entertain, I tend to put out single-use cocktail napkins, which make cleanup easier but are more expensive over time and do create waste. I feel like an upgrade to this reusable set with a groovy '60s pattern would be a more sustainable choice.
Eames dots cocktail napkins set
5. I have a coworker whose nails always look amazing; she has two young kids and I marveled at how she had time to sit in a salon for hours. Turns out she uses these at-home press-on nails (they're reusable!), which sure look like salon quality to me.
Glamnetic premium press-on nail kit
6. I have apparently been living under a rock, but John Derian did a collab with Target and it's filled with a bunch of housewares that look vintage and/or imported from Europe—this serving platter is a dead ringer for something I saw in a gorgeous ceramics shop around the corner from our hotel in Venice.
John Derian for Target stoneware leaf serving platter
Gifts under $50
1. Speaking of Italy, one of my favorite discoveries was the brand Ortigia Sicilia; this soap in particular is not my favorite scent (that would be Fico d'India) but the reusable dish that it comes on is fabulous AF and would make the most gorgeous trinket dish.
Ortigia Sicilia Ambra Nera soap dish set
2. This T-shirt has been following me around the Internet—I think I was first served an ad for it on Instagram—and every time I look at it, I laugh. I'm usually not one for parody tees, but this one is just so good. (It also comes in a sweatshirt version.)
Polychrome Goods Saint Croissant tee
3. I'm getting to the age where I've found a little color around my face does a world of good to brighten things up. This necklace is just so fun; it reminds me a little of the edible candy necklaces I used to get as a kid, now upgraded to (non-edible) semiprecious stones.
4. Of all the books Michelle Obama has written, her new one is the one I'm most interested in—she was by far the most stylish First Lady since Jackie Kennedy, and her impact on American fashion to this day is undeniable.
5. I have a somewhat gnarly old hairbrush that I love but I think is starting to disintegrate. I have a smaller version of this one that I love and keep in my purse, but I think it's time to upgrade my daily. I love all of the glamorous patterns this one comes in, particularly the leopard print.
Solar Eclipse Perfect Daily Hairbrush
6. When you live in a house with four silver MacBooks—and you accidentally show up to work with your partner's personal laptop, not that this has ever happened to me—this laptop case is the answer. Note: it's normally a bit above $50 but is currently on sale for Black Friday, so take advantage!
Gifts under $100
1. I say "Not my circus, not my monkeys" several times a week at least, so I love that someone else appreciates this phrase enough to put it on a pillow. While there's something a little "live laugh love" about it, I dig the kitschiness.
Furbish Not My Circus needlepoint pillow
2. Have you ever seen a prettier colander? Or even one that comes with a matching plate? I worry that the enamel on this one will eventually start to chip off, but what a gorgeous way to rinse your greens or drain your pasta! Note: this one is on sale at the moment but is normally over $100.
Golden Rabbit Herbs enamelware colander set
3. The Gen-Z fascination with the '90s has moved into its grunge era, and I'm starting to see a lot of striped and baseball tees, just like I wore in high school and college. While I generally tend to sit a trend out the second time it comes around, there's just something so classic about a tee like this.
Madewell vintage jersey baseball tee
4. I tend not to use powder highlighter and blush because it cakes on my skin, but the case of this palette is so lovely, I almost wouldn't care if I didn't use it—and there are three other designs that are just as striking. FCC disclosure: I work for Hourglass' parent company, Unilever Prestige, however the choice to include this here was 100% mine.
Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked palette
5. I find most winter hats—specifically beanies—to be problematic, as they smoosh my hair and make my head itch. So the prospect of a proper bucket hat rendered in a knit feels like a good compromise for winter weather. This one also comes in a more neutral gray-white combination that's sadly sold out at the moment.
COS tipped wool-mohair bucket hat
6. I have been dying to try Westman Atelier's lipsticks but the $50 price tag just seems hard to swallow. For some reason, three minis for $60 feels like a better deal, although I worry that these are probably tiny and you're likely better off committing to a full size. Still, I want.
Westman Atelier Mini Lip Suede trio set
Splurge gifts
1. I made it through a few episodes of With Love, Meghan on Neflix and my biggest takeaway was that I need a classic Le Creuset Dutch oven—she uses hers in literally every episode. Why I didn't register for one of these years ago when I got married is beyond me, but it's never too late, right?
Le Creuset enameled cast iron Dutch oven
2. Dries van Noten's perfumes are almost worth it for the gorgeous bottles alone, but the scents are so richly layered and expensive-smelling (because they are expensive). I am a big fan of tester kits before committing to a full size; you can also sample the entire line in this under-$100 set.
Dries van Noten signature scent Nomadic set
3. I fell in love with another aquamarine ring by this designer at Love Adorned back in May; that one is unfortunately gone from their website, but this splurgy beauty is still available. I've featured several aquamarine rings in years past, but I'll keep including them until my want has been satiated. (Someday!)
Kika Alvarenga aquamarine ring
4. Traveling to Italy twice in two years really ignited my love of high-end housewares; one of my local favorite shops had a block-printed tablecloth by this brand on sale a few months ago and even though I still don't have a proper dining room table, I'm kicking myself for not buying it (yep, it's long gone). This one is similarly (but not quite as) stunning.
Stamperia Bertozzi jungle linen tablecloth
5. I absolutely do not need another purse, but all of the cool girls in NYC were carrying a similar big slouchy hobo during my trip earlier this year and I've been thinking about getting one since. I love the color and soft shape of this one in particular.
6. I think nearly every influencer I follow has recommended these slippers; consider me influenced, because I need a new pair and these look damn near perfect. I also love supporting locally based brands—Rothy's is a San Francisco company, and this is the first pair of their shoes that I've been into. P.S. Their sale is on!
No comments
Post a Comment