gift guide, 2022 edition
hi, friends! i’m writing this one in english-only because it’s just easier and i’m short on time (aren’t we all).
it’s been six (!) years since my last gift guide and looking back i’m honestly not too embarrassed by it. here it is for those interested.
everything mentioned below i have either owned/tried, or have given to friends and received positive feedback.
(un)fortunately nobody pays me anything so you can trust my opinions and unaffiliated links — i have nothing to gain from this, except maybe some minor affirmation of my impeccable taste from internet strangers. :)
okay let’s go!
the intangibles
subscriptions - criterion channel / dipsea / 端传媒 / inoreader
n+1 bookmatch quiz - donate any $ to n+1 magazine and receive a personalized book recommendation list via a super fun quiz. I gift the quiz to friends every year. (this one ends dec 4th so be quick!)
the consumables
deux cranes chocolate bars, a japanese-inspired bay area chocolatier. every flavor i’ve tried has been great, especially phenomenal: matcha sesame, passionfruit, miso almond dark chocolate. i’ve been giving them to friends this year and everyone loves it.
black tea that i keep buying - mariage freres: marco polo, eros / harney & sons: paris
spirits & wine - komasa gin / smallfry tangerine dream orange wine / sake club subscription
elevated stocking stuffers (< $30)
good socks from bonne maison & annonymous-ism / criterion postcards / fog linen calendar cloths / beoissue soaps /poletoko wooden figures / alessi bottle stoppers / this fabric shaver
really nice things
serax tableware, specifically the merci and ann demeulemeester collections / dining table crumb brush / aarke water carbonator
linen waffle towels / eucalyptus shower gel / moroccan mint tea candle / safety razor / nice-looking personal toy
girard wooden dolls / ceramics from yue zhou and rami kim / boardgame for film nerds and bird lovers / vintage art posters & movie posters
small leather wallet / pendleton blankets / colorful planters / teak waste bin
re: books, personally i think books make good gifts only when it’s deeply personal to both the giver and receiver. generic/thoughtless book-giving tends to reduce books to mere commodities. for something extra, try hunting for vintage or rare editions; try local library book sales for unique and affordable art books; try ebay for past issues of discontinued magazine titles
re: jewelry, tend to be very personal so i almost never gift them, except ted muehling earrings (a friend and i would buy them for each other)
re: perfume, tricky to get right plus full bottles are too much of a commitment. i never gift perfumes unless i know exactly what the person likes. discovery sets, however, are great fun and i highly recommend: nicolai for understated elegance, imaginary authors for the cultured indie lover, fzotic for the art school cool kid, naomi goodsir for the sophisticated friend who is impossible to shop for. if someone is really into a commercial perfume you can also gift them the body/home products from the same line
thoughtful gestures
a houseplant divided from your own (or plant nursery gift card) for someone who wants to develop a green thumb
a personal manicure/massage/facial (or gift vouchers) for someone who enjoys physical touch
an emergency survival kit/stockpile for someone who lives in natural disaster hot zone
final thoughts
with a little patience, almost anything can be bought secondhand in gift-able condition
i wish we as a society could normalize gifting secondhand & re-gifting
okay clicking “publish” before i inevitably realize that i left something out
take care and happy holidays!