So You Say They're Impossible to Shop For...
What to get the chicest person you know. (Or yourself.)
I will admit that after having a baby this October1, “chic” is not really top of mind for me, this holiday season. (Comfort? You bet. Non-toxic? Yes please! Machine washable? Definitely!) But I do love holiday gifting, and I am spiritually resistant to crap. Plus, I have heard your clamoring for ideas for your difficult-to-please loved ones—be they the ultra discerning aesthete or just the type who buys themselves everything they want anyway—as well as for extra special treats for yourselves, the kind so badly needed at this time of year. And I found that I missed doing this, actually, so here we are. Also, really good ideas kept crossing my desk2, both fun little nothings and fabulous really rather big somethings.
So without further ado: some ideas for seriously good gifts for the seriously hard to shop for.3
A BY NO MEANS EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF VERY GOOD GIFT IDEAS
I remember when Tom Ford would send editors a bed of just-blooming narcissus bulbs, perfect for an office or sunny entry table at home. This is A+ gift giving: extremely elegant, not outrageously expensive, and just tongue in cheek enough without being weird or mean. Plus, obviously, they smell divine. Harry & David has some helpfully ready for gifting in a reclaimed wooden planter, or if your recipient is the type to prefer to do their own planting (I salute them!) you could give them a sack of what I have on good authority are “the very best” paperwhite bulbs from White Flower Farm. They come with soil.
A single gold-clasped pearl (Tahitian or freshwater) is so romantic I can’t stand it. Feels a little medieval (and deeply symbolic) in the best way. Wrap and present it elaborately, like you crossed the world to get it. Maybe in one of these less-pricey-than-they-look little navy velvet boxes? Silk cord necklace helpful (and v. v. stylish) but not necessarily required.
A tree icon painting by Alexandra Simondetti. I have several of these, which I first saw on display in Pippa Small’s Brentwood boutique. (Simondetti is her sister!) I love them so much—Renaissance-style frescos honoring trees? Could anything be more up my street?—I commissioned Simondetti to do a wall triptych for the baby’s nursery, which makes me so happy every time I look at it. (Hopefully him too, once he can see color.) Email the lovely folks at the Pippa Small store at shopLA@pippasmall.com to see what they have in stock, or email Alexandra directly to commission your own: both are delightful to work with and very responsive!
Monogrammed soap (especially soap this divine) is the kind of thing one can’t really buy for yourself, but are tickled when someone else buys it for you. Throw in this perfectly tactile emerald green ruffled marble bowl by my favorite Anastasio Home to double their delight.
A surefire winner: a set of deeply pleasing glassware and a bottle of something for them to share, like a bottle (or several) of unique, delicious, collectible wine(s).
A choco suede carry-all that can carry an outfit (and won’t pulverize your budget).
A monogrammed pewter vase for their desk. An EIC classic. (Floral subscription optional, but certainly appreciated.)
Speaking of desks, personally I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a personalized notebook from Pineider. I always want one. Add this gold DuPont marker pendant and if they know anything, they’ll swoon.
A backgammon set is the kind of thing that these lists are built on, I know, to the point that most just glaze over, but I got into playing backgammon while waiting to go into labor, and yes, I finally get what all the fuss is about. Fun for all ages! Rummikub, while also very fun and pretty simple to pick up, is mostly played on tragic plastic sets, which can be discouraging if you don't love a lot of clicky junk around. No longer a problem, if you don’t mind splashing out a bit., (This is also the kind of A+ hostess present one requires for those who’ve hosted you on personal planes and watercraft or other particularly nice vacations.)
A sleek brown leather loafer, a suede kitten heeled knee boot, a gold statement earring, these are the things that will carry her through the year. Promise.
For the person who has tried everything in the world of wellness: I personally have no idea if this hotly coveted PEMF mat really does anything, but I do know that all the most glowing aging-in-reverse LA girls I know have one. And look, even if it doesn’t do anything but get them to lie down and relax for a set period of time every day, is that so bad? I think not.
A one-of-a-kind watercolor. My preferred artist for such endeavors is my sister, Cotton Codinha. If you think our sorority makes me biased, it hasn’t. It has made me a rather irksomely persistent regular client. She also does place cards for special parties (proven time and time again to be real showstoppers, I can attest), and could probably be persuaded to do a holiday party invitation, if you ask nicely. Thus far her preferred subjects are from the animal kingdom. She is irritatingly private (good for her) but I can send you some examples if you like. For gifting, I think you can’t go wrong with sending her your beloved’s furred (or feathered, or finned?) beloved. File under: thoughtful, unique, perfect present! (Email her at cottoncodinhaillos@gmail.com for availability and what I often think are far too reasonable rates. No promises, she is very busy!)
Speaking of, an actually good looking bed for their best friend is also really a gift for them, because they’re the ones who have to look at it. These block prints go with nothing and everything and are in great have-them-in-every-room colorways. A win/win.
A collectible cortisol reset (in a reusable vessel). The gorgeous geniuses at Highbrow Hippie4 enlisted a local LA ceramicist to make these sumptuous candles, which smell like heaven and look like it, too. Once the wax is finished you can order refills (solving the problem of what to do with annoying sooty glass holders) or use the vessel however you please (vanity storage?). Throw in an engraved matchbox and striker in brass or steel (their monogram, a poignant date, an inside joke), and I promise, they will be delighted.
They have too many candles? They’ll love this lighter and some obsession-worthy incense, which mixes it up nicely.
In need of a serious knock-em-dead godparent/ grandparent/ I’m sucking up to your parents gift? This exquisite dollhouse should do the trick.
And really, when in doubt, or deep in the dog house, old mine cut always knocks ‘em out. (And for those of us with slightly less room to play budgetary speaking, these are really quite fab at a fraction of the price.)
Trust, they want this. Doesn’t matter if they smoke. It’s less expensive than a classic DuPont lighter but is a classic DuPont lighter. And it looks so expensive. Just don’t wear it to the airport.
To that end, this season all the cool girls have been wearing chunky pendants on long cord necklaces. It looks great. This scratches that itch while being useful gear.
Three classics: two perfect knits and the kind of camel suede jacket they’ve always wanted (and could never find before).
Have they been talking about needing something to do with their hands besides doomscroll? Kintsugi encourages thinking about fucked up broken things (like our current government, say) in a new, positive light. Or just keeping them off their phone.
Or could they use a new kind of buzz? Canna-drinks are all the low-cal no-hangover rage these days. Hisnaps is the newest addition to the field and may just be the best of the bunch. Certainly the most portable! Hello, stocking stuffer.
Encourage their drinking habit. (Not that kind.) I’ve been sipping this saffron latte every night after dinner and it’s just the dreamiest, most decadent tasting thing, with alleged mood lifting and sleep benefits that I’ve seen evidence of, at least. And then Forgrave Teas came out with their delicious blends and elegant gifting sets, and really, that’s someone frightfully specific sorted. Throw in a gorgeous teacup (or two) for extra points.
Do they have an annoyingly thorough supplement regimen? That’s fine, just make sure it looks decent. (Friends don’t let friends travel with ziplock baggies of mystery tablets like a Real Housewife.)
I feel like you could write an incredibly poignant note about nature and time and melt someone’s heart when it went along with these one-of-a-kind rechargable lamps, which are very sculptural and gorgeous and “marry two traditional Japanese values: a reverence for nature and a philosophical appreciation of small, humble elements that are easily overlooked.”
I loved Jane’s idea for gifting glass jars stuffed with whatever you feel like (sweets, fancy socks, good pens). Make mine packets of candied yuzu.
Finally, for the truly impossible to please, something ephemeral is always the answer. Something they can’t get every day, or wouldn’t know to. Something that celebrates taste. I’m of course talking about Zingerman’s5 Reuben sandwich kit. I’m serious. This is a sandwich that comes with blurbs(!) from no less than Oprah(!!) and President Barack Obama(!!!). Spring for the corned beef and pastrami version. Why mess around? It serves 8. What they do with it is their business.6
That’s all I have for you this time! More to come, most likely. Thanks for being here. It really means the world.
xo ATC
A Libra sun / Cancer rising / Aquarius moon! Send tips.
Not that I’ve been at my desk, but I can see it from my position under the newborn playgym at the other end of the room. Who knew black and white cards could be so entrancing? Babies. Babies knew.
I will keep adding to this selection over on my ShopMy, which I love to use because it is so freaking easy and lets me feel like a market editor for a frighteningly specific niche brand.
Makers of my absolute hands down favorite hair product, more on which soon!
If this is your introduction to the world famous Ann Arbor based Aladdin’s cave of edible delights that is Zingerman’s Deli, well, I’m thrilled to be the one to show it to you. Subscribe to their delightful illustrated catalogue for the full experience and their full edit of some of the globe’s best comestibles. And feel free to send me this fruitcake as a thank you.
For the true converts, there is a club.