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The 'It Won't Collect Dust' Gift Guide

Gifts that will be loved and used and used and used again. And they'll think of you every time. It feels great to win at gifting, no?

Dec 4, 2022

If we are going with the philosophy: “would I actually want to own and store this thing?” as our guiding gifting principle, we are going to have to move beyond candles, John Derian decoupage (no offense, I love you JD!!!) and seasonal sweaters. Below, ten gifts that won’t be stashed away. 11th gift idea: gift subscription to 5 Things. :) Ok, sorry. Couldn’t not! Enjoy below!

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A Red Beanie. Specifically This One

A red beanie is THE best way to incorporate color into your winter bundle. It has personality! You won’t lose it in your bag! It’s in the holiday spirit! It’s preppy! It’s rebellious! Should I go on? I bought the grey version of this specific hat at a sample sale recently (because I already had a red hat!) and have found the weight, fabric, squishiness and general shape to be absolute perfection. It’s the ultimate winter hat if you ask me. And you did.

Artful Salt & Pepper Grinders

Who wouldn’t want to leave these on the table year round!?

Georg Jensen silver bracelet

I recently tried this on when I met Georg Jensen’s in house jewelry designer Jacqueline Rabun at an event Mahnaz threw in her honor. She was so fabulous. The kind of person that makes you want to stand up straighter and move a little slower. Check her out. I digress…so I tried on this bracelet. The heft was so nice, the links so special. And the best part, it comes in multiple sizes. My wrists are small so I’ve always struggled buying bracelets. I am not trying to customize after purchase, you know? This you can just buy in your size for a snug (but still dangly fit). It’s at the top of my personal wishlist.

Suzie Kondi sweats

Fancy sweats! I wore these to lunch at Bilboquet last week. Also wear them for the bathtime/bedtime kid ritual. Is there anything these pants can’t do!? I personally love to mix and match. Green with Navy. Grey with teal. It would be hard to love these more.

Eagle Creek Packing Cubes

Friend of 5 Things Michael Hsu got me addicted to Eagle Creek packing cubes. Now I’m a big time Eagle Creek groupie. Their packable backpack is also so good! These are not the most beautiful gift, but they’re also not bad looking. Their colors are nice, and the fabric soooo tissue thin, you won’t feel like you’re adding bulk to a suitcase. I promise she (or he) will use and use and use these!

***Special note*** Below, are five more ideas for paid subscribers only. Thank you for supporting the work of the newsletter thus far. If you’ve already purchased a paid subscription, just keep scrolling, your newsletter won’t end here. Thank you and enjoy!

Geoff McFetridge x Hermes Keychain

I know, I know. A keychain! HOWEVER, there are some people, who you might not be particularly close to, that need a gift with a little gravitas. Enter, the keychain. But also, how freaking cool is this Geoff McFetridge (one of my all time favorite illustrators) Hermes keychain of Gene Kelly. This is a keychain I would actually squeal with excitement to receive. Good for the giftee whom a little orange box is just the ticket. And honestly, even the giftee who doesn’t have any concept of what little orange box I’m talking about.

D. Porthault Hand Towels

I dream of a bathroom stocked with these hand towels. Really any of D. Porthault’s dainty prints. Also sheets, a duvet and bath sheets but now we’re just getting greedy. The hand towels are a perfect sized gift to fit in your suitcase when traveling to see the in-laws, or cousins, or siblings, or old friends, or whoever!

Sky High Farm Workwear Pointelle Tank Top

Loooovvvveeeee a lace-trimmed tank. Everyone needs a stack of them for under their shirts and sweaters in the winter. This tank is intimate…without giving (barf face) intimates! I buy my sister little tanks and tees for holidays often. This one, besides being perfect, is also a donation to Sky High Farm, a working farm in Upstate New York where all food produced is donated - their mission being to tackle food insecurity with real, whole foods.

Vintner’s Daughter

Ok, yes, I know this is not new or novel. But if the idea is to get your giftees something they will actually use, I’ve never seen a product more women rave about, or claim to use til the very. last. drop. On a call with the founder of this brand recently, when I asked her about her growth model and how the brand plans to stay relevant with just two products, she made it very clear that views relevance not in just introducing new stuff to present newness, but discussed relevance in terms of how useful products are for people’s REAL LIVES. This is an idea I can get behind. No more stuff for stuff sake! And a two step routine.

The Hair Bow of All Hair Bows

This new light as a feather bow from Gigi Burris. Yep yep yep! It feels like air. It’s VERY large. But it also drapes and drips to not feel overbearing. It’s a real dream.

Hope this helped you get in the mindset of buying things that will not get moved to the top shelf in the back of the corner cabinet that is only reachable by stool and then a climb.

Yours TRULY and happy holidays!

Becky