2024 Holiday Gift Guide
Unique, personal ideas for everyone you love
Unique, personal ideas for everyone you love
Finding the perfect gift is an art form—part intuition, part practicality. You’ll never go wrong with a gift that will add value (and inevitably, joy) to a loved one’s life: whether it’s a slightly more luxurious nail polish than your best friend would buy for herself, a timeless pair of shoes your mom mentioned eyeing, or a niche mug from a brand you’ve never heard of that your sister will keep in her cabinet forever…We've curated our yearly list of unique finds that dance between pleasantly pragmatic and absolutely inspired: we’re all for ditching the impersonal gift cards and eleventh-hour acquisitions, and leaning into a gift (or two) that will complement the intricate personalities of everyone you love this season. As always, we aim to highlight items from independent brands who focus on quality and mindful craftsmanship wherever possible. We hope you enjoy!
I wanted to start out with a few highlights, or the or stars of each category in the guide, if you will. I’ve been losing my mind over this jewelry box since stumbling upon it via Sight Unseen a couple of years ago, absolutely distraught (dramatics very much warranted) that it wasn’t for sale. As I was just scrolling through Areaware’s site as I do every time I need a gift for a friend, there it was at the top of the page, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s a perfect gift for your minimalist jewelry-loving friend: someone who rotates between a few signature pieces. It’s equally great for your niece or a friend’s child—something they’ll cherish forever—or a gift for your partner complete with a new piece of jewelry inside. It’s playful, unique, and will look lovely on a nightstand or bedroom dresser for years to come.
Read on for all of the trinkets I’d love to gift my husband, our friends, our friends’ kids, the home chefs in our lives, family members, and everyone else we love. Head to the end of this post for a thoughtful lineup of stocking stuffers followed by a list of experiential gift ideas. Wishing you a warm holiday season ahead. 🎄
Gifts for Her
GIFTS For cooking enthusiastS
Ratio Eight, $799
As far as a group gift or large housewarming purchase goes, I’d look no further than the Ratio Eight. We added this to our kitchen a couple of months back after seven years of hand-griding beans and making pour-overs every morning, and wow has this been a great change of pace. Truly a multi-tasker’s best friend without the loss of quality found in a precise hand-brew.
Gifts for Him
Love these loafers: this refined suede shoe blends traditional craftsmanship with peak daily comfort. Hand-sewn moccasin stitching and the apron toe offer a versatile silhouette that transitions seamlessly from work to weekend-wear. They’re available in four colors, though we’re impartial to the chocolate hue.
Gifts for friends (under $100)
Stocking stuffers for all
A perfect stocking stuffer—I’m picking up lip balms and hand creams from evolvetogether for all of my friends this year. Their products are made in the USA of consciously-sourced materials and consist of the most soothing scents: my favorite atm is Havana.
GIFTS FOR KIDS
Some friends of ours recently got this block set for their living room—it was the first thing they bought when moving to LA (solely for their adult selves to enjoy, which I loved). Choosing color paletttes was calming and entertaining and I’d love to gift this to a friend’s kid—or possibly other adults. This is such ideal decor for a kid’s room as it invites everyone to play, is comprised of the prettiest colors, and building with blocks allow children to develop fine motor skills and spatial thinking skills.
I had a lot of fun searching for kids’ gifts that emphasize quality, imagination, and developmental play value while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing design sensibility. Had to include a few of my nostalgic childhood favorites toward the end, too.
Experiential Gift Ideas
Last but not least, a handful of ideas for gifts that center around activities and shared moments:
Book surf lessons together
Go horseback riding at sunset in Malibu
An excellent group gift: book a private car to take you around Napa and Sonoma for a day of wine tasting
Surprise them with a reservation at a speakeasy in your neighborhood
Set a “reservation” for a weekend retreat at home with a printed itinerary: make fresh juice, plan a multi-course dinner menu, listen to a soundbath, have a spa night, take an online cocktail-making or baking class together, etc. Planning an intentional day or weekend with your partner always goes a long way.
Book a cooking class
Take a jewelry-making class together
Book a New York sandwich tour, or curate your own
Go on a guided hike in San Diego
Book a latte art class
Schedule an adventure to some nearby hot springs
Plan a surprise day of activities suited to your partner/friend: start the morning at a bookstore you’ve been wanting to visit, take them to coffee, go for a hike, see a movie, etc. all as your treat
Book a hot air balloon ride
Book a pottery class
These carefully selected treasures are more than mere objects—they're love letters wrapped in tissue paper. We chose each piece not just to fill a moment of gift-giving, but to weave itself into the tapestry of memories, becoming those small, beautiful artifacts that people hold onto long after the occasion has passed.