Thoughtful Holiday Gifts

Special send: Meaningful gifts for everyone on your list

My philosophy on gifting is similar to my overall Uniform philosophy: making thoughtful purchases that are personal, lasting and additive. Shopping around the holidays is joyful and such a nice moment to think about the person you are shopping for and what would be special to them. For me, it’s not just the gift itself but the whole process: visiting a store, considering how it’s wrapped, any personal touches that make it feel special. Gifting can feel so rushed around the holidays, but the goal is to slow down and make it meaningful.

Personalized

Flamingo Estate candles smell amazing and can be customized! Olivia Von Halle pajamas can be monogrammed and are some of my favorites, the Papier notecard set is useful and thoughtful, an inscriped Buly hairbrushes is a nice touch, these personalized Baume des Muses are so fun to pull out of your bag.

Having something inscribed or monogrammed always adds a thoughtful touch to your gift. It’s almost as if you can imagine the time and energy put into the thought when it comes to you already personalized. Like the Flamingo Estate candles, for example. They are already amazing on their own, but you can customize with a funny inside joke or a favorite memory or place makes it so much more meaningful. It’s the kind of gift that becomes a conversation piece in their home.

I have gifted a lot of people the Buly lip balms- love them for anyone and everyone!

I also love gifting monogrammed pajamas like this Olivia Von Halle set. They’re not too boxy but not super fitted either—just the perfect in-between. The initials make them feel a bit more special, plus they’re silk but hand-washable, so no dry cleaning necessary.

Practical

Fish lemon squeezer looks so pretty on a table, a brass tape measure, this soap on a rope would be a great gift topper, and how happy would seeing these Piave toothbrushes every day make you?! I love the Blackwing pencil set, Scented matches, Hanni shave set, chic hammer with screwdrivers built in (a one and done tool that’s pretty), and ribbon scissors - so practical!

Practical gifts are some of my favorite kind to give and get, because they’re things people will use every day but might not think to buy a beautiful version for themselves. For example, I got this brass tape measure years ago and I still use it, love it, and think of the gifter every time I need it.

These pencils were used at The Row show, which is chic. I LOVE this Hanni shave pillow, and the set is such a good unexpected gift. These these little gold ribbon scissors were gifted to me and I in a pouch in my purse and I use them all the time.

These are gifts that don’t have to cost a lot, but they’re unexpected and fun. Good wrapping on these goes a long way, too. They make for perfect gift toppers or wrapping in beautiful ribbon and tissue.

I love to gift these kinds of things to co workers, friends, neighbors, etc. I often will buy 10 of one of them to have on hand for gifts that come up.

Beautiful Packaging

Face cream, how fun would it be to get Hermes mascara? This canvas tote is a favorite of mine, Taper candle holders, Cutter Brooks holiday boxes

Sometimes the wrapping can be just as good as the gift. Officine Universelle Buly does the most beautiful gift wrapping with embossed initials, heavy, textured paper, hand calligraphy, and velvet ribbons. Nickey Kehoe also does such beautiful wrapping, and I love these candle holders from her. If the place you’re shopping at doesn’t do great wrapping, Cutter Brooks has really pretty boxes with red ribbons that can double as keepsakes. I also love this simple but pretty velvet ribbon—last year, I used navy; this year, I bought green. And nothing is better than a gift in an orange box.

Favorite Things

I keep buying this Byredo candle worried it’ll sell out, this artichoke scent diffuser is great for closets, Sculpting tool, Comme Si socks, and 111Skin black diamond face mask, I just tried this Roz foundation mask and it’s so good, Ceramic cup, this gem bud vase is small but substantial and heavy, can never go wrong with YSE eye masks

These were some of my favorite things this year—they’re the kind of items I have bought over and over. I love to giftt something I have tried and tested and loved.

This Byredo candle is a collaboration with Issimo/Il Pellicano hotel. The scent is of an italian garden and I was suprised to love it as much as I do. I am on number 3 this year.

This artichoke scent diffuser is so nice to have in your closet and is stronger than lavender or cedar but still soft and lovely. The Lesse Sculpting tool is really pretty, but also the shape works so well. It stays cold even if it’s not in the fridge. These 111Skin Face Masks are super moisturizing. A face mask is something you can’t go wrong with—it’s a skincare product you can gift without needing to know much about their skin.

I love these Astier Mugs, I have a few myself, and I think giving one with your favorite tea or coffee is such a nice gift. They’re so beautiful.

Festive

Haut Chocolat advent calendar has really good chocolate inside, Holiday wreath, this brass bow candle holder looks pretty on a table all winter long, Holiday dinner plate, Equestre candle holder, Glass orange ornament, Cocktail napkins

I think it’s so fun to open festive gifts on Christmas. The presentation is always beautiful, and you kind of get to experience the gift all over again when you open it back up for the holidays the next year and think about the person who gave it to you.

This advent calendar would make a great hostess gift even just during the holiday season. Chocolate inside! This wreath from Flamingo estate would also make a perfect holiday host gift!

I love gifting ornaments—as the gift or a topper to a to gift. They remind you of the gifter every year when they’re put on the tree. I also love gifting a festive plates, like this floral or Acro set. They feel somewhat seasonal but not overly so and can be used throughout the year.

I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving and don’t get too caught up in the chaos of Black Friday shopping!

xo

ali