The Gift Guide That Wasn't
My personal present recommendations from the other side (of the holidays)
The sneaky little thing about owning and operating a Dinner Party Shop is that I…don’t really have time to host dinner parties. At least, not as often as I’d like to.
And during the season in which that Dinner Party Shop turns into a Gift Shop, the same rules apply. Like clockwork, when the calendar strikes November 1, my business/brain/body zeroes in on one goal: being the greatest gifting co-conspirator for our customers — often to the detriment of my own personal holiday agenda.
Which explains why this guide did not actually make it to you during the season of Gift Guides.
So instead, what I present now is a highly-specific list of things I actually gave and received this year (outside of Big Night), organized by general theme. I hope you find something in here to delight — either you, or someone you find yourself gifting, at any point this year.
Paris-Inspired Presents
When I booked a last-minute trip to Paris over Thanksgiving, I did not put together that I would be in the very best shopping city at the very best time for shopping. Walking into Le Bon Marche — especially when the department store is all done up in holiday trimmings — is the quickest way to realize exactly how much better Paris is at IRL retail experiences than any city in the U.S. But I digress! Here are the gifts I picked up on that trip:
Officine Universelle Buly Combs
I could write an entire post about this French apothecary brand. More so than any one particular product, what Officine has truly mastered is personalization. Any lip balm, comb, or toothbrush purchased from one of their immaculate shops can be engraved. The product itself feels special – the combs have a really nice weight to them, the lip balms come in little leather clamshell cases, the packaging is perfect – but it’s the personalization that has people waiting in lines down the block at all of their Paris locations. And yes, you can order and personalize online.
I picked up combs for my mom and for my mother-in-law, and gifted Alex one for his moustache (!).
Dries Van Noten Refillable Lipstick & Lipstick Case
This isn’t just a lipstick – it’s an accessory. The kind you pull out of your purse and inevitably someone says “oooooh, what is that?” I love that you not only choose your color, but the lipstick case itself, so in a way, every combination is custom. If you don’t feel comfy choosing a lip color on behalf of someone else, go for a clear lip balm instead. Best of all: they’re refillable, so once you finish off a color, you can swap it for something new.
Vintage Christofle Coasters
Whoever is running Christofle’s PR right now is doing an incredible job. This historic French silver brand has been inescapable (at least in my corners of the internet), and they even have their own exhibit running at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs right now. Highly recommend a visit if you’re in town.
While I can’t afford to buy new Christofle, you can find more wallet-friendly vintage pieces on Etsy, like these wine bottle or beverage coasters.
Agnés B Snap Cardigan
Once I found myself in an Agnés B store, I finally succumbed to the siren sounds of the snap cardigan. One for me, in red, and one for my cousin in need of the perfect San Francisco layer, in blue.
Parisian Restaurant Merch
One of my current very specific obsessions is with the way Parisian brasseries and bistros have their own branded tableware. (If we did this in the US, would it feel as chic? Absolutely not.)
At the same time, “merch” as we know it in the U.S. is not really a thing in France (again: chic), but this new company is here to bridge the gap, producing restaurant merch on behalf of Parisian restaurants that are too cool to do it themselves. After seeing this sign on the walls of Brasserie Lipp, I had to get the hat that declares their very important rule:
The Never-Fails
Ok, enough about Paris. Onto the things that I knew would be a slam-dunk, because they are always a slam dunk.
A Really Big Scarf
A new scarf can really make winter feel less meh. Last year I gifted this Theory number to my mom, and this year I received this blanket-like J.Crew cashmere. I wanted this Dries scarf so badly, which is the ultimate sign that you should gift the thing, so I did.
A Really Good Sweater
This was a year of Octobre Éditions, the new menswear line from Sézane. I gifted this waffle crewneck and this thick cardigan, both of which received rave reviews. My Dad also had elaborate praise for the smell of the box his arrived in, which evidently they spritzed with some kind of perfume he was really into.
A Fresh Pair Of Slippers
Is there a better feeling in the world for your feetsies? For men, L.L Bean, always, and for my mother-in-law, these fancies from Lenys World.
A Framed Photo
Framebridge has made the perennial-parent-favorite (but really, everyone loves a framed photo!) gift even easier. Did you know you can upload any digital photo to their site, and then they print it and frame it and ship it? This was really an unlock for me this year.
Leather Treasures
There’s just something about a leather treasure. What makes a good leather good, for me at least? Small-production or handmade, ideally in the U.S., bonus points for personalization options.
Lotuff
From small (this leather valet) to big ticket (this weekender), everything from Lotuff is made by hand in Rhode Island, and feels like something they’ll have forever.
El Bisonte
I wanted to gift my mom a new bag this year, which is a bit of a gamble in and of itself. But I was swayed when I went into Il Bisonte’s store (they have a brick-and-mortar around the corner from our West Village location), and was able to see all the bags IRL. They’re classic and beautiful and not at all trendy. I went with this one.
A.E. McAteer
This is one of my best gifting secrets. Andrew handmakes leather goods out of his studio in Queens. I have gotten so many gifts from him – including a pair of custom (!) shoes based on a description I word-vomited to Andrew and then he dreamed up. Reach out to him and tell him I sent you!
Far West Dopp Kitt
When I saw my friend (and president of Far West Collective) Susannah unzip this dopp kit, I actually screamed. The diagonal design means that it opens FLAT, for you to easily and quickly see all of what’s inside. I asked for (and did not receive) this gift this year, but I may need to just purchase it for myself because I can’t stop thinking about how useful it would be for so much upcoming travel this year.
Beauty Stocking Stuffers
Last but never least…
Makeup that feels like candy
My friend got me into this delicious popsicle / lip stain, which we have both resisted the urge to eat on many occasions. Also, this bon bon/blush.
The hair pin that actually works
My mom gifted me this gold hair pin and wow did she knock it out of the park. I had tried other hair pins that absolutely did not stand up to my thick hair but this one does the job beautifully and makes me feel instantly put together.
A genius towel for your hair
Curly haired people know: you can’t just put your hair up in any towel. You need one specifically designed to reduce moisture while not frizzing anything up. This one from Crown Affair, which also has an elastic band for you to tuck the edge of towel into, is so simple yet so brilliant. I gifted it, and then I had to get one for me, too.
I want to know: what was YOUR favorite gift you got this year??? Tell me about your hauls.
Obsessed with the Parisian restaurant gift shop and also curious if you actually liked the food 👀 (at Brasserie Lipp)
That Dopppp kittttt