Merry gift guide season, everyone! I am a lover of all things gifts — giving, receiving, guide-ing… Therefore, I am ecstatic to have this platform and to share al dente’s first-ever gift guide! With all the things I’ve been eyeing up this season, this list has you covered for the homebody, the coffee-lover, dog-mom, and even your most fashionable friend that’s seemingly impossible to shop for. All of these products I either own and love or would love to own. I wanted to fill this guide with unique and interesting pieces that you may not have seen before, accompanied by some more tried-and-true staples you can’t go wrong with — can you say J.Crew rollneck?
The categories I chose to include make up the various facets of my life — homeware, fashion, coffee, dogs, and staying within budget. As you may know, I try to stay mindful of overconsumption, so I don’t consider any of these items “throwaway” or only in style for a season or two. Whether that’s heirloom home decor, high-quality winter accessories, or deadstock pet bandanas, these pieces have been intentionally curated over many months and are all from cool ass brands I know and admire.
I hope this guide helps you navigate this season’s gifting for all of your hard-to-shop-for nearest and dearest. Happy perusing!
For The Homebody
As a professional homebody, I know a thing or two about homeware. From curating the perfect vibe for a dinner party or decor that’s nothing shy of conversation-starting, you’ve come to the right place. The chrome cocktail cup from Serve Studio perfectly doubles as a sundae dish, and Slightly Choppy has a pennant flag for just about anyone. I am always a proponent for gifting books, and for the cinephile in your life, the A24 screenplay books are unmatched. Just about anything from the A24 store is incredibly giftable. And for your favorite chic stoner, look no further than the Edie Parker lighter cases — talk about form and function.
Clothes & Accessories
For the most fashionable friends and family in your life, the arduous task of finding something they’ll love can seem too daunting to start. My advice is to go with an accessory, perhaps from a retailer like Nordstrom or Saks Fifth Avenue, with the gift receipt attached so they always have the option to exchange (no shade, but fashion girlies are picky). You also can’t go wrong with an it-girl brand like Bonnie & Clyde or Hollie Mercedes’s Clòimh, which is chock-full of sustainable pieces made of Scottish wool. I myself have had my eye on this balaclava-esque piece for many, many moons. And don’t forget to take your giftee’s interests into account — for the NYC-o-phile, the New York Public Library tote bag is a great size and looks perfectly vintage. And for any of my fellow Princess Diana lovers, the 492 cap from Nineties Anxiety will literally make them scream.
For The Coffee Lover
No matter how many mugs a coffee lover owns, they always want more. Especially when they’re from my new favorite ceramics company, Hotel Ceramics. The bright colors and chunky handle are what dreams are made of. My advice for gifting mugs is choosing high-quality ceramic, maybe something they wouldn’t splurge on for themselves. Your typical coffee lover already has the fancy tools and machine they want, so don’t feel like you need to break the bank. The Todia Coffee Cup set and a couple of miniature coffee spoons (both from Porta NYC) would be incredibly thoughtful without being too extravagant. You also can never go wrong with a bag of fresh beans or simple syrup from your favorite local coffee shop. Just make sure you check the date they were roasted (it’ll be stamped on the beans) before you buy them, as they generally should be brewed within a month of the roast date.
Bag of coffee beans from your favorite coffee shop!
Bottle of flavored syrup from your fave coffee shop!
For The Dog Mom
For any dog owner with a similar obsession as mine, they’ll be just as happy (if not happier) to receive a gift on their dog’s behalf. In lieu of one for themselves, it’ll be exciting to receive just about anything. A cameo from mommy’s angel herself, Nelly models a onesie by Little Beast, who makes the best dog clothes ever (supermutt not included). And as far as I’m concerned, no outfit is complete without the most boujee dog leash I have ever seen. It is simply not a want but a need.
Under $50
To gift thoughtfully, there is no need to splurge. For the Kindle-lover in your life, I swear by my new case from April Supply. My baseball cap from The MET has been my MVP fall accessory, and the Glossier You perfume comes with me wherever I go. I also swear by the glass-tiled coasters by Subtle Art Studios — you can either buy a matching set or mix and match from their huge array of color combos to perfectly match your giftee’s style. For your favorite IBS warrior, look no further than the adorable microwaveable stuffed animals from Warmies. And lastly, for anyone in your life who loves pasta at least half as much as I do, a nice box of something fancy, like paccheri, paired with a jar of sauce, a wedge of parm, or even a nice set of pasta bowls, is so very thoughtful and will always be put to good use.
Fancy box of pasta + jar of sauce!
I hope you enjoyed al dente’s first-ever gift guide!! May this list inspire you this holiday season and help take a little stress off. If you have any questions or need ideas for a specific person in your life, let me know in the comments below. And remember, it’s the thought that counts. So for starters, I recommend giving the gift of being a good listener. By really listening to people, you can learn what they’re into — what makes them them. Whether that’s food or sports or music or relieving stomach pain, the perfect gift is just waiting for you to find it.
Fa la la la la, etc.
- Ally
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