Okay, so you waited till the very end to buy holiday gifts, and now not even last-minute sales or two-day shipping will save you. You could head out into the world, braving the crowds and trying to scrounge up some kind of gift in a blind frenzy — Wait, what’s their shoe size? Do they already have an Apple TV? — or you could save yourself the trouble with an e-gift card, which these days come from a surprisingly broad swath of places (Did you know you could give them the gift of Netflix?) Here’s a tip: Even if the gift code will be emailed to them, go to the trouble of printing it out and sticking it in a card you get at the drugstore. Or better yet, put the printout in a box that you then gift wrap. There’s time for that, at least.
So they don’t have to use their parents’ (or ex’s) account to watch Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat or The Princess Switch.
If you know they’re a skin care junkie, but you’re at a loss for what products they might want, give them a gift card to Dermstore.
Simply — and perfectly — designed T-shirts, casual pants, sweaters, and accessories for men and women.
So they can upgrade to linen sheets or get the bathrobe that’s been popular at the Strategist Holiday Pop-Up Shop.
We also love Brooklinen’s linen bedding, as well as their buttery-soft cotton sheets.
In our roundup of the 100 best pens, Baron Fig’s Rollerball came out on top. But the New York City-based company makes a bunch of other great office gear, too, in case pens aren’t their thing.
They can get nylon pouches to organize a tote bag, a chic leather bucket bag, or the classic reusable nylon tote.
Our beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton is “psychotically obsessed” with Ulta, and especially with how they offer both drugstore and luxury brands side by side.
For that sports bra, yoga mat, or seamless pair of leggings they’ve been eyeing.
If they want nothing more than to head off to the Catskills — or Palm Springs or Rehoboth — give them a hand. (Or, if you’re looking to make a bit of extra cash this holiday season, you could always list your place on Airbnb.)
If you’re looking for a gift card for someone who loves to cook, Material Kitchen makes sculptural-looking cookware (and their Japanese-style knife is a real knockout).
Yes, for all the crocheted trivets their heart could desire, but also funky iPhone accessories and handsome Eames knockoffs.
It’s certainly not the most original gift — and we’ve made fun of them before — but you know it will get used (and definitely appreciated) by a bleary-eyed college student or teacher.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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