To find the more than 100 gifts you’re about to encounter, we did not merely scan our favorite websites for new products or even just select some of the nicest things we’ve written about on The Strategist over the past year. We did those things, then dug deeper. A team of dedicated editors worked for months, falling down dozens of rabbit holes, to find gifts (most of which are new this year) you likely won’t find recommended anywhere else.
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Among other nutty tactics, we scanned every single account that a particularly stylish Danish e-commerce site follows on Instagram (then shopped those stylish Danish sites), slunk around on the “Buy It for Life” sub-Reddit, and crept through various shops to sniff their new perfumes and glad-hand their pot holders. Then we started whittling things down and debating among ourselves. Would anyone really pay $430 for that scarf? (No.) Is that pair of pants too specific or just specific enough? (The latter.) The result is a range of gifts for really and truly everyone, from hand-knit balaclavas for a good cause to mycological knife rests as well as a tote bag designed to slip securely over suitcase handles.
Don’t miss all of the Strategist’s holiday gift coverage right here. You can also see our picks for gifts under $50 and gifts over $200.
Comprehensive Cleaning Set
A “deluxe” version of the Melissa & Doug classic that comes with a sweeper-mop and a lint brush.
Fashion Dickey
A neck warmer made from deadstock fleece.
Travel Tote
An enormous market-style bag with Velcro closure and a side pocket that slides over suitcase handles.
[Editor’s note: This bag is currently out of stock, but we’ll keep an eye out and update this story when it’s back in stock.]
Upcycled Collar
Irish designer Aisling Duffy makes all her clothes and accessories from reused (and dyed) fabrics.
Modular Toy Tent
A reissue of the Eames Construction Toy from 1951.
Stackable Tray
Created for Anthropologie by beloved British designer Matilda Goad.
Waterless Diffuser
Nebulizing technology lets it emit essential oils without heat or water.
Glass Face Gloss
Byredo’s new liquid lipstick, worn by Emily Ratajkowski at Nensi Dojaka’s spring-summer ’23 show to super-shiny effect.
Flexy Fins
Made in eight sizes from premium Malaysian rubber.
Checkered Satchel
Makié—known for its sweet children’s clothes—recently released these perfectly simple linen bags
Nick Cave Cheesecake
An unlikely collaboration by the artist and Chicago cheesecake factory Eli’s.
Sherpa Suit
Colorful, cozy baby one-piece.
Unseen Egglestons
Nearly 100 Kodachromes of the American South accompanied by fiction by Rachel Kushner.
Even Funkier Kombucha
This four-pack of Unified Ferments’ offerings includes Snow Chrysanthemum, which has notes of star fruit, shaved asparagus, and bee pollen and tastes uncannily like orange wine.
Handsy Scarf
Per the brand, it can be worn as a belt or top but is “overall very useless”!
Chunky Hat
From Amsterdam’s Eleph, hand-knit in 100 percent wool.
Chard Scarf
Silk and double sided.
Small-Batch Armagnac
It’s aged 17 years, then finished in Jamaican-rum barrels.
UGG Guard
To protect against the possibility of damp sheepskin.
Self-Watering Planter
Its “subirrigation system” takes care of your philodendron for you.
Orange Towel
Made by a Copenhagen-based studio out of highly absorbent terry cotton.
Smiley Book
The debut monograph from French graphic designer and illustrator Jean Jullien.
Trompe l’Oeil Manhattan
Adult Sled
With a steering wheel and 250-pound capacity.
2,000 Yards of Yarn
The Baltimore-based Neighborhood Fiber Co. works mostly with rich-to-the-touch organic merino.
Insulated Polo
Inside-Outside Boots
Pleated Toaster
Part of Alessi’s new Plissé line (also available: a milk frother, a blender, a teakettle, and an electric citrus squeezer).
Purple-Basil Perfume
Hermès’ newest fragrance comes in the classic orange box with the addition of a green ribbon.
Clothbound Book of Flowers
Paintings of flowers from over 50 artists with text by Hilton Als.
Sandy Timex
Designed by Nigel Cabourn and water resistant up to 164 feet.
Cashmere Kerchief
From the U.K. cashmere experts at Johnstons of Elgin.
Magnetic Charging Station
Your iPhone charges up top, your AirPods on the base.
Plastic Garden
In 771 pieces, new from the LEGO Botanical Collection.
Do-Good Balaclava
A portion of profits go to Sky High Farm, which grows fresh food exclusively for donation.
Young Nebbiolo
Good to drink immediately or to cellar.
Quilted Wallabee
Biography of Bling
A visual history of jewelry from Run-DMC, Tupac, and Jay-Z to Migos and Cardi B.
Imperfect Rings
Can also be set with brown quartz, London-blue sapphire, or yellow quartz.
Etruscan Pitcher
Part of Menu’s new Tradition Reimagined collection.
Dickensian Nightgown
Genderless nightshirts with mother-of-pearl buttons from Buenos Aires.
Beverly Nguyen’s Knives
The stylist and owner of Beverly’s worked with Material Kitchen on this sage set.
Best Men’s Tee
L.A.-based studio Lady White’s extra-structured, extra-thick cotton shirts are now available in bright green.
Ceramic Daisy
It comes in three or five inches and is meant to hang on the wall.
Pickleball Bag
Made of heavyweight duck canvas, it holds two paddles with room for balls, water, and more; can be monogrammed.
Taiwanese Rice Cooker
An essential appliance that’s newly (and only) available in the U.S. from Yun Hai.
On-the-Spot Xbox
Tomato Perfume
The first scent from Echo Park’s Cactus Store, which otherwise sells rare plants.
Rice Chest
Made from sawara cypress, it’s meant to control humidity levels, optimizing the texture and flavor.
New Rancho Gordo
Founded by sisters, Primary Beans sources from farms with harvest information on every bag.
Post-Run Slides
Hoka’s incredibly comfortable massaging slipper now comes in forest green.
Danish Button-down
Rising menswear brand Another Aspect aims to make poplin shirts everyday wearable.
Very British PJs
A collaboration between Cath Kidston and The Great British Bake Off.
Wall Street Duvet
From Swedish bed linen–maker Magniberg; meant to look like classic work shirts.
Objet Massager
Made by ceramicist Rachel Saunders with three spheres to effectively ease knots.
Undroppable Phone Case
It can stand at three different angles.
Paper Peonies
Artist Susan Beech cuts and shapes them by hand.
Rain Bonnet
It offers full coverage at the neck and is made of packable pink polyester.
Balmoral Bonnet
Quilted for extra warmth and inspired by the late queen’s country looks.
Latex Bonnet
Bull’s-eye Bowl
It has a shallow dip that is useful for serving both pasta and salads.
Sunny Carafe
Designed after the traditional pitchers of the Tonalá and Tlaquepaque regions in Mexico.