What to Get a Gen-Zer (According to a Gen-Zer)

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A good ice cube is key whether they prefer a Sleepy Girl Mocktail or a whiskey on the rocks, and most apartments that a Gen-Zer can afford won’t include a fridge with an ice machine. Thisice trayis a step up from the suspicious one they found in their studio apartment’s fridge.

The Gen Z–to–Swiftie pipeline is strong, and any terminally online Swiftie will know that these sparkle patches are the same ones that Taylor Swift wore to a Chiefs game in October. But whether the Gen Z-er is a Swiftie or not, these sparkles are a fun accessory for a night out and were the highlight of my most recent pre-game.

I run in a liberal-arts-college-heavy crowd, and I’ve been seeing more and moreblue lashesrecently. Strategist beauty writer Rachael Griffiths, a fellow Gen-Zer, says this one is the best. Consider it for the Vassar or Oberlin class of 2024 grad.

I imagine thistimerwould be best for the friend who laments their pre-TikTok attention span.

This gadget is the secret behind many an influencer’s OOTD video — and makes the perfect gift for a fledgling content creator. It features 24 suction cups that will attach their phone to windows and mirrors so they can take hands-free videos and selfies.

For those embracing the bag-charm trend, consider this rather meta bag-shaped one from Baggu, a favorite brand of Gen Z. If they’d prefer something a little less literal, Anthropologie has some cute charm stacks, too, includingthis one that’s complete with crocheted cherries and some bejeweled lips.

For most Gen-Zers, long gone are the days when a dirty martini at dinner won’t cause a headache the next day. Griffiths foundthis anti-inflammatory vitamin drinkleft her feeling “fresh and well rested” after an evening of “just-about-tipsiness” drinking.

As Taylor Swift once said, “My friends all smell like weed or little babies.”

My friends and I all long for the day when we can afford a Le Creuset Dutch oven. In the meantime, I’d be grateful for a Le Creuset espresso cup. It’s best for the person who’s still using their dorm mug for every warm beverage.

Jellycats continue to be a plushie du jour, specifically those from the Amuseables collection. While Liz Gremer, a recent graduate of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, keeps anadorable sun on her bed, I’m loyal to mypetitcroissant.

I’ve been seeing more disposables than polaroids as of late both IRL and via Instagram photo dumps. Get them a two-pack so they don’t have to worry about running out of shots.

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Whether or not they experienced Zoom school, most members of Gen Z graduated into a strong WFH culture.The pleasures of working from bed are curtailed by mid-20s back pain, which Strategist writer Kitty Guo has addressed, in part, withthis massage tool.

First jobs, first apartments, and other ups and downs of their 20-somethings might be keeping them up at night. Lucy Harris, a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, received this weighted sleep mask as a gift and says, “I’ll just stick that on and I’ll sleep like a baby.”

Perhaps it’s nostalgia or perhaps it’s the yearning to one day be able to afford a dog, but the Gen Z love for Snoopy is no joke. They can use this tennis Snoopycatchallto keep track of everything from loose coins to AirPod cases. (It’s also reminiscent of this summer’sChallengersaesthetic for anyone who’s still calling it the movie of the year.)

Baggu’s signature playful patterns were everywhere on my college campus, and I see them all over New York, too. If they haven’t gotten around to buying a laptop case yet, consider gifting them this puffy laptop sleeve, which I use to carry my work laptop.

According to our friends at the Cut, your firsttarot deckis best received as a gift, so if they check theirCo-Stareveryday, it might be time for them to get into tarot reading.

Many a Gen-Zer follows influencerCampbell “Pookie” Puckett, who told me she can’t live without this blush, which she puts on her nose, lips, and, of course, her cheeks.

Andif they’ve been using theNYX Fat Oil Lip Dripever since they saw a TikTok that said it’s adupe for Dior’s Lip Glow Oil, do them a favor and get them the real thing. (Pro tip: Our beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton found that if you order the product straight from Dior’s website, it’s delivered in a lavish Dior box.)

All my friends wanted to visit the recent Fishwife pop-up, so I’m not surprised that Gen-Z pop girlieRemi Wolfis riding the tinned-fish trend, too. “I’ll make a salad or I’ll make quinoa — literally anything — and I’ll add this,” she told us.

On that note, I have no doubt that this buzzy (yet high-quality) oliv-oil duo would be the most stolen item at a Gen-ZWhite Elephantparty. The draw comes from the squeeze-bottle packaging, which allows for easy drizzling and dousing without the mess.

If they haven’t looked back since watching Chloe Ting’s workout videos during the pandemic, thisprotein powderwill help them gain and retain muscle. Our fitness writer Jeremy Rellosa says this one is the best because it mixes easily into other foods, such as oatmeal and shakes.

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Pair it with this little device that will connect Bluetooth headphones to an in-flight TV so they can watch reruns ofFriendsorGossip Girl.

This is the era when they start hosting dinner parties, and they’ll need some linens to elevate their tablescape. Saanya Ali, the founder of the hosting and entertaining siteSoirée, has these darling scallopedplace matsfrom BedThreads on her wish list.

Anybathrobeis a step up from a towel. This one from Brooklinen also happens to be the very best, according to Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla, the steward of our bathrobe content. She says it’s “everything I want a robe to be: comfortable, soft, and absorbent.”

Gremer has been seeing these weights all over Instagram and consequently has them on her wish list. They’re perfect for the Gen-Zer who’s still serious about her “Hot Girl Walks.”

I’ve been trying to incorporate fresh flowers into my adult life, so I’m always grateful when a friend brings me abouquet. This Instagrammable bouquet box will arrive right at their door and includes ten seasonal stems in a mini-bouquet and up to 18 in the regular.

Strategist junior writer Brenley Goertzen, a fellow Gen-Zer, says this is the best thing she purchased last year. Since thevanity caseis designed so that every product has a designated spot, she says, “The case also allows me to take my entire beauty regime from my bathroom at home to gym locker rooms, road trips up North, and even across international borders.”

John Morris recently graduated from Wheaton College and is filling his adult life with hikes in the White Mountains. He received this adjustable shoulder bag for his day hikes and says it’s “the perfect size for when you don’t need to bring a whole lot of stuff.”

Replace their tired Hydroflask with thisfoam roller–slash–water bottlethat they can use to stretch out after a run, hike, or pilates class.Rellosa even used it while waiting for his connecting flight.

Since adulting is expensive and losing essentials like luggage and wallets adds up quickly, these AirTags are nice insurance for the Gen-Zer who can’t keep track of their belongings.

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If they’re still perfecting their work-from-home setup,they might appreciate thispop-up deskthat our tech writer Jordan McMahon uses in coffee shops. It includes a wireless keyboard, track pad, and a holding case that transforms into a laptop stand.

Then for summer Fridays and long weekends, they can use thisgarment bag that doubles as a duffel, which has probably shown up on their Instagram explore page or TikTok “For You” page. That was the case for Griffiths, who put the bag to the test and found that her “satin dress and chiffon skirt remained delightfully crease free” throughout her travels.

We members of Gen Z do, actually, always appreciate another bottle of wine. Thiswine subscription servicewill send four bottles a month for $99 a shipment.

WithSex and the Citynow on Netflix, many Gen Z — including me — are now discovering (or rediscovering) the world of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. If they love Carrie’s nameplate necklace, they might appreciate one of their own. Tiny Tags sent me one with my own name, and I’ve been wearing it nonstop since it arrived.

Despite her looming credit-card debt at the time, Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang insisted on buying thisdinnerware from Heathfor the dinner parties she hosted in the aughts. A decade and a half later, the set has withstood wear and tear from thousands of meals, meaning that these will last them far beyond their 20s.

For the Gen-Zer who passes their Saturdays waiting their turn at the Hudson River Pickleball courts, this portable pickleball net will help them set up their own makeshift court.

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No TV? No problem. Thismini-projectorhas a built-in Bluetooth speaker and is easy to set up, so they can hostTheBachelorwatch parties.

For any Gen-Zer whose post-grad passion is taking advantage of three-day weekends, this travel pack from Cotopaxi will fit everything they need. Kate Bryar, a Northwestern alumna, took hers when traveling through 12 countries after she graduated college.

If they’ve been itching to join their friends at the vinyl shop, thisrecord playeris popular among turntable enthusiasts because it’s easy to use while still boasting high sound quality, according to McMahon.

Or you can upgrade theirBluetooth speakerwith this one from JBL, which McMahon calls “a modern take on a lava lamp” that “sounds as good as it looks.”

Jerden polled her partner, a zillenial, about his wish list. On it is a new TV and a Nintendo Switch, which can be played in three modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld. Plus it’s compatible with the early-aughts classicMario Kart.

Daly has been wishing for a cozy quilt but hasn’t bought one herself because they’re so expensive. She’s eyeing this one fromour guide to quiltsthat’s hand-sewn and heirloom-worthy.

On that note, this weighted blanket completely transformed my post-college bed setup. It’s just heavy enough to provide some calming pressure, while also looking especially nice on my bed.

If youdowant to spring for the Le Creuset: Jerden received a Le CreusetDutch ovenfrom her mom and thinks it’s “a nice upgrade for people in their mid to late 20s.”