The Secret Strategist Gift Guide
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When we put together the Secret Strategist newsletter, we send questions out into the universe — like “Which clogs are cool chefs wearing? Is there a chic way to carry your bag while on a bicycle? How does Susan Orlean organize her closet?” — and receive some fascinating answers. Some of those answers become part of that week’s issue; others float around in the ether, informing us in mysterious ways. This year, we’re getting them all out at once in the form of a holiday gift guide.
We’ve assembled an exhaustive list of gifts we’d be excited to give and thrilled to receive, a mix of favorites from the Secret Strategist archive and from new brands on our radar. Whether it’s squishy cotton-and-yak baby socks from Japan, a handcrafted bread board from the League of NH Craftsmen, or perfectly proportioned martini glasses from the Brooklyn restaurant Huda, we have something for the people on your list with very particular taste. (For more gift ideas throughout the year, subscribe to the Secret Strategist newsletter here.)
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A made-in-Vermont-from-local-wool pullover so comfy that the brand calls it “the sweatshirt of sweaters.”
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Each of Anandamayi Arnold’s handmade surprise objects is a work of art. Unwind the crepe paper to find ten tiny items within.
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Take an extra 10 percent off with the code SNAP10 (valid through December 11).
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Ancán Puzzle Table Linens
Geometric table linens made in the Philippines and designed by Ancán, a lace source we wrote about earlier this year.
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Casio Sauna Watch
We write about hundreds of products a year, and none has gotten as big of a reaction from our loved ones as this sauna watch. Available only in Japan or from resellers on eBay.
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The lighting-design studio’s new, beautifully packaged incense includes this cedar-clay-geranium-and-petrichor scent.
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Elegant, made-to-last side table forged at a Maine ironworks.
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Limited-edition jams made from plums regeneratively grown in a Japanese-owned orchard in the Yakima region of Washington. This jam is made from “one of our most elegant and adventurous” plums with its notes of red currant, dried herbs, and green pepper.
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Organic-silk scrunchy, botanically dyed, sewn and pleated by hand in Marseille.
The sock shop
All the socks we’d be excited to receive.
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Does-it-all salve: Arnica, Saint-John’s-wort, yarrow, and other plants grown on a certified-organic farm in Maine infused in Séka Hills olive oil, made by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation tribe.
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A mat handmade from vintage silk plaids that you can order in custom sizes and colors.
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Just a really chic porcelain teapot from a Parisian tableware-maker. Comes with a stainless-steel cover.
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Vase by Sakura Tokiyama via design gallery Enorme, one of our favorite spots for one-of-a-kind artworks and ceramics. (Check out the rest of its stock for more good gifts.)
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Metal Pen Clips
Clever paper-clip penholders for obsessive journalers.
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Unfussy diamond earrings from Dunton Ellerkamp (who used to freelance as a florist for Alex Crowder).
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Made in Madras, India, from offcuts of handwoven fabric.
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Knit in a Japanese sock factory.
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Bobo is a brand beloved by design-minded chefs. These martini glasses are in rotation at Huda; founder and chef Gehad Hadidi says they’re “unbelievable quality and with the perfect dimensions for sipping a strong drink.” (Flynn McGarry uses the brand’s wineglasses at Cove.)
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Japanese Fish-Hook Key-Chain Holder
A pair of nicely patina’d fish-hook key chains.
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Inspired by the medieval German glass at the Cloisters.
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A winter-weight sailor hat knit in the U.K. (It comes in red, blue, and green.)
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Handcrafted bread board made of a rare kind of maple used in fancy furniture. (There are many other great pieces in the League of NH Craftsmen’s online shop.)
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Silk-douppioni pillow cover from India — your choice of piping or ruffles around the edges.
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A Cawley-esque hat from Winnie’s favorite source for sheepskin winter accessories.
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A charming collection of recipes and anecdotes from Fuller’s friends (like John Cage, Margaret Mead, and Isamu Noguchi), given to him on the occasion of his 86th birthday.
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A baby-size boar-bristle brush from one of our favorite brush-makers.
Piet Oudolf’s stationery
When we chatted with the High Line landscape designer Piet Oudolf, he sent us a picture of all the pens, pencils, and markers he uses to create his colorful landscape drawings.
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Two bags from Are Studio: a versatile waxed-canvas tote and a durable net bag reinforced with leather offcuts (still in stock in Almond).
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An unusually beautiful workout towel via the Japanese textile importer Kontex.
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Innovation in the spiky-silver-jewelry space in the form of a strip of filet lace.
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Fleur d’Eve Cashmere Underwear
Because we can’t think of anything more luxurious than this made-in-Canada cashmere lingerie.
More From The Strategist
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- Hark, the Advent Calendars Arrived (Very) Early This Year
- 63 Things You Should Never Buy Full Price
- The Strategist Fall 100
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
