Our Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

Fifty-four memorable ideas that fit all budgets, from $3 to $85,000

December 2019/January 2020

Photo: Alice Gao

Surcees: Small size, Big Style

Clockwise from bottom left:

Knife This pocketknife from Son of a Sailor is practical and not too precious ($150; sonofasailor.co).

Hat Whether you’re walking the dog or hunting with one, this cashmere beanie by Saved will cap your look ($225; saved-ny.com).

Pick-Up Sticks Printworks taps into nostalgia with its refresh of the classic kids’ game ($22; printworksmarket.com).

Lotion and Comb A porcelain bottle filled with body milk, and a comb (far right), both from L’Officine Universelle Buly, define stocking-sized luxury ($56–$67; buly1803.com).

Figurines Papier-mâché flamingos, pelicans, and guinea hens by the artisans at Mbare call to mind feathered friends familiar to the South ($9 each; mbare.com).

Bowl This vessel from Jayson Home made of Himalayan rock salt is as well suited for finishing salt as it is lime slices at the bar ($30; jaysonhome.com).

Pâtes de Fruits Twenty Degrees Chocolates employs French confection techniques for its gelées ($18 for twelve pieces; ggfieldshop.com).

Bottle The guard on this reusable bottle by Kinto keeps liquids from flowing too fast ($38; food52.com).

Servers Eye-grabbing brass serving spoons by Lost Cove Jewelry in North Carolina make useful heirlooms ($190; ggfieldshop.com).

Hourglasses Enjoy fifteen minutes in the moment with hourglasses by Hay ($18 each; hay.com).

Soak This soak by Charleston, South Carolina’s Contents Co. blends bergamot oil with Dead Sea salts and more for serious self-care ($12; thecontentsco.com).

Scissors This design from Heaven in Earth can weather the dishwasher, cut bones, and even open bottles ($74; heaveninearth.co).

Wallet Ditch the brown bifold for this lively green cardholder by Muur ($55; muur.nyc.com).

Ornaments The wooden ornaments by Sir Madam won’t shatter if a dog brushes the tree ($54 for five; luluandgeorgia.com).

Napkins Not to insinuate anything about folks at the holiday buffet, but piggy cocktail napkins by Biscuit provide a sly wink ($50 for a set of four; biscuit-home.com).

Cookies This shortbread features real flowers, placed by baker Valerie Curry at Carriage House Cookies; order early for holiday delivery ($42–$45; etsy.com).

Straws Kick plastic with splurgy silver-plated straws by Christofle ($168 for two; christofle.com).

Photo: Alice Gao

Natural Treasures

Above:

Paperweights

Like insects preserved in amber, the dandelion fluff, sea lavender, and bunny tail grass that Sola Cube artfully suspends in resin become natural treasures ($35–$85; eastfork.com).

Photo: Alice Gao

Worth the Splurge

From top:

Men’s Watch The new Luminor Due GMT Power Reserve 45mm by Panerai fuses aesthetics and technology with aplomb. The slimmer-profile timepiece features an indigo leather band, a brushed titanium case, a blue dial, both Arabic numerals and hour markers, plus it can withstand water down to thirty meters ($12,100; panerai.com).

Hinged Bracelet A fanciful woodland scene of deer and botanicals adorns every surface of this eighteen-karat gold and diamond bracelet by Temple St. Clair ($85,000; templestclair.com).

Women’s Watch Is this piece a yellow gold and diamond watch, or a lapis-lazuli-studded bracelet? The ingenious design by Van Cleef & Arpels will keep that secret for you till you’re ready to share it ($37,800; vancleefarpels.com).

Ring Consider cocktail rings like this labradorite piece by Julie Vos your version of Wonder Woman cuffs—strong and confident accessories ($185; julievos.com).

Link Bracelet The mixed-media design of this eighteen-karat gold and black ceramic link bracelet by Monica Rich Kosann gives an art deco twist to the charm bracelet tradition ($7,750; monicarichkosann.com).

Photo: Alice Gao

Gear for the Good Life

From top:

Jacket and flask Tom Beckbe has debuted a women’s Tensaw jacket, a feminine counterpoint to its original waxed canvas men’s version—the flattering silhouette is tailored just right ($495; tombeckbe.com). And the brand’s flasks (in bag and bottom left; $150 each; ggfieldshop.com) are just as fitting for the field.

Bag A stylish take on the old-school ditty bag, this ten-inch design by Mississippi’s Wren & Ivy perfectly accommodates shells, a tipple of choice, and an extra pair of gloves ($385; ggfieldshop.com).

Boots Waterproof hunting boots by the Original Muck Boot Company come with a smart twist: The sides roll down to reveal a blaze-orange lining that will help keep you visible while crisscrossing the woods ($140; muckbootcompany.com).

Bootjack Ease your heels off in style with this English-crafted white oak bootjack from Heaven in Earth, a piece that almost looks too good to get muddy ($49; heaveninearth.co).

Shirt Sport meets conservation in this flannel by Orvis composed of fabric made from recycled plastics and oyster shells—the ideal base layer for an early morning out the door ($98; orvis.com).

Photo: Alice Gao

The Everyday, Elevated

Left to right, from top:

Cotton Pajamas The new pajamas by Texas-based Mirth feel like air on the skin ($90–$110; mirthcaftans.com).

Slippers Each pair of these slippers—hand dyed with indigo and sewn to order by Immodest Cotton—fades over time like a great pair of jeans ($295; fleabg.com).

Tablecloth and Napkins When you run your fingers over a Heather Taylor Home tablecloth or napkin set, you feel the handwork ($82–$258; heathertaylorhome.com).

Lampshades Pleated cotton shades by Bunny Williams Home add a pop of pattern to any room ($295 each; bunnywilliamshome.com).

Pitcher This Zafferano vessel is made using Murano glassblowing techniques ($125; zafferanoamerica.com).

Candles No need for candlesticks: These beeswax candles by Carl Durkow pull double duty ($32–$40; newmarketgoods.com).

Wastebasket British designers Ben Pentreath and Bridie Hall based the pattern for this Pentreath & Hall wastebasket on historic tile ($105; pentreath-hall.com).

Basket This basket from Dear Keaton deserves prominent placement ($100; dearkeaton.com).

Glasses Refresh your bar with featherlight glasses from Savannah’s Courtland & Co. ($40 each; courtlandandco.com).

Water Carbonator Unlike with an unwieldy waffle maker or air fryer, you’ll actually want to leave this water carbonator by Aarke out on the counter ($229; aarke-usa.com).

Bowl Texas artist Eliana Bernard makes this footed bowl to order ($164; elianabernard.com).

Pillow The design on this new pillow from Australia’s Utopia Goods is like catnip to lovers of pattern and color— also known as Southerners ($170; utopiagoods.com).

Coffee Maker Java devotees with an eye for aesthetics will appreciate this high-performing metal, wood, and glass pour-over coffee maker by Ratio ($495; ratiocoffee.com).

Silk Pajamas Fishing nets used in Kochi, India, inspired the print on these pajamas by the Ethical Silk Company ($295; theethicalsilkcompany.com).

Palm Vase All you need for instant drama is a palm frond and this vase from Jayson Home ($32; jaysonhome.com).

Mortar and Pestle Tastemaker Thomas O’Brien has made a life of producing interesting objects, such as this square mortar and pestle ($125; aerostudios.com).

Photo: Alice Gao

For the Garden

Clockwise from top:

Cloche Willow wattles, tuteurs, and cloches such as this lovely support system from Master Garden Products lend structure to a garden ($23 each; mastergardenproducts.com).

Watering Can When the job calls for less of a soaking than a sprinkler or hose provides, tilt this sprightly, modern design by Hay ($25; hay.com).

Basket Gather your heirloom varieties in this sturdy carryall by Terrain ($68; shopterrain.com).

Flower Seeds The masterminds at Washington’s Floret specialize in uncommon varieties of cutting flowers to start from seed, including the blush-hued blooms in their Sweetheart mix ($25; floretflowers.com).

Shears The designer behind this tool from the Floral Society may have perfected ergonomic clippers for home gardeners ($71; thefloralsociety.com).

Tools Like a fetching pair of weathered boots, the leather handles of this tool set by Sol & Luna will break in beautifully ($125; infavorof.com).

Vegetable Seeds Sow Row 7 seeds for vegetable varieties bred specifically for the palate, such as a badger flame beet that lacks the typical “dirt” aftertaste ($3–$5; row7seeds.com).