Better Than Your Average Gift Guide
If you're shopping for a friend that has the same taste as me; this is for you
A lot of gift guides are bad. I saw a TikTok of “Gifts For The Cook in Your Life” and thought Oh, that’s me! But as I scrolled through I wasn’t excited about any of them. In fact, I thought most of them were just plain bad. (Don’t buy the cook in your life a checkerboard apron, checkerboard is the new chevron).
This Gift Guide won’t be categorized or assigned to any extremely niche description of a person you may or may not be shopping for. Instead it’s a list of things that I would love to receive or would proudly give as a gift! Everything is under $200 because that just feels right.
alright, let’s f*cking gab
#1 Go Pouch Set, Baggu, $40 In my mind buying someone a Baggu is like buying someone socks, and I say that as someone who would love to get a pair of socks for the holidays. They will always be useful (Baggus and socks) and can be generic or personalized.
#2 Nike Waffle Trainer 2, Nike (but you’ll probably have to go resale), $90-$150 The cool girls shoe: Sambas, Onitsuka Tigers and — you heard it hear first folks — Nike Waffle Trainer. And you know what the stamp of cool girl approval is? Having to buy it resale! The colors they have on Goat are way better than anything on the Nike site.
#3 La Palette Signature, Rouje, $50 This has been on every Christmas list of mine for the past, probably, five years. There is nothing like a lipstick palette to make you feel like a cool french girl. It’s the type of luxurious thing that needs to be gifted because there is no scenario in which you’re doing some shopping and think I need a lipstick palette.
#4 Tie Pants, Brooke Callahan, $155 I stumbled across this brand a while ago because someone posted a TikTok about one of their necklaces, but I was shocked to see how much I loved all their clothes! These pants are a stand out to me and feel like something I could wear again and again but they have so many other really cool things, like this skirt.
#5 Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook: A Cookbook, buy it locally or on Thrift Books, $40 Insert internet chef here’s cookbook and this is a really great gift, but I specifically chose Sohla’s because a) I don’t have it yet and b) It seems like the type of cookbook that would be perfect as someones first or an addition to their collection. She’s incredible and I don’t even have to have this book to know it’s special.
#6 Silver Posy Chocker, Yam, $65 I have a few things from Yam and I love them all so much. Each piece is handmade and unique and the price point for something like that can’t be beat! Everything I have from them is gold so I think this silver necklace would be the ideal addition.
#7 Red Striped Unisex Lounge Trousers, Speltham, $59 This brand is famous for their boxers which is a summer trend I never really hopped on, but that in pant form is definitely for me.
#8 The Merino Sock, Comme Si, $38 Like I said before, I think socks are a great gift, but if you’re going to gift them make sure they’re really good quality. These wool socks are made in Italy of 100% wool to keep your toesies warm!
#9 Dessert First Riso Print, Momo Gordon, $25 I think gifting home decor is the hardest thing to give. Things that you see everyday in your home are really personal and if you don’t 100% love it, it’ll live somewhere no one can see it. I think if you’re going to gift something for interiors, a unique art print is the way to go. You can support a small artist and personalize it to the recipients likes. I have a print from Momo Gordon and I love it so much.
#10 Low Loose Jeans, Levi’s $108 I have these in a true blue wash and will be getting a darker wash ASAP. The low rise trend is highly controversial. For me, this is the lowest and only style I’ll do. They’re the perfect rise where a slightly crop tee hits exactly at the button. They’re also more comfortable to wear compared to the timeless high rise.
#11 Wonder Reading Journal, Papier, $38 Okay, so I also already own one of these and I love it. You can customize it with the gift recipients name, pair it with a book they’d like and you’re all set! Perfect gift acquired.
#12 Smoky Quartz Bracelet, Sea + Pattern, $62 Lately I’ve been into chunkier accessories, specifically bracelets. An outfit of classic blue jeans and a sweater, is instantly made better with this really pretty quartz bracelet.
#13 Halle Crewneck Sweater, J.Crew, $45 There must be at least one sweater recommendation on every gift guide, it’s the law. I will be adding two on here, this one is a thinner fitted style. I think this is often over looked in most wardrobes and would be nice to receive because of that. Great for layering and a great price.
#14 Flabelus Mary Jane, Flabelus, $146 Now this is sort of the antithesis to gifting a sweater because you should not be wearing these espadrille style Mary Janes in the snowy winter climate, unless you live in like, California (?), and don’t get that kind of weather. All too often when were gifting were stuck in the right now, and what a nice surprise it would be to get something that’s a summer time treat, ya know? No? Okay moving on.
#15 Women's Hamatah Sweater, KOTN, $138 See, it’s that other sweater I was talking about! This one is a nice chunky knit with a thick collar. Perfect for snowy winter climate, probably not ideal for a Californian.
#16 Roller Coaster, Bonnie Clyde, $168 This brand has a lot of really unique styles of sunglasses. I picked this one because I love the shape and how the frames are black, while the lenses are brown!
#17 'After Party' baby tee, In Print We Trust, $31 You gotta love a baby tee! And what’s better than two fashion icons on a baby tee? Nothing.
#18 Rockpool Dance, Etsy, $78 Back to my idea that unique art is a great gift if you want to gift something for interiors. This print is so beautiful and I wish I owned it.
#19 Ronan Neck Warmer, Rouje, $130 I didn’t think a neck warmer was something I needed, let alone wanted, but now I fear those are both true. Sometimes wearing a big old scarf is overwhelming and this would solve that problem!
#20 (Re)sourced Cuffed Beanie, Madewell, $29.50 I tried on this beanie last year in the bluestone color and stupidly didn’t buy it, but I have thought of it a lot since, which means it will be a good investment.
#21 Berkeley Bucket Bag, J. Crew, $198 Also known as the Pigmamiii bag. The half suede/half leather gives it that cool girl vibe and it would really impress any recipient.
Omg you did it!! You made it to the end of this really long gift guide. I hope you enjoyed it and at the very least it inspired you to take a closer look at any of these things that I think are pretty!
As always thank you for reading and please gab in the comments! I would love to know what you’re wanting or giving this holiday season!!
Xx,
Gabbie
I am so influenced rn actually
fkn taste