The Back Row chat runneth over with gift recommendations. I got so many responses to the thread about the gifts YOU love to receive and give that I could not fit them all in the usual monthly recap I’ve been sending.
Today’s story is generously sponsored by The Prisoner Wine Company known for their flagship Red Blend, a disruptive, unconventional blend in the Napa Valley region. I talk a lot in this newsletter about craftsmanship, which is exactly what The Prisoner’s Red Blend showcases. Combining Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, it’s bold and complex but also smooth — and makes a great holiday gift. It’s also a gift that gives back, with 3 percent of Red Blend sales donated to The Center for Art & Advocacy.
I added some of my recommendations to the community’s and organized them ahead by categories that speak to me, personally, as someone who is often stressed and tired but also picky as hell. I hope that these also speak to many of you: gifts for people who need to calm down; who love efficiency; coffee snobs; people who always have a book in their bag; people who say they don’t want anything; kids; and people with good taste and cold feet.
For People Who Need to Calm Down
1 - Aesop Bronze Incense Holder ($175)
“The holder is so pretty as just a decoration piece. I’ve gotten in for several people, and they always love it.” —Alex Marootian
2 - Towel Warmer ($49.99)
—Vivian Niehoff
3 - Monsuri Bath Tray and Bath Pillow ($99.85)
“Little things I wouldn’t get for myself but love so much!” —Anniessa Burke
For People Who Love Efficiency
4 - Bose Noise Canceling Headphones ($179)*
“Bose Quiet Comfort are my saviours” —Imogen Church
“My husband gave me these headphones one year ago, one of my favorite gifts ever!” —Jasmim
*These are one of my top gift picks too — my husband got these for me one Mother’s Day and seldom does a work day go by that I don’t put these on to focus. They block out all the noise in my house when my kids are home.
5 - Hatch Restore 3 Alarm Clock ($169.99)
“Hatch alarm clock, worth every penny.” —Suf
6 - USB Lighter Co. Rechargeable Lighter - $30
“I love gifting rechargeable lighters from the USB Lighter Company to people who are big on candles…It seems like a small thing, but they’re so nice to have.” —Emma Sarran Webster
7 - reMarkable E-Ink Tablet ($399)
“An e-ink tablet for people who love taking handwritten notes/ideating on paper, but are constantly being buried by drifts of paper.” —Mary
For Coffee Snobs
8 - MiiR Monogrammed Travel Mug ($27.95)
“Two years ago, I gave monogrammed coffee travel mugs to my book club. I think MiiR does a decent job of trying to be a responsible, sustainable company.” —Andrea
9 - Subscription to Standart magazine ($109)
“A few years ago, I gifted my partner, a coffee snob who roasts his own coffee, a subscription to Standart magazine, which he loved.” —Josephine
10 - Ember Mug ($150, but currently 30 percent off)
“As a toddler mom, I can never just sit and enjoy a cup of coffee without it getting cold, and this saved me from reheating my cup 10 times every morning.” —Anniessa Burke
Amy’s pick
11 - Personalized Yeti ($41 for a 20-ounce tumbler; $36 for an awesome 10-ounce wine tumbler)
Yeti does not guarantee the personalized cups by Christmas but they’re so damn great you should just give them to people late (or get the non-customized versions, which are also awesome). I drink coffee every morning and don’t drink it out of anything except a Yeti, which keeps hot things hot and cold things cold like nothing else.
For People Who Always Have a Book in Their Bag
12 - Gwyneth: The Biography*
The New York Times bestseller by yours truly. Gwyneth has been everywhere lately promoting Marty Supreme — it’s a lot of “the real Gwyneth” puff pieces that she seldom veers from when it comes to press. If you want to read the un-retouched version of her story that she doesn’t want you to read (the product of three years of work and interviews with more than 220 sources!), this is the book for you.
13 - Custom Book Embosser ($49.13)
“I love reading, and my partner got me a custom book stamp to put in all of my books. A great gift for book lovers!” —Fiona
14 - Anna: The Biography*
The New York Times bestseller also by yours truly.
*If you want signed copies of my books for gifts, order from my local book shop and I will go down and sign the books and inscribe them however you like!
A gripping read by The Atlantic’s brilliant Sophie Gilbert that made me look at the aughts culture I grew up with in a whole new way. (Sophie was an amazing recent guest on the Back Row podcast.)
16 - It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin ($24.80)
A great stocking stuffer for fashion people by New York Times bestselling author Marisa Meltzer. (She was also a fantastic guest on the Back Row podcast!)
17 - André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever ($39.25)
My pick for coffee table book of the year, featuring historic photographs and memories of André by people who knew him.
For People Who Don’t Want Anything
18 - Spoonful of Comfort Gift Box ($89.99)
“For someone who needs comfort. After our dog passed recently, we received a Spoonful of Comfort gift box. It included 2 soups, rolls, cookies and a silver ladle. The messaging of the included card on top and on each individual box elevated the thoughtfulness too.” —Amanda McDowell
“I second this. I got one after surgery, and it was great.” —Holly
“I received this as a gift when my son was born, and it was amazing!” —Anniessa Burke
19 - Chocolate Almonds from André’s Kansas City ($9.25)
—Robin Moyer Chung
20 - Frog Hollow Essential Gift Box ($82.44)
“For parents who say they don’t want anything: a Frog Hollow fruit gift box” —Amy K
“I’ve given this to my family, and it was a big success. Plus, they are a small operation!” —Andrea
21 - A Beer of the Month Club Subscription ($39.95 per month)
“Early in our relationship, my now-wife got me a Beer of the Month Club subscription. Yes, this is a bro-y thing to consider the ‘best gift ever,’ but a) all I’d ever had up to that point was Heineken or Corona, and b) it showed me that trying new things is cool and lowered my barrier to explore past my myopic little world.” —Travis Lacour
Amy’s pick
YOLO.
Fill them up with photos of your kids. Grandparents *love* these. (Artifact Uprising also does beautiful framed prints and custom photo books.)
With notes of classic cranberry, blackberry, dried plum, caramelized vanilla, nutmeg and toasted coconut, this is great hostess gift for a party or holiday dinner. It’s also a ideal for colleagues or for any wine mom or dad you know and cherish. For ages 21+.
For Kids
25 - Katie Daynes Questions and Answers Books for Kids ($11.24)
“Kids up to age 7ish, anything Katie Daynes writes for Usborne is incredible, engaging, educational.” —Lisa Fleisher
26 - The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker ($20.48)
“For kids 4-8, we LOVE The Story Orchestra series. So beautiful. “ —Lisa Fleisher
27 - Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush ($27.99)
“For toddlers and kids with autism, I love Color Wonder mess-free markers and pages.” —Lisa Fleisher
Amy’s picks:
Kids don’t often get food gifts, and I think this is a fun one — I can buy rainbow bagels locally for my kids in New York but they’re a treat for my Texas nephews.
29 - Charlie the Puppy Hugimal ($68)
My 4-year-old daughter will not go anywhere without this guy and has been attached to him for years. (We’re on our second!)
Kids in robes are so stinking cute.
For People with Good Taste and (Literal) Cold Feet
31 - The Elder Statesman Hand-Knitted Cashmere Socks ($250)
“Elder Statesman tie-dye socks for ‘a man who has everything’” —Theorigcarrie
32 - Stegmann Wool Clog Slippers ($155)
“Cozy slippers/clogs that will survive a brief outside trek (the mail, the recycling, the daycare run). They are the best for people in cold places.” —Mary
33 - Lisa Gozlan Happy Face Bracelets ($120 for mini-pavé 18ct yellow gold-plated brass and cubic zirconia, also available in silver; $72 for the classic style in yellow gold)
“I received one as a gift, and now I love gifting it to friends.” —Chantal Courchesne
34 - Portolano Cashmere Gloves ($175 for the flip-top version; $195 for some rather fabulous fingerless, crystal-embellished ones; and $70 for a cableknit tech gloves)
“This might sound like a very generic gift, but if you’re giving it to a working mom who would never treat herself to something like this, it does not feel generic at all.” —Theorigcarrie
35 - Lavender Osmia Body Oil ($30)
—Hilary
36 - Westman Atelier Highlight Stick ($48)
“This Westman Atelier highlighter is pure gold. I love the shades Nectar and LIT for my fair complexion with a neutral undertone, but there is a shade for everyone (speaking as a woman of color)" —Sanjana Tripathi
37 - Swatch x Omega Mission To Saturn Watch ($285)
“I’ve never taken it off since I got it" —NEMM Design
38 - Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks ($30)
“Got the Mr. some Darn Tough merino socks …he loved them so much he bought me a pair and now both of us have nearly replaced ALL our other socks with Darn Tough versions.” —@girlstyled
Amy’s picks
39 - Andie Swim Yaz Dress ($111)
For the people you know who get to spend the holidays on a beach or by a pool. A good cover-up is like good athleisure: always useful and hard to find.
This is my favorite sunscreen, hands down. Great adult stocking stuffer.
Thank you again to today’s sponsor, The Prisoner, for its generous support of this story and Back Row’s independent journalism more broadly. I enjoyed their signature Red Blend at a holiday party over the weekend. If you are going to holiday or New Year’s Eve parties or need a gift for someone who appreciates the finer things, grab The Prisoner Winery’s Red Blend. It’s a sophisticated gift for those of legal drinking age on your list.
