Playing Santa? Here are some picks your loved ones will find perfect this upcoming holiday season
By SAVANNAH ANNO — arts@theaggie.org
Let’s be honest. While it may be in opposition of the holiday spirit, gift giving isn’t just about who you’re giving the gift to. It’s also about you. Sitting around the tree on Christmas morning or revealing secret Santa with your friends, you want to be able to feel proud of yourself. You want them to know that you’re creative, that you’re capable of finding the elusive “perfect gift.”
While we can’t promise that the following recommendations will be completely on the nose for everyone, it can give you a place to start.
For the book lover:
If you don’t want to take a gamble on what your book lover has or hasn’t yet read, or what they may or may not enjoy, go for book-adjacent gifts. If you want to impress, ditch the bookmark idea and instead look for a custom book embosser on Etsy. A stamp that doesn’t need any ink, the embosser gives your book lover a subtle and classy way to mark their copies permanently. You can pick a symbol that speaks to them — a favorite flower, their chosen genre, an animal — and complete it with their name.
Pair it with other reading accessories like a crotchet book sleeve or a Kindle page turner so they can sit back and relax while they read (if they already own a Kindle, of course). If you know their favorite book or character, surf Etsy for subtle jewelry, stickers or candles. You can even order customized letters written and sent by a character of your choice, from Katniss Everdeen to Mr. Darcy — while it’s something your book lover may never order themselves, we both know they would secretly keep it forever.
When men are difficult to shop for:
Whether it’s your father, your boyfriend or your brother, shopping for the men in your life is probably the hardest task of the season. Never giving you any idea of what they might want, it’s easy to resort to the classics: socks, cologne, a LEGO set, some sort of sports or grilling tool, etc. While those are all great gifts, if you want to try something new this year, go for something that’s already been well-loved. While antique stores may seem like they only carry vintage jewelry or tea sets, you may find a variety of interesting objects that could serve as a great desk decoration or a new family heirloom. Vintage model cars, matchboxes, posters or collectible sports cards from their favorite team are classic but unique at the same time when you get them second hand.
If it’s for a best friend or romantic partner, try to incorporate something handmade. Find vintage charms and turn them into matching keychains, print out and frame concert tickets from shows you’ve attended together or try your hand at ceramics to make a personalized tray for their rings or keys.
Impressing the film buff:
Honestly, this one is pretty simple. With ticket prices at movie theaters steadily increasing, include either a gift card to the local cinema or try the Regal Unlimited subscription for a month — $21.49 for 30 days of endless movies and 10% off concessions. In the same breadth, make your Letterboxd lover’s dream come true by upgrading their account to either Pro or Patron for a year. A movie-reviewing app, Letterboxd’s upgraded accounts give users special access to beta-features, personalized viewing statistics and the ability to fully customize their profiles.
Beyond subscriptions, try to include posters of your film buff’s favorite picks (either vintage or newly designed on Etsy), anything from the A24 online shop or the Jellycat Popcorn Bag, perfect for sneaking any snack into the theater.
Finding your mom something new:
While it’s difficult to resist gifting her yet another candle, fuzzy blanket or pair of slippers, it’s time to branch out when it comes to your mom. Try to cater toward her special interests and shop for her as if she were a friend. If she loves art, try to find a local craft workshop or studio in your hometown that you can sign her up for. If she’s more of a green thumb, find her a set of ceramic plant markers from Etsy or a customizable seed packet organizer if she tends to leave them all over the house. Anything you can adjust to her preferences, like a coffee table book on her favorite subject, a new ceramic vase or a wallet in her favorite color are all functional and easy to find.
If you want to keep her on her toes, pair these with some smaller trinkets she would never think to get for herself. Anything a little whimsical, like a felted figurine of her favorite animal, a funny set of salt & pepper shakers or a set of vintage postcards, is perfect for any mom who loves a little collectible.
This holiday season, remember that what makes a gift truly perfect is that it’s coming from you. While gift guides like this serve as a great baseline, it’s up to you to show that you listen and understand the person you’re giving a present to. Whether it’s a family member, a friend or even a coworker, the best feeling is opening a gift from someone and knowing that they really get you.
Written by: Savannah Anno — arts@theaggie.org