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CROWN AFFAIR HAIR CARE SET // CHIC SET OF MATCHES // MINI VOTIVES // CHIC COUPES // CASHMERE SWEATSHIRT // LAKE PAJAMAS // COFFEE MAKER // PRETTY NOTEBOOK
Sharing a tailored gift guide this afternoon of a few chic things I would love to buy for loved ones in my life this year. As always, I strive to keep most of these suggestions under $100 with a handful of outliers. I have also been trying to keep this gift shelf on my ShopMy page up to date with options!
01. Crown Affair Hair Care Set. The cutest bundle of some of my all-time favorite hair products, at a good price point (under $50; it already sold out at Sephora, sadly). I bought this for two girlfriends already, and might bundle with the Crown Affair hair towel for a sister, too. The towel is a total gamechanger. I’ve tried a few of these quick dry hair towels, but the design of this one with the elastic in the back to tuck the towel ends into is nothing short of genius. A woman had to have designed this. This brand is SO GOOD. I’m addicted to the dry shampoo — I use it to extend my Glamsquad blowouts by an extra day or two.
02. Speaking of, for the woman who has everything, a Glamsquad gift card. $60 covers an at-home blowout. Mom, pretend you didn’t see this, but this is one of my top contenders for a gift for you. Who doesn’t love a blowout in the comfort of her own home or a pre-paid makeup application for a special event?
03. I had one of these dad hats personalized with the phrase MAGPIE BIRDING CLUB earlier this year and I wear her nonstop. No one understand what it means, of course, but it’s my little private way of being on my own team. One of my friends loved the idea so much she had a set personalized for her dad and herself with an inside joke on it (I think it said: CAROLINE’S GARDENING CREW). You could do something cute for all your girlfriends, or for your siblings, or just for your spouse and yourself. THE ALLEN SPORT TROUPE or SHOOP WINE CLUB or something like it.
04. Just back from Italy, I can’t stop talking about these divinely scented clay pomegranates, which delicately release their soapy, iconic scent into the air. Such an elegant air freshener / alternative to a candle. I have mine in my closet and it sparks immediate happiness each time I walk by. I also think this opulent set of mini votives would be ideal for a scent snob, especially paired with a chic set of matches. I have a thing for pretty matchboxes — I just went to my high school’s annual holiday bazaar and the only thing I bought besides toffee was a bunch of oversized matchboxes with Christmas motifs on the front to pair with holiday candles as my go-to hostess gift. Similar matches to pair with a great holiday candle here, here, here.
05. Puzzle trays — perfect for parents / in-laws who love to puzzle, bundled with one of these fabulous puzzles.
06. I have this RWI hair brush on my mind for one of my sisters, who just wrote asking me for post-partum hair help. This brush won’t bring her hair back but it will help with hair maintenance and is such a great everyday joy-bearer. (Y’all were right!)
07. My mother already bought a whole suite of these delicious throw blankets to give away for the holidays. I just ordered one of the new tartan ones and want to selfishly keep it for the holiday hygge but might wrap and send to some family friends. Or buy another. Use code JEN15 for 15% off.
08. The chicest coupes on the planet. My most treasured possessions. Maybe pair with our favorite cocktail book, or just print a few of recipes out on cards? (This one is a must.) I actually noticed a lot of the hotels/restaurants in Italy used this brand of glassware — Zafferano!
09. A Hedley & Bennett chef-grade apron. This is the frontrunner gift we have in mind for my brother in law, who is quite adept in the kitchen. I got one of these for Mr. Magpie a few years ago and he uses it constantly.
10. Caroline’s Cake Bites — these are so delicious, beautifully packaged, and fun (!) to open. I love sending food gifts and this is at the top of my list for some family members.
11. Quince cashmere sweatshirt — the hidden jewel of Quince’s cashmere curation. I just ordered a second one in gray. I love the fit and silhouette of this modern twist on a classic cashmere crewneck.
12. Appointed notebooks and your favorite pens, or a fancy pen from Caran D’Ache for a fellow list-maker / journaler / etc. Upgrade pick: my mom gave Mr. Magpie a Montblanc pen when he graduated from business school and he carries it with him everywhere. It is so perfectly him — he has one pen, and it costs $500. A men of fewer, better possessions.
13. Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker. On my list for Mr. Magpie this year. He rarely buys anything for himself (except for light bulbs — he loves to buy lightbulbs? Maybe a fellow electrical engineer can explain this to me), but he specifically mentioned wanting this. And he is a coffee snob. He used to do the manual grind thing…
14. I’m convinced every woman in our lives needs this relax set from Lake Pajamas. She’s a sure thing.
15. One of these hand-painted canvas totes from Alex Mill or a Rue De Verneuil tote. Both so chic and different. A twist on the LL Bean classics — something that will set her apart from the rest.
16. Scripture cards from Camilla Moss or a desk calendar from Inslee. Perfect for the mother-in-law who has it all, or a prayerful sister-in-law, or an elegant friend.
17. Subscription to Ann Patchett’s Book Club, a membership to a local art museum (Phillips Collection would be my top rec for DC-based Magpies), or a delivery from Picayune Cellars in Calistoga, CA (female-founded)!
18. Over the top: a private catered dinner from Rose’s Luxury or a staycation at a fabulous hotel (I’d stay at the Four Seasons in Georgetown and avail myself of the recently-opened spa).
19. Nothing is chicer than a carefully selected book — preferably something you read and loved — with a thoughtful inscription on the frontispiece. (“Read this and thought of the time we…”) Maybe pair with an Ex Libris book embosser.
20. The Clemence five stone diamond bracelet is so elegant, and yet a reasonable $160. If you want to make a seriously big impression on someone this year, go with this bracelet — it arrives in an elegant croc-effect box with a gorgeous ribbon and a velvet envelopes. Fool-proof, too, since I believe it works with any style — traditional, edgy, youthful, sophisticated. For a step up, these earrings are among my most worn these days.
If you’re looking for something more niche — more utility oriented than decorative, or fashion-related — my kitchen gear guides are, if I can be honest, fairly recherche. You might start here or here and bundle a few smaller things, or pair with the H&B apron. This list of Magpie reader “regrettably worth it” items is also a good starting point for something likely to stir a strong allegiance in its recipient.
If you are reading this to shop for your wife, just buy her the Dyson Air Wrap. I promise it will knock her socks off. (Full, effusive review here.)
What I’d like to receive…one of these beautiful Ginori 1735 coffee mugs. The breakfast china all over Italy was so charming and whimsical — I would love to drink my morning coffee out of this, and maybe begin a little collection to add to over the years. Also wouldn’t mind a set of Bombas socks (dying to try this regrettably worth it brand but for some reason just haven’t done it? A luddite by nature I guess). Bigger ticket: my Chanel ballet flats are something I wear year-round and would love a second pair, maybe in a fun color or unexpected velvet fabric, or a Celine bag.
What are you gifting and hoping to receive?
P.S. Gift closet must haves. I also just placed my annual big order of Rifle Paper gift wrap.
P.P.S. Lots of great hostess gift ideas here (read comments).
P.P.P.S. Letting out the seams.
Excellent list, as always! I adore Appointed as you do… a new to me brand that I’d say is Appointed meets Sugar Paper is Ponderlily. I’d love to receive one of their planners, and the Orion necklace from Vrai. If you’re unfamiliar with Vrai, do check them out! They made my engagement ring, and a diamond bracelet my fiancé gave me for an anniversary. Similar to Dorsey, they are a female-founded, made in LA, sustainably created diamond company. XO
.P.S. If any of you Magpies are looking to drop a engagement hint, my fiancé said they were wonderful to deal with! 😉
https://ponderlily.com/collections/dated-planners/products/ponderlily-weekly-planner-2024-sky-blue-monday
https://www.vrai.com/jewelry/necklaces/orion-necklace/round-brilliant-baguette-marquise-yellow-gold-40427578949725
Oo thank you so much for these new brand introductions! Hadn’t heard of either! xx
Yay, so fun to make the introductions, ha! I forgot to say I’ll be gifting the Julius Roberts cookbook, and God of the Woods… I can’t remember if you said you’ve read the latter? I just finished it last night after devouring it in two days… talk about a book hangover. It shattered me!!
Yes, GOTW was great, I thought. Complicated, nuanced, a lot to unpack!
xx
I’ve been curious about the RWI brush – does this also work for detangling or would you mainly use it for styling?
Detangling is its primary utility IMO! I also like it when I want to brush snags out of my hair but don’t want to kill a curl / bend / add frizziness.
xx
Oh great to know! Thanks!
Of course! xx
Dear scent enclave: after much searching for men’s scents, my husband’s stocking will include Fico de Amalfi by Acqua Di Parma, nécessaire hinoki body wash and an oak moss bar from nécessaire, Carthusia A’mmare shower gel, and Korres lemon basilic (would work for any recipient and smells more expensive than it is), vétiver, and forêt de cèdre shower gels. He’s also getting Ferrero Rocher, and merch tees from the podcast Acquired.
I asked for a red lipstick and a small bottle of perfume, probably Fragonard eau de toilette (just their normal “Fragonard” fragrance), or Maison Margiela Flower Market perfume or In The Garden or something similarly Jasmine-y. Or Alkemia perfumes on Etsy sells « layering notes » and vanilla or honey would be nice. I’d love one of these intaglios, I think they’re stunning: https://www.shopstatuette.com/shop
I’m giving a lot of people Ina Garten’s new memoir!
Kelly, this sounds so epic! May I cheekily posit a bonus rec of adding a sample of Bibbi Swimming Pool to your husband’s stocking? It’s one of the best fragrances — ready for summer 2025 — I’ve experienced this year and the notes are super complimentary to the range of scents you’ve mentioned there. Enjoy xx
Genius suggestion, Aoife!!! Any others you’re loving? I’m always down for a unisex fragrance since we swap a lot. I’ll do a Nose Paris order!
Ah, Nose Paris is so wonderful! And, I must say that the Bibbi bottles are even more stunning in person. The perfect intersection of Art Deco with modern elements. Swoon.
Right now, I’m obsessing over the entire Meo Fusciuni range, the new Jo Malone Hinoki & Cedarwood Cologne Intense, and Profumum Roma Ichnusa (a different sort of fig to Fico de Amalfi but v. v. beautiful and surprisingly dynamic despite the note simplicity).
We also just got this box of incense and it’s 100% a Kyoto teleportation device: https://www.amazon.com/Nippon-27412-Ka-Fuh-Cypress-Hinoki-120-Incense/dp/B001QUATC2
In the same vein, I’m so intrigued by the new Le Labo City Exclusives for Kyoto – Osmanthus?! Wow! – and CDMX. And, desperate to sample the new Essences by Diptyque — have you tried these yet?
And, in my Christmas wishlist, based on the lovely Magpie community experts, I’ve put the Linnea Embers candle.
What are you sampling and enjoying right now?
Since most of my IRL shopping includes a toddler, we’ve been getting into French drugstore scents! I’m raising a tiny scent hound (he helped pick those Korres shower gels for his dad). Roger Gallet has some stuff that’s one note and flat (their Neroli is nowhere near as good as Jacadi Bébé) but some really special things, I tried a Shiso scent recently that I loved. And Nuxe is a bit too perfumed for me but I was just thinking how some magpie would love the holiday gift boxes of Huile Prodigieuse my pharmacy had for 18 euro.
Profumum Roma Ichnusa Sounds incredible. I’m finding the fragrances I used to adore in the winter worked well with my life at the time….Replica Jazz Club is perfect with a night out at a tiny cocktail bar. I need something to pair with the crisp air/baby shampoo/butter croissant/rubber notes of a morning playground run, or perhaps to chase the woodsmoke and church incense notes of my childhood winters in a way that feels light enough for the light of day. Or this is just a bit of a silly idea since I’m not much for gourmand scents, but I’m looking for a scent or a few scents that are equivalent to the 13 traditional Christmas desserts of Provence? That’s mostly dried fruits and nuts and sweet breads but there are some weird ones in there like confections made with dried melon.
I’m actually desperate to visit a Santa Maria Novella shop since Jen described her experience! I know I could just order something, but going there or to Officine Buly is on my list. I’m also not wild about Trudon’s scents, but I have one of their large black candle busts and it’s so special as a sculpture, I’m tempted to track down more. We have a Trudon Medusa next to a Seletti David bubblegum lamp. Do you have candle or diffuser thoughts? We usually buy Fragonard since we live so close to the factory but I could see myself branching out. I love Replica perfumes but hate their candles and I think it’s down to the carrying base though I don’t know the technical terms the way you would!
Love these notes!!! So fascinating!
Kelly, I’m really sorry for my delayed reply – life is full-on! Loving all these notes from you, but especially your wee scent hound. So adorable!
I actually feel similarly about scents in all the different ways you’ve described and have been trying to wear my collection across contexts and weather to see if this reinvigorates things. Listening to the Fragraphilia podcast has definitely given me the confidence for this as they’re constantly talking about Texas weather and navigating what to wear around that. They also talk about having a baby and figuring out perfume/the mood of what they feel like wearing around the baby — in fact, Liis’ Ethereal Wave has been recommended a bunch on their as a catch-all everyday scent that you might like to look into? I will also mention that this is part of my hyperfixation on herbal and almost soliflore fragrances right now for writing and creativity. Can we bring out a range that’s oriented towards life phases and how we contain multitudes?
Re: home scents, tbh, I’m pretty limited in this space myself. I did an essential oil course years ago and subsequently mostly diffuse oils using an Amazon diffuser and oils from iHerb and Atlantic Aromatics. In terms of something special for home, my favourite candle of all time is Diptyque Feu de Bois though it’s not something I have regularly. I definitely think that some fragrance houses use a particular scent base across their products. I don’t know the technical reasons (scent branding seems like part of it). For this reason, concurrently I have trouble with Replica and sometimes Tom Ford, too.
I don’t know if this necessarily hits the nail on the head *but* there’s a niche Spanish house in Granada called Patio that’s STUNNING and the quality versus price-point is unbelievable. You might like them for home? I purchased the Divino EDP there earlier this year and it brings together some of the fruity incensey qualities you described above with this citrus-herbal suspension that somehow hovers above space, time, and season in a way that’s perfectly comforting, inspiring, and delectable. It’s definitely a signature for me now and I would wholeheartedly recommend! If I was in the EU and not the Caucasus, I would send you some! Their home range — from the store experience alone — is stunning and the candles are lovely little ceramic art pieces.
Divino: https://en.patioparfum.com/A01272/eau-parfum-divino.html
Ps, 100% same page with you on Santa Maria Novella…Magpie meet-up in Florence…? xx
Always love to hear from the scent enclave! The way you (and this nano-community) write about scent is so winning and delightful.
Great idea re: Ina Garten memoir as gift!
xx