15 Aesthetic Gift Picks (for Those With Impeccable Taste)
Style-team supervising editor Ingela Ratledge Amundson loves the Anthropologie Faux-Fur Throw Blanket so much, she has two: one in her guest bedroom and another in her family room. “I feel like a lot of faux fur has that skeezy, synthetic texture, but this one definitely doesn’t,” she says.
The prints offered vary by season, but she admires the options each time.
Plus, they don’t get dingy over time: “I’ve been amazed by how well these hold up; I wash them once in a while (on cold and a low dryer speed), and they come out looking fluffy and totally refreshed.” Additionally, she says the blanket is warm but not overly so.
Looking for something else?
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Now, for Ingela’s go-to kitchen gift: the Emile Henry Pantry Bowl. “There was one Christmas where I think I gave it to five different people on disconnected branches of the family tree,” she says.
The base of the bowl is vented with tiny holes at the bottom, so you can store unripe fruit and keep it fresh for longer. On the top, you can put in fresh fruit for grab-and-go convenience or keep it as a haven for kitchen clutter such as keys, wallets, or sunglasses.
Ingela has one of her own that has lived on her kitchen counter for two years, and she says it looks “basically brand-new.” She loves the high-quality ceramic because it’s virtually dentproof, so you can toss in whatever you want without worry. The bowl is polished to the eye but secretly function-forward.
A robe that screams old Hollywood glamour
Style-team senior staff writer Zoe Vanderweide describes the Petite Plume Women’s Silk Long Robe as both giftable and luxe—and yes, you can gift it to yourself, too.
“It’s made from ultra-satiny 22 mm mulberry silk and comes in all these decadent, old-Hollywood glam prints,” she says.
The robe hits about ankle length and comes in five standard sizes. It also comes with a long sash, which makes it more adjustable and is great if you’re estimating the best size for your gift recipient.
AirTags are ugly, but these charms aren’t
Maison de Sabré The Sabrémoji Fruit Charm
This charm offers a chic way to ensure that an AirTag (or some other tiny item) travels in style.
$69 from Nordstrom
$69 from Saks Fifth Avenue
Chances are, the aesthetes in your life regularly find ways to turn everything, even the smallest things, into a fashion statement. With the tiny but delectable Maison de Sabré Sabrémoji Fruit Charm, you can help them dress up their AirTags.
“They add a poppy punch of color to your bag and are a fun way to stash an AirTag or other little items,” Zoe says.
She has, and loves, the orange charm, but you can choose from an array of fruits to suit your giftee.
Serving utensils that look like jewelry
Santa Fe Stoneworks Jewelry Collection Salad Set
These salad-serving utensils go the extra mile looks-wise. Choose from a variety of stone details, from simple black to colorful fordite.
$240 from Mociun
$300 from Santa Fe Stoneworks
Gifts-team staff writer Mari Uyehara suggests giving the Santa Fe Stoneworks Jewelry Collection Salad Set—arguably one of the prettiest ways to serve up a salad.
Mari gifted these timelessly elegant and durable utensils to her mother and father 10 years ago, and they’ve been using the set ever since.
You can pick from different stone handle details such as turquoise, abalone, pearl, and fordite. All are uniquely beautiful, so you can’t go wrong.
A neutral, fits-every-occasion water jug
Falcon Enamelware 3-Pint Jug
This enamel water pitcher has a clean, classic design that won’t disrupt your aesthete’s kitchen decor.
$53 from Falcon Enamelware
The Falcon Enamelware 3-Pint Jug is the perfect choice if you’re not quite sure what your giftee’s kitchen looks like. Its neutral design adapts easily to any decor, while its quality makes a strong impression. “Great design combines form and function without skimping on either,” notes gifts-team staff writer Samantha Schoech.
And it’s versatile. “These classic enamel pitchers come in a range of gorgeous colors and can be used not just for water but also as vases, drink pitchers, or even sleek centerpieces for tall Italian breadsticks,” says Samantha.
Pencils you want to put on display
Palomino Blackwing Matte Pencils
These Japanese pencils look chic on your desk and hit paper like butter.
$32 from Amazon
I wouldn’t display my collection of mismatched writing tools, but I would show off a bunch of Palomino Blackwing Matte Pencils. Samantha recommends them, and they’re a variant of what we’ve called the Cadillac of pencils.
“Not only do these creamy, Japanese-graphite pencils have design bona fides like brass-colored details, minimalist packaging, and a storied literary history, but they are so pleasant to write with, your giftee might go back to paper permanently,” Samantha says.
Elevating everyday essentials
Goodee Shakerbraid Multicolor Broom
This broom works as one should, sweeping up crumbs without shedding, but it looks more like decor than a cleaning tool.
$80 from Goodee
“A cleaning tool may be a textbook example of what not to buy someone as a gift, and yet I highly recommend this Shakercraft broom from Berea College—an inclusive, tuition-free college founded by an abolitionist in 1855,” says editorial director Leta Shy.
“There’s just something about the idea of having a well-made, non-eyesore of a broom, crafted using heritage Appalachian methods, that convinced me to splurge,” she adds.
Leta admires the Goodee Shakerbraid Multicolor Broom’s sturdy waxed sugar-maple handle and its well-splayed broomcorn, which sweeps up crumbs without shedding. Plus, it just looks beautiful displayed in the corner of her room.
“It’s perfect for anyone in your life who appreciates bringing intentionally made items in their home, no matter how utilitarian.”
The elegant hair brush that gives royal energy
La Bonne Brosse N.01 The Shine & Care Hair Brush The Universal
This boar-bristle brush sorts through tangles with ease and sits pretty on a counter.
$168 from La Bonne Brosse
Growing up, I’d watch princesses in movies brush their flowing hair in front of a mirror, making it look like a ritual to savor—almost like indulging in a richly sweet dessert. Now, with my La Bonne Brosse Shine & Care Hair Brush, I get it: Brushing my hair can be a peaceful, grounding moment. As for the brush itself, it’s as much a part of my decor as any well-loved vase or piece of vintage artwork.
This boar-bristle brush glides through my hair effortlessly, smoothing out knots and leaving it shinier and softer than before. I have mine in the terracotta shade, and it lives on display on my dresser, a daily fixture that feels far too special to be hidden under the sink like my old plastic brushes.
A lovely way to tell your giftee to chill out
Wthn Rose Quartz Eye Mask
Your gift recipient can store this cooling rose quartz eye mask in the fridge for any time their eyes need a break.
$75 from Nordstrom
$75 from Neiman Marcus
After a long day glued to my computer screen—or a groggy morning after one too many glasses of wine—I head straight to the fridge for my Wthn Rose Quartz Eye Mask. The cool, weighty stone settles over my eyes, urging me to pause, breathe, and let its soothing touch work its magic on my tired lids.
Once a few minutes pass, I’m back on my feet, feeling recharged. And as much as I hate to admit it, the sheer beauty of this mask is what keeps me reaching for it. Its captivating look nudges me to take these little moments of self-care when I need them.
The art of customization, actualized
Bode Custom Senior Cord Pillow
Here’s a customizable gift on an unexpected medium: a throw pillow.
$390 from Bode
“This senior cord custom pillow is the greatest wedding gift I’ve ever given,” says supervising editor Hannah Rimm. Made with corn-colored British corduroy and inspired by the 20th-century collegiate tradition, each Bode Custom Senior Cord Pillow is hand-drawn by in-house Bode artists according to your specifications.
“If pillows aren’t your jam, they also have custom senior cord totes, jackets, pants, and shorts,” Hannah says.
Not sure how to come up with the custom design? “For the pillow I gifted, I took photos of all the small details at my dear friends’ wedding and sent them, along with photos of their invitations and outfits, to Bode. In just a few weeks, the most beautiful, intricate, beyond-my-wildest-dreams work of art arrived at our door. Watching my friends receive this pillow, as they explored all the little details that Bode included, was a gift itself and a moment I will not soon forget.”
Makeup is hard to gift, but this bag isn’t
Cuyana Travel Beauty Case
This travel beauty case is for beauty lovers who schlep in style.
$8,246 from The Container Store
$298 from Cuyana
For the beauty lover, consider skipping the cosmetics or skin-care route and instead help them house their well-established favorites with the Cuyana Travel Beauty Case.
“Throughout my 20s, I threw my palettes, brushes, bottles, and tubes into gallon plastic bags. But as I entered my 30s, I desperately searched for a classier, sturdier, more aesthetically pleasing way to store my favorite things,” Hannah says.
Now she opts for this Italian-leather zippered makeup case, which fits all of her daytime essentials and nighttime favorites while remaining compact enough to fit in her carry-on.
Most important, it can take a beating and still look brand-new. “I’ve had this travel case for over three years, using it for both everyday storage and international trips, and it barely has a scratch,” Hannah says.
Like a candle, but decidedly more distinctive
Mad et Len Pot Pourri Apothicaire Lava
This set offers a surefire way to deliver the great scent of a candle in a unique, elegant vessel.
$114 from Mad et Len
People love to give candles as presents, but if you fear being ordinary, consider this elegant pile of lava rocks instead. “Mad et Len’s Pot Pourri Apothicaire Lava is a handful of lava rocks placed in a hand-forged iron container, and it’s a striking, nearly sculptural object on its own. But it also smells amazing,” says deputy editorial director Maxine Builder.
She gave it to a friend, opting for “the minty-yet-spicy scent Spirituelle, and the throw was remarkably far, especially from a bunch of rocks,” she says.
Plus, you can buy refills of the fragrance at a much lower price than the potpourri itself, so it isn’t a drag for your giftee to replenish.
A standard-style sweater with above-standard quality
J. Press Shaggy Dog Sweater
This lightly fuzzy wool sweater is a gift that will keep on giving, year after year.
$268 from Buck Mason
$265 from J. Press
Buying clothes for an aesthete is one of the more difficult avenues to explore. When in doubt, we encourage you to go with a staple silhouette like that of the J. Press Shaggy Dog Sweater, a crewneck-cut wool knit available in a rainbow of colors.
“These hand-brushed Shetland-wool sweaters have been made in Scotland for over 80 years,” Maxine says. “They’re not buttery-soft like cashmere or mohair, and some find the light fuzziness to verge on itchy. But it’s quality material, breathable enough for layering, and they’re made beautifully, in a cut that’ll never go out of style.”
And you don’t have to worry that you’re giving your loved one a ticking pilling bomb with this sweater. “I gifted my husband a baby pink one for Christmas a few years ago, and it looks as good as the day we bought it.”
A low-maintenance, high-reward cozy accessory
Baloo Weighted Blanket
This blanket brings all the weight and comfort, and none of the hard-to-maneuver hassle. Pair it with a linen cover for added visual appeal.
$209 from Amazon
(queen, 15 pounds)
$209 from Wayfair
$209 from Baloo Living
(quee
n, 15 pounds)
Some weighted blankets can become a pain to move around and style just right. To cut the hassle, senior editor Joanne Chen recommends the Baloo Weighted Blanket (an official Wirecutter pick).
This one is thin enough to work well on its own, piled on top, or tucked underneath a duvet cover or throw blanket for extra weight and comfort. Joanne recommends pairing it with Baloo’s beautiful linen covers, which are sold separately.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.