For the past few months, the Strategist team has been in full-on gift mode (except for that brief moment when they were in full-on Black Friday–Cyber Monday mode). They’ve been finding holiday gifts for every type of person — moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandparents, co-workers, Taylor Swift fans, Chappell Roan fans, cheese enthusiasts, outdoors enthusiasts, and even the people you forgot about. They’ve surfaced probably thousands of gifts at this point. So what do the world’s best gift-givers (if we do say so ourselves) want to be gifted? We asked each of our writers and editors to share the things they’re coveting, no price limit. Strategist moms, dads, girlfriends, boyfriends, children — you’re welcome. Everyone else, think of this as inspiration for those particularly discerning hard-to-shop-fors in your life. And if you’re still in need of a gift, try asking the Strategist Gift Scout.
Ailbhe Malone, senior editor
I’ve eaten at Café Cecilia several times, and each time I am gobsmacked by how good the Guinness bread is. I’m not a baker, but I think this book could be my gateway. I’ve asked for it in my family Secret Santa.
A campy Shrimps double-hearted name necklace. I want it!
Ambar Pardilla, writer
I’m a toast snob. I don’t like getting burned fingertips. I’d like some toast tongs.
Arielle Avila, writer
A huge ask, but to be fair, I’ve been thinking about this for the past year. I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that I simply need to upgrade from my wired headphones. I will never fully retire the wires, but it would be lovely to have the noise-canceling option.
On the more realistic side: I’d be delighted to receive this planter. Growing up, I remember seeing chia-pet commercials and always wanting one. This version is much cooler than the ones from my childhood.
Bella Druckman, junior writer
My boyfriend and I are bread people, and thanks to a new bread machine that my dad got me, we have a lot of loaves sitting on our counter at all times. I’m wishing for this classic bread box from Yamazaki to keep everything in order.
The holiday season coincides with dry-skin season. It’ll also be about the time that I reach the end of the bottle of Clarins lotion that I picked up in France. It’s the most effective body lotion I’ve tried for dry skin, so I would be oh-so grateful to anyone who gifted it to me this year as I can’t bear paying non-duty-free prices for it.
Crystal Martin, senior editor
I’ve long had my eye on this Green Row foot stool for my reading nook. I love the kilim fabric, and it would go well with the cozy vibe of my living room. I had just assumed that it was overpriced, but when I researched kilim stools they were all similarly priced.
I’ve been doing a lot of baking and cooking that requires a food processor. This one comes recommended by our kitchen and dining writer, Emma.
Dominique Pariso, writer
Each holiday season, I like to ask for a new Babaà sweater to add to my collection. I’ve been more drawn to the brand’s cotton sweaters as of late (blame this extremely warm fall), but I’m finding it hard to resist this reddish wool number.
Every year, my mom gifts me a new piece of jewelry for the holidays. I never know exactly what it will be, but she knows I have my eye on a few things, including this sculptural ring from jeweler M. Hisae.
Emma Wartzman, kitchen and dining writer
Every winter I think about how I want a pair of Uggs, and every winter I don’t buy them. I have dedicated inside Birkenstock slippers that I love, but Uggs are just so especially cozy, and I know I would wear them to go on walks and run errands when it’s cold out. I would also like a pair of brown loafers (I only have a black pair), but TBD which ones. Hopefully this will be the holidays of shoes for me.
Erin Schwartz, writer
I love this spooky, Delphic ring. I love its mysterious number ticker and the ominous/optimistic message on the side. I think having this ring would endow me with a secret well of psychic energy, and I’d love to write a stats block for it in Dungeons & Dragons.
I’m an avant-garde-pillow fan, and this extra-long bolster pillow from L.A. fashion company 69US absolutely rocks. It’s a cactus, but the spines are soft little strings of denim — genius! The only cactus I’d cuddle up with.
Hilary Reid, senior editor
I’ve been looking at this clutch in the Neue Galerie gift shop for literally years at this point, and I still love it — which I think is a sign it would make a great gift this year. The black and green is so elegant, and I can picture myself using it for dinner or taking it to the ballet.
Another uptown pouch that I’ve been eyeing for years. These travel cosmetic cases are on the shelves upstairs at Zitomer and come in lots of pretty shades that are all adorned with a bow and satin piping. Crucially, I’d like one of the ones that comes covered in vinyl, which I think will keep it from getting too banged up when packed in a suitcase.
Jen Trolio, senior editor
My kids and husband do most of the Lego-building in our house, but every once in a while a splurge-y new set comes along that I absolutely cannot resist. A few years ago it was this treehouse that my whole family worked on together and that my kids still play with. This past summer it was a nearly life-size cat that I bought for my older daughter as a birthday gift. Now it’s this incredible botanical garden that mixes the excellent plant elements of the actual Lego Botanicals line (side note, I’m also wishing for the new poinsettia plant) with a more traditional play set.
I am one of those perpetually cold people, and the Offhours Homecoat is one of those products that I forget about for long stretches until I see it online and remember that I’d really love to have one. The color I’d get, Riparian, is sadly backordered until January, but I’d be perfectly satisfied with an I.O.U.
Jeremy Rellosa, writer
My family will laugh if they read this because there’s no way they’re buying me a scarf at this price, but this wool tartan scarf — and everything else in the Drake’s winter lookbook — has been on my wishlist. It would complement a lot of the corduroy-collared jackets and chunky sweaters that I wear all winter.
Kathy Li, social media editor
I only very recently learned the difference between jerky and biltong, but I’m hooked on the latter. Why have I been subjecting myself to waxy Slim Jims and weirdly sugary Jack Link’s when I could’ve been snacking on delicious air-dried beef this whole time? Righteous Felon makes my favorite biltong, but it’s a little too expensive to be buying for myself all the time, so I would love to receive it as a gift. My favorite flavor is Ancho Villa, which is made with ancho peppers and just the right amount of spicy, but they’re all really good. The packaging is fun to look at, too.
I go through this stuff practically by the gallon, so I would love a refill. It is so soothing on the skin, especially after a hot shower, and the mist is very, very fine so you’re not left feeling like you got drenched with a hose. It has a light scent that doesn’t linger, and it’s just a pleasant, luxurious experience that you can have multiple times a day. My only qualm is that I wish it came in more sustainable packaging because the plastic bottles are not great.
Kelsie Schrader, managing editor
I’d like a massage. I’ve never had one and never really felt like I needed one, but this year I do. I’ve been dealing with very annoying sciatica for a while now and would like to see if a deep-tissue massage can magically fix it. (It won’t, but at the very least I wouldn’t mind 60 minutes of lying on a table in a quiet room.)
Kitty Guo, writer
I’ve written about Adrian Cashmere in my newsletter twice, and yet I still don’t actually own any pieces from the brand? Someone needs to remedy this for me stat, preferably with this knitted long-sleeve tee that I want to live in all winter. Look at this top! What is Godzilla doing there? No idea, but I’m obsessed, everything Adrian Schacter designs is gold, and if I had to pick one clothing brand to drape myself in for the rest of my life, Adrian Cashmere would be it.
Considering the amount of candles I already own, it would be sheer fiscal malfeasance for me to spend my own money on another one. So here’s the plan: I sit back in blissful ignorance while a proxy does the dirty work to buy and gift me this banana-scented candle that I desperately, desperately want. (Look, I can’t help it — I got suckered in by the sheet of little fruit stickers it comes with. You can stick them on the jar!!) Anyway, I’m currently recruiting candidates to aid and abet me in this scheme …
Liza Corsillo, senior writer
I got the chance to see this perfect heart ring in person before it had launched and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. I love how it looks powerful, like something Wonder Woman might wear, but also has a preteen girlishness to it, like a best-friends ring.
[Editor’s note: This ring is sold out, but you can sign up for restock notifications on the product page.]
I have been itching to sew ever since my son was born. I want to make him quilted vests, and little button-down shirts, and corduroy pants, but I don’t have a sewing machine anymore. This one is a good halfway point between beginner and intermediate machines and includes ten presser feet.
Rachael Griffiths, writer
I’m really into sporty sneakers right now, like vintage boxing boots and these Taekwondo striped sneakers from Adidas. They’re a little more fun than the Samba, and at $100, have a very agreeable price.
Susamusa are a British brand that make timeless staples; I bought a set from them in 2020 and still get almost monthly wear out of it. I’ve currently got my eye on this slate-gray mini dress. I can see myself heading out to dinner in it or throwing it over some tailored trousers for a day at the office.
Sam Daly, deals editor
I’ve gotten more and more sensitive to light over the years. Whereas a few years ago a Brooklinen mask would have been sufficient, now I need total pitch-black darkness. My current mask is fine but not perfect, so I’m very much hoping someone springs for this woefully ugly sleep mask (that has good reviews).
What can I say? I love magnets, especially when they’re handmade. A magnet is one of my favorite travel souvenirs. Or just anytime souvenirs.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
