A Gift Guide For The Least Practical Person You Know

Are you looking for Christmas gifts that are just the right amount of over-the-top, but you might die if you hear one more Instagram girl with vocal fry and a brand deal say the words “quiet luxury” ever again? Want to find the sweet spot between call-off-the-wedding practical and the overpriced Marvis toothpaste that keeps popping up on the “it girl” gift guides? (Actually, maybe that’s practical too … insert bell curve meme here.)

If you (er, your giftees) like little extravagances, fancy versions of everyday items, or simply good presentation, without dropping money on total dust collectors, this might be the gift guide for you.

For the Newlyweds

For the couple in your life spending their first Christmas as husband and wife, memorialize their wedding stationery by engraving their invitation text onto a serving or catchall tray. This pewter one from Croghan’s won’t tarnish like silver, but you could also peruse local thrift stores for donated silver platters and take one to a local engraving shop.

For the Home Bartender

I ran across this retro airplane-shaped cocktail shaker by Godinger months ago and immediately bookmarked it to include here. You can find it from a variety of retailers, but it’s currently half price at Wayfair.

Another favorite for the home bar: a whiskey smoker to infuse your spirits with apple, cherry, oak, or pecan wood. Cloche-style smokers can run in the several-hundred-dollar range but this torch one is under $40.

Pair either one with these bourbon-infused cherries or gift them on their own!

For the Artist

These pretty notecards double as original art pieces that can be framed and enjoyed for years. Designed by Washington State-based artist Emily Lex, each card in a set of eight provides a sketched outline for the note-writer to watercolor. I personally love these fruit prints and these Christmas wreath ones, but check out her website for a host of options and themes.

For the Dinner Party Enthusiast

I spotted these little knife rests in a local shop and fell in love with them. If you know someone who can’t host without making a three-course meal, chances are they’ll love the little touch of interest these add to the table. Choose from foxes, cats, hares, squirrels, sheep, or fish.

Another great gift for the hostess in your life is this playful set of linen cocktail napkins — Piecework Puzzles makes a variety of fun bundles like this hors d’oeuvres-inspired set, but check out their website for Christmas, dessert, fruit, and flower themes.

Or check Etsy for lots of monogrammed linen options, like this one:

For the Sentimentalist

You can scan a love letter or cherished recipe to Cosa Ceramics, and they’ll paint it onto this note-shaped ceramic catchall dish. (Etsy has some comparable options, too.) It’s a great gift for anyone who loves personal mementos, but if you know someone who recently lost a loved one, it’s an extra meaningful way to memorialize a special note in their loved one’s handwriting.

For the Home Chef

One of my dearest friends brought this olive oil pressed with roasted garlic back for me from a trip to San Diego, and I have savored it ever since. The family-owned Temecula Olive Oil Company grows its olives in Southern California and offers a variety of infused oils, as well as balsamic vinegars and olive oil soaps.

For the Adventure Seeker

Whether your gift recipient surfs on waves or powder, these pennants from Slightly Choppy nod to their favorite beach or mountain. Or design your own to memorialize a favorite vacation spot, wedding date, baby name, etc.!

For the Home Barista

Cheaper and more compact than an espresso machine, this stovetop contraption brews espresso that’s every bit as good and more fun (if slightly more time-consuming) than pressing a button. You can find lots of options, but it’s worth springing for Bialetti, the original Italian brand — and I recommend their stainless steel version if RFK Jr. has turned you off of aluminum.

For another gift that’s sure to charm any coffee lover, this set of four Illy cappuccino mugs will make anyone’s kitchen instantly feel like a sidewalk cafe. If you like, pair either with this coffee grinder, which features ceramic conical burrs for an even grind.

For the Sweet Tooth

These caramels are made with duck fat and caramelized cane sugar, with a little bit of thyme and black pepper. They’re sold out on manufacturer Olive and Sinclair‘s website, but you can find them at a handful of retailers.

Alternatively, go to a local chocolatier and select some truffles to box up as a gift!

For the Well-Groomed Man

These soaps from Mistral are worth the price, so I’ve been told. Buy one as a stocking stuffer or spring for this four-pack of spirited scents — Mezcal Lime, Salted Gin, Silver Absinthe, and Bourbon Vanilla.

For the Recent Grad

For an alma mater nod that’s more subtle than a class ring, jeweler Kyle Cavan has created a line of jewelry inspired by the iconic architecture of American universities, such as the University of Virginia’s famous Rotunda, designed by Thomas Jefferson. For men, check out their cufflink selection.

For the Candle Lover

You won’t find a candle prettier than this one from Northern Virginia-based shop Crème de la Crème. Choose from 19 scents, including peeled sugarcane, crepe myrtle, and minted basil. Hand-poured in Louisiana, these candles come in 6-ounce and 24-ounce sizes, and once empty, they could be repurposed to hold plants, matches, utensils, or other knick-knacks.

For the Green Thumb

This self-watering planter is a conversation piece and a time saver. (Just be aware that it’s delicate — it’s made of mouthblown glass, which some reviewers report as being fragile.)

For the Francophile

Made in France and featuring notes of citrus, this perfume by Sézane is a perfect gift for the Old World lover in your life.

For the Outdoorsman

This rain-repellent, waxed cotton baseball cap would look equally at home in the field or running errands. Choose from dark olive, navy, or rust brown.

For the Skincare Freak

This soothing and moisturizing Everything Balm from Primally Pure features an organic tallow base, natural oils and extracts, and none of the nasty stuff you can’t pronounce.

Alternatively, check out their gift sets like this one, which features tallow-based body butter; three lip balms made from coconut oil, cocoa butter, mango butter, and beeswax; an everything spray with tea tree and lavender oils; and the company’s legendary nontoxic deodorant.

For the Manicure Addict

If she loves having her nails done but hates the damage it causes, this subtle treatment will give her the best of both worlds. Easier on the nails than regular polish, this sheer coat from Manicurist nourishes nails with raspberry extract and almond oil but still creates a rosy and buildable glow.

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Elle Purnell is the assignment editor at The Federalist. She has appeared on Fox Business and Newsmax, and her work has been featured by RealClearPolitics, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Independent Women’s Forum. She received her B.A. in government with a minor in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @_ellepurnell.

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