Let’s be real—we all want to take the title of Best Gifter every year. Gifting is difficult, but winning at gifting is even harder, especially if each person on your list has very specific taste. To help inspire you, I’m sharing my gift ideas for everyone in my hard-to-please family, from my Gen-Z sister to my politics-obsessed dad. No matter who you're shopping for, you’ve come to the right place.
My mom, who is an avid consumer of spicy loose-leaf tea, has been learning French on Duolingo for the past year, loves three-way phone calls with her two younger sisters, and never leaves the house without wearing earrings.
Berries Earrings
These drop earrings are the ultimate statement accessory and are available in a myriad of birthstone shades. It’s an excellent gift for an “earring mom.”
My dad, who’s a fan of any documentary about space, is very well-versed in international affairs and politics, loves cologne, and, if he could do it all over again, would be a soccer commentator.
The Space Shuttle
This coffee table book is a visual journey of NASA’s Space Shuttle program—it retells the story of 140 space flights through striking images taken by NASA photojournalists and astronauts and short blocks of text adding context to each mission.
My 26-year-old brother, who loves to send videos of his home-cooked meals to the family group chat, has watched all six seasons of the television show Power seven times from start to finish, and goes to the gym every morning at 7 a.m. after working a 12-hour night shift at the hospital.
SSENSE Exclusive Gray Pebbled Basketball
Bristol Studio’s creative director, Luke Tadashi, elevates the aesthetics of the basketball using high-octane colors and minimalist details. You can play a game of pick-up with them or rest it on a shelf in your home to turn it into a statement piece.
My 20-year-old sister, who is a sophomore in college, has images of Ice Spice and Kendall from Succession on her dorm room walls, and loves to call everyone, regardless of gender, ‘queen.’
Navy Elephant iPhone 11 Case
This Loewe iPhone case feels, and looks incredibly high-impact. It’s a simple way to make a statement, regardless of what you’re wearing, and it keeps what’s near and dear close.
My 29-year-old Secret Santa pairing, who is attending a yoga retreat in Costa Rica in January, has a cat named after writer Eve Babtiz, and takes regular solo trips upstate.
Wedgewood Vintage Dish
This vintage soft pastel-colored dish is the ideal storage place for jewelry or any other trinkets you have lying around, and it would look excellent resting upon any vanity.