Holiday Gift Ideas, Staff Picks: What our Editors Are Giving and (Hopefully) Receiving

Wanting:
I first spied a single stud like this worn by British beauty writer Sali Hughes and was instantly taken with it because it’s delicate but has a rock n roll edge. When I interviewed her a few weeks ago and inquired about it, she told me her boyfriend bought it for her when Bowie died. Cue hand over heart. Hers is from UK site Zoe & Morgan but is yellow gold. I prefer white, so I’m stalking these dupes instead.

Giving:
“Now more than ever, it’s vital to keep enforcing this idea so I’m getting one for my 9 year old daughter as well as my one year old niece.”

Wanting:
“I have been using the same toaster oven passed down from my parents for years. It’s time for an upgrade, and this SMEG toaster is both practical and pretty.”

Giving:
“Ever since receiving a diffuser last year for Christmas I cannot stop raving about it. There is nothing nicer than going to bed with a hint of your favourite essential oil in the air. My personal fave is the soothing peppermint.”

Wanting:
“Here’s a throwback: I’d love an iPod shuffle. I actually misplaced mine a few weeks ago and my morning commute just hasn’t been the same without it.”

Giving:
“Yes, these studs by Catbird are microscopic, but they’re gorgeous and would make a sweet little gift.”

Wanting:
“Reading Wayne Koestenbaum’s writing is like waking up after a good night’s sleep. His essays are my vitamin b shots.”

Giving:
“If I could have my way, everyone would be able to see Swan Lake performed by The National Ballet of Canada at least once. Few productions are as hypnotic as this one.”

Wanting:
As much as I love my DSLR, I’m tired of lugging it around whenever I go travelling. This year, I’ve got my eyes on this Leica compact camera. It’s what (amateur photographer’s) dreams are made of.

Giving:
Everyone knows I’m obsessed with K-beauty and stand by its multi-skincare regimen practice. With this Sokoglam starter kit, it includes all the basics to help any beauty newbie to break into a Korean skincare routine.”

Wanting:
“My husband and I received more wine glasses and bottles of bubbly after our wedding this year than we know what to do with (our friends know us so well!) It would be amazing to have an elegant bar cart to keep everything displayed and housed in.”

Giving:
“This book has become my new contemporary favourite, with its preppy New England mannerisms, murderous plotline, and breathtakingly gorgeous prose. It makes me want to curl up and live inside its pages, and I’m pretty determined to take every single one of my friends with me.”

Wanting:
“I tried these out at an event recently and now it’s all I can think about. The amount of times I’ve been running, and then ripped my corded headphones out of my ears is far too many.”

Giving:
“This is my husband’s all-time favourite scotch. I believe he has tried every scotch in the entire world at this point, so I’ll do him a solid and replenish this one.”

Wanting:
“I’m going through a rose gold kick lately, and this Medium watch is my latest obsession. I’m not really one for jewellery, but this is just the right about of pretty and shiny to add a little somethin’ to my holiday outfits.”

Giving:
“I was recently gifted a Five-Minute Journal and now I can’t believe I ever lived without it. The idea is that you wake up in the morning and write down three things you’re grateful for, as well as a daily affirmation, and before bed you reflect on some good things that happened that day and how you could have improved it. It’s simple but so effective as a practice in gratitude and positive thinking. I can’t stop recommending it to literally everyone I know, so I’m definitely gifting it to my family and friends.”

Wanting:
“Without a proper mixer, cakes, whipped creams and cookie doughs have been off the menu for me. I got married this fall and since I’ll be baking for two, I’ve have had this mixer on my wishlist ever since. There’s no better time to celebrate the sweet life ahead.”

Giving:
“My husband and I are working on designing an office space at our place. I would love to surprise him with a brand new computer. This extra slim, feature-loaded laptop will be the gold star on the desk.”

Wanting:
“I am in love with Gucci’s loafers. And not only do these ones look cool and comfortable, they look like they’d keep me safe in a street fight.”

Giving:
“I’d love to give this Lauren Klassen safety pin choker to my sister Michelle. It looks as cool as she is.”

Wanting:
“I’m focusing on home décor this year and these frames would make sprucing up my house easy. The best part is the ease with which the contents can be changed—family photos one day, antique finds the next.”

Wanting:
“I always enjoy going to Anthropologie to peruse the knick-knacks, and the holiday season gives me the necessary excuse to buy many pretty things. These trays can be used in the kitchen for cheese or desserts but also could be a very pretty addition to a bathroom vanity. In other words, one size fits all.”

Wanting:
“Sharing my apartment with an adorable, beautiful German Shepard, makes keeping the house hair-free super difficult. While we’ve invested in an awesome vacuum, I’d love to have some help cleaning up even when I’m at work.”

Giving:
“My boyfriend and I bought a a mid-century modern credenza with a record player and speakers built into it. The piece is beautiful but the sound system doesn’t sound quite right. I would love to replace the record player for him this Christmas so we can rock out to Mariah Carey Christmas.”

Wanting:
“From the time I was a little girl, I have been obsessed with straight lines and colour blocking. It’s my design DNA, which explains why this purse from Celine would basically be the best gift ever!”

Giving:
“I am totally addicted to wearing my Apple watch. On the days I forget to wear it, I behave like a sloth. Case in point: elevator or stairs. Without the watch, I can’t reach for the elevator button fast enough. I see how it motivates me, which is why I think it’s the perfect gift to give someone in your life that you’d love to encourage to get moving. Plus, you can send each other beating heart messages, which are definitely more personal than resorting to a heart emoticon.”