All the Cool, Design-y Stuff I Want for Christmas

An outside-the-box gift guide featuring edible, luxurious and practical gifts for whoever's on your list

I love an edible gift. Even when I was a young girl, I would get so excited if someone would gift my grandmother one of those food boxes with summer sausage, mustard and shelf-stable cheese inside. I can still taste the sausage, which I would eat on top of the fort I made out of empty furniture boxes in our house.

But I also love shiny things and have always been thrilled to receive a fun piece of costume jewelry (extra points if it’s something rare and vintage!) With all things delicious and sparkly and designy in mind, I’ve created a gift guide.

I know, I know…. do any of us need another gift guide? But I wanted to round up the more unique items that would make worthy gifts this year — plus stuff that I would love to see under my tree (like the aforementioned edible gifts and sparkly things).

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PS. Elle Decor featured the newsletter in their story on Ugly-Chic, a term I coined some time ago and haven’t really shut about since. It’s such a fun article and I was thrilled to be included.

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Something Sparkly

blue and white ceramic eye earrings // floral ceramic eye earrings // Calm Down ring // lab white sapphire necklace // pink acrylic cuff // hand earrings

I would take just about anything from History Time Traveler on Etsy, which turns out gorgeous pieces of costume jewelry made from broken ceramics and hand charms. Each piece is stunning.

I am also a huge fan of Dorsey’s lab-grown jewels and have received a piece of their jewelry every year for the past few years. It’s become something of a tradition and a really great one at that.

Incredibly pricey? Yes, but if you’re going to throw down on a piece of fine jewelry, it should probably be this 14k gold, garnet, and diamond “Calm Down” ring. Wear it with this chunky pink acrylic cuff for maximum impact.

Something Delicious

chocolate-covered dried fruit set // olive oil // ravioli mold // flavored dates // pistachio spread

This pistachio spread (which can be used to make lattes or spread on a piece of toast and topped with bananas) is excellent.

Or what about a box of dark chocolate-covered, dried fruits? Or these flavored dates which are one of my favorite snacks ever and offer a fun twist on Christmas candy? If you were staying with your in-laws or visiting friends, it would be very kind to show up with this box full of all the ingredients needed to make truffle pasta. Or this kit, which comes with fancy olive oil and serving pieces.

As a sidenote, Giada de Laurentiis’ website has an incredible number and variety of edible gifts, from fancy hot chocolate mixes to gift boxes overflowing with organic pasta, Italian spices, gold-wrapped olive oil and the like. There are even niche gifts like ravioli rolling pins and ravioli molds — ideal for the friend who loves to make homemade pasta.

Something Old & Luxurious

Elsa Peretti earrings // Aldo Londi x Bitossi box // Jean Paul Gaultier cuff // Hermes magnifier // Christian Dior table

Nothing is as chic to me as vintage Elsa Peretti and I’d lose it if I found a pair of her large bean earrings in the wild. Or under my tree ;)

And since we are talking about luxury here, nothing is off the table — including the table itself, which is hopefully this vintage Christian Dior faux malachite number.

If it’s vintage designer costume jewelry you’re after, reach for this Jean Paul Gaultier cuff. So sexy.

Adding this one to my thrifting bucket list: an Hermes magnifier, shaped like an eye. Also this: a signed Aldo Londi x Bitossi box, in the most gorgeous shades of pink and orange.

Something Stylish

Picasso photograph // pendant light // glass bottle set // red shell and yarn necklace // shell sconce

This photograph offers a really fun take on Picasso — a multiple exposure view of the artist himself using a flashlight to make a light drawing of a figure in the air.

This pendant light is made of tissue paper and self-collected pressed flowers and plants. It’s incredible and also under $100.

For a more high-end lighting option, Tennant makes the most gorgeous accessories and this sconce — made of abalone shell and bamboo — is no exception.

It doesn’t get cooler than this line of shell and yarn necklaces.

And how cool are these colorful glass bottles? Group them together or display separately.

Something Fun

lip balm set // Adidas Gazelles // shell-encrusted clutch // phone case // Apple over-the-ear AirPods in pink // bow pillows

This lip balm set would make an excellent gift for a teen or a co-worker — someone who you want to spoil but maybe don’t know well enough to spend an arm and leg on. These are lightly tinted but the packaging feels like a really luxe lipstick (in other words: very grown up).

Adidas Gazelles in pink and green — and with a platform.

I met Cate, the co-owner of the absolutely drop-dead fabulous Kimono Dragon, at an estate sale in Atlanta this past weekend and I am blown away by her shop. Would you just look at this bag??? Get this under my tree, stat.

Everyone and their mom has the Apple Over-the-Ear AirPods on their wishlist. I love the pink set. Also on a lot of wish lists? Hailey Bieber’s Rhode phone case, complete with matching lip balm.

The Love Shack Fancy for Pottery Barn line is adorable. What girl wouldn’t take one of these oversized bow pillows?

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and I’ll leave you with this…