Made for collectors, creatives and stylish people. A person who likes vintage, unique, or unusual things. The style is distinct, so you can feel confident that your aesthetic will match well with the gift items recommended by the guide. It also includes some very personal gifts I gave to my two sons last year. Read on to learn more.
Volume 1 Volume 2 Santa Maria Novella Melograno in fragrant terracotta; 3 stamped silver glasses box; 4 custom oil paintings 5 Schoolhouse x Pendleton® Canebrake Wool Blanket; 6 speckled serving bowl; 7 leather catch hole tray $95; 8 Perry Taper Candle Holder As little as $96 (sale) or large in size; 9 Yvonne Leon scarab earrings; 10 Sezane (set of 2/$40); 11 leather jewelry case book box $85; 12 Fair Isle Cashmere Bandana; 13 Pewter Napkin Ring Set.
First, a very personal gift: a small painting commissioned by someone special… through sharing a meaningful experience. It’s not as complicated as it sounds. Last year I commissioned a Romanian artist on Etsy (Oxana Toz) to paint a small landscape based on a photo I sent her. The image was taken in a meadow our family discovered while biking in the Dolomites. The lights, shadows and colors were fantastic and we paused to admire the beauty. It was a special moment that we all remember well. I asked Oxana to draw two pictures, one for each of my sons, and gave them to them last Christmas. They loved it. She gave me this mini as a thank you.
If you have any questions about the commissioning process, please ask in the comments. Oxana responded quickly, including the edits I requested, and was friendly and professional. This was one of the gifts I wanted to give.
Be thoughtful and gift your favorite books about travel, cooking, decorating, and more. Or, if you know someone is planning an upcoming trip, search for titles related to their destination, whether fiction or non-fiction. Pre-bundled theme sets for vintage gardening, music, and outdoor activities make things easy. For additional ideas, take a look at: vintage books outdoors; Wine & travel set, Little Women set.
Skip the candles this year and look for luxurious home fragrances with unique formats or strong scents. Subtly scented decorations are the direction I’m going for, such as the terracotta pomegranates from Santa Maria Novella (Classic), the stone spheres from Ginori 1835 and the amber perforated boules from L’Artisan Parfumer.
More about Catchall…I’m loving all the cool leather options I’ve seen lately. Hand-stitched boxes, foldable flat leather trays ($95 in several colors), or simple stamped book boxes (or stacked in packs of three) are all great. I was also impressed by the stainless steel/leather square valet from the CB2 x Nicholas Obeid collaboration. $89
For home builders or those who continually add layers for a collected look, special blankets, china or grouping candle holders are thoughtful, especially when matching the items to the recipient’s design aesthetic. I am McGee & Co. We love the Hand Painted Bowls ($14 each – on sale), the Sezane Boxed Set of 6 Made in France Colored Candles, $25, and the Nicky Kehoe Forged Iron Candle Holders (sold individually, $36, $48, $60).
For the hostess, linen napkins are great for anyone who loves setting a memorable table, or for anyone who likes the Farmhouse Pottery Forged Cheese Knife to add to their hosting accessories. The Ralph Lauren English Pewter Napkin Ring Set with Scrolling Work (Opening Moodboard) Inspired by the Art of Ralph Lauren Collection Belt Buckles is great, but there are also more approachable price range options. In the context of One you, one meI purchased some floral Antionette Poisson x Sezane napkins and plan to use them for the December holidays. I also own Quince Gingham Linen Napkins. That’s an amazing price.
This cashmere foulard is stunning and an easy gift to give to your stylish friends. I have a few solid cashmere neck scarves, and I love the way they add personality to a basic t-shirt or crewneck sweater. I’m obsessed with &Daughter’s Fair Isle and Argyle patterns.
And since they show off more, these Yvonne Leon scarab earrings might be on your personal wishlist: they’re colorful and eye-catching little works of art. It’s really pretty.
Shop our complete gift guide for collectors
I’ve listed a full gift guide (with more to come) on my ShopMy page for easy reference. If you create an account at Do my shopping (It’s free) You can save your favorites here: Notes on Style Or, you can easily go back at any time using other accounts you follow. Create your own personal wish list and save it for reference beyond the holidays.
Items gifted to this post by Heaven Mayhem and &Daughter are accepted with no obligation to share. All opinions are my own.
