a very Annalise gift guide

for people who are not Annalise

Inspired by Carla Lalli Music and Rayne Fisher-Quann, I've compiled a gift guide for you this week. I kept things mostly sustainable, local when possible, and generally under $50. Ultimately though, the gift is only half the journey. I'm of the mind that gifts must be wrapped and paired with a card¹. If the gift misses the mark, at least it looks thoughtfully considered and comes with a revisitable kind message. 

sheer tissue paper for the “i don't even care if you're surprised by what’s in here, look at how pretty my wrapping is” approach

I also want to dispel some gift-giving myths. Perfume is NOT an acceptable gift. The only person you know well enough to pick a scent for is yourself. On the other hand, socks ARE an acceptable gift. Please buy me socks. One of my favorite gifts I've ever received is a high quality pair from my high school best friend. I lost one of them in college and it fills me with sadness to this day.

My goal with this guide is to share ideas for gifts that are useful, thoughtful, and adaptable across ages. I encourage you to buy locally when possible; some websites will have helpful store locators so that you can get name brands while supporting local businesses. Yes, now is a traditional time for gift-giving, but ideally this guide will serve you well on many occasions.

Granola

Duh! Spare glass containers are the perfect vessel. Masking tape is the perfect label. And everyone is the perfect recipient :)

i continually refuse to be embarrassed by the amount of my camera roll taken up by granola pics

Free People Low-Back Seamless Long Sleeve

I just got myself one of these and it is so sexy. It comes in XS/S, M/L, and L/XL so you don't need to worry about the recipient's exact size. Tucked, it looks like a bodysuit, sans piece of fabric just waiting to give you a UTI. Incredibly comfortable, versatile, and did I mention sexy?²

i bought it in green but all the colors are so nice!

Fancy nut butter

To me, luxury is an $18 jar of pistachio butter from the farmers market. I got one from the Hollywood Farmers Market senior year of college and it made me feel so special every time I added it to my oatmeal or toast. I also recently discovered this Chai Spice Peanut and Almond Butter from Big Spoon that is so incredibly delicious I ate it on toast for breakfast every day for two weeks until I started worrying it would run out.

i found this photo of dates i stuffed with the pistachio butter? i'm a genius!

Coffee shop gift card

Such a delightful little treat. Look up a local spot near the recipient's home or workplace to add a personal touch and maybe introduce them to a new favorite.

give the most coveted gift of all: coffee and a pastry

Thrifted glassware

There are so many beautiful trinket dishes, vases, plates, spoon rests in second hand stores that you're sure to find a stunning and unique piece for anyone special (or generic!) in your life. Maybe you'll discover a gorgeous cookie jar you can fill with candies, stationery goodies, lottery scratcher tickets...

all thrifted glassware. yes i need to wash the spoon rest but it's still so cute!

Jellycat stuffed animal

These are the best. I just saw they have small purses, including a frog and a piece of toast. It's the ideal gift for a child, or someone who needs a forgiving furry friend to squeeze while they sob watching any story line involving Sally in Mad Men (ahem!). They're specially weighted for the absolute best cuddling experience.

moments after a dear friend got me geraldine // unstaged photo of geralidine with julius

FLOWERS!

When did buying flowers fall out of vogue? If you time it right (i.e. don't get them for someone about to go out of town), they'll bring a beautiful touch to a friend's home. Or, buy some filler³ a few weeks ahead and let it dry out in a vase for a less ephemeral offering. 

For the smokers in your life

Obviously, a vintage ashtray is the coveted possession of any aspiring Cool Guy, like this Pastis 51 one from eBay. 

But also, cigarette holders and cases are that thing every casual smoker says they want to get but never do. Fill a case with cigarettes if you really want to go the extra mile, or with gum if you're feeling sassy. Honestly, a cigarette case filled with gum sounds kinda nice.

Shops I like for more inspiration

JEWELRY: Haricot Vert⁴, While Odin Sleeps, and at/odds make gorgeous pieces at various price points. Sundance Catalog is a good place to start too⁵.

HOME GOODS: Coming Soon and Front General Store are my absolutely favorite spots for gift-shopping. You can't go wrong with anything you find here. Check out their storefronts in NYC for an in-person shopping experience. FGS also has incredible basics and jewelry for sale, as well as a huge mid to high end vintage clothing selection that's very well curated.

???: I followed this account on Depop for a while because they make chunky necklaces I like⁶ but now they have this online kawaii resale website called Papaya Milk, which has Hello Kitty, Miffy, you-name-it-themed stationery, bags, and home goods.

with love, annalise

1. my go-to is brown paper or newspaper with twine and a post card. it's simple, cost-effective, and elegant.

2. i also can't stop thinking about how hot this would look on a flatter torso! just saying, your gym-loving brother could rock this too.

3. lavender, baby's breath, eucalyptus… basically any of those small trader joe’s bunches for under $5

4. not sure if they have a shop locator but i believe the MOMA design store in NYC carries their earrings

5. basically all my rings are from here <3

6. they still have these necklaces on their depop page but it takes some scrolling to find them