My 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Last night, I hosted a handful of friends for Thanksgiving—my first holiday in my renovated apartment. I’ve always loved opening my doors to pals and acquaintances with nowhere else to go and it was extra special to share my new space with everyone.

And now, it’s off to tree decorating and holiday shopping. While I’m not usually a Black Friday shopper, something in the air this year has me itching to splurge. Either way, it’s never too early to start checking off names on your gifting list (I’m the type that keeps an eye out for perfect gifts throughout the year).

In the past few months, there’s been an exceptionally good assortment of retail releases, from fragrances to pantry staples to knitwear. It seems that after a late-pandemic obsession with experiences, many of us are appreciating a more traditional gift: something you can feel and hold—and usually a thing that you love but might not buy for yourself. It’s in that spirit that I put together my annual holiday gift guide. Keep scrolling for my 2022 favorites.

Favorite links this week

THE GREAT TICKETMASTER DEBACLE

If you have any Swifties in your life—or if you’re active on social media at all—then you’ve likely heard about the soul-crushing Ticketmaster crash during the presale for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Here, The Atlantic examines the failures of this sale and the live music industry as a whole.

A WHITE HOUSE WEDDING

To be honest, I didn’t even know President Biden was hosting his granddaughter’s wedding at the White House until after it happened. But now that I’m aware, I’m loving reading about the historic affair, which was only the 19th wedding at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since 1800.

IT’S ALL IN THE NOSE

I am a fragrance lover, so I thoroughly enjoyed this Q&A with Louis Vuitton’s master perfumer, Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, in The Cut. He shares his opinions on celebrity fragrances, his memories of the first scent he smelled, and the note that brings him the most joy.

THE 2022 AGNP HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

There is so much new, good stuff this year. So forget about a Masterclass subscription and buy the following things for your favorite people instead.

Brightland Mini Artist Series

Responsibly crafted with olives from a family-run California farm, Brightland’s olive oils have been a staple in my kitchen for some time. This set includes four mini bottles of its infused olive oils, making it the perfect gift for a home cook who likes a flavorful kick. Plus, each label is designed by a different artist.

Homecourt Balsam Fireplace Candle

I’m not always a fan of celebrity brands, but I’m totally sold on Courteney Cox’s thoughtful Homecourt products. I especially love this limited edition candle that smells like the holidays with notes of fresh evergreen woods, warm juniper spice, and salted amber. The sleek, black clay vessel, which can be reused as a cup after the wax burns, is a plus.

RUBBER N' ROAD Central Park Cycling Club Sweatshirt

Merch is everywhere these days, but good merch isn’t always easy to find. That’s why I was so excited when I came across RUBBER N' ROAD’s cheeky Central Park Cycling Club sweatshirt, which is made of heavyweight French Terry cotton and has that old school athletics vibe that I love most.

Boy Smells Rose Load Eau de Parfum

As you may know, I’m never without a fragrance (or two, because I like to layer). This sensual rose scent from Boy Smells is a gender-neutral keeper, with its notes of agarwood, pink peppercorn, and, of course, rose petals. The result is somewhere between two other favorites of my mine: Frederic Malle’s Portrait of a Lady and Le Labo’s famed Santal 33.

Diptyque La Droguerie

Cleaning products may not be a typical choice for a holiday present, but Diptyque’s La Droguerie multi-surface cleaner, which smells like lavender, cedar, and fig tree, is a luxe option that will delight the home decor lover in your life. The orange blossom dishwashing liquid is also a total treat. Doing dishes has never smelled so good.

Noma Projects Gift Set

Do you know a Noma fangirl or fanboy? If so, be sure to get them this fermentation gift set, which features a single bottle of smoked mushroom garum, which is made by hand by the Noma fermentation lab team in Copenhagen; a first-edition Shrigley organic cotton tote bag; and Noma's Guide to Fermentation signed by René Redzepi.

Biography Long June Face Oil

Give the gift of skincare with Biography’s Long June face oil, a tried-and-true product I use daily. A few drops of this fast-absorbing face oil will provide all-day moisture and a radiant glow. It’s made of sustainably-sourced, natural ingredients, and the apricot seed oil, antioxidant-filled camellia seed oil, and anti-inflammatory chamomile oil make it smell great, too.

Mr Porter Knitwear

When it comes to knitwear, no one curates better than Mr Porter. They carry all the chicest brands of cozy sweaters, from Celine Homme to A.P.C. to Tom Ford. And the materials range from soft cashmere to fuzzy wool to smooth cotton—perfect for wherever your winter takes you.

Westward Leaning Stun 04 Sunglasses

This pair of athletic sunglasses make an excellent gift for the cyclist in your life: they’re lightweight, sweat-proof, and equipped with the best anti-scratch lenses on the market. But they’re also a fashion statement when you’re not in the saddle. The wraparound style is so en vogue that your non-cyclist loved one will dig them, too.

Atrio Vintage Collection

I can’t get enough of the vintage furniture and decor offerings from Atrio, Jeremiah Brent’s newest interior design retail venture. With a store in Los Angeles’s Platform (where I had a pop-up once upon a time!) and a curated online shop, it’s the best place to find one-of-a-kind pieces for the home.

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