Status Olive Oil and a Digital Instant Camera Top Our List of Gifts for Women
Twenty-five ideas she wouldn’t think of.
Updated Nov 15, 2022 11:26 AM
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Mom, MIL, sister, partner, best friend, work wife—a few of the female-identifying people you may be shopping for this holiday season. Which, as it turns out, is no easy feat. Because when it comes to the best gifts for women, phew, there’s a lot out there to choose from.
After doing some extensive gift sleuthing at our favorite online haunts, we found success when zeroing in on those special things they wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves, be it fabulous tumblers, frivolous candles, or just really useful bike baskets. We sourced a wide range of gift recs to suit even those who might tell you they don’t want a thing. See the full lineup of our best gifts for women, below. (Note: This list can and should be shopped regardless of relationships or gender identities.)
Gifts for Moms and Mothers-in-Law
Nonfiction Beauty Gift Set
Elevate every step of Mom’s self-care routine with this set from (very well-packaged) beauty brand Nonfiction. Included in the speckled green and white gift box are four products that sport four of the company’s signature, best-selling fragrances: Gentle Night Body Wash, Santal Cream Body Lotion, Forget Me Not Hand Wash, and Gaiac Flower Hand Cream.
Serena & Lily Dalton Flannel Pajamas
Our style editor’s favorite pajamas (she has a drawerful). The doe-colored check pattern in a flannel material feels properly cozy for the holidays, but the set comes in French blue and fog, too. Piping around the edges and mother-of-pearl buttons are mom-appropriate details, and three sizes offer a range of options for fit.
Schoolhouse Stillwater Floral Quilt
Of all the giftable bedding options available at Schoolhouse, whether that’s linen duvets or weighty coverlets, the stunning, 5-star-reviewed Stillwater quilt takes the top spot. Made in Portugal from 100% cotton, this jacquard woven textile has repeatedly been referred to as having modern heirloom qualities. As one reviewer put it, “This quilt is well made and looks like an antique quilt. When I ordered it, I felt it was expensive; however, when it arrived, the quality of craftsmanship made the price seem like a bargain.”
West~bourne House Pie Set
If your mom likes to bake, this beautiful set from West~bourne packages all she’ll need to whip up the brand’s plant-based House Piecrust. The gift-worthy duo includes a reusable bottle of refined avocado oil along with a vegan and gluten-free mix housed in 100% compostable packaging.
Baba Tree Bicycle Basket
If your mom, like mine, would prefer to be pedaling around a beach town such as Key West on any off day, consider gifting her a cheerful woven bicycle basket that she can strap on the front of her cruiser. Handwoven in Ghana, the sturdy basket is equipped with two leather straps that keep it safely in place, even when it’s full of picnic essentials or a small pup.
Ballymaloe Desserts
This book is filled to the brim with recipes and beautiful images from pastry chef JR Ryall of Ireland’s pilgrimage-worthy Ballymaloe House. Gift it to the mom who loves to spend Saturdays on a showstopping bake or those who just enjoy looking at photos of gorgeous cakes, mousses, jellies, and more.
Angela Rose × Loloi Lumbar Pillow
We’re eyeing this antique rug-inspired lumbar pillow as a MIL crowd-pleaser. The teal-and-terracotta–patterned design is part of the family-owned, Dallas-based textile company Loloi’s collaboration with home renovator Angela Rose. It’s a unique yet functional gift idea that exudes easy elegance.
Psst: Scope out our full gifts for mom guide for more ideas.
Gifts for Wives and Partners
Onsen Bathrobe
A bathrobe so comfy other family members—ahem, you—might be tempted to “borrow” it. (True story: Our deputy editor, Julie Vadnal, acquired one and had to get another because her boyfriend never gave it back after one use.) The Onsen robe comes in seven different colors, including a cheerful ochre and dark navy; it’s generously sized and sports a hood and pockets, as well as that signature waffle texture.
Bitossi Tumblers
Italian tableware brand Bitossi makes truly beautiful glassware and dishes, something we like to think you can never have enough of. This handblown pink-speckled duo will amp up cocktail hour or add a little visual intrigue to her entertaining spread.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Instant Camera
A digital camera that’s pretty cute and prints on demand is the kind of present for all the Leos in your life. The Instax Mini Evo from Fujifilm has 20 effect options (10 lens, 10 film) and it weighs less than a pound. Her next trip will be thoroughly documented.
Maison Balzac Petit Four Cocktail Napkins
A round of applause for these fun-loving linen cocktail napkins, which are sold in sets of four in two color combos. They can’t make a drink, but they’ll keep everyone’s glass from leaving rings on the table.
Parachute Shearling Wool Slippers
If there was a teddy coat for your feet, these 100% wool clog slippers would be it. The new honey colorway is extra-inviting, and the sizing spans five different choices so her toes will be snug all day long.
Leath The Fieldhouse
This little grow house for microgreens is the first product from the newly launched grow-system brand Leath. If she’s into indoor gardening, it’s a gift that keeps on giving. According to the company, growth clips along at a fast pace of seven to 12 days thanks to full-spectrum LEDs, and makes up to 7 ounces of greens compared to 1 to 2 ounces from a grocery. The Leathlets (seed and soil packets) are sold separately and come in six varieties, ranging from pea shoots to baby radish greens.
Gifts for Sisters
Oribe Côte D’Azur Candle
Oribe has captured the citrusy, floral signature scent of its hair-care line in a candle. The elegant black and orange vessel houses a vegan coconut–and–soy wax blend that burns up to 50 hours, emitting notes of bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood. It would be hard to find someone who wouldn’t enjoy lighting the wick of one of these.
Une Femme Wines Sparkling Duo
Sisters, bubbles: a pair made for each other. Une Femme Wines is the brainchild of Jen Pelka, founder of much-loved (and now closed) the Riddler, an all-women-funded champagne bar in San Francisco and New York. Grown in California’s north and central coasts, and produced in Sonoma and Lodi, the portfolio includes the two bottles in its Sparkling Duo Gift Pack, plus a wine stopper. And: For every purchase, Une Femme makes a donation to a charitable organization that improves the lives of women.
Diptyque Autumn Limited Edition: Citrouille Pumpkin Candle
Or if your sister is a Diptyque superfan with an appetite for pumpkin spice, we recommend the status candle brand’s elevated take on the infamous seasonal trend. The recently dropped votive is a limited-edition scent that mingles crisp notes of vegetables and fruit with warmer notes of pumpkin pie and chestnuts.
Seasons Gray Soni Diffuser
If a diffuser is more your sis’s speed, gift her an eye-catching ultrasonic one from Seasons. The Soni has a 120-milliliter capacity, an 800-square-foot diffusion area, and an intermittent run time of up to 16 hours. Toss in one of the brand’s essential oils (reflective of the season) to get her started.
Cromwells Scrunch Top Bag
A gym go-bag, one diaper tote in a very good disguise, the cherry-on-top complement to her athleisure look. This lightweight chartreuse cutie has many uses, ideal for sisters of all ages.
Tory Burch Printed Leggings
These brightly drawn floral leggings from Tory Burch is the kind of gift any sister would be happy to receive. A part of the Weightless collection, they’re breathable, moisture wicking, and finished with a smooth feel—and they hide an interior waistband pocket for a phone or keys. One reviewer remarked: “These leggings are beautiful; the color pattern is more beautiful in person than in the picture.”
Crown Affair The Set
Upgrade your sister’s hair-care routine with the Set from Crown Affair. It includes the brand’s comb, brush, oil, towel, and scrunchie, all packaged in a chic gift box. With a slew of 5-star reviews, many stating how the items created a ritual in caring for hair, it’s a no-brainer gift.
Gifts for Work Wives
Graza Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The olive oil that gave olive oil a makeover. If your giftee enjoys cooking (or really good salads), then Graza’s Drizzle is the ticket. Made for finishing and not cooking, this bottle is spicier and packed with more flavor than the brand’s Sizzle version. Gift them together if you like.
Leatherology Cord Wraps
Help keep a chaotic-good office mate organized with these cord wraps from Leatherology—the smaller one is great for earbud or phone chargers, the larger for computers or bulkier cables.
Kule Take Out Socks
Socks can be fun, too! Your office BFF will get a kick out of this pair, especially if you happen to order them on a regular basis.
Daphnis and Chloe The Office Blend Tea
Created to stave off fuzzy afternoon-head, the caffeine-free Office Blend mix of rosehip, thyme, and peppermint was designed to enhance memory and alertness.
Poketo Rainbow Accordion Pro Filer
Brighten up their workspace with this happiness-incarnate rainbow filer.