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The first thing I do before holiday shopping for my family and friends is take stock of the things that I fell in love with over the past year. Spending so much time at home in 2020 has made creature comforts a top priority – from super-soft sweaters and lush plants and planters, to fine wine and tasty organic meal subscriptions. I want to indulge all my senses, make my space a refuge, and get dressed every day in things that are soft and cozy as well as stylish. So here’s this year’s luxury gift guide – 11 of my favorites, tried and tested by me and guaranteed to make someone on your list very happy.
1. A fantastic natural wine subscription
Since we haven’t been able to travel or enjoy wine at bars or restaurants, we’ve invested more into enjoying wine at home. I did a bunch of research over the summer and found Dry Farm Wines, a small company that sources bottles from sustainable, organic vineyards around the world. With no added chemicals or sugar, their wines are naturally lower alcohol than mainstream bottles too. Plus each bottle comes with a special Dry Farm Wines label that tells us about the varietal and vineyard.
We liked our first box so much we quickly signed up for a Dry Farm Wines subscription. We’ve been thoroughly enjoying it and haven’t had a single bottle we didn’t like! Our bimonthly subscription comes out to ~$28 a bottle – totally worth it in my book. You can also do a one-time box without committing to a subscription, which is perfect for gifting. Get an extra bottle of wine for a penny with your first order here.
2. Hand-blown wine glasses
Another factor in our wine enjoyment – gorgeous, light-as-air hand-blown wine glasses from GLASVIN. They’re comparable to the uber-elite Zalto and Gabriel-Glas, at almost half the price (~$35 a stem instead of $60). Lovingly made in NYC, they funnel aromas to your nose like nobody’s business, and the unbelievably thin rim places the wine delicately on your tongue. (You’ll never be able to go back to Lennox or Reidel). We have the GLASVIN Expression and Aromatic glasses (big red wine drinkers here, but Expression is great for whites and sparklings as well), and we absolutely adore them.
3. A high-tech luxe facial in one device
This skincare device changed the game for me this year. I get annoying hormonal breakouts on my chin every month, so my dermatologist recommended I use blue light therapy to help kill the acne-causing bacteria. Enter La Luer’s palm-sized, hand-held Mira device – it combines blue, red, and green LED lights with ultrasound, sonic pulses, radio frequency, electric impulses and ion infusion to stimulate your skin’s natural ability to regenerate. At $530 it’s not cheap, but I use mine for 30 minutes almost every day and my skin has never looked better. It’s a fabulous little device that would make an excellent gift for any skincare maven.
4. An elegant belt bag
Belt bags have been my go-to this year, what with outdoor social-distancing, picnics, and hikes to catch up with friends. With a belt bag, it’s so easy to grab my phone, wallet, and mask, and run out the door.
My two favorites are the Aria and Coda from Senreve because they can be worn so many different ways, including as a sling and crossbody, and with a chain. Get $50 off Senreve bags with my link. I also love this sporty-chic neoprene version from Dagne Dover that looks super effortless.
5. A wool cape handmade in Italy
From size 00-16, take the guesswork out of getting the fashionista in your life a stylish gift with Marta Scarampi’s one-size-fits-most capes. Pictured here wearing the Giulia in pink, I was initially wary of a cape that says it will fit such a wide range of sizes, but the proportions were on point.
In a light but cozy 100% wool, this baby will transition effortlessly from breezy fall days to spring ones, adding a light layer of warmth that’s perfect over a sweater or even a blazer or light down jacket.
6. Classic diamond jewelry
From stud earrings to diamond-by-the-yard necklaces, you simply can’t go wrong with diamonds. (And what luxury gift guide would be complete without them?) Use code VANESSA20 for 20% off everything (yes, all fine jewelry) at Annapolis, MD-based Zachary’s Jewelers. They have a fantastic range of pieces from daily wear jewelry under $1,000, to sumptuous statement items that go up to almost $100k. Whatever your taste, Zachary’s Jewelers ships across the country, so no matter where your lucky person lives, you can send them diamonds (at 20% off) from afar.
7. Sweaters with je ne sais quoi
Anyone can buy a friend a sweater. Only a fashion gal knows that sweaters from Sezane are super soft, basically never pill, and will stand the test of time a perfect gift for your french fille at heart.
I’ve collected four of Sezane’s luscious alpaca-blend nylon sweaters this year and no matter how much I wear and hand wash them, they always look oh-so-chic and as good as new.
While these in-demand pieces tend to sell out quickly, you can check their website Sunday mornings for restocks and new product releases.
8. Take the guesswork out of healthy eating
Maybe not typical of a luxury gift guide, meal plan subscriptions felt luxurious to me because I usually cook completely from scratch. We bounced around to a few different meal subscription services this year, ultimately settling on Sun Basket as the best of the bunch. Their ingredients are organic, and they cater to many different dietary preferences, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and paleo. I also really love that they offer flexibility with your protein selection – you’re never locked into one choice with a recipe. Don’t eat salmon? Swap beef for the same price. Don’t eat meat? Select tofu. Even better, there are always a few meals that are fully cooked and ready to heat up and eat, as well as meals ready to be cooked from scratch. Get $40 off your first Sun Basket order here.
Alternatively, I also tried Sakara over the summer. This plant-based subscription sends you pre-made vegan meals for any combination of breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner, plus treats like teas, energy bars, and probiotic supplements. It’s very pricey so for me it wasn’t sustainable long-term, but was exactly the boost I needed for a few days’ worth of meals as I detoxed from the first couple months of quarantine. It would make a really nice gift for anyone on your list who wants a nutritional boost. Get $50 off your first Sakara order here, including teas, bars, supplements, and gift sets from their Clean Boutique.
9. Chic indoor planters
The plants we bought this year have seriously brought our little house to life. Seeing them every day is incredibly rejuvenating and it’s the most peaceful feeling wake up each morning to the big, beautiful bird of paradise in our bedroom. Who doesn’t like plants?!
Fuel the green thumbs in your life by gifting one of these beautiful planters, guaranteed to liven up a room. West Elm has an excellent selection of minimal, modern styles that go with almost any decor. Oh – and they’re built to last. My favorite is this tall metal and lightweight fiberstone planter that adds extra height to your favorite chlorobabies.
10. A comforter that feels like falling asleep in whipped cream
In an effort to make our bedroom as luxurious as possible, I bought us all-new eucalyptus fiber bed linens and accoutrements over the summer. Now I can’t live without our Buffy Breeze comforter and Cloud pillows. It’s like falling asleep on a little slice of heaven. The comforter is a great gift for anyone in the family, especially those who run warm, or treat someone to the full package – comforter, pillows, and sheets.
11. Luxe silk pajamas
Nothing says luxury more than a washable silk PJ set, and Lunya is the OG brand for buzzy silk sleepwear. I bought their shorts-and-tank set back in March (reviewed here) and have been wearing it to death.
Crafted in thermoregulating washable silk, Lunya’s pieces are simple and beautiful. Though they’re designed without any frilly bells and whistles, they have a ton of thoughtful design details, from breathable vents to robes with pockets and elasticated sleeves.
With a classic shirt-style top and long pants, their high-rise pant set would make a beautiful gift for mom, or treat your significant other to a slinky silk robe (read my review of it here). Plus, get 15% off your first Lunya order w/ code THEPRIMPYSHEEP.
***Bonus: Beauty-ful stocking stuffers
It’s truly impressive to see how many new beauty and skincare companies these days are all-natural, organic, non-toxic, and vegan.
One of my go-to brands, DC-based Skincando, is running its biggest annual sale right now (30% off with code Skincando30). Their Miracle Cream and 1000mg CBD cream would make for great stocking stuffers.
I also love the Glow-getter oil from new startup Onekind (Get $10 off with code THEPRIMPYSHEEP), the adorable shooting star eye masks from KNC Beauty, and Hyper Skin’s Vitamin C serum.
Check out last year’s luxury gift guide for even more ideas, and follow me on Instagram @theprimpysheep for style inspiration and product reviews.
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