gifts

119 Carefully Selected, Unusually Special Gifts Over $200

Including a hand-carved purse, a hand-forged frying pan, and two standout fountain pens.

Photo: Hugo Yu
Photo: Hugo Yu
Photo: Hugo Yu

To find the hundreds of items on this list, we first polled our extremely knowledgeable staff about the best new items to pop up in their respective beats. Then, a group of dedicated editors spent months going down all manner of rabbit holes, scanning the background of home tours to track down the most special bathtub we’ve ever encountered, challenging ourselves to find teeny-tiny shops we’d never heard of in cities around the world (from L.A. to Seoul to Tbilisi), and figuring out where some of our favorite stores source from and looking there too. Beyond stores, we went up to strangers to inquire about their shoes, interviewed our hairdresser’s preteen son about what he’s into, followed a daisy chain of British zoomers on Instagram to see what brands they were following, and just kept scrolling and hunting till we could scroll and hunt no more! A careful edit of the resulting menagerie is below, including a new cold-therapy massage gun, a coat by Kid Cudi, and a year’s worth of award-winning bacon.

Don’t miss all of the Strategist’s holiday gift coverage right here. You can also see our picks for gifts under $50 and gifts under $200.

Chintzy Duvet

Contrast-Stitch Soft Shell

The seams are taped to do an especially good job of keeping water out.

Stiff Clutch

Carving this purse (from a single block of walnut wood) can take up to a week to complete.

Kicky Trench

This Shrimps option has puffed, but not too puffed, sleeves.

Processional Serving Board

Artist Lucas Castex makes this five-circle platter out of oiled walnut.

Red-Cedar Chicken Coop

This would have looked at home on Meghan Markle’s The Tig.

Basket Backpack

Everything by Kamaro’an is inspired by Taiwanese Indigenous objects—this one can fit a 13-inch laptop.

Floor Seats

They’re filled with soba for heft.

Planetary Pin

It’s attached with a beaded astral ring.

Sheathed Knife

$1,007

In wenge, an endangered, and very expensive, type of wood from Africa.

Rosy Bowls

$291

By the husband-and-wife duo behind Scandinavian glassblowing studio Lindean Mill.

Blossom-Cut Sapphires

Dozens of them cast in a wide 18-karat-gold ring.

Suede Chore Coat

It’s made with supersoft goat leather and cinches at the waist.

Ionic Topper

Made from a 19th-century mold by “master caster” Alexander Griffin in his Cambridgeshire studio.

Silky Rugby

Pass-Down-Able Purse

This leather shopper from the Amsterdam-based designer is fairly timeless.

Signed Sarah Lucas

A copy of the artist’s exhibition book from her survey at the Tate.

Enormous Clamshell

Almost startlingly realistic, were it not over one and a half feet long.

Arm-Length Lily

South African studio Gabi Design also makes acrylic- paint-and-wire pincushions and queen proteas.

Unfusty Fountain Pen

Photo: Hugo Yu

Designed in-house at Taiwanese stationery shop Yoseka’s Greenpoint outpost.

Chilly Theragun

Photo: Hugo Yu
Therabody Theragun PRO Plus
$530
$530

The newest version can be paired with an attachment that sinks to 41 degrees.

Off-Kilter Lolitas

By avant-garde Japanese designer Takahiromiyashita TheSoloist.

Award-Winning Bacon

A year’s supply from North Country Smokehouse, which won the “Oscars for nice groceries” this year.

Long Leather Gloves

The Row’s opera gloves are made entirely of nappa.

Liberace’s Cookbook

Almost Alarmingly Fast Go-Kart

Flyer’s original model only maxed out at 8 mph; this one can go 11 (and has slick rear wheels so it can drift).

VR Suit

It lets you feel rain, stomach punches, and dozens of other highly specific sensations while you play games.

Convertible Pong Table

$1,457

Designed by illustrator Malika Favre to be hung on the wall between games.

Mohair Coat

A simple double-breasted style with a peaked lapel.

E-Door

From $4,000

Masonite’s smart door lights up when you get home, has a built-in camera, and can be locked with an app.

Outdoor Dinner Tablecloth

No-Damage Flat Iron

Dyson Airstrait Straightener
$400
$400

Dyson has figured out how to make a straightener that uses hot air instead of hot plates.

Japanese Sleeping Bag

A collab between Nanga and Engineered Garments. Packed up, it’s practically as small as a water bottle.

Rabanne Rerelease

His famous 1969 chain-mail bag is back (in several iterations) after more than 50 years.

Chain Bracelet

Each silver link is welded in East Sussex.

Simple Sheepskin

An extremely handsome take on the classic.

Easy-to-Use Turntable

It’s ready to use out of the box, and the playback is exceedingly detailed.

Iced-Coffee Maker

Balmuda The Brew
$630
$630

It makes Dunkin’ beans taste like expensive cold brew.

Walking Robot

Based on the Transformers character Grimlock, it can toddle around on its own and respond to voice commands.

Bow Glasses

Designed by the city’s ultimate dinner-party thrower, Lauren Santo Domingo.

Electronic Annotator

Kobo Elipsa 2E
$350
$350

Lets you mark up PDFs and e-books, then converts your notes cleanly.

Stretchy Flats

As appealing as Capezios, but wear-on-city-streets-able.

Kids’ First E-Bike

Droyd Weeler
$330
$330

It comes with a speed- limit key for parental control—as well as an “easy-to-use accelerator throttle.”

Beach Bag

South Africa–based artist Billie Zangewa reupholstered a Louis Vuitton Capucine bag in golden silk.

Pasolini 101

Nine of the Italian filmmaker’s 1960s features in one.

Helpful Incense Holder

Burning the stone is meant to help people “better harness their potential.”

Last Wet Suit You’ll Ever Need

It has knee pads and a double neck-flap enclosure.

Four-Seat Sofa

$13,600

Made by designer Josef Frank, known for colorful patterns that tend toward “woodland meadow on acid.”

Oceanic Belt

The gold-plated seashells and starfish are made in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.

Dinner Chessboard

Tbilisian designers constructed this entirely from reclaimed oak.

12,000 Temporary Tattoos

The stamp connects to Prinker’s app, where you can find basically any design a person might want.

Shimmery Skirt

By the same designer who made Iris Apatow’s sequined dress for Vanity Fair’s Oscars party.

Right Now’s Sunglasses

Downtown stylist Thistle Brown already has his just-launched shades on Annabelle Dexter-Jones and Dev Hynes.

Ebonite Fountain Pen

This site rounds up objects hard to find outside Japan, like this pen made of vulcanized rubber.

Daisy Chain

Each flower contains one round-cut sapphire.

Open-Flame Frying Pan

Hand-forged using a hammer and tongs by Japanese blacksmiths at Kajikobo Hiromitsu.

Ideal Belt

It has just the right number of studs for these stud-friendly times.

Tiger Bonnet

Inspired by a children’s hat from 1915.

Pinch Pot

Painted with delicate flowers in Cape Town.

Rather Extreme Snowsuit

Photo: Hugo Yu

The North Face’s 900-fill down onesie is newly available in women’s sizes; there’s still a zippered butt flap.

Shaker Side Stool

The designer behind unisex clothing line Ijji is now making cherrywood furniture.

Dr. Dre’s Furniture

Made with Modernica to celebrate 30 years since The Chronic. 

Better Beach Chair

Nice enough to use as full-time patio furniture, light enough to lug around the beach.

Two-Boucle Daybed

London-based studio And Objects wrapped this solid beech frame “to the floor.”

Cheeky Cheeky Briefs

Photo: Hugo Yu

Wear these Miu Mius with tights as an homage to Laurie Simmons.

Diamond Cockatoo on 13 Carats

Photo: Hugo Yu

The 2023 version of Jean Schlumberger’s nearly six-decade-old Bird on a Rock brooch has longer feathers, 71 round brilliant diamonds, and a pink sapphire eye.

Silk Pillbox Hat

Simple Little Hoops

Their slight squareness makes them a bit more interesting than your average pair.

Even More Intense Xtratuf’s

A collaboration with Filson on 15-inch boots fit for minus- 20-degree weather.

Specific Spoon

Entirely sterling silver and meant for dispensing compote.

Shrunken La Marzocco

It’s more likely to fit an apartment kitchen than the original and is a fraction of the price.

Perfect Pink Slippers

Marni’s curly sheepskin fur mules also come in lime green and are wear-outside- able thanks to a rubber sole

Rough-Terrain Skis

$1,059

Super-grippy, a plus for those who prefer to go off-piste.

Zippy Bike

The stiffest, speediest, and sleekest racing bike from Berlin’s Standert.

Barbie-Pink Work Dress

It has a pleasing ratio of ruffles to bows.

19th-Century Teapot

Forged by one of the very few remaining American makers of pewter tableware.

Steampunk Bike

From Jason Momoa’s custom-bike builder, who heats, bends, shapes, and welds every single piece by hand, from the cogs to the handlebars.

Nicer Safety Pin

The little shell on its clasp, molded from one found on the beach, is no bigger than a pinkie nail.

19th-Century Tub

From $11,006

Cast in England from recycled brake discs.

Donald Judd Plate

French brand Puiforcat followed his rediscovered 1989 sketches exactly.

Beaked Earring

From architect Caroline Sillesen’s jewelry brand.

Goth Decanter

Chrome Hearts’ collaboration with Baccarat also bore a crystal ashtray and martini glasses.

Isabella Rossellini’s Sheep

In vest form via a collaboration between her farm and Aisling Camps.

Party Dress

From Simone Rocha and covered in pretty silver sequin embroidery.

Charm Anklet

Attached to a three-and-a-half-inch stiletto heel.

Chair Carpet

L.A. studio Waka Waka collaborated with New Zealand rug company Nodi on these seat covers.

Velvet Polo

Custom-made from cool Italian brand TL 180 (Léa Seydoux is a fan) with little mother-of- pearl buttons.

Forget-Me-Not Ring

The shape of the flower is inspired by a Klimt painting and set with a brilliant-cut peridot.

Unslippable Snow Shoes

They have a carbon-fiber plate and rubber treads.

Nordic Snow Shoes

They’re built to withstand Helsinki winters.

Impractical Track Pants

New downtown-y model-slash- designer Raimundo Langlois also makes extremely low-cut jeans.

Darren Bader’s Name

After a 20-year career, the artist, who has shown at the Venice Biennale, is selling the rights to make artwork under his name.

Unusable Hairbrush

This brush from Berlin- based art collective Bless is described as “a great gift for someone who has everything.”

Compact Rose Umbrella

It’s just under eight inches when folded and comes in a vibrant purple-and- marigold colorway.

2023 Razor

The Galaxy Z unfurls into a proper smartphone.

Yak Cushion Cover

It’s made from khullu, a naturally shed, ultrafine downy fur collected from their underbellies.

Inedible Chocolate

It’s in fact a bronze ashtray made from Cadbury molds.

Kindercore Sweater

Paris brand La Fetiche focuses on bright, cheerful basics.

Touch Tank

Like the one at the New York Aquarium but living-room size and the fish are acrylic.

220 Minutes of Madonna

Specifically, an assortment of rare remixes of her most popular songs on 12 rainbow vinyl discs.

Two-Piece Puzzle

These two jugglers, hand-carved and painted by Judi Rosen’s dad, fit perfectly into each other, creating an everlasting sculpture.

Reversible Puffer

This Sofie D’Hoore design lets you choose between black and gold.

Neck Care

A neck-and-décolletage LED treatment that promises to regenerate skin cells and reduce fine lines.

Giant Gaming Monitor

Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G9 will let them play in survival mode on a nearly five-foot curved screen.

Kid Cudi Coat

From his new line, Members of the Rage.

Shiny Cowboy Boots

These also come in suede, goat, and lizard.

Candy-Stripe Pillow

By the designers who’ve decorated houses for Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Aldridge.

Millennial Renaissance Painting

The only currently for-sale Anna Weyant.

R. Crumb Yoga Mat

The illustration was initially used to advertise his late wife’s fitness class.

Silent Guitar

It’s meant for players who are on the road or who’d like to practice without bugging their neighbors.

Just a Lovely Sweater

Boxy but not too boxy, blue but not too bright, and knit in a cashmere-and-merino-wool blend.

Tote in a Tote

Inside is a little removable zippered pocket.

Cashmere Hood

It functions as both a scarf and a cap.

Utensils Tablecloth

Cartoonist Zebedee Helm doodled spatulas, scissors, and strainers on a sheath of Belgian linen.

One-Size- Fits-Most Polo

Fits anyone from a U.S. size 4 to 12.

Hippie Ashtray

New Dimes Square smoke shop Biggie’s Bodega has amassed a collection of these vintage Peter Max ashtrays.

Party Zip

South House has been throwing parties across New York for the past two years; now it’s making unusually good merch.

Extremely Soft Robe

It’s 100 percent plaited Italian cashmere.

LEGO Kingdom

The castle — made up of 4,500-plus pieces — has several secret passageways and a trapdoor.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

119 Carefully Selected, Unusually Special Gifts Over $200