Each year, in order to create the Strategist’s annual print “Gift Issue” (subscribe here!), we set out to find the newest, grooviest, most surprising and delightful things that you (very likely) won’t find on the zillions of other gift guides out there in the universe.
In This Issue
Here’s how the process works: Each Strategist writer on staff submits and makes a case for the items that came out this year that they think would make for an excellent gift. Meanwhile, a smaller group of editors devote hours to just poking around and perusing our favorite shops (online and IRL), polling our coolest friends, going down numerous shopping rabbit holes that take us to Polish boutiques and Eastern Maine farmstands. And then we begin to argue. Is that button-down really that special? There’s something a little too 2023 about that cutting board. How do we really feel about tomatoes these days? We create “boards” so we can examine each item up close, then continue to whittle down till we have the perfect assemblage.
And there you have it! We’ve divided the 297 gifts that made the cut into three categories — under $50, $50 to $199, and $200 and up. Below, you’ll find our favorite inexpensive/slightly splurgy gifts/more expensive gifts. And if you haven’t found what you’re looking for, peruse the many other gift guides the staff of the Strategist has made for you here.
Filson for Her
This drawstring backpack is from the brand’s first-ever women’s line.
Perfect Ice
Klaris’s ice-maker produces pristinely clear two-by-two-inch cubes.
“Unhappy Meal”
Off-Mountain Shoe
Despite its hiking silhouette and Vibram sole, this sneaker is meant for everyday use.
Tech-Bro Vest Upgrade
A handsome denim design with a high ribbed collar.
Dressed-Up Oxford
The Dries Van Noten button-down is gathered in the front and clasped together with a dramatic brooch.
Murano Chandelier
Botanic maximalism from the capital of glass art.
Quinquagenarian Chair
Designer Cini Boeri’s Botolo high armchair turned 50. It’s available in three color combinations.
Biarritz Bedding
A heart-stitched, down-filled comforter as seen on the beds at French hotel Villa Magnan.
Bus Bag
In honor of the Hampton Jitney’s 50th anniversary, a collaboration with Greenport-based sailmaker Wm. J. Mills & Co.
Last Collab
From Iris Apfel’s posthumous collection with Dr. Scholl’s, the mules are inspired by her husband’s signature slippers.
Tiny Drone
Very Serious Knife Sharpener
It can get the entire bevel of the knife, not just the outer edge, for pro-level sharpening.
Puffer Pants
From C.P. Company for street- and slopewear.
Blinged-out Tennis Bracelet
A rainbow of gems (tanzanite, purple sapphire, tsavorite, morganite, garnet, aquamarine) from CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner L’Enchanteur.
Plumage Pumps
Black Roses
Cableless Compression Boots
Just as powerful as the previous model but without annoying tubes.
Special-Occasion Chopsticks
Hand-forged from sterling silver.
Silver Spoon
Shown at Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery, it’s made by Conie Vallese and Elhanati.
24-Karat-Gold Vibe
Hermès Fly Cap
AI Binoculars
Built-in software can ID birds and other wildlife as one spots them.
Silver Sneaker
Kiko Kostadinov’s latest for ASICS, inspired by archival netball-competition shoes.
Superior Pillow Fort
Superspace’s magnetic felt squares are like giant Magna-Tiles.
Status Strawberry
From Herend, the Hungarian porcelain company founded in 1826.
Beribboned Prada
Straight off the ready-to-wear runway and apparently made with more than 150 feet of ribbon.
Useful Seahorse
A bottle opener plated in 24-karat gold.
Reversible British Coat
It has a curly interior and a smooth caramel-colored suede exterior.
Sheer Silk Pants
With an elastic waist and ankle; from Paloma Wool.
Frilly Day Pack
The loops have a practical purpose: attaching skiing or climbing equipment.
Teeny E-Reader
New York Taxidermy
A fully articulated, medical-education-quality, ethically sourced pigeon skeleton.
Silver Slip-ons
The Shoe of the Year in a festive silver colorway.
Sapphire Ring
Ever so slightly surrealist; handmade by designer and artist Alice Waese.
Zip Necklace
First designed in the 1950s, this adjustable 18K white-gold Van Cleef & Arpels necklace is dotted with diamonds.
Stately Snuffer
Dinner-party drama from jewelry designer Ted Muehling.
Lisa Corti Stool
The designer’s classic block prints have been ottomanized.
Scandi Doll Pram
Exclamation Earring
From photographer turned lab-grown-diamond jeweler Alexei Hay’s first collection.
Mushroom House
An all-felt embroidered creation that comes with four woodland creatures that seem very down for a tea party.
Summery Fashion Bag
A collaboration by Lemaire and Filt, the original French manufacturer of fishing-net totes.
Wintry Fashion Bag
A slight upgrade to this past summer’s “It” bag: The bucket design has a thicker weave and a lining.
Not UGGs
Loewe shearling boots with a suede lining.
John Mayer’s Watch
He designed the brand’s last limited-edition model with a self-winding perpetual calendar.
Haute Couture Bedding
A Swiss tailored pillowcase from a hot new “bedclothes” brand.
Dessert Dior
These plates come in the same toile that covered the walls of the first-ever Dior store.
Supersonic Sequel
Dyson’s beloved hair dryer, now with sensor technology to reduce heat damage.
Stunning Knobs
These anemone-shaped drawer pulls are a collaboration by jewelry designers Pamela Love and Guillaume Pajolec.
Opera Scarf
Air Mail commissioned a line of silk scarves from Andrea Ferolla featuring notable artists as children. This one depicts a young Maria Callas.
Opera Cloak
In orange velvet with a silk lining; designed by Colleen Allen, who used to work at The Row.
Enormous Jewelry Box
The trunk by jewelry designer Marla Aaron is lined with a patented fabric to help prevent baubles from tarnishing.
Silver Shaker
A sterling-silver replica of Viennese silversmith Karl Sedelmayer’s 19th-century saltshaker.
1948 Frank Lloyd Wright
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation teamed up with Steelcase to re-create the architect’s furniture, including his favorite chair.
Holiday Party Skirt
Courtesy of Super Yaya, a Lebanese Ivorian brand that relaunched last year.
Two-Pizza Oven
Ooni’s newest is also its biggest: It can fit two 12-inch pizzas side by side.
Electric Surfboard
No waves? No problem with these Swedish boards that are apparently super-easy to use.
Cappuccino Computer
Not only makes your coffee but tells you when your grind size is running too small.
Kids’ Off-Roader
The seats adjust as the child grows, so this big-ticket toy won’t be completely obsolete after six months.
Collectible Braun
A highly sought-after stereo system made in partnership with Dieter Rams from the ’60s.
Viennese Rain Boots
A collaboration by 1885-era shoemaker Ludwig Reiter and Parisian line Rier.
Impractical Purse
Could it fit more than an iPhone? That’s not the point.
Roger’s Racquet
Federer designed this with Wilson, and tennis people are legitimately enthused about it.
Scent of the Season
From indie perfumer Gumamina, Odette has notes of grapefruit soda and rhubarb.
Collector’s Comics
A near-identical reproduction of The Avengers Nos. 21 to 40 from the Stan Lee–Don Heck glory days of 1965–67.
Cybercasket
Their chariot to the cyberafterlife.
Adam Sandler’s Fender
His go-to guitar got a special 70th-anniversary release.
Beautiful Board
This red-oak cutting (and serving) board, handmade in Indiana, has hidden cutout handles.
Tuscan Tote
Untie the side bows to reveal four pockets for clothes and sundries; from new Italian brand Tomo.
New Year’s Dress
Medieval-Music Maker
Teenage Engineering’s latest beat machine includes hundreds of sounds from the Middle Ages, like hurdy-gurdies and Gregorian chants.
Sonos’s First Headphones
Handy Canary
Like JW Anderson’s pigeon, his canary can be opened up through the right wing.
Cashmere Foulard
Spun in Hawick, Scotland, and available in six shades.
Cool-Guy Sunglasses
From Port Tanger, which makes all its shades in Japan.
Super-Stroller
Cybex’s e-Gazelle S has built-in power-assist for hilly streets. It can also rock your baby to sleep.
Eloise Rug
Part of a collection in honor of everyone’s favorite rapscallion’s 70th birthday.
Bean Bag
Available in four shades of suede with Culbia’s signature handle and silver beanlike base.
Faux Mink
A rather realistic fake-fur coat; faux-leather belt included.
Local Louis Vuitton
A card holder to celebrate the brand’s splashy new store. (Louis Vuitton, 6 E. 57th St.)
Stand Mixer of the Year
People are incredibly worked up over this stand mixer. It’s the first time KitchenAid has made a walnut mixing bowl.
Opulent Doghouse
A made-to-measure taffeta dog-crate slipcover by Adam Charlap Hyman and Andre Herrero.
Ballerina Skirt
Made from Irish linen by Brooklyn-based designer Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen.
Romantic Earrings
Pretty freshwater-pearl drops with the subtlest of bows from Sophie Bille Brahe.
Striped Sweater
There’s silk yarn woven in; from Paris-based line Casey Casey.
Fendi Baby Booties
Pom-Pom Coat
Less impractical than it looks — it’s made from 100 percent wool, so it’s quite warm.
Just-Right Knee-Highs
Available in calf sizes ranging from narrow to extra wide.
Maya Lin Lamp
Inspired by her 2001 Ecliptic, this metal light features hand-punched holes that lend it a starry-night look.
Postmodern Coffeepot
Christofle reissued Danish silversmith Christian Fjerdingstad’s 1926 design known as “the Stork.”
Three-Piece Set
From Pakistani British designer Zn Ali, the cotton pants, shirt, and vest are available in custom sizes at no extra charge.
Quite a Scallop
Made from a lion’s-paw-scallop shell; from a collection of sea-themed lights by journalist turned lamp designer Christopher Tennant that includes an abalone and escargot.
Gorgeous Goblet
Looks as if it should be in a Renaissance painting; designed by Seoul-based glass artisan Hyunsung Cho.
15th-Century Ring
The cut is modeled on the first recorded diamond engagement ring, given to Mary of Burgundy by the archduke Maximilian in 1477.
Chenille Going-Out Top
In addition to electric blue, it’s available in black.
Coconut Cooler
It’s collapsible and insulated with upcycled coconut husks, which keep food cool and minimize agricultural waste.
Pharrell Pearls
There are diamonds involved, too; part of the Louis Vuitton creative director’s Tiffany Titan collection.
Made-to-Order Dress
Full-length lace, covered in beaded clusters; two bows add some tasteful coverage.
Leonard Cohen Shirt
Gabriela Hearst has said this suede button-down was inspired by the musician.
Dry Ager
Can hold up to 44 pounds of meat; made in Germany.
Prickly Pillow
69’s cactus pillow is for those who want to get close — but not too close.
Baby-Blue Investment
Miles in France
The eighth installment of the Miles Davis “Bootleg Series” contains eight records of unreleased live performances in Antibes and Paris from 1963 and 1964.
2,000 French Recipes
From a five-volume ultrarare 1984 facsimile of an even rarer 18th-century cookbook by Vincent La Chapelle.
New Nugget
The Chunk can be a ball pit, a lounge chair, a table, or an ottoman with toy storage.
Woolly Mammoth Throw
So named for its size (enormous) and texture (Suri alpaca).
Bejeweled Croc
The Cartier reptile itself is set with 332 diamonds, 44 emeralds, 34 sapphires, and 37 tourmalines.
High-Concept Backpack
Also can be worn as a tote; from experimental Mexico City fashion line Minena Studio. (Available at Tumbao, 20 Orchard St.)
Cherry-Birch Champagne Flutes
From a centenarian family-owned Japanese woodworking house, Gato Mikio.
Sound-Therapy Pod
It uses immersive “vibroacoustic” technology for meditation and recovery.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.