Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

Urban Picnic

You don’t need a reason to have a picnic with this easy-to-tote, fully equipped set – just pack the food and go. It comes with a large cooler area and four sets of plastic glasses, plates, and utensils.

Canvas Picnic Backpack
$80
Available at Burke Décor

Sit and Stay a While

Okay, we know dogs can’t read, but house guests can. These pillows are as cute as they are original. Strategically placed on a chair or sofa, they will serve as an open invitation to friends and family.

Sit and Stay Pillows
$85-$145
Available at Sundance Catalog

Socialistas

When the latest in Blackberry technology can't help keep up with all the social appointments, turn to the tried-and-true social calendar. With pockets for credit cards and initiations, receivers of this gift will stay organized and show up to the party on time.

Filofax Domino Agenda Planners
$25
Available at Gracious Home

Hit the Tub

Pretty and practical, these galvanized tubs, which come six different sizes, can be filled with toys, towels, magazines, and even ice and beer. Choose from dozens of patterns and colors to create the perfect gift.

Oval Tubs
$30-$75
Available at Macbeth Collection

Hit the Road

Anyone who travels by plane these days knows the hassle (and cost) of checking luggage at the airport. So give the gift of breezing through security with a pretty canvas cosmetic bag filled with travel-size toiletries (and a plastic zip-top bag).

Cosmetic Bag
$35
Available at Hable Construction

Travel-size Toiletries
Prices Vary
Available at Minimus

Boxed Up

Take a trip down memory lane with these custom-made gift boxes filled to the brim with vintage and hard-to-find items. From school themed (seen here) to Paris to the garden to classic magic, these gift boxes make for thoughtful (and easy) gifting.

Themed Parcel Boxes
$48/$98 (two sizes)
Available at Parcel

Susie Homemaker

If you’re going to spend time in the kitchen, you should at least look great. These linen aprons from DwellStudio add a chic touch to domestic chores.

Aprons by DwellStudio
$44
Available at Unica Home

Pencil It In

Splurge on a pretty organizer to help someone keep their life stylishly in order. Handsomely designed, made of sleek black leather, and the perfect size for a purse, this organizer is begging to be filled in.

Jane Street Debra Organizer
$165
Available at Kate Spade

Tea Time

Bestow the feeling of Zen to a friend with this assortment of loose-leaf organic teas packaged in a basket made from the root of a reclaimed Chinese fir. Long after the tea has gone, the basket can be enjoyed.

Tea Lovers' Basket
$119
Available at VivaTerra

So Simple

This hand-blown glass vase is simply striking in the most understated of ways. Alone or filled with fresh flowers, it would make a classic gift for a special someone.

Barre Vase
$98-$125
Available at Simon Pearce

Give Peace a Chance

Salute the 50th anniversary of the iconic peace sign with these heady mugs -- the perfect cup for flower children who like their java and their hippy roots.

Celadon Peace Mugs
Set of 4 $38
Available at Sundance Catalog

Luxurious Lotion

The packaging is so pretty you won’t want to cover it with gift wrap. This exotic body lotion comes from the luxurious Molton Brown. The cream’s richness comes from the oils of maracuja passion flowers extracted by local Indians from the Amazon rainforest. Moisturizing has never felt this worldly before.

Celestial Maracuja Body Soufflé
$60
Available at Molton Brown

A Touch of Barbie

Jonathan Adler's bold black-and-white awning-striped canisters will bring just the right touch of Malibu style to one lucky lady's dream house. Stashing ordinary bathroom supplies in canisters marked "glitter," "eyelashes," "peroxide," and "dolls" will certainly add a little pep to the morning routine.

Jonathan Adler's Barbie Canister Set
$95-$135
Available at Jonathan Adler

Ice Breaker

Lend your entertaining friend a hand with these cotton napkins imprinted with great conversation starters. A wipe of the mouth or an awkward glance downward can lead to a great debate on dream vacations or guests’ world-changing would-be inventions.

Dinner Conversation Napkin
Set of 4: $34
Available at Wisteria

No Girls Allowed

Building a tree fort? Check. Making the perfect paper airplane? Got it!

Just about anything under the sun that your little guy could want is covered in this book. And don’t be surprised if the big kid in your house happens to join in on the fun.

The Dangerous Book for Boys
$27
Find a retailer at Dangerous Book for Boys.

Bouquet of Tea

This combines the refinement of a high tea and an afternoon at the botanical gardens. Each tea bag is filled with herbal tea and a small blossom that blooms as the tea steeps. The set comes with a glass teapot for optimum posy watching.

Tea Posy Blooming Tea Set
$48
Available at Delight

Off the Cuff

Actual buffalo-head nickels minted between 1913 and 1938 have been converted into stylish and clever cuff links. More than just a fashion statement, these are definite conversation starters.

Vintage Buffalo Nickel Cuff Links
$68
Available at Sundance

Italian Style

Nothing beats a true European-style coffee, and this stove top espresso maker is much cheaper than a round-trip ticket to Rome. No translation needed.

Moka Espresso Maker
$30
Available at Bed Bath & Beyond

Boom Box

Now it isn’t the Bose sound system, but it’s a lot more fun. This cardboard boom box from British company SuckUK is easy to assemble, has built-in speakers, comes with batteries, and just needs an iPod to blast those 80s hits and rock out in the garage.

Cardboard Boom Box
$35
Available at 2Shopper.com

It’s in the Bag

This bag could be used as a gift itself or as an alternative to gift wrap. We love the retro Route 66 design, and your friends will love its diversity. This canvas tote from Wisteria is perfect for bagging groceries, holiday gifts, or even gym clothes.

legendary Highway Sign Travel Tote
$16
Available at Wisteria

Helping Hands

You know the last thing your best friend really wants is a trinket, so give her a break from household duties instead. Order a team from Merry Maids to come and clean her house -- there’s no better gift.

Merry Maids
Prices vary
Available at Merry Maids

Perfect Pour

Made of stoneware and available in nine bright colors, the koi gurgling pitcher is the perfect gift for the hostess (or friend) with a great sense of style and humor. When not filled with ice tea or mojitos, it makes a pretty vase.

Gurgling Pitcher
$42.50
Available at Delight

Mix It Up

A set of three red silicone spatulas can be personalized or monogrammed with any message you like for the cook in your life.

Personalized Silicone Spatulas
$27.50 (set of 3)
Available at Williams-Sonoma

Colorado Cool

Purveyor of all things leather and masculine (think belts, money clips, knives), Col. Littleton offers a handsome leather portfolio that can be embossed with a monogram. A rugged strap keeps it closed.

No. 18 Portfolio
$120
Available at Col. Littleton

Look It Up

Merriam-Webster never looked so good. The 11th Collegiate Edition, leather-bound in an array of delicious colors, would also make a great wedding gift.

Leather-Bound Dictionary
$156
Available at Grove New York

Instant Library

This season you can appear not only well-read, but also very thoughtful for selecting an amazing collection of reading material. Thanks to the folks at the Sundance Catalog for taking the time and effort in picking these timeless stories that will fill winter nights -- and then fill a shelf on the bookcase.

Smart People’s Reading Set
Books include: Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf; Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner; The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri ; 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff; Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez; Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; and Tracks by Robyn Davidson
$98
Available at Sundance Catalog

DIY Diva

For the friend in your life that loves to be Miss Fix It, this kit should satisfy her every home repair need. With 10 tools and a tote, she can hang pictures, tighten screws, and take measurements -- all in style.

23 Piece Pink Tool Set
$15
Available at Amazon

Backyard Wildlife?

No, your kids won't be able to keep a rhino in their own backyard, but the small adoption fee will get the recipients a photo of the rhinoceros they help, an adoption certificate, and a sense of pride for helping to protect endangered animals.

Adopt a Rhinoceros
$35
Available at World Animal Foundation

Off the Hook

Get those funny-looking fishing ties off table by giving your guy a fly box. This one looks so cool and sleek that he won’t be able to resist organizing all his fishing gear.

Carbon Fly Box
$89
Available at Orvis

Ultimate Collection

A classic movie buff will love this collection of eight Alfred Hitchcock films including Rebecca (the film for which he won his only Academy Award), Notorious, and Lifeboat. Most of these titles have not been available on DVD until now, and this set is sure to deliver suspense.

Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection
$80
Available at Amazon

On the Go

This corkscrew, which can be monogrammed, comes in a vintage-looking nubuck leather holster. It would be ideal for someone who is outdoorsy or travels a lot and, of course, likes to drink wine.

Travel Corkscrew
$35
Available at Col. Littleton

Big and Bold

Capture a special memory when your standard photograph is transformed into an Obama-style work of art. When your family, friends, or beloved pet is posted on this bold piece, they are sure to never be forgotten.

Obama Prints
Prices vary
Available at allPopart.com

Personalized Press

For your friend who's still loyal to snail mail and old time correspondence, give them something that they don't have yet. A customized embosser with their name and address to make their envelope addressing just a little bit easier.

Personalized Embosser
$60
Available at Swoozie's

Little Blue Box

Young or old, every woman gets excited when she sees this iconic blue box tied with a white ribbon. It’s just right for the little lady who’s coming of age and needs a special place for her big-girl keepsakes.

Tiffany Blue Box®
$75
Available at Tiffany & Co.

Diffuse Goodness

This is the perfect gift for your careless, candle-loving friend. She’ll never have to worry about blowing out the flame with this groovy looking diffuser from Jonathan Adler. After the fresh smelling oil has been used, repurpose the container for a sleek bud vase.

Southampton Green Garden Diffuser
$68
Available at Jonathan Adler

Glamorous Servings

Iomoi has trays in an array of styles, patterns, and scripts to suit the taste of any lady of the house. Versatile and usable, this is a great gift. It can be used every day to corral mail and keys, but it can also come in handy to jazz up a bar during a party.

Iomoi Custom Tray
$100
Available at Iomoi

Set the Table

We love these vintage-inspired placemats. Since they look like a frame, they let the host or hostess literally frame their cooking masterpiece. The mats are made from linen and hand pressed in one of three colors: black, cream, or grey.

Frame Placemats
Set of 4: $38
Available at Burke Décor

Elegant Happy Hour

For the man in your life who looks forward to that beer after work every day, this hand-blown Simon Pearce tankard glass will keep his daily drink icy cold.

Windsor Tankard
$65
Available at Simon Pearce

Puzzling Happiness

Once this complicated plywood puzzle is solved, the solver is left with a keepsake. Crafted after an original artwork by Trey Speegle, the artist embedded the simple message "It Can Happen to You" for a nice dose of optimism.

It Can Happen to You
$148
Available at Anthropologie

Child-Sized Hipster

The ultimate modern classic furniture piece has been scaled down for the little ones. The child who sits in this chair undoubtedly rules the kids’ table.

Lou Lou Ghost Kids’ Armchair
$135
Available at MoMA Store

Notable Orange Box

A well-made classic is a timeless gift. Give a Hermès scarf to someone, and they’ll treasure it forever. In doubt about what color to choose? Opt for black; the scarf’s jewel toned accents will pop from the lucky wearer’s neck.

Hermès Brazil Scarf
$375
Available at Hermès

Pearly Fun

A cocktail ring of rose gold and pearls will get lots of notice at holiday parties and will add a dash of personality to a simple outfit. It's just the right piece to make someone feel special.

Pearl Pebble Ring
$25
Available at J.Crew

Comfy and Cozy

This cotton throw is the perfect weight and size for lying over the arm of a chair or cuddling with on the sofa. In more than 20 striped color combinations, you’ll find the right one.

Cotton Throw
$58
Available at Dash & Albert

And Eat It Too

Give your domestically talented friends something to cherish, and also inspire a culinary creation. Topped with pastries, a savory tart, or a birthday cake, a new milk glass cake stand (that looks old) makes a perfect addition to the table. Available in three sizes: 6”, 10”, and 12”.

Milk Glass Cake Stand
$45-100
Available at Fishs Eddie

Some Like It Hot

Chances are your father or grandfather has this thermos (it has been around since 1913), but it's a classic you can pass on to the younger members of your family. Fill it with coffee, hot chocolate, or even soup. A built-in handle and cup make it the ideal travel companion.

Stanley Thermos
$42
Available at Design Within Reach

Don’t Rock the Boat

Originally designed for use on ships to avoid spills during swells, these tipsy glasses are fun, if not a bit cruel, for the drinkers in your bunch. (Whiskey not included.)

Rocking Whiskey Glasses
$25/set of 6
Available at Grounded

Honey, Please

It's like giving the gift of several spa treatments all in one set. Start with a soak in a honey bath, and then rub on the soufflé body cremé. End with the feeling of relaxation usually only felt after a vacation. The scents of coconut, almond, and vanilla keep the skin soft and hydrated while taking the mind back to the islands.

Laura Mercier Almond Milk Duo
$40/set
Available at Sephora

Kick in the…

This gift may not be for everyone on your list, but it is unique, practical, and has a sense of humor. Every entry or mudroom needs a place to drop those damp, dripping umbrellas. Why not do it style?

Boot Umbrella Stand
$50
Available at Z Gallerie