Who What Wear’s new series Chic People Presents aims to make gifting personal again by tapping fashion and beauty’s coolest creatives on what to buy this holiday season. Read on for IYKYK present picks and insight into gift-giving strategy from the industry’s top stylists, designers, and tastemakers.
With the arrival of November comes the official shift into the holiday season. Naturally, many questions begin to arise in our minds like what to wear, what to cook, and, most importantly in our opinion, what to gift. Shopping for presents is no easy task, so I like to take every opportunity to get a glimpse at what the go-to gifts are for those I admire among the fashion set. One such person who is bound to have incredibly chic taste in this department is none other than jewelry insider Will Kahn.
As a jewelry consultant, editor, stylist, and contributor to Town & Country magazine, Kahn has developed a keen eye for spotting standout pieces spanning from jewelry to home décor. He documents and shares his current musings, especially in the jewelry realm, through his Instagram account, Will’s Notebook. One glimpse at his work and it is clear that Kahn has impeccable taste—something I couldn’t help but want to tap into with holiday gifting in mind.
That said, it was a pleasure being able to pick the brain of the leading expert himself as to what gift-giving ideas and tips he swears by during the holiday season. From an heirloom-status Tiffany & Co. cuff bracelet to cheerful party accessories and thoughtful ideas for furry friends, Kahn shares some of his irresistible gift ideas along with other insight as to where he shops in Los Angeles and New York City and how he uses grosgrain ribbons to stylishly prepare a gift. Scroll on to check out all the inspiring recommendations.
1. Gift That Sparks Joy
Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties is a genius party planner, interior designer, and just a genius. She has the best gifts in general, so check out her entire site, but specifically fun are her party crackers wrapped in venetian marbled paper and filled with paper crowns, costume jewelry, and funny dares to do at the table. Also she has these hilarious half masks of famous people that liven up a dinner party.
2. Gift They Won’t Return
The most iconic piece of jewelry by the most iconic jewelry designer is, without question, the Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff. It’s gorgeous on and easy to wear, and if you get the silver, it is a smaller investment.
3. Gift to Have on Hand
For a cheap and very portable small gift or hostess gift, bring these incense papers from Florence-based apothecary Santa Maria Novella. They are packaged in a small beautiful red box, and you feel a bit like you’re performing witchcraft when you light them up. You can teach the receiver how to light them. You fold each paper like an accordion and then light one side and immediately blow it out. Put in an ashtray, and let it fill the room with wisps of mystical scent—stronger than a candle but much less intense than typical incense.
Alison Gardiner
Set of 6 Icon Masks
Tiffany & Co.
Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff
Santa Maria Novella
Armenia Paper
4. Perfectly Useful Gift
If the person likes champagne, the Le Creuset champagne stopper is very useful and actually works. If you only want a glass, the stopper will save the rest of the bottle for later.
5. ”I Don’t Know Anything About You” Gift
I am obsessed with nice candles and also refuse to spend my money on them—I assume other people are like this, so it’s a real treat to receive one as a gift. The whole “scented candle is a cop-out” does not apply if it’s a fancy candle, specifically if the scent is Hinoki Fantôme by Boy Smells. It’s giving woody, smoky opium den.
Le Creuset
Champagne Crown Sealer
Houses and Parties
Marbled Party Crackers
Boy Smells
Hinoki Fantôme
6. Snacks and Spirits Gift
Okay, so there is this famous iconic food shop in NYC called William Poll, which is a place where Diana Vreeland got her lunch delivered every day and people like Jackie Kennedy went there for takeout. I go there for these insane potato chips that are thick and possibly baked and remarkably good. They also have all these dips that go with them and the most popular one is the watercress dip. Sometimes as a hostess gift, I will come with one box of the chips tied with the ribbon. You can ship them as a big set. Otherwise, if you just want one box of the chips and one of the dips, you have to go in person. But go with the set. These chips make a party, and they are always a HIT.
7. Gift for Furry Friends
My dogs hate most toys but LOVE these rubber bones, and they come in very aesthetic colors—they are also rubber so much easier on their doggie teeth. I also love The Foggy Dog rope leashes. They are thick and indestructible and come in every color!
William Poll
Potato Thins and Dips
Wagwear
Give a Dog a Bone!
The Foggy Dog
Rope Dog Leash
Do you have any go-to packaging items or ways you make wrapping stand out?
I buy rolls of grosgrain ribbons from Ribbon Factory. I think ribbon makes everything special and grosgrain has such a crisp American look. For anything in the summer, I use a red, white, and blue striped ribbon. Showing up to someone’s home with a bottle of rosé tied with a red, white, and blue ribbon is very chic to me. Or in the fall, bring a pumpkin with a bow on the handle. For October/November, I use orange or green ribbon. Holidays I like a Gucci-ish green/red/green stripe, and solid light pink or light blue for spring. They aren’t expensive, so buy them in bulk in multiple widths and sizes so you feel rich in ribbon and you aren’t cheap with it. Make that bow big and let the legs drape down too far. Ribbon on unwrapped gifts is great, like on a basket or on a wine bottle, and then use matte craft paper if you need to wrap.
Where do you shop for gifts IRL?
I’m guaranteed to find a nice gift at John Derian in NYC, Nickey Kehoe in NYC or L.A., Kuhl-Linscomb in Houston, and Creel and Gow in NYC.
Any gifting etiquette tips?
I think hostess gifts are mandatory, and I love giving them. Even if they are small, you need to come to someone’s home with something. I’m not big on flowery, verbose writing on a card, and I don’t always get specific cards for holidays. Often I use my normal stationery, and it’s happy holidays with a sketch of an Xmas tree with a Sharpie.
Gift season planning tips?
Since I love gifts, I have started to work on this all year. When I see something for someone, I get it and put it in this large box in my closet. It’s nice to cross people off the list early. Then by the go-time month of November, I will check the box, make a list of who is left, and work my way through it.
Any strategy around when to buy?
I will try to finish all my online shopping by the first week of December because I can’t handle the will-it-arrive anxiety. At that point, I switch to in-person stores.
Ribbon Factory
Hunter and Red Ribbon
Tiffany & Co.
Essentials Notebook
Ribbon Factory
Red, White, and Royal Blue
Tiffany & Co.
Atlas Ballpoint Pen
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany Facets Notecards
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