The Thoughtful Christmas Gift Guide To Buying For Her

Having already exhausted your top ideas throughout the year – be it for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or any major milestone – you now find yourself fresh out of inspiration as Christmas approaches at a breakneck pace. But fear not.

Much like the underlying philosophy of our masculine holiday season gift guide, it’s helpful to remember that Christmas shopping should be less about finding the perfect gift and more about finding a present she’ll personally appreciate. Which is why we’ve once again broken down this year’s B.H.-approved Christmas gift guide to buying for her by archetypes.

Merry Christmas!

For the woman who embraces the la dolce vita summer, there’s no shortage of what you can arm her with: take your pick between the Chinatown Country Club Our Legacy Sunglasses ($450), Bottega Veneta Angle Acetate Pointed Cat Eye Sunglasses ($675), or eyewear’s answer to the Birkin in a retro-inspired pair of the Jacques Marie Mage Molino ($1,620).

Of course, nothing says la dolce vita like the sumptuous Chez Valentino Silk Scarf ($790). Available in butter and fuchsia, you can practically visualise it dancing along the wind as she zips around the coast on a moped/drop-top convertible.

At some point in this elaborate summertime hypothetical, she’ll probably want to stop by a beach for a daytime dip – during which she’ll appreciate having packed a darling Sir. swim set (from $240 total). With a varied selection of Lola string triangle tops and briefs to Amado bandeau tops, halters, and so forth, we trust you’ll know what she’ll prefer best.

If the woman in your life spends a decent amount of time in airport lounges, might we suggest a delightfully nostalgic RIMOWA Holiday Case ($1,740)?

A limited-edition ode to a time when travel meant adventure, not just efficiency, this unapologetic throwback is available in three primary colours – blue, yellow, and red – against a white-accented contrast; and has been constructed from lightweight polycarbonate reinforced with the original collection’s lock and frame.

For something with the versatility to function as a carry-on solution or a daily essential while she’s out and about, there’s the ever-chic A-ESQUE Fold Shoulder Bag ($850) in suede chestnut – a reinvention of the brand’s signature Fold pattern, handcrafted exclusively in the Melbourne Atelier from Italian leather – and the far more capacious Mulberry Small Soft Bayswater Chalk Heavy Grain Bag ($2,825) – a contemporary number that can be carried by hand or over the shoulder.

As we suggested in the buying for him Christmas gift guide, you’ll do your best shopping in the margins for the stylish divas who treat every day like a runway opportunity – jewellery, accessories like a Comme Des Garçons Silver Eyelet Wallet ($200), and even fragrances.

First order of business: Piaget’s Possession “Decor Palace” Bracelet ($11,500).

Forged in 18-carat rose gold, this refined and timeless statement piece carries the subtle warmth of a soft afternoon light across the wrist with graceful simplicity – sophisticated enough for a formal dinner, sufficiently understated for everyday wear. A gesture of quiet sophistication and enduring taste.

If you’re in search of something for the wrist that ticks, the petite yet mighty Panthère de Cartier ($8,000) or punch-above-its-price-tag Tissot Ballade 30mm ($1,650) will surely guarantee another yearlong residency in the good books – we assume. B.H. cannot fully account for the extent of your behaviour, after all.

The woman in your life mightn’t be able to replicate the wardrobe of a style icon like Rihanna on a one-for-one basis, but they can announce themselves wherever they go, with her signature scent: Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy ($405).

Flaunting juicy honeysuckle and plush rose, softly caressed by that distinctive sweetness of “luscious marshmallow sugar accord,” true to its name, this pulsing touch of sensuality aims to recreate that feeling of discovering a new love.

For the hostess with the mostest, you cannot go wrong with attractive kitchen staples like the Ironclad The Legacy Pan ($279) – reputedly the “last pan you’ll ever own” thanks to its 100-year guarantee of perfect sears – the finely-honed Shun Premier Chef’s Knife ($290), or Le Creuset’s Cast Iron Casserole Pot w/ Gold Star Knob ($660).

There’s also the repertoire-expanding The Tucci Cookbook ($55), authored by everyone’s favourite casual culinary daddy Stanley Tucci.

Introduced by a foreword by Mario Batali, the beloved Devil Wears Prada actor’s debut cookbook offers nearly 200 “irresistible” recipes paired with wines; and is positively brimming with robust flavours, Italian traditions, mouthwatering photographs, as well as “previously untold stories from the [Tucci] family’s kitchen.”

On the subject of wine, if she’s cracking open the good stuff, an elite wine preservation system like the Coravin Timeless Three+ ($399.95) is non-negotiable. 

Featuring a precision-engineered needle and 100% Pure Argon gas, it essentially replaces the wine you pour with an inert, food-safe gas that shields the unfinished wine from too much oxygen exposure. The Coravin Aerator that comes with the Timeless Three+, on the other hand, allows for the equivalent of up to 90 minutes of decanting, enhancing the wine’s aromas and flavours in an instant.

Outside of the kitchen, consider the likes of the Pav Traveller Candle Tin ($21) in all its bright passionfruit curd, zesty lemon, folded cream, and toasted meringue glory – feel free to help her litter the abode with a few of these affordable stocking stuffers – alongside the heavier-hitting Trudon Abd El Kader Moroccan Mint Tea Candle (from $75).

Whether it’s for entertaining guests or for homebody purposes, pair a trusty Audio-Technica LP60XBT Bluetooth-enabled turntable ($269) with Olivia Dean’s Live At Eventim Apollo vinyl ($90) – the latter of which can both heal the wound she’s sustained from missing out on Ms Dean’s recent concerts, and serve as an awesome memento for anyone who was lucky enough to see her in person.

Speaking of homebody antics, there’s certainly no shortage of options: movie nights and everyday streaming alike will be an unobstructive pleasure with the design-forward LG HU710PB CineBeam QUBE Lifestyle 4K Smart Projector (currently $1,245); alternatively, Samsung’s aesthetic 65-inch Serif QLED 4K Smart TV ($2,299) if she prefers a static physical presence. Either way, massive upgrades from the usual laptop-facilitated viewings.

For the woman who’s consistently juggling books, there’s always a Kindle Paperwhite ($329). But if she prioritises consuming literature the old-fashioned – and, quite frankly, superior – way, we’re prescribing the latest Booker Prize-winning novel in Flesh by David Szalay ($35), the eye-opening Twenty Minutes in Manhattan by Michael Sorkin ($35), There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak ($25), Loving Sylvia Plath by Emily Van Duyne ($32), as well as the endlessly fascinating Doppelganger by Naomi Klein.

Complete the self-care toolkit with a set of Tekla/Auralee Organic Cotton Pyjamas ($370 + $320), Penhaligon’s nourishing Festive Layers of Luna Gift Set ($200) – which encompasses the Luna EDT, body & hand wash, and body & hand lotion – Le Labo Bergamote 22 perfumed hand cream ($48) as another tidy stocking stuffer, in addition to an optional though highly recommended Aesop Brass Oil Burner ($249).

For the running girlies, Asics’ Novablast 5 ($240) leads the pack in terms of overall performance, followed by the Hoka Bondi 9 ($174) for superior cushioning and On Running Cloudsurfer Next ($160) for the distance track stars. Throw in a pair of Oakley Meta Vanguards Prizm 24K with AI ($789) if they’re an aspiring influencer/part-time content creator or simply a pair of purpose-built Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 ($249) to keep ’em soundtracked on the go.

And if the woman in your life just so happens to be the last one on Earth without a Dyson Airwrap ($849) – often referred to as the Rolls-Royce of hair multi-stylers and dryers – cop a set ASAP.