The “How Did You Know?” Gift Guide
Presents for the people who already have everything (except this)
Gift-giving is intriguing. Some presents are sweet but forgettable, some are… confusing, some are suspiciously re-giftable, others you’ve been subtly hinting about for months, and then sometimes, magically, there’s a gift that arrives at the exact right moment and hits you like, “Oh. How did you know I wanted that?”. Those are the ones we want to talk about.
So, to spare you a pre-Christmas meltdown, we’ve curated five very particular categories. We know you know someone who fits each one.
For the Art Connoisseur
For the ones who wander through life as if everything is Art. From washing their hands to playing cards, even the most mundane activity becomes worth remembering. Their bag is actually a bread bag made by food artist Laila Gohar. Their walls are filled with sculptures —preferably made by women artisans and inspired by sorceresses. At some point they plan to make their own, so it’s better to start practising now, right?
Our Christmas wish? To wander through their infinite library, dressed in structural yet soft wool pieces, and sip our coffee from the mug they acquired on their most recent trip to Japan.
For the Film Buffs
We all have one (or are one!) in our lives. They’re the ones who, instead of starting the conversation with “So, will it rain?”, begin with “Have you seen my latest Letterboxd log? 3.5/5 easily.” So yes, an original Art-House film poster from Posteritati will always be a good idea. But chances are that avid moviegoers are complex, fun and probably a bit romantic. So maybe that stay at Shila will be more of a hit than a miss. A thoughtful, curated vintage find will go a long way — but so will a lush, plump wool throw.
For the Design Afficionado
Candleholders that look like art, pill boxes that double as sculptures, dresses with intricate details — most of the time inspired by something obscure, like a Stegosaurus named Sophie — and kitchen aprons that could easily be worn to an art exhibition opening. Rings a bell? Then we’ve got you covered. It can be (and truly is) intimidating to shop for the most stylish person in the room. But fear not: we’ve gathered candles you’ll never want to light, plates you’ll never want to eat from, and kettles you’ll want to keep on an open shelf and scold anyone who dares to fill with water.
For the Music Experts
Buying Christmas gifts for music lovers is tricky. Why? Because they already own everything, have strong opinions about formats, and will absolutely judge your choices (with love, of course). So we’ve put together a collection of gifts that even the pickiest listener will appreciate: sound, style, and a little bit of sparkle included. And yes, the sparkle matters, because if you’re going to lose yourself in sound, you might as well decorate your ears with the right jewellery. Preferably something bold, sculptural, and ready to hypnotize.
For the Travel Addicts
You know this person. They haven’t unpacked since 2018. They’re either away, packing to go away, or talking about the place they just came back from, with a level of detail that suggests they were briefly appointed mayor. They can sleep on planes, know exactly which airport security lane moves fastest, and somehow always look composed while sprinting to a gate. They collect stamps, film rolls, mini soaps, and life-altering encounters with strangers they’ll never see again. And they’re impossible to shop for because “they don’t really need things”—except they absolutely do. A Leica for documenting their emotional arc, a refillable leather journal for their profound thoughts at 3,000 metres, a Diptyque candle for when their Airbnb smells… surprising, and, of course, a co-ord matching set so they don’t have to think about what to pack for their next trip in (probably) a week.
Hope we’ve sparked a few great ideas.
Merry gifting,
xx
Stella, Valisia, Alexandra