Taste Log 004
28 Ridiculous little things that you can gift.
The gifts you give are a reflection of your taste. They show that your curiosity not only lies in the pursuit of your own interest, but in how you make others feel – a way of romancing loved ones by being intimately inquisitive about their desires and interests. Here’s a list of everything I think might make good gifts, along with some input from past RLT interviewees about what they always gift or recommend to others.
Enjoy!
Also, if there are questions from readers or if you buy anything, I’d love to hear from you (DM me, comment on this post, or email me at tahairston24@gmail.com)!
(Note: This post is likely too long for email, so please read in browser or click “view the entire message”)
To see
A habit I’ve picked up from my friend Ciarra is collecting postcards from my museum visits and saving them to give to people as notecards to accompany gifts or as thank you notes. I still have every postcard Ciarra has given me, as they are interesting enough on their own to keep, versus throwing out those ugly birthday cards, and I cherish the sentiment of whatever was said. They are a great way to introduce a friend to an artist or spark a conversation, and even to frame. I’ve only gotten them in-person at the museum stores, but some that I found online that I like are: Romare Bearden, Gee’s Bend, Martha Roder, Henri Matisse, Ed Ruscha, Barkley L. Hendricks, Lorraine O’Grady, Evelyn Hofer, Irving Penn, Faith Ringgold.
I love to plan culture dates with friends. Some things I’d give alongside a postcard:
The Edges Ailey exhibit at the Whitney Museum also has performances to accompany the show, I’d give tickets to this.
A membership to Film Forum, Metrograph, Criterion Channel, or BAM, or if in LA, the Academy Museum.
Tickets to a Broadway, or off-Broadway, show. I’ve seen Sunset Boulevard, which I enjoyed, and Gypsy with my fav Audra McDonald looks promising.
A gift card to The Art Cafe at Happy Medium. They have so many classes from their large canvas painting and “Build-a-chair” workshops to pottery and figure drawing classes.
A day trip to the DIA Beacon to see Steve McQueen’s Bass.
Tickets to the Met Opera for their under 40 show nights or Jazz at the Lincoln Center.
To use
Some practical (to me) things that people don’t always think to buy for themselves make the perfect gifts, especially if you’ve noticed that they need it or keep mentioning they’ve been meaning to buy it.
I kept seeing an Instagram ad for this sculptural soap from Ume Studios, and you know what it got to me. Bar soap is chic, and this would make a whimsical upgrade to any bathroom. I’m partial to the grapefruit or the herbes de provence.
Writer, and RLT interviewee, Young Kim says: “Sometimes, when I have a special gift to give someone, I give them a travel wallet because I think a lot of people don't have one, and it’s very, very useful.” When I was a fashion assistant my bosses would always buy Smythson wallets or notebooks as gifts, and they have some good travel wallets; I love this blue one or this green one. I’m also obsessed with this red Anya Hindmarch one because of the customization options, you can add a message on the front or inside, and even in your own handwriting.
Screenwriter, and RLT interviewee, Nialla LeBouef says: “I recently bought a friend of mine a really nice pen. She's a writer, and I know she'll use it and take it with her.” Some pens I love: this red Delfonics pen, this blue one, or this fountain pen. I’d pair it with a postcard, a Moleskine notebook, or a membership to Center for Fiction, if they are in New York.
An olive green robe from Autumn Sonata. I love this brand because the founder Lilli Elias previously worked as an archivist and so each print is informed by antique prints and textiles.
This white cotton set or nightgown, or, for a splurge, this nightgown or this set. I also love the idea of gifting bed socks. My new bedtime ritual has been to spray my nightclothes and bedding with Frederic Malle’s Dan Mon Lit, a linen spray that smells like a bed of roses, and then read for an hour.
The Outline is one of my favorite stores in New York, the owners are cool and the selection is superb, plus they have a weekly flower subscription, 4 or 8 weeks, which is such a chic and thoughtful gift. Pair with this vase from Georg Jensen, which is the best thing I’ve bought this year.
A vintage Kantha quilt to keep forever.
A cherished family photo in a fab gold frame.
A house slipper that feels more sophisticated than shearling slides.
To eat & drink
Earlier this year, when I was reading Capote’s Women, I learned that Babe Paley sent caviar to Truman Capote in response to her being worried about how he’d survive on his reporting trip to Kansas, which is both ridiculous and hilarious, and therefore perfect for this list. Caviar, fancy potato chips, and a mother of pearl spoon in the shape of a swan feels fitting.
A good olive oil for someone who loves to cook and make their own salad dressings and sauces. Of course, you could gift this alone, but I love a storytelling moment.
Pair it with Zataar spice and Zhoug hot sauce.
Pair it with a fun cookbook; I love this one from Mina Stone, this one from Alice B. Tokias, Nigella Lawson, this out of print one (less of a cookbook, more fun gossip and hosting tips), and this one from Ntozake Shange (also not a straightforward cookbook).
Pair it with an apron. This Charvet one or this Gohar one.
Writer, and RLT interviewee, David W. Marx says: “I've decided the best thing you should own is just the basic Hario drip coffee pot with the V60 dripper.”
Last summer, I dated a man who sold tea for a living and learned so much about tea, plus I’ve always preferred it over coffee. I fell in love with Oolong tea and this other tea I’d never heard of called Pu-erh. I’d gift tea and pair it with some nice tea cups.
A bottle of wine or some non-alcoholic (I love Ghia, French Bloom, or Muri) and two glasses for drinking. Some options: Hudson Wilder, Justine Menard, Heven, Carlo Moretti, Ferm Living.
To read
Writer, and RLT interviewee, Ana Karina Zatarin says she always gives James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s room.
Writer, and RLT interviewee, Tracy Wan says she always gives Maggie Nelson’s Bluets.
Outline co-founder, and RLT interviewee, Margaret Austin says: “I love to pick two or three books that I think would go together and curate a little stack of books for someone as a gift.”
Some book stack ideas:
On Complicated Relationships: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, Sula by Toni Morrison, and Didion & Babitz by Lili Anolik.
On Class, Wealth, & Desire: Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton, Having and Being Had by Eula Biss, The Wedding by Dorothy West, and Entitlement by Rumaan Alam.
To wear or beautify
A gorgeous wool Naomi Nomi shirt or buttons to upgrade a shirt someone already owns, complete with sewing instructions.
Something made to order like a Cawley hat or cow jacket, or a P.Nina necklace.
Something cozy and timeless like a Lauren Manoogian sweater coat.
Something sporty and vintage.
Artist, and RLT interviewee, Lotte Andersen says she always recommends or gives massages or sauna sessions. In New York, I love the Greenwich Spa, Remedy Place, and Spencer’s seems promising.
Stylist, and RLT interviewee, Dione Davis says she always recommends or gifts a facial treatment, specifically at Brooklyn Face & Eye, Glo Boutique, and K Skincare. I also love Rescue Spa and Crystal Greene.
Something to make a home smell good. A candle from Xinu or Boy Smells with a snuffer. Incenses from Buly 1803 or Astier de Villatte or these paper ones. Or, extremely chic, scented matches from Buly 1803 or Trudon.
Something to make you smell good. A fragrance discovery kit from my favorite fragrance house Maison d’Etto or Stora Skuggan, which I’m still discovering but I love the storytelling.
Something to lather yourself with. Body oils that smell delightful like this one, this one, or this one.
To give
Every month, I give money to some of my favorite charities that align with the interests I have and the things I want to help make better. A great idea is to give to a charity in someone’s name. Some of the places I currently donate to:
The New York Public Library, specifically the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
If you end up buying anything from my list, please send me a little note, I’d love to know what you guys loved. :)
The best gift guide ive leafed through so far. Getting the vase and scented matches from trudon.
Love that you include memberships! I’ve never thought of that before and perfect since I’m trying not to gift material things this year